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January 2024 Newsletter
Table of Contents:
Message from Principal Lorow
Lost and Found
Global Reading Challenge
Kings' and Queens' Team
Neighborcare Health
Health Information from Nurse Ann
Friends of Roxhill PTO Community Meeting - 1/8
Dine Out Fundraiser at The Westy - 1/15 - 1/17
Roxhill Park Family Meetup - 1/27
Family Night - 2/1
Carpool Connections
Volunteer Opportunities
Important Dates
Message from Principal Lorow
Happy New Year! Welcome back from what I hope was a restful and rejuvenating break for all. Students and teachers have quickly returned to the school routine and all are hard at work. In this new year the staff and I renew our top goal that every student continues to learn and grow and become their best self. As always, your partnership is a critical component of succeeding in this goal.
Lost and Found
Lost and Found will be cleaned out on Friday February 16th @ 3:00pm. Any items left after this time will be donated.
Global Reading Challenge
The annual Global Reading Challenge competition is underway! Since November, students have had the opportunity to read the eight titles for this year’s competition. In January, teachers will begin to form teams from those students interested in participating. Our in-school competition will take place on Friday, February 9. The winning team will go on to participate in one of eight semi-finals in March against winning teams from other schools. Those semi-final winners will then participate in the city-wide finals in late March. (Global Reading Challenge is a “Battle of the Books” type of competition; in teams of 6, students will answer True/False, multiple-choice, and short answer questions about the books.)
We have been fortunate to have had visits from authors of two of the GRC titles. Brian Young, author of Healer of the Water Monster, visited in mid-November; thank you to Gatewood and Pathfinder K-8 for funding that visit. Linda Trinh, author of The Secret of the Jade Bangle, came to talk to 4thand 5th graders on December 1; thank you to Seattle Public Library for funding that visit.
All eight books are available as e-books through Seattle Public Library, and six of the books are available as audiobooks. All students have access to these online materials using their Library Link account. Your child’s 13-digit Library Link username is 990000 + 7-digit SPS student ID. The password for Library Link accounts is the mmdd of your child’s birthday. Here is a link to those GRC e-books and audiobooks. Happy Reading!
Thank you to all the Friends of Roxhill volunteers who helped out during the Book Fair in early December. We were able to raise over $2,000 from the proceeds of the Book Fair; that money will be used to purchase more books for the Roxhill library.
Check out the latest library song we’ve been playing during class time in Mr. Robert’s class:
Kings’ and Queens’ Team
Hello.
My name is Hakeem Trotter. I am a black man, who grew up in poverty and struggled in a school system where I wasn’t seen, heard, or noticed. Through that experience, as well as eight years as a foster parent and child care provider, I learned the power of connecting with people through noticing what is true for them, when people are doing well, and when they are struggling, what they need. I have been at Roxhill for the past five years as our school custodian.
Last year, I began to notice that some of our students’ were struggling to connect with respect and care. From my perspective, they were seeking to be seen, heard, and noticed. At the request of some of the teachers, I put together a program called the Kings’ and Queens’ Mentorship program for students in need of leadership and life skills, to support them becoming strong students and leaders in their collective communities. My program includes day-to-day support to build connections and respect:
Going into classrooms and helping kids focus on their schoolwork.
Keeping academics front and center
Connecting with kids during lunch time, checking in, noticing how they’re feeling.
Supporting kids who are shy, angry, withdrawn to speak up for themselves and what they need.
Building a bridge between staff, families, and students.
Supporting conflict resolution through a culturally responsive lens.
We are in need of snacks to pass out to students during our meetings. Individual snacks are best (chips, popcorn, granola bars, etc.). Please drop off snack donations in the front office and let staff know that it is for the Kings' and Queens' Team.
If you have any questions or are interested in volunteering with us, please email me at hutrotter@seattleschools.org.
Neighborcare Health
Neighborcare Health is here to improve the health and wellbeing of our Roxhill students through free medical, mental health, and dental services. We understand that it can be very difficult to pull students from school to attend appointments for their primary clinics. Our goal is to make it easier and efficient for you and your child by ensuring they receive the necessary care they need without missing school.
Neighborcare Health provides a wide range of services to our students and families of Roxhill. Start the year right with a nice big smile! Neighborcare offers a wide variety of dental services such as dental cleaning, fluoride rinse, x-ray, extractions and more! This is all done at Roxhill Elementary. Although parents are welcome to attend these appointments, it is not mandatory.
