CO Cougar Connection January 2025

Posted Date: 1/03/25 (6:00 PM)

Cougar Connection

Columbia Elementary January 2025 News

Columbia Elementary School Main Entrance

In This Edition:

Letter from the Principal
Attendance Reminders
January Calendar
Winter Tips
Notes from Nurse Liberty
Events and Activities

From the Principal

Happy New Year!

I hope the winter break offered you the chance to relax, recharge, and create meaningful memories with your loved ones. Personally, I cherished the slower pace and the opportunity to spend quality time with my wife, my 7-year-old son, and my 4-year-old daughter. Watching my children grow and noticing the subtle changes in their personalities and abilities reminded me just how much growth can happen in small, everyday moments.

At Columbia, our dedicated staff has the privilege of witnessing this kind of growth in your children every day. They’re continually observing, nurturing, and celebrating the many small steps your child takes along their educational journey. Our teachers thoughtfully adjust their instruction to meet each student’s unique needs, ensuring they are supported and challenged in all the right ways.

January through April is a particularly exciting time of year in education. Routines are firmly in place, classrooms have blossomed into thriving communities, and teachers have built strong relationships with their students. These months are often the most productive stretch of the school year, as students dive into deep learning and continue making strides academically and socially. The cumulative progress your child will make in the coming weeks is truly remarkable!

Thank you for all you do to set your child up for success—from fostering positive routines at home to encouraging a love of learning. Your partnership makes a meaningful difference in their growth. I can’t wait to see the incredible achievements our students will accomplish as we move closer to spring!

Wishing you all a wonderful start to the year,

Mr. Denton

Attendance Reminders

It is your responsibility to contact our 24 Hour attendance line at (425) 366-2605 to report your child's absence. Teachers can't always forward attendance to us in a timely manner.
If your child will be gone for an extended period of time, you need to complete a pre-arranged absence form.
Your child gets a maximum of 5 travel days per school year excused.
Absences for travel/vacation beyond the 5 days are NOT excused.

Pre-Arranged Absence Form

Mark Your Calendars

M, T Choir

T, Th Band

T, Th Orchestra at Endeavor

6th Back to School

16th Temperance & Good Citizenship Day

20th Martin Luther King Jr. Day NO SCHOOL

22nd Salmon eggs arrive (tentatively)

23rd PTA Meeting - 3:45pm

23rd Choir, Band & Orchestra Concert - 6:30pm at Columbia

28th School board Meeting - 6pm at District Office

30th PTA Night-Out fundraiser

31st Teacher Work Day NO SCHOOL

You will find our printable school district calendar by going to the district website.

Winter is Here

Curious About School Delays or Cancelations?

Curious About School Delays or Cancelations? School may be delayed or canceled because of weather conditions or other events. Bus routes may also be affected by unsafe travel conditions. The district communicates school closures and delays in a variety of ways including phone calls, emails and text messages to families. That means it is important to keep contact information up to date with your child’s school. Additionally, we post information on our district website, social media spaces and to local TV and radio stations. Learn more about staying informed during weather events by clicking THIS LINK.

Notes from Nurse Liberty

We are doing our best here at Columbia to help prevent the spread of illness by encouraging staff and students to stay home when sick and to wash hands frequently, particularly after using the restroom and before eating. Masks are always available to those who would like an extra level of protection. You can help us keep our school as healthy as possible by continuing to keep your student home when they are sick. Many local pharmacies offer flu shot appointments or you may schedule one with your healthcare provider. Vaccination against influenza reduces your risk of illness, hospitalization, or even death and can prevent you from spreading the virus to your loved ones. Read more at How To Get Your Shot. Note: COVID-19 booster doses and flu shots are safe to get at the same appointment. To access information and resources about student health conditions, when to return after illness, immunization requirements, medications or contact information for your School Nurse, go the Health Services Tab (under Students and Families) on the School District Website.

Remember it is your responsibility to contact our 24 Hour attendance line at (425) 366-2605 to report your child's absence.

Events and Activities

PTA Corner:

Art Docent Volunteers Needed!

No prior art experience or background is necessary. If you are interested in volunteering, please sign-up by Monday, January 15th . To learn more about the Art Docent Program, please visit our Art Docent Page or contact Tran at: artdocent@mycolumbiapta.org

Save the Date:

PTA Spirit Night Fundraiser Thursday, January 30th. Funds support PTA sponsored activities as well as teacher and classroom grants. Make it a fun night out and don't worry about staying out late - there is no school the next day! More information is on the PTA website. Click here for flyer.

Save the Date:

PTA Multicultural Night Thursday, February 13th. Whether you share something from another country- or a family tradition from right here in Mukilteo, everyone is welcome to participate by signing up here. Families may participate individually or with other families. Deadline to register is Feb. 7, 2025.

Click Here to Join Our PTA

Mabel's Labels

Columbia is fundraising with Mabel’s Labels! These are personalized, durable, and waterproof labels that you can customize with your name and a design. They are dishwasher, laundry and microwave safe. This is a great way to ensure your items don’t end up in the lost & found forever. To support our fundraiser, visit Mabel’s Labels and select "Columbia Elementary PTA 7-5-6 (Mukilteo).". Your items will ship for free directly to your house! We receive 20% of every purchase. Thank you for supporting us!

Salmon in Schools:

Sound Salmon Solutions is bringing their Salmon in Schools program to three Mukilteo elementary schools thanks to the Mukilteo Surface Water Utility. Columbia Elementary, Endeavor Elementary and Mukilteo Elementary will receive a 55-gallon cold water aquarium to keep at their school to raise coho salmon from egg to fry. During the hatching time, the schools will also receive multiple lessons teaching students about the salmon lifecycle, salmon biology, and ways they as youth can help protect salmon habitat and their local environment. Next spring, the students will be taken on a field trip to a three local streams in the City of Mukilteo that have been idented by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife as Salmon baring streams. The students will then release the Coho Salmon they reared in their classroom. Students will also learn about macroinvertebrates and learn how to identify native plants and how they are used by Indigenous peoples. For more information on the program please contact Meiring Borcherds at mborcherds@mukilteowa.gov

Here at Columbia, our tank is set up and the Salmon eggs should be here around the 22nd of January.

School Board Appreciation Month

Mukilteo School District is fortunate to partner with a school board that is focused on student success through equity and access to supportive academic and social-emotional learning. Thank you to JUDY SCHWAB, President; KYLE KENNEDY, Vice President; SIMON BAI, CHARLES HAUCK and JOHN GAHAGAN; RAQUELL MORINA, ACES High School; JOSEPH JEON, Kamiak High School; SALMA HELALI, Mariner High School

Next board Meeting January 28th, 6pm at the District Office

Contact information

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us at (425) 366-2600.

Principal: Bruce Denton

Admin Assistant: Kelli Arends

24 hour Attendance (425) 366-2605

School Website: https://co.mukilteoschools.org

Mukilteo School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Civil Rights Coordinator and Title IX Coordinator Simone Neal (425-356-1319), nealsr@mukilteo.wednet.edu, Section 504 Coordinator Becca Anderson (425-356-1277), andersonra@mukilteo.wednet.edu, and the ADA/Access Coordinator Karen Mooseker (425-356-1330), moosekerkw@mukilteo.wednet.edu. Address: 9401 Sharon Drive in Everett, WA. Inquiries regarding ADA/Access issues at Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center should be directed to Wes Allen, Director (425-348-2220) allenwr@mukilteo.wednet.edu. Address: 9001 Airport Road in Everett, WA 98204.