Dear Purdy Families,
October is goal-setting month at Purdy, and it's one of my favorite parts of the school year. Teachers have spent these first weeks getting to know your children as learners, as friends, as Panthers, and now they're partnering with each student to turn that insight into real, personal goals for reading, math, and daily habits.
Watching a six-year-old decide they want to read five more sight words this month, or a fourth grader committing to checking their math homework before turning it in, is a small thing on paper and a big thing in practice. It's where responsibility starts. It's where kids learn that growth is something they drive, not something that happens to them.
You can help make these goals stick at home. Ask your child what they're working on this month, not just "How was school?" but "What's your goal, and how's it going?" Celebrate the effort, not just the outcome. A kid who tries hard and falls short of a goal is often learning more than a kid who hits it without trying at all.
Thank you for the partnership you bring to this work every day. Together, we're helping our Panthers build the habits and confidence that carry them well beyond this school year
Ty Robuck Principal
October Theme of the Month is Goal Setting
|
October is Disability History and Awareness Month. This is a time for our school community to celebrate the diverse strengths, talents and perspectives of all learners. Disabilities encompass a wide spectrum; some are readily visible, many are invisible, shaping how individuals learn, communicate, think and experience their surroundings. As educators we are always focused on inclusion, empathy and acceptance, as this helps students understand that our differences are what makes our community vibrant. We use all opportunities from the playground to the classroom to have discussion and activities that highlight those concepts.
Tom Holland, aka Spiderman is very open about managing his disability, Dyslexia.
“It’s about taking your time. Giving yourself the appropriate amount of time to do the things you need to do. The better prepared you are for anything, the more you’ll be able to do and accomplish things that are fantastic.”--Tom Holland
|
|
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at Peninsula School District
From September 15 to October 15, Peninsula School District proudly celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month. This month is a time to honor the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of the Hispanic and Latinx communities that have shaped and continue to enrich our country.
In an educational setting, embracing and celebrating diverse cultures fosters an inclusive environment where students and staff can learn from one another. We believe that cultural
diversity strengthens our school community, promoting understanding, respect, and unity among all.
Did you know? Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15 to commemorate the independence anniversaries of several Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. This celebration also extends to Mexico’s independence on September 16 and Chile’s on September 18.
We invite you to join us in recognizing the incredible contributions of Hispanic and Latinx communities, as we celebrate the values of diversity and inclusion in our schools.
Dear Purdy Families,The Scholastic Book Fair is almost here!
Students will visit the Fair during their scheduled class Library time and there will also be a few opportunities
to shop after school. If your family would like to visit the Fair, you may attend one of the highlighted days/times listed below:
Monday, October 26th: Open during school hours & after school from 1:00 - 3:30 PM.
Tuesday, October 27th: Open during school hours & after school from 1:00 - 6:30 PM.
Wednesday, October 28th: Open during school hours only, no after school hours.
Thursday, October 29th: Open during school hours & after school from 1:00 - 6:30 PM.
Friday, October 30th: Open during school hours only, no after school hours
Before the Fair, be sure to set up eWallet: your child’s digital payment account for worry-free, cash-free purchases. ** NOTE: unspent eWallet funds will roll into a Scholastic.com gift card, not your student’s next Book Fair. **Visit our Book Fair homepage to shop online (10/26 - 11/8 only), volunteer for the fair, and get started with eWallet: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/purdyelementaryschool2We’re excited to celebrate our love of books together at the Book Fair!
Happy reading,
Mrs. Dahlgren 
CONFERENCE WEEK Oct. 26-30
It’s hard to believe that conference week is already just around the corner! At the end of this month, we will have the opportunity to connect with families during our fall conferences. Teachers will be sending conference invitations through ParentSquare this week, so please take a moment to check your messages and confirm your scheduled time with your child’s teacher.
Conferences are an important part of building a strong partnership between home and school. They provide an opportunity to celebrate your child’s growth, discuss academic progress, share successes, and talk about areas where your child may need additional support or encouragement. Just as importantly, conferences give us time to work together, ask questions, share perspectives, and make sure we are all working toward the same goal: helping your child feel successful, supported, and excited about learning.
We value the insight families bring to these conversations. You know your child in ways that help us better understand their strengths, interests, and needs, and we appreciate the opportunity to learn from you. When families and teachers work together, we can create the best possible experience for our students.
We know conference week requires some extra planning for families, and we appreciate you making the time to meet with your child’s teacher. We are looking forward to celebrating all the progress our Panthers have made so far this year and continuing to build on that momentum.
We can’t wait to see you all during conference week! Thank you for being such an important part of the Purdy community.
|
- 10/6 PTA meeting at 6-7pm in the library
-
10/8 Choir Club every Thursday 3:30-4:30
- 10/12 NO Students - Staff only
- 10/14 AM/PM Spanish classes start
- 10/22 Monster Mash event 5-6:30pm
- 10/26 - 10/31 Conferences - Early release 12:15
|
|
|
Reminder: Student Device (MacBook) Care Guidelines
As we settle into the school year, we wanted to share a friendly reminder about student Mac Neo devices, per our Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.
To help keep these devices in great shape for every student who uses them, please remember:
• Students should use only the case provided by the school — outside cases aren't permitted.
• Cases should stay free of stickers or other customizations.
