Skyview News
Monthly Newsletter from Skyview Junior High School
JANUARY 2014
UPCOMING BALLOT MEASURES
Three measures are on the ballot Feb. 11th to continue support for student learning in
Northshore: a Capital Projects Bond, a Renewal Education Operations Support Levy and a
Technology Levy.
Capital Projects Bond
The $177.5 million bond would continue the district’s long-range facilities plan to maintain and
renovate aging schools and provide key infrastructure support such as roofs, heating systems and
Internet capability for schools and classroom learning spaces. Every school will benefit from the
projects completed by the bond measure.
School Construction/Renovation


Construct a fourth high school in the north end of the district to help provide a longerterm solution to north end enrollment growth and educational benefits for students
districtwide by moving 9th grade to high school and 6th grade to middle school model
Finish final phase of Woodinville High School remodel—technology building and
gymnasium
Districtwide Projects





Replace outdated heating, ventilation and mechanical systems, boilers, roofs and flooring
Update school technology infrastructure and Internet capability to support classroom
technology and instruction
Complete ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) site and building code regulations
work and small works projects
Complete school safety improvements
Renovate school playfields, tracks and tennis courts
Renewal Education Operations Support Levy
The Renewal Education Operations Support Levy provides 23% of the district’s budget for daily
operations and educational programs. It would renew the current four-year levy that expires in
2014 and would provide up to $200 million over the next four years. The levy helps provide for:




Basic education needs not funded by state or federal governments
o Smaller class sizes than state funding provides
o Academic support for advanced learners and struggling learners
o Special Education and transportation
Curriculum updates to meet state standards
Extra-curricular activities: music, drama, sports and clubs
School resource officers for increased safety
Renewal School Technology Levy
The Renewal School Technology Levy would maintain and enhance classroom technology to
support student learning. It would replace the current levy that expires in 2014 and would
provide $32 million over the next four years. The levy would:




Expand student computing devices
Replace outdated classroom technology and update software
Provide training and support to integrate new technology into classroom instruction
Update existing information systems and networks
Financial Information
The district projects a decrease in the total annual school tax rate if all 3 measures are approved
by voters. The total annual school tax rate is projected to decrease by one-cent per year over the
four years of the measures, from $4.98 per $1,000 of assessed property value in 2015 to $4.95
per $1,000 of assessed property value in 2018.
The total school tax rate includes all 3 measures and existing bonds. The district may only
collect up to the amount approved by voters regardless of assessed valuation changes.
More Information
More information about these measures is available on the district Web site at
www.nsd.org/2014bondlevies or by contacting the Communications Department at
425.408.7670.
UPCOMING SCHOOL EVENTS
1/15
Early Release Day
1/15
PTSA Meeting in the school library at 7:00pm (more info below)
1/20
HOLIDAY – NO SCHOOL
1/24
Last day of the semester
1/27-28 NO SCHOOL
1/31 Spaghetti Dinner to benefit the Skyview Music Program
2/1
Solo/Ensemble at Kenmore Junior High for band/orchestra/choir students
2/5
Early Release
2/5
Skyview Talent Show in the school gym at 7:00pm
Mid Winter Break will be February 17 - 21
Please check the Skyview website for our complete school calendar.
ADVANCED ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
Parents of current Northshore School District sixth and seventh graders are invited to an
information night about the new Advanced Academics Program (AAP) for junior high students
on Thursday, January 23rd, at 7:00 PM, in the Woodinville High School Performing Arts
center. The AAP is being developed for students who will be in 7th and 8th grade in the fall of
2014 who meet the "Highly Capable" designation in math, science, and humanities through a
tiered assessment and selection system. The AAP provides an altered and accelerated
academic program with faster pace, greater depth and complexity, and a peer group of
similarly capable students.
v
The AAP is an addition to current junior high program offerings. Challenge courses will
continue to be offered at each junior high school as a self-select option for all students. Double
acceleration in math is also available at all junior highs through the assessment and selection
process Northshore School District uses each spring.
The AAP program will be implemented in two different phases for the 2014-15 school year.
7th Grade AAP
Current sixth graders who score 90% or higher on the ITBS are invited to do further testing to
qualify for the AAP program. (Sixth grade EAP students will automatically roll up into the
seventh grade AAP program and are not required to participate in further testing.) Current
plans are to place the AAP at two junior high schools - Leota JH and Northshore
JH. Transportation details are still to be determined. Alternately, qualifying students can
choose to attend their home junior high school and receive highly capable programming
through cluster grouping in accelerated math and challenge courses.
8th Grade AAP
Current seventh graders can qualify for the Advanced Academics Program as former EAP
students or through a tiered assessment and selection system. Interested seventh graders
submit an application for AAP testing. The application will be available on the district website
immediately following the January 23rd parent meeting, and will be due in the district office on
February 7th, 2014. Identified students will remain in their neighborhood junior high school for
the 2014-15 school year. Highly capable programming will be offered through cluster grouping
in accelerated math and challenge courses.
The characteristics of Highly Capable students include the following:
•
Capacity to learn with unusual depth of understanding, to retain what has been
learned, and to transfer learning to new situations.
•
Capacity and willingness to deal with increasing levels of abstraction and complexity
earlier than their chronological peers.
•
Creative ability to make unusual connections among ideas and concepts.
•
Ability to learn quickly in their area(s) of intellectual strength.
•
Capacity for intense concentration and/or focus.
Students should test for the Advanced Academics Program if they





