January 8, 2016
January 13th 2:35 dismissal day
January 20th and 27th are regular 4:05 dismissal days
KINDNESS MONTH - During the entire month of January, we will be focusing on kindness.
Students will have the opportunity to learn about kindness and highlight when others have been
kind to them by filling up a poster that will be displayed in the cafeteria of their Random Acts
of Kindness. This is what kindness looks and sounds like:
People who are kind:
People who are kind say things like:

Refuse to tease or ridicule others.

Show concern when someone is sad.

Show concern when someone is sad.

Practice acts that meet the needs of

Practice acts that meet the needs of others.

Take care of the environment.

Take care of the environment.

Treat everyone fairly.

Treat everyone fairly.

Practice acts that make others happy.

Practice acts that make others happy.
others.
Parents can join in as well. Consider working together on projects that show generosity as a
family. Volunteer your time and resources to help others and discuss what you are doing and why
you are doing it with your children. Senior centers, food kitchens and homeless shelters always
welcome extra hands. When children grow up in a family where kindness is a way of life, they
experience the importance as well as the joy of giving to others and develop a generous
character. As they mature, they will begin to give back the kindness that they have observed
and participated in with you. Ideas that can encourage the character trait of kindness follow:
 Try to find some reason to say “thank you” to your child each day. Let them know you appreciate
their work even if it is their assigned chore. Let them know you appreciate their work even if it
is their assigned chore.
 If your child complains about what they do not have, ask them what they do have to be thankful
for.
 Insist that your child write thank you notes for gifts they receive. Buy them their own
stationary and stamps that reflect their personality.
 Be the first to suggest a random act of kindness when you see the opportunity.
 Participate in food drives and donate clothes and toys to charitable projects.
 Establish a “family meeting” time once a week perhaps over dinner on a special night. Keep a
basket on the table all week for members of the family to write kind acts or words sent their
way or that they tried to do for someone. Review the basket and thank each other during the
family meeting. The slips of paper in the basket can be simple things that show a kind spirit and
might say something like:

I washed the dishes when it was not my turn.

I called my sick aunt.

I helped a friend who fell on her bike.

I made a point to smile at a person I passed by who looked sad and angry.

I opened the door for someone and let them enter first.

I offered to carry a package or book for someone who was overloaded.

Mom made my favorite dinner.

My brother washed the car without being asked.
 Plan family projects to show kindness to others.
 Keep recycling bins in your garage to be kind to the environment.
 Talk with your children about being kind to animals. Take a stray animal to a shelter. Discuss that
we show kindness by giving the proper care required for an animal (food, water, exercise,
vaccinations).
NEW PHONE OR ADDRESS UPDATES – During the holidays, parents often get
new phones or new phone numbers. If your phone number or address has
changed, please be sure to send a note with your student or call our main office,
253-298-3200. In case of an emergency, we need to be able to contact you.
Thank you!
SCIENCE FAIR -This year, we will hold our annual Science Fair on March 3rd, 2016 from 6:308:00 p.m. We are need of parent volunteers the week of February 22nd to assist students in
need of additional support. This is an important academic project we want all of our students to
have the opportunity to participate in. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Ms.
Templin at stemplin@fpschools.org.
BUS BULLETIN
Would you like to know when your student’s bus is going to be late or
what is happening?
The Transportation Department for Franklin Pierce Schools is now using Bus Bulletin notification
system to notify parents and schools when there are bus delays and schedule changes.
If you would like to receive instant notifications when delays or incidents affect your student's bus,
please register with Bus Bulletin. It is easy and it is free!
 There is no cost for this service.

Registration is simple and fast, online.

You can choose to receive text messages, phone calls, and/or e-mails.

You manage your own account and update contact information, securely.

All contact information is stored securely and will not be shared or sold - your privacy is
protected.
For more information, or to sign-up and start receiving notifications, please visit:
https://app.busbulletin.com
For help with registration, call Transportation at 253-298-3865
NOTE: This transportation communication tool does not replace the district’s messenger notification system
or the student registration and database system used at every school. It is only used for important bus
messages related to your child’s bus.
Directions:
Go to the website, https://app.busbulletin.com and look to the top-right side of your screen. Click
on “Register”, and answer the simple prompts. You will provide your name, your email address, a
password, our Franklin Pierce Schools. Then enter the code on the screen, accept the rules of use,
and finally click on Submit.
You will then be asked to select the route, which is written in code:
The first two numbers are the ROUTE NUMBER, and the letters are the SCHOOL abbreviation: BD,
CA, CH, CA, ELM, HA, JS, MD.
And for the secondary schools: FMS, FPHS, KMS, WHS, GATES
Use HDS for Head Start and ELC. Example: 19FMS is route 19, Ford Middle School.
Your son or daughter will know their route number!
DATES TO REMEMBER:
Jan. 13
Jan. 15
Jan. 18
Jan. 20
Jan. 20
Jan. 21
Jan. 22
Jan. 27
Jan. 28
Early Dismissal @ 2:35
MLK Assembly @ 3:20
NO SCHOOL, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
“Allies Ahoy Assembly” @ 2:45
Regular Dismissal @ 4:05
PTA mtg. @ 4:15 in the library
PTA Popcorn Friday
Regular Dismissal @ 4:05
4th Grade Concert 3:15 & 7:00
Franklin Pierce Schools does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national
origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender
expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained
dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities and provides equal
access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Questions and complaints of alleged
discrimination should be directed to Dr. Shaun Carey, Compliance Coordinator for State and Civil Rights
Laws; Wendy Malich, Title IX Officer; or William Rasplica, 504/ADA Coordinator at 315 129 th ST S,
Tacoma, WA 98444-5099 or at (253)298-3000.