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The Phoenix
Gazette
Rigor—Relationship—Relevance
April 2015
Dear Sequoyah Families:
The weather, flowers and birds indicated that spring came early and fast this year. We hope you and your student(s)
enjoy Spring Break, Monday, April 6th through Friday, April 10th. The week following Spring Break, we have Student Led
Conferences (SLCs), Wednesday, April 15th - Friday, April 17th. Most of our families have indicated they prefer evening
conferences to accommodate their work schedules so we are hosting SLCs on Wednesday and Thursday evenings as
well as all day Thursday. We have requested if these times don’t work for you, you contact your POD teachers to have
the conference at a different day and time. Hopefully you have received the letter confirming your conference from your
student. If not, please contact Eli Holm, Dean, at 253-945-3676.
Our 8th graders have been working diligently to complete their American History Project. They have completed research
using primary and secondary sources, written a paper and prepared a presentation that will be presented on Thursday,
April 15th from 1 - 3pm. There will not be any SLCs during this time.
State testing begins April 27th and finishes May 18th. Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) is a comprehensive
assessment designed to see how well students are learning the Common Core State Standards in Math and English
Language Arts (ELA). All of the assessments are online and each test question is designed to challenge students to show
what they know and to apply the complex skills and knowledge to real world problems. The assessment asks students to
answer essay questions using multiple sources, explain their reasoning, and show how they solved mathematical
problems. Your student will have five days of testing during the testing window. The testing schedule for your student will
be available for each POD during SLCs.
At Sequoyah, we have practiced the SBA and students have been taught the skills they need to take the SBA. Here’s how
you can help prepare your student for the SBA.
1. Make sure your student gets plenty of rest, exercise and eats a healthy breakfast. Ask your student if they eat
breakfast at school or at home and what they are eating.
2. Read, read, read at least 15 minutes a night. Include informational text.
3. Take the practice test with your student at www.k12.wa.us/smarter/ . The most important part is to sit with your
student and explain how you thought through the problem.
4. Have your student assemble something following the directions of a manual.
5. Practice multiplication cards, fractions, and percents. If you don’t have multiplication cards, use playing cards.
6. Have your student cook or double the recipe at home; when you go shopping, have them figure out the sale price
after the percentage or specified discount.
7. Monitor your student’s work through ParentVUE online or have your student pull up their grades in StudentVUE.
Over dinner, have your student tell you what they are doing well in and what they can do to improve.
8. Email or call your student’s teachers and attend Student Led Conferences. Tell us, as partners in their education
how you are working with your student and ask for ideas that students can do at home.
Remember to relax and tell your student to do their best. The SBA is just a snapshot of their learning continuum.
Have a great spring break and we look forward to talking to you about your student soon!
Respectfully,
Springy Yamasaki, Principal
Every Child...Every Day...100% Success
Upcoming Events:
Mar 30 - April 16
April 6-10
April 13
April 15 & 16
April 16 & 17
April 30
May 1
May 19
May 25
May 26
June 1
June 4
June 15
June 16
ASB Clothing Drive
Spring Break-No School
Sports Season 4 Begins
Scholastic Book Fair - During SLCs
Student Led Conferences - No School
Jazz Night 7:00pm
Data Day - No School
Band Concert 7:00pm
Memorial Day-No School
Snow Make Up Day-School-In-Session
Choir/Orchestra Concert 7:00pm
Talent Show 7:00pm
8th Grade Celebration-more information to follow
Last Day of School
School In Session
Tuesday, May 26th
Due to our school closure
on November 12th, school
will be in session on
Tuesday, May 26th.
Yes, we will have school
on
Tuesday, May 26th.
Yearbook Sale!
Students, don’t miss your chance to order your Sequoyah yearbook! The yearbook costs $20. Students may purchase a
yearbook in the front office before school or during student lunch. Payment can be made with cash, a check payable to
“Sequoyah Middle School,” or with a credit card. A limited number of copies were purchased so order your yearbook now to
ensure availability.
Whom do I call?
Main Office Hours: 7:15am - 3:15pm
(253) 945-3670
Office Manager
Julie Crowder
(253) 945-3671
Principal & M1 8th Grade Administrator
Springy Yamasaki
(253) 945-3675
Asst. Principal & K2 8th Grade Administrator
Crystal Emerson
(253) 945-3677
Dean and 6th grade Administrator
Steve Anderson
(253) 945-3687
Dean and 7th grade Administrator
Eli Holm
(253) 945-3676
Dave Wilson
Barbara Lanning
Counselor
(253) 945-3798
School Nurse (Mon. & Thurs.) (253) 945-3679
Charlotte Sybil
Health Room Assistant
(253) 945-3679
Bus schedule
Transportation Dept
(253) 945-5960
Lunch: questions, payments
Nutrition Services
(253) 945-5555
Register/withdraw students & attendance
Sandi Mullarky
