TOL K-8 Family Newsletter

Happy Sunday, TOL Families!

What a busy week we've had at Tacoma Online, and what a beautiful way to end it with some sunshine!

Our middle schoolers had their first Middle School Hangout of the year, and it was so much fun! Students spent time playing games, showing off their creativity in a LEGO competition, and battling it out in a surprisingly intense game of rock, paper, scissors! It was wonderful to see students connecting, laughing, and building friendships outside of their virtual classrooms.

We also had a great Toolbox Labs Day on Thursday, celebrated our second Prime Time Family Reading session at the library with our 2nd and 3rd graders, and our kindergarteners headed to the pumpkin patch for some fall fun!

Looking ahead to next week: While this is traditionally conference week across Tacoma Public Schools, at Tacoma Online, we have the unique opportunity to connect with families every single week through our PACE meetings! If you'd like to check in on your child's progress, ask questions, or connect with their PACE coach, we encourage you to join your child's weekly PACE meeting. These conversations are a great way for us to work together to support your student's success!

Thank you for another wonderful week of learning, connection, and community. We hope you all enjoyed a little sunshine this weekend, and we're looking forward to another great week ahead!

Mrs. O'Hara

• 10/7-11/18 - Primetime at Main Library for 2nd and 3rd Grade Families
• 10/22 - 4th and 5th Grade Fall Meet Up - 12:00-2:00 @ Oakland Campus
• 10/23 - TOL MS/HS ASB Game Night 4-6pm - Oakland Campus. (see below)
• 10/29 - TOL at TPL - 1:30-2:30pm @ Moore Branch Library
• 10/30 - Oakland, TOL HS & TOL MS - 5th Annual Trades & Hiring Fair Field Trip (see below)

TOL @ TPL: Fall Fun at the Library!

Did you know that the Tacoma Public Library is full of amazing books, resources, and opportunities for families? We want our TOL students to discover all the wonderful things their local library has to offer!

Join Mrs. Anderson, our TOL Librarian, for a fun afternoon at the Moore Branch of the Tacoma Public Library! Students will enjoy crafts, games, and activities while exploring the library and discovering new books to bring home.

📅 Thursday, October 29 | 1:30–2:30 PM
📍 Moore Branch, Tacoma Public Library
215 S 56th St, Tacoma

We would love to see as many TOL families as possible! Whether your family visits the library regularly or this will be your first time, this is a great opportunity to connect with other TOL families and discover a wonderful community resource.

Parents or guardians must stay with their students. Please RSVP by clicking on the flyer so we know you're coming.

We can't wait to see you at the library!

Game Night!

Tacoma Online ASB would like to invite our middle and high school students, teachers and their families to the first ASB game night fundraiser of the year on Friday, October 23th from 4pm-6pm at our Oakland High School campus. Board games, card games, and Switch video games will be available for play. Snacks and water will be for sale for $1 to help raise money for future TOL ASB events. If you are planning on joining us on October 23rd please take a moment to fill out this RSVP form.

TOL ASB meets weekly on Tuesdays after school at 3:00pm. Members plan events, volunteer at school functions, work together to help build a school community and learn valuable leadership skills. If you are a middle school or high school Tacoma Online student interested in joining or learning more about ASB please contact advisors Sarah Purdin (SPURDIN@Tacoma.K12.Wa.US) and James Stowe (JSTOWE1@Tacoma.K12.Wa.US)

TOL Spirit Week! October 19-23rd!

Your ASB team is excited to present Spirit Week, happening October 19th–23rd! We invite all students and staff to join in and show their school spirit. 6-8th grade students can meet on Teams every day at 12:15 PM and K-5 students will meet with during their morning meeting times to take part in the fun and connect with our school community!

ASB Spirit Week Assembly

Spirit Week themes are:

Monday the 19th: Color Wars! – Support your class by wearing your class color! (See below for elementary colors!)

Tuesday the 20th: Sports Day - Dress to support your favorite team!

Wednesday the 21st: Horror/Costume Day – its October, time to dress up in your favorite costume

Thursday the 22nd: Dress Up Day - Cosplay as your favorite fictional character or bring one of your own original characters to life!

Friday the 23rd: Mix & Match/Crazy Day – Wear your weirdest and wildest outfit.

Color Wars:

Kindergarten - Yellow

1st Grade - Purple

2nd Grade - Orange

3rd Grade - Blue

4th Grade - Red

5th Grade - Green

👾 4th & 5th Grade Multiplication Monster Mash! 👾

Calling all 4th and 5th graders! Join us for a monstrously fun afternoon of creativity and math! Students will use their multiplication facts to create silly, one-of-a-kind monster art. It's a great chance to practice math skills, get creative, and connect with friends!

