Christensen Courier

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Jordon Al-Kaabi ~ Principal

Dayna Hughes ~ Assistant Principal

253-298-3300

christensen@fpschools.org

Office Hours - 8:30am to 4:00pm

School Day Hours - 8:55am to 3:25pm

• October 1 ~ 90 Minute Early Release: 1:55 pm
• October 3rd ~ Loteria Night 5:30-7:00 pm
• October 6 ~ NO SCHOOL - teacher training
• October 7th - 10th ~ CONFERENCES - 3.5 hour Early Release @ 11:55 am
• October 13th ~ Vision and Hearing Screening Day
• October 15th ~ 90 Minute Early Release: 1:55 pm
• October 22nd ~ 90 Minute Early Release: 1:55 pm
• October 24th ~ PTA Trunk or Treat 5:30-7:00 pm
• October 29th ~ 90 Minute Early Release: 1:55 pm
• October 30th ~ Picture Retakes

2024-25 District Calendar - English

2024-25 District Calendar - Spanish

Sweatshirts and T-shirts available in different colors and designs.

Cinch bags & coffee mugs are now available for purchase!

Every purchase supports Christensen Elementary students through the PTA.

Order online at: http://www.bonfire.com/store/christensen-elementary-school-spirit-gear/

All are welcome at the PTA.

The PTA is a group of parents/guardians, community members and Christensen Staff that are working together to give all students the best experience we can while they are here at Christensen. We would love to hear your ideas for supporting your children and creating a school that meets your needs.

Please join us at our next meeting: Thursday, October 2nd at 5:30 in the Christensen Library.

Join us for Lotería Night at Christensen!

Friday, October 3rd

5:30 to 7:00 pm

Christensen Gym

***Come play and win prizes!***

Join the PTA for Loteria! Friday, October 3rd 5:30-7:00pm in the Christensen Gym.

Pizza, hotdogs, drinks and chips will be available for purchase during the game.

What is Loteria? A game very similar to American Bingo that originated in Europe and arrived in Mexico in the 1700s. Instead of using numbered balls, the Loteria game uses cards to announce squares. Learn more about the history of Loteria here: https://teresavillegas.com/history-of-la-loteria/

Students will have early dismissal at 11:55 am during this week. Sack lunches will be served and buses will run 3.5 hours earlier than a regular dismissal day. Please make arrangements ahead of time for any daycare needs.

Please made sure to schedule a conference time with your child's teacher.

Washington state updated policies in 2020 requiring comprehensive sexual health education is provided to students in grades 4–12. Research shows that CSHE is a protective factor in sexual abuse prevention. When young people are taught that no one has the right to touch them without their consent, they are more likely to tell a trusted adult if that ever happens. Additionally, teaching about boundary setting and affirmative consent has been shown to have a positive correlation with forming healthy relationships later in life.

Guardians may opt children out of instruction with a written request. Families are invited to join us to learn about the sexual health instruction to inform decisions. A districtwide family information night for grades 4-9, will be held Monday, October 13, 2025, 5:00 - 7:00 pm, at the Franklin Pierce Schools Jo Anne Matson Administrative Center.

Even if you choose not to have your child participate in this learning program, previewing the curriculum in advance will help you respond to any questions your child may have based on anything they hear from classmates at school. You can also expect your child’s teachers to notify you a month in advance of when instruction will occur in your classroom/school.

Further info, as well as the Opt Out Form, can be located at the link below.

Do you have a student who…

• learns easily and quickly?
• thinks up unusual ways to solve hard problems?
• has a clever sense of humor?
• dislikes doing the same thing over and over?
• thinks logically and wants things to make sense?
• is open to new ideas?
• is persistent and wants to keep trying with difficult tasks?

Conoce a algún estudiante que…

¿Aprende fácil y rápido?

¿Piensa de forma inusual cómo resolver problemas difíciles?

¿Tiene un sentido del humor ingenioso?

¿Le desagrada hacer la misma cosa una y otra vez?

¿Piensa de manera lógica y quiere que las cosas tengan sentido?

¿Está abierto a nuevas ideas?

¿Es persistente y quiere seguir tratando con tareas difíciles?

Complete una referencia del programa Project Excel aquí.

