Collins Coyotes Howler Newsletter

Creating connected, capable, contributing learners who achieve their highest potential every day

Location: 1920 128th Street East, Tacoma, WA, USA
Phone: 253-298-3400
Facebook: facebook.com/collinscoyotes

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April 16 - Blue Zone Project Celebration

April 16 - 2:35 dismissal

April 17 - Earth Day family Event

April 21-25 - Volunteer and Clerical Appreciation Week

April 22 - 2/3 Grade concert

April 23 - 2:35 dismissal

April 25 - NO SCHOOL

April 28 - 5th Grade Camp information meeting, 5-6:30

April 30 - 2:35 dismissal

Wizfit Fundraiser - April 14-May 3

Greetings Collins Community!

I hope the spring weather is finding you well and excited for the remainder of the school year. We have several events planned and hope you can attend as many as possible!

In case you have not heard, registration for next year is open! Please help us spread the word that enrollment for kindergarten is now available. Also, we will offer Kindergarten Jumpstart in August for incoming kindergarteners. If you need any assistance with the registration process, please reach out to our amazing office staff.

This week is our Earth Day celebration. Please join us on Thursday, from 5:00-7:30 for Earth-friendly activities and a special recognition by our partners from the Blue Zone Project.

Next week is full of acknowledgements and celebrations! All week long we acknowledge our volunteers who donate their time to support students and staff. It would be a great time for anyone interested in helping out to sign up!

Also, we want to do a special recognition of our office staff. Mrs. K and Ms. Kacy warmly greet everyone who visits and helps our school run super efficiently. I especially appreciate their dedication to our school!

Our second and third graders have been rehearsing for weeks in preparation for next week’s music concert. If you have a student in second or third grade, we will see you on Tuesday the 22nd at 5:30. Thank you Mr. Schultz for putting together this musical performance.

Yesterday we kicked off our fundraiser with the Harlem Wizards. The kids enjoyed an exciting assembly with one of the players. From now until May 3rd, students can register and invite folks to donate towards our goal of 10,000$. All of the money raised goes towards additional playground equipment and student activities. Mark your calendar for May 8th when the Wizards return to play against our district’s hoop team. I have officially retired from playing, but Ms. Robbins and Mr. Kiepert have eagerly accepted the challenge. Game ticket info is below.

Several other activities are occurring, so be sure and stay connected through ParentSquare. Your teachers send out regular messages, as well as our main office. If you need any help with the app, please let us know.

One last item I want to share with you for now. If you have not already, please complete the family survey. As of this morning, we have only had 77 responses. The survey is available until Friday. The survey is available on our district’s website or this link.

Collins Family Survey ENGLISH

Thank you all for your continued commitment to your students and our community. We enjoy partnering with you!

Kind regards,

Katie Kehoe

Online enrollment opens for kindergarten and new students is now open! At this time, we are taking registration only for those children who live within our attendance boundaries, or have daycare in our area. Enrollees must provide a copy of their child’s birth certificate, immunization records, and proof of residence by uploading them to our district's website along with their registration information. To be eligible for kindergarten, children must be five years of age by August 31, 2025.

Along with our kindergarten enrollment, we are once again offering Kindergarten Jump Start! This event's purpose is to allow our incoming kindergarten students to see what it is like to be in school, having breakfast, lunch, specialist and some academic time. This is also a wonderful time to meet classmates and school staff. Once your kindergartener is enrolled, you will receive information on registration. Kindergarten Jump Start is August 12, 13, and 14th from 9:20-1:20.

*The program is not designed to address any Individual Education Plans (IEPs).

Please visit fpschools.org - click on the red "Enrollment" circle - follow the instructions for the 2025-26 school year.

🏀The Wizards are coming to take on your favorite teachers in a game full of fun, tricks, and action! Miss Robbins and Mr. Kiepert will be representing Collins!

You won’t want to miss it! 🎟

🗓 Date: May 8th @ 7pm

📍 Location: Washington HS Gym

We no longer use Remind as our messaging app! In order to stay up to date, please click the link below to sign up for Parent Square!

https://www.fpschools.org/about/contact-us/parentsquare-staff

We appreciate all those who volunteer in any capacity in our classrooms and for field trips. We couldn't do these things without them! We want to express our appreciation for all of them!

