5^TH GRADE FAMILY OPEN HOUSE at KILO

Fifth grade parents and students who are planning to attend Kilo Middle School next year are invited to an Open House on May 20 from 6 to 7 PM at the Kilo Middle School Cafeteria. 

Come and meet Kilo Administration and 6^th grade teachers. Learn about educational programs and extra-curricular activities at Kilo Middle School. Click on the link:  Letter to 5th parents for more information.

Parent Information About Common Core State Standards

Click on the links below to read about how these standards (CCSS) are different from and similar to the Power Standards we have used in the Federal Way School district these past few years.

CCCSS parent article reading RUSSIAN FINAL

CCSS Parent Article 2 KOREAN FINAL

CCSS Parent Article 2 Reading ENGLISH

CCSS Parent Article 2 Reading SPANISH

Raffle Basket Donations Needed for the Carnival!!

Every year at our Spring Social Event we have a raffle drawing for gift baskets that are created by each grade level.  The money generated by this raffle drawing goes into the PTA fund to help pay for events like our carnival and literacy night.

In order to have the raffle we need items donated from our friends and families of Valhalla students.  In the past these baskets have been amazing.  In fact, the word “basket” is not a good description.  We have had wheelbarrows filled with items.  They often contain hundreds of dollars worth of items in each basket.  Tickets are $1.00 each.

Below is a list of the grade levels and suggested items for each theme.  Please send anything you would like to donate in with your student no later than May 24^th.  If you don’t want to go shopping, a small cash donation would also be welcome.

Thank you so much for your continued support.

Please contact Heather Anderson at 253-945-4328 or handerso@fwps.org or

Erin Inabnit at 253-945-4341 or einabnit@fwps.org  if you have any questions.

Book Drive

Valhalla is collecting books for summer reading, so while you are busy spring cleaning, toss those new or gently used books into a box for our Book Drive. Please bring those books to school and put them in the large collection boxes in the office. Thank you for contributing to the Book Drive and spreading the love of reading to others.

Math Night

Wednesday, May 15 is Math Night at Valhalla. Join us from 5:30-7:00 for fun, games, and learning. Stay to play and take home a game or two.

Volunteer Tea

Mark your calendars! We will celebrate our wonderful volunteers on Tuesday, June 11 from 4:30 – 6:00. Special invitations will be coming home, but we want so much for our volunteers to come, that we want you to save the date.

“At the Hop” had Star Quality

If you were one of the lucky audience members for the At the Hop musical, you were treated to a fantastic show. The stage was stunning! The students were spectacular! The band was brilliant! The director, Mr. Potter, was dynamite! Let’s hear a round of applause for all involved!

Spirit Day and Friday Treat

Friday, April 26 is Spirit Day. Wear your hair in a CRAZY way to show your spirit! Chocolate chip cookies are on sale for $ .50 tomorrow. Limit one per customer!

Art Class 2013 at Valhalla

Fourth and fifth graders will have an opportunity to participate in an after-school art class. The class will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:20 to 4:30 in Mrs. Herron’s room #228. Space is limited, so return the yellow permission forms to school ASAP! Families must provide transportation home.

Coffee with the Principal and Elizabeth

Please plan to join our Principal, James Crawford and our Family Liaison, Elizabeth Bagnell for a second cup of coffee on Wednesday, may 1 at 9:00 a.m. in the Commons.

Our Gym has School Spirit

If you have not visited our gym lately, come take a look at the fantastic artwork, slogans, and bright VALHALLA sign on the walls. Mr. Koehler has really made our gymnasium a special place!

Partnership 101

We hope to see you Wednesday, April 17 to join the conversation starting at 5:00. Refreshments and child care are provided. Don’t miss this amazing evening of learning!

Parents and Guardians, Please Take our Online Survey

Now through May 16, parents and guardians are invited to complete a survey regarding the district’s goals of providing a welcoming environment and engaging parents as partners in education. Parents are asked to complete the survey online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FWPS-Parent-Spring2013.

A link to the survey is also on our school website.  If you don’t have a computer at home, you can drop by the school during regular school hours to complete the survey on one of ours!

The district received over 2,200 responses to its online parent survey in November, and the data and comments gathered then are proving valuable in guiding planning by individual schools, and the district. The survey is being offered a second time in order to see if there are any changes in parents’ perceptions, and to continue collecting information to guide the comprehensive family engagement work done through the district’s Family and Community Partnership Office.

Padres y Tutores, Por Favor Complete Nuestra Encuesta en Línea.

