Excellence in Education
Montesano is a community where people learn,
grow and work together. With high-quality
instruction, every student, regardless of race, class,
language, or disability, can succeed.
If you have completed the Annual Student Information Update for your child, your child’s teacher is now viewable under the Schedule tab in Skyward Family Access.
Please schedule a conference with your child’s teacher by clicking on the Conferences tab and selecting an appointment.
If you need assistance, please email beaconskyward@monteschools.org.
Read MoreAugust 25, 2020
Dear Beacon Families,
I hope you are all doing well, staying safe, and making adjustments to life as we now know it. I know that our decision to start the year off remotely has left many of you with mixed feelings. On one hand, students and staff will remain safer during remote learning and on the other hand, students thrive on interaction with their peers, school staff, and routines. We know that many of you still have questions. Hopefully this letter will serve as a guide for you to navigate through the first couple of weeks of school.
YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER: Starting August 31, you will be able to log into Skyward to view who your child’s teacher will be for the school year. In addition, your child’s teacher will be sending you an email with their Personal Meeting ID link through Zoom. This link will be used for Open House, Family Connection Meetings, and throughout remote learning.
VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE: Using the Zoom link your child’s teacher sent you, please test it on September 1 from 5:30-6:00 p.m. Teachers will be available to answer questions about the first three days of school. Please reserve more detailed questions for your personalized Family Connection Meeting.
FAMILY CONNECTION MEETINGS (GRADES K-2): Families may sign up for a half hour meeting time through Skyward starting August 31. These virtual one-on-one meetings are intended to welcome families and students to school, provide a safe environment for families to speak freely with their teacher, and help families and teachers begin to build relationships so that they can work together to help children be successful in school. These meetings are scheduled for the first three days of school, September 2-4. Contact the main office should you need help scheduling. This process will be much like our typical conference week.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES: Lists are available on our website. It is broken into two parts: a remote learning section and a return to school section. We will provide other supplies in Learning Packets.
LEARNING PACKETS: These packets will include all the necessary curriculum materials needed and will be available for pick up the week of September 8 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. outside your child’s classroom.
CHROMEBOOKS: We understand starting school in an online environment may create challenges for some of our families if there is not adequate technology in the home. If your family does not have consistent access to a computer, please contact our main office to be placed on a distribution list. Devices will be distributed per availability starting August 31. If you do have a device at home and want to know whether it will work in a remote learning environment, it is helpful to note the following:
A desktop computer or laptop computer works best in the virtual format.
Chromebooks, tablets or iPads are also a suitable option.
Mobile devices may not meet the needs of your child’s online learning environment and are not recommended.
Please keep the following in mind if you are checking out a Chromebook from our school:
If you have children attending more than one school, you will need to go to each school to pick up a Chromebook.
Only the parent/legal guardian can be present to sign for the device.
In the meantime, we will continue to work hard to keep you connected to the school in multiple ways: Family Connection Meetings, Google Classroom, Remind, newsletters, our website, and social media. We will continue to offer opportunities for students to stay engaged with teachers and other support staff. We know how important this connection is, and we will do our best to meet and fulfill that need.
In partnership,
Barbara Page, Principal
August 31: Log into Skyward and do the following:
View your child’s teacher for the school year
Schedule a Family Connection Meeting
August 31: Check your email for a Zoom link from your child’s teacher
August 31: Chromebooks will be available per request. Our office will contact you about pick up details.
September 1: Test Zoom link during Open House, 5:30-6:00 p.m.
September 2: First Day of School for grades 1-2. No live learning for kindergarten.
September 2-4: Virtual Family Connection Meeting with your child’s teacher
September 8: First day of live learning for kindergarten.
September 8-11: Learning Packet Distribution, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Please watch for the following letter to arrive in the mail within the next few days. It was mailed Friday, August 14, 2020. Your Skyward Family Access user name and password will be included in the mailed letter.
WELCOME BACK BULLDOG FAMILIES! This has been an unprecedented year and now more than ever we are looking forward to working with you and your students as we return to learning. As decided at the School Board meeting on Tuesday, August 11, we will begin the 2020-2021 school year remotely until it’s deemed safe for our students and staff to return to in-person learning.
While we know there continues to be questions regarding the upcoming school year, we are working very hard to get answers out to you. Detailed information on remote learning, materials, chromebook check-out, etc. will be sent home, emailed and posted on our website in the days to come. We encourage parents/guardians to check the district and school websites at www.monteschools.org and by logging into your Skyward Family Access, as information will be updated in both places regularly.
For now, the one thing which hasn’t changed is the “Annual Student Information Update”. We will be using online forms to update information for students - this information will be required for all students. Upon completion of families selecting their program of choice, rosters will be updated and your child’s teacher will be shared via Skyward on August 31.
The “Annual Student Information Update” will open on Monday, August 17 and close on Sunday, August 23. This timeline allows staff to finalize and update class rosters for each program. Therefore, we ask families to please do the following:
Log into your Skyward Family Access account and complete the information update process. The first step will be to complete the Pandemic Response form. This will include choosing either the:
In-Person Program: This program is linked to a classroom teacher and will start the year in “Remote Learning” and blend into “In-Person Learning” when it is safe for our students and staff; or,
M.O.D.E.L. Program: This virtual program is linked to a M.O.D.E.L. teacher and provides students and families the ability to have a flexible schedule.
