August/September Newsletter

💙💛Welcome Back to the 2025–26 School Year!💙💛

We’re so excited to welcome you to another great year at Elmhurst Elementary!

You can expect to receive a monthly newsletter from us, filled with important announcements, upcoming events, and key dates to keep your family informed and connected. Please be sure to pay close attention to the dates, times, and locations listed each month to stay up to date.

A special September newsletter will be arriving soon, so keep an eye out!

Just a reminder:

• First day for Grades 1–5: Monday, August 26th

• First day for Kindergarten: Monday, September 2nd

We can’t wait to kick off the school year with you!

💙💛Principal Smith💙💛

August 26th ~ First day of school for 1st - 5th grade

Aug 29 & Sept 1 ~ NO SCHOOL for Labor Day weekend

September 2 ~ First full day of school for Kindergarteners-See teacher email for your child's day

September 3 ~2:35 Dismissal

September 10 ~ 2:35 Dismissal

September 17 ~ 2:35 Dismissal

September 24 ~ 2:35 Dismissal

Over the summer, we had the pleasure of working with local community member and Elmhurst parent, Elora Blessing, a talented graphic designer. Together, we went through a thoughtful design process to revamp and modernize our school’s visual identity—something that hasn’t been updated since the 1960s! We now welcome Elle our Elmhurst Eagle!

The refreshed logo and design now better reflect our vibrant school community and the spirit of today’s Elmhurst Elementary. We’re excited to share this new look with you throughout the school year—in newsletters, signage, spirit wear, and more!

A huge thank you to Elora Blessing for her time, creativity, and commitment to our school!

You are now able to see your child's teacher online and by calling the office. We do have them posted inside the school for the first day of school.

If you know of friend, family or neighbors who have not yet registered for school please remind them its not too late. Elmhurst is a great school and community ready to welcome your child.

All school supplies will be provided by Franklin Pierce School District for each building and student.

Parents will be allowed to walk their child to the classroom on Day 1 of school . You will need to leave campus by 9:35am.

Arrival Time: 9:25am

Breakfast: 9:20am-9:35 ONLY Student start to get to class around 8:32am

Tardy Bell: 9:35am

Dismissal Time:4:05pm

Gates will be open at 3:45pm for parent pick up.

Back-to-School Update: Drop-Off & Pick-Up Procedures

As we begin the new school year, we’d like to share some important updates to our student drop-off and pick-up procedures. These changes are designed to improve traffic flow and maximize instructional time for students. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe and efficient process.

Student Drop-Off

• Drop-off Time: 9:25 AM – 9:35 AM

• New Drop-Off Zone: Please remain in your vehicle until a supervising adult signals that it is time to release your student. There will be signs and cones marking the designated drop-off zone.

• Important: For student and staff safety, do not let your child out of the vehicle until you are inside the marked drop-off zone. Staff members will begin releasing students at 9:25 AM.

• Late Arrivals:
  Students arriving after 9:35 AM must be accompanied into the office by a parent or guardian to be signed in.

  For safety reasons, students may not enter the building unsupervised. Parents must park, come into the office, and sign in their child, noting the time and reason for tardiness.

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Student Pick-Up

• Dismissal Time: 4:05 PM

• Students may be picked up either by car in the designated car line or from the walker waiting area (see map for location).

• For car pick-up, please remain in your vehicle and proceed to the designated pick-up zone, clearly marked with signs and cones.

• Students will be waiting at assigned cones and will be released by staff once your car arrives.

• Staying in your vehicle helps keep traffic flowing and ensures student safety.

Walker Drop-off

• Student walkers must wait on at the student walker area until 9:20am, at that time they will enter through the main office doors to go to breakfast.

Walker Pick-Up

• Adults meeting students who walk home must wait in the walker waiting area, as indicated on the map. If the student walker does not walk home 5 minutes after dismissal - student will be sent over to the car pick up area.

• Please note: This year, we do not offer a park-and-walk-up option. All walker pick-ups must follow the designated procedure.

• 🚫 Important: Non-Support Center families should not enter the parking lot near the walker waiting area. This area is reserved only for Support Center bus and car drop-off and pick-up. Your cooperation helps ensure the safety and smooth transition of all students.

Thank you for helping us prioritize student safety and learning time. Our school day officially begins at 9:35 AM, and we appreciate your efforts to ensure students are in their classrooms and ready to learn by that time.

Click the photo below to order:

2025-26 Online Registration for NEW Students

If you have a child who will be five years old by August 31, please enroll now. The 2025-2026 school year is just around the corner! Starting kindergarten is a big deal for kids and their families. It's not just about learning ABCs and 123s - it's about making new friends, discovering new things, and taking a step into a new school community. Visit www.fpschools.org/enroll.

• Find your School!
• Gather your Documents!
• Enroll online!

Updating Family Information On-line

Now is a great time to check the contact information that we have for your child. If you have had any changes, you can always log on to your Family Access Account at fpschools.org and update your address, email, and phone numbers. If you need help, please don't hesitate to call the Elmhurst Office at 253-298-3500.

Before and Afterschool Care at Elmhurst

Click the YMCA button for more information.

General info 253.534.7840

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS....

If you are interested in volunteering as a chaperone for field trips or in any other capacity that may come up, please complete the volunteer application as soon as possible. It may take up to two weeks to process an application and we don't want you to be left out of a volunteer opportunity because you are not approved yet! Click here to begin your volunteer application. If you were cleared as a volunteer last year, please complete a new application. Volunteer applications must be completed every year.

Franklin Pierce Schools has a resource center for our families. You will find information and help for many situations and needs - food, diapers, formula, community referrals, and more.

Click here to access the Family Resource Center website

Sarah Atchison M. Ed.

School Counselor (she/her)

Elmhurst Elementary

253-298-3510 | satchison@fpschools.org

Work Hard, Think Big, Be Kind

Mental Health Resources

What Elmhurst is and all about......

Picture a Vibrant Tapestry Woven from many different threads, each representing a student’s unique background and experiences. In this tapestry, Restorative Practices serve as the skilled hands of a weaver, carefully mending any frays or gaps that arise, ensuring that every thread remains interconnected and strong.

Culturally Responsive Teaching acts as the rich dye that enhances each thread’s color, acknowledging and celebrating diversity, allowing every student to shine in their own hue. The Sense of Belonging is like the warm, comforting fabric backing of the tapestry, providing support and security, making each student feel like an integral part of the whole.

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) flow like the guiding patterns in the design, promoting consistent, positive behaviors that keep the tapestry vibrant and harmonious. Finally, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) function as the sturdy loom that holds everything together, ensuring that students receive the right level of support based on their individual needs, allowing the tapestry to adapt and grow over time.

Together, these elements create a cohesive, resilient tapestry where every student’s story is valued, contributing to a rich and inclusive school environment.

Phone: 253-298-3500

Fax: 235-298-3515

Address: 420 133rd Street East, Tacoma, WA 98445

Email: elmhurst@fpschools.org
Website: https://elmhurst.fpschools.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565462617905