The Gordon

Our mission is to assure high levels of learning for all students. The Gordon Way: Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Build Community!

Important Reminders.

Family Access: Please log into

Family Access thru the NKSD web-

site to review Parent/Guardian and

Emergency Contact information

that we have on file for your stu-

dent. You may submit any changes

to the office via a note, or email to

jwhite@nkschools.org If you do not

have your login and password, please

contact Jeanette White @ 396-

3805.

Friday, Feb. 12th is a

Non-Student Day. There

is no school.

Monday, Feb. 15th is Presidents’

Day. There is no school.

Friday, March 11th is a Non-

Student Day. There is no school.

Tuesday, March 29th-

Thursday,March 31st:

Conferences 12:20 Dismissal

Friday, April 1st: Conferences

No School

Of Cedar and Salmon

Dear Families and Friends of Gordon Elementary, You are invited to an

evening cultural performance showcasing 4-5th grade students:

“Reflections of the Potlatch”

Thursday, February 25th

from 6-7 pm

Gordon Elementary Gym

Of Cedar and Salmon is a multimedia, multicultural hands on, portable

educational program designed to maximize student participation and

involvement with the native art and cultures of the Pacific Northwest

Coast. Ronn Wilson has been providing this unique service to the public

since 1977.

For more information on Of Cedar and Salmon please visit the website:

www.ofcedarandsalmon.com

For questions regarding the school event contact:

Mackenzie Allpress, 4th Grade Teacher

Gordon Elementary

mallpress@nkschools.org

This cultural opportunity is sponsored by NKSD Native Education Program

Sonia Barry, Associate Director Of Learning Support Program sbarry@nkschools.org (360)396-3018

Counselor’s Corner

Rick Goudzwaard

One of the big reasons why students & parents ask to see me concerns problems with the home environment, divorce being the

big one, and the impact it is having on the student’s performance at school. Being a step-father to two teen-agers I know some

of the problems that kids are faced with and how it impacts their school life. Here’s an article from Jim Fay of the Love &

Logic Institute in Golden Colorado that might be of interest to you…

Making Divorce Less Traumatic for Kids

By Dr. Charles Fay

Parents can make divorce less traumatic for their kids

Listed below are some tips that up the odds that children of divorce will grow up well– adjusted, instead of angry, resentful, and irresponsible.

Tip #1: Assure your kids that the divorce is not their fault.

Children, especially younger ones, have a strong tendency to blame themselves for the divorce. What a horrible burden of guilt to bear! From you and your former spouse, they need to hear the following message over and over:

Some kids blame themselves for their parents getting a divorce. It was not your fault. We love you.

Tip #2: Avoid bad mouthing your former spouse…even in subtle ways.

As we all know, small ears hear more than big ones!

Kids need to know that it's okay to love both of you. Don't place your child in a loyalty conflict by subtly suggesting that they should not love the other parent or have fun when they visit them. One father made this mistake in a very subtle yet damaging way. Each time he picked up the kids at his ex–wife's, he would greet them with a worried look and ask nervously, "Are you guys okay? Did your visit go okay?"

It wasn't long before the kids started to believe that they weren't supposed to have an "okay" time at Mom’s house.

Oftentimes, these more subtle jabs are the most powerfully damaging.

Tip #3: Don't waste time and energy trying to "convert" your former spouse to your parenting style.

Some divorced parents waste precious time and energy fighting a never–ending control battle with their former spouse over how to parent the kids.

Children adjust to different parenting styles, as long as their parents aren't manipulated into giving in or getting an-gry. When your kids say things like, "But Dad lets us," experiment with saying the following while not backing down:

You're pretty lucky to have two parents who are different. Thanks for letting me know.

Tip #4: Don't hesitate to seek qualified professional help.

Our children will never be healthier than we are. The trauma of divorce can result in major financial stress, lost friendships, depression, low self-esteem, anger, etc. A skilled therapist can help you and your kids move on to happier times, instead of getting bogged down in the pain.

The North Kitsap Options Parent Groups

15th ANNUAL

MYSTERY DINNER THEATER

Muscatel

And

Murder

February 12 &13

Kiana Lodge Tickets at

WWW.NKOPTIONS>ORG Proceeds benefit North Kitsap Options,

Alternative K-8 Public Education

Kindergarten registration

week will be held at North

Kitsap elementary schools district-

wide, February 22nd – February

26th 8:30-4:00.

Please bring your child’s birth certificate

or other official proof-of-age document,

the immunization record, doctor name and

phone number, and names and phone num-

bers of two emergency contacts.

The North Kitsap OPTIONS

Program is now

accepting applications for the

2016-2017 school year.

Enrollment applications will be available in the school

office and on the district website. Complete the enroll-

ment application packet for each student you wish to

have considered for enrollment. (Follow the directions

for packet submission included with the packet.)

Students who are not offered a place are placed on a

waitlist. Students will remain on the waitlist for one

year. After one year, it is the parent/guardian’s re-

sponsibility to contact the Gordon office by March

18th requesting their student remain on the waitlist.