Desde ahora hasta el 16 de Mayo, los padres de familia o tutores se les invita a completar una encuesta acerca de los objetivos del distrito escolar, de proporcionar un ambiente acogedor e involucrar a los padres como colaboradores en la educación de sus hijos.

Por favor, complete la encuesta en  https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FWPS-Parent-Spring2013-Spanish

Usted puede encontrar el enlace a la encuesta en las páginas de Internet de nuestras escuelas. Si no tiene computadora en casa puede pasar por la escuela para completar la encuesta en una de nuestras computadoras.

El pasado mes de noviembre,  el distrito recibió más de 2.200 respuestas de las encuestas en línea, y los datos y comentarios recogidos a continuación, están demostrando ser  valiosa guía en la planificación de cada escuela, y el distrito. La encuesta se está ofreciendo una segunda vez para ver si hay algún cambio en las percepciones de los padres, y seguir recopilando información para guiar el trabajo de la familia a través de la Oficina de la Alianza Familia y Comunidad.

Gracias por compartir su valioso tiempo para proporcionar información a nuestro distrito.

학부모와 보호자 여러분, 온라인 설문 조사에 참여해 주십시오

지금부터 5월 16일까지 교육의 동반자로서 학부모를 환영하는 환경을 마련하고 자녀 교육에 학부모가 참여하실 수 있도록 하는 교육구의 목표에 관하여 설문 조사를 합니다.  학부모님께서는https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FWPS-Parent-Spring2013-Korean 에 있는 온라인 설문  조사에  응해 주십시오.

학교의 웹사이트에도 설문 조사가 있는 링크를 찾으실 수 있습니다. 댁에 컴퓨터가 없으시면 학교의 정규 시간 중 학교에 가셔서 거기 있는 컴퓨터로 설문 조사에 답해 주실 수도 있습니다!

11월에 있었던 온라인 학부모 설문 조사에 2,200 개 이상의 응답이 있었습니다. 그 때 모아진 자료와 의견은 각 학교와 교육구가 계획을 세우는데 귀중한 역할을 합니다.  이 설문조사는 학부모의 인식에 변화가 있는지 알아보고, 또 교육구의 가족 및 공동체 협력 사무소가 행하는 포괄적인 가족 참여 업무의 지침이 될 자료를 계속 수집하기 위해서 두번째로 행해집니다.

한국어  https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FWPS-Parent-Spring2013-Korean.

Родители, пожалуйста, заполните опросный лист на интернете

В школьном округе «Federal Way» понимают, как важно активное участие родителей и опекунов в процессе обучения детей. Поэтому мы приглашаем Вас заполнить опросный лист относительно вовлечения родителей в процесс обучения детей и создания доброжелательной атмосферы в наших школах. Заполнить опросный лист можно в любое время начиная с сегодняшнего дня и до 16 мая. Заполнить опросный лист можно на интернете https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FWPS-Parent-Spring2013.

Вы также можете найти ссылку к странице с опросным листом на нашем вебсайте. Если у Вас нет компьютeра дома, Вы можете воспользоваться компьютeром в любой из наших школ!

Школьный округ получил более 2200 ответов на интернет- опрос, который предлагался родителям в ноябре месяце. Комментарии которые мы собрали оказались ценным материалом для планирования работы в школах и в целом по школьному округу. Проводя этот опрос во второй раз мы хотим видеть, какие изменения произошли в восприятии родителей, а также продолжить сбор информации для улучшения работы школьного отдела по связям с общественностью «Family and Community Partnership Office».

Спасибо за Ваше время и предоставление важной для нас информации.

5th Grade Parent Night at Lakota

If you are a parent of a fifth grader and you are considering Lakota as a possible middle school, then we have the event for you! On Tuesday, April 23 from 6:30 to 8:00 Lakota will host a parent information night. Click this link to find out more. 5th Grade Parent Night 2013

Class Placement Parental Input Form Due April 25.  

Careful planning is completed each spring to decide upon class assignments for the
following school year. With changes in staffing and enrollment that occur over
the summer, we develop tentative lists in the spring, and finalize class placements in August.

If you have information which you would like staff to consider when making classroom
assignments, you will need to complete the blue Class Placement Parental Input
Form sent home today and return it to your student’s teacher no later than April 25.  Parents are welcome to share specific learning needs of their child, but please do not request a specific teacher.

Parent Partnership Night

Join us next Wednesday, April 17 from 5:30 to 6:30. Join the discussion and share some refreshments. Childcare will be provided.

