IN THIS ISSUE
- Principal's Massage
- Important Dates
- 2026 Kenmore Elementary Cross Country
- Our Monthly Focus
- Kenmore Elementary Drums & Gyile Club
- Vision & Hearing Screening at KE
- Thank You!
- District News
Principal's Message
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Dear Kenmore Families, Thank you to everyone who joined us for Curriculum Night and our Title I Family Engagement Night. Seeing so many families in our classrooms and hallways was a wonderful reminder of the strong partnership we share in supporting our students. This month, our amazing PTA is sponsoring two special events, and we would love to see you there:
A gentle reminder about Halloween: our Kenmore community includes families with many different traditions, beliefs, and customs, and not everyone celebrates Halloween. So that every student feels comfortable and included during the school day, we will not hold a costume parade on campus. We know how much fun costumes can be, and we warmly invite everyone who would like to celebrate to join us after school on Friday for the official Trunk or Treat event. Thank you for helping us make school a place where every child feels welcome. For more information about KE PTA please visit: https://kenmorepta.org/ Kenmore Elementary's School Action Plan: Our Hopes and Dreams This year, Kenmore Elementary is focused on one clear goal: every student reading and computing math at grade level by 3rd grade, with special support for our multilingual learners. We're working toward this by strengthening vocabulary instruction, building real communication with families, and helping teacher teams turn student data into classroom action. To support that last piece, Ms. Schneider and I have given up regular staff meetings so teacher teams can meet consistently in their Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) instead. We believe steady, protected time for teachers to dig into student data is what will move the needle for our students. By January, we're not expecting big score jumps yet, because real progress takes a full year. Instead, we'll be checking that the work is happening: PLC time being used consistently, a clear process for adjusting instruction, and about half of our yearly goals reached. If scores haven't moved much by then, that's expected; it simply means we stay the course. We'll share a fuller update at the end of the year. How You Can Help at Home
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Join Me for Café Conversations Last spring, I began hosting Café Conversations, an informal coffee gathering where families and I can connect, share ideas, and chat about what's happening at Kenmore. I'm keeping these gatherings small, about 5 to 8 parents at a time, with light refreshments and plenty of room for real conversation. I've enjoyed meeting many of you around campus and in the parking lot, and those brief hellos have left me wanting to hear more about your children, your hopes, and your ideas for our school. I would love for you to join me at one of the times below. Please RSVP so I can plan accordingly. Our next Café Conversations will be on Tuesday, October 20th.
9:30AM
2:00PM
6PM
Please RSVP. Looking forward to seeing you at one of our events this month! :) |
Important Dates 
2026 Kenmore Elementary Cross Country 
On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!
Welcome, Kenmore Elementary families! We are excited to begin the 2026 Elementary Cross Country season for students in grades 3–5. Get ready for an encouraging season filled with fitness, teamwork, perseverance, and fun!
Season Overview
- The season includes four meets held after school throughout the season.
- Parents are responsible for providing transportation to and from all meets.
Practice Schedule
- Days: Mondays and Fridays
- Time: 8:30–9:05 a.m.
- Location: Dirt field
- Start Date: Monday, September 14th
- Practices take place before school.
- If early drop-off is not possible, students may join practice after their buses arrive.
Registration Information
- Cost: $45.00 + $1.95 processing fee
- Students who qualify for the free or reduced lunch program will pay $0.
- How to Register: Online registration is available.
- Registration must be completed before participation.
Please reach out with any questions about practices, meets, transportation, or registration. We look forward to an exciting cross-country season and can’t wait to see our Kenmore runners on the course!
Sincerely,
Our Monthly Focus
Social Emotional Learning with PurposeFull People
Dear Families,
Here at Kenmore, we are on our 3rd year of using PurposeFull People, a program that teaches skills to help students be successful in school and in life. Each month we will focus on a character trait. We will be working on developing these traits and learning how they help us be successful in school and life. We kicked off the year focusing on Kindness, and now we are focusing on Respect.
