Frog News

Happy October!

As crisp fall air settles in, I want to take a moment to express how grateful I am for our incredible school community of students, families, and staff. Our collective energy, care, and partnership make our school such a special place to learn and grow each day. While we enjoyed the remaining sunshine during our transition to autumn, we know that the Pacific Northwest will soon bring gray skies and lower temperatures. Please remember to send your child to school with warm layers, a rain jacket, and shoes that are made for indoor/outdoor wear. Our students go outside for recess rain or shine, and we want everyone to remain comfortable while staying active!

We continue to be deeply committed to ensuring every child feels a true sense of belonging while we achieve strong academic growth together. We love to celebrate the successes and achievements of our students at Penny Creek Elementary! This year, we are recognizing students individually across many settings from school board events and after-school gatherings like Mathquerade and the Festival of Cultures, classroom celebrations, daily announcements, and leadership opportunities. Students may be recognized for demonstrating great character, positive behavior, academic effort, or personal growth. In addition, we celebrate classrooms, grade levels, and our entire school community when we reach shared goals.

It is important that every student in our community knows they are valued and have opportunities to shine as learners and leaders! As we diversify how we recognize our students, one change you might notice this year is that our student recognition assemblies will be authentic opportunities to celebrate a limited number of students who are shining examples of Penny Creek PRIDE (Problem solvers, Respectful, In control and safe, Do our best, Everyone cares)!

Please feel free to reach out anytime to ask a question, seek support, share an idea, or just connect. It is an honor to serve Penny Creek Elementary!

Better Together,

Dr. Liz Ritz

Principal, Penny Creek Elementary

ERitz@everettsd.org

Hello, families! Here is a friendly reminder about our arrival and dismissal procedures.

Morning Arrival: Student drop-off is from 9:00 to 9:10. Students may arrive by bus, by walking, by car and walking up, or arriving by car and dropping off (kiss & go).

• Arriving by bus: students will be dropped off near the covered area where they can choose to go to breakfast or to their classroom line up spot.
• Arriving by walking from 132nd: please use the sidewalks and crosswalks near the east parking lot, closest to the main office.
• Arriving by car and walking in: Please park in the east parking lot, closest to the main office. Use designated crosswalks and sidewalks to make your way towards the school building.
• Arriving by car and dropping off: Please use the west parking lot, closest to the playground and field. Follow the ferry lanes and watch for the attendant’s signal to pull through to the dop off spot by the covered play area.
  
  

Afternoon Dismissal: Student pick up begins promptly at dismissal (3:30 on Mondays-Thursdays and 2:15 on Fridays). Students may be dismissed to a bus, to an adult who will walk with them, or to a vehicle.

• Dismissing to ride a bus: students will line up under the covered area until their bus is ready for them to board. An adult will walk students to their bus when it is ready for them.
• Dismissing to be walked by an adult: Students will be dismissed near the small playground closest to the east parking lot. If you are arriving by car, please park in the east parking lot, closest to the main office. Use designated crosswalks and sidewalks as you make you way to and from the school building.
• Dismissing to be picked up by car: Please use the west parking lot, closest to the playground and field. Follow the ferry lanes and watch for the attendant’s signal to pull through to the pick up spot by the covered play area.
  
  

Transportation Changes: Please contact the office at PennyCreek@everettsd.org regarding any changes to your child’s transportation that may be needed for a specific day or to change your child’s general transportation plan.

Your kindness and patience towards adults helping manage traffic and ensure each child is supervised, safe, and in the right spot is greatly appreciated. The example grown ups set makes an impression on our young learners. Thank you for helping us make every school day a safe and smooth one.

Colleen Williams

Assistant Principal, Penny Creek Elementary

CWilliams@everettsd.org

Thursday, October 1

• PTA Fun Run

• Learning Improvement Friday - Student Dismissal at 2:15 p.m.

• No School for Students

• Individual Student Picture Day

• Spirit Day - Twin Day
• PTA Popcorn Friday during Recesses
• Learning Improvement Friday - Student Dismissal at 2:15 p.m.