North Kitsap OPTIONS

Program Information Nights

North Kitsap Options Program Information

Nights will be held on Wednesday, February

24th and Tuesday,, March 1st at Gordon Ele-

mentary from 5:30-7:00 p.m.. The Options Pro-

gram is for kindergarten through 8th grade stu-

dents.

Options provides NK students with a community-

based education that fosters the development

of self-directed, life-long learners through sig-

nificant family involvement, inter-dependent

multi-age learning groups, and curricula that are

responsive to students' needs and interests.

Want to know more about what is

going on at Gordon Elementary?

Find & like us on Facebook!

Richard Gordon Elementary

NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT The North Kitsap School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Questions or complaints of alleged discrimination can be directed to the district’s Title IX/RCW 28A.640 Compliance Officer Chris Willits, Assistant Superintendent, cwillits@nkschools.org (360) 396-3003 and /or the ADA and 504 Coordinator, Lori Kingery, Assistant Director of Special Education, lking-ery@nkschools.org (360) 396-3072; address - 18360 Caldart Ave NE, Poulsbo WA 98370.

P.E. with Mr. B.

WOW! I can’t believe another month has gone by. I think I am beginning to smell spring in the air. I hope kids are continuing to enjoy their PE time, I know I am loving working with them! Your children make me smile every day. One little second grade girl thought my name was Mrs. Washington. And, a mom told me her son had requested “the Mr. Bainbridge Cut” when he visited the barber Too cute. As I mentioned in last month’s newsletter, we worked on a variety of learning targets about the sport of basketball. This month we will work on the following learning targets around the sport of volleyball: 1. Throwing and catching

2. Striking an object in the air

3. Bumping

4. Setting

5. Serving

6. Sportsmanship All of our learning targets are designed to be age-appropriate and, as such, may look different at each grade level. Please encourage your children to dress appropriately for play on PE days. Until next time. Mr. “B.” (or Mrs. Washington if you prefer)

PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Supports)

Great News! Based on staff and parent input, we started a new

school-wide celebration bulletin board beginning this month!

Teachers will be recognizing students for being safe, respectful, responsible,

building community, or other reasons. “Aim for the Stars” slips will be hung there

each month from classes all over the school along with pictures of the students

being honored! It is on the exterior rotunda wall just to the left side of the

school entry way. Come on in and see the display! So far it has received a lot of

attention and had rave reviews. Students are beaming with pride to see them-

selves or their friends being featured, and parent feedback has been great.

Check it out each month to see when your child will be honored between now and

June.

A very heartfelt thanks goes out to Lucy, Kate and Clara from Nat’s Options

class. They are the official photographers and photo printers for this worthwhile

project.

Finding ways to celebrate success is an instrumental part of PBIS, and contrib-

utes to a positive school climate.

If you have questions or comments, please feel free to contact me any time! You

can also learn more about the PBIS framework at the pbis.org website.

Go Gordon Explorers!

Sincerely,

Kelly Rosenbach

Buy a Pie for your Sweetheart and

support Options 8th graders! Fresh Frozen Pies from Maplehurst Bakery

Five flavors to choose from ~ while supplies last

Cherry

Peach

NS Apple (no sugar added)

Regular Apple

Pumpkin $8 each

2 for $15 or 3 for $20

Pick Pickup Dates and Locations

Thursday, February 11th after school in 2 locations ~ at the

main entrance to Gordon Elementary and on the Options

Bridge 3:45 to 4:15

Tuesday, February 9th at Options Parent Meeting

Or to arrange an individual pick up, contact Laurie Richens

at richens@comcast.net or (360)689-5475

All proceeds go to funding the Options 8th graders

end of the year trip.

NKSD Mission Statement

North Kitsap School District in partnership with the community, will provide an academically challenging educational pro-

gram to meet the diverse needs of all students in a safe, nurturing environment and empower them to be competent, creative,

compassionate, and contributing

citizens.

North Kitsap School District

18360 Caldart Ave. NE

Poulsbo, WA 98370

(360) 396-3000

School Phone Number: 396-3800

Fax Number: 396-3950

Attendance Number: 396-3803

February 2016

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri

1 2

Reading & Math Labs

8:25 am

Intermediate Strings

8:15 am

3 4

Reading & Math Labs

8:25 am

Beginning Strings

8:15 am

5

8 9

Reading & Math Labs

8:25 am

Intermediate Strings

8:15 am

10

Reading & Math Labs

8:25 am

11

Reading & Math Labs 8:25 am

Beginning Strings 8:15 am

NK School Board Mtg. 6 pm

12

Non-Student Day

No School

15

Presidents’ Day

No School

16

Reading & Math Labs

8:25 am

Intermediate Strings

8:15 am

17

Reading & Math Labs

8:25 am

18

Reading & Math Labs 8:25 am

Beginning Strings 8:15 am

19

22

Kindergarten

Registration Week

23

Reading & Math Labs

8:25 am

Intermediate Strings

8:15 am

24

Reading & Math Labs

8:25 am

25 Reading & Math Labs

8:25 am

Beginning Strings 8:15 am

NK School Board Mtg. 6 pm

Reflections of the Potlatch

6-7 PM in the Gym

26

29 Early Release Day

every Wednesday

All Schools

Elementary 3 pm

Dismissal