January 17th 2023 | Chambers Primary PTA

January 17th, 2023 Principal Newsletter

Upcoming Events

January 16: No School in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.
January 18: Silly Sock or Hat Day / Late Start Wednesday 9:15am / Grade level t-shirt day
January 19: PTA Mod Pizza Takeover all day (online ordering use code MODF9072)
January 24: PTA Afterschool playdate at Chambers Bay Playground 3:30-5:30pm
January 25: Late Start Wednesday 9:15am
January 30: No School for teacher prep and planning day

Click here to see our spirit days throughout the school year

Principal’s Message

On January 16th we are observing Temperance and Good Citizenship Day and honoring Martin Luther King Jr.. Many classes have focused on learning about the importance and work of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and celebrated his ideals in order to fulfill his dream of civil and human rights for all people. In addition, our librarian, Mrs. Morgan, and music teacher, Mrs. Van Soest, have provided the following learning opportunities to all students:

Mrs. Morgan (library): To help celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I have created a special choice board to share with our students and teachers, which can be found here in the January Choice Board. On this choice board, you will find places to learn about Martin Luther King Jr. through stories, the Cantata Learning song, TIME for Kids articles, videos, and even the STEM Challenge, Can You Build A Podium For Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.? We also read my favorite Martin Luther King, Jr. book, Martin's Big Words by Doreen Rappaport and illustrated by Bryan Collier.

Mrs. Van Soest (music): Mrs. Van Soest taught a unit on Martin Luther King Jr. for all grade levels at Chambers during music class this month. Chambers Primary has a tradition of all students singing We Shall Overcome with sign language. In music, students will read books, have conversations and sing songs about MLK. The books we are reading: We Shall Overcome: The Story of a Song by Debbie Levy, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton (3rd-4th), Let the Children March by Monica Clark-Robinson, illustrated by Frank Morrison (3rd-4th), Martin's Big Words by Doreen Rappaport, illustrated by Bryan Collier (1st-2nd), Be Kind: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Dream and You by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by James E. Ransome (1st-2nd), Martin Luther King Jr. Day by Robin Nelson (K), and Freedom, We Sing by Amyra Leon, illustrated by Molly Mendoza (K).

Reminders/Notifications

Dental Screening (repeat): Annual Dental Services will be provided to Chambers Primary Students by Community Health Care Dentists on February 2nd. Permission Forms were sent home with your student on January 3rd. To ensure your student receives this service, please complete and return the forms by Wednesday, January 25th. If you have any questions or concerns, please call (253) 210-5294. To schedule an appointment with Community Health Care, call (253) 722-2151.

Yearbook Pre-Sales are January 9th - January 31st. All sales are online only. Click the following link to order yours today: 22-23 Yearbook Sales

KID HEART CHALLENGE

Dear Families – Kids Heart Challenge has officially kicked off, and we are so excited to Be the Torch that will light the torch of hope in the fight against heart disease and stroke! We are encouraging ALL our families to learn the lifesaving skill of Hands-Only CPR. Thank you for all your HEART work supporting our school and the American Heart Association!

Next Steps:

1. Join our team and Take the challenge to Move More or Be Kind and receive a FREE Be the Torch Wristband! Register at http://www2.heart.org/goto/ChambersPrimary or use the Kids Heart Challenge App!

2. If you have already registered, thank you! Start FINN’S MISSION in your HQ, where you can learn Hands-Only CPR as a family, how to spot a stroke F.A.S.T. When you complete Finn’s Mission, you’ll earn an XL Finn’s Keychain!

3. Check out our Virtual Envelope to learn more!

Valentine’s Day Activities: Teachers will communicate directly with their students/families about classroom activities surrounding Valentine’s Day. As a school, we will focus on kindness and friendship and how to include everyone. Some classrooms will make their own friendship cards to exchange and some will exchange cards brought in by students. Please do not send food items as they cannot be eaten in class or on the bus. If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s teacher, Mrs. Gann or Mrs. Vaughan..

Assistant Principal’s Message Hello Chambers Families!

We had a great whole five-day week at Chambers. As we continue into the new year, we are working to pursue our goal of having 95% of all students at school daily. The information below shows our progress toward that goal. We are getting closer to reaching 95% of students present every day.

If you need support with attendance or tardiness, please get in touch with me to collaborate on a solution. Chronic absence is considered missing 10% or more of school days due to any reason. Excused and unexcused absences can translate into students having difficulty learning to read by third-grade, achieving success in middle school, and graduating from high school.

Revision: As we continue working through the winter assessment window, students still need headphones. This request applies to grades second through fourth. If this is a hardship for your family, please reach out to our counselor Betsy Quay so we can support your student.

Thank you for your partnership this week. I had the great pleasure of meeting and speaking with many of you. I hope that you enjoy your weekend!

Yours Truly,

Mrs. Vaughan

Chambers Primary PTA Thank you for the responses to the PTA survey last month. We have reviewed the results and are working on planning the winter and spring. Look forward to more information in the coming weeks. Below are a few updates on the community resources page, the video for December cooking event, pizza fundraiser on January 19, and a new after school playdate event. We are looking for volunteers to organize and execute a few events/fundraisers in the spring. If you are interested or just want to get on the volunteer email list contact Kat at volunteer@chambersprimarypta.com.

Family Resource Page: We now have a family resource page on our website. We invite you to check out the website! There is information related to activities in the area, free programs, parks, and events in the area. The website also has resources for families with special needs children, autism resources, attention/learning resources, military family resources, multicultural family resources and resources for guardians. Link: https://www.chambersprimarypta.com/family-resources We also invite you to email Michele at face@chambersprimarypta.com if you have any further questions or think there are important links that could benefit others that should be added to the website.

Virtual Cooking Event: We had a great time making Butternut Squash soup, learning about Dijana’s culture and her life hacks (no watering eyes when cutting onions tip included)!! For those that missed the live virtual cooking event we have the recording on the PTA website! Cook alongside Djiana via the video and warm your heart to a Butternut Squash Soup a night this month. We are looking for other families to host a cooking event (prerecorded). Let us know if you are interested. https://www.chambersprimarypta.com/virtual-cooking-event

Mod Pizza Fundraiser Enjoy a night of pizza and support the PTA on January 19. A portion of every purchase supports the PTA. (Sorry to all the Chambers/Drum families for a double night of fundraisers - we will work to coordinate dates better next year). After School Playdate: When: Wednesday, January 25 th at 3:30 – 5:30ish (other dates include February 22nd, March 29th) Where: Playground by the Sound located at Chambers Bay. https://goo.gl/maps/th6i63ywtgQKEoeA9 We have decided to change Popsicles and Play to a Wednesday after school play date. Keep the grade level T-shirts on so the kids can spot each other. Find a PTA person in a blue T-shirt. Our goal is to connect our Chambers' families.