BROOKDALE BOBCAT PRINTS
September 28, 2026
September 30 is Orange Shirt Day
On September 30, Franklin Pierce Schools will recognize Orange Shirt Day, a day to honor the children, families, and communities impacted by Native American boarding schools and Canadian residential schools.
Inspired by the story of Phyllis Webstad, whose new orange shirt was taken away on her first day at a residential school, Orange Shirt Day serves as a reminder of the harm caused when Indigenous children were separated from their families, cultures, languages, and traditions. The day's message, Every Child Matters, honors survivors, remembers those who never returned home, and recognizes the lasting impact of these policies on Indigenous communities.
Students and staff are encouraged to wear orange, learn about this important history, and take time to reflect on the resilience, strength, and contributions of Indigenous peoples. By participating, we help foster understanding, respect, and a sense of belonging for all.
Every Child Matters.
Take meaningful action on September 30:
Wear orange today, and any day of the year
Get outside and connect with the lands
Follow and learn from Indigenous advocates and families
Watch films: Carlisle 200 and Sugarcane
Listen to podcasts: "Stolen: Surviving St. Michael’s" Spotify | Apple Podcasts
September 27 - Oct 2 ~ Custodian Appreciation Week
September 30 ~ 2:35 Dismissal
September 30 ~ Orange Shirt Day
October 1 ~ Picture Day
October 5 ~ No school
October 6 - 9 ~ Conference Week
October 6 - 9 ~ 12:35 Dismissal
October 12 - 16 ~ Nutrition Services Appreciation Week
October 14 ~ 2:35 Dismissal
October 21 ~ 2:35 Dismissal
October 28 ~ 2:35 Dismissal
October 28 ~ TRUNK OR TREAT (4:30-6:00)
Picture packets were already sent home, the office has extras.
Please take the time to read the information and to select your picture package option. You may pay for your order with cash (must have the exact amount - the school and the photographer are not able to make change) or a check enclosed in the envelope (Please make the check out to Quality School Portraits), or you may pre-order online with a credit card at
https://shop.imagequix.com/g1001426685 and follow the instructions there. Use the code BROO .
If your child misses picture day, we will have a retake day on November 10th.
Attendance Matters: Every Day Is a Piece of the Puzzle
At Brookdale, we want every student to feel connected, successful, and excited to be at school. One of the most important ways we can support that success is through regular, on-time attendance.
Think of your child’s education like a puzzle. Every school day adds another piece. Each day brings new learning, opportunities to practice, conversations with teachers and classmates, and experiences that help students grow academically and socially.
When a student misses school, they don’t just miss an assignment. They may miss the lesson that introduces a new skill, the practice that helps it make sense, or an experience that connects today’s learning to tomorrow’s. When too many pieces are missing, it becomes harder to see the whole picture.
What Does the Research Tell Us?
Attendance matters from the very beginning. Chronic absence is defined as missing 10% or more of the school year—about 18 days in a typical school year. That can be as little as two days each month.
Research has found that chronic absence beginning in the elementary years is associated with lower academic achievement and continued attendance challenges. One study found that students who were chronically absent in both kindergarten and first grade scored significantly lower on third-grade reading assessments than similar students with good attendance.
The impact can continue as students get older. Research has identified poor attendance as an important early warning sign for students who may struggle academically in middle and high school and be at greater risk of not graduating. Children who consistently miss two or more days each month beginning in elementary school are less likely to graduate from high school.
Building strong attendance habits now helps students develop the academic skills, routines, relationships, and sense of belonging that will support them throughout their education.
When Your Child Can Be Here, We Want Them Here!
Of course, we know there are times when students need to miss school. Children get sick, appointments happen, and families sometimes face circumstances outside of their control. When your child is healthy and able to attend, we want them here at Brookdale.
What We Are Doing at Brookdale
We want attendance to be something we encourage and support together. Staff check in with students to encourage them and celebrate their progress. Classrooms are recognized for perfect or most improved attendance They earn incentives such as extra recess or popcorn as a class.
When students begin missing school, we also have individual and group conversations to talk about attendance, identify challenges, problem-solve, and remind students that they are an important part of our school community.
Most importantly, we want to partner with families. If something is getting in the way of your child attending regularly or arriving on time, please reach out. Sometimes a little support or problem-solving can make a big difference.
A Quick Note About Washington Attendance Law
Washington State law requires school-age children to attend school regularly and requires schools to monitor attendance and work with families when absences become a concern.
Schools have specific responsibilities when students accumulate multiple excused or unexcused absences. These can include contacting families, meeting to identify barriers and supports, developing attendance plans, and taking additional steps when required by state law.
The purpose of these requirements aligns with our goal at Brookdale: identify concerns early and work together so students can be at school, connected to their community, and ready to learn.
Every Piece Matters
Elementary school may feel like a long way from high school graduation, but the habits and foundations our students are building today matter.
Every day is a great day to be a Bobcat!
We are pleased that Brookdale will once again be participating in the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Program as part of the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program.
In a CEP school, ALL enrolled students receive a nutritious breakfast and lunch at no cost during the school year, regardless of family income.
If your child brings a lunch from home and wishes to have only milk, it will cost $.60. Milk by itself is not free in a CEP school. Student meal accounts are still available in CEP schools if parents wish to put money on accounts to purchase milk.
If you have any questions concerning school meals or CEP please contact the Nutrition Services Department at 253-298-4618.
Please read these important reminders from the office!
Office Hours ~ 9:00 a.m - 4:30 p.m ( Wednesday's 9:00 a.m - 3:30 pm) If you need to come into the building, please press the intercom button on your right as you look at the front door. This will enable the office to see and hear you and buzz you into the entry if needed.
- Please notify the office of any changes in the way your child will go home at the end of the day. We need this information one hour before dismissal so we have time to get a note to the teacher.
- Call the office if your child will be absent. If they have an appointment, please ask the doctor, dentist, counselor, etc. for a note for school. Offices that treat children are used to giving notes to students for excuses!
- If you need to take your child out of school early, please make sure to come to the office at least 35 minutes before dismissal time. On a regular school day, please be in the office by 3:30 and on an early dismissal day, be in the office by 2:00. You will want to make sure to come early enough so that we can locate your child and so you won't be trapped in the after-school pick-up line! You will need to sign your child out and wait for them to come from their classroom, so allow plenty of time. Thank you for your help!
- If your phone number, email address, or home address changes, please let us know so we have the most up-to-date contact information for you. If your child becomes ill, or otherwise needs your help, we need a way to contact you! Thank you!
Please be patient, the first couple days of school the busses might be running late. We have a very helpful transportation department; if you have any questions, issues about something that happened on the bus or at the bus stop, or concerns about a late bus, please call the transportation office directly at 253-298-3865. To cut down on the number of calls received in the office daily we ask that if you wish for your child to ride a bus other than the one they normally ride, or get off at a bus stop other than their normal stop, you must send a note. The same holds true if you want your child to walk rather than ride their normal bus. Without a note, we will not allow students to walk or change their regular bus, bus stop, or end of the day routine.
Please be aware that any bus-riding kindergarten student that is not met at the bus stop after school will be returned to Brookdale for parent pick-up. It is very important to meet your students at the bus stop on time!
District will be sending out a new policy soon, key an eye out!
