Paw Print: Family Newsletter
Nov. 6 - Nov. 20
Message from Mr. Forsberg and Ms. Roque
Dear Spanaway Elementary Families,
We definitely felt the effects of the time change at school this week, and now it looks like the cooler weather is here to stay!
As the temperatures begin to drop, please remember to send your student to school with a jacket or coat each day. Our students spend time outside during recess, and we want everyone to stay warm and comfortable.
Thank you for helping us keep our Jaguars warm and ready to learn!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Mr. Forsberg, Principal & Ms. Roque, Assistant Principal
Mr. Forsberg
Principal
Ms. Roque
Assistant Principal
Picture Retake is Tuesday, Nov/10th
Dear Spanaway Elementary Families,
If your student missed picture day or you would like your student to have their school picture retaken, Picture Retake Day will be Tuesday, November 10th.
If you previously purchased pictures and would like your student’s picture retaken, please have your student bring their pictures back to school with them on retake day.
Thank you, and we look forward to capturing those great smiles!
Tardy Arrival
If you drop off your student after 9am please know that breakfast will not be served. You will need to provide breakfast for your student. Thank you for helping us get all students to school on time.
General Membership Mtg.
Holiday Huddle
Please take purposeful time to read these important updates to our dismissal procedures which will ensure all students get home safely.
Safety is our number one priority at Spanaway Elementary. End-of-day transportation changes MUST be communicated directly to the front office either by phone or email no later than 2:30pm to make sure the message is delivered to your student's teacher.
Bus Riders:
To make sure our bus riders stay safe and that busses leave on time, once students are on the bus, school staff will not take students off the bus.
Walking Students:
We are making adjustments to the pick-up of students who walk to school and from school.
- Students who are identified as walkers only and do not have a bus route because they live in walking boundaries, will have a pink tag attached to their back pack. The purpose of this tag is to provide a visual signal to our staff that students are designated walkers.This tag will have NO student identification markers and we ask that the tag stays attached to their backpack.
- If you are a designated WALKER and choose to drive to pick-up your student up, you MUST utilize the parent pick-up loop to pick-up your student.
- If your student is assigned to a bus route, you must utilize the parent pick-up loop to pick-up your student.
- The individuals who will be picking up a student are asked to line-up by the doors closest to the green house and line up along the brick square/bench facing toward the doors.
- Students will be released by a staff member once the student and/or staff member recognizes the individual picking them up.
- If your student is not a designated walker, families will need to utilize the parent pick-up loop.
These adjustments to the walking pick-up process is to ensure that students are released to the correct adult.
Parent Pick-Up:
- Students who are parent pick-up MUST be picked-up via the pick-up loop and not park and pick-up at the walker pick-up area.
- Families will not be able to park and walk up to pick up their student.
- Due to safety and traffic concerns, parking along 165th street and 164th (in front of the school) is not going to be allowed. Families will be given reminders.
- Utilize BOTH lanes when entering the parent pick-up loop. There will be a merge point that will be directed by a staff member.
We understand that the parent pick-up line can be busy and we thank you for your patience and understanding to help student dismissal be safe and orderly.
Regular school attendance is one of the most important factors in a child's academic success. Every day students are in school, they build essential skills, strengthen friendships, and participate in learning experiences that can't be fully replaced when they're absent. Even missing just a few days each month can make it more difficult for students to stay on track academically.
At Spanaway Elementary, we are committed to helping every student grow, thrive, and reach their full potential. By making school attendance a priority, families and staff work together to ensure students are present, engaged, and ready to learn each day.
Thank you for partnering with us to help every Jaguar STRIVE & RISE. Together, we can make this a year of strong attendance, meaningful learning, and student success!
ALL students in ALL schools in the Bethel School District qualify for free breakfast and lunch this year!
To maintain our qualifications ALL Bethel School District families must complete the Child Nutrition Eligibility and Education Benefit Application at https://emealapps.bethelsd.org/
Each enrolled student is entitled to 1 free reimbursable breakfast and 1 reimbursable lunch each day. A reimbursable meal includes:
- Breakfast: Three items (grain/meat, fruit/veg, milk) one of which must include a ½ cup fruit or vegetable.
- Lunch: Three items, one of which one of which must include a ½ cup fruit or vegetable.
Students who elect not take the minimum required meal components will be charged al a carte price for each individual item.
Students can purchase a second meal.
If you have not already done so, this is a friendly reminder to complete the annual update in the ParentVUE app. This information is vital as we plan for the 2026-2027 school year.
The annual update will allow you to access and update the following information:
- Submit transportation information for the 2026-2027 school year
- Student report cards
- Submit a student's absence
- Review healthroom visits
- Update emergency contact information
- Current bus information
- Class information
- Receive emails from the school and teacher
Every morning, during announcements, students are reminded of our RISE expectations. We ask that all of our families partner with us, here at Spanaway, and talk about what Respect, Integrity, Self-Control, and Engaged is and how that can look and sound like at home, the store, at the park, or anywhere!
Respect: being kind, listening to others, and treating everyone fairly.
Integrity: doing the right thing, even when no on is watching/around.
Self-Control: staying calm and making good choices, even when it's hard.
Engaged: paying attention, participating, and showing that you care about what you're doing.
Important Dates
November 9: Late Arrival Day
November 11: Veterans Day – No School
November 16: Late Arrival Day
November 24: MS/HS End of 1st Tri/Grade Prep Early Dismissal, Grades 6-12
November 25 - 27: Thanksgiving Break – No School
November 30: Late Arrival Day
December 7, 14: Late Arrival Days
December 21 - Jan 1: Winter Break – No School
- January: 4th (2 hr Late Arrival)
