Silverdale Family Newsletters

Silverdale Elementary School
Central Kitsap School District 


Hello Dolphin Families,


It’s time to pull out that rain gear and enjoy the drizzly Washington weather. Thank you for a great first month of school and for partnering with us to keep things running smoothly. 


Update for Dismissal Procedure: Silverdale Elementary has an unprecedented number of car riders this year and we appreciate your patience at dismissal. We are implementing staggered pick up times in an effort to reduce student density, minimize traffic backup blocking the access to the bus loop and parking spots, and speed up the flow of traffic through the car loop. Please see the updated departure times and important protocols below: 


Car Loop Departure Times

3:30 PM

Grades K-2 and Siblings in Grades 3-5

3:35 PM

Grades 3-5 


  • Departure Times: Please do not arrive ahead of your departure time. Students will be released at different times and you may be asked to circle through the loop if your student is not present. 

  • Parking: Due to unsafe conditions presented by our students and families parking and walking through the building next door, the gates have closed. As a reminder, parking is available on the side of Silverdale Elementary past the handicap spaces. 

  • Car Seat Assistance: Please let staff know if you need assistance buckling your child’s car seat or pull forward to the first spaces to allow cars behind you to move forward into the loading zone. 

  • Pedestrians: Students and families should not cross the car or bus loops during arrival and dismissal. Please park in the designated parking spaces and use the crosswalks. 

  • Remain in Vehicle: Staff will assist in loading students into cars. Please stay in your car to improve safety and efficiency through the loop.  


Illness: It is imperative that we keep COVID out of our schools. Please keep your students home if they are experiencing symptoms or have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID. You can report absences online or call our main office at 662-9400 to discuss the circumstances and we will be able to provide guidance on when your student can safely return to school. For more information about our safety protocols, visit the CKSD COVID-19 Safety Guide.  

Picture Day: School picture day is on Monday, October 4th. Picture packets will be sent home the Friday before or you can order online at Quality School Portraits. The online code is SILV7. 


Smarter Balanced Assessments:  Last spring, OSPI postponed our state testing. October 4 - 15 students in 4th and 5th grade will participate in a modified version of this assessment. Here is more information about SBA Testing.


Social Media: Silverdale Elementary is on Facebook! If you are not already doing so, please consider following us on social media. We will post reminders for spirit days, family events, and school updates. 


Upcoming Events: 

  • October 4: School Picture Day

  • October 11: Non-Student Day


Sincerely,

Mackenzie Foley

Silverdale Elementary Principal


 Silverdale Elementary School

Central Kitsap School District 


Hello Dolphin Families,


I hope this email finds you well as we begin the first full week of school in 2021! It has been great seeing how excited students are to be back at school with their teachers and peers. 


Dolphin Market: Silverdale Elementary participates in Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports, a system for promoting a safe and effective learning environment. Students are explicitly taught the schoolwide expectations Respectful, Responsible, and Ready to Learn in each area throughout our school. This year we are incorporating Dolphin Dollars to acknowledge and reinforce appropriate student behaviors. Students will be earning these dollars throughout the school year and can purchase tangible (toys, dolphin gear) and intangible (sports with the principal, name announced) prizes. The Dolphin Market opens next week! 


Social Emotional Learning: We want our students to be successful in school and that includes both academic and social emotional development. Our district uses the Second Step program as a tool for teaching age appropriate lessons for social emotional learning. Here is an introductory Second Step Family Letter - Spanish Version


Arrival/Dismissal: Thank you for your patience and flexibility as we work through arrival/dismissal. We are experiencing a high volume of car riders. To keep things running smoothly, we encourage families to go through the loop and avoid parking/walking to greet your child. If you need to park, you will remain in the drive through loop until you reach the parking lot on the southwest side of the building. Please only park in the designated parking spots as pedestrians walking in roadways creates safety concerns and slows down the flow of traffic. Thank you again for your patience and commitment to safety! 

Tips for a Safe and Smooth Drop Off/Pick Up Loop: 

  • Follow the arrows on the map for drop off and pick up

  • Pull forward as far as possible

  • Students will only depart vehicles in the blue zone, past the load/unload sign

  • Students exit and enter vehicles on the right 

  • Stay in your car, we will unload your student(s) curb side for safety

  • Be alert for pedestrians in crosswalks

Tips for a Safe Park & Walk: 

  • Follow the arrows on the map until you reach the parking lot

  • Park in designated parking spaces

  • Use crosswalks 

  • Walk student(s) to pedestrian drop off zone


Attendance: Thank you for keeping your students home when they are not feeling well. We want our students to attend every day but we understand that is not always a reality. If your student will be absent, please contact the main office at 360-662-9400 to let us know. For more information about when to keep your child home, please visit: When to Stay Home.  


