TOL K-8 Family Newsletter

Hello, Tacoma Online families!

I hope you’ve had a chance to slow down and enjoy this rainy weekend! I’ve been looking forward to curling up with a good book and maybe even starting the fireplace for the first time this year. There’s something about these rainy fall days that makes a cozy spot and a good story feel extra special.

As we move into November, our teachers have been hard at work preparing midterm grades and updating Personalized Learning Plans (PLPs). These are wonderful opportunities to celebrate your child’s progress, reflect on their goals, and think about what comes next. Thank you for being such an important part of that process and for the many ways you support your child’s learning each day.

I’m so grateful for our Tacoma Online community and the care, encouragement, and partnership you bring to our school. We’re lucky to learn and grow alongside your incredible children!

Wishing you a cozy Sunday and a wonderful week ahead!

Mrs. O'Hara

• 11/11 - No School for Veterans Day
• 11/12 - K-5 Fall Park Meet Up at Wright Park - 2:00-3:00pm - Click Here to RSVP
• 11/18 - Fall Semester Mid-Term Grades available in ParentVUE

• 11/20 - iDEA, SAMi, SOTA Info Meeting on Teams for 8th Graders - 9:00am
• 11/20 - Middle School Hang Out at Oakland - 12:00-2:30pm - Click Here to RSVP
• 11/23 - TOL Troll Hunt at the Zoo - 10:00-11:30am - Click Here to RSVP
• 11/24 - 8th Grade Field Trip - Pierce College Science Dome - Click Here to RSVP
• 11/25-27 - Thanksgiving Break

WHO: Ms. G’s 8th Grade Social Studies Class

WHAT: Community Civics Panel

WHEN: November 19, 2026 at 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

WHERE: Virtual Teams Meeting à Community Civics Panel | Meeting-Join | Microsoft Teams

WHY: Unit 2 Goal - I can use a primary or secondary source to ask questions about how government and organizations work.

Tacoma Online’s 8th Grade Social Studies class will be hosting a panel of community members from Seattle and Tacoma. These are four individuals who are doing amazing work in their community. Come learn about their passions and get inspired by their incredible work! 8th grade students are expected to attend and engage with the panelists by asking questions. Prep work is on Edgenuity and their US History Team.

Our 8th graders are heading to the Pierce College Science Dome on Tuesday, November 24, 2026! This exciting experience supports our Earth in Space science unit as students explore how we are connected to the patterns we see in the sky and space.

Students will enjoy an immersive planetarium presentation, take a virtual journey to Mars, and participate in a STEM activity focused on sound or designing a spacesuit for a marshmallow astronaut. The day also includes lunch and an opportunity to explore campus through an optional, chaperoned scavenger hunt.

Ready to sign up? Complete the field trip permission form so your student can join us!

🐙 ASB Variety Night! 🎲🎨🎮

Games, art, snacks, and FUN — something for everyone!

Join us Friday, December 4th, from 4:00–6:00 PM at the Oakland Campus Cafeteria for a fun-filled evening featuring a variety of dice, card, board, and Nintendo Switch games! Feeling creative? Visit our painting station (all supplies provided!) or bring your own sketchbook and art materials to create your own masterpiece!

🍪 Snacks and water available for $1 each to support our ASB fundraiser. Cash encouraged; cards accepted with a district processing fee.

All TOL middle and high school students, friends, families, and staff are welcome!

Come play, create, connect, and have some fun with your TOL community!

Go Octopus! 🐙🖤🩵

Looking for a fun way for your student to connect with others and explore new interests? TOL students can participate in Beyond the Bell activities at their neighborhood school!

Registration for TOL students opens November 5 and runs through November 15. The program runs from November 30 through February 4. Please check the Compass App for course offerings and fees at your neighborhood school.

Learn more about Beyond the Bell.

Join us for a wild adventure at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium on Monday, November 23, from 10:00–11:30 a.m. Explore the zoo alongside other TOL students and families, visit some amazing animals, and take part in a scavenger hunt to find the larger-than-life trolls!

This is a family event, not a drop-off event. A parent or guardian must stay with their child and is responsible for transportation and purchasing zoo admission.

Secondary Student Mandatory Password Reset - Nov. 10

Students will be prompted after they sign in to their laptop, access Clever, or open an Office 365 application.

As students are prompted to reset their password, keep in mind the following required criteria. New passwords must include:

• At least 8 characters in length.
• A combination of uppercase and lowercase letters.
• Numbers.

• Special characters.

Please note: Previous passwords may not be used.

📸 School Pictures Are Ready for Pickup!

If your student had their picture taken on September 28th, their Lifetouch pictures have arrived and are ready for pickup!

Families can stop by the front office at the Oakland Campus, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM to pick up their pictures.

📍 Oakland Campus
3319 S. Adams St.
Tacoma, WA

We can't wait for you to see those smiling faces!

Introducing TOL Rainbow Club

A club for LGBTQ+ students and Allies! All welcome!

Hang out and meet other TOL students. Play games and build community. Learn about yourself and others. Open to all Tacoma Online students: LGBTQ+ and Allies. We will meet at 11:45-12:15 on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday.

Click the button below to learn more about:

• How to login to Edgenuity
• Keys to success at TOL
• How TOL's ALE laws are different than in-person schools
• How to monitor your student's progress
• Understanding weekly progress reports in your email
• The Edgenuity dashboard and course maps your student sees

Hats off to the TOL ASB students and advisors for putting together another TOL gear sale with a new vendor. This sale includes youth sizes for many products. Unlike other sales, this doesn't have an end date, but you'll want to order soon and sport your gear at events throughout this school year.

Online tutoring available through Tacoma Public Library and Tutor.com

Our students can get help with homework, studying, projects, essay writing and test preparation through a free online tutoring service. Free access is available through our Pathway Partnership with Tacoma Public Library. Tutoring services are available 24/7. Get more information here: Online Tutoring Support - Tacoma Public Schools

TPS Nondiscrimination Statement

Tacoma Public Schools does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, creed, religion, color, national origin, immigration or citizenship status, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, homelessness, disability, neurodivergence, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:

• Civil Rights Coordinator, Gender-Inclusive Schools Coordinator, and Title IX Coordinator: Tiffany Davis-Brantley, 253-571-1057, civilrights@tacoma.k12.wa.us

• 504 Coordinator: Laura Tuman, 253-571-1086, 504Coordinator@tacoma.k12.wa.us

Tacoma Public Schools
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1357
Tacoma, WA 98401-1357
www.tacomaschools.org