february principal newsletter 2012

8/2/2019 February Principal Newsletter 2012

1/6

Dear Friday Harbor Families,

Happy February! I hope you all have been able to enjoy

the lovely weather we have been experiencing

on our beautiful island. Welcome to our new families

who have moved to the island over the last couple of

weeks. We are excited to have you here! With snow days,

semester break, and our upcoming winter break, our students

are experiencing many transitions. This can be difficult for them.

As the staff and I help our students to settle back into their

routines after these breaks, we look forward to and anticipate

a great second half of the year ahead of us! We have a lot of fun

activities in Februarythey are all listed on the right.

You should have received your ballot in the mail recently

for our upcoming Capital and Technology Levy. You

may have seen the information in our island newspapers

about the details of the levy. If you would like more

information feel free to give me a call or go to:

http://www.sjisd.wednet.edu/Page/1009

This month our theme at FHES is being a Good Citizen.

This theme fits well with our current food drive as well as

our upcoming assembly, Rachels Challenge. This assembly is

tomorrow, Wednesday, at 9:45 in the gym, and you are invited

to attend. Rachels Challenge will help students learn how to

start a chain reaction of kindness and compassion at FHES as

well as throughout the community. The staff and I are very

excited that this nationally recognized event is coming to Friday

Harbor, and we look forward to seeing you at the assembly

or at the evening dinner and presentation which is at themiddle school at 5:15pm also on Feb. 8th.

I hope you enjoy the rest of the newsletter, and I hope you

find the pieces on attendance and keeping your child bully

free helpful.

Heres to being kind and compassionate! ~Connie

February 2012 Friday Harbor Elementary Interim Principal

Soaring to Excellence 95 Grover St. Connie Martin

Friday Harbor, WA 98250 360-378-5209

We have many fun and exciting

events in February

Food Drive

Going on now!!please send in your non-

perishable items to help those in need

Early Dismissal Tuesday, Feb. 7

Rachels Challenge

Come and help us start a Chain Reaction

of Kindness and Compassion

Assembly Feb. 8th FHES 9:45am

Evening Dinner and Presentation

Feb. 8th

FHMS 5:15pm

K-1 Math NightFeb. 9

th

6:00pm

Feb. 14th

Valentines Day Parties:

K am 9:30

K pm 1:15

1st

Grade 12:50

2nd

Grade 1:50

3rd

1:50pm

4th

12:30pm

5th

2:00pm

6th

- none

Team ET 2:00pm

Capital and Technology LevyFeb. 14th

Spirit Day Twin Day!! Feb. 15th

Olympic View MS Band Assembly

Feb, 15th 2:00pm

Winter BreakFeb. 16 - 20th

6th Grade goes to IMA - Feb. 27

FHES Spelling Bee Feb. 28th
http://www.sjisd.wednet.edu/Page/1009http://www.sjisd.wednet.edu/Page/1009http://www.sjisd.wednet.edu/Page/1009


2/6

Mrs. Minkes class

Celebrates Martin

Luther King Day

Tell me and Ill forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and Ill understand.

~Chinese proverbDear Families,Recently, we have had some questions about excused and unexcused absences and school attendance in general.

At Friday Harbor Elementary we genuinely care about our children. We miss them when they are not in class.

Their presence makes a positive difference in the teaching and learning environment. It is very difficult to see a

child struggle when he or she comes back lost because of missed school or late arrival.

Daily attendance at school is very important. Children have a right to an education, and parents have a legal

responsibility to see that they attend.

The importance of regular school attendance isn't about following the rules; it's about giving our children the best

chance for success. Missing school puts our children at a big disadvantage. If they miss the class where a key ideaor lesson is delivered, they quickly fall behind. And sometimes, children who are behind get discouraged and give

up, something none of us wants for our children.

Of course children should stay at home if they are sick. And of course we should all be sure our children eat well

and get plenty of sleep so they stay as healthy as possible. We should always try to schedule dentist, doctor, or

other appointments for our children at times that don't conflict with school. Nearly all schools also have an

attendance policy that requires a written note or a phone call from the parent or guardian explaining why a

student is absent, whether it's because of illness or for some other reason.

Some of us have important holidays or traditional celebrations that aren't recognized by the school calendar. This

can be a problem for families from many different faiths and cultures. When it's really important to us to keep

our children home for a religious, cultural, or family event, we need to contact our children's teachers in advanceand let them know about our plans. They will want to know what day or days our children will miss. We should

ask them if there are assignments our children can do at home to make up for the class time they will miss and

whether there are any other ways to make up the missed class time.

Washington state law requires children from age 8 to 17 to attend a public school, private school, or district-

approved home school program. Children who are 6- or 7-years-old are not required to be enrolled in school.

However, if parents enroll their 6- or 7-year-old, the student must attend full-time. Youth who are 16 or older

may be excused from attending public school if they meet certain requirements. For more information, visit the

link below. (This information was brought to you by the Washington State Public Education: A Guide for Students

and Families)

Washington State Parents Guide to Truancy and Attendance
http://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdf


3/6

Next

Principals Coffee Hour

February 27 at4pm

Come Join Us!!

