ABCs of School for Cedar Park Families

A:

Attendance & Absences – Send your child to school every day unless they are ill. Call the office 206-252-4300 or email cedarpark.attendance@seattleschools.org

B:

Backpack – Check and empty your child’s backpack every day.
Bell Times – 7:55 a.m. (school starts) 2:25 p.m. (school ends M-T-Th-F) and 1:10 p.m. (school ends early every Wednesday)

C:

Communication – Tell the office & your child’s teacher any change of plans. Expect regular emails from the office, teacher & principal. It is always ok to set up time to meet with a teacher to discuss your student’s progress

D:

Drop Off – If driving your child to school, head East on 135th to drop off zone in front of school. Please, no U-Turns – just proceed to 39th Ave. Don’t drive North on 39th Ave to drop off – this is unsafe for our Preschoolers, who enter at the school’s Southeast end

E:

Expedition! – A chance for students to explore more deeply an area within their grade-level curriculum. Learning comes to life through field trips and hands-on collaboration with peers, community artists, authors and experts. Cedar Park’s unique expedition learning model is called IDEA Time.

F:

Free/Reduced Price Lunch – means more than just meals. Income-eligible students can access free tutoring & summer activities, waived fees for college applications, etc. See if you might qualify, visit MySchoolApps. Pay for school meals visit MySchoolBucks.

G:

Gather – Before school, gather on the playground, basketball court or field. Please leave the track and staircase area clear. Gather to pick up students at dismissal in the school courtyard
Good Night’s Sleep – Students need restful sleep to fuel their learning.

H:

Handbook – Find the answers to your questions in the online Family Handbook. Not sure who to contact? Wondering about a policy or procedure? Check the Cedar Park Family Handbook

I:

IDEA Time – Investigate, Design, Engage, and Ask why – these are the elements of “Project-based Learning”. Students participate in enriching classes once a week all year long under the umbrella of different themes: SEL/Community, Literacy, STEAM, Arts & Culture and Entrepreneurship. Students become the experts and the teachers.

J:

Jackets – as well as sweaters, hoodies, water bottles, and lunch boxes should be labeled with your student’s name. Check the Lost & Found in the Cafeteria for missing items.

K:

Kids Co – is our school-based non-profit child care center for kids ages 5-12, open M-F until 6pm. Kids Co offers after-school enrichment, holiday, and summer camps. Call 206-696-6043 or visit Kids Company website to sign up.

L:

Late Arrival Time – If you are dropping off your student after the 7:50 bell has rung take them directly to the front door by the office. Teachers collect students at 7:50 from the playground and then the playground and campus gates are locked.

M:

Morning Arrival Time – is 7:40 a.m. for breakfast and playground. Please plan to supervise your child until 7:40 a.m. if you arrive earlier.

N:

Newsletter – Expect to receive Principal Z’s weekly family e-newsletter, the Howl!, sent each Friday to your email. You can find archives here.

O:

Opportunities – to help are plentiful. Ask your child’s teacher to find out when and how you can share a skill, chaperone a field trip, talk with students about your culture or job, serve as “room parent”, etc. You’ll be enriching our community of life-long learners.

P:

PTA (Parent Teacher Association) – is a parent-led group that plans activities to support Cedar Park students and community. All are welcome. Learn more at info@cedarparkpta.org

Q:

Questions? – If you have ideas, concerns, or questions about anything, call 206-252-4300, come by the office any time, or email cedarpark@seattleschools.org

R:

Recess – an important time for students to play, socialize and recharge. All students have 2 recesses every day.

Room Parents – help teachers communicate with families and are a link to the PTA. Tasks very but room parents often help plan and organize class events.

S:

Snacks – Please send a snack with your student every day. We teach students not to share or touch others’ food. Please alert us about any food or other allergies so our nurse can work with you to create a health care plan.

T:

Talking Points – a way to send or receive text message from Cedar Park and SPS. You were automatically signed up on the phone number(s) you gave SPS when you enrolled your student. Texts can be translated automatically on the app, which you can find at the Apple Store or Google Play.

U:

US – let us all work together to make this school year a positive experience for all of our students.

V:

Values – “P.A.W.S.” is an acronym for the values we ask all in our community to strive for: Practice Kindness | Act Safely| Work Together | Show Responsibility

W:

Water Bottles – To help students drink plenty of water, please send them to school with a reusable water bottle, labeled with their name. Consider using a plastic bottle instead of an insulated metal one. The metal ones are heavy and can cause accidental injury.

X:

Experts – Ask your child what they know how to do, what they’re becoming experts on, and what they want to know more about.

Y:

You – You know your child better than anyone; let us know the best way to support your child’s healthy social and academic growth.

Z:

Zoo – Each school year, students will take field trips to the Zoo or other sites related to IDEA Themes. Trips are free to all students (thank you, PTA!)

Principal Z – Cedar Park Principal Andy Zillig is called “Principal Z” for short