October 2026
A Note from the Principal
Dear families and community,
WOW! Our Color Blast Fun Run Fundraiser is off to a great start! We have raised $6,605! Thank you to everyone for your donations and support. We met our first all school goal of $5000 and earned an all school PJ day. Monday, October 5th will be our all school PJ day! We also have a special weekend challenge for the fundraiser, the top earning class over the weekend will earn a Popsicle Party! Here is the link to donate: https://app.99pledges.com/fund/ececolorbl1
The first Friday of each month we hold a Recognition Assembly. Students are recognized by their teachers and specialists for demonstrating the Big 3 and showing the monthly core value. Classroom teachers also nominate students for the Pencil of Power and the Master of Math awards. Recognized students receive a certificate and a pencil.
As always, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please reach out and let us know.
Respectfully,
Michele Ricci
360-652-4515
Upcoming Events
- Sept. 28 - Oct. 9th - Color Blast Fundraiser
- Oct. 2nd - Early Release Friday; 1:45pm dismissal
- Oct. 7th - Picture Day
- Oct. 9th - Early Release Friday; 1:45pm dismissal
- Oct. 14th - McTeacher Night; Smokey Point McDonald's, 5:00-8:00pm
- Oct. 16th - Early Release Friday; 1:45pm dismissal
- Oct. 23rd - Early Release Friday; 1:45pm dismissal
- Oct. 26th - 30th - Conference Week; 12:15pm dismissal
Student Drop-off and Pick-up Reminders
- Drop-off: Students may be dropped off at 8:15am for breakfast or 8:20am if they are going to class. The curb lane in front of the school is used for active unloading.
- Please do not park in this curb lane during drop-off. It is okay to get out of the vehicle and help your student out of the car. Students may walk down the sidewalk to the front door. It is okay to drive forward to an open spot. Please be careful and watch for cars pulling around on the left.
- Pick-up: Families will park their cars and walk to the front entrance of the school for pick-up. A school staff member will ask each family who they are picking up and will check identification as needed. Students may only be picked up by the individuals listed in Skyward.
Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Our PTA is an amazing group of dedicated parents working hard to support the students, teachers, and school community. The PTA helps raise money that funds field trips, student activities and incentives, and some classroom and school equipment. Want to get involved at ECE? Please consider joining our Parent Teacher Association (PTA). Everyone is invited and encouraged to join. Membership link:
https://englishcrossingpta.givebacks.com/shop/items/c8186ac1dd6659
Please visit the English Crossing PTA Facebook page for up-to-date information. Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/EnglishCrossingPTA
Also, please visit the ECE PTA webpage at this link:
https://englishcrossingpta.org/.
Upcoming PTA activities:
Oct. 14th - McTeacher Night @ 5:00pm
Oct. 24th - Halloween Hijinx @ 6:00pm
Color Run Dismissal Information - Oct. 9th.
Parents/Guardians,
You are welcome to come watch or walk with your students during the Color Blast Fun Run October 9th, 2026. The Fun Run will be from 1-1:30pm and take place on the lower field behind the playground. Please read this important information:
-When arriving, please go directly to the lower field. There is no need to check in at the office.
-If you plan to take your student home when the run is complete, please make sure to sign your student out BEFORE the run. We will have the sign-out sheets on a table at the entrance to the field. They will be sorted by teacher name.
-Students will return to their classroom to get their things and those who are signed out before the run will be released immediately. Please wait outside the front of the school until your student is dismissed. PLEASE DO NOT ENTER THE BUILDING AFTER THE RUN.
-Parking is limited. If you have several family members coming, please try to use 1 vehicle. Please do not park along the road.
A Note from Mrs. Loucks, Dean of Students
Attendance Matters at ECE!
September marked the start of a wonderful new school year and was also Attendance Awareness Month. Thank you for partnering with us to support your child's regular attendance. Every day at school matters, and strong attendance helps students build academic skills, develop friendships, and feel connected to their classroom community.
We are excited to share that 8 ECE classrooms have already earned an ALL IN! celebration by having every student present for five total school days. Our ALL IN! Attendance Incentive Program encourages students to come to school each day, ready to learn and grow together. Each classroom tracks its attendance progress on an ALL IN! Star Chart, earning stars when every student is present for the entire school day. As classes reach attendance milestones, they earn celebrations that become more exciting throughout the year, including extra recess, game days, ice cream treats, movie days, mystery prizes, and more. The program is designed to build classroom community while helping students develop positive attendance habits that support long-term success.
Why Attendance Matters
When children miss school regularly, they miss out on important reading and math instruction and opportunities to build habits that contribute to future success. Research shows that students who are chronically absent, meaning they miss 10% or more of the school year (18 days over the course of a year), are less likely to read proficiently by third grade. In addition to academic learning, students also miss opportunities to develop social skills, problem-solving strategies, and self-regulation skills that are essential for growth and learning.
If your family is experiencing challenges that are affecting your child's attendance, please reach out. We are here to help and partner with you. I will also be scheduling meetings with families whose students have accumulated three or more unexcused absences to develop a plan for improving attendance and ensuring student success at ECE.
Families may excuse student absences for illness or injury, family needs, medical appointments, and mental health needs through Skyward. Please contact Holli or me if you need assistance.
Thank you for helping us keep ECE ALL IN and ready to learn every day!
Respectfully,
Lori Loucks, Dean of Students
360 652-4515 Ext. 4006
"Helping every student shine."
Counselor's Corner
October 21st is Unity Day! This event happens during National Bullying Prevention Month and helps spread the message to promote kindness, acceptance and inclusion to prevent bullying. ECE supports this event by participating in a simple call to action - wear and share the color orange.
Why unity? The goal of Unity Day is to bring together youth, parents, educators, businesses, and community members across the nation to emphasize the message that bullying is not acceptable, and that all students deserve to be safe in school, online, and in the community.
Why the color orange? Orange is commonly identified with October and the autumn season. It’s also a color associated with safety and visibility.
Just one day? Although this day provides a chance for everyone to make a visual statement, we know that our actions matter not only on one day, but every day.
Please join us and mark your calendars to WEAR ORANGE on Wednesday, October 21st!
Marli Bartness, School Counselor
English Crossing Elementary
360-652-4515, ext. 4137
Monthly Core Value
Apply now for free preschool
Lakewood’s ECEAP Preschool has openings for the 2026-27 school year at Lakewood Elementary. ECEAP (Early Childhood Education & Assistance Program) is a free preschool program for income-eligible children ages 3 to 5 years old and their families. The program offers:
· Play-based activities that promote reading/writing, language, math, art, science, and social skills
· Support for dual-language learners
· Connections to community resources
· Family events with support to strengthen family well-being
Contact Desiree Mason at 360-652-4520 or dmason@lwsd.wednet.edu for more information or to see if your family qualifies.
Volunteers and visitors
Please check in at our front office when coming to visit or volunteer. The Lakewood School District is now using Raptor Technologies for both Visitor and Volunteer management. All volunteers can now apply online using the links or QR code found below. Once approved as a volunteer, you may sign in at the office. If you are not on the approved volunteer list, you will be asked to show your identification when visiting the school.
The links for English and Spanish applications are available on the Volunteers page of our website.
English Crossing Elementary
Email: mricci@lwsd.wednet.edu
Website: https://www.lwsd.wednet.edu/ECE
Location: 16728 16th Drive Northeast, Marysville, WA 98271, USA
Phone: (360) 652-4515