3/1 - 4/4 - Hope For the Hungry Food Drive benefitting The Steilacoom Food Bank (extended)

3/27 - Family Bingo Night - hosted by the PTA - doors open at 5:30 pm

3/28 - No School due to an unused Snow Make-Up Day

4/2 - 4/4 - Half Days - Students released at 12:10 pm

4/7 - 4/11 - Spring Break

4/16 - ACE Day - students released at 2:10 pm

4/21 - 4/25 - Month of the Military Child Spirit Week (more info to come)

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As we approach the spring semester, we would like to inform you about the upcoming Smarter Balanced Assessments for Math and English Language Arts (ELA), as well as the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science for our students. These assessments are an important part of tracking your child’s academic progress and ensuring we continue to meet their educational needs.

Test Dates:

• Smarter Balanced Assessments (Math and ELA): May 5, 8, 12, 13, and 15

• Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science: May 6 (5th grade only)

Attendance is Critical: Please plan ahead to ensure your child is present for testing. Absences during these dates can impact your child’s ability to participate and complete the tests. We ask that you avoid scheduling appointments or other activities that could interfere with testing.

Testing is Required: Participation in state testing is mandatory for all students. If, for any reason, you wish to refuse your child's participation in the testing, we require a meeting with an administrator prior to April 4. Please note that refusal requests will not be accepted without a prior meeting, and no refusals will be granted after the cut-off date.

How You Can Help: To support your child’s success, please encourage them to:

• Get plenty of rest the night before each test.

• Have a healthy breakfast to start the day energized.

• Approach the tests with confidence and a positive mindset.

We appreciate your support in ensuring your child is prepared and present for these important assessments. If you have any questions, or if you need to schedule an opt-out meeting, please contact the school before the April 4 deadline.

Thank you for your cooperation and continued support

Alex Clauson

Principal

Saltar's Point Elementary

We are conducting our role plays this week and after Spring Break with an emphasis on trying to manage “molehill” size problems using the skills we have been practicing all year. At this stage of the school year, many students are using Saltar’s Solutions without coming to the office and getting help from the counselor or the administrator. Of course, we are always available for any problem should a student request assistance.

A note from the Highly Capable Program teacher, Mrs. Hannah Engstrom:

Every Spring there is a window of opportunity for 1st-4th grade students to apply for the district’s Highly Capable Program. Any family is welcome to apply. Students who qualify may have advanced academic skills, display an abundance of creativity, or are amazing thinkers. Application forms are found on the district’s website on this page: Highly Capable Program or you may request a paper copy from your child’s classroom teacher. Applications are due April 14, 2025. Evaluation and testing will be completed in late April. If you have any questions about the program feel free to contact me via Parent Square or email at hengstrom@steilacoom.k12.wa.us.

Each year we screen all 5th grade students for eligibility in the district’s Highly Capable Program. This year’s screening occurred with the 4th grade SBA tests and iReady Fall and Winter diagnostic tests. Students whose scores meet at least one qualifying point for the program will be invited for further testing via a Parent Square message to their family which includes a “Request for Permission to Test.” Further testing will occur during conference week, March 31-April 4. If you are the parent/guardian of a 5th grade student and do not receive this Parent Square message, you are welcome to apply for the Highly Capable Program in April. If you have any questions about the program feel free to contact me via Parent Square or email at hengstrom@steilacoom.k12.wa.us.

Hi Otter Families,

Tonight is the night for Bingo at Saltar's Point from 6-7 pm, with the doors opening at 5:30 pm. We would love to have some volunteers to help out, even just 30 minutes will help make this a fun event. If you would like to volunteer please sign up here: I would like to volunteer. . If you are planning on attending the event, please help us plan and RSVP here: We are attending.

The PTA depends on parents and volunteers to make our events happen. While we would like to host two more family events this year, we can’t do that without additional help! If you are interested in learning how you can become more involved, please reach out to us on Facebook at facebook.com/SaltarsPointPTA or via email at saltarspta@gmail.com . Our volunteer opportunities range from tasks you can do on your own time in the comfort of your own home, to in-person needs to help run events. We are happy to work with your schedule and skills to find a way for you to contribute! Continue to check our website and facebook for the most up-to-date information.

Our YEARBOOK sales are now live! Soft cover yearbooks are $22 and hard cover yearbooks are $33. Order yours today by clicking here! We need photos for the yearbook! If you have photos from classroom events (e.g., field trips, in-class celebrations, etc.), you can upload them for the PTA using this link and entering the password Caring4EachOtter-2025.

Thanks for all your support!
Saltar’s Point PTA

After school on Tuesday our salmon were released at the top of Chambers Creek in University Place. The staff and the students have all enjoyed learning about the salmon lifecycle, and watching the salmon grow from Eggs to Alevin to Fry, to Parr.

Mr. Slater shared pictures from the release on Tuesday.

Please enjoy one last moment of Salmon Zen

Saltar's Planned Absence Form

District website

Saltar's Point school website

Saltar's Point Facebook page

ParentSquare

Skyward

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.

Sodexo recently found out that Saltar's Point is Super close to being eligible for free meals next year for all students! But they need to have more fourth-grade families submit a free and reduced application by the end of THIS month.

They have asked that we share this flyer to let families know to get online and submit their application. Even if you do not qualify, if Sodexo has enough applications turned in is part of eligibility.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Sodexo. Their phone number is 253-983-2229 or their email is studentnutrition@steilacoom.k12.wa.us

We would love to have you volunteer, if you are a new parent to the district please click on the link to get signed up to volunteer. If you are a current volunteer in the district please contact the volunteer coordinator to make sure that Saltar's Point is added to your profile.