September 2026

Dear families and community,

We have had a fantastic first three days of school! Today we had a short assembly to welcome all new and returning students and staff to English Crossing Elementary and kick off the new school year. I shared the story of how our school got it's name ... please ask your student if you don't know. I also used a special bell to ring in the new year - it goes along with the name.

We also had students rotate through stations to review the expectations in some of the common areas. Our school has three expectations school wide, we call them "The Big 3". They are to Treat Others Right; Make Smart Decisions; and Maximize Your Potential. We follow a positive and proactive approach to teaching expected behavior which includes explicit teaching of the expectations, reinforcing expected behaviors, and reminding and redirecting students who are not following the expectations. If you are new to ECE, you will hear a lot about our expectations and celebrations throughout the school year.

I hope you have a wonderful long weekend! As always, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please reach out and let us know.

Respectfully,

Michele Ricci

mricci@lwsd.wednet.edu

360-652-4515

We are excited to welcome our youngest learners to English Crossing Elementary on Tuesday, September 8th. The Kindergarten Family Connections meetings have been happening this week giving students and families a chance to learn a little about the school and their teacher.

For next week, kindergarten students will meet their teachers under the covered area behind the school. The side gates will be open and families are welcome to walk students to the covered area to meet their teachers before going inside the school together. Students who ride the bus will be greeted and taken to their teachers.

If you have questions, please reach out to our registrar, Holli Taylor or Michele Ricci, Principal.

As we begin the school year, we'd like to remind families of the Lakewood School District's Telecommunication Devices Policy. At the elementary level, students must silence and store all personal devices in their backpacks from arrival until dismissal, including cell phones, smartwatches, Bluetooth headphones (such as AirPods), and personal tablets or laptops.

The purpose of this policy is to help students stay focused on learning, build positive social connections, and minimize distractions during school days. The school years are an important time for children to develop independence, resilience, and social skills, and reducing device use supports those opportunities.

We understand that families may occasionally need to communicate with their children during the school day. If you need to reach your student, please call the school office. We will ensure your message is delivered, and your child can return your call if needed. Likewise, if your child needs to contact you during the school day, a phone is available in the main office for student use.

For more information and FAQs, please refer to our website.

Thank you for your partnership in creating a focused, safe, and connected learning environment for all students. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office.

Hello English Crossing families,

My name is Lori Loucks, and I am honored to join the English Crossing Elementary community as your new Dean of Students. I bring more than 20 years of experience in education, serving students and families in a variety of teaching and leadership roles. As a Snohomish County native returning to the Pacific Northwest after many years in California, I am excited to be part of the Lakewood School District and look forward to getting to know each of you. Together, we can help every student feel safe, supported, connected, and ready to learn.

Every Day Counts

Regular school attendance plays an important role in student success. Being at school each day helps students:

• Build strong relationships with classmates and staff
• Stay engaged in learning
• Develop positive routines and habits
• Feel connected to their school community

Missing just two days of school per month can impact a child's academic progress and social development. Our goal is to partner with families to ensure every student has the support they need to attend school regularly and thrive.

Attendance Expectations at ECE

• Students should arrive at school on time each day. School begins at 8:35 a.m.
• Dismissal is at 3:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 1:45 p.m. on Fridays.
• Breakfast is available to all students from 8:15-8:30 a.m. at no cost. Elementary students also receive lunch free of charge.
• Whenever possible, please schedule appointments outside of school hours.
• If your child misses any portion of the school day, please notify our attendance secretary, Holli Taylor, and provide the reason for the absence.
• State law requires schools to monitor unexcused absences. Families may be asked to attend a conference if unexcused absences begin to accumulate. Schools are required to file a truancy petition when a student reaches 7 unexcused absences in a month or 10 unexcused absences during the school year.
  
  

We understand that circumstances arise, and we are here to help. If your family needs support with attendance, transportation, or other barriers to getting to school, please don't hesitate to reach out. We look forward to partnering with you for a successful school year!

Respectfully,

Lori Loucks, Dean of Students
lloucks@lwsd.wednet.edu

360 652-4515 Ext. 4006

"Helping every student shine."

Welcome back to school!

I’m the School Counselor at ECE and I help support our school’s Social Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons.

Teachers in our school use weekly Second Step lessons to foster classrooms where students feel secure, connected, and engaged. These lessons teach “human skills” such as problem-solving, communication, empathy, executive functioning, and emotion regulation. Competence in these areas benefit students at school, in relationships and eventually, in the workforce. You can even think of them as “employability skills.” Some of our teachers use the online digital program whereas others use the box kits. Together, we help our students get ready to learn. For more info, check out this short video Second Step® Programs Strengthen Human Skills.

Marli Bartness, School Counselor

English Crossing Elementary

360-652-4515, ext. 4137

Mental Health Resources

Cougars Pause for Mental Health

Lakewood’s ECEAP Preschool has openings for the 2026-27 school year at Lakewood Elementary. ECEAP (Early Childhood Education & Assistance Program) is a free preschool program for income-eligible children ages 3 to 5 years old and their families. The program offers:

· Play-based activities that promote reading/writing, language, math, art, science, and social skills

· Support for dual-language learners

· Connections to community resources

· Family events with support to strengthen family well-being

Contact Desiree Mason at 360-652-4520 or dmason@lwsd.wednet.edu for more information or to see if your family qualifies.

Please check in at our front office when coming to visit or volunteer. The Lakewood School District is now using Raptor Technologies for both Visitor and Volunteer management. All volunteers can now apply online using the links or QR code found below. Once approved as a volunteer, you may sign in at the office. If you are not on the approved volunteer list, you will be asked to show your identification when visiting the school.

The links for English and Spanish applications are available on the Volunteers page of our website.

Email: mricci@lwsd.wednet.edu
Website: https://www.lwsd.wednet.edu/ECE
Location: 16728 16th Drive Northeast, Marysville, WA 98271, USA
Phone: (360) 652-4515