Roxhill will have two dental days in January
Contact our HCC for an appointment !
January 8, 2024
January 22, 2024
Please take our SURVEY or email our HCC for any appointments fardosa.warfa@neighborcare.org
Health Information from Nurse Ann
Do you need health insurance for yourself or your child?
Open enrollment in Washington Health Plans is open NOW. Don’t delay, you must enroll before January 15, 2024! Go to Washington Health Plan finder to learn about your options. https://www.wahealthplanfinder.org/
This year, there is a NEW - Immigrant Health Coverage, options to make insurance more affordable through Cascade Care Plans and Savings, and free insurance through Apple Health Care for those who qualify.
If you would like help understanding your options, or completing the application, please contact the Community Health Access Program (CHAP) or 1.800.756.5437. They can help you find a dentist, doctor or nurse and quality health care you can afford. Interpreters are available.
Call Nurse Ann with questions at 206.252.9577.
Friends of Roxhill PTO Community Meeting
Monday, January 8
6:00-7:30pm
Roxhill Cafeteria
Friends of Roxhill is our school’s non-profit parent/teacher organization (PTO). We are parents, community members, and teachers who work together to support the education and enrichment of our multicultural public school.
Everyone is welcome and all ideas are encouraged!
Our meetings are usually on the 2nd Monday of the month from 6–7:30 p.m. in the Roxhill cafeteria. This is a great way to connect with Principal Lorow, parents, caregivers and teachers in the Roxhill community. Pizza and childcare will be provided. Spanish interpretation will be available. Interpretation for other languages is available upon request. Email friendsofroxhill@gmail.com with questions.
Dine Out Fundraiser at The Westy
Monday, January 15-17
11am - 11:45 pm
Our next dine out fundraiser will be hosted by Roxhill family owned restaurant The Westy, with a percentage of sales going back to our school.
Dine in (21+ only) or Take outTell your server you are a Roxhill supporter. For online orders, use the promo code ROXHILL.
7908 35th Avenue SWSeattle, WA 98126
Roxhill Park Family Meetup
Saturday, January 27
10:00 am-12:00 pm
Come play at the park with other Roxhill families! We will meet at Roxhill Park (across from Target) rain or shine so kids can play and families can get to know one another. Coffee will be provided. Bring a snack to share (optional).
Family Night
Save the Date
Thursday, February 1
Mark your calendar for a night of family fun on Thursday, February 1. We will have games, activities, music, and raffle prizes! Watch for more details in the next few weeks.
We are looking for volunteers to help plan the event as well as helping on the night of the event. Please email friendsofroxhill@gmail.com for more details.
Carpool Connections
We receive frequent requests for transportation help and try to coordinate carpools and walking buses by introducing families to each other.
Current request:
1st and 5th grader in need of a driver to and from Trenton and 25th Ave. SW
Please fill out the following form if:
You need help getting your child to or from school.
You would like to volunteer to drive or walk another student to or from school.
Your contact information will not be shared without your permission. Please contact friendsofroxhill@gmail.com with questions.
Volunteer Opportunities
All volunteer opportunities that take place on school grounds or field trips will require you to fill out a volunteer application through SPS. Apply here or check your status as a returning volunteer. Direct all questions about your SPS application to Office Assistant Christy Pudduck cspudduck@seattleschools.org.
We are currently looking for volunteers to help with:
Friday Food Bag Prep and Delivery (Fridays at 12 noon)
Childcare during FORE Meetings (2nd Mondays of the month)
Making coffee for Roxhill Park Family Meetups (4th Saturdays of the month)
We are also looking for help with event planning for Family Night on February 1st. Email friendsofroxhill@gmail.com to join the Events committee who will meet once or twice in January.
Want to get more involved with Friends of Roxhill?
Fill out our volunteer interest survey to learn more about what we do and how you can help.
Important Dates
January 2 - Back to school!
January 8 - Friends of Roxhill PTO Community Meeting, 6:00 - 7:30 pm
January 8 - Neighborcare Dental Day
January 15 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - No school
January 15 - 17 - Dine Out Fundraiser at The Westy
January 22 - Neighborcare Dental Day
January 27 - Roxhill Park Family Meetup, 10:00am - 12:00pm
February 1 - Family Night
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