Score 90% or higher on the 6th grade ITBS Reading and Math.
Generally score in the top 2-4% on standardized assessments.
Have unusual strengths in at least one core subject: Math, Science, Humanities.
Are a fast learner.
Will benefit from learning alongside peers with similar capabilities.
ASB NEWS
Our Skyview ASB (Associated Student Body) is back from Winter Break and hard at
work with three major activities in January.
Student leaders will be facilitating homeroom meetings for a Martin Luther King
assembly on Friday, January 17th.
Skyview's third sports season will begin on Wednesday, Jan 29th right after school.
Third season sports include girls basketball for 7th and 8th graders and wrestling for all
students. Sports packets are in the kiosk outside the Main Office and due back to the
Main Office by January 22nd.
We are excited to partner with the Music Boosters and present our second annual "This
is the Night" Spaghetti Dinner with Live Music on January 31st. All proceeds from
this event will benefit Skyview's music programs. Watch our website for more details.
SPORTS NEWS
All games and matches are scheduled to begin at 3:30pm.
Bus transportation is provided for team members TO the events.
There is NO transportation provided after games.
1/9
Boys Basketball NJH @ SJH
1/13
Boys Basketball CPJH @ SJH
1/16
Boys Basketball SJH @ CPJH
------------------------------------Third Season sports begin on January 29
Wrestling for all grades and Basketball for 7th/8th grade girls
Sports packets must be turned in by January 22nd and MUST include a current sports
physical with Doctor’s signature.
FROM THE ATTENDANCE OFFICE
VACATIONS AND EXTENDED ABSENCES: It is important to schedule family trips
during school breaks whenever possible, as students miss valuable classroom
instruction and lab time. Yet we realize emergencies and other family issues arise, so
please pre-arrange absences as soon as you know that your student will be
missing school by sending a signed note to the attendance office in advance.
If a student will be missing more than 5 school days, an absence contract must be
completed in advance, signed by the teachers and the student to serve as an agreement
for completing missed assignments and course work. Absence contract forms
are available in the Attendance /Counseling office. Parents/guardians must also notify the
attendance office of the dates the student will be absent as well.
EARLY DISMISSALS: Send a note signed by parents/guardians on the day the
student will be leaving school early, to be turned in to the Attendance Office upon
arrival at school. Your student will be excused and receive a hall pass for
the early dismissal.
Note - students will not be excused from class during the last 15 minutes
of school without a pre-arrangement.
Any questions or to report an absence, please contact Vicki Madsen, Attendance Office
Secretary at 425-408-6810.
IT’S COLD AND FLU SEASON
We have seen an increase of flu in both King and Snohomish County and we have had
flu, cold and stomach viruses in our Skyview community. With these circulating it is
more important then ever to check your child every morning for signs of illness, and if
they are ill to keep them home.
Please read the attachment from Nurse Liz Albrecht for more information.
STUDENT SAFETY
To ensure the safety of all students, Skyview is requiring students to be in a supervised
area before school. The Cafeteria will open at 7:00 a.m., the Academic and
Technology Buildings will open at 7:30 a.m., and the Gym will open at 7:55 a.m.
Prior to these times the buildings will be locked.
Students who want to meet with a teacher (including the Library) before 7:30 a.m. will
need to pre-arrange the meeting with the staff member. With the exception of Jazz
Band, there is no reason for students to be on campus before 7:00 a.m. District bus
transportation is provided so that students can arrive after 7:00 a.m.
If you have any questions please contact the Assistant Principal Joseph Robertson at
425-408-6825 or jrobertson@nsd.org.
PTSA NEWS
Don’t forget! January is Box Tops month!!
The Skyview PTSA is conducting a contest to see which homeroom class can bring in the
most Box Tops. So start clipping now!! You can also shop at your favorite retailers
using the Box Top Marketplace at www.btfe.com to help our school even more!
PTSA General Meeting
"Before anything else, preparation is the key to success." Alexander
Graham Bell
Interested in personal and family preparedness in case of an emergency here in
our area? The upcoming PTSA meeting will be an opportunity to learn what
protective measures to take before, during and after an emergency. Learn some
great tips from our guest speaker's interactive presentation on how to make a
plan to keep your family safe and healthy. Join us on Wednesday, January 15
