Saltar's Point Otter News
January 30, 2025
Dear Families,
We truly appreciate your partnership in keeping our school community safe and running smoothly! Over the years, we’ve worked closely with the Town of Steilacoom and the Steilacoom Police, even completing a traffic study, to create a pick-up and drop-off plan that is as safe and efficient as possible while minimizing disruptions to our neighbors.
To help with this, we kindly ask that all families use the front of the school for both pick-up and drop-off. While waiting, please line up along 3rd Street until it’s your turn to enter the parking lot.
We’ve recently heard from some of our neighbors who have noticed families using 4th Street (Saltar’s Point Estates) and 2nd Street near the bus loop for drop-off and pick-up. Additionally, some cars have been parked on 4th Street in a way that makes it difficult for residents to navigate the area.
To keep things running smoothly for everyone, we kindly ask that all drop-offs and pick-ups happen at the front of the school only.
We truly appreciate your support in following these procedures and being great neighbors to our surrounding community. Thank you for your help in keeping our school a safe and welcoming place for all!
--
Alex Clauson
Principal
Saltar's Point Elementary
In the next several weeks, you may hear about a job opening at Saltar’s Point for the school counseling position. I want to assure everyone that I am not going anywhere. I recently put in my retirement paperwork and the school will be looking for my replacement. This will be my 20th year in the district and I am ready for the next phase of my life. I have loved working at Saltar’s Point with our students, staff, and families, and I truly believe the school is in the best place we’ve been in since I arrived 11 years ago. I have not informed our students about my impending retirement. I was hoping to wait until my replacement was hired and I could introduce the new counselor in person.
PLEASE READ REGARDING COUGH DROPS
Dear Parent and/or Guardian:
If your child requires cough drops at school, please note the following:
Many cough drops contain medication and/or herbs. Ex. Lidocaine, Menthol, Echinacea. By law we cannot dispense any medication type items without MD orders, parent request, and item in original packaging. Cough drops that do not contain these things are not any better than a hard candy.
You are welcome to send to school some hard candy, like LifeSavers, for use while your child is not feeling well.
If you have any questions regarding the cough drop policy or would like a medication orders form, please feel free to contact me.
Stay safe and healthy,
Bree Giovannini LPN
Saltar’s Point School Nurse
bgiovannini@steilacoom.k12.wa.us
(253)983-2606
With the start of the second semester I wanted to take a moment to thank you for contacting the school when your student was absent, and give a refresher on what is considered an excused absence. When you call in your student’s absence, please remember to include the reason your student is not in school.
1. Physical health or mental health symptoms, illness, health condition or medical appointment for the student or person for whom the student is legally responsible;
District practice is to excuse absences due to illness for 5 days, then require a doctor’s note for additional days.
2. Family emergency including, but not limited to, a death or illness in the family;
3. Religious or cultural purpose including observance of a religious or cultural holiday or participation in religious or cultural instruction;
4. Court, judicial proceeding, court-ordered activity, or jury service;
5. Post-secondary, technical school or apprenticeship program visitation, or scholarship interview;
6. State-recognized search and rescue activities consistent with RCW 28A.225.055;
7. Absence directly related to the student's homeless or foster care/dependency status;
8. Absences related to deployment activities of a parent or legal guardian who is an active duty member consistent with RCW 28A.705.010;
9. Absences due to suspensions, expulsions or emergency removals imposed pursuant to chapter 392-400 WAC if the student is not receiving educational services and is not enrolled in qualifying "course of study" activities as defined in WAC 392-121-107;
10. Absences due to student safety concerns, including absences related to threats, assaults, or bullying;
11. Absences due to a student's migrant status; and
12. An approved activity that is consistent with district policy and is mutually agreed upon by the principal or designee and a parent, guardian, or emancipated youth.
Additional Information:
“Planned Absences” are not automatically excused if they do not meet the criteria in WAC 392-401-020 and school district policy for an excused absence.
A full day absence is when a student is absent for fifty percent or more of their scheduled day.
A student is considered to be chronically absent if they are gone 18 or more days in a school year.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Rue Beyette
Attendance Secretary
Thank you to all of our PTA members and volunteers for another amazing recess takeover! We couldn't do it without you!
Check out our Facebook page at Saltar's Point PTA 10.8.10 for more volunteer opportunities
If your student has a fine/fee or if you want to put money on their lunch account you can pay online through https://wa-steilacoom.intouchreceipting.com/signin.
If your student has a lost book(s), the fine can be removed either from payment, finding and returning the book(s), or replacing the book.
