Salmon Bay School

The first day of school is Wednesday, September 8th.

School Hours:

Elementary: 8:30 AM - 2:40 PM

Middle School: 8:25 AM - 2:45 PM

Bus Transportation

Bus routes will be mailed to you from the Transportation Department at the end of August.  For questions about eligibility, pick-up and drop-off stops, or bus assignment call Seattle Public Schools Transportation Office at 252-0900.

Car Transportation

Cars should drop students off next to the West curb on the East side of the school on 18th Ave. NW.  Please DO NOT PARK on 18th in the white curb zone.  This is for drop-offs and pick-ups only.  During drop off and pick up we treat this street as a "One Way" street... please enter north of the school and move south.  Do not double park, or drop off your children so they have to cross over to the school in front of other cars.  When entering the white curb zone, please pull forward so that we can fit in as many cars as possible.  BUSES drop off students on 19th Ave. NW.  Please do not drop off your student on 19th Ave. NW as this creates a dangerous safety risk for students to combine car drop-offs in the same place as the bus-loading zone.

NW 65th Street is a very busy street, with many cars exceeding the speed limit.  The Seattle Police Department has strongly requested that we DO NOT USE 65th St. for drop off or pick up.

Volunteers Needed

FIRST DAY PACKETS:  We need volunteers to help put the First Day Packets together - on Wed. 9/8.  We will meet in the cafeteria at 8:30 a.m. and start stuffing envelopes and then distributing them to homerooms.  This usually takes about 2 1/2 hours.  Any amount of time that you can help is much appreciated!

DROP-OFF AREA SUPERVISION:  We are looking for two parents to help with the student drop-off area.  The drop-off location is on 18th Ave NW, along the east side of the building.  We need parent helpers on Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 7:50 - 8:20a.m.  This is an ongoing job.  A staff member will be training the volunteers.

If you are a middle school family, the return from break means the beginning of our Winter Enrichment Program. Even if you are an elementary family, you may want to remind yourself on WEP mornings to give yourself a little extra time. Also: the lower field is CLOSED on those Fridays and used for cars/drop-off, with supervision in the gym from 8:40 till 9:10, but not before 8:40, so please do not drop off before then, because we do not have any supervision available for your child

Middle School: Please be sure your permission and health forms have been turned in. Also, drop off and pick up can be very chaotic at first. Drivers: drop off ONLY on 18th. (On 19th we have to unload school busses, then load up ski busses.) We ask you to drive in the SOUTH DIRECTION ONLY. If you happen to DRIVE north to drop off, you will be asked to go around the block and get in line going south. Also, in the evening pick up parking is on 18th and north of the bus zone only.

Finally, this is a difficult time for our neighbors. I ask you to not only be aware of your own parking, but also help to remind others who may be infringing on a neighbor’s yard or space.

Also: you’ll see more details elsewhere in the bulletin but this is a reminder that there is a question/answer meeting with the head of district transportation tomorrow night at 7pm at Salmon Bay regarding a possible change to an earlier start time next year.

Thanks! And welcome back!

Dear Salmon Bay Families:

Thank you for all your help in giving students a fun experience, the costume parade and dance, last Friday.

This week I want to remind you that flu season is in full swing. The health department says that 98% of the flu we will see is probable H1N1, and is still considered a mild to moderate flu, like most seasonal flu. Please remember to keep your students home if they have a fever, and make sure the fever is gone for 24 hours before they return.

We will continue to monitor all the precautions here at school that students have learned with regards to hand washing and sneezing, etc. There are handouts available for you in the main office and parent room---just ask the parent volunteer coordinators, or the office people.

Also, use the Salmon Bay website if you want further information, with links to government and district websites.

Thanks for all you do, and take care,

Jodee

Dear Salmon Bay Families:

Conference dates are coming right around the corner. Your home room teacher will be asking you to sign up for a conference one of the 3 days before the Thanksgiving break. There will also be some evening times if needed.
The curriculum nights we did this month are designed to give you a better idea of the content in your student’s class, and how the year will progress. In elementary, the conferences are an opportunity for you to talk with your teacher about the individual progress of your student, and to ask questions about how things are going. In middle school, conferences are student-led and teacher supervised. This gives the students an opportunity to review their own progress, to inform you of how they are doing, and in the process give you further specifics to continue that conversation with them throughout the year.

I’m sure you realize the many ways you can be involved in your student’s school experience, and conferences are one of the best ways, so be sure to sign up for your date.