Classroom food is limited due to Health & Safety protocols. Please check with the office before sending ANY food other than individual lunches.

• Please request permission from your child’s teacher before bringing snacks to school.

• All snacks/treats MUST be store-bought and individually wrapped.

• Healthy treats are encouraged!

We have a very helpful transportation department, so if you have any questions or issues about something that happened on the bus, at the bus stop, or regarding a late bus, please call the Transportation office directly at 253-298-3865.

Bus Bulletin

This year, we are happy to introduce Bus Bulletin as a tool for students, parents and caregivers. The Bus Bulletin notification system will notify parents and students when there are bus delays, substitute drivers, and/or a bus change.

Students who ride a bus are automatically enrolled in this system. If your student rides a bus, please save 253-237-8313 as Bus Bulletin's number - That is where texts and phone call notifications will come from.

If you wish your child to ride a bus other than his or her normal bus or to get off at a different bus stop, you must send a note with the bus numbers and different stop listed. The same holds true if you want your child to walk rather than ride the bus. Sending a note with your request will cut down on the amount of phone calls our busy office receives each day. Without a not or phone call, we will not allow students to walk or change their regular bus or bus stop.

Please be aware that any bus riding kindergarten student that is not met at the bus stop after school will be returned to Christensen for parent pick-up. It is very important to meet you students at the bus stop on time!

Student safety is important to us here at Christensen. Here are some reminders we need all families to follow when dropping off students at the beginning of the day and picking up students at the end of the day.

Morning Drop-off

• Dropoff begins: 8:40 a.m.
• School starts: 8:55 · Dismissal: 3:25 p.m.
• Use the front drop-off lane; follow staff directions and remain in your vehicle to keep the line moving. Park only in designated spaces; the bus crescent must stay clear.
• Breakfast: Students enter via the gym to pick up breakfast, then go directly to class. If students are not eating breakfast, they should head directly to their class, not stopping anywhere else.

Franklin Pierce Schools uses ParentSquare for school communication, primarily with email, text and app notifications. ParentSquare automatically generates an account for each parent, using their preferred email address and phone number. We encourage parents to access their accounts so they can download the mobile app and update their preferences on when and how they are notified.

If you haven't already, yo can activate your account by going to www.parentsquare.com/signin or look for your activation email.

If you were cleared as a volunteer last year, please complete a new application. Volunteer applications must be updated yearly.

Franklin Pierce Schools partners with a variety of organizations and services to provide additional support to students and families. Resources range from food and health resources to mental and physical health resources. In addition to learning more about FPS partner organizations, students and families are encouraged to connect with school staff to learn of available services.

Additional Resources:

• Housing instability or experiencing homelessness
• Out of home placement or foster care

Christensen hosts a before and after school care program on-site for our students. The care is provided by Right at School. Right at School provides a safe environment to learn, to play, and to grow. Click here for more information and to register.

Did you know that Franklin Pierce School operates a Family Resource Center in our district Office? We do! The Family Resource Center at Franklin Pierce (FRC) serves as a community hup that strives to empower families through resources, trainings, and comprehensive supports that lead to a thriving community.

We are community-driven, strengths-based, family-focused and honor the experiences, cultures and perspectives of all who enter our doors.

Please visit us! We are open 7:30am-4:00pm, Monday-Friday at 315 129th St S, Tacoma, WA 98444. Appointments are requested so we can best serve you.

SPYA is offering co-ed volleyball and co-ed flag football for the Fall 2025 season. The season will begin on September 2 and end on October 25. This is a great opportunity for your student to meet new friends and move! Registration is available on the SPYA website.

Email: christensen@fpschools.org

Website: christensen.fspchools.org

Location: 10232 Barnes Ln S, Tacoma, WA, 98444

Phone: 253-298-3300

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 brandy Marshall, Compliance Coordinator for State and Civil Rights Laws at bmarshall@fpschools.org; Dr. Julien Pollard, Title IX Officer at titleIXcoordinator@fpschools.org; or John Sander, 504/ADA Coordinator at jsander@fpschools.org or at 315 129th St S, Tacoma, WA 98444-5099 or at (253)298-3000. Requests for accommodation of a disability for a staff member should be directed to Human Resources.