Save the Date!
The first day of school is August 31. This is a full-day Wednesday, 9:05am-3:35pm
District Calendar
Please use this district calendar when making plans for the new school year.
School Schedule for 2022-23
9:05am - School Starts (no arrival before 8:50)
3:35 - Dismissal
2:05 - Wednesday Early Dismissal (every Wednesday except August 31 and June 14)
A Note from Mrs. White
Dear East Ridge Family,
Welcome to the 2022-23 school year! Excitement is in the air at East Ridge! It takes a whole team (teachers, support staff, custodians, and office staff) to have our classrooms, schedules, and materials ready for a new year. We are eager to get started with a new year of learning.
I am looking forward to a wonderful year together as we continue the strong traditions at East Ridge where all members of our team – staff, students and families – strive daily to ensure that East Ridge is a welcoming, inclusive, safe place for each student to learn, grow, and make friends!
Each school year brings new faces and ideas. Please join me in welcoming new (or returning from leave) staff who are committed to positively contribute to our school community:
- Maria Moore, Kindergarten
- Emily Anthony, 1st grade
- Megan Worsley, 3rd grade teacher (job sharing with Emmy Hager)
- Kelsey Barrett, part time Music teacher (K and 1st)
- Kiwi Lawson, Special Education Learning Center teacher
- JoAnn Todd, LAP Reading Intervention and English Language Development Teacher
- Katie Couture, full-time school counselor
Did you know that many of our staff were actually students over the summer? They have taken classes in math, reading, technology, social/emotional learning, racial and educational justice, and/or science. Thirteen of our staff voluntarily participated in a weekly math book study to support our school math goal! We all love being students so that we can be better educators for you. One sign of a great school is where everyone is continuously learning. I am so proud of our staff!
As I am getting ready for a new school year at East Ridge, I remember fondly the days of getting my two boys ready for the school year. My sons both attended East Ridge and later graduated from Woodinville High School. Our days of gathering school supplies, looking up bus schedules, checking to see which shoes still fit, and eagerly waiting for classroom assignments are long gone, but we have precious memories of their time at East Ridge. As I think back about those years, I remember that we would worry some about who their teachers might be and which friends they would have in class. (Now that my boys are 20 and 25 years old, my worries are MUCH different, but I’ll spare you those so that you can enjoy having little ones for now!) Over time I have learned that rather than worrying about external factors such as which teacher they get or which buddies they have as classmates or college roommates, it has been most meaningful and productive to focus attention on how we can prepare for successful time management, independent problem solving, relentless effort to improve and learn, and support of family, friends and the larger community. These are still relevant as my youngest son Trevor starts his junior year of college and as my oldest son Connor continues to grow and learn in his career and personal life. As they grow up, we reflect on which skills and character traits they will put effort into to strengthen and develop as learners and young men. This kind of goal setting has helped to instill in my boys that they are in control of their own happiness and success. With this focus over the years, my boys have become increasingly independent, goal-driven, and responsible for their personal and professional growth (yes, I am a proud mama!). I hope you will consider setting goals with your child before the new school year begins and help your child recognize the strengths, strategies, and effort they bring to making it a successful and positive year! I have the utmost confidence that our entire school community – staff, students, and families– will make it a great year for each child here at East Ridge.
We look forward to seeing you at our “Meet the Teachers” event on Thursday, August 25th from 3:00-4:00pm. (New families to our school are also invited to join us at 2:30pm that afternoon for a school tour.) Our PTA will be offering treats at 4:00pm! Look for more details in next week’s newsletter.
Only a few more days now until you are back sharing your smiles, stories of summer, and hopes for the year. Until then, enjoy your last few weeks of summer!
Fondly,
Sarah White, Principal
New to East Ridge?
Check out these presentations:
Kindergarten Presentation/Tour (for incoming Kindergarten)
East Ridge Virtual Tour (for any grade)
Kindergarten Schedule
East Ridge kindergarten will participate in a staggered start the first week of school. The first three days are scheduled for Kindergarten families to meet with teachers. These are the WAKids Conference days and will be held on August 31, September 1 and 2. Additionally, there will be a staggered start on September 6 & 7 with half of kindergartners attending one day and half the next day. All kindergartners attend September 8. The sign up for conferences will be sent out directly from the teachers next week.
Here is the schedule for Kindergarten:
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August 31: WA Kids Conferences
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September 1: WA Kids Conferences
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September 2: WA Kids Conferences
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September 5: Labor Day Holiday - NO SCHOOL
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September 6: Kindergarteners with last name A-L attend
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September 7: Kindergarteners with last name M-Z attend - early dismissal 2:05 pm
Meet the Teachers Event
Come meet your teachers and meet others in the East Ridge Community!
Thursday, August 25th, from 3:00 – 4:00 pm. PTA will have treats at 4pm.
Families new to our school are invited to arrive at 2:30pm for a tour.
More information will be in next week’s newsletter
Class Placement Letters
We understand you and your child are eager for this information! Thank you for your patience as we enroll new students and work to create balanced groupings. You should expect to receive your child’s teacher/ class assignment via email from your teacher prior to our Meet the Teachers Event on 8/25. Please do not ask for this information in advance, and please do not call the office for this information.
Important Changes in School Meals
- Breakfasts and lunches will no longer be free.
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Families who need free or reduced-price meals must reapply for benefits by the end of September.
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NSD has moved from PayPams to Titan. All account balances were transferred automatically but you need to register in order to view or add money to student accounts.
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Details below.
School Meals - Meals will be for purchase this year
The Northshore School District, like all others in the state, will again begin to charge for school lunch and breakfast at the start of next school year. The Federal COVID-19 waivers that have allowed U.S. public schools to offer free breakfasts and lunches to all students regardless of income expires this month. This means students whose families apply for benefits and qualify for free or reduced-priced meals will continue to receive meals at no charge in 2022-23, and students who do not apply for or qualify for benefits will be charged at the paid meal price for breakfast and lunch when participating.
Breakfast Price: $2.25
Lunch Price: $3.75
Preparing for Meal Purchase:
- Set up a Titan Family Portal account. Be prepared for purchasing meals by opening a Titan Family Portal account where you can add money to your student's account, set up recurring payments, see purchases, set low-balance reminders, move money between siblings and even apply for benefits!
- Students need to qualify each school year for free or reduced-priced meals in order to continue receiving benefits. Reapply for benefits in August! In addition to meals, those who qualify can also receive discounted or free school services including athletic fees, field trip fees, ASB fees, college application fees, and more!
Supply List
A basic Student Supply List is now available at School Supply Link. Please wait until after school has started to buy supplies other than those on the list.
Community Serve Day
We still need volunteers!
Community Serve Day will be on Sunday, August 21st from 9:00am-1:00pm at East Ridge Elementary. We need volunteers to get the East Ridge campus ready to welcome students and staff for the fall. Please sign up if you're able to make it-- it's a great way to connect with the school community! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0d4da5af2aab9-community
ERPTA
The mission of East Ridge Elementary PTA is to enrich, encourage, and enlighten. We do this by providing a wide spectrum of educational programs and a network of support for our students and staff. To learn more, join, or donate, click the link: https://erpta.org/Page/Pta/PTAHome
Welcome Back Potluck
School is almost here, which means we want to treat our amazing teachers and staff to a Welcome Back Potluck on August 25th!
If you would like to contribute to the potluck, please sign up here!: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c094aa8a92babfb6-welcome
Looking for More Information?
See our past newsletters for information about:
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Attendance
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Schoology
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Virtual Tour
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...and much more!