Child Care Provided

Coming to SJISD

Feb 8th

Assembly at FHES 9:45

Dinner and Presentation

at FHMS 5:15pm

All welcome!!

The Mitten Project

Community member and devoted volunteer, Georgia Forbes, knitted 45 pairs of mittens for the

kindergarteners in Ms. Muellers morning and afternoon classes.

Thank you for the warm hands and happy hearts!
http://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdf


4/6

Stress Free Kids.comBully Proof Your Child

The bully gains power while crushing another human beings spirit. He or she increases hisown self-value and satisfies his need to control others as he steals his victimsself-esteem

rendering them with feelings of worthlessness. But contrary to popular belief, the US

Department of Health and Human Services states that children who bully actually have an

average to above average self-esteem. This changes the old belief that bullies have low self-esteem and dont like themselves. Bullies are confident, have lots of friends, lack empathy and

have a positive attitude toward violence. Children who are bullied face a complicated multi-

faceted dilemma that most adults are unable to unravel.

Technology has introduced our children to a new age of bully and offers a 24 hour hotline to

his or her victims.

If you think your child is safe because he is not the class nerd and he plays football, think

again. Technology desensitizes youth, and confident bullies often choose victims that are good

looking, athletic, smart, caring and creative. Very often the bully chooses the person he or she

wishes to be. So how do parents bully proof our children?

Izzy Kahlman, author of Bullies2Buddies, believes that we as a society are doing a lousy job of

promoting resilience. Rather than helping kids become people who can weather the sling and

arrows of life, we are producing a generation of emotional marshmallows - kids who believe

they are entitled to a life in which no one upsets them - and theycant tolerate any insult to

their mind and bodies. Raising children who can be resilient is crucial to ward off a bully. The

child who reacts emotionally distraught to a bully will only encourage the bully. So what can

you do as parents to protect our children without turning them into marshmallows a bully

will eat for dessert?

Here are some tips:

Raise confident children based on inner belief not false praise. Guide children but allow them to handle normal playground conflicts. Socialize your children, and seek social skills classes if needed. Expose your children to various groups and activities. Find groups or activities that support your childs uniqueness. Roleplay laughing remarks and banter, and create comebacks. Introduce coping skills to release anger and/or hurt feelings. Empower children to manage anxiety. Maintain strong family connections with parents and siblings. Talk to your children about how they feel or the challenges they face. Help your child to build relationships with peers by creating opportunities. Encourage your child to smile and laugh at their mistakes.
http://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdf


5/6

Math Tip of the MonthFrom: Explorations in Math.org

When engaged in math games and activities,students dont even realize that they are

strengthening math skills and problem solving.

Whether playing in school or at home, games

can enhance math fundamentals and, more

importantly, can help students develop positive

math attitudes.

Some great math sites:

www.mathcats.com

www.funbrain.com/math

www.factmonster.com

www.mathplaygrouns.com/

Reading tip of the monthSomething to talk aboutReading doesnt have to stop when you put the book

down. Talk to yourchild about books youve read and books you think he or she

might enjoy!

Brought to you bywww.ReadingRockets.org

Golden Eagle Feather

Winners for the month of January

Madison Brown Kpm Baby Birds

Chelsey Campbell 2nd

Happy Birthday Moon

Nicholas Al-Gattas 1st Grade The Dragonology

Handbook

Mrs. Wavras Class Kavick the Wolf Dog

Audrey Allen 1st

Grade The Butterfly

Alphabet

Congratulations Golden Eagle Book Winners!!
http://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdfhttp://www.mathcats.com/http://www.mathcats.com/http://www.funbrain.com/mathhttp://www.funbrain.com/mathhttp://www.factmonster.com/http://www.factmonster.com/http://www.mathplaygrouns.com/http://www.mathplaygrouns.com/http://www.readingrockets.org/http://www.readingrockets.org/http://www.readingrockets.org/http://www.readingrockets.org/http://www.mathplaygrouns.com/http://www.factmonster.com/http://www.funbrain.com/mathhttp://www.mathcats.com/


6/6

Support Dollars for Scholars

By

Dining for Scholars!The following restaurants will be donating a percentage of their

sales to the Dollars for Scholars Scholarship Fund

February 2ndChina Pearl/Kung Fu Pizza - lunch,

Blue Water lunch,

Lime Kiln Caf lunch,

Roche Harbor & Cask & Schooner - dinner

February 9th

Kos Subs & Downriggers lunch, Downriggers & Banry Caf

dinner,The Bluff @ Friday Harbor House - dinner

February 23rd

Bakery San Juan lunch,

MiCasita & Coho Restaurant dinner

February 29th

Market Chef - lunch,

Rumor Mill & Haleys Bait Shop dinner

Please support these local establishmentsSupport Scholarships!

february principal newsletter 2012

Documents