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We create and maintain a safe and consistent learning community by establishing positive behavioral supports and a culture where all students achieve social, emotional and academic success.
In this issue:
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Principal’s Message
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Dates to Remember
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Counselor Corner
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In the Know
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District Information
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PTSA Information
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Dear Fernwood Families,
I always feel a lifting of spirits when spring finally arrives. As I marvel at the cherry blossoms and the leafing out of trees, I also feel renewed energy in our students and staff. Just as spring brings the promise of fresh starts and new beginnings, spring marks a turn in our learning at Fernwood as well. Students are demonstrating growth in so many ways not just academically but socially and emotionally. I see this daily in their interactions with each other and with adults. I was recently visiting a kindergarten classroom and was impressed at the growth in the learners as they demonstrated independence and student agency, encouraging one another as they identified sound blends. They looked and behaved more like first graders! And while we only have seven weeks left of school, we still have so much to accomplish.
I want to share my appreciation for the ongoing partnership our teachers strive to cultivate with their students and families. We are so grateful for the student-centered approach they take to carrying out our mission of creating a culture where all students experience a sense of belonging and achieve social, emotional and academic skills to be successful. While National Teacher Appreciation is this week, our PTSA will be celebrating our classroom teachers and all staff May 12th -16th to be able to include our 5th grade teachers who will be at camp May 7th through the 9th. See the PTSA section below to learn more about how they will be recognizing teachers. They would appreciate your help in these efforts as well. Taking the time to share your words of appreciation through an email, a card, or otherwise will go a long way. Our amazing staff at Fernwood deserve to be appreciated!
With appreciation,
Cassie Morton, Principal
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MAY
| Date | Event | Location | Time |
| 5/5 | Track and Field Practice | Gym | 8:00-9:00am |
| 5/6 | Track Meet @ Northshore Middle School | 5:00pm | |
| 5/7 | Full Day of School | 3:50 Dismissal | |
| 5/12 - 5/16 | PTSA Staff Appreciation | ||
| 5/12 | Track and Field Practice | Gym | 8:00-9:00am |
| 5/13 | Track Meet @ Canyon Park Middle School | 5:00pm | |
| 5/13 | Sister School Concert | NPAC | 7:00-8:00pm |
| 5/19 | Track and Field Practice | 8:00-9:00am | |
| 5/20 | Track Finals @ Northcreek High School | Northcreek High School | 5:00pm |
| 5/23 | Student Council Spirit Day - Look- A-Like day | ||
| 5/26 | No School - Memorial Day Observed |
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In the month of May, school counselors will be teaching lessons with all students on the topics of managing stress and practicing self-care. This learning helps set a foundation for life-long skills and can be important for students to increase their self-awareness (noticing & naming how feelings show up for them) and their self-management skills (having tools and strategies to use to keep big feelings manageable).
In other news, throughout the months of April & May, Fernwood school counselors have been working with referred students via our spring small group counseling sessions. This Spring our small group students have been learning more about friendship skills, managing worries, and using self-regulation strategies. It has been a pleasure working with our students in our spring small groups and we love to see them applying their learning to their everyday lives outside of group settings!
NEW: Announcing an exciting PTSA Sponsored Parent Education Event on May 27, 2025
Join Fernwood, Wellington and Kokanee’s PTSAs for an evening with Julietta Skoog, Local Expert in Teaching Parents Positive Discipline Strategies for Children
We thank Fernwood PTSA for sponsoring this event, and we are excited to invite you to a special event featuring Julietta Skoog, a Certified Positive Discipline Trainer with degrees in School Psychology and School Counseling from Seattle University. Ms. Skoog brings over 20 years of experience coaching families both in the Greater Seattle-area and across the globe. She is the Early Years + Elementary School Lead and co-founder of Sproutable, an organization dedicated to equipping adults with the tools, systems, and strategies necessary to cultivate strong relationships, teach social-emotional skills, and establish healthy limits with children of all ages, from babies to teens.
