Dolphin Clicks - February 4, 2024

Discovery Elementary: Empowering Every Learner through Inclusion, Collaboration and Excellence

Tuesday, February 6

PTO Dollar Bookstore - During lunch recess

Wednesday, February 7

3:30 - 4:30 p.m. - Leadership Club (4th and 5th grades only)

Thursday, February 8

5:30 - 7:00 p.m. - Family Listening Tour (@ Mariner High School)

Friday, February 9

2:10 p.m. - Early Release - Learning Improvement Time (LIT)

Dear Discovery Families,

Happy February! This month, we're excited to celebrate Black History Month together. This special time provides us with the opportunity to honor the amazing contributions of Black leaders and people throughout history and to weave their stories into our school community.

At Discovery, our commitment to diversity and inclusion is a year-round endeavor. While we dedicate this month to spotlighting the achievements and resilience of Black individuals, we understand the importance of incorporating these stories into our everyday learning. This isn't just about a month of reflection; it's about creating a school environment where every child sees themselves reflected in the stories we tell. By embracing the diversity of our history, we inspire our students to appreciate and learn from one another.

Join us in exploring the rich tapestry of Black history through engaging activities, conversations, and lessons throughout the month. Through these experiences, we aim to foster unity and pride in our diverse community.

Thank you for your ongoing support in making Discovery a place where everyone's story is valued and celebrated.

This week, we celebrate National School Counselors Week, and what better time to shine a spotlight on our incredible counselor, Mrs. Ching! With nearly a decade of dedication to Discovery Elementary, Mrs. Ching has been a cornerstone of support for our students and families. She plays a crucial role in nurturing the social and emotional well-being of our students. Mrs. Ching's caring and compassionate approach create a safe space where children can express themselves and navigate the ups and downs of growing up.

This year, Mrs. Ching stands as the sole counselor at our school, and her impact is immeasurable. She works tirelessly to address the diverse needs of our students, collaborating with families to create a supportive network that extends beyond the classroom. Whether she's leading classroom activities, providing one-on-one guidance, or collaborating with teachers and parents, Mrs. Ching's dedication to our students is evident in everything she does. Her passion for fostering a positive and inclusive school environment makes her an invaluable member of our Discovery family.

Join us in expressing our deepest gratitude to Mrs. Ching during this special week. We appreciate the unwavering commitment she brings to Discovery Elementary, making a lasting difference in the lives of our students.

Thank you, Mrs. Ching, for your incredible work and for being the heart of our school's support system! ❤️

In partnership,

Shannon Koehnen

Principal, Discovery Elementary

You are invited to a Family Listening Tour in February and March. The intent is to gather input about communication and engagement with families, especially from families for whom English is not their first language. The district is planning four in-person events, one in each quadrant of the district. The in-person listening sessions will be followed by an online survey to all families about the same topics. The results will be used to guide the continued development of the Language Access Plan and the district’s Strategic Plan.

What is the format for the events?
Your hosts for the listening sessions will be:

• Diane Bradford, Communications and Public Relations Director
• Dr. Elena Kelley, Multilingual Education and Student Supports Director
• Mary Williams, Equity, Family and Community Partnerships Director

School principals and family engagement liaisons are participating as well.

In addition to sharing your thoughts and questions, you can also get assistance with Schoology, ParentSquare, and language services. Dinner will be provided and childcare and interpreters will be available upon request.

Listening session dates and locations (all events are scheduled for 5:30-7:45 p.m.):

• Monday, February 5: Lake Stickney hosts with the following schools in attendance: Lake Stickney, Picnic Point, Serene Lake, Odyssey, and ECEAP. Response deadline for childcare/interpreters: January 29
• Thursday, February 8: Mariner High School hosts with the following schools in attendance: Mariner, Voyager, Discovery, Fairmount and Pathfinder Kindergarten Center. Response deadline for childcare/interpreters: January 31
• Monday, February 12: Kamiak High School hosts with the following schools in attendance: Kamiak, Harbour Pointe, Columbia, Endeavour, Mukilteo Elementary, Olympic View. Response deadline for childcare/interpreters: February 5
• Monday, March 4: ACES High School hosts with the following schools in attendance: ACES, Olivia Park, Explorer, Challenger and Horizon. Response deadline for childcare/interpreters: February 26

If you cannot attend the event nearest your school, feel free to participate at another location. The topics discussed will be the same at each event. Please contact our Family Engagement Liaison, Dulce Estrada, to sign up for an event, or if you have any questions. (EstradaDX@mukilteo.wednet.edu)

• Informational .pdf (shareable link: 2024 DI Multicultural Night 3.14.pdf )
• Click the link to see highlights from last year's MCN event:

  Discovery Multicultural Night (MCN) 2023

• Help us make Multicultural Night 2024 bigger and better!!! Sign up for a booth or performance to showcase your culture/country

  Click here  https://forms.office.com/r/CwPyHjP8ch

• Microsoft Form booth sign up https://forms.office.com/r/CwPyHjP8ch

This month is all about Perseverance. One way to think about Perseverance is “pushing yourself through challenges and obstacles.” We all experience challenges in our lives. We all have moments when we feel like we can’t do it or that we want to give up on a big task. It is important to develop tools that help us work through those challenges in order to grow in those moments instead of giving up. How might you practice Perseverance as a family this month? Perseverance is 1 of 3 traits we focus on throughout the year that helps students Be Strong. Throughout the school, students will be developing skills like focusing, organizing, and goal-setting.

