Cedar Wood Elementary Newsletter

Dear Families,

When we come back from Spring Break we will be in the home stretch of the school year. We have only a quarter left, and it has been an amazing school year at Cedar Wood. With nearly 650 students and over 70 staff members there is always a lot going on in our building.

It is at this time of year that I tend to look back on our journey and all the work that started last June in preparation to serve our students and begin planning for next year. One of the aspects of the staff at Cedar Wood that makes me thrilled to be a part of this school is that we are always actively studying and learning how to better serve our students.

As a parent I never really knew what was going on behind the scenes at my children’s schools (except when I was their principal) and often wondered. Here are some behind the scenes activities that have been going on since last June to continue to improve our service to our students and families.

Last June we had a contingent of teachers attend a three-day conference on Building Thinking Classrooms and utilizing instructional strategies that engage students and help them make their learning visible.

Our leadership team did a book study on how to structure and sustain strong teacher teams and how to ensure all students’ independent learning needs are being met. They then met in mid-August to map out how we would implement this throughout the year. This has been an ongoing focus throughout the year.

In August the entire staff revisited our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum and implementation. This is designed to help educate students on how to navigate common challenges they face at this part of their development.

Each week our staff reads a current article on best practices in education. These include articles on culturally responsive teaching, classroom management, engagement strategies, structures and systems for students to access difficult concepts. The list goes on.

Our staff all learned how to utilize our new Student Information System, Synergy and all the learning that occurs when changing systems after 20+ years.

Finally, our teachers spent time throughout their summer researching and learning about areas of interest for them and their classroom, to better serve the next set of students.

This is just a snapshot of the continued learning and growth we are undergoing each year to better serve your students.

I hope you have a wonderful spring break and are planning for the rapidly approaching summer, as we are preparing to finish strong and begin planning for next year.

Respectfully,

Kevin Allen

4.3.26- Early Release @ 1pm

4.6.26-4.10.26- Spring Break

4.20.26- PTA Meeting in Library @ 6pm

4.22.26- 1st Grade Concert @ 6pm

4.24.26- Multicultural Night: 5-8pm

Please remember, sometimes you are too sick to come to school and that is ok. See the photo below for a guideline on when to keep your child home! Thank you from Ms. Janice and Ms. Krista for helping keep all our students and staff healthy!

Hi Sea Wolves! Here is a message from your counselors: Click Here!

Please join us for Multicultural Night on April 24th. We will have games from other cultures beginning at 5pm on the field, weather permitting.

To update student and guardian information for the current school year, Everett Public Schools (EPS) families must complete the Information Update through the ParentVUE portal. This process is crucial due to the recent transition to the new Synergy student information system, which may have affected guardian access levels.

Steps to Complete the Information Update:

1. Login to ParentVUE (access through a web browser & not the app for this specific process)
2. Click OLR
3. Click Open Online Registration
4. Complete the Information Update

Additional Information & Troubleshooting:

• For more detailed guides or assistance, you can visit the official EPS website at https://www.everettsd.org/Page/43688.

Completing this update ensures Cedar Wood Elementary has the most current information for your family.

SchoolBus/TransportationInformation

• District Transportation Page
• View your student's bus route details.
• Download the My Stop App for bus route tracking information.
• Transportation "Let's Talk!" routes your inquiries to the person/team best suited to respond:
• Transportation Questions
• Early/Late Bus Arrivals
• Lost Items
• Concerns
• And much more!

We know the names are similar, but ParentVUE and ParentSquare provide two different important functions.

• ParentVUE gives families access to important student information.
• Report your student's attendance
• View grades, schedules, transportation information and more
• ParentSquare is where all communication from schools, teachers and the district is squared away.

If email or voicemail is preferred:

**Email cweattendance@everettsd.org as well as your teacher for absences, late drop off, early pick up, or a change in how they get home.

**Call (425) 385-7705 to leave a voicemail regarding absences, late drop off, or early pick up.

If you have a medical note and would like to share it, we’re happy to accept it. You can attach it to a ParentVUE absence notification, send it through ParentSquare, email it to us, or drop it off at the office.

CHANGE IN PICK UP PLANS

**Please notify us at least one hour in advance using ParentSquare, email, or voicemail. If that is not possible, please call the office at (425) 385-7700 to ensure we receive the message in time before school gets out.

PLANNED ABSENCES

**If you know of upcoming absences, such as travel or vacation, please complete the Planned Absence Form located at this link. (Cedar Wood website > Attendance Reporting > Planned Absence Request)

**This can be completed electronically and attached to a ParentVUE absence submission.

**There are also paper copies in the school office and this can be returned to the front desk.

With the transition to Synergy, the process for generating state-mandated attendance letters is changing. Beginning in January, if your student has accrued multiple excused and/or unexcused absences during the 2025–2026 school year, attendance letters will be generated on a bi-weekly basis. Because of this schedule, you may receive more than one attendance letter within the same time period.

At Cedar Wood, we care deeply about student attendance and are committed to prevention, early intervention, and strong family engagement to address attendance concerns. Our goal is to create a positive environment where every student feels supported and wants to attend school each day.

If you have any questions about attendance processes, please contact

Michelle Strickler, Assistant Principal

mstrickler@everettsd.org

Jackets, Water Bottles, Lunch Boxes, OH MY!

Our lost & found items accumulate very quickly. The items are rolled out near the front office before school at drop off and after school at pick up. Students also have the opportunity to check for items as they walk into the cafeteria for lunch each day.

To keep personal belongings out of the lost & found, please label your child's jackets, sweatshirts, lunch boxes, water bottles, gloves, etc.

At the beginning of every month, all items in the lost & found will be donated to a local charity. Please encourage your children to check the lost & found before the end of each month.

We love starting each day together right on time! Teachers will pick up their classes promptly at 9:10 AM to begin the day. The tardy bell rings at 9:15 AM. Students arriving after that time will need to check in at the office. If you arrive and notice the gate is locked, please send your child directly to the front office so we can ensure they safely make it to class.

A gentle reminder that supervision begins at 8:50am (please don't drop off your student beforehand). Dropping your student off between 9:05 and 9:10 helps minimize wait time and keeps our morning routine running smoothly. Thank you for helping your student start the day ready to learn!

No Left Turn into school entrance from 168th. Please join the line to turn right into the parking lot.

When using the “Kiss and Go” Lane for student drop-off and pick-up:

· Stay in your car.

· Have your student ready to leave the car before you get to the curb.

· Have your student exit and enter on the right-hand-side of the car.

· Please pull all the way forward to the designated drop-off/pick-up area.

Please remember:

· When crossing 168th St SE, use the designated crosswalk and school entrance.

· Students will be assigned a designated area for line up in the undercover area.

· Supervision begins at 8:50am in the undercover area but bringing your child closer to 9:10am would be helpful. There is also adult supervision at the front of the school to ensure that all students get to their designated gathering area safely.