📅 Thursday, October 22
🕐 1:00–2:30 PM

Be sure to RSVP to join the monster-making fun!

📸 School Pictures Are Ready for Pickup!

If your student had their picture taken on September 28th, their Lifetouch pictures have arrived and are ready for pickup!

Families can stop by the front office at the Oakland Campus, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM to pick up their pictures.

📍 Oakland Campus
3319 S. Adams St.
Tacoma, WA

We can't wait for you to see those smiling faces!

Introducing TOL Rainbow Club

A club for LGBTQ+ students and Allies! All welcome!

Hang out and meet other TOL students. Play games and build community. Learn about yourself and others. Open to all Tacoma Online students: LGBTQ+ and Allies. We will meet at 11:45-12:15 on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday.

Our first meeting will be Wednesday, Oct 21st.

📚 Calling all middle school readers!

Join Ms. Foster for a fun, virtual book club as we read Room One by Andrew Clements together. We'll meet Mondays from 12:30 - 1:00 p.m., November 2 through December 7, to discuss the book, share ideas, and connect with other students who enjoy reading. RSVP required.

If you have a 5th and or 8th graders at Tacoma Online, you’re going to want to pay attention to an important message you’ll get through your ParentVUE account. This message will let you know that you have from October 5th through October 25th to let Tacoma Schools know if you want your student to attend their neighborhood middle or high school next year or stay at Tacoma Online. If you don’t respond, by default, your enrollment will stay at Tacoma Online. Some Tacoma middle and high schools have had to close enrollment recently as they were too full. If you want to make sure your student will go to their neighborhood middle or high school and secure their spot, please respond to this in ParentVue.

If you’re interested in your student going to an in-person middle or high school in Tacoma that is not your neighborhood school, the process to request a choice transfer is available later in October.

Responsibility is about more than completing a task. It is a way of showing others they matter. As a family, look for one small way to ease someone else's load this week. Could you take out a neighbor's garbage, carry in groceries, or invite a family friend to share a meal? These simple gestures strengthen connections and remind us that we are part of one another's lives. Responsibility becomes meaningful when it is shared, when our choices consider the needs of others, and when we contribute to a home and community where everyone feels supported.

Conversation Starters: Why is it important to consider other people when making decisions? What is one goal our family can set together to practice responsibility?

Questions? Please contact Director of Whole Child, Laura Allen at lallen2@tacoma.k12.wa.us.

We are planning a field trip for Oakland, TOL Middle & High School students to the Tacoma Dome, Friday, October 30 for an exciting day of hands-on exploration and connections with more than 100 local employers, apprenticeship programs, colleges, and training partners.

We are working on paper field trips for Oakland students, while TOL students use the digital form below. Busses will take students from the Oakland campus and return to the Oakland Campus. This is just announced so bussing details will be firmed up soon.

It's new that this is opening to Middle School. If you're a TOL teacher who would like to chaperone this trip, please let Paul know.

Click the button below to learn more about:

• How to login to Edgenuity
• Keys to success at TOL
• How TOL's ALE laws are different than in-person schools
• How to monitor your student's progress
• Understanding weekly progress reports in your email
• The Edgneuity dashboard and course maps your student sees

Hats off to the TOL ASB students and advisors for putting together another TOL gear sale with a new vendor. This sale includes youth sizes for many products. Unlike other sales, this doesn't have an end date, but you'll want to order soon and sport your gear at events throughout this school year.

Vaccines available to students, staff and families at Oct. 19 event

Students, TPS staff and families can get their flu and Covid vaccinations at an upcoming clinic event at First Creek Middle School.

• When: Monday, Oct. 19, from 3-6 p.m.

• Where: First Creek Middle School, 1801 E 56th St., Tacoma

• Who: TPS students staff, and families

  • Open to all students with or without health insurance

  • Open to adults with or without health insurance (however, adults with TriCare or Signa may not participate)

• Registration: Complete this form.

Online tutoring available through Tacoma Public Library and Tutor.com

Our students can get help with homework, studying, projects, essay writing and test preparation through a free online tutoring service. Free access is available through our Pathway Partnership with Tacoma Public Library. Tutoring services are available 24/7. Get more information here: Online Tutoring Support - Tacoma Public Schools

TPS Nondiscrimination Statement

Tacoma Public Schools does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, creed, religion, color, national origin, immigration or citizenship status, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, homelessness, disability, neurodivergence, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:

• Civil Rights Coordinator, Gender-Inclusive Schools Coordinator, and Title IX Coordinator: Tiffany Davis-Brantley, 253-571-1057, civilrights@tacoma.k12.wa.us

• 504 Coordinator: Laura Tuman, 253-571-1086, 504Coordinator@tacoma.k12.wa.us

Tacoma Public Schools
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1357
Tacoma, WA 98401-1357
www.tacomaschools.org