POINT DEFIANCE NEWSLETTER
October 7, 2016
Phone: 253.571.6900
Unity Day
October is National Bullying
Prevention Month. More than
160,000 student across the country
stay home each day from fear of
being bullied. October 19 is Unity
Day and we want all our students at
Pt. Defiance to wear orange to unite
as a school against bullying. Parents
we ask that you wear Orange to
work that day to join us in spreading
awareness of preventing bullying in
our schools and our community.
Attendance
For all absences, parents should
send notes to School (either hand
written, or printed from a doctor).
You may also call the attendance
line at 253.571.6898. Please do not
check out your children between
3:15-3:30 as the end of the school
day is hectic for teachers and the
office staff. Thank you
Attendance Phone: 253.571.6898
Message from the Principal
Hello Point Defiance Families,
We are excited to welcome fall and the crisp cool air and the
beautiful colors of our trees. We hope that each of you are
successfully settling into the school year as we continue to plan and
deliver quality lessons designed to help our students succeed.
Thank you so much to those who attended our open houses. We
welcomed almost 700 people to include parents, students,
grandparents, and staff, and community partners. Thank you for
coming out and partnering with our teachers!
In our efforts to grant opportunities for two-way communication, we
will host table talk cafes with the principal each month. We will
alternate between mornings and evenings to accommodate varied
schedules. The first one will be next Friday, October 14th from 7:45AM8:15AM in our Art room. We’ll have doughnuts, coffee and muffins
and conversation about happenings here at Point D. Our next one
will be in the evening at 6PM on November 18th.
Thank you for your on-going partnership!
UPCOMING EVENTS
October 14 -Coffee &
Conversation with the
Principal 7:45AM-8:15AM
October 14 – Student of the
Month Assembly 2:30PM
October 19 – Unity Day!
Wear Orange
October 23 –
Pt. Defiance Day with the
Sounders.
October 24 –
DISTRICT DATA DAY
No School for Students
October 25 –
Picture Retake Day
Parent Teacher Association
*The Fundraiser in Full Swing*
Our school’s biggest, annual fundraiser kicked off last week! We are trying
something totally unique, delicious, and inspiring this year. We have
partnered with Starfish Fundraising, a local company that provides gourmet
whole bean coffee direct from Ethiopia. Every bag of high quality, small
batch roasted coffee that you purchase benefits BOTH (1) Point Defiance
Elementary and (2) clean water programs in Ethiopia. Check out the
fundraiser website at http://ptdcoffee.com. We’ll be taking orders through
Friday, October 14. If each student sells just 3 bags of coffee, our school will
reach its goal! Students who sell 10 bags will get to go in a limo to pizza.
Siblings can join in the fun by selling 7 additional bags.
*Harvest Festival October 28*
Mark your calendars for this year’s annual Harvest Festival on Friday,
October 28. This is a fan favorite with the kiddos and involves lots of
costumes, games, and family fun! Here are two easy ways to help make this
event a success.
·
Sign up for a ½ hour shift for some point in the evening. Set up is from 5
to 6. Booths need to be run from 6 to 8. Cleanup is from 8 to 9. Please send
an email to [email protected] to help make this an enchanted
evening for your special witch or wizard…
·
Bring in bag(s) of candy or small prizes to donate. Have your kiddo
give them to his or her teacher. Bonus: If you bring it in by this Friday, your
student gets a FREE bag of popcorn on…
*Popcorn Friday*
It’s back! This Friday (10/7). Just $1 per bag for all the buttery goodness.
As always, if you'd like to get involved, help out, or have any questions,
please contact us at [email protected]. Thank you!
Rainy Day Recess
We need your help! We still need parent
volunteers during rainy day recess. If
interested and available please contact the
front office. We are also in desperate need of
rainy day recess games and cards. You can
send those in with your child. Thank you
School Meals
Returning students who had Free/Reduced Lunch
will continue to receive the same service until
October 18. A new Free/Reduced Lunch for must
be turned in each year to continue service. If you
have not already filled out your form for this year
you can go online to: www.mealappnow.com or
stop by the office and get a form.
Afterschool Opportunities:



Tuesdays, Good News Club
3:30PM-5:00PM – Cafeteria
Wednesdays, Soccer- Metro Parks/Pt Defiance
Partnership 3:30PM-5:00PM. Sign up online at
MetroParks.com
Chi-Chack Community Language Center
Russian, French & Spanish classes starting in October
depending on interest. We need at least 5 participants
in each class for them to start.
15 weeks $295.00. Register online @www.chi-chack.org
Next week a survey will come home with your student
asking what activities students are interested in
participating in!
HEALTH MATTERS
We have lots of lost and found items already.
Please take a few minutes to write names on
tags in jackets and on lunch boxes. This will
help us get items back the right owners.
Interested in a part time job while your
students are in school? We are hiring
noon hour supervisors and before and
after school crossing guards. For more
information please contact the front
office.
COUNSELOR CORNER
Need help with paying for utilities?
Contact the following for available
support:
 Utilities for People with State
Aid 3628 S. 35th Tacoma Public
Utilities 502-8600
 Metro. Development Council
(not based on state
assistance)572-5557
There are still dates available! Please join us and
help keep our staff, students, families and
communities healthy and flu free this season!
The Sound Partnership is committed to keeping
our staff, students, parents and our community
healthy throughout the entire flu season. That’s
why we have partnered with the Seattle Visiting
Nurse Association to provide “flu shot clinics” at
various locations in the District. The clinics are
open to all Tacoma School District staff, students,
their families (children four years of age and
older) and community members. Please note
that students under the age of 18 will need a
Patient Consent Form signed by a parent or
guardian.
All participants will be asked to provide their
health insurance information (card) to receive
an immunization. Seattle Visiting Nurse
Association will bill most insurance companies
directly, however, they are not able to accept
Cigna or Kaiser. Students 18 years and under
without current health insurance coverage will
be offered a flu shot at no cost. Adults without
current insurance coverage must pay the $30.00
immunization fee with cash or check.
Please join us to “Fight the Flu”
LOCATION
DATE
ROOM
TIME
Wilson High
School
Stadium High
School
Transportation
Thurs. Oct. 13
Health Ctr.
2:00-6:00pm
Tue. Oct. 18
Cafeteria
2:00-6:00pm
Wed. Oct. 19
9:30-11:00am
Lincoln High
School
Mt T High
School
Thurs. Oct. 20
Conference
Rm
Cafeteria
Wed. Oct. 26
Commons
2:00-6:00pm
2:00-6:00pm