Also, we want to recognize Mrs. K and Ms. Kacy in the office! They work closely with admin, staff, students and families to make their experience here the best possible and keep Collins running smoothly!

We once again have free dump vouchers for our families! The vouchers are good from April 1 - June 30. Please let us know if you would like one!

To honor and celebrate the rich cultural backgrounds within our community, we are creating a display to showcase the diverse heritages at Collins. We invite students, families and staff to contribute items, artifacts or information that represent their cultural traditions and heritage.

If you would like to participate and share something meaningful for the display, please contact Kacy Hallett at khallett@fpschools.org.

Let's come together to celebrate the vibrant diversity that makes our community unique!

Collins community,

Please remember to drive the posted speed limit as you approach the school to drop off or pick up your student.

The safety of all is a priority, and that includes driving the posted speed limit of 20mph.

Thank you for your attention.

Medications

If your child needs to have medication(s) administered during school hours, we must have a physician's order. The order has to be signed by both the prescribing physician and the parent. This applies to all prescription AND over-the-counter medications (i.e. cough drops, eye drops, ear drops, etc...). All medications are required to be transported to and from school by a parent or another designated adult. We do not allow students to carry medications, unless they have an order that states otherwise.

Illness

Please continuously monitor your child for symptoms. If your child is sick, keep them at home. If exhibiting Covid-like symptoms, testing is recommended. Please see the attached document for guidance. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact the health room.

If your Coyote comes to school late, we ask that you please come in with them to sign them in. Often times, students are just dropped off at the door, and we are trying to avoid that. Thank you for your cooperation!

We will have outdoor recess as much as possible as long as daily conditions are safe for students to be outside. Please be sure your students come to school dressed for the weather. Wear coats, hats, gloves, socks, shoes that protect their feet, and maybe even a change of clothes in case they get wet.

Please also take a moment to label outer-wear with a permanent marker in case it is misplaced.

Our school district office has a Family Resource Center. They can offer connections and resources for families who need support. The Family Resource Center is open to all community members.

The Farm at Franklin Pierce. Food at the farm is grown by and for the community! Everyone is invited to visit the farm on Thursdays from 4-6pm to receive “Fresh and Free Veggies”!

The Farm is located at 9516 Waller Rd E.

If you have any questions about either of these resources, please check out our school district’s website, fpschools.org; or call our school’s front office.

1. The end of the day at Collins is a hectic time! If you forgot to send a note in the morning and need to call the office with a change to your child’s schedule, please do so before 3:30 so the office can get a message to your student before they leave for the day. All end of day schedule changes must be made through the office, not with the classroom teacher. The office will ensure the teacher is informed of the change.
2. Please call the office (253)-298-3400 if your child will be absent. If they have an appointment, please ask the doctor, dentist, counselor, etc. for a note for school. Offices that treat children are used to giving notes to students for excuses! Tardies and leaving school early shows on your child's attendance record. Please make appointments outside of school hours when possible.
3. If you need to come into the building, please press the intercom button on your right as you look at the front door. This will enable the office to see you and to buzz you into the entry if needed.
4. If your phone number, email address, or home address changes, please let us know so we have the most up-to-date contact information for you. If students become ill, or otherwise need your help, we need a way to contact you! Thank you.

If your student is absent and we haven't heard from you, you will receive an automated safety text and email to let you know that your student is not in class. When you receive this text, please call the office at 253-298-3400 or click on the link in the text to let us know the reason for the absence. Alternatively, you could send a signed note with your student when they return to school. Please remember that all absences remain unexcused until we hear from you. Thank you for your help in this important matter!

• Join the PTA! Click to join - https://collinsptacoyotes.givebacks.com/store. Everyone is welcome, and whether you have a little time or a lot, your involvement makes a huge impact.

Franklin Pierce Schools does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, 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 in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Questions and complaints of alleged discrimination should be directed to James Hester, Compliance Coordinator for State and Civil Rights Laws; Dr. Julian Pollard, Title IX Officer; or John Sanders, 504/ADA Coordinator at 315 129th ST S, Tacoma, WA 98444-5099 or at (253)298-3000