Event Details:
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Date: May 27th
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Time: 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
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Location: Kokanee Elementary School Gym (23710 57th Ave SE, Woodinville, WA 98072)
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You must RSVP through this link (http://bit.ly/3EoXv7B)
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Child care is provided BUT limited
Ms. Skoog will share her insights on how Positive Discipline can help children develop a sense of significance and belonging while learning crucial life skills. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by challenging behaviors and found that nothing seems to work, this roadmap to Positive Discipline will provide you with practical tips that are respectful and encouraging, boosting your confidence in managing those tricky situations.
Participants will learn creative and effective strategies to restore calm, hear real-world examples of common behavioral challenges and their solutions, and discover new tools to help children reach their full potential.
Don't miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding of Positive Discipline and enhance your parenting skills!
Please RSVP and we look forward to seeing you there!
Best Regards,
Jennifer Brisbine (Grades 1, 3 & 5) jbrisbine@nsd.org and 425-408-4570
Sarah Cue (Grades K, 2 & 4) scue@nsd.org and 425-408-4572
*The SEL Calendar is shared with families to promote students' self-care practices to help create healthy habits.
To learn more about the curriculums our school uses to help teach conflict management and bullying prevention, we encourage you to explore the resources below:
Kelso’s Choices Parent Information
3rd Grade Bullying Prevention Unit Family Letter
4th Grade Bullying Prevention Unit Family Letter
5th Grade Bullying Prevention Unit Family Letter
Additional Resources:
Child Mind Institute Free Webinars
Click on the image below to access 10 months of self-care ideas designed to help elementary students create habits to make self-care practices a daily routine.
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SBA DATES
Students in grades 3rd-5th will take part in our state’s Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) this spring. 5th graders will also take the Washington State Science Assessment. During our testing window, it is especially important your child is present and on time to school. Please see the testing dates to mark your calendar. *Please note: there is always the possibility students may become ill, so make up opportunities will be provided. Please do not send your student to school when they are ill.
Testing times for 3rd Grade are 12:30-2:00 and 2:30-3:30
Testing times for 4th Grade are 11:00-12:00 and 12:45-2:30
Testing times for 5th Grade are 9:30-11:00 and 1:15-2:45
Please avoid testing interruptions by not picking up students during these times.
Here is a key to better understand the acronyms on our schedule:
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ELA - English Language Arts (reading and writing)
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CAT - Computer Adaptive Technology (online test)
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PT - Performance Test (providing reasoning and evidence for an answer)
Schedule below:
Biking, Parking Lot Safety, and More!
With the increase in warm weather, we recognize many families may adjust their mode of transportation to and from school. Spring is also a good time for all of us to pause and revisit procedures to ensure we maintain our procedures during arrival and dismissal to ensure the safety of our students, staff, and families. Please revisit our arrival and dismissal procedures linked here.
*Please note: Any student biking to school (even when accompanied by an adult) must have a consent form turned in and approved. Only students 10 and older can bike alone once their form is approved.
Is Your Family Moving Over the Summer?
If your family will not be living in the Fernwood service area for the 2025-26 school year, please notify your current teacher and Mrs. Bickhaus (tbickhaus@nsd.org). Sharing this information in advance helps us to keep updated on our numbers for next year in relation to our goal of creating balanced classrooms. We believe balanced classrooms are the first step in setting all students up for success for the 2024-25 school year. We are sorry to see your family go and wish you the best in the future! Once a Panther, always a Panther - the Panther Pride is part of each one of us and cannot be forgotten!
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Welcoming New Fernwood Students- Enrollment for 25-26 School Year
Do you know someone with a child entering kindergarten in 2025-26? If you do, please share that Fernwood is actively enrolling new students for the 2025-26 school year! Early enrollment helps us prepare for our students and future panthers.
Enrollment dates are as follows:
- January 6: The K-12 waiver application process opens for Northshore employees and in-district and out-of-district students with current waivers.
- January 8: Open Enrollment for all Kindergarten students, new 1-12th grade Northshore students, and Choice Programs and Schools applications begin
- February 24: Students with approved applications for Choice Schools and or Programs may submit waivers.