(253) 945-3673
Report cards
Teacher
See phone roster
Sports-Athletic Director
Eli Holm
(253) 945-3676
Fines or fees
Lorri-anne Hall
(253) 945-3672
Library Assistant
Mona Bryant
(253) 945-3683
Report an absence
24 hr attendance line
(253) 945-3696
Every Child...Every Day...100% Success
Page 2
Sequoyah Teacher Roster
Dept
H/F
ELA-7th
M-8th
M-7th
M-8th
SS-8th
SS-7th
S-7th
S-8th
SS-6th
SS-8th
SS-6th
ELA-8th
ELA-8th
Band/Choir/
Orch
S-6th
H/F
Sp Ed
S-8th
SEB
Sp Ed
ELA-6th
ELA-7th
M-7th
ELA-6th
ELL
M-6th
S-7th
S-6th
Sp Ed
Orchestra
Instruct
Coach
F Name
Beverly
Nicole
Denise
Alisha
Leonard
Betty
Don
David
Amy
Collin
Collin
Amy
Lauri
Christina
L Name
Abad
Adams
Angerman
Baldwin
Barnett
Beier
Borst
Chernicoff
Christiansen
Craig
Gibbs
Heritage
Isaksen
Kidwell (LTS Foster)
Email address
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Ext
3897
3875
3789
3775
3777
3781
3879
3880
3776
3885
3793
3795
3790
3778
Planning Time
1:10-2:05
1:10-2:05
8:55-9:50
12:15-1:10
8:00-8:55
8:00-8:55
1:10-2:05
1:10-2:05
8:00-8:55
9:50-10:45
8:55-9:50
11:15-12:15
8:55-9:50
8:00-8:55
Jenessa
Heather
Terry
Linda
Zachary
Jennifer
Patty
Eric
Melody
Paula
Jonathan
Valerie
Daniel
Malia
Paul
Kim
Tom
Lang
Laprade
Lathan
Linthicum
McCauley
McKenna
Monroe
Nast
Nordstrom
Paris
Scott
Serns
Song
Sturgeon
Swanson
Wagner
Walworth
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
3895
3886
3898
3883
3788
3774
3791
3796
3772
3878
3884
3779
3881
3770
3794
3876
3893
1:10-2:05
9:50-10:45
9:50-10:45
11:15-12:15
8:55-9:50
Debbie
Audrey
Williamson
Wilson
[email protected]
[email protected]
3681
3771
12:15-1:10
Witcosky
[email protected]
3799
11:15-12:15
SS-7th
M-6th/
Spanish Lindsey
Every Child...Every Day...100% Success
8:00-8:55
11:15-12:15
12:15-1:10
1:10-2:05
9:50-10:45
10:45-11:45
9:50-10:45
12:15-1:10
11:15-12:15
12:15-1:10
12:15-1:10
Page 3
Attendance: Please remember to call our 24-hr attendance line, 253-945-3696, when your child
is absent or tardy and follow up with a note upon his/her return. To excuse absences, please
write a note including the dates of absences, a brief explanation, your signature and date, and
have your child bring it to the main office.
Homework Requests: When your student is out for more than one day and you would like to
request homework, please refer to the email addresses listed in this newsletter. You may email or
call the teachers directly and they will either email you in return or bring work to the main
office. Please allow 24 hours notice for teachers to prepare work for your student.
Student Safety is #1
Please have Picture Identification ready
When coming to pick up your child during school hours, you must show picture identification
when signing your student out. In addition, when calling in for information regarding a student,
caller identification must match a telephone number of a parent/guardian listed on the student’s
emergency card before information is released to the caller.
Students will only be released to persons named on the Yellow
Emergency Card and who show proper Identification.
Sequoyah Middle School
Volunteer/Visitor Procedures
Sequoyah Middle School welcomes you! We ask that you abide by the following procedures
when volunteering or visiting our campus:
1. For Volunteers: Complete, or have on file, a current Washington State Patrol background
form. You may obtain a blank WSP packet from our main office. You must be cleared before
you volunteer, so please obtain a form and turn it in to our office several weeks prior to the
date you wish to begin volunteering. If you have a current clearance on file with another
FWPS school, you may have the school fax a copy to Sequoyah. The background check is
good for two (2) years.
2. For Volunteers & Visitors: Always check in/out with our main office. Sign the volunteer/
visitor book upon arrival/departure. Our office will issue you a volunteer/visitor badge that
must be worn while you are on campus.
3. Questions regarding your WSP form may be directed to Mona Bryant at 253-945-3683.
Every Child...Every Day...100% Success
Page 4
Sports News
Sports Season #4
Girls Volleyball, Boys Baseball and Track will begin on
Monday, April 13th
Sports
All athletes are required to have a current physical on file, completed and signed parent participation
form (naming health/accident insurance and policy number), completed and signed travel card,
$15 ASB membership and be fine free. In addition, athletes are required to maintain a good discipline
record and meet grade requirements as outlined in the FWPS Rights & Responsibilities Handbook.
Fees
Sports participation fees have been waived by the District for the 2014-15 school year. Although, all
students participating in sports must purchase an ASB membership and be fine free by 12:15pm the day
preceding the first contest of the season in order for the student to be eligible for competition.
6th Grade
Due to WIAA regulations, 6th graders may only participate in cross country, C team basketball,
wrestling, gymnastics, and track .
Athletic questions may be directed to Mr. Holm at 253-945-3676 or email at [email protected].
Lost and Found
Please check for missing clothing
items in the lost and found in the
Forest and the locker rooms. All
items not claimed will be donated.
While balloons are fun to give and
receive, please refrain from sending
or having them delivered to school.
Due to medical reasons, latex
