Picture Retake Day is Tuesday, November 23 at Beacon Elementary. If you are not satisfied with your child’s original photo, please have your child return the original package on retake day and the photographer will take a new photo of your child.

The photographer will also take pictures of any students who place new orders. Online orders can be placed at mylifetouch.com using Picture Day ID: EVTDW9DBR.

Here is the November edition of Beacon Elementary newsletter. It contains important information about students of the month, arrival/dismissal updates, conferences, progress reports, reading challenge results, dates to remember, and more.

Beacon News - November 2021

• There will be early dismissal on Friday, November 5. Beacon Elementary will dismiss at 11:00 a.m.

• There will be early dismissal on Monday, November 8th through Friday, November 12th at Beacon Elementary and Simpson Elementary for conferences. Beacon will dismiss at 11:00 a.m. Simpson will dismiss at 11:10 a.m. Montesano Jr/Sr High School is on their regular schedule.

• There is no preschool the week of November 8.

• There is no school for all students on Thursday, November 11 in observance of Veterans Day.

There is no school on Friday, October 15. It is a teacher training day.

The Montesano School District is offering the Highly Capable Program for students in grades K-12 for the 2021-22 school year. If you would like to refer a student for evaluation for this program please complete the Highly Capable Program Referral Form by October 22, 2021. Referrals turned in after the deadline will be considered for the following year.

WAC definition of Highly Capable:

Students who perform or show potential for performing at significantly advanced academic levels when compared with others of their age, experiences, or environments. Outstanding abilities are seen within students’ general intellectual aptitudes, specific academic abilities, and/or creative productivities within a specific domain. These students are present not only in the general populace, but are present within all protected classes.

Students who are highly capable may possess, but are not limited to, these learning characteristics:

1. Capacity to learn with unusual depth of understanding, to retain what has been learned, and to transfer learning to new situations

2. Capacity and willingness to deal with increasing levels of abstraction and complexity earlier than their chronological peers

3. Creative ability to make unusual connections among ideas and concepts

4. Ability to learn quickly in their area(s) of intellectual strength

5. Capacity for intense concentration and/or focus

Evaluation Pathway and Timeline for 2021-22 School Year:

Step 1: Permission to Evaluate Forms will be sent home to families and are due back by Friday October 29th. The Highly Capable Committee will conduct a data review of multiple objective parameters for referred students that includes past and present state and district assessments and teacher ratings scales.

Step 2: If a student is not selected to move forward to the next step, families will be notified by November 5th. If they are selected to go to the next step, then the Highly Capable Program Coordinator will assemble a portfolio of evidence of high achievement or potential for high achievement (including but not limited to: work samples from extension/enrichment activities, classroom formal and informal assessments, district assessments, SBA interim tests, family and teacher ratings scales, etc). The Portfolio stage will occur during November.

Step 3: At the end of November, the Committee will meet to review the portfolios and determine whether or not additional data from cognitive testing is necessary to make an identification decision. Students and families will be notified of a final decision by November 30.

The Montesano School District is committed to meeting the needs of all learners. If you feel that your student has demonstrated mastery of grade level content and needs opportunities for advanced learning, please reach out to your child's classroom teacher or the Highly Capable Program Coordinator. Please contact Julie Aldrich at jaldrich@monteschools.org if you have further questions.

Beacon students will participate in The Great Pumpkin Reading Challenge October 8 - 22, 2021.

The challenge is designed to promote reading, and the goal is to create a special “Reading Pumpkin Patch” in each classroom. The pumpkin patch is created when students read at home (or the younger students are read to) and parents sign a reading participation pumpkin. This pumpkin is then added to the patch when a student brings it with a signature from home. The number of minutes students read will be recorded in each classroom. If students are successful in creating a worthy pumpkin patch, as indicated by the total number of minutes read, the class will receive a Great Pumpkin reward party. As the Reading Pumpkin Patch grows, The Great Pumpkin will be watching and visiting. Students should look for signs that The Great Pumpkin has visited their classroom. So read at home, and make those pumpkin patches grow!

