February 2020

February 2020

Centennial Elementary School
Shannon Ritter, Principal
February 2020

 

Reading Month – “Reading is My Super Power”
This is a time to continue to encourage students to read at home. Students can count oral reading, silent
reading and being read to. Students are to count only reading done at home, not in school. Information has
been sent home. Extra forms to record reading minutes are available in the library and in the office. If students
meet their reading goal school-wide, students will earn a read-in and enjoy popcorn. Top readers will join
Mrs. Ritter for lunch.


 Reading Month: February 3 - 28
 Used Book Sale: Thursday, February 27
 Character Day: Friday, February 28
 Battle of the Books Championship: Thursday, March 12th


We will be celebrating the end of our Reading Month on Friday, February 28 by having a “Character Day” at
school. Students may come dressed as a favorite character from a book they have read. Please be aware that the outfits must be school appropriate. Your teachers will have more information.

 

Centennial’s Character Day is February 28th
Mark your calendar and begin to plan your child’s costume for Character Day. This is an annual event that
is celebrated at the end of our reading month. Students may come dressed as a favorite character from a
book they have read. There are lots of wonderful book characters to choose from; let your imagination soar!
Please be aware that the outfits must be school appropriate.

 

Wanted: Gently Used Books for the Used Book Sale
Check under your beds and in your closets for gently used books for Centennial’s Used Book Sale that will
take place on Thursday, February 27. This is a fun event for all our children to browse and select books to
purchase from 5¢ - $1.00. This is a one-day event. Students shop during their recesses.

 

Kindergarten Registration for Fall 2020-2021
 Registration Forms available starting – March 9
 Return registration forms starting – March 10
 A Taste of Kindergarten & Screening at CES – June 1 (Parent orientation & student screening)


Attendance calls for Centennial should be left on the Attendance Line voicemail phone number at 360-596-8303. This is a 24-hour voice mail number that you can call at any time of the day.

 

Spring Conferences in March-Sign Up in Family Access

We will be using Family Access in Skyward to schedule conferences this Spring. This process will allow
you to log in and see available time slots for conferencing that best fit your schedule. In order for this to
work smoothly, you will need to make sure our office has your email address. If you do not have access to a
computer or email, please let us know so we can help you navigate how to schedule. We will be sending
home a flyer in March with steps on how to schedule.

 

Please note: the online scheduling system will not be visible in Skyward until the conferencing window is open on March 12-22.

 

These dates will also be provided in the letter that goes home. If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact the school at 360.596.8300. Thank you for your continued partnership. We look forward to seeing you all during Spring Conferences.

 

Highly Capable Referral Window is Open
The referral window is open for children in grades 2-8 for next year Hi Cap Program. Parents can go to the
district webpage to locate the referral forms. The Olympia School District screens students in grades two through grade seven in the spring of each school year.

 

The screening process is comprehensive and multi-
layered, using objective criteria. See the Olympia School District website for information on the Highly Capable Program https://osd.wednet.edu/academics/highly_capable. Opened on January 27, 2020 and closes
on February 10, 2020. Parent Information Night was on January 29, 2020 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Washington
Middle School Library.

 

Walk ‘n’ Roll to School!

Hey Centennial Stars, it’s time to Walk N Roll to School! Intercity Transit’s Walk N Roll program invites

all students and families to join Centennial in walking or rolling to school for some pre-valentine’s day fun
on February 12th!

 

Don’t forget not to run or dart out into the street or cross between parked cars, and be especially alert for
cars that are turning or backing up!
Students who walk or roll to school get a prize!

Centennial is Walking N Rolling to school all year long!

Save the dates.
Feb. 12
March 11
April 1
May 13 National Bike to School Day
June 10

 

Parents Picking Up/Dropping Students
The Sweetbrier Neighborhood is asking us to remind our families not to block driveways or the streets that
face onto 45th Ave. We have had a number of calls about cars blocking driveways and the neighborhood
streets. Be aware of these areas and leave a space so they can exit their homes.

 

Remember if 45th Street is backed up with cars waiting to enter the school campus you should not try to illegally pass these waiting cars. We know at the end of the day it is very congested with cars coming to the school to pick up students.We appreciate everyone’s patience.

 

Thurston County Public Works is no longer allowing parking between the school’s driveway on 45th Ave all
the way to Boulevard. Be aware of the no parking signs that were posted on January 30th.

WANTED:
Looking for gently used boy’s & girl’s pants or sweat pant – all sizes

 

Count Down to Kindergarten
On Saturday, March 7, the Olympia School District will hold its annual Kindergarten informational event
starting at 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. at Capital High School. A reminder that children should be 5 years old by
August 31, 2020 to be eligible to start kindergarten this fall.

 

The event is geared for adults of incoming kindergartners in the Olympia School District. Child-care is not provided. Capital High School is located at 2707 Conger Ave. N.W. in Olympia.

