🖐️Welcome to Kindergarten/Bienvenidos a Kinder🖐️
Today we welcome our Kindergarten students! Please drive safely and watch for our students and buses. Thank you for helping us keep our students safe!
Dear Parents and Guardians,
The Child Nutrition Eligibility & Education Benefit (CNEEB) form was sent home on the first day of school with your student. Please fill this out and return to your school no later than September 6th. The information you provide helps qualify the district for free and reduced meal benefits. Currently, all North Mason students are eligible for free meals. For more information about CNEEB, visit the OSPI website https://ospi.k12.wa.us/policy-funding/child-nutrition/school-meals/washington-school-meals-application-finder or see below:
Child Nutrition Eligibility and Education Benefit Application
The Child Nutrition Eligibility and Education Benefit (CNEEB) Application merges the free and reduced-price meal application and the Family Income Survey. Through submission of the CNEEB Application, households may qualify for:
Free and reduced-price meal benefits,
Summer EBT benefits (if enrolled in an NSLP/SBP school),
Reduced fees for other programs and activities, and/or
Help secure other educational funding for the Local Education Agency.
🚌 Fill the Bus was a HUGE success with nearly $3,000 raised (and climbing!) in cash donations, along with boxes and boxes of school supplies. Thank you to everyone in our community who supported this fundraiser. What a tremendous show of support! This is our bus drivers' biggest fundraiser of the year, their labor of love, and it completely benefits North Mason students. Thank you, bus drivers! (If you, or someone you know, needs assistance getting school supplies for the upcoming school year, please contact Laura Pugh, Family Community Intervention Liaison, LPugh@northmasonschools.org , 360-277-2241)
🚌 It's happening! 🚌 Come on down and support our students! Bus drivers are set up in the QFC parking lot until 1 pm for their biggest fundraiser of the year. Any school supplies and cash donations will be gratefully accepted! Thank you for your support!
It's almost time! Return to School is August 28th for 1st-12th grade and September 3rd for Kindergarten. We can't wait to see our students! Save this link to the calendar for the 24/25 school year https://www.northmasonschools.org/documents/parents%2Fcommunity/calendars/454993
🚌 FILL THE BUS EVENT 🚌 Saturday, August 17th from 8:00 am-1:00 pm in the QFC parking lot. This is our bus drivers' big volunteer project: collecting school supplies/donations for students. Let's help them set a record for the 24/25 school year! Thank you, QFC, for hosting!
Dear Belfair Elementary and Sand Hill Elementary Community,
It is with mixed emotions that I share the news of Principal Jason Swaser's resignation. After serving our students with dedication and passion, Principal Swaser has decided to step down and has made a career change in a neighboring district.
During his tenure, Principal Swaser made significant contributions to our North Mason school community, fostering a positive learning environment and supporting both students and staff. We appreciate his hard work and commitment.
Effective today, we will begin the search for an outstanding replacement. We will keep you informed throughout this transition process.
The district is considering all possibilities to find a principal who can effectively support the needs of Belfair Elementary School, its students, and staff. By exploring both internal and external candidates, we can ensure a thorough search process.
Please join me in thanking Principal Swaser for his service and wishing him well in his future endeavors.
Further, Assistant Principal Christine Mart has accepted an administrative position in a neighboring district. The search for her replacement is currently in process. We also thank her for her positive contributions at Belfair Elementary and wish her well.
Sincerely,
Dana Rosenbach, Superintendent
North Mason School District is offering a FREE Summer Food Service Program for any child 18 and younger in the community. The program will be held over two sessions, as follows:
1st session @ North Mason High School
June 17th - July 2nd Monday through Thursday
Breakfast at 8:15 - 8:45 am
Lunch at 11:30 - 12:30 pm
2nd session @ Hawkins Middle School
July 15th - Aug 2nd Monday through Thursday
Breakfast at 8:15 - 8:45 am
Lunch at 11:30 - 12:30 pm
**************
El Distrito Escolar North Mason estará ofreciendo un Programa alimenticio GRATUITAMENTE, para niños de 18 para abajo de nuestra comunidad durante el verano. El programa funcionará de la siguiente manera:
Primera sesión - NMHS
Junio 17para Julio 2, lunes a jueves
Desayuno de 8:15am - 8:45 am
Almuerzo de 11:30am - 12:30 pm
Segunda sesión - HMS
Julio 15 para Agosto 2, lunes a Jueves
Desayuno de 8:15am - 8:45 am
Almuerzo de 11:30am- 12:30 pm
Let the Marbles Roll!
Today in Mrs. Ruebush’s 4th grade classroom, Sand Hill students were "rolling out" (pun intended) their final projects that used engineering principles and creativity to develop a marble run. Students were tasked with creating a DIY marble run adhering to an adventure theme. From choosing materials and theme, then sketching the design and assembling the track, students handled every detail leading up to the testing phase and final touches.
The excitement in the room was palpable, as the students collaborated to put the final touches on their design. One group asked for additional tape (having learned that glue was unreliable), another group adjusted angles to ensure the marble would successfully make it to the bottom of the track. One student, watching as his teammate encountered a recurring stoppage, was overheard saying, "Let's improvise!" Another student was thrilled when her group's marble ended up, repeatedly, in the same spot, proudly exclaiming, "It's trapped! Just like we wanted!" After testing their designs, students pivoted and gave their marble runs a new spin, one group turning theirs into a multi-player race.
