The Expedition Exchange

We hope you’ve been enjoying the bi-weekly classroom newsletters from your child’s teacher, which highlight the exciting learning happening in each room. In this update, you’ll also find a few important reminders and resources to keep on your radar.

One area where we would love your help is completing the Free & Reduced Meal Application (linked just above the lunch menu later in this newsletter). Even if you don’t think you’ll use the program, filling out the application is a big help! Not only does it support free breakfast and lunch for all students, but it also brings in additional funding for our school. These funds go directly to resources and opportunities for all of our students. The form only takes about 5–8 minutes, and we are so grateful for your support.

Some other quick mentions:

- Thank you for all of your help with our systems (new and old) outside during arrival/dismissal. It's been a challenge to teach our students not to ride their bikes/scooters on campus, but your modeling and words of encouragement have been a great help! This helps us to ensure all students and visitors remain safe on campus.

- PTA is collecting candy donations now thru October 23rd for Trunk or Treat. Grade levels are competing to see who can bring in the most candy.

- The power of reading is real. Please try to read with your child for 20 minutes each evening. Have them read to you, you read to them, or take turns reading to each other. Research proves this act greatly increases student success in academics.

Sara Olson

Principal, Expedition Elementary School

Our Mission: All students will obtain high levels of growth and achievement.

Our Vision: A safe, equitable, and inclusive culture that cultivates excellence.

Our Goals:

• We will interact with families and the community in ways that respect their values and cultural backgrounds.
• We will provide rich learning experiences, accessible to all students, that promote curiosity, collaboration, and critical thinking.
• We will provide resources and support to remove barriers ensuring students attend school regularly.
• We will model, teach, and reinforce respectful behaviors, habits of learning, and empathy to support one another.
• We will cultivate safe, affirming environments by ensuring students can count on us to be fair, equitable, honest, and compassionate.

Greetings, WolfPack Families!

This week in our Social Emotional Learning, the classrooms began Second Step Lessons. In the links below you will find, by grade level, the Unit 4 Home Link, which is a Unit Overview so you know what the students are learning. We are beginning with Unit 4: Problem Solving, then we'll go back and do Units 1, 2 and 3…don’t worry, you didn’t miss the first three units!

Classrooms are starting with Lesson 16 this week and will do lesson 17 next week. The Home Links, as well as those two lesson summaries are below.

Unit 4 Home Link (Unit Overview)

Kindergarten

First Grade

Second Grade

Third Grade

Fourth Grade

Fifth Grade

September 21-25 - Unit 4, Lesson 16

Kindergarten

First Grade

Second Grade

Third Grade

Fourth Grade

Fifth Grade

Sept 28 - Oct 2 - Unit 4, Lesson 17

Kindergarten

First Grade

Second Grade

Third Grade

Fourth Grade

Fifth Grade

If your student or family is experiencing a challenge (academic, attendance, behavior) or are in need of resources, please don't hesitate to reach out. My contact information is below.

Thank you!

Veronica Kaipainen (Mrs. K)

vkaipainen@bethelsd.org

253.800.2479

New ParentVUE App is here!
We're excited to announce that a new ParentVUE app is now available for download! This is a new version of the app you use to submit student absences, communicate with teachers, and check grades. The new app features an improved visual layout and includes a helpful built-in tutorial when you first log in, but all the content and features you rely on remain the same. We encourage you to download the new app this spring so you can explore its updated design and ensure a smooth transition before the current app is retired. Your login credentials will remain the same. The current ParentVUE app will stop working on August 1, 2026, so it's important to download the new version before then to avoid any interruptions. https://www.bethelsd.org/resources/enrollmenttransferstranscripts/parentvue

September 22: School Board Meeting 7:00 PM

September 24 : Coffee with the Superintendent, Educational Service Center 8-9 AM

September 28: 1 hr late arrival

October 3: ABC Day, Bethel High school 10 AM-3 PM

Planning ahead? We are! The key dates for the 2027-28 school year have been announced!

• Thanksgiving Break: November 24-26, 2027
• Winter Break: December 20-31, 2027
• Spring Break: April 3-7, 2028
• Last Day of School: June 13, 2028

You can find these dates, along with the full 2026/27 calendar at: https://www.bethelsd.org/about-our-district/district-calendar

Our goal is to keep walkers on the northeast side of the building (bus loop) and vehicles on the south side of the building (parking lot). If you'd like to walk your child to the building, please utilize the bus loop and gate, avoiding the parent drop-off loop and sidewalk at the front of the building. Thank you for your help keeping all students safe.

Please keep the side of the road clear between 108th and 189th in front of the school. This a section of the road dedicated to walking students/families. We try our best to put out cones to prevent parking--but when we're unable to put the cones out, we still need you to keep that space clear. This helps with visibility and keeps our students safe.

Please do not make U-turns in through traffic; this causes unsafe conditions. If you want to drop off your student by vehicle, please utilize the drop-off loop at the front of the building.

ALL students in ALL schools in the Bethel School District qualify for free breakfast and lunch this year!

To maintain our qualifications ALL Bethel School District families must complete the Child Nutrition Eligibility and Education Benefit Application at https://emealapps.bethelsd.org/

Each enrolled student is entitled to 1 free reimbursable breakfast and 1 reimbursable lunch each day. A reimbursable meal includes:

• Breakfast: Three items (grain/meat, fruit/veg, milk) one of which must include a ½ cup fruit or vegetable.
• Lunch: Three items, one of which one of which must include a ½ cup fruit or vegetable.

Students who elect not take the minimum required meal components will be charged al a carte price for each individual item.

Students can purchase a second meal.

Staff and faculty still may purchase meals. Adult meals are not free.

Your child may be entitled to participate in the Bethel School District Native American Education Program. For each child who is registered on a 506 Eligibility Certification Form, the district receives Federal Title VI funds to pay for academic assistance for Native American children. In order to be counted as part of this program, a 506 form must be filled out by a parent/guardian of the Native American child. When filling out the form, all parts must be completed. It is not required that a student be enrolled in a tribe if the parents or grandparents are registered.

This 506 Form needs to be filled out only one time as long as your child attends Bethel schools. We will keep all information confidential. Forms are available via the link below, on the Title VI website or by calling Rachael Barger at 253-800-2394 or Grace Leatham at 253-800-2393.

ALL Bethel School District families must complete the Child Nutrition Eligibility and Education Benefit Application (CNEEB) this year. Completing this form also ensures that your student’s school will continue to receive the full amount of federal and state funding available.

By submitting this application, households may qualify for:

• Summer 2025 EBT benefits
• Reduced fees for other programs and activities
  • You must check YES! Please share my child’s income eligibility for each program you wish to receive discounts for:
    • ASB Fees (ASB Cards, events & athletic entrance fees)
    • Course Fees (AP tests, credit retrieval and instrument rental)
    • Athletics fees
    • iPad Coverage
  • If a household’s income places students in the free or reduced-price meal eligibility category, fees will be adjusted accordingly in the district on-line payment system. NOTE: The application must be completed 2-4 days BEFORE paying for your fees to give the systems time to make appropriate pricing adjustments.

Website: https://exs.bethelsd.org/

Phone: 253-800-2400

Office: exp_office@bethelsd.org

Location: 18717 108th Avenue Court East Puyallup, WA 98374

Principal: Mrs. Sara Olson

Assistant Principal: Mr. Bucky Brenner

Assistant Principal: Ms. Jennifer Bonner

Counselor: Mrs. Veronica Kaipainen

PTA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559754687482