Wednesday, October 21

• Dental Screening

Thursday, October 22

• Natural Leaders Meet-Up 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m PCE Library

Friday, October 23

• Learning Improvement Friday - Student Dismissal at 2:15 p.m.

• Mathquerade 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. PCE Cafeteria/Gym

Friday, October 30

• Learning Improvement Friday - Student Dismissal at 2:15 p.m.

• No School for Students
• Parent/Teacher Conference Days

Picture Day is your student’s chance to capture a timeless memory you’ll treasure for years to come.

• Visit MyDorian.com and search for Penny Creek Elementary.
• Click the green Order button or yellow Help button associated with your picture day.

Pre-order today to avoid any additional fees. Online pre-ordering is available now and for up to two (2) days after picture day.

Picture Day Photo Tips:

• Haircuts: Schedule 10 days before picture day
• Clothing: Solid colors and simple patterns photograph best
• Avoid Logos and Text: They can distract from a student’s smile and may be cropped in the final image

We look forward to capturing another year of unforgettable memories!

There are two ways to honor a Veteran at our annual Veteran’s Day Assembly.

1. You may invite them to attend our assembly! Our students want to say thank you to the heroes in our community! If you are a veteran, we’d love for you to join us so we can honor your service together on Tuesday November 10. Coffee & pastries at 9:15 a.m. (optional) Assembly begins at 9:40 a.m. We look forward to celebrating you!
   Please RSVP to Mrs. Johnson at jjohnson4@everettsd.org
   
   
2. You may also email a picture of the Veteran for the slideshow! If you have a United States military Veteran (past or present) whom you would like to honor in our slide show; please email a photo to Mrs. Johnson at jjohnson4@everettsd.org no later than Friday, October 30.

• Veteran's name
• Branch of the military in which they served
• Student name, relation, and classroom teacher name
  

Thank you for your support in giving our students a chance to meet those who have made sacrifices for our freedom!

For accuracy of your student's records, complete the Information Update Form!

This important process gives families the opportunity to review and update student and guardian details to ensure school records remain accurate and current.

Why is this important?

• Emergency Contact & Safety: Accurate phone numbers, addresses, and emergency contacts allow us to reach you quickly when it matters most.
• Preferences & Permissions: Families can choose to opt in or out of information sharing with colleges and military recruiters, and update family meal status, which can qualify students for reduced fees for athletics and ASB activities.
• Health Information: Keeping medical conditions, allergies, and medication information up to date helps us maintain your child’s safety during the school day.
• Communication: Correct contact information ensures you receive school announcements, teacher communications, report cards, and district updates.
• Legal & Custody Information: Confirming guardian rights and permissions helps protect your student’s well-being. Guardian information may include a default value from the system conversion, which may not always be accurate.
  
  

What you need to do:

1. Log in to the ParentVUE portal.

2. On a computer browser, click “Online Registration” in the top-right corner. In the app, tap the “Online Registration” icon twice to open it in a new window.

3. Select Annual Information Update Form and review student record(s).

4. Make any necessary changes and click Submit.

If you have problems logging in to ParentVUE, please open a Help Desk ticket for support.

Thank you for your time and partnership in keeping our student records accurate.

Hello Hard-Working Penny Creek Elementary Students and Families,

Let’s review the P In Penny Creek PRIDE for Problem Solvers and help each other Resolve Conflict Peacefully. It’s not easy having a problem with a friend or with someone you love, but learning how to negotiate conflict is an important social and emotional skill. Conflict is a normal part of interactions between people. Conflict can be a constructive way for us to learn and appreciate differences. We can feel closer to one another when we can solve problems together.

Here are the steps that we can all use to solve problems peacefully:

• Be calm enough to be able to listen deeply (you may need some time apart to deal with your big feelings and then use calming strategies to release them).
• It is important to remember your greatness when you deal with conflict because there are so many good things about each person. I suggest you say 3 good things about yourself. Then the other person can repeat back those good things. Then, do the same for the other person. When you remember your greatness, you can do any hard thing.
• The next step is to say, briefly, what happened, how you felt, and what you want. The other person listens without interrupting. Then, the other person has a chance to share without interruption.
• Can you see it from the other person’s perspective? Nice job!
• Then, you both get to brainstorm some ideas about what you can do from now on: not leave your toothpaste on the other person’s side of the sink? take care of your dishes without reminding? or ask before borrowing something?
• Write down the plan. Will this take care of the problem for the both of you? Then, sign the agreement.
  