- March 24: The K-12 application process for new waivers including in-district, out-of-district, and currently waived NSD students moving from 5th to 6th grade and 8th to 9th grade opens.
Pre School Program
The Ready Start program is a multi-age, preschool program utilizing a co-teach model to serve students with and without disabilities. We are currently enrolling at both locations Sorenson ECC and Woodmoor Elementary for the 2025/2026 school year. Classrooms are taught and supported by a general education teacher, a special education teacher, and a para-professional. Inclusive classrooms create a dynamic learning environment for all students. The average class size is 16 students, with class make-up of 8 students with Individual Education Program, 4students who pay tuition, and 4 students who are income eligible.
Classrooms utilize The Creative Curriculum & Teaching Strategies GOLD Assessment Tool. The staff is committed to fostering student learning and cultivating friendships while creating a sense of community for our students. Utilizing developmentally appropriate teaching strategies to support a whole child approach to learning an inclusive environment, fosters high levels of student learning and social and emotional growth for all students.
The application can be found on the Northshore School District website @https://www1.nsd.org/schools/programs-services/early-childhood/ready-start-tuition-program or contact Sorenson at (425) 408-5570Return all forms including deposit to: Sorenson Early Childhood Center19705 88th Ave NE Bothell, WA 98011
Two different session per day: 8:15 am - 10:45 am / 12:00 pm -2:30 pm Program days - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
Requirements:• Toilet Trained• Parent Transport• Birth Certificate• Certificate of Immunization• No Kindergarten Eligible StudentsTuition Cost:$500 per month
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Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week is Almost Here!🎉 It’s that time of year—let’s celebrate the amazing team at Fernwood! From May 12–16, we’re going all out for “Camp Fernwood”—because you camp find better teachers and staff anywhere else! The PTSA needs your help to make this week unforgettable. We’re looking for donations and volunteers to help with daily treats, setup, and even deliveries from our PTSA coffee cart. Let’s show our appreciation in a big way! 👉 Sign up below to bring items or lend a hand! 🥨 Stock the Staff Lounge (Tuesday): https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4FAFAD2EAAFDCF8-56272455-stock🥜 Trail Mix Bar (Wednesday): https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4FAFAD2EAAFDCF8-56272656-trail 🥣 Chili Lunch Bar (Friday): https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4FAFAD2EAAFDCF8-56273106-chili🙋♀️🙋♂️ Volunteers Needed: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4FAFAD2EAAFDCF8-56340781-volunteer If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Ashley Sharp in this chat. Let’s make this Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week the best one yet! Legacy Project Chair Needed! We are still in need of a dedicated chair to help plan and execute this year’s Legacy Project for our 5th graders. This is a wonderful opportunity to take the lead in creating a lasting memory for the graduating class. 5th grade parents are especially encouraged to participate, but any interested community member who’s passionate is welcome to step in and lead. Positive Discipline Parent Night RSVP now for Positive Discipline parent night at Kokanee Elementary school on May 27th at 6:30pm. Please see the flier below. 
Fernwood Dines Out!
CALLING ALL FRIENDS OF FERNWOOD! Please use the self-nomination form link or email fernwoodpanthers@gmail.com, to discuss. PTSA board member Self-Nomination Form Link PTSA Board member Job Descriptions Note: All volunteers need to have an updated (quick and easy) background check with NSD. |
PTSA General Meeting
The May general meeting has been postponed until June 3rd. Please join us for the awards celebration and board elections.
Date: Tuesday, June 3rd Time: 7pm-8pm Location: Fernwood Library & Zoom Link
Science Assembly Sparks Wonder and Joy!
We had an amazing, action-packed science assembly this past Wednesday.
It was a joy to see the room filled with excitement, laughter, and wide-eyed amazement. A big thank you to members of our PTSA for making this enrichment event possible.
PAST NEWSLETTERS AND WEEKLY UPDATES
- Link - Follow this link to Fernwood's past newsletters for the 23-24 School Year.
- QR Code
