We hope you're having an amazing summer!
The first day of school is Wednesday, September 1!
Notes from the Principal
We are excited to welcome our new and returning East Ridge Suns for the 2021-22 school year. This year, all students and staff will be in-person for learning. We look forward to a great year and moving forward in a way that enriches, challenges, and nurtures our community.
Please join us in welcoming these new staff to East Ridge for 2021-22 school year:
Crystal Affolter, LAP (Learning Assistance Program) Reading Intervention Teacher
Gretchen Colonius, Occupational Therapist
Andrea Croson, Kitchen Manager
Natali Evans, Learning Center Special Education Paraeducator
Brittany Harrer, 1st grade Teacher
Alana Kupersmith, Special Education Learning Center Teacher
Erika Loke, Kindergarten Teacher
Karen Raphael, School Psychologist
Tiana Shuford, Music Teacher (full time)
Stephanie Smith, Music Teacher (part time)
Sara Taylor, 5th grade Teacher
Our staff is busy getting the campus ready to receive our students in just a few short weeks. Each Monday, we will send out more information designed to help your family ready to return to school. As information keeps changing, we will do our best to keep you informed of current happenings and details so you can plan accordingly.
A few things that we are still working on/waiting for include:
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District parameters for health and safety. District information will be posted here.
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Classroom placement for students
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East Ridge Family Handbook
Our PTA has been busy planning activities and events that are sure to re-connect our community. This is a group of parents that will stop at nothing to ensure each student and family has what they need, and I am forever grateful for their dedication. You can check out their website or their East Ridge PTA Facebook page to stay up to date on their happenings.
Our staff is approaching this school year with optimism and excitement. This is a "new beginning" and we are ready to embark on all it has to offer. I will leave you with this quote from one of the books we are using to support the start of the school year.
"Now it is time to rebound. It's time to bounce back, come back better, and benefit from the many lessons learned to reignite engagement, accelerate learning, and move forward with a fresh optimism and better systems for schooling."
- Rebound by Fisher, Frey, Smith and Hattie.
Fondly,
Sarah White, Principal
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. Class assignments will be in ParentVue on August 25th.
Please do not ask for this information in advance, and please do not call the office for this information.
ParentVue Reminder
Please be sure you are able to access ParentVue. Not only can you check on your student’s attendance status, but this is the only method we will be using to release class assignments in the fall. Don’t wait! Contact Rae Shepherd (rshepherd@nsd.org) if you are having any trouble signing in.
School Schedule for 2021-22
9:05am - School Starts
3:35pm - Dismissal
School 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.
Open House
Save the date! Thursday, August 26th, from 2:30 – 4:00 pm.
Come say hi to your teacher, see your classroom, take a self-guided campus tour, and drop off your school supplies. Please come at your assigned time.
Masks required on campus.
2:30 - 3:00 A-F
3:00 - 3:30 G-N
330 - 4:00 O-Z
Kindergarten Schedule
The first scheduled day for kindergarten this year, if not adjusted, would have fallen on September 7 and would have conflicted with a significant religious holiday. Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on September 6 and runs through sundown September 8. In order to ensure our youngest learners and their families don't have to choose between a momentous first day of school and their religious holiday, the Northshore School District will start Kindergarten this year with the rest of the grade levels on September 1.
East Ridge kindergarten will participate in a staggered start that first week - half of our kindergarteners will come to school on September 1 (last name A-K), half on September 2 (M-Z). All will attend together on September 3.
WaKIDS kindergarten family conferencing with teachers will then occur on September 7, 8, and 9. Families who celebrate the religious holiday can choose to have their conference on September 9.
Here is the schedule for Kindergarten:
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September 1: Kindergarteners with last name A-L attend
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September 2: Kindergarteners with last name M-Z attend
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September 3: All Kindergarteners attend
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September 6: Labor Day Holiday - NO SCHOOL
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September 7, 8 and 9: WA Kids Conferences (Families will meet with the teacher for 30 minutes on one of these days). No school for Kindergarten
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September 10th and beyond : All Students attend
Bus Routes
Bus routes and stops will be posted on the E-Link the week before school starts. Bus routes will not be mailed out. http://versatrans.nsd.org/elinkrp/Login.aspx
How will I get a device for my student?
This fall each of our students will be assigned a device. Our K-1 students will have an iPad checked out to them that will stay at school. Our 2nd-5th grade students will have a Chromebook checked out to them that will go to and from school. We will send out more information soon.
Save the dates for these special activities coming up...
Kindergarten PTA Meet and Greet
Head to Cottage Lake Park on Thursday, August 26th at 12:00pm to meet other kindergarten families. This is a great way to make connections and your child may find a new friend!
Back to School Fair
Dear Northshore School District Families,
As we prepare to welcome students back to buildings for the first day of school, we are excited to partner with the Northshore Schools Foundation in hosting a Back-to-School Fair. This free event has historically served families in need, but we are expanding our reach this year to all families.
In addition to our community partners, information will also be available from a variety of District departments including, but not limited to: Transportation, Food & Nutrition Services, Student Services, Health Services, Multilingual Learners and Family Engagement, Learning Assistance Program (LAP), Title, Highly Capable Services and more.
A vaccine clinic is also scheduled to be at the event for any individual who is age 12 or older. For planning purposes, please complete this interest form if you or anyone in your family intend to be vaccinated during the Back-to-School Fair. The Foundation's Backpack for Kids Program will be supplying backpacks and supplies for families who are unable to purchase backpacks and supplies and who are registered with the Foundation.
The event takes place from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 28 at Pop Keeney Stadium (9809 NE 188th St, Bothell, WA 98011).
A big thank you to our many staff and partners for working together to help all of our students and families off to an amazing start to the school year! In an effort to keep our Northshore community safe, all attendees will be required to wear a face covering while on the Pop Keeney campus.
To learn more about the event, visit our District website.
Community Serve Day - Now at East Ridge
East Ridge will have its very first community serve day on Sunday, August 22nd! East Ridge has been trying to get on the Community Serve Day list for 5 years! The first year is a "pilot" year (kind of like a tryout) - our school has to recruit our own volunteers to show that we have the support in our own community before we are included as part of the official event. This year we finally have approval to do our "pilot" community serve day!
We are recruiting volunteers to help us get our campus back in shape! There is lots of gardening and some painting to do, too! This is also a great way to connect with other families if you are new to East Ridge.
Sign up here if you plan to attend, so PTA knows you're coming!
Thank you!
ERPTA Happenings!
Check out the ERPTA (East Ridge PTA) website to find out more news or follow on Facebook.
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!