  

You have done much to increase your relationship skills by listening, cooperating with others, identifying a problem, analyzing the situation, and solving problems. Afterwards, you may notice feeling lighter and better. The more we do it, the easier it gets for next time.

Here’s a mindful moment that you can share together with your child that can be especially helpful as you breathe through difficult feelings.

Warmly, Your Penny Creek School Counselors, Dr. Anana and Mr. Richert

📞 How to Contact Us

✉️ Dr. Christy Anana
Phone: 425-385-7210
Email: canana@everettsd.org

Office Hours: Monday-Friday/ 8:25am to 3:55pm

✉️ Robert Richert
Phone: 425-385-7220
Email: rrichert2@everettsd.org

Office Hours: Tues., Thurs. and some Fridays/ 8:25am to 3:55pm

Penny Creek Elementary School Counseling Webpage: PCE Counseling

PTA & Natural Leaders: What’s the Difference?

Have you ever wondered, “What is the difference between the PTA and Natural Leaders?”

PTA — Supporting Our School

The PTA brings families and school staff together to support students through school events, enrichment activities, fundraising, and other programs.

Natural Leaders — Connecting Our Families

Natural Leaders focuses on connecting parents and creating a welcoming and inclusive school community.

• Connecting parents and helping families feel comfortable getting involved in our school community.
• Hosting Multicultural Parent Meetups where parents can meet, share ideas, and learn useful information about supporting their children. Topics might include “How Can I Help My Child Choose Books?”
• Celebrating our diverse community through cultural decorations and activities.
• Helping lead community events, such as our Festival of Cultures.
  
  

Everyone is welcome at our Multicultural Parent Meetups! You do not need to have a particular cultural background or speak another language to participate. These gatherings are for all Penny Creek families who would like to connect, learn, and be part of our community.

Different Roles, One Community

PTA and Natural Leaders have different focuses, but we share the same goal: helping every Penny Creek student and family feel welcomed, supported, and connected. And yes, you can be part of both! In fact, we highly recommend it! PTA and Natural Leaders complement each other, and your involvement with both helps make our Penny Creek community even stronger!

Thank you to our entire Penny Creek Community for your amazing support during our Frog Fun Run Fundraiser. We have raised $28,000! We are excited for the events, grants and programs this will support.

Our membership goal for the year is 206 members! As a member of the PTA you are supporting local and state advocacy efforts and of course having your voice heard for the types of programs and events we will fund. Become a member today.

A reminder that PTA volunteers develop our school Yearbook. We are excited to once again host a Yearbook cover contest! This is open to all Penny Creek 5th graders and artwork is due October 22, 2026. A big thank you to Ms. Johnson for your continued support and hosting of this project. If you have questions, please email pennycreekpta@yahoo.com. And don’t forget you can already purchase your yearbook for $15 (prices go up December 1).

Additionally, save the date for our Scholastic Book Fair. It starts November 2, during school parent/teacher conferences and runs that whole week. We encourage everyone to set up an e-Wallet for their student. More details to come!

Upcoming PTA Events

• Wednesday, October 7: PTA Fundraiser: Burgermaster from 4:00 - 9:00 p.m.
• Friday, October 16: PTA Popcorn Friday
• Thursday, October 22: Final deadline for 5th grade Yearbook Cover entries
• Monday, November 2: Scholastic Book Fair Begins

If you have any questions contact us via Email. Also, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Thanks,

2026-2027 PTA Board

ARRIVAL: supervision will begin at 9:00 a.m.

Parent drop off (Ferry Lanes) - drive up while remaining in the car.

