October 2022 Newsletter
Table of Contents:
Message from Principal Lorow: School Attendance Matters
School Meals
Talking Points Communication
Friends of Roxhill Community + Board Meeting - October 10
Family Engagement Action Team - October 11
Picture Day - October 12
Neighborcare Health Center
Volunteer Opportunities
Important Dates
Message from Principal Lorow:
School Attendance Matters
We have all lost much during the Covid-19 pandemic. Students, families, and staff have all faced overwhelming stressors in the past 2.5 years. Community matters now more than ever. Community is how we will all heal. If we are to recover some of these Covid-19 losses, the first step must be showing up. Students must be present and actively engaged in learning. We need families in partnership with educators. Together we will make a difference.
Being at school every day on time is the foundation for school success. National research demonstrates chronic absences cause students to fall behind their classmates. Missing more than 1 school day a month translates into chronic absenteeism. We know that students who are chronically absent miss out on a significant amount of instruction, learning, and social development. This can have a lasting negative impact upon the student across the school years.
Things you can do at home to support your child in attending school include:
1. Routines: Daily attendance routines, created at home and in school, can reduce stress for students and families and create a sense of safety and security, especially at times of transitions. Home routines include set bed times, packing lunches and back packs the night before, laying out clothes for the next day, etc.
2. Engagement: Being in school helps students to get to know peers, teachers and school staff, and to create trusting relationships that motivate students to participate in learning. Help your child get involved. Reach out to their teacher or Mrs. Amber school counselor, if you think your child might need support in building relationships at school.
3. Access to Resources: Schools help students and families gain access to basic resources such as meals, physical and mental health services, and fun enrichment activities including sports, clubs, music, afterschool and summer programs. Please reach out to Mrs. Amber school counselor if you need assistance with any of these resources.
4. Learning: Learning is most meaningful when it is active, social, and allows students to apply concepts to real life situations. Showing up to school regularly helps students engage in learning that builds proficiency in reading and math that will help them to graduate from high school. If you have questions, reach out to your student’s teacher.
We are here for your child. Reach out with questions or concerns. Together we can figure it out.
We look forward to seeing your student at Roxhill Elementary every day.
In Partnership,
Susan
Reminders:
If your student needs to be absent, please contact the school attendance line at (206)252-9574 or email: roxhill.attendance@seattleschools.org
If you are calling the office for an end-of-day change of transportation or pick up for your child, please do so by 1:45pm (12:30 on Wednesdays). The office needs adequate time to relay the message to the teacher. Please call the main office number for this purpose: 206-252-9570.
School hours
7:55am – 2:25pm
Breakfast starts at 7:35am, playground supervision starts at 7:45am
7:55am – 1:10pm (Wednesdays)
School Meals
Meals at Roxhill Elementary are free this year for every student, however, if you think you may qualify for free or reduced-price meals, please fill out the form that was included in the start of school packet. This helps our school qualify for other funding. Students have received a PIN number by their teacher to enter when they pick up their school lunch. If they lose or forget their PIN, they can ask their teacher for a reminder.
Talking Points Communication
Have you downloaded the free Talking Points App?
Talking Points messages are the main form of communication used by the school and district. Talking Points texts will come through as SMS messages in your designated home language or as messages within the app. You may respond to messages for 2-way communication. If you would like to have messages translated to a different language, please let your child’s teacher know. Classroom teachers will share class specific information about how to communicate with them through email address, phone extensions, and Talking Points. Please ensure that we have your current email address on file.
Friends of Roxhill Community + Board Meeting
Monday, October 10
6-7:30pm
The second FoRE meeting of the school year is coming up on Monday, October 10 from 6-7:30 pm in the Roxhill cafeteria. We will be brainstorming events for our community, talking about the garden and ideas for more green space, and planning our first coffee hour of the year. Join us for pizza, connections, and conversation about how to best support our Roxhill community. Childcare is provided. Spanish and Somali interpretation will be available.
Family Engagement Action Team
Tuesday, October 11
2:45-3:45pm
This team, also known as FEAT, will plan family engagement activities ensuring all cultures are respected, represented, and involved at Roxhill. This is a staff and family team.
FEAT meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at Roxhill from 2:45-3:45pm.
In the past this team has planned and run the Night of Hope (a Literacy Night) that is typically held in November as well as the Festival of Lights (a Math Night) in the month of May.
Picture Day
Wednesday, October 12
8am-1pm
Forms went home with students or you can prepay for your photos online:
Go to yuenluischools.com
Select Order School Photos
Preorder Photos Here
Type in “Roxhill”
View Gallery
If your child is absent on October 12, there will be a Picture Retake Day on November 16.
Neighborcare Health Center
The Roxhill Neighborcare Health Center is open Mondays and Thursdays for medical appointments.
All services are FREE of charge.
Services include:
Flu shots and Flu Mist
Well Child Checks
Prescription Refills
Asthma Management
ADHD Evaluations
Mental Health
Dental Services
Healthy Eating (free food and health education)
Call/text 206-490-0802 or email aliciaw@neighborcare.org for more information!
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. Start a new application or check your status as a returning volunteer here.
Friends of Roxhill posts new volunteer opportunities on an ongoing basis here.
We are currently looking for:
Picture Day volunteers
Wednesday, October 12
2 hour shifts between 8am-1pm
Email Audrey Turpaud ahturpaud@seattleschools.org to sign up
Childcare during Friends of Roxhill Meetings
October 10, 5:45-7:30pm
November 14, 5:45-7:30pm
December 12, 5:45-7:30pm
We depend on volunteers to help us provide childcare during monthly Friends of Roxhill meetings. We need 2 volunteers for each date to supervise children in the Roxhill gym. We will serve pizza!
Sign up for a shift here.
Food Bank Pickup for Food Bag Program
Roxhill is continuing the Friday Food Program this year, sending students home with a bag of snacks and easy to prepare food for the weekend. Alicia Wun from Neighborcare needs a volunteer to help with picking up the food from the West Seattle Food Bank each Friday at 9am and delivering it to Roxhill. It would involve lifting and carrying about 5-6 boxes. If you are able to stay and help pack the bags, that would be a huge help, but not 100% necessary. Sign up for a shift here and direct all questions to Alicia (916) 502-4694.
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
October 10 - Friends of Roxhill Community + Board Meeting, 6-7:30pm
October 11 - Family Engagement Action Team Meeting, 2:45-3:45pm
October 12 - Picture Day
October 14 - NO SCHOOL: State In-Service Day
October 16-19 Nature Bridge (5th Grade Field Trip)
November 11 - NO SCHOOL: Veterans Day
November 14 - Friends of Roxhill Community + Board Meeting, 6-7:30pm
November 16 - Picture Retake Day
November 21-23 - NO SCHOOL Fall Conferences
November 24-25 NO SCHOOL Thanksgiving Break
Check our Events Page for more info!