In the Classroom

While teaching Perseverance this month, we will be focusing on flexible thinking. Students will work on their ability to adapt to new situations and challenges by finding multiple solutions to different problems. One of the ways we will be practicing these flexible thinking skills is by setting TOP Goals. TOP stands for…

● Target: Visualize your goal and think about why this is important for you.

● Obstacles: Plan for challenges. If _____ gets in the way, then what can you do?

● Plan: Create 3 action steps you will need to take to complete your goal.

This technique helps students Persevere by clarifying different types of goals and taking thoughtful actions to achieve them.

Conversation Starters

● Can you describe flexible thinking?

● Share with me how you use flexible thinking to help you Persevere

Please join our PTO group on Facebook:

Discovery Elementary PTO

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1558801251020448

Contact us with questions and feedback at:

pto.discoveryelementary@gmail.com

Next PTO Meeting: Monday, February 12, 2024 - 7:00 p.m.

PTO Meeting - Monday, February 12, 2023 - 7:00 p.m.

Join us via Facebook Live: (private group, please send request first) https://www.facebook.com/groups/discoveryelementarypto/?mibextid=oMANbw

Join us via Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4179711224?pwd=aDRVYnU3dzg3enowNTF6eGh3QklIUT09

Meeting ID: 417 971 1224

Each Tuesday, during lunch recess, students have the opportunity to buy books for one dollar ($1) at our PTO-sponsored Dollar Bookstore. These books are sometimes new, but often gently used, and are ready for new homes. Students love shopping for books and can even earn "free book" certificates from teachers and staff.

Donations of gently used books are always welcome! If your child has outgrown their books, please consider donating them to Dollar Bookstore. Students may purchase 1-2 books each week, so please limit the amount of money they bring to school. No more than $5 dollars, please. This is an optional event and is a great way to get books into the hands of our students.

This year all Discovery students continue to be eligible to receive FREE breakfast and lunch. If you send lunch from home, please make sure your child can independently open all items and that you send healthy foods your child will eat.

• Breakfast is served from 8:35-8:50 AM daily.
• Lunch is served by grade level at their designated lunch time.

FEBRUARY

6: PTO Dollar Bookstore (during lunch recess)

7: Student Leadership Club (4th and 5th)

8: Mukilteo Family Listening Tour @ Mariner HS (5:30 - 7:00)

9: Learning Improvement Time (LIT) - 2:10 Dismissal

12: PTO Meeting - 7:00 p.m. (via Zoom)

13: PTO Dollar Bookstore (during lunch recess)

- School Board Meeting (6:00 p.m.)

14: Student Leadership Club (4th and 5th)

16: Learning Improvement Time (LIT) - 2:10 Dismissal

19 - 23: NO SCHOOL - Mid-Winter Break

27: PTO Dollar Bookstore (during lunch recess)

- School Board Meeting (6:00 p.m.)

28: Student Leadership Club (4th and 5th)

Principal: Shannon Koehnen,

KoehnenSA@mukilteo.wednet.edu

Assistant Principal: Mary Helen Bever, BeverMX@mukilteo.wednet.edu

Dean of Students: Alysha Yeamans, YeamansAX@mukilteo.wednet.edu

School Counselor: Kristen Ching, ChingKL@mukilteo.wednet.edu

Family Engagement Liaison (FEL): Dulce Estrada, EstradaDX@mukilteo.wednet.edu

Administrative Assistant: Debbie Fischer, FischerDL@mukilteo.wednet.edu

Registrar: Sandra Ibarra, IbarraSE@mukilteo.wednet.edu

Website: https://www.mukilteoschools.org/Domain/147
Location: 11700 Meridian Avenue South, Everett, WA, USA
Phone: (425) 366-2700

Fax Number: (425) 2702

Mukilteo School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex,

race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation,

gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of trained dog guide or service animal and

provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following

employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:

Civil Rights Coordinator and Title IX Coordinator Simone Neal (425-356-1319),

nealsr@mukilteo.wednet.edu, Section 504 Coordinator Becca Anderson (425-356-1277),

andersonra@mukilteo.wednet.edu, and the ADA/Access Coordinator Karen Mooseker (425-356-

1330), moosekerkw@mukilteo.wednet.edu. Address: 9401 Sharon Drive in Everett, WA.

Inquiries regarding ADA/Access issues at Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center should be directed to

Wes Allen, Director (425-348-2220) allenwr@mukilteo.wednet.edu. Address: 9001 Airport Road

in Everett, WA 98204.