12/09 McMicken Family Connection

Principal's Corner

A Word from Your Principal

Dear Families,

While we look ahead to one more week before winter break, we anticipate some celebrations of end of unit reading or writing projects. We are also looking at some well-deserved rewards for hard work and meeting our Cougar expectations. We also recognize that change and routine can be challenging sometimes for students and families. We encourage our families to reach out to our Family Liaison, Birdie Rocha, for questions about possible resources to support over the holidays, such as warm clothes, supplies and more. We are also very excited about having a PTA charter meeting coming up next week—please follow your texts or emails for more information on this amazing partnership opportunity!

😄 Principal Haas

Contact Birdie Rocha, Our Family Liaison at (206) 631-4318 or birdie.rocha@highlineschools.org.

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Join McMicken's New PTA!

Join the new PTA for their first meeting of the year on Tuesday, December 13th at 5:45pm in the McMicken Heights Library! Anyone in the community can join the PTA: moms, dads, teachers, students, grandparents, caregivers, businesses, or community members!

RSVP for the meeting here and sign up for the PTA here.

Contact the PTA at (206) 231-8191 or mcmh.pta@gmail.com.

Book Fair Update!

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Dear Families,

Thank you so much for supporting our book fair! Because of you we are able to add 150 new books to our school library! Thank you so much!

Sincerely,

Ms. Alcantara

Free Student Immunization Clinics

It is important for students to be up to date with their immunizations in order to keep all our children safe from communicable diseases. According to the Washington State law (RCW 28A.210.080), it requires that all children have immunization records in order to attend school, preschool, or child care. If your student is due for vaccinations, please make a doctor’s appointment or attend one of the Free Student Immunization Clinics listed below.

Friday, December 9th

3:00PM – 5:00PM

Cascade Middle School

11212 10th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98146

Saturday, December 10th

10:00AM – 1:30PM

White Center Heights

10015 6th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98146

Important: Family Emergency Plans

Each family should have a plan covering what to do when children arrive home early due to an emergency situation. Situations which should be covered include:

Are the students prepared with warm clothing, including gloves, hats, and boots?
What is the best route home if your student cannot be delivered to the normal bus stop?
Where could your child go if he/she needs help?
Who will care for your child until you arrive home?
Who can your child call if he/she feels afraid?

In Case of Inclement Weather

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In case of inclement weather, please make sure to check out Highline School's website and social media. You should also receive a phone call and/or text message from the school in case of two-hour delays or cancellations.

Please see the chart below for emergency bus stops.

PLEASE NOTE: If your stop is NOT listed, then the regular stop will be used. Parents of special program students will be notified by the bus driver if an alternate stop is to be used.

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Our Weekly Habit

December's Monthly Focus: We are OPTIMISTIC.

Weekly Focus (Dec. 12-16): Make positive choices.

A quote to think about: "Life is a matter of choices and every choice you make makes you." -John C. Maxwell

When we make positive choices, it looks like:

Completing tasks in a timely matter
Balancing work with play
Making chances to work towards your goals

When we make positive choices, it sounds like:

Saying, "I'm aware of what I should be doing."
Saying, "A better choice is..."

When we make positive choices, it feels like:

Being productive, proud, calm, or successful

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Monday, December 19-Monday, January 2: Winter Break, No School

Tuesday, January 3: Return to School

Monday, January 16: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, No School

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Vaccine Education Night and Clinic

Join the African Community Housing and Development (ACHD) for their upcoming events! Both events will be held at ACHD at 16256 Military Rd. S, SeaTac, WA 98188.

Vaccine Education Night, Tuesday, December 13th from 5:30-6:30pm

Join Chris Porter from King County Public Health to learn more about vaccines. Chris Porter is a Project and Program Manager and runs community vaccination events in King County. He also holds a Master of Science in Nursing from Western University of Health Sciences. Chris will be holding an informal conversation with community members to allow a space for questions and concerns about vaccines to be addressed. All community members and families are invited to participate in the conversation.

Register with Ifrah at ifrah@achdo.org or by calling (206) 350-1116.

COVID Vaccine Clinic, Friday, December 16th from 3:30-6:15pm

All community members and families are welcome to come to the walk-up clinic and pre-registration is not required but preferred. First time Covid vaccines as well as the Bivalent booster will be available.

Sign up here for children ages 6 months to 5 years or here for children and adults, ages 5 and up.

Holiday Resources and Assistance

There are many available resources and assistance for families in need this holiday season. Please see below for resources and information that may support your family's needs.

1. Toy 'n Joy offered by Salvation Army

Taking applications now! Apply online.
Description: Provides Christmas food voucher for eligible low-income families, as well as toys for children ages 17 and younger, in the West Seattle, White Center, South Park, Burien, SeaTac, Tukwila, and north Des Moines areas. Distribution Day Dec. 21st.
For questions, email bill.talbot@usw.salvationarmy.org or call 206-767-3150.

2. The Forgotten Children's Fund

Apply online by December 16th.
Description: We provide a Christmas experience for families in need. This includes a visit to your home from Santa and his team of elves who will deliver gifts and warm coats for your children, blankets and a food box to your family on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

3. Kent Lutheran Church - Community Supper

Description: Christmas dinner grab-n-go meals for anyone in need.
Call 253-852-2027 with questions.
Date/Time/Location: December 20th from 6pm-7pm at 336 2nd Ave S, Kent, WA 98030.

4. Kent Seventh Day Adventist Church - Neighbor to Neighbor

Description: Christmas dinner grab-n-go meals for anyone in need.
Call 253-852-3883 with questions.
Date/Time/Location: December 22nd from 4:30pm-5pm at 25213 116th Ave SE, Kent, WA 98030.

5. December Holiday Food at Highline Area Food Bank, starting December 2 and ending December 23

Description: Offers self-select holiday food during normal food bank hours for residents of the Highline area during the month of December (Dec. 2-23)
Call 206-433-9900 with questions.
Tuesdays (weekly): 12pm-2:30pm
2nd Tuesday of each month: 5:30pm-7:00pm
Thursdays: 10am-12:30pm
Address: 18300 4th Avenue South in Burien, Washington

6. USPS Operation Santa

Description: Write a letter to Santa! The US Postal Service will pair letters from kids and families with generous people who fulfill their holiday wishes.
For more information, visit their website.

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See the full year's Heritage Month calendar and think about how you can continue to celebrate these groups and holidays at home. In addition, you can access the Heritage Month calendar in Spanish, Somali, or Vietnamese.

Explore resources, events, book lists, and more for December's Heritage Months in English or Spanish.

International Day of Peoples with Disabilities (Dec. 3)

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About one billion people around the globe have some form of a disability. National Disability Day is observed internationally on December 3rd, and is meant to help people become more aware, compassionate, and understanding of the challenges those with disabilities face. Developing a better understanding of disabilities is an important first step in creating a more accepting society.

Human Rights Day (Dec. 10)

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Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December — the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The UDHR is an important document, which states rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being - regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

International Migrants Day (Dec. 18)

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International Migrants Day aims to raise awareness about the challenges and difficulties of international migration. It is also a time to recognize and celebrate the efforts, contributions, and rights of migrants worldwide.