Dear Orca Families,

Happy Tuesday! I hope you all had a restful weekend filled with the activities that bring your family joy.

Our first week of school was wonderful! The hallways were filled with happy faces and vibrant energy as students reconnected with friends and settled back in at Halilts. During our Welcome Back assembly, we introduced our Pod Power theme, and our Orcas truly raised the roof with our new chant! On Friday, we also welcomed our Kindergartners for their very first full day—they are so cute. It was a really great week.

Teachers have been sharing how excited they are about their new classes and how quickly their classroom communities—or Pods as we are starting to call them—are bonding. Having visited every classroom several times last week, I can truly say my bucket is full!

Building a strong, welcoming community relies heavily on consistent attendance. We ask for your partnership in making daily, on-time attendance a priority. Attendance matters. While attending school regularly is vital academically, it is equally important for building self-confidence, reducing anxiety, fostering strong friendships, and helping your child feel connected to something bigger—our Orca Superpod.

Please mark your calendars for Back to School Night on September 17th (adults only). This is a great opportunity to meet your child’s teacher and learn about the year's curriculum.  

If you need childcare during the Back to School Night, watch for more information from the Boys and Girls Club!

A big thank-you to our PTO for their incredible support during our first week, with a special shoutout to co-presidents Lisa and Kristen for managing traffic flow during arrival and dismissal.

We appreciate you for being a part of the power of our Pod by supporting your students and being a role model for how we swim together!

Happy fall, 

Rhonda

Kick off the school year with us on Friday, September 11 at 9:00 AM! Whether you are a returning family or brand new to x̌alilc, attending a PTO meeting is one of the best ways to connect, learn about upcoming school events, and have a voice in our school community.

Here is a quick look at what we’ll cover:

We’ll wrap up by 10:30 AM. Bring your questions, ideas, and school spirit—we can’t wait to see you there!

As we begin a new school year, we want to highlight something simple—but incredibly powerful: showing up!

In elementary school, every day is filled with opportunities to learn, practice new skills, make friends, and build confidence. Regular attendance helps children strengthen important reading and math skills while also developing relationships with their teachers and classmates.

Missing just 10% of the school year—about two days each month—can make it harder for children to keep up with learning and feel connected to their classroom community.

Young children depend on their families to help establish healthy attendance habits. A few simple routines can make mornings easier:

We know there may be days when your child doesn't want to go to school. They may feel tired, worried, frustrated, or simply want to stay home. These moments are normal, but regular attendance helps children learn that school is a place where they belong—even on the hard days.

If getting your child to school is becoming difficult, please reach out early. Your child's teacher, counselor, social worker, or other school staff can help problem-solve and provide support.

Our message to families is simple: Your child's presence matters!

Every day your child walks through our doors is another opportunity to learn something new, see a friend, connect with a caring adult, and discover what they can do.

Let's start the year by building strong attendance habits together—one school day at a time!