Respect Overview
This month’s focus is Respect. One way to think about Respect is “seeing value in all people and things & treating them with care.” Many people feel Respected in different ways. We hope this month inspires discussions with your family about what Respect means to you and how you can practice it together!
In the classrooms
For the next month, each classroom will be focusing on different aspects of what it means to show Respect. Below you will find the overall focus for each grade.
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What is something Kind you did for someone else today?
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Can you share or show what Respect means?
Activities:
- Find a time to gather together and celebrate a Kind beginning of the school year! Take turns sharing responses to the following prompts or make up your own! Remember to practice Respect and Kindness as you listen to each other.
- What is 1 way a family member has shown you Kindness this week?
- What is 1 way you want to grow in Kindness toward others this school year?
Kenmore Elementary Drums & Gyile Club 
When: Thursday mornings from 8:25-9:00am. Semester 1 rehearsals are as follows... 10/1, 10/8, 10/15, 10/22, 11/5, 11/12, 11/19,12/3, 12/10, 12/17
Who: All Kenmore Elementary 4 & 5 graders
What: A club to learn how to play gyil (a West African instrument like the xylophone), drums, & more taught by an expert in West African music!
Where: Ms. Cummings’ Music Room
Scan the QR Code to Register!
Vision & Hearing Screening at KE 
Each year in Northshore schools, students in grades Kindergarten, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 receive hearing and vision screenings. We are currently scheduled for vision and hearing screenings on October 8th. If you would like to exempt your child from either of these health screenings, please contact the school nurse.
It is important to understand that these are basic screenings, and are designed to identify students who may require further testing. They are not intended to replace regular exams by qualified health care providers. A student who does not pass any screening will be rechecked in a few weeks, and you will be notified only if there are concerns after the second screening.
Vision screening uses the PlusOptix. The PlusOptix is an autorefractor that takes a measurement of the refraction of the eyes. The result is a baseline refraction measurement. The illumination technique used by Plusoptix, is totally harmless to the child's eyes. If your child wears glasses or contact lenses for distance or near vision, please be sure they have them on the screening day.
If your child has a hearing loss and is being followed by a healthcare provider or specialist and you do not wish for them to participate in the screening, please let the school nurse know. If you have concerns about hearing loss and school accommodations, contact nurse Rachel.
Thank You! 
A huge thank you to our picture day volunteers Melissa Gustafson, Sarah Linville and Brianna Chung. We couldn't have had such an organized and successful day without your help!
Thank you to our generous PTA for the back to school treat bags for our staff! They were such a fun surprise!
District News 
SPACE IS AVAILABLE IN NORTHSHORE SCHOOL DISTRICT’S PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR THE 2026-27 SCHOOL YEAR!
Northshore preschool programs are currently enrolling children ages 3–5. The preschool years are among the most important for shaping early learning and development. Northshore School District is committed to supporting our youngest learners by helping them build school‑readiness skills, cultivate friendships, and experience a strong sense of community and belonging. The district proudly offers a variety of inclusive general education learning environments.
Our preschool programs include both FREE and tuition-based options.
FREE Programs: Head Start and Ready Start
Eligibility is based on a child’s age, family income, and opportunity gaps.
- Head Start is located at Woodmoor Elementary.
- Click here to schedule a tour at Woodmoor
- Ready Start is located at Sorenson Early Childhood Center.
- Click here to schedule a tour at Sorenson
Spaces are filled on a first‑come, first‑served basis for eligible families, and families are encouraged to apply as early as possible. All information provided is confidential and used only to determine eligibility. The district does not require, check, or report on immigration or DSHS status.
View the applications for income‑eligible free preschool.
Tuition-Based Program
The tuition based Ready Start classroom is located at Sorenson Early Childhood Center.
Spaces are also filled on a first‑come, first‑served basis, and families are encouraged to complete an application as soon as possible.
View the application and criteria for the tuition‑based program.
To learn more about any Northshore preschool program, visit the Northshore Early Childhood District website.
For questions, families may call (425) 408‑6013.