Verify your contact information (i.e., address, phones, and emergency contacts).
Complete additional steps in order to finalize your child’s registration for the 2020-2021 school year. These forms still need to be completed, even though we are starting remotely. They include: food service, health information, photo/video authorization, etc.
The link to Skyward is located on the Montesano School District website at www.monteschools.org. Please refer to the letter you will receive in the mail for your user name and password.
If you need access to a computer or assistance with Skyward, you can call or email your respective school offices. We are here to serve and help you any way we can. Enjoy your last few weeks of summer!
Sincerely,
Chris Cady, Simpson Elementary Principal
Barbara Page, Beacon Elementary Principal
Read MoreWill your child be 5 years old by August 31st? It's time to enroll in kindergarten!
Montesano School District is now enrolling new students for the 2020-2021 school year. 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.
Read MoreIf you would like to provide input regarding your child’s learning style or needs for the upcoming school year, please complete the online Beacon Parent Input Form no later than May 1, 2020.
Read MoreGoodie Bag Packets will still be available from 9-11 a.m. outside your child's classroom. However, each grade level will be available initially on different days to avoid large gatherings. Please see below for your child's specific day. Each bag will be individually identified with your child's name. There will be enough material to last you and your child for the remainder of the school year. If you are unable to pick up the Goodie Bag on your designated day, they will still be available daily from 9-11 a.m. after April 28. If you have questions, please contact your child's teacher. THESE ARE JUMBO SIZE BAGGIES. IF YOU ARE PICKING UP FOR MORE THAN ONE PERSON, PLEASE BRING AN EXTRA BAG.
Please click on the link below to view the Week 5 edition of Mrs. Page’s online newsletter.
Read MorePlease click on the link below to view the Week 3 edition of Mrs. Page’s online newsletter.
Read MorePlease click on the link below to view an online newsletter from Ms. Wisdom, Elementary School Counselor. She is providing some resources and enrichment activities for social emotional learning.
Read MorePlease click on the link below to view an online newsletter from Mrs. Page, Principal of Beacon Elementary School. She will be posting regular updates as a way of connecting with families.
Read MorePlease click here for a list of educational activities that are both current Montesano School District Programs and optional free programs. (This document will be continuously updated, so check back frequently.)
If you haven’t filled out the FREE GRAB N’ GO MEALS survey, click here.
Read MoreBeacon Elementary has grade level packets available for pickup all week between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. for families that are interested. Please check our website for online resources as well.
Read MoreThe Beacon Elementary office will be open from 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. on Monday, March 16 for families to pick up belongings. Please be mindful of your own health and potential exposure to our staff. If needed, please call ahead to make other arrangements.
Read MoreAs part of its Pandemic Contingency Plan, the Montesano School District is asking parents to provide information on the symptoms and conditions of their student(s) when they contact the school to report an absence. Absences may be reported through Skyward Family Access or by calling the school office.
Read MoreDear Beacon Elementary Families,
Out of an abundance of caution and increasing evidence of COVID-19 community spread in Washington State, Beacon Elementary will be cancelling our first and second grade field trip to the Washington Center for the Performing Arts this Friday, March 13. By cancelling this field trip, we can help limit staff and students' exposure to environments outside of our school setting.
We will continue to seek guidance from local and state health officials and reassess similar activities as needed.
We thoughtfully and carefully consider each of these decisions, and we recognize any decision will have impacts. However, these additional preventative measures will help limit exposure while we continue to focus on maintaining a safe learning environment.
In partnership,
Barbara Page, Principal
Read MoreSchool will be in session on the regular schedule for all students on Friday, March 20. This will be a full day of school.
Read MoreMonday, March 9
No Scheduled Activities
Tuesday, March 10
PTO Meeting, 8:30 a.m., Beacon Library
Wednesday, March 11
Pacific Science Center Day
The Pacific Science Center will present an astronomy assembly as well as space themed classroom workshops. First and second graders will experience workshops in portable inflatable planetariums. All classes will also explore a hands-on exhibit. Thank you to the Montesano PTO for sponsoring this event!
Thursday, March 12
No Scheduled Activities
Friday, March 13
Olympia Junior Programs Field Trip for 1st & 2nd Grades
Kindergarten lunch will be at 11:35 a.m. this day due to the field trip.
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LOOKING AHEAD:
Friday, March 20
Weather Make-up Day
School will be in session but it has not yet been determined whether it will be a full day or an early dismissal. More information will be sent out as soon as it is available.
In celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday and Read Across America Day, Beacon students will participate in a reading challenge March 6-23. Each class will establish a goal for the total numbers of minutes to be read each night. Students will be asked to record the number of minutes they read at home, or the number of minutes a parent reads to them, or a combination of both. Students should have parents sign the official form and return it to class at the beginning of each day. On March 23, classes will tally the total of minutes read. Any class achieving the established goal will get a popcorn party and watch a Dr. Seuss movie during specialist time. LET’S GET OUR KIDDOS READING!!!
Read More