Posted September 6, 2017 by Katherine Ma

Principal Bowlby: One Somerset: September

We are off to a great start and look forward to an amazing 2017-18 school year in partnership with you. I spent time in each classroom and it made my heart sing to see our returning students and greet those new to Somerset. I shared, with your students, that Somerset is our home-away-from-home; we spend a lot of time together at school and we make up one big Somerset family!  Each and every one of our students belong here and we believe in them.

 

Our motto is ONE Somerset! To promote unity and belonging, we will celebrate together for a short morning assembly each Monday, where students and staff are encouraged to wear their Somerset spirit gear. Our first assembly will be Monday, September 11.

 

In this One Somerset monthly news:

·      Volunteers at Somerset – Thank You!

·      Student Profile Packets

·      Curriculum Nights

·      Lost and Found

·      Behavior Expectations: Our Big 3

·      Odds and Ends

 

Volunteer Support at Somerset – Thank You!

Jubilee Service Day – August 26, 2017

We had over 100 volunteers in and outside the building helping staff prepare for the start of school and to welcome our Superstar families.  Jubilee volunteers spent over 4 hours working on a number of tasks which included organizing classrooms and our staff workroom, putting up bulletin boards, pressure washing and spreading bark.  A large number of staff also volunteered their time that Saturday to ensure Somerset sparkled for our Meet and Greet.

Scrumptious Lunch – August 29, 2017

A huge shout out to our PTSA for providing staff a fabulous array of salads, rolls and dessert on one of our LID days (teacher workday prior to school starting). The staff enjoyed mingling with each other and catching up after our summer holiday; it was a welcomed break!

First Day Coffee – August 31 and September 5, 2017

We had a great turn out for both of our welcome coffees.  Thank you, again, to our PTSA for coordinating and sponsoring such a nice event.

 

Student Profile Packets
On Friday, September 8th please check your child’s backpack.  Each student will bring home a manila envelope with the following:  student profile, school nurse health information and an attendance information letter.  Please return these documents no later than the following Friday, September 15.

 

Lost and Found
We are trying a new system to alleviate the pile of lost and found clothes. Items will be donated to the Salvation Army on the last Friday of each month.  Clothes that are accumulated beginning the Monday prior will be displayed in an alternate area to allow students a few days to retrieve them.  Please help by putting your last name on the inside of all items.

 

Curriculum Nights

Curriculum Night is a great way for families to learn more about Somerset and how we can partner to support all students. Please note that teachers will not be discussing individual student progress or needs during these sessions; please request a conference if you need to discuss issues specific to your child.

 

This year we will host three separate curriculum nights for parents. With our large student body, breaking into three nights helps with parking and provides more time for us to address questions. If you are attending more than one curriculum night, you may choose which gym/cafeteria session to attend as the information will be the same on all three. Please mark your calendars:

  • Kindergarten and Fifth Grades, Tuesday, September 12 6-7:30

6:00 in classrooms (45 minutes)

6:45 in gym/cafeteria (45 minutes)

  • First and Fourth Grades and Ms. Scott’s 3/4 split – Thursday, Sept. 14 6:15-7:30

6:15 in classrooms (30 minutes)

6:45 in gym/cafeteria (45 minutes)

  • Second and Third Grades – Thursday, September 28 6:15-7:30

6:15 in classrooms (30 minutes)

6:45 in gym/cafeteria (45 minutes)


Behavior Expectations

This year all Somerset students will learn three important behavior expectations for all areas of the school. Students will start the year with class discussions about what these expectations look like. You can help us with these at home, too! Ask your child to try to tell you the Big 3 Expectations.

  • Make Good Decisions
  • Show Respect
  • Solve Problems

Our students are adjusting well to a new recess before lunch schedule, allowing for five more minutes of lunch and the chance to get their jitters out before lunch.

 

Reminder to K and Grade 1 families who pack snacks and lunches: Please send your child with easy to open containers and lunch bags. This will help to encourage independence and assure enough time for students to eat. Thank you for your support!

 

Odds and Ends

  • New School End Time – This year student lunch has increased by five minutes. In order to ensure appropriate instructional minutes five minutes has been added to the end of the school day.  School dismissal is as follows:

M, T, Th, F:  3:35

W: 1:15

  • Please help your child start the day on the right foot by arriving to school on time. We ask students to be at school by 9:00 and in their seats, ready to learn before the tardy bell rings at 9:05. Student drop off begins at 8:40 and students can enjoy some peaceful reading time in our Quiet Café from 8:40-9:00. Early drop off helps all families by reducing traffic congestion. Thank you for your support!
  • When dropping off students by car in the AM, please adhere to the following guidelines for our loading and unloading zones. Please pull as far forward as possible, stay in the drop off lane and do not cross the solid white line.  This lane is given the right away for quick exit from the parking lot. We ask that students unload as quickly as possible, on the school side of the car, to keep our traffic flowing smoothly. If your student cannot exit the car at the curb without help, please find a parking space in the lot or neighborhood and walk into the school. We have staff and volunteers helping to expedite this process. 
  • Thank you for modeling safe behavior by using the cross walks at all times.
  • Hearing Screening with Nurse Ruby will be Tuesday, September 19, 2017
  • More information available on the PTSA website. http://somersetptsa.org/Home

 

Judy Bowlby

SOMERSET ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL | BELLEVUE SCHOOL DISTRICT

PHONE: 425-456-5800 | bowlbyj@bsd405.org

 

Our mission is to support the education, health, and welfare of each and every child at Somerset Elementary School. As part of the Washington State PTA, we are a nonprofit membership association bringing together the home, school, and community on behalf of our children.