These devices belong to the district and are shared resources, so keeping them consistent and well-cared-for helps us make sure they're ready to support learning for years to come. These devices will be assigned to students over the next several days, and they will remain at school similar to other learning tools. We appreciate your partnership in reinforcing this with your child at home!
Thank you for helping us take good care of our school technology. 
|
President - Lindsay Reynolds
Vice President - Kelsea Andrus
Treasurer - Maria Beaudette
Secretary - Kari Thomas
Member at Large & Parent District Council Rep - Lindsay Gathman
Member at Large - Elise Bacon
Member at Large - Dana Johnston President - Lindsay Reynolds
|
|
|
Connect with us online for special PTA notifications & updates:Oct. 6 — PTA Meeting from 6-7 pm
Thank you for supporting our students, staff & school community! Want to learn more about the PTA or get involved? www.PurdyPTA.com
The Purdy PTA is so excited to bring you the annual Monster Mash event, but we need your help to make it happen! Save the date for October 22nd, from 5-6:30pm. We have many volunteer opportunities available during and leading up to the event, so please contact either Kelsea or Dana if you would like to take part! Also, keep an eye out for our Candy Monster who will be collecting candy donations starting next week! 
|
|
Picture Day at Purdy - Thursday, Oct 8th |
Picture Day is on it's way! Thursday, October 8th... The QR code below has all the information you will need for a picture perfect day.
|
|
 Welcome back, Purdy families! We’re so excited to begin another school year with you. Please take a few minutes to read through the information below, as it includes important reminders and details to help us get off to a smooth start.
Here are a few helpful reminders that support teachers regarding attendance:
When using parent square to notify your child's teacher for any absences or transportation changes, please be sure to include the office staff in the message or call us at 253.530.4600.
While letting your students teacher know your child will be absent is kind and thoughtful, sometimes teachers are absent too. Notifying the office as well helps us input those absences in to PowerShool promptly.
Pick up reminder, parents: if someone other than yourself is picking up your child from school, whether early release or picking up at the end of the day, please call the office and let us know the name of the individual who will be taking them.
Year Round Updates are open in your parent portal ~ be sure to log in and complete an update on your child(ren) to ensure we have the most accurate information. This is also where you can make any changes by removing or adding emergency contacts. Instructions and link are at the end of the newsletter.
When emailing the office about attendance or transportation changes, please use PES Office@psd401.net.
There may be times when Sheila or Amy is out of the office, and using the shared office email helps ensure that your attendance update or transportation change is seen and taken care of by one of us. This also helps us keep everything in one place and avoid anything getting missed.
Thank you for helping us keep things running smoothly!
Contact the Office
�� 253.530.4600 | ✉️ PES-Office@psd401.net
Office Manager: Sheila Laflamme – laflammes@psd401.net | x4605
Secretary: Amy Lundquist – lundquista@psd401.net | x4606
Spanish at Purdy Elementary - Wednesdays starting October 14th. Morning and afternoon classes. Registration info below
Heads Up For Head Lice
Head lice are small, crawling, wingless insects about the size of a sesame seed that lay tiny, tear drop shaped eggs or nits in the hair. Head lice are not a source of infection or disease; they are simply a nuisance. Anyone can get head lice, and it is not related to personal hygiene or cleanliness in the home or school.
Head Lice do not jump, hop or fly but are transmitted by direct prolonged head to head contact. The symptoms of head lice include a tickling feeling of something moving in the hair, itching, or sores on the head/neck area caused by scratching.
Treatment includes over the counter products, using a lice comb and/or contacting your health care provider for appropriate treatment options. Perform weekly head checks of your children to identify head lice early and prevent their spread. Long hair can be kept up in a braid or a pony tail. Remind your students to maintain personal space and to not share hats, scarves, helmets, combs, brushes, or hair clips.
Contact your school health room staff for more information and if you notice head lice in your student.
Educate yourself by reviewing the head lice information at
http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/parents.html.
|
| Deva Burck, RN, BSN School Nurse for Evergreen, Minter and Purdy Elementary
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Right At School - Before and After school child care
Subsidy Related Questions:
| Keeping Emergency Contacts & Mailing Addresses up to date |
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARE YOUR EMERGENCY CONTACTS & MAILING ADDRESSES UP TO DATE?
Please take a moment to do your Year Round/Emergency Contact Update for your child(ren) to ensure that we have the necessary information in the event of an emergency and for mailing purposes. Click below for instructions on how to access the update.
|
|
|
|
IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND LINKS
|
|
PURDY CONTACT INFORMATION:
Ty Robuck, Principal | Robuckt@psd401.net
Nate Hudac, Deputy Principal | Hudacn@psd401.net
Jonathan Andrus, Counselor | andrusj@psd401.net
Sheila Laflamme, Office Manager | laflammes@psd401.net
Main Phone Number | 253-530-4600
Attendance Phone Number | 253-530-4606
Fax Number | 253-530-4620
|
The Peninsula School District 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. Inquiries regarding compliance and/or grievance procedures may be directed to the District’s Title IX and Compliance Officer, Section 504 and ADA Coordinator, John Yellowlees, at (253) 530-1081, email yellowleesj@psd401.net. Mailing address: 14015 62nd Ave. NW, Gig Harbor, WA 98332
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
