Principal Ames' August Update

Welcome to the 2026-2027 School Year!

🍎 Welcome Back Wildcat Families! 🍎

Dear WES Families,

Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year! I hope your summer has been filled with rest, fun, and time with family and friends. We are excited to welcome our students back to Weyerhaeuser Elementary and begin another year of learning, growth, and community.

Our staff has been busy preparing classrooms, planning engaging lessons, and getting our school ready for a successful start. We are looking forward to partnering with you to support every child academically, socially, and emotionally.

Thank you for being part of the WES community. We are honored to work with your children each day and are excited for all that this school year will bring.

If you have any questions, please contact the school office. We are here to help.

See you soon, Wildcats!

Warmly,

Linn Ames

Principal, Weyerhaeuser Elementary School

💙💛Kindergarten Camp 💛💙

💬📆Friday, August 28, 2026

⏰10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

🎈Weyerhaeuser Elementary

🐾For all enrolled, incoming Kindergarten students

💬August 19 - call the office to enroll for kindergarten and/or register for camp

🏫 Open House - First-Fifth Grades 🏫

First - Fifth Grades

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

4:30-5:30

✅All students must stay with their families.

✅Families are invited to meet teachers, see classrooms, visit with PTA, visit with Champions Childcare, and learn about the upcoming school year.

Kindergarten families will meet with teachers and visit classrooms at Sept 2, 3, 4 WAKids Meetings

👉 First Day of School 1st - 5th Grades 👈

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

School Hours: 7:55 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Doors Open: 7:40 (Breakfast & Morning Meeting)

~Teachers will be reaching out before school begins with classroom information and other important details.

👉 First Day of School Pre-school & Kindergarten 👈

Tuesday, September 8, 2026

School Hours: 7:55 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Doors Open: 7:40 (Breakfast & Morning Meeting)

🦖 Champions Childcare - Enrollment is Open! 🦖

Join Champions this fall (before spots fill up)!

Champions is now enrolling [K–5th] graders for fall*! Our program blends learning and fun, keeping kids engaged beyond the classroom. We hand-picked Champions for our [before- and after-school/school] program because of their commitment to…

✅ Safe, reliable, and enriching programs

✅ Supportive teachers who nurture growth

✅ Homework help to free up family time

✅ STEM activities that spark curiosity

✅A curriculum that makes learning fun

✅Exciting indoor & outdoor experiences

Plus, Champions is here for you year-round, offering programs on no-school days and seasonal camps in fall, winter, spring, and summer.

💡 Financial Assistance & Discounts Available! Explore the many ways Champions makes tuition more affordable by accepting financial aid and providing discounts such as employer, sibling, military, and more. Eligibility may vary, talk to your Site Director or learn more.]

or

💡Financial Assistance Available! You may qualify for free or reduced tuition. Check your eligibility by contacting the Washington State Department of Youth, Children and Families, at 1-844-626-8687 or visit their website https://www.dcyf.wa.gov/services/early-learning-providers/subsidy.

Spots will fill up fast! Learn more, register online or call the Site Director, Khasey A Sandlin, at +1 (360) 819-3941 to sign up.

😀 This Year at WES 😀

At Weyerhaeuser Elementary, we remain committed to supporting the whole child through:

High-quality instruction aligned to grade-level standards
MTSS and intervention supports
Social-emotional learning
Positive behavior supports through our R.O.A.R. expectations: Respect, On-Task, Attitude, and Responsibility
Strong partnerships between school and home

📌 Important Reminders 📌

Complete online documents and update emergency contact information.
Review transportation information before the first day and register for bus routing.
Label backpacks, jackets, and lunch boxes.
Send an extra set of clothing to keep at school.
Practice school routines and bedtime schedules as we prepare for the return to school.

✅ Attendance Matters ✅

One of the best ways to help children succeed is ensuring they attend school regularly and arrive on time. Every day of learning counts, and strong attendance helps students build confidence, relationships, and academic skills.

⏰ Why Being on Time Matters ⏰

Arriving at school on time is an important part of student success. The first minutes of the school day are carefully planned and provide a strong foundation for learning throughout the day.

When students arrive late, they may miss:

Morning meetings and classroom community-building activities that help students feel connected and prepared for learning.
Daily schedules, announcements, and expectations that help students understand what will happen throughout the day.
Important instruction and learning targets that introduce new concepts and set the purpose for lessons.
Reading, writing, and math instruction that often begins early in the day and is difficult to make up later.
Directions for assignments and classroom activities, which can lead to confusion and frustration.
Opportunities to build routines and organizational skills that support independence and responsibility.
Valuable instructional time, which adds up quickly. Missing just 10 minutes each day can result in nearly 30 hours of lost learning time over a school year.

In addition to affecting academic progress, arriving late can make students feel rushed, embarrassed, or disconnected from their classmates. Starting the day on time helps students feel confident, prepared, and ready to learn.

We appreciate your partnership in helping students arrive at school each day before the bell so they can begin their day successfully. Every minute of learning counts!

~ R.O.A.R ~

What Does ROAR Mean at Our School?

At WES, we encourage every student to ROAR each day by demonstrating the behaviors that help create a safe, respectful, and positive learning environment. Our school-wide expectations are:

R – Respect: I will respect myself and others. Students show respect through kind words and actions, listening to others, caring for school property, and treating everyone with dignity.
O – On Task: I will strive to be on task. Students come to school ready to learn, follow directions, stay focused, and do their best in class.
A – Attitude: I will have a positive attitude. Students approach challenges with optimism, show perseverance, encourage others, and make choices that contribute to a positive school community.
R – Responsibility: I will be responsible for my actions. Students make good choices, take ownership of their behavior, complete their work, and help care for our school.

Throughout the year, staff members teach, model, and recognize these expectations in classrooms, hallways, the cafeteria, playground, buses, and all school activities. Students who demonstrate ROAR expectations may earn ROAR tickets and other positive recognition.

We appreciate your partnership in reinforcing these values at home. When school and home work together, our students thrive!