balloons will not be allowed on
campus.
Thank you!!
Every Child...Every Day...100% Success
Page 5
Clothes for the Cause
Sequoyah’s First Annual Textile Drive
March 30 – April 16
Due to popular demand we are giving you two more weeks to get your spring cleaning done!
Sequoyah’s ASB is working with Clothes for the Cause to help recycle textiles in our area. According to the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), five percent of all landfill space in the United States is filled
with textile waste. Clothes for the Cause aims to reduce this environmental burden by finding a second life
for reusable materials and keeping millions of pounds of textiles out of landfills. As part of our global
awareness, ASB will be collecting household textiles such as: clothing (in any condition), towels, gloves,
hats, sheets, blankets, shoes, quilts, bedspreads, purses, belts, stuffed animals, and drapes. The only
restriction is the textiles cannot have grease or oil on them. All textiles will be collected before school each
day. Please have textiles in a plastic or paper bag. This will help us keep all materials dry. Please help
Sequoyah reduce materials in our landfills!
Thank you to all
who have already
donated!
Yes, you can bring
your donation
during SLCs!
Sequoyah PTSA News
Hi Sequoyah Families,
The PTSA is hosting the Scholastic Book Fair during SLCs (Student Lead Conferences) on April 15th and 16th
in the Sequoyah M.S. Forest. Please stop by and stock up on summer reading. All sales help the Sequoyah
library receive free books! We are also looking for volunteers to help. If you would like to help with the book
fair please email us at [email protected].
Thank you for saving Box Tops! We have had a great show of support and will wrap up our final POD
competition in May. Keep saving those ten cent tops. We will have another turn in drive the first part of May.
The POD that turns in the most eligible box tops wins a free cookie for each student in the POD!
April 22nd is our next Trampoline Nation night; from 4-9pm. Enjoy discounted rates for jumping. You can bring
your friends and family, just let them know when you check in that you are with Sequoyah Middle School. The
PTSA also earns $1.00 for every hour jumped!
The PTSA is looking for volunteers to help with Staff Appreciation week in May. Please email us if you would
like to help.
Do you make purchases through Amazon? If you do, please consider using Amazon Smiles and choosing
Sequoyah PTSA as your nonprofit to support! All the same prices and great products of Amazon, but you are
supporting the PTSA too! Amazon Smiles gives the PTSA 0.5% of purchases through the website. There is
no extra cost to you!
Please feel free to contact us at [email protected] and follow us on Facebook - Sequoyah Middle School
PTSA for updates.
Have a wonderful day!
Rayna Meuer, PTSA President
Every Child...Every Day...100% Success
Page 6
7th and 8th Grade Parents
The deadline is approaching to apply for the
College Bound Scholarship!
Did you know applying for the College Bound Scholarship will make your student 19% more
likely to graduate from high school?
Here are a few FAQ’s you may be asking.
What does College mean?
It does not mean only a four year university. Here are a few of the 80+ Washington schools who
accept the College Bound Scholarship (CBS): Gene Juarez Academy, Art Institute of Seattle, ITT Technical
Institute, Bates Technical College, Green River College, DigiPen Institute of Technology, Bastyr University,
Whitman College, University of Washington.
What does Eligible mean?
There are income requirements that will be confirmed during senior year. We encourage you to apply
now because a student cannot apply after the end of his or her 8th grade year. All foster youth are eligible. If
you receive food or TANF benefits from the state you are eligible.
How much money are we talking about?
Washington State has allocated 35 million dollars for 2013-2015. Depending on the college your
student attends, he or she will receive between $4,400 to $11,900 per year.
Does making the pledge make a difference?
The first cohort has already graduated from high school and enrolled in one of the 80+
Institutes, colleges or universities. The data shows a 19% higher high school graduation rate from CBS than
equivalent students not CBS.
Is this a full ride scholarship?
No. The College Bound Scholarship combines with state needs grants to cover tuition
(equivalent to a state university) and pays a $500 book fee.
How do I apply?
Apply online at this web site, or obtain a paper application from the Sequoyah office:
http://www.readysetgrad.org/sites/default/files/2014-15_cbs.application.pdf
If I have questions?
We will have applications and information at SLC’s on April 15 th and 16th. You may also call
Mr. Wilson, Sequoyah Counselor, at 253-945-3798.
Every Child...Every Day...100% Success
Page 7
Federal Way Public Schools
Dress Code
2014-2015
Students in the Federal Way Public Schools are expected to dress in a manner that reflects pride and
respect for themselves, their schools, and is appropriate for the serious work of learning. It is generally
expected that student dress shall be clean and appropriate for the activity in which the student is
engaged. The following shall be prohibited by each school or alternative program’s student dress code:

Clothing presenting a reasonable expectation of a material and substantial disruption of the
educational process, damage to school property, or a health or safety hazard, or anything that
advocates prejudice.

Clothing displaying obscene or sexual words, pictures, messages or innuendoes.

Clothing displaying drug or alcohol-related words, pictures, messages, or innuendoes.

Pajamas, slippers, halter tops or any shirt that is short enough to expose the stomach, pants
that are unusually low riding and are worn low on the hips revealing undergarments, or shorts or
skirts shorter than finger tip length.

Clothing which symbolizes gang membership or which displays gang-related words, symbols,
messages, or pictures.
Sequoyah Middle School also prohibits the following:

Hats and/or other headgear (including but not limited to bandanas, earmuffs, and hoods) worn
inside the school building.

Clothing that exposes the torso or chest (ex: halter tops or crop tops), tank tops, low cut shirts.

See-through clothing.

Jewelry and other accessories that may present a safety hazard or danger to self or others (this
includes wallet chains, dog chains, and spikes or studded accessories).

Spandex as outerwear.

Shirts or blouses with holes or pants that have holes or cuts above the mid-thigh.

Pants and shorts worn below the waist.

Shorts or skirts that are not at least fingertip in length and hemmed.
Students whose manner of dress violates the school or alternative program’s dress code shall be asked
to make appropriate corrections. Students who fail to comply shall be subject to discipline. Parents shall
be notified.
Every Child...Every Day...100% Success
Page 8