Coffee with Elizabeth and James

Please join our Parent Liaison, Elizabeth Bagnell and our principal, James Crawford on Wednesday, April 10 from 9:00 to 10:00 for coffee and conversation in Valhalla’s Commons. Here the latest news, share your thoughts and ask questions.

Parent Survey

Now through May 16, parents and guardians are invited to complete a survey related to the district’s goals of providing a welcoming environment and engaging parents as partners in education.

The district received over 2,200 responses to its online parent survey in November, and the data and comments gathered then are proving valuable in guiding planning by individual schools, and the district. The survey is being offered a second time in order to see if there are any changes in parents’ perceptions, and to continue collecting information to guide the comprehensive family engagement work done through the district’s Family and Community Partnership Office.

The survey will be online until midnight, May 16.  If you don’t have a computer at home, you can drop by any school during regular hours to complete the survey on a computer.

English – https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FWPS-Parent-Spring2013

Spanish – https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FWPS-Parent-Spring2013-Spanish

Russian – https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FWPS-Parent-Spring2013-Russian

Student-Led Conferences

Next Thursday, April 18 and Friday, April 19 have been set aside for spring conferences. Please look for a yellow conference invitation from your child’s teacher, and return the bottom portion to school as soon as possible. No regular classes are held on Thursday or Friday. During the conference, your child will share work samples from the last marking period. It is an excellent opportunity to celebrate successes and make plans for further growth.

Parent Partnership 101

Click on the links to find out more about this new event!

Parent Partnership 101 Flyer  Spanish Partnership 101 Flyer

Spirit Day Fun

Teachers and students dressed as book characters today. It was a fun way to celebrate reading and introduce characters and books to each other. The question, “Who are you?’ started many conversations today and several ended with, “I will have to read that book.” Thanks to Mrs. Herron, Mrs. Anderson, and the Student Council for sponsoring this great event!

PTA Meeting

Our next general PTA meeting is this Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Please join us in the Valhalla Commons for updates on PTA events that have been planned for the spring. It’s not the same without YOU! Come add your voice and support to our school through PTA.

Emergency Bus Exit Drill

On Wednesday morning bus riders will participate in a bus exit drill when they arrive at school. These drills prepare students for an emergency that would require them to exit out a side or rear door of the bus. Extra school staff will be on hand to help.

Project Character Assembly

On Wednesday at 2:30 we will gather to celebrate the excellent character of students at Valhalla. Nominated students will receive their award at the assembly. Parents of nominated students are encouraged to attend.

Family Access Night 

Please join us at 5:00 for our Family Access Night. School Board Member, Claire Wilson will join us to speak about the origins of our What Every Parent Wants to Know meetings. Your ideas and opinions are needed in the discussion following Claire’s speech. See you March 27 at 5:00.

Pennies for Patients

This is the last week for our Student Council’s “Pennies for Patients” coin drive to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  Our goal is to raise $800.  Please send your spare change to school this week. Friday, March 29 is our last day to collect the money.

Spirit Day

Have you decided which literary character you are going to be on Friday, March 29? Celebrate reading and show your school spirit by dressing as a literary character this Friday.

No School Tomorrow

There will be no school for students tomorrow, March 15 is a training day for teachers. See you Monday, March 18.

Track Meet Saturday

Our first track meet is this Saturday, March 16 at Federal Way Memorial Field behind Federal Way High School. 3-5 students will race from 1:15-3:15. Please plan to be at the field by 1:00. K-2 students will race from 3:30-5:30. Please plan to be at the field by 3:15.

To find directions and more information, click on these links:  3-5 March Track Meet   K-2 March Track Meet

Spirit Day

Next Friday, March 29 is Literary Character Day! Students may dress like a character in a book. Be creative and have fun!

Class Pictures

Envelopes went home today for individual and class pictures. Pictures will be taken on March 13. Orders can be made online or just send the envelope in to school on Wednesday or before.

Literacy Night Success

Fifty-six Valhalla families braved the rain and joined together to celebrate reading and writing at Literacy Night, Wednesday evening. Children chose books from a variety of picture books and chapter books. Teachers presented a Where the Wild Things Are skit with much gnashing of terrible teeth.

The King County Children’s Librarian from the Woodmont Library shared the many services that are available to families at the library and on their website at www.kcls.org. Next families went into classrooms to create art inspired by children’s books. Finally, adults and children enjoyed a cookie and juice before heading home to read their new books.

Even the Cat in the Hat stopped by to say hello to everyone. Thanks for sharing the fun!

Suggestions for reading and writing websites can be found under the Student Resources drop-down menu.

Mark your calendars for Family Math Night on May 15.