Here is the October edition of Beacon Elementary newsletter. It contains important information about students of the month, Halloween celebrations, the updated COVID-19 flow chart, conferences, dates to remember, and more.

Beacon News - October 2021

Here is the September edition of Beacon Elementary newsletter. It contains important information about school pictures, absences, celebrations, school policies, and more.

Beacon News - September 2021

Car tags are required for K-2 student pick-up at Beacon Elementary School. Your child’s car tags are available for pick up from the Beacon office:

• Thursday, August 26: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

• Friday, August 27: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

• Monday, August 30: 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

• Tuesday, August 31: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Please plan on picking up your child’s car tag by August 31. If you need assistance, please contact the Beacon office at 360-249-4528.

Here is the August edition of the Beacon Elementary newsletter. Please read it carefully. It contains important back to school information including supply lists, arrival/dismissal times, family connection meetings, annual update, school safety and more!

Beacon News – August 2021

We look forward to seeing students back at school on September 1!

2021-2022 School Supply List

An annual information update must be completed for all students currently enrolled in the Montesano School District. To update your student's information, log in to Skyward Family Access beginning August 18, 2021. Information must be updated prior to the first day of school, September 1, 2021. The link to Skyward Family Access is located on the Montesano School District website at www.monteschools.org.

You will be able to see your child’s class placement in Skyward once the information update is complete. School staff will be unable to release the name of your child’s teacher until the update is submitted. Please do not ask staff to make an exception for your child.

If you do not have access to a computer, you may access one at Timberland Regional Library or at the Beacon office beginning August 23. Skyward access is also available via smart phone, although online forms may not display properly via the Skyward app on a mobile device. If you need Skyward assistance, please email beaconskyward@monteschools.org. You may also contact the Beacon Elementary office at 360-249-4528 when the office opens on August 23, 2021.

Additional information will be shared digitally before the start of school. Please check your email often as well as our website at www.monteschools.org/beacon-elementary for important updates.

Your student can continue learning during the summer with i-Ready lessons and learning games! This personalized instruction provides students with lessons based on their individual skill level and needs, so they can learn at a pace that is just right for them. These lessons are fun and interactive to keep your student engaged as they learn. Learning Games for Mathematics allow students to practice math in fun and engaging ways, helping them develop a positive view of math. Link for more information.

BEACON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

JUNE 15 DISMISSAL TIMES

• Kindergarten 12:00 PM

• First Grade 12:10 PM

• Second Grade 12:20 PM

JUNE 16 DISMISSAL TIMES

• Kindergarten 10:20 AM

• First Grade 10:30 AM

• Second Grade 10:40 AM

Please check your email for important information before the start of school in August.

Have a happy and safe summer!

Here is the June edition of Beacon News. It contains important information regarding last day schedules, Chromebook returns, The Family Summer Literacy Boost Series, preschools screenings, program updates, and more!

Beacon News – June 2021

There is no school on Friday, May 28. There is also no school on Monday, May 31 in observance of Memorial Day.

Here is the May edition of Beacon News. It contains important information regarding benchmark assessments, Chromebook return, summer school, celebrations, lost and found, and more!

Beacon News – May 2021

Parent input week is scheduled for April 26 – April 30 for both Beacon Elementary and Simpson Elementary. If you would like to provide input regarding your child's learning style or needs for the upcoming school year, please complete the online form below. All submissions will be taken into consideration by the principals. Please note that this survey will only allow responses from 9:00 a.m. on April 26 to 3:00 p.m. on April 30.

Beacon Parent Input for 2021-22 Placement

Simpson Parent Input for 2021-22 Placement

Will your child be 5 years old by August 31st? It's time to enroll in kindergarten!

Montesano School District will enroll new students for the 2021-2022 school year beginning April 26, 2021. New student enrollment may be completed online using the Skyward Family Access system. Click here to enroll online. For additional information regarding preschool and kindergarten enrollment requirements, please click here.

PRESCHOOL

Please complete the online form to request a free screening to determine preschool eligibility. Enrollment applications for preschoolers are not needed at this time.

If you need assistance, please email beaconskyward@monteschools.org.