Dear Orcas,
Happy Fall! As I look out at the trees in our parking lot today, I’m reminded of the year-round beauty of this place. I’ve always found it a bit funny that we say we return to school in the fall when we actually start in the late summer. When we have our perfect summer island weather in August, it is hard to get back into our school routine, but I am so grateful for the time we’ve already spent together. I am already seeing so much growth, connection, and our Superpod coming together—one small pod at a time.
For those who were able to attend our Back to School Information Night, I hope you enjoyed meeting and hearing from your student's teachers. We are lucky to have an amazing team of educators here who are truly focused on students and learning. If you couldn't make it, don't worry—conferences are coming up at the end of October! Sign-ups will open on Monday, October 12 at 3:00 pm. Please note that there will be no school on Monday, October 26th, followed by half days for conferences from October 27th through October 30th. You are a crucial part of our Superpod, and strong school-home connections mean the world to us.
Harvestfest was so much fun! Thanks to our amazing PTO for putting this event together. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet other families, put faces to names, and start friendships that will last for years. Seeing so many smiling faces together is always the best part of my week!
Don't forget to ask your students about their days: who they connected with, what their favorite moment was, or what challenged them. It is completely natural to get a one-word answer like "fine" at first—students process a lot of information throughout the day! Giving them some downtime to relax before asking often leads to much richer conversations. When kids know you are interested in both the smooth and challenging parts of their days, they feel more comfortable celebrating and problem-solving with you. (My favorite time to chat with my own children was in the car on the way to activities, as right after school was rarely their preferred time to talk!)
I am also excited to announce our x̌alilc Family Tech Discussion Group, launching this October! If you are interested in exploring how tech is used in elementary school and engaging in thoughtful conversations about managing technology at home and school, we’d love to have you join. Stay tuned for more details soon.
Have a wonderful week, and enjoy these beautiful—and sometimes rainy—fall days!
Warmly,
Rhonda
