Community Update — May 1, 2024
Community Update • Arbor Heights • May 1, 2024
Important Dates:
- May 6-10: Staff/Teacher Appreciation Week
- May 8: Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day! Learn more here
- May 8: Administrative Secretaries Appreciation Day- Thank you Karen & Tracy!
- May 9: Field trip to Children’s Theatre, Ms. Day’s class and Ms. Lortz’s class
- May 11: Arbor Heights Garden Work Party, 9:30 a.m.
- May 16: 1st grade field trip to Children’s Theatre
- May 23: Kindergarten field trip to Pacific Science Center
- May 17: Ridwell picks up plastic film collection
- May 27: No School, Memorial Day
Special Appreciation to The Arbor Heights Volunteers!
To the Arbor Heights Classroom Hawkeyes, classroom volunteers, Auction project creators, the volunteer reading helpers, P.T.S.A. Board members, popcorn poppers, field day supporters, field trip volunteers, Islandwood volunteers – We want you to know that YOU matter! YOU make a difference!
Your great generosity has had a profound and lasting impact on our students of all ages. Your willingness to share both your time and your talent by volunteering with Arbor Heights says a lot about as a human being. Your willingness to give selflessly to help others speaks to both your strength and the quality of your character.
When you volunteer, you are making a commitment to share that most precious of resources — your time — to make life better for those who are in need. The fruits of your labors make a tangible impact, of course, but perhaps it is the fact that you are willing to share your time and talent to lend a helping hand and to show kindness and caring that makes the greatest difference in the lives of the students and staff who are touched by your generosity.
We know that you choose to volunteer selflessly and without expectation of being recognized or rewarded, today we wish to do just that. We want to let you know just how much your dedication is appreciated and to make sure that everyone in the Arbor Heights community knows how grateful we are for you. Whether you are a long-time volunteer or if you got involved recently, and regardless of how many hours you choose to give, it’s important for you to know that what YOU do makes a difference.
Words cannot adequately express the gratitude that we here at Arbor Heights wish to convey. Please know that your volunteerism is recognized, appreciated, valued, and cherished. We thank you and look forward to continuing to work with you in the future. Thank you, all of the Arbor Heights Volunteers!
Honoring a Special Volunteer!
Volunteer, Steve Holms – We recognize your seven years of dedication to our school as our every Tuesday pick up and deliver Backpack food supplies from the West Seattle Food Bank. Students take home the food items and snacks every Friday for a weekend that might go without. This requires dedication and deep care. We deeply appreciate the time given to reading and listening to students read four days a week with a first-grade class. As one student wrote to Mr. Holms, “I look forward to seeing you outside the classroom door.” “I hope you enjoy meeting with me to read.”
In addition, Steve, and his wife Sue serve our community as a Saint Vincent de-Paul liaison for families, including Arbor Heights families, who need support with vouchers, utility payments, clothing, and new bedding supplies.
Smarter Balanced Assessment Time for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade Students
Arbor Heights is preparing for the annual administration of the state-required Smarter Balanced assessment. Students in grades 3-5 will take the assessments beginning May 1st – June 4th, 2024. The Smarter Balanced Assessment schedule provides detailed information as to when and what type of assessment will be given based on grade level and teacher. Please click the link for the schedule within the message for the schedule.
Participation in this test is essential. State assessments are based on the progression of skills and knowledge that are needed for students beginning in third grade to ensure students graduate college and are career ready. Teachers use these state assessments as one of the many tools to understand individual student achievement (how much a child knows at the end of the year) and individual progress (how much a child has improved over the previous year). Teachers also use these results to identify students’ academic strengths and areas of need to then adjust instruction accordingly.
Our school uses state assessments to determine if we have reached the state educational goals and to identify improvement areas. Once we identify areas for improvement, we use the data to set goals in our annual Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP) addressing student achievement needs. Results from state assessments provide the state, our district, our school, teachers, you, and your child with information about the knowledge gained over the past school year. Individual student reports give results from the test and will be sent home to parents as soon as possible. More information can be found at www.wa.smarterbalanced.org It is important to remember that state assessments provide only one measure of student learning. When combined with grades, classroom activities, unit assessments, and district-level assessments, the end-of-year tests can complete the picture of a child’s abilities and help him/her down a path toward academic success in reaching Washington’s Content Standards.
Here are some things to note about the state assessments:
-Your child’s grades will not be impacted by their scores on the state tests.
-Your child’s privacy will be protected. State and federal laws, such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), ensure these data remain confidential.
Here are some things you can do to help:
– Encourage your child to do their very best on everything they do in school, including this end-of-year state test.
-Make sure he or she gets plenty of sleep the night before each test and has a healthy breakfast.
-Support your child by explaining the purpose of the tests and how they are used.
We appreciate your partnership in helping Arbor Heights students fulfill Washington state requirement for end-of-year assessments and supporting your child to do his/her best.
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have about state testing this year. Questions about the assessment can be directed to your child’s teacher too.
In partnership,
Christy Collins & Alana Haider
Arbor Heights Blood Drive
Many of us will require a blood transfusion at some point in our lifetimes. To meet the needs of patients in our community, at least 900 people must register to donate blood through Bloodworks Northwest every weekday. The SGA wants you, the Arbor Heights community, to contribute to this worthy cause. Every donation counts! The entire process takes about one hour and includes a health check, giving blood, and refreshments while relaxing in the canteen for about 10 minutes.
If you would be willing to give blood at the Arbor Height Blood Drive, please click here to sign up. BloodworksNW.org will give us a specific date when we have 35 donor commitments. Our goal is to have 35 commitments by Friday, May 3; we only need 6 more! Bloodworks will bring their mobile unit to Arbor Heights on a TBD date.
From the PTSA
Teacher Appreciation Week
Next week, May 6-11th, is Teacher Appreciation Week. We hope you’ll join in a school-wide effort by students and families to add a personal touch (we hear from our teachers that this goes a long way). Here are some ways students can make next week special.
· Monday – bring a written or drawn compliment for your teacher
· Wednesday – wear your teacher’s favorite color and give them a high five and say thank you
· Friday – bring a treat or beverage -or- make card or picture
PTSA Budget and Election Meeting
Please join us on May 16, 2024, at 7:00 p.m., for an especially important virtual PTSA meeting to vote on next year’s board and the 2024/2025 PTSA budget.
We are looking to fill key positions, including:
· President
· Secretary
· Treasurer 1 and Treasurer 2
· Communications Chair
· Auction/Co-Auction Chairs
· Membership Chair
Click here to learn more about these roles and reach out to the PTSA Board at ahptaboardinfo@gmail.com to express your interest or to join our Board Meeting on May 2, 2024, at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Zoom links will be sent via School Messenger prior to the meeting.
Final Few
There are still a few spots available for An Evening at Arbor Heights Gym on June 7, 2024. This item will be available online to “buy now” until May 10, 2024, or until it’s sold out.
Yearbook Sale
Yearbooks are still available for purchase. Click here to purchase a book full of memories from this school year for your child today.
Mother’s Day Weekend Flower Sale
This Mother’s Day, support Arbor Heights Elementary School and Hmong farmers by buying flower bouquets! Proceeds go to Arbor Heights and a Title 1 school in Seattle and are tax-deductible. Bouquets will be available to be picked up at Arbor Heights Elementary on May 11th from 10am-12pm. They are $60 for one bouquet or $100 for two. Pre-order before May 4th to get your bouquet on May 11th. Click here to order.