Shining Mountain Elementary
October Edition
Dear Shining Mountain Elementary Families,
Happy October! We are excited for another wonderful month of learning, growing, and building our school community together. Thank you for your continued support and for partnering with us to help our students have a successful school year.
As the weather begins to change, please remember to send your child to school dressed appropriately for cooler temperatures. It is also a good time to make sure your child has a labeled jacket or sweatshirt available for school.
October is a busy and exciting month at Shining Mountain Elementary. Please take a moment to review the important dates and reminders in this month’s newsletter so you don’t miss any upcoming events.
Thank you for being an important part of our Shining Mountain Elementary community.
October is National Bully Prevention Month. At Shining Mountain, we are committed to fostering a safe and welcoming environment for every student. Throughout the month, we’ll highlight lessons and activities that promote kindness, respect, and the importance of standing up for one another.
We are looking forward to a great October!
In just a few short weeks conference week will be upon us! We are thrilled to partner with you during this time to build plans for the academic, behavioral, and social emotional growth and achievement of your student(s).
This Fall, we will be using a new conference sign-up system through ParentVUE. During the week of October 12th families will receive an email with step-by-step instructions for signing up. This system will allow you to select the conference time that works best for your schedule.
Please keep an eye on your email for additional information coming soon. Since sign-ups will take place in ParentVUE, be sure you have access to your account. If you are experiencing difficulty accessing ParentVUE, please review the support information below or contact the school office for assistance.
Additionally, during conferences we will have Scholastic Book Fair taking place in our library. See below image for the hours.
We look forward to connecting with you during conferences!
To get the most out of this conference time with your student and their teacher, please consider the following and come prepared to discuss:
Information you may like to share with your student's teacher
Questions you may have for your student's teacher
Requests for any resources you may need or want
Important Reminders:
Conference week is October 26th-30th and we will dismiss at 11:15am each day
Emails will be sent to families the week of October 12th.
Breakfast and lunch will be served daily.
Book fair will take place in the library after school is out.
This is a friendly reminder that students are not permitted to use cell phones during the school day. All cell phones must be turned off and kept in students’ backpacks while at school. Additionally, smart watches can be worn, but not used as Smart Watches during the school day.
We also ask for your support in encouraging your student to visit the Health Room if they are not feeling well during the day, rather than contacting home directly from their cell phone. If there is an emergency, please call the school office for assistance and support.
Thank you for helping us maintain a focused and supportive learning environment for all students.
Every student. Every Day
Attendance Matters
Every school day is a piece of the learning puzzle. At Shining Mountain, regular, on-time attendance helps students build academic skills, routines, relationships, and a strong sense of belonging. When students miss school, they may miss lessons, practice, conversations, and experiences that support their academic and social growth.
Research shows that chronic absenteeism—missing 10% or more of the school year, or about 18 days—can negatively affect academic achievement, beginning as early as elementary school. Even a few absences each month can add up. When your child is healthy and able to attend, we want them here; we also understand that illness, appointments, and unexpected circumstances sometimes require students to miss school.
Our Attendance Focus
At Shining Mountain, classes with at least 90% of students present, on time, and ready to learn each day will add a piece to Every Day Eddie. When classes complete Eddie, they will earn a reward. Students who maintain at least 90% attendance each month will also receive a special treat.
When attendance becomes a concern, we will partner with students and families to understand challenges, identify supports, solve problems, and set goals. Washington State law requires regular school attendance and directs schools to monitor absences and work with families when concerns arise. If something is making it difficult for your child to attend regularly or arrive on time, please reach out—we are here to help.
Trunk or Treat
Donations Needed
We are looking for photos of Veterans in your family! These pictures will be part of our Veteran's Day Assembly in November.
Please send them to the email below and be sure to include the family member's name and relation to the student, your student's name, and their teacher.
Additionally, our third graders will perform during the assembly. If you are the family of a third grader, Ms. Thetford will email you with additional information.
Recently, we have seen an increase in disruptive behaviors during learning times, which can make it more difficult for students to stay engaged and complete their work. To support a focused and positive learning environment, Shining Mountain has set a schoolwide goal to decrease disruptive classroom behavior by 10% during the month of October.
Throughout the month, teachers will emphasize what it means to Actively Learn by practicing expectations, role-playing common classroom scenarios, and teaching strategies students can use when they feel dysregulated so they can regain focus and get back on track. Students who demonstrate active learning and positive choices will be recognized through special celebrations and drawings. Please partner with us by reviewing what active learning looks like and discussing how your student can demonstrate engagement, persistence, respectful participation, and responsible choices at school each day.
The Elementary and Middle School Battle of the Books titles for 2026/27. Whether you want to compete or are simply looking for your next great read, these links are for you!
Book Lists:
- Elementary: LINK to Book List
- Middle School: LINK to Book List
The Shining Mountain Student Handbook is available online.
This handbook and our Shining Mountain Website contain important information. Please visit our website to review these materials with your student.
Please visit the district website at WWW.BETHELSD.ORG to review our Student Rights and Responsibilities, Individual Student User Access Information, and Request to Prevent Disclosure of Student Directory Information.
School buses are back on the roads carrying our students to and from school! Please help us keep everyone safe by reviewing these important reminders about when you are required to stop for a school bus.
Passing a stopped school bus illegally comes with a mandatory $500 fine, but more importantly, it puts our children and students at risk. Please take a moment to review the quick safety reminders in the image below and help us keep our Rams safe!
For more information, please visit OSPI’s School Bus Safety Information.