Parents remember there is no supervision for students before school. Children should not to be dropped off at school prior to 8:50 a.m. Doors open at school at 8:50 a.m.


Attention: Vaccination Requirements for Sixth Graders
Washington State Department of Health requires all children entering sixth grade or who are 11 years old to
show proof of Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, & Pertussis). If your child has a check-up this spring, see if you need
this vaccination. Call the office or send a note with the date so that we can update your child’s health record.

 

Here’s How I Use Math!
Give your child real-world reasons to use math—she’ll see connections between what she’s learning in
school and what she enjoys in everyday life.

 

Do a craft.

Maybe your youngster would enjoy knitting or making friendship bracelets. In each case, she’ll
count and work with patterns. Or she could explore shapes and symmetry with tissue-paper mosaics or
origami. Let her tell you about the math in her project. Examples: “The pattern for this hat is knit 2, purl 2,
knit 2, purl 2.” “My mosaic has hexagons, right triangles, and trapezoids.”

 

Plan an outing.

Whether you’re running errands or going to the zoo, your child can use math to plan your
schedule. Say you have three hours for a zoo trip. Your youngster wants to see the parrots, and her brother
wants to visit the meerkats. Ask her to calculate how long it will take to drive to and from the zoo, then
figure out how long you can spend at each exhibit. Remind her to allow time for walking from one area to
the next. February 2020, Home & School Connection

 

Upcoming Events:

2/7 All School Sing at 2:30 p.m.

2/10 OJP FT - gr 3-5 Edison: The Wizard of Menlo Park 11:40-2:00 P.M. (12:30 performance) 

2/12 Walk ‘n’ Roll to school

2/13 Field Trip - Water Quality – Fourth Grade 9:30-11:30 a.m.

2/14 Report Cards Go Home

2/17-18 No School Mid-Winter Break

2/27 Used Book Sale

2/28 Character Day – Dress up as your Favorite Book Character

3/3 Field Trip – Fourth Grade Touring Capital 9:30-1:00 p.m.

3/7 Countdown to Kindergarten – Informational Parent Meeting sponsored by OSD 10:00-11:30 a.m. at Capital High School
3/10 OJP FT - gr 1-2 Miss Nelson has a Field Day 9:20-11:30 a.m.

3/10 Booster Club Meeting at 7:00 p.m.

3/11 Walk ‘n’ Roll to school

3/12 Battle of the Books Championship 3rd gr 1:30-2:15 p.m. and 4th & 5th gr 2:15-3:00 p.m. CES – Multi-Purpose Room
3/12-22 Sign up Online –Spring Conferences – Skyward Family Access>Conference Tab

3/13 Booster Club’s Honk Musical Showcase Assembly – 2:45 p.m.

3/20 OJP FT – gr 3-5 Showtime with Shakespeare 9:20-11:30 a.m.

3/20 K-1 Assembly at CES - Princess and the Pea – at 1:15 p.m.

3/20 Booster Club’s Honk Musical – 7:00 p.m. performance at OHS PAC

3/21 Booster Club’s Honk Musical – 3:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. at OHS PAC

3/24 OlyFam Concert at OHS

3/31-4/3 Spring Conferences – Early Dismissal at 12:05 p.m.

A Vivid Vocabulary
“Draw a magenta bird with a plethora of polka dots and a quirky tail playing a harmonica.” Would your
youngster know what to draw if you gave him those instructions? Try this fun art project to help him learn
new words.


1. Together, flip through a book or magazine and pick out words that you each think look interesting.


2. Write the words on separate slips of paper, and mix up the slips in a bowl.


3. Take turns pulling three words from the bowl and using them to describe something for the other person
to draw. Note: Check a dictionary if you don’t know what a word means.


4. Let your child describe his finished picture to you – he’ll practice using the new words. February 2020,
Home & School Connection


OSD 2019-20 Notice of Nondiscrimination
The Olympia School District will provide equal educational opportunity and treatment for all students in all aspects of the academic and activities program without discrimination based on race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, honorably-discharged veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, marital status, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability.

 

The district will provide equal access to school facilities to the Boy Scouts of America and all other designated youth groups listed in Title 36 of the United States Code as a patriotic society. District programs will be free from sexual harassment. Auxiliary aids and services will be provided upon request to individuals with disabilities.

 

The following people have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies, reports of alleged sexual harassment, concerns about compliance, and/or grievance procedures:


 Autumn Lara, Executive Director of Elementary Education, [email protected] (360)596-8534


 Ken Turcotte, Section 504 and ADA Coordinator, [email protected], (360) 596-7530


 Pat Cusack, Director of College and Career Readiness, [email protected], (360) 596-6102


 Scott Niemann, Title IX Officer and Affirmative Action Officer and Civil Rights Compliance
Coordinator, [email protected], (360) 596-6185.

 

All four individuals may also be contacted at 111
Bethel Street N.E., Olympia, WA, 98506.