09/22 McMicken Family Connection

September 22, 2022

Principal's Corner

A Word from Your Principal

Dear McMicken Families,

We are so proud of the growth we are already seeing in our students as they settle into the routines of learning here at McMicken. I had a student spontaneously share with me that he was working really hard on being “optimistic,” which is our SEAD habit of the week. He also shared that he was really hoping to “achieve” it like our chant says. When I asked him how he was going to show optimism, he said he was going to listen and work hard. It is wonderful to hear our students starting to internalize our Cougar habits! In this newsletter, you can find the Cougar habits of the week and discuss them with your students. You can ask them how they are showing these habits in school and at home. The more collaboration we can have around the habits the better and nothing is more important than a strong home-school connection!

:) Principal Haas

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Join the Superintendent's Family Action Committee (FAC)

The Superintendent's Family Action Committee (FAC) has been active for 10 years and is highly regarded as a committee that brings the parent/family voice to a variety of district strategies and practices.

They are seeking members for the Superintendent's Family Action Committee for the 2022-2024 school years. Their goal is to have a representative from each school that reflects the beautiful diversity of our district. Here are some of the things the FAC has accomplished:

FAC Accomplishments

Co-developed the family engagement catalog
Nationally recognized family engagement video produced by the FAC.
Review and provide feedback on policies including equity, family engagement etc.
Co-developed district’s family engagement survey and vision

Committee description and applications are available on the website. They are accepting applications through Friday, October 14.

Vision

Families and Schools working as partners to ensure every student graduates prepared for the future they choose.

Mission

Families working directly with the Superintendent, bringing the family voice to district level decision-making.

Charge

The Superintendent’s Family Action Committee will:

Providing the superintendent and staff strategies around effective family engagement practices.
Providing input and feedback on school district policies and department strategies and practices.
Holding the district accountable for strategic plan goals. District staff will report out to specific metrics on a regular basis.

Childcare, interpretation and dinner are provided at every FAC meeting. Please contact Lolita O’Donnell for any questions at Lolita.ODonnell@highlineschools.org or call (206) 631-3100.

VOTE on the 2022 Bond: Proposition 1

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Highline Public Schools has an upcoming bond on the November 8th ballot. This bond will fund the replacement of Evergreen HS, Tyee HS, and Pacific MS, and fund critical repairs and improvements across the district - without raising tax rates! Once Evergreen and Tyee high schools are rebuilt, every high school service area across Highline will have a safe, modern high school.

To learn more information about the bond, you can watch this video, visit this website, or attend a bond informational meeting.

Thursday, September 15, 6:00-7:00 p.m. at Tyee High School Library, 4424 S 188th Street, SeaTac
Tuesday, September 20, 6:00-7:00 p.m. at Evergreen High School Library, 830 SW 116th Street, Seattle
Thursday, September 22, 6:00-7:00 p.m. at Pacific Middle School Library, 22705 24th Avenue S, Des Moines
Monday, October 17, 6:00 p.m. (Zoom link to be provided)
Thursday, November 3, 6:00 p.m. (Zoom link to be provided)

Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month

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Each year, we observe National Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month, which takes place from September 15 to October 15. It is a time to celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of those whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

The day of September 15 is the anniversary of independence for the Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively.

To learn more about National Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month, check out these resources in English and Spanish.

See the full year's Heritage Month calendar and think about how you can continue to celebrate these groups at home.

"Families as Partners" and PTO

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We are excited to bring back our "Families as Partners" and PTO (Parent-Teacher Organization) events this year! These groups will focus on ideas and actions to support the growth of our school and students.

If you have not signed up during "Back to School Night" and you are interested in receiving more information about these groups, please complete this form or scan the QR code to fill out the interest form.

We will contact you in a few weeks with more information. For any questions, please contact Annie Nguyen at annie.nguyen@highlineschools.org.

Attendance Matters

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If your child will not be in school, for any reason, you must call the school office every day your child is out. Please call 206.631.4300 to report the absence. Please review the Attendance Basics for our policies. More information can be found on the Attendance page of the school's website.

A missed absence, for any reason and for any amount of time, is a missed opportunity for learning. Help your child succeed by building the habit of good attendance early. Good attendance will help children do well in high school, college - and at work.

Did you know students can suffer academically if they miss 10% of the school year, or about 18 days? That's just one day every two weeks. Research shows that missing 2-3 days a month can result in:

3rd grade students falling behind in reading
6th grade students failing courses
Teens dropping out of high school

Sporadic absences matter too. Just one or two days a month can add up before you know it!

Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school and themselves.

If you are facing challenges related to health care, unstable housing, transportation or lack of food, our school can help. Ryan Bunda, our school counselor, can connect you to services for the whole family. Contact Ryan Bunda by texting or calling 425.298.5329 or emailing Ryan.Bunda@highlineschools.org.

Student Pick Up

Please try to schedule all appointments and vacations when school is not in session. It is important your student does not miss valuable learning time. If you need to take your student out of school early, please check into the office. You will need to sign your student out.

Students will not be released the last 15 minutes of the school day. It is disruptive to classrooms, which are transitioning to dismissal procedures. Also, please plan ahead as last-minute changes to dismissal plans are not guaranteed. If there are any changes to your daily dismissal routine, please call the front office no later than 2:00pm.

School Hours

Doors open at 8:20 A.M.

