9.26.25 Staff Blog
Thank you for a wonderful curriculum night. I saw and heard students and family engaged in the information you were sharing, and enjoying community time. I am looking forward to a fun movie night and camp (starting for Journey on Monday). Please keep in mind that after school clubs start on Friday (10/3) after we return from camp. We will also have a special edition of Wolf Weekly that morning where we will welcome the Homecoming Court from Shorecrest.
Quick Look:
*for more information, see below
SAFE SCHOOLS:ACTION
Reminder! It is time to finish your Safe Schools training (due Nov. 30). Here is the link.
MLL PD OPPORTUNITY: HELPFUL
Visual Thinking Strategies: Using Art to Get Kids Speaking and Writing
In this class, participants will learn about the Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) technique and will learn to integrate VTS into their lessons and units in order to provide students with a natural and authentic way to develop their ability to express themselves aloud and in writing. Teachers can sign up in ProDev.
MLL PD OPPORTUNITY FOR GRADES K-2: HELPFUL
GLAD® for K-2 Teachers: Support High-leverage Reading Practices for Early Readers in the Content Areas
Join us in learning how you can use GLAD® instructional strategies to support high-leverage reading practices for early readers in the content areas. This interactive workshop includes preprinted GLAD® materials for a grade-level social studies unit. Strategies to support your MLL students (and ALL of your students!) include Observation Charts, Picture File Cards, Big Books, Chants, Narrative and Pictorial Input Charts, and Sentence Patterning Charts. Up to 7 equity hours clock hours are available
LEADING ADULTS TRAINING: HELPFUL
Shoreline Schools is offering the annual Leading Adults Training on October 7th, from 4:30-7pm. Please share flyer
SHORELINE SCHOOLS(INCLUDING CASCADE K-8) PARTNER WITH CENTER FOR HUMAN SERVICES: HELPFUL
The Center for Human Services (CHS) is a long standing mental health support resource in Shoreline and throughout the Puget Sound area. Shoreline Schools is partnering with CHS to provide mental health support to students and families on campus in order to help streamline the process. If your student is seeking support, CHS at Cascade K-8 may be available to help! Here is an electronic introduction to the therapist, Geneva, we will have on site on Mondays this fall based on need of our students and families:
Hi! I’m Geneva (she/her), a mental health counselor with
Center for Human Services (CHS). This is the first year that
CHS is partnering with Cascade K-8 and I will be here one day
a week providing mental health support to students at school. I
commonly work with students on a variety of things that affect
their well-being including anxiety, depression, trauma and
difficulties at home or school, among others. This is my 5 th year
with CHS, I am trained in several evidence-based practices and
approach counseling in a strengths-based and collaborative
way. When I’m not at work I love being outside, camping,
biking, and foraging. I also have a 6-month old! If you are interested in referring a
student, please talk with your school counselor, and don’t hesitate to say hello when you see me around school.
STAFF MEETING SCHEDULE:HELPFUL
I have added all of our staff and team meetings to our shared CK-8 calendar. In case it is helpful for you to have a list, I am linking it here. Please note that this is a living document, so printing it out may lead to confusion (especially with snow closures or other delays). I recommend either bookmarking it, or making it your practice to frequently check our Systems and Procedures document where it is linked under the heading “schedules”. As a reminder, that Systems and procedures document is linked at the top of the blog each week.
ASSESSMENT: HELPFUL
Reminders: The Fall Assessment Window is open 9/4/25 - 9/26/25
District Assessment Calendar: See the calendar for assessment windows. Updated regularly and on our district website. Please note that for District Assessments (i.e., DIBELS, i-Ready), the district sets a window for which these assessments need to be completed, but individual buildings may set more specific timelines for completion within that window. Please check with your building administrator for clarification.
Assessment Resources: Google folder with resources for assessment.
WONDERS ONLINE ACCESS: HELPFUL
As we shared last fall, the cost to continue annual Wonders digital licenses and current usage continue to make the purchase of these licenses prohibitive. Although our Wonders digital licenses have expired, teachers may access digital content by visiting the following website:
https://my.mheducation.com/login
Username: wonders
Password: MGH26literacy
This is a shared platform, so teachers should not create their own class, or assign content to students. However, access to the website will allow teachers who use Wonders materials to see the content digitally for planning or presentation purposes. If you have any questions or need further guidance on using Wonders materials, please feel free to contact Rachel Trudelle, ELA TOSA.
COMMUNITY MEETING SIGN UP: ACTION
Please consider signing up to present a mini lesson at a community meeting. Families have given very positive feedback each time our staff is willing to share the amazing work we are doing with students. The presentation does not need to be long (10-15 minutes), and will be at the start of the agenda in case you need to leave afterwards.
HICAP K SERVICES TIMELINE:HELPFUL
UPDATED LISTS of ELIGIBLE STUDENTS FOR 25-26 - AVAILABLE NOW!
To help you with your planning for next year, the Highly Capable Department has updated the master spreadsheet of eligible students for the 25-26 school year.
Below are spreadsheets of Highly Capable Students by School for the 2025-26 School Year
Please make note of those students who have NO PARENTAL CONSENT in Column “L”.
Until the HiCap office receives parental consent, that student cannot receive hi-cap services.
Consent forms can be found on the Highly Capable website
NOTE:
This spreadsheet is live and will reflect changes as students are identified during the summer testing session. Make sure to check your school spreadsheet at the end of August for updated lists of students eligible for services or class placements.
25-26 Eligible Students
PTSA GRANTS:HELPFUL
Grants are back!! Here is the information you will need:
Here is a grant link. Cascade K-8 PTSA Grant Application - Google Forms
This year we have $5K in grants available for use in the 24/25 school year budget. Any staff that has interest in applying can fill out the application form. It will be reviewed by the Finance Committee and recommendations will be presented to and voted on during RepBod meetings. All funds must be used before the end of the school year.
The purpose of this program is: To nurture creativity and enthusiasm by awarding grants to members of the Cascade K-8 community to benefit the students in unique ways that improve or enrich their learning experience, when funds are not otherwise available.
Comments
Post a Comment