www.everettsd.org PO Box 2098, Everett, WA 98213

Everett Public Schools InTouch

First day of school still unknown, but we are all getting ready!

The district and its teachers are in contract negotiations, working thoughtfully toward an agreement. The school calendar is one item decided during those negotiations. Traditionally, Everett Public Schools starts on the Wednesday after Labor Day. This year that day is Sept. 9, 2015.

The district will use its automated call system, text messages to parents, Facebook, Twitter and the website to announce the first day of school when that has been agreed to in negotiations. We'll also print the art calendar and distribute as soon as calendar dates are available.

Summer graduation class of 2015
"Take action! Every story you've ever connected with, every leader you've ever admired, every little thing that you've ever accomplished is the result of taking action. You have a choice. You can either be a passive victim of circumstance or you can be the active hero of your own life." --Bradley Whitford

Please join us in congratulating this summer's graduating class of 2015 who are an amazing group of ACTIVE HEROES. Click on photo for video.

Tell us what you think

Our community expects its schools to provide high quality learning opportunities for each student. This includes fair and equal access to learning tools, including computers and other electronic devices.

Beginning Sept. 8, we will launch a Thoughtexchange conversation. As the district works to improve equal access to technology for each student, we invite your thoughts and responses to:

What are your concerns about how technology might change student learning?
What do you like about how technology might change student learning?
What else would you like the district to know or think about in the planning to use technology to change student learning?

You can spend some time thinking about those questions between now and Sept. 8 when the online conversation begins. In the meantime, click on the link above to get registered for the conversation.

When will parents know how students scored on the Smarter Balanced tests?
"Computer-based testing does allow quick turnaround of raw score numbers," confirmed Everett Public Schools Director of Curriculum and Assessment Dr. Catherine Matthews. "However, those early raw score numbers don't tell schools or parents which learning standards a student has mastered or not mastered."

Students' final scores will be sent home mid-September together with a detailed score report pinpointing each students learning strengths and areas of improvement. Watch for information about a special parent webinar to add more explanation to the score reports.

Lots more information about the Smarter Balanced tests is on the district

Assessment website.

Stuff the Bus For Kids is a huge success!

Thanks to many volunteers and a tremendous outpouring of donations, Everett Public Schools Foundation has more than 1,750 backpacks to be delivered to schools over the next few days.

Thanks to Everett Public Schools Foundation and community partners for all the support you give to our students.

Did you miss this month's Parent TechTalks on Aug. 10 and 19

Not to worry -- there will be more sessions -- watch for notices.

In the meantime, visit the Learning Management Services website. All of the presentation materials are available on that site, so you can dive in to what other parents worked with. Learn more about what tools students are using to learn, what the district is doing to help keep kids safe on line and how you can do that at home too.

August 25 School Board meeting

The school board meets in regular session on Tuesday, beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the Community Resource Center

at 3900 Broadway in Everett.

The school board has a website!

The agenda and other board materials are online in BoardDocs.

August 25 Board meeting topic highlights

Topics	Details
Two separate public comment sections	Did you know the board welcomes public comment twice at each meeting? The board added an extra section because you asked for more opportunities to talk to the board. You can address the board BEFORE the consent agenda or BEFORE the business portion of the meeting -- or both times, if you choose. Click on the BoardDocs link above to see these time slots for the upcoming meeting.
Budget for 2015-16	Since this time last year, the board has met 16 times to review financial status reports and plan for the upcoming school year budget needs. On Aug. 25, the results of that work and information now-in-hand from the legislature about available funding make it possible for the board to approve a budget for 2015-16.
What's up with staff training?	Also known as "professional development," staff learning and training opportunities are key to helping students learn. In particular, research studies show the greatest single factor affecting how well a student learns is the quality of a classroom teacher. In a rapidly changing world, all district support staff can better fulfill their job roles with access to quality learning opportunities. This report to the board will illustrate the district's systematic Professional Development Systems Progress and the work of the Professional Development Council.

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Everett Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.

Designated to handle inquiries about nondiscrimination policies are:

Affirmative Action Office - Carol Stolz, cstolz@everettsd.org, 425-385-4106

Title IX Officer - Randi Seaberg, rseaberg@everettsd.org, 425-385-4104

504 Coordinator - Becky Ballbach, rballbach@everettsd.org, 425-385-4063

ADA Coordinator - Becky Clifford, rclifford@everettsd.org 425-385-4050

Address: 3900 Broadway, Everett, WA 98201