• This is supervised until 9:10 a.m.
• Enter the parking lot through the west entrance.
• Turn right into the Parent drop off lane loop.
• Follow the Parent drop off lane around in front of the gym. Pulling forward to the undercover playground area.
• Stay in the right lane, making sure to drive slowly.
• Driver remains in the car.
• When the car comes to a complete stop, the student unloads from the passenger curb side door.
• Students will walk through the undercover area and on to the campus.
• Driver departs from the Parent drop off by following the lane to the west exit on to 132nd Street SE.

Parking car at main parking lot and drop off student.

• Park car in main parking lot and walk on to campus using the crosswalk.
• Parents walk students to the front iron gate drop off point by the office (blue area on map).

Arrival after 9:15 a.m. - park your vehicle and walk with your student into the office. A guardian or designee will need to sign in your student at the office. Students arriving after 9:15 a.m. will be tardy.

DISMISSAL: begins at 3:30 p.m. Monday - Thursday and 2:15 p.m. Friday

Parent pick up (Ferry Lanes) - drive up & pick up while remaining in the car.

• This is supervised until 3:40 p.m.
• Enter the parking lot through the west entrance.
• Turn right into the Parent pick up lane loop. There are three ferry style lanes to wait in.
• Penny Creek staff member will release each ferry lane in an orderly manner.
• When the lane is released, follow the Parent pick up line to the front of the undercover playground area.
• Make sure to drive slowly and to pull as far forward as possible. Students will be waiting in the undercover area.
• Driver remains in the car.
• When the car comes to a complete stop, the student will load into the car from the passenger curb side door.
• Driver departs from the Parent pick up by following the lane to the west exit on 132nd Street SE.

Parking car at main parking lot to pick up students at departure time.

• Park car in main parking lot and walk on to campus using the crosswalk.
• Parents wait for students to be released from the doors located between Office and Kindergarten Playground (green area on map).

If your student is absent or tardy from school, please report your students absence in your ParentVUE account (preferred) or email the attendance office at pceattendance@everettsd.org to let us know the reason for the absence or tardy.

• Absences must be reported (by email or note) within 5 calendar days after a student returns back to school, not including Holidays or weekends, in order to have the absence reviewed to be excused.
• Automated attendance calls will be sent out daily at 10 a.m. If your student will be absent or tardy you must notify the office before 9:15 a.m. If it is reported after this time, you may receive the automated call.
• Please view the Everett School District Attendance Procedure 3122P for more information (including definitions of absences).
• Did you have a medical appointment for your child, or they were sick, and you brought them to the doctor? If so, make sure to ask for a medical note from the provider. Email the note to the attendance office so those absences can be coded as a medical note excused absence.
• Please fill out a Prearranged Absence Form if your student will be going on vacation/traveling or will miss school for an extended period of time. As per district policy, the principal or designee may excuse up to five (5) school days for a prearranged absence per student each school year.

If your student needs to leave before the end of the school day, email the school office at PennyCreek@everettsd.org in advance. Please include in your email message:

• The specific DATE
  
• The TIME you will pick up your student. Please know, we will call your student to the office once you have arrived to the school.
  
• WHO will be picking up your student. If an adult designee is coming to pick up your student, an email from the guardian needs to be sent to confirm the information.

For the safety and security of students, we will ask for photo identification.

If the plan on how your student is going home at the end of the school day changes, we ask that a guardian sends an email to the school office at PennyCreek@everettsd.org and the classroom teacher by 2:45 pm.

Please include in your email message:

• name of your student
• name of their teacher
• details of the the change of plan
  
  

Our office will deliver this information to your student. This method of communication helps to support our staff with accurate dismissal information.

MISSION STATEMENT: The Penny Creek staff, in partnership with our students, families and communities, ensures high levels of learning for all students.

VISION STATEMENT: We will implement equitable practices, enabling students to:

• develop emotional health and well-being, self-advocacy, and skills that create connection, belonging and purpose.
• build respectful relationships by showing kindness, compassion, and integrity.
• demonstrate curiosity and persevere through challenges and rigorous learning opportunities.
• think critically, both independently and collaboratively, to solve problems, maintain healthy communities, and become life-long learners.
• acquire knowledge and skills needed to succeed in middle school and beyond.