WOH For Sept. 5, 2017
First Day of School by Kristen Okabayashi, Hope Principal
When I began serving as principal at Hope School back in fall 2010, a highlight for me was having my four boys also begin school here at the same time. My oldest son Ryan was entering seventh grade that year, and he showed his “appreciation” for having his mom as the new principal by walking right by me anytime he saw me, as if he had no idea who I was. The other 3 boys were warm and friendly though, and by eighth grade, Ryan too had adjusted to having his mom also be principal; he would even smile and say hi when he was me around the school. He told me later he had to be sure his classmates thought I was okay before he let the cat out of the bag that I was his mom (in case the last name Okabayashi was not a giveaway).
Stepping forward 8 years to 2017, as I enter my 8th year as principal, suddenly I have 3 kids over at Seattle Lutheran High School, and Ryan is at Western Washington University! It’s a little odd to not have a student here myself, and yet in some ways it’s not that different without them here. My kids have shown that they are prepared and ready for high school and beyond, and so while selfishly I would love to keep them here with me, at the same time I can’t get in their way! The boys all started school almost two weeks ago, and so they are well into their new school year and football.
My words of advice though: enjoy every moment! We are so blessed that we are able to enjoy these precious moments with your student(s) as well. Welcome back students, families, and staff!
Tuesday Newsletter & Communication Envelopes
Our newsletter is sent via email every Tuesday and will also be posted to our website at www.hopeseattle.org. Please notify the school office at 206-935-8500 if you require a hard copy. Our weekly newsletter is used for general announcements, calendar date changes or reminders, Parent Involvement Program (PIP) opportunities, sports, and much more! Other communication tools we utilize are Vertical Response, which goes out via email, and SchoolMessenger, which goes out via phone. Please ensure that the school office has up-to-date information for your family. Each kindergarten through 8th grade homeroom will also send home a bright yellow communication folder with important school forms. Please sign the outside of the envelope, remove the contents and return the folder to your child’s homeroom. Do not place forms inside this envelope; instead, attach any forms returning to the school to the outside of the envelope.
Wednesday-Friday 9/6 – 9/8: Kindergarten Only Noon Dismiss – ESC “XTRA” Open
Wed. 9/13: 8:40 AM Chapel – Family and friends welcome to join us!
Fri. 9/15: Free Dress Day / Hope Apparel Orders Due
Tues. 9/19: 7:00 PM Curriculum Night
Hot Lunch Program – Begins Tomorrow, Sept. 6, 2017
Hope is pleased to again offer NEST Hot Lunch by Café Stellina Catering. Locally sourced and organic lunches will be provided on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays beginning Wednesday, September 6. Hot lunch is available to all K-8 students as well as full day preschool students, orderable and payable on a month-to-month basis. The registration form is on NEST’s website: http://www.cafestellinacatering.com/NEST-School-Lunch-Program.html. You may fill it out and scan/email it back to them or send it via snail mail and feel free to contact them with questions at cafestellinacatering@gmail.com. Please note the Hope School does not register or bill for this program.
Chinook Book Fundraiser
IMPORTANT! The Chinook Books in today’s yellow envelope are not a gift! They must be sold or returned to school in sellable condition.
We are starting back to school with one of our most important fundraisers for the PTH. Chinook Books are full of great coupons for discounts at local retailers and activities. Order forms (use for books only) are due back to the school office no later than September 22. All books include an App subscription! For app-only sales, please use the online link below. If you choose not to sell your book, you may return your unsold book to the school office at any time.
New this year is the option to sell digital subscriptions for $15 by sharing our link with your friends and family via email or social media: https://chinook.co/hopelutheranschool
The purchaser gets their app immediately and the funds go directly to the PTH. You don’t have to collect money or distribute books. Bonus: All future App refills will benefit our school too! Double bonus: Our school keeps 60% of digital sales!
Earn some PIP hours and sign up to sell books at Hope Lutheran Church on our Sign up Genius Page, or set up your own sales table outside your favorite local spot! http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0545ada823aafa7-chinook
Questions? Contact Heather Paar at 206-300-5233 or heatherpaar@yahoo.com
Chapel Offering Envelopes
Offerings are collected during our Wednesday chapel service from the students using their weekly offering envelopes. Hope School continues to sponsor a child, Christopher Tano, through Compassion International. Your students offering envelopes will be sent home each Tuesday. These offerings allow students to develop a pattern of giving as part of their Christian lives and to share God’s love by supporting missions and charities. Therefore, we encourage students to give from their own money (allowance or other earnings).
Important Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures
As we get ready to kick off our new school year, please take some time to review our drop off and pick up procedures, as the goal is to keep this process running smoothly and to keep our kids safe! Please review these procedures with anyone who may drop off or pick up your child. Preschool families will have additional information available from your teacher. If you have any questions please contact your child’s teacher or ask us in the office. Thank you for your attention to this!
Drop Off Guidelines:
- Students may be dropped off in front of the school no earlier than 8:10 AM, as we do not have a staff person available to supervise students before that. If you need childcare before 8:10 AM, please use our extended care program or carpool with another family.
- When dropping off your child in front of the school on 42nd, please pull forward as far as possible and drop off quickly. If you need to enter the school for any reason, please do not leave your car in front but park somewhere else. You may park before school in our lowers parking lot entered through the alley or use street parking or use the lot kiddy corner from the school to the south on 42nd Ave.
Pick Up Guidelines:
- Cars outside the school on 42nd should pull as far forward as possible to keep traffic moving
- Do not leave your car unattended out front of the school on 42nd at pick up time.
- When waiting on 42nd Ave in front of the school, drivers please pay attention so that you can pull forward as soon as another car leaves.
- Please do not double park outside the front of the school and ask your child to come to your car across the line of parked cars – this is very dangerous.
If you are parked in another parking lot, please use crosswalks as you approach the school and ask that your child use crosswalks as well.
Door Access System
We use a door access system to improve the safety of our campus. The front door will be unlocked during drop off and pick up times. During school hours our doors will be locked. Please use our door bell located to the left of doors to alert the front office then you will let you in. All parents need to sign in/out with the front office when entering during school hours.
Our preschool and Extended School Care families were given a PIN code to provide them with a more convenient way to access the building during program hours for pick up and drop off. PIN codes will be activated on September 5th. If you have questions about the system, you may contact the school office at 206-935-8500.
Hope School Spirit Wear and Gear
Hope youth and adult t-shirts and sweatshirts plus much more is available online to order through our K12Online system with a student access code. Samples of wearable items available in the first floor hallway across from the gently used uniforms. All orders due Friday, Sept. 15th. Watch for order forms September 5th or go online to K12Online to purchase. Go EAGLES!
Parent Involvement Program or PIP Opportunities
Lunch and Recess Volunteers
We are looking for volunteers to assist with our lunch from 11:40am-12:50pm and our lunchtime recess from 12:00-1:05pm. Volunteers will be working with a teacher or staff person and will provide our hard-working teachers with a designated lunch break each day. If you can help with any of these times, please contact Shari Wallace at swallace@hopeseattle.org or (206) 935-8500.