School Supply Donation: A reminder that we are still accepting school supply donations. The $20 donation is Payable Online and covers the cost of supplies for the entire year. If you can provide an additional donation for students who may need assistance, it is greatly appreciated. 


Counseling Services: We are fortunate to have two full time counselors at Silverdale Elementary this year! 

  • School Counseling: Matt Alder supports classroom guidance lessons, small group social emotional development, and individual student support. 

  • Military Family Life Counseling: Candance McKenzie is the Military and Family Life Counselor and is excited about working with military students and families. Permission slips went home with students this week. Please remember to return this if you would like your child to benefit from this service. 


CK Food Backpacks: The Food Backpack 4 Kids program is available for families in need of food assistance/support. Each weekend a backpack is filled with easy to prepare nutritious foods and snacks to help feed a family of four. If you would benefit from this program please fill out this Backpack 4 Kids Program FormSpanish

Upcoming Events: 

  • October 4: School Picture Day


Thank you for partnering with us for a strong start! 

Sincerely,

Mackenzie Foley

Silverdale Elementary Principal


Dear Silverdale Elementary Families,


Welcome to the 2021 - 2022 school year at Silverdale Elementary!  It is an honor to introduce myself as the incoming principal of Silverdale Elementary School. I have been dedicated to the field of education for more than 15 years and most recently had the pleasure of leading the Central Kitsap Virtual Academy. Prior to that, I served as the Assistant Principal at Clear Creek and Hawk Elementary schools. I am excited to partner with you to ensure your child’s success! 


While we are once again starting our school year under unique circumstances, we are very excited to have students return to the building for full time in person instruction. The state Department of Health’s K-12 COVID-19 requirements provide the guidance that our school district is required to follow to keep students safe and engaged during the pandemic. My role is to follow the guidance, and to strive to keep our collective focus on what we all value most, our students and their learning.  


Important Information: 


  • School Supplies: This year we are asking for a $20 donation for school supplies instead of publishing long lists of expensive supplies. The only additional items all students will need that are not included in the supply donation are the following: 

    • Backpack

    • Masks

    • Water bottle

    • Headphones (4th/5th graders may choose to use earbuds instead)

If you are not able to supply these items for your children, please notify the school so we can ensure your student has what is needed. The $20.00 donations can be paid by check to the school, exact cash to the office or online through the school website.

 

  • Class Placement: Your child’s teacher will welcome you to their classroom by email or phone on August 25. 

 

  • Meet and Greet: Save the Date! Thursday, August 26th from 4:30 - 6:00pm families and students are invited to visit classrooms and meet their teachers. If possible, we are asking families to stagger the arrival times to reduce the number of visitors at one time. 

    • Last names A - F: 4:30 - 5:00 

    • Last names G - O: 5:00 - 5:30

    • Last names P - Z: 5:30 - 6:00

If you are not able to attend during the designated time, please come at any time during the event. 

 

  • School Bell Schedule:

    • M/T/W/F  9:15 am - 3:30 pm  (Breakfast begins at 8:50 am)

    • Thursday 9:15 am - 2:00 pm  (Early Release Day)


  • COVID Impact On Schools: We plan to open schools full time for all students and largely the function of the school will be similar to a typical year. A brief summary of the critical COVID protocols is provided below:

    • We will continue our efforts to keep kids safe by cleaning the building and having kids wash hands as often as possible.

    • Masks will be worn by staff and students when inside school.

    • We will have PE, Music and Library classes. We will be allowed to move throughout the building between spaces more freely.  

    • We will do everything we can to social distance 3ft throughout the day.  

    • Details regarding recess/lunch and arrival/dismissal procedures will be communicated prior to September 1st. 

    • Volunteers: After the first 2 weeks of school, we will begin allowing parents into the building to volunteer for a specific purpose. Volunteers will need to have their volunteer paperwork approved and arrangements made in advance with staff.

More information about the CKSD’s COVID Response can be found at ckschools.org.  


  • Kindergarteners: Kindergarten students traditionally begin school in a “slow start” to allow time for family connection, early learning collaboration, and assessments to learn about the skills and strengths of children in their classroom. A separate message will be sent to kindergarten families describing the events in the first days of school. 

 

  • Free Breakfast and Lunch for all Students: Breakfast and lunch will be free to all students for the 2021-22 school year. We encourage families to complete the Free & Reduced Lunch Application so that we can receive reimbursement for eligible students.  

 

 

Please stay tuned for additional information and contact the main office at 360-662-9400 if you have questions. 


Sincerely,


Mackenzie Foley

Silverdale Elementary Principal