Doors close at 4:00 P.M.

Please make sure your student arrives on time. All students are in their classrooms at 8:45am, ready to learn. For student safety, please make sure you pick up your student promptly after school. We have limited staff to supervise children not picked up on time. Thank you for your cooperation with this.

COVID Updates

Please keep updated on COVID guidelines. There are buttons at the end of this newsletter that will have updates throughout the school year. For the start of our school year, you can look at this one-pager for current guidelines for McMicken Heights.

If you would like your child to have the option to test at school, you can complete the Highline Public School's COVID testing consent form. It only needs to be completed once this school year.

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Our Weekly Habit

September's Monthly Focus: We are C.O.U.G.A.R.S.

Weekly Focus (Sept. 26-30): We are Understanding.

A quote to think about: "We are all different. Don't judge. Understand instead." - Roy T. Bennett

When we are understanding, it looks like:

Random acts of kindness to encourage and uplift others

When we are understanding, it sounds like:

Asking questions to learn about one another
Offering to help a friend in need

When we are understanding, it feels like:

Appreciation and support for yourself and others

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Friday, October 14: No School for Students (Pre-K to 12)

Tuesday, October 25: 5th Grade APTT #1 (5:30-6:45pm on Zoom)

Wednesday, October 26: 3rd Grade APTT #1 (5:30-6:45pm on Zoom)

Thursday, October 27: 1st Grade APTT #1 (5:30-6:45pm on Zoom)

Tuesday, November 1: 4th Grade APTT #1 (5:30-6:45pm on Zoom)

Wednesday, November 2: 2nd Grade APTT #1 (5:30-6:45pm on Zoom)

Thursday, November 3: Kindergarten APTT #1 (5:30-6:45pm on Zoom)

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King County Library: Vietnamese Family Story Time

For children ages 2 to 5, Wednesdays on Zoom from 7:00-7:45pm

Join us for stories, music, movement, and rhymes in Vietnamese! Registration required. You will receive a Zoom link via email at least one hour prior to the event. If you do not see an email, check your Junk or Spam folder. Please click this link for more information and to sign up.

City of SeaTac: Before & After School Programs and Camps

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The City of SeaTac provides a before and after school program full of organized and exciting educational activities for your child. They are open Monday to Friday (before school starting at 6am and after school ending at 6pm).

Register online: https://secure.rec1.com/WA/city-of-seatac/catalog or in person at SeaTac Community Center: Parks, Community Programs & Services Department (13735 24th Ave. S., SeaTac, Washington 98168). You can call them at 206.973.4680.

Pricing: Is flat rate and depending on if you need morning, afternoon, or both. Please see the attached for more details. Scholarships available for SeaTac qualifying residents.

Recreation Scholarship Program

This program is to provide financial assistance to youth and teen citizens for recreational services. Please call the SeaTac Community Center at 206.973.4680 for more information. Click here to view/print a 2022 Recreation Scholarship application.

For assistance for express approval option, if you student receives free or reduced lunch reach, please reach out to: Highline Public Schools Nutrition Services at 206-631-3228 for verification.

Students will be approved individually with the following:

Letter from the Highline School District stating your child is approved for free or reduced lunch.
Copy of a recent utility bill with parent/guardian name and SeaTac address. Name must match the name on the Highline School District approval letter for free or reduced lunch.
Back page of scholarship application filled and signed.

If your student qualifies for free lunch or reduced lunch, you may qualify for the following scholarship:

Free lunch - 70% scholarship
Reduced lunch - 50% scholarship

Highline College Offers English as a Second Language for Adults

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Highline College offers English classes to immigrants, refugees, permanent residents, and U.S. citizens who are at least 18 years old. These classes help to improve reading, writing, speaking, listening, technology, and academic skills in order to be successful in college and the workplace.

There is a $25 tuition fee for the quarter. Tuition waivers are available during the registration process.

Note:
If you have a temporary visa such as F1, F2, H1, or you are an Au Pair (nanny), business travelers, or tourists, go to the International Programs website for English language training options.

Visit our ELCAP (English Language, Career and Academic Prep) website for more information.

Website: English Language, Career and Academic Prep (ELCAP)

Email: elcapofficestaff@highline.edu

Phone: (206) 592-3297

For information in Spanish, please call 206-592-3750.

If you have a disability that requires special accommodations, contact Access Services after your assessment appointment either in person at building 99 or by phone at 206-592-3857.

KCLS: Study Zone Plus

For more information, visit https://kcls.org/studyzoneplus/.

Zoom Meeting ID: 848 1415 3950; Passcode: 883304

Study Zone Tutors (grades K-12) on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 4-6pm.

Math Club (grades K-8) on Thursdays 5:30-7:30pm.

Reading Buddies (grades K-6 & ELL to grade 12) on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6:30-7:30pm.

Kids and Teen Talk Time (grades K-12) on Thursdays from 4-5pm.

Study Zone Plus volunteers offer academic support for students in grades K-12. Log in during open hours for:

Free homework help
Access to KCLS librarians
Language and reading support
Social activities

Type your requested activity in the Chat or wait for the Greeter to call on you. Students will be moved to breakout rooms for the service they choose.

Study Zone Plus programs will be closed August 26-September 11, November 21-24, December 19-29, January 16, February 20-23, and June 19-29.