Centennial Elementary School
Shannon Ritter, Principal
Dannie Clark, Assistant Principal
August 2021
Note: New school hours 8:00 am - 2:15 pm
Doors open at 7:50 am (eek!)
Welcome back everyone! I am so excited to see you all and hear about your summer adventures. This newsletter is packed with tons of important information so get cozy and grab a highlighter.
Student Placement
Information on your child’s teacher for 2021 - 2022 school year can be found on your child’s Skyward - Family Access account on August 31, 2021.
In the event that you have questions or problems regarding your Family Access account, contact the Student Information Office at 360-596-6150 or you can email them. If you forgot your password or feel it has been compromised, let them know and a new one will be issued.
Office opens to the public
Our office opens officially on August 23rd. Our doors will remain locked. Please use the doorbell and we will “buzz” you in or call 360-596-8300 if you have any questions.
Welcome Back to School Event – Come join the fun!
Tuesday, September 7
11:30 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.
In the interest of maintaining social distancing and parking during this event, please, if at all possible, attend during your designated time:
11:30 am - 12:00 am: Last names A - H
12:00 noon - 12:30 pm: I - P
12:30 pm - 1:00 pm Q - Z
Meet your teacher, see your classroom & bring your school supplies. Stop by the tables set up in the playshed to purchase Booster Club items including emergency kits and Centennial masks. Remember to bring your checkbook. Booster Club will be set up in the playshed on the backside of the school.
Masks will be required for all students and family members. Please understand there will be no time to have lengthy conversations with teachers on this day as this time is meant to serve as a brief drop-in to say hi, meet the teacher and drop off school supplies.
Kindergarten - 3rd grade families: please enter through the main double doors at the front of the building or back of the building. Please exit directly from the classroom in order to avoid walking against traffic in the hallways.
4th - 5th grade families: please enter through the main double doors on the left side of the Intermediate Building (2 story building) and exit through the double doors at the end of the hallway.
Welcome to Centennial Info Please check out this slide deck for more information. For those of you who attended school here in the spring, many of our safety protocols remain the same.
First Day of School
School will open on Wednesday, September 8th for our students in grades 1 - 5. Students will walk directly to class when the doors open at 7:50 am. As a reminder, families will not be allowed to walk students to class in the morning. Students may line up on the stars painted on the sidewalk to the left and right of the main doors until the doors open at 7:50 am. Students in grades 4- 5 may line up outside of the main entrance to the Intermediate Building. We will have lots of staff members on hand to walk students to class and help with directions. Family members can wait in the designated area for pick-up after school. Signage will be posted.
Centennial’s kindergarten student’s first day of school will be September 13th. Our kindergarten families will meet during September 8 - 10, 2021 prior to the first day of school. If you do not remember your appointment time, call the school office at 596-8300. For the first few days, Kindergarten students will be escorted to the cafeteria once they arrive at school. Teachers will meet them and will walk them down to the classroom.
Supply Lists are located on Centennial’s webpage at centennial.osd.wednet.edu. You could also stop in the mini building and pick up a supply list. Click on the link Parent to find the supply list.
First Day Lunch Menu
Both breakfast and lunch will again be free this year to all students K - 12.
Wednesday, Collaboration Days
Every Wednesday, starting September 15th
50 Minute Early Release Wednesday
Hours 8:00 a.m. – 1:25 P.M.
Shot Records, Immunizations and Medication
All missing immunizations, birth certificates, medication forms and medication need to be turned into the school office, prior to the first day of school.
Bus Routes
Bus Route Information for the 2021-2022 School Year is now available on Infofinder.
To access Infofinder, go to the Olympia School District website (osd.wednet.edu), and click on the large "Buses" icon on the left side.
More detailed instructions for how to use the infofinder website are available on the Olympia School District website under "Departments" and then "Transportation".
Please note that all families are encouraged to check their bus information for the upcoming school year. School bell times have changed, and this resulted in a change in many bus routes.
If you have questions about the busing information or you are unable to find information for your child, please call the Transportation Office at 360-596-7700 between 8:00 and 3:30 pm or send an email to [email protected].
Student Pick-up
Families, please complete the After School Arrangements Form (in the packet your teacher will give you) and return to the school/teacher immediately. We need to have a clear understanding of how your child is going home the first week and for the school year.
Parents that are picking up their child at the end of the day can park their car in one of the parking lots and meet their child out front to the left or right of the main entrance (see signs) or stay in your car and drive up to the front of the school and pick up your child. Car sign (Think “Drive Thru”) Placing a sheet of paper in your car with your students name and teacher is also very helpful. Students will be called up to your vehicle once you approach the loading area. Just a reminder not to park or pull into the BUS LOADING area during drip off and pick up. Please have your children ride the bus, if at all possible. Please consider carpooling if you must drive your student to school; our parking lot is VERY congested.
Student Handbook and Monthly Newsletters Online
Centennial’s Student Handbook will be available by mid-September online at centennial.osd.wednet.edu. Centennial’s monthly newsletter is posted on the school’s website and sent to your email via Skyward-Message Center. If you need a hard copy let your child’s teacher know. Time sensitive Reminders/Flyers will continue to go home in your child’s backpack as needed.
Alternatives to In-Person Learning
We are very excited to welcome our stars to the building and hope you choose to have your child attend Centennial this year. However, if in person learning is not the choice you feel is right for your family, our school district offers alternatives to in-person learning. Information regarding these alternatives can be found below:
Olympia Virtual Academy
ORLA iConnect
ORLA hConnect
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.