Thank you, Mrs. Ruebush, for sharing this glimpse into your classroom. It was amazing to watch the enthusiasm and ingenuity of your students. Well done, 4th grade!
☕ Would you like a hug with your coffee? ☕ The crew from Bulldog Java, some of them Sand Hill alums, arrived with their mobile coffee service to make and deliver coffees to the teaching staff as part of Teacher Appreciation Week. It was a "well-oiled machine," to borrow a phrase from Rick Robbers, who came in for his coffee order and left with a side of hugs and high-fives from the students. It was a variation of that scene at each delivery. A perfect start to the day: coffee, smiles, and hugs. Thank you to the Bulldog Java students, Mrs. Hackett, Ms. Ashley, Ms. Chelsea and Ms. Lelaine for bringing all that joy to our teachers' classrooms today at Sand Hill Elementary, and earlier in the week doing the same for the teachers at Belfair Elementary. What a treat!
🍎 It's National Teacher Day today, which leads up to the big event of Teacher Appreciation Week May 6-10th. Check back as we will be sharing the fun events happening around the District to celebrate our SUPERSTARS!
🍎 It's National Teacher Day today, which is the precursor to a big event at NMSD...Teacher Appreciation Week May 6-10th! Check back as we will be sharing your teacher appreciation comments from the recent POSSIP survey, along with pictures of all the fun events happening around the District to celebrate our SUPERSTARS! We L❤️VE our TEACHERS!
Sand Hill Elementary Kinder student "bought" AM announcements with Principal Swaser using her PAWSitives, and is seen here announcing the four pillars: I am strong! I am in control of myself! I can do hard things! I am responsible!
Student getting a PAWSitive reward...Lunch with Principal Swaser!
🥇🥈🥉The Reading Olympics concluded this week at Sand Hill when students were celebrated for their extraordinary achievement in logging a tremendous amount of reading minutes. Watching the young children waiting expectantly, one of the paraeducators, himself a former Cougar, shared, "This was always the most exciting event for me as a kid!" He walked off, the light of his smile bookending the moment and reflecting the excitement on the students' faces around the gymnasium. Teachers took great pride in announcing individual and classroom achievements. After receiving their certificates and bronze, silver or gold medals, students also received generous praise from Principal Swaser and Assistant Principal Lampano. Members of the Free Masons of Hood Canal Lodge #288 were on hand to award two bikes for each group, K-2 and 3-5. Speaking with one of the members and thanking them for the donation, his response was enthusiastic, "We've been doing this for YEARS!" The smiles on all of their faces said they'd be doing it for many more. The excitement of reading. 📚❤️
🍎🥝🥦National Nutrition Month🥕🥣🥪
Have you heard the term, "food insecurity?" Research shows an association between food insecurity and delayed development, risk of chronic illness and behavior problems in children. Students in our district receive free meals and snacks because of the Community Eligibility Provision grant. Knowing everyone is getting the nutrition they need while they are in school means so much to our food services team. As Mackenna Long, Director of Child Nutrition, explains, "Food is a lunch lady's love language...and that's how we show our love for the kids." Thank you to the team from Sand Hill Elementary, Shelby, Michelle, and Traci (not shown), for making sure our students have healthy meals...served with a smile, and a side of love. ❤️
☃️Snow Day Make Up March 15th / Recuperación por el día de nieve 15 de marzo
See you at school! ¡Nos vemos en la escuela!
❄️since we had a snow day on February 15th, students must attend school on March 15th ❄️dado que tuvimos un día de nieve el 15 de febrero, necesitamos que los estudiantes asistan a la escuela el 15 de marzo.
❤️📘💚📕💙📒❤️ Kindergarten students at Sand Hill Elementary gave a warm welcome to members of the district administration team, who joined Principal Swaser as guest readers for the kindergarten classes yesterday. Students were animated, enjoying the fun selections of books the guests brought to share. It was heartwarming to see the kindness the students exhibited to the guests, a couple of students even taking the time to compliment Superintendent Rosenbach's shoes and blouse! But the best part was seeing the pure JOY they exuded being read to and how they were completely engaged in the stories. In the hallway there is a sign that says, "Reading is Food for the Brain." Watching students embark on a lifelong love of reading was definitely "food for the soul."
❤️Friend-Ship❤️
Sand Hill Elementary was a sea of hearts on Valentine's Day, students and teachers dressed in red and pink. It was a fitting backdrop for Taproot Theatre Company who came to perform 'The Friend Ship,' an educational, age-appropriate, play addressing issues surrounding bullying. The engaging performers introduced students to the 3 R's: Recognize, Report, and Refuse, along with the importance of being an 'Upstander' vs. a 'Bystander.' Afterwards, the actors posed questions to the students, which they answered based on lessons learned from the scenarios in the play. Students were captivated from beginning to end, and left with the message, "Bullying is something you do, not who you ARE. You can always make a different choice." Thank you, Taproot Theatre Company, for visiting Sand Hill Elementary and presenting these powerful messages in such an entertaining way!
Thank you for sharing ideas through Possip this week! We’ve heard from 132 of you during the course of the year. We are seeing that 85% of you are happy or mostly happy with our school .
This week we heard members of the school community share examples of praise, appreciation, and feedback or questions.
Praise for communicative and helpful teachers
Praise for an inclusive school culture
Feedback about communication from the campus
Comments about student interactions
We are taking all of your feedback and ideas into consideration for our future planning and follow-up. We hope to hear from you again on our next Possip Pulse Check!
Thanks again for sharing!