at 7:00 p.m. in the Skyview Junior High library. Also on the agenda, is a short
presentation about the Bond Levy and news about the 9th Grade Cruise which is
scheduled for Friday, June13. The executive Board meeting will precede this
meeting at 6:30. Don't miss out!
PTSA Involvement Opportunities
Please take a look at the PTSA attachment for more information about how to
get involved at Skyview!
MIDDLE YEARS – WORKING TOGETHER FOR SCHOOL SUCCESS
We have attached the January edition of Middle Years to this email. You will find great articles
specifically geared towards the age of your Skyview student. The January issue includes these
articles: Make the most of class time, Better ways to talk to tweens, Building a vocabulary and
more!
SNOW AND ICE BULLETIN
Emergencies such as inclement weather, power outages and bad road conditions can
alter school schedules and affect bus transportation. The decision to close or delay
schools is made by the superintendent as early as possible, usually around 5:30 a.m.
Please update your contact information (telephone and email addresses)
with Skyview so you can receive this important information. Early dismissals
will occur only if a delay in dismissal significantly increases hazards. In the event an
early dismissal is required, it is important that you have a plan for your child(ren).
The decision to close schools or delay start times will be announced on
www.schoolreport.org and most radio and television stations. Families will be notified
using the district's automated telephone messaging service. You may also call the
district information line at 425.408.6001, beginning at 6 a.m., for school closure
information.
Emergency make-up days will be added to the end of the school year.
If “Northshore School District #417” is not mentioned during the newscast, it means
schools are open, with buses operating as normally as possible. If Northshore is
mentioned, one of the following situations will be announced:
1. “2 hours late, normal bus routes” means:
• Buses start 2 hours late on normal routes
• All partial programs cancelled
• No half-day kindergarten (a.m., p.m.), Sorenson ECC, preschool/pre-k or Head Start
• No out-of-district transportation
• No elementary band/orchestra, zero-period, satellite or ninth grade classes at the
high schools
• No after-school athletics or activity trips
• All-day and extended-day kindergarten operate on the elementary schedule
2. “2 hours late, snow bus routes” means:
• Buses start 2 hours late on snow routes (www.nsd.org/nsdtransportation)
• All partial programs cancelled
• No half-day kindergarten (a.m., p.m.), Sorenson ECC, preschool/pre-k
• No out-of-district transportation
• No elementary band/orchestra, zero-period, satellite or ninth grade classes at the
high schools
• No after-school athletics or activity trips • All-day and extended-day kindergarten operate on the elementary schedule
3. “On time, snow bus routes” means:
• Buses start at normal time on snow routes (www.nsd.org/nsdtransportation)
4. “Closed” means:
• All district schools closed
• No after-school/evening activities, athletics or band/orchestra
Snow bus route locations are available online, www.nsd.org/nsdtransportation, or by
contacting the Transportation Department, 425.408,7900. Changing conditions may cause the district to alter the status of school. Listen to radio
and television for the latest information.
USTED HABLA ESPANOL
If you have questions about Skyview and prefer to speak in Spanish, please call our
Spanish Message Line: 425-408-6875
Si tiene alguna pregunta referente a Skyview y prefiere hacerla en español llame a
nuestra línea al numero 425-408-6875 y deje un mensaje.
SKYVIEW HOURS AND CONTACTS
Our Skyview schedule is as follows:
8:05am – 2:40pm
Wednesday - 8:05am to 1:05pm (* when early release)
*Note: Early release will only happen on weeks with five full school days, not during
weeks with holidays.
Please note that there are no after-school activities on Early Release days.
Our School office is open from 7:00am – 3:30pm
----------
Important School Phone Numbers and Email:
Main School Office
408-6800
jgarrett@nsd.org
ASB and Athletics
408-6803
dalo@nsd.org
Attendance Office
408-6810
vmadsen@nsd.org
School Registrar
408-6818
kstaten@nsd.org
Health Room
408-6806
lalbrecht@nsd.org
Kitchen
408-6808
nratanapintha@nsd.org
Transportation
408-7900
Skyview Web Site
www.nsd.org/skyview
District Web Site
www.nsd.org
Unsubscribe to the Skyview newsletter by sending an email to:
9th Grade = SJH2017-leave@lists.nsd.org
8th Grade = SJH2018-leave@lists.nsd.org
7th Grade = SJH2019-leave@lists.nsd.org
A confirmation message will then be sent to your email address. Do a simple reply to that
message and you will be removed from the list.