Take care,

Jodee

Dear Salmon Bay Families:
 
We encourage you to come to our parent-to-parent conversation on October 22.  What is inclusion education at Salmon Bay School? 
 
You might ask yourself: My child doesn’t have an IEP (special education), why should I come?  At Salmon Bay we are proud to have typical learners, gifted students and students with special needs all learning together in the same classrooms. Children who have not had in-class experience with special needs students may come home with questions about their classrooms, table groups or classmates. The panel discussion is intended to help all parents feel more able to handle family conversations about learning differences.
 
Or, you might wonder: I already know a lot about special education, why should I come?  Special education is changing in Seattle Public Schools. Your student is also moving through elementary, to middle, to high school. As your student encounters more inclusion he/she may come home with questions about classmates, group work, or other in-school concerns, and this parent-to- parent conversation will help prepare you for those family discussions.
 
A reminder: this is an adults only event, and Coho Kids Time will provide day-care for those who arrange in advance: 297-7764
 
Hope to see you there.  Have a good week!
 
Jodee

Dear Salmon Bay Families:

Middle School Curriculum Night!  Thursday, Oct. 15, 7 p.m.

Please come and hear about your student’s experience here at Salmon Bay School.

Remember: contrary to popular opinion, we at Salmon Bay do NOT think middle school is the time to take a step back, but, instead it’s time to STEP UP.  You’ll hear information that will make it easier for you to have conversations with your student about their progress in classes, as well as various upcoming events in the year.

Students are always happy and excited when they know you have attended the parent night.

I look forward to seeing you!
Jodee

Dear Salmon Bay Families

Please welcome our newest member of the community, Marie Cho, who will be the reading/literacy specialist at Salmon Bay. Marie has worked in two different districts, Highline and Bellevue, as a Title 1 reading teacher, has 5 years experience teaching first grade, and 7 years teaching kindergarten. Her passion for reading, and getting struggling readers to read will be contagious.
 
Her first day was last Monday, and she has been busy ever since visiting classrooms, assessing students, reading with students, and getting to know everyone.  Please give her a big Salmon Bay welcome, and in the coming weeks look for those little ways to help her transition to her new responsibilities and position.
 
She is also contacting parents to help get our parent/student reading buddy program up and running again.  Our teachers have uniformly praised the work of the last group of parents and the huge difference it made for students who needed that extra time to read.  Every single student who had a buddy made great gains they couldn’t have made without  the program. Maybe you could help out this year? If so, you can contact Marie at 252-1769.
 
Have a good week.  Take some extra time to read with your student, or listen to them tell you about what they are reading. 
 
Take care,
 
Jodee

Dear Salmon Bay Families:

A BIG THANK YOU to all the families who helped drive and chaperone kids at the middle school camp last week. And thank you for getting students ready for camp as well. Reports from both students and staff are that it was a great experience, and lots of new friends were made as a result.

ANOTHER BIG THANK YOU for helping us improve our drop off and pick up. Keep up the good work. Remember: drive all the way forward to the last car ahead of you, to keep traffic flowing. Treat 18th Ave. as a one way street moving south. If there is not a space at the curb, please circle around rather than double park. Don’t park in the load zone. And don’t pick up/drop off on the opposite curb, expecting kids to cross in front of traffic.

And a FINAL THANK YOU to elementary parents, in advance, for making the time in your busy family life to attend the Elementary Curriculum night this week, Thursday 7 pm, in the cafeteria. This is a chance for you to see more specifics about how your student’s year will unfold, and how you can
support the teacher at home. I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU!

DON’T FORGET EARLY DISMISSAL ON WEDNESDAY 1:25 & 1:30
BUSSES ARE SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE AT THEIR STOPS 2 HOURS EARLIER

Have a good week!
Jodee

Dear Salmon Bay Families:

Welcome Back!

In the days before school begins, the building is quiet, and teachers are in their rooms organizing, meeting, and planning. You can hear music, sometimes conversations. But something is missing…. And as the time gets closer to the return of students, you can feel the anticipation growing. We all love that “calm before the storm” but, really, we can’t contain our excitement! We miss all of you! Most of all we miss the amazing energy of students bursting through the door, full of stories and adventures, questions, and ready for a new year. We love your children. We embrace all the complexities, challenges, laughter, tears, break-throughs and growth by leaps and bounds. Thank you for being our partners in this wonderful experience.

We are always interested in your feedback, concerns, and compliments. Have a good first week.

Jodee Reed, principal