The WOLFPACK Family/Community News

Dear Families,

We are excited to welcome everyone back to school this Tuesday! As we begin the new year, we would like to stress the importance of attendance. This month we want to encourage every family to read our newsletter with important information regarding attendance in school.

Our staff has been hard at work this week preparing for an exceptional school year. We welcomed keynote speaker Katie Novak, who guided us through Universal Design for Learning principles and connected them to our Hope Rising theme. Her message reinforced how critical relationships are to student success and how we can design learning experiences that work for every child.

Our teachers have been collaborating on strategies to ensure all students can access, engage with, and demonstrate their learning in meaningful ways. This approach means your child will have multiple pathways to succeed, building both confidence and competence.

As we prepare for Tuesday's start, I encourage you to establish consistent routines and prioritize good sleep habits for your children. When students arrive well-rested and ready, they're better able to connect with their teachers, engage in learning, and make the most of each school day.

We are excited to meet you all on Tuesday as we enter a new school year full of hope and excitement.

Respectfully,

Shannon Leatherwood
Superintendent

Our software provider has retired the old parent app, BusQuest, and replaced it with a new app called EZ A2B. All existing account information has been transferred, so current users of the old app can log in with their current credentials in the new app. If assistance is needed, please contact the Transportation Supervisor at rwallace@coupeville.k12.wa.us. Please visit the Transportation section of the District website for more information on our parent app, bus routes, and other transportation related topics.

Links to the New App:

• Android- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.eza2b.app&pli=1
• Apple Store- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ez-a2b-k12-transportation-app/id6741927966

To all of our returning families and those joining us for the first time — welcome! We’re so excited to start serving you again and have truly missed seeing your faces over the summer.

Last year, we launched a breakfast program at the secondary campus, and we’re thrilled to offer breakfast at both campuses again. We hope you’ll take advantage of this great opportunity to help students start their day off right.

We also have some exciting program updates to share. Beginning this school year, Laura Luginbill, our longtime Assistant Director, will be stepping into the role of Food Service Director. Laura has been with me since we started this program six years ago, and her leadership, dedication, and vision have been instrumental in its growth. She is the perfect person to guide our team into the future.

As for me, I’ll be transitioning into a new role as Chef/Production Supervisor. This shift will allow me to focus more deeply on improving our kitchen procedures and creating even stronger systems to support our staff and students.

Together, we believe this new structure will build a sustainable model that ensures our program continues to thrive for years to come. We’re excited for what’s ahead and can’t wait to welcome everyone back on September 2nd!

With gratitude,

Andreas Wurzrainer

Did you know that completing the Child Nutrition Eligibility and Education Benefit Application does more than help determine meal benefits? Your application helps ensure Coupeville Elementary remains eligible to provide free meals for all students. It can also qualify your family for other important benefits, such as waived school and sports fees. Even if you don’t think you’ll qualify, every completed application helps support our school community.

Please take a few minutes to complete yours today—your participation truly makes a difference! Applications are available at your school's office and on the district's website under 'Student and Family Forms'. Online applications are currently unavailable due to Qmlativ Family Access, but hope to be fixed and available soon. Contact Donna Bailey at 360-678-2403 with questions.

The Coupeville School District is working hard to ensure every student can learn and grow by being at school regularly. Being at school is important for learning, building friendships, and participating in the school community. We want to support your student’s success through attendance and engagement in school.

Why Attendance Matters:

• Missing just 2 days a month (or 10% of school) can impact your student’s chances of reading at grade level by the third grade (elementary) or graduating on time (middle and high school).
• School is also essential for students to build friendships and learn how to be in community with their peers and adults.
• Absences can signal problems like disengagement, academic struggles, or bullying, and therefore is important for us to pay attention to.

What We Need from You:

• Follow health guidelines so that you know when to keep your child home due to illness and when to send them to school.
• If your student will be absent, contact the school and make sure you excuse them for the day.
• Reach out to the school if your student is struggling to come to school or if you are having challenges getting your child to school. We are here to help.

What You Can Do:

• Set a consistent bedtime and morning routine.
• Prepare for school the night before, ensuring homework is done and your child gets enough rest.
• Talk to your child about the importance of school and attendance.
• Keep track of the number of days your child has missed on a calendar in a visible location in the home.

• Ask your child to assist with tracking the days.

• Days can add up quickly. Aim to keep absences to 5 days or less in a year.

• Schedule appointments before or after school, or at the very beginning or end of the day to minimize the amount of time your student will be out of school.
• Schedule your vacations during district scheduled holidays.
• Have backup plans for transportation. Consider using My Family’s Help Bank resource to make a plan.
• Communicate with your child’s teacher, the front office or the school counselor, about any concerns.
• Encourage after school activities.

Our Promise to You:

• We understand challenges that affect attendance and are here to help.
• Use our resources, like the nurse or counselor for support.
• We will take attendance daily (as required by state law), communicate when your student has an unexcused absence, and help overcome barriers.

What Families Need to Know about Washington State’s Compulsory Attendance Laws:

Washington state requires parents and school districts to follow these steps when students are absent:

Parents:

• Parents of children ages 8 – 18 must ensure their children attend full-time public school, private school, or receive home-based instruction (district-approved).
• If parents enroll their 6- or 7-year-old, the student must attend school full-time.

You can also read more about the Washington State Compulsory Attendance Laws here (Chapter 28A.225 RCW).

First Day of School

📍 All Students: Tuesday, September 2, 2025

Early Release Wednesdays (ERWs) begin Wednesday, September 3, 2025. We release one hour early. Please refer to the calendar for regularly scheduled ERWs throughout the year.

📊 Stay Connected📊

Watch for our next newsletter, arriving before the first day of school, where we'll introduce additional new staff members and provide final back-to-school details.

District Calendar: Attached below

Together, we're not just educating students – we're nurturing tomorrow's innovators, leaders, and changemakers. Here's to a year where Hope Rises in every classroom, every day.