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

Para traducir, busque el BOLETÍN TRADUCIDO a la derecha.

Чтобы перевести, найдите БЮЛЛЕТЕНЬ ПЕРЕВОДА справа.

ត្រូវការការបកប្រែទេ? រកមើលប៊ូតុង TRANSLATE NEWSLETTER នៅខាងស្តាំ។

Cần bản dịch? Tìm nút BẢN TIN DỊCH ở bên phải

Manaʻomia le faʻaliliuga? Vaʻai mo le TRANSLATE NEWSLETTER button i le itu taumatau.

Потрібен переклад? Праворуч натисніть кнопку ПЕРЕКЛАТИ БЮЛЕТЕНЬ.

May 28 - 2:35 dismissal

May 31 - Franklin Pierce Pow Wow

June 2-4 - 5th Grade Camp

June 3 - Open house for new families, 4:30-6:00pm

June 3 & June 10 - 3rd Grade's Wax Museum, 1:15-2:00

June 4 - 2:35 dismissal

June 5 - 4th Grade to Tolmie State Park

June 5 - 1st Grade to NW Trek

June 6 - 5th graders to visit FP Farm

June 11 - 12:35 dismissal, report card planning

June 12 - Kindergarten to Pt. Defiance Zoo

June 12 - 3rd grade to Pioneer Farms

June 12 - 5th grade promotion, 6pm

June 13 - 2nd grade to Pioneer Farms

June 16 - Field Day (more info below!)

June 17 -12:35 dismissal, LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!

Are you interested volunteering? We would love to have you! We have two volunteer timeslots!

Monday, June 16

Grades K-2 - 9:45-11:45

Grades 3-5 - 11:45-3:15

Please email mkiepert@fpschools.org if you are interested!

**A district background check and approval is required for all volunteers. This can be completed at fpschools.org/get-involved **

We are offering this opportunity to new families in our community! Please share with your neighbors!

It's that time of year where we are making plans for next school year. If your student(s) will not be returning to Collins, please let the office know. Thank you!

Next Wednesday, May 28, through June 4th, our Girls on the Run team is hosting a coin competition called “Changing Lives” as part of their community impact project. All donations will go to The Wishing Well in Tacoma, which supports foster care families in our area. The competition will last one week, and the winning class will earn an extra recess and a popsicle party. Please start collecting coins and sending them in!

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.

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

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.

5th Grade Camp

All physician orders and medications that are to be delivered to the health room no later than Wednesday, May 28th, 2025. All medications must be transported by the parent/guardian or another designated adult. Prescription medications need to be in their original prescription containers with the prescription label. Any over-the-counter medications must be in new, unopened packaging with the student's name clearly labeled. Call the health room with questions or concerns 253-298-3408.

End of Year Medication Pick-Up

All medications are required to be picked up by the parent/guardian/another designated adult by the last day of school, June 17th, 2025. Any and all medications that are not picked up will be properly disposed of. The only exception to this is for unexpired epi-pens and inhalers, which can be stored over summer for returning students, with parent permission. This can be obtained through an email, written note, or verbal communication over the phone with the nurse. Email: scruz@fpschools.org; phone: 253-298-3408.

Remember, we require a new medication physician order each school year. Be sure to reach out to your child's provider to take care of this over summer.

Health Conditions

Please inform the nurse of any new, updated, or change in your child's health information. This is vital to your student's safety and well-being while at school.

​Sherise Cruz, LPN

Collins Elementary School Nurse

Phone: 253-298-3408 Fax: 253-298-3415

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!

• Our last PTA meeting is Monday, June 9th. 5:00-5:45PM at the Parkland/Spanaway Pierce County Library (13718 Pacific Ave S, Tacoma, WA 98444). Hope to see you there. We will be voting in the board members for next year.
  If you can join remotely - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3257519890?pwd=bmQxVkJST, UDBIdEVhR1g1NXdEdz09&omn=89773509869Meeting ID: 325 751 9890, Passcode: CollinsPTA
• The PTA wants your feedback! Families and staff, please fill out the anonymous survey - https://forms.gle/NWMpSWL6ToKUswpt7

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