Genesee Hill Parent Orientation 2023-24

Genesee Hill Leadership Team

Principal Liz Dunn eadunn@seattleschools.org

Assistant Principal Lisa Clayton lclayton@seattleschools.org

Administrative Assistant Pamela Jones pkjones@seattleschools.org

Office Assistant/Attendance Stacy Pritchard slpritchard@seattleschools.org

Genesee Hill Staff

Kindergarten: Shiloh Clark, Katie Funke, Tara Ritzman

1st Grade: Beth Grasel, Margaret Lewis, Julie Pietsch

2nd Grade: Alison Aylesworth, Danielle Jones, Renee Marroquin, Erin Munavu

3rd Grade: Vincent Della Pella, Jackie Frazier, Nicole Williams

3rd/4th Split: Stephen Katz

4th Grade: Amber Vandermeulen, Michael Washington

4th/5th Split: Leslie Addington-Ferris

5th Grade: Per Junkerman, Emily Lappe, Kay Yano

Specialists:

• CJ Sealey, PE
• Sam Turner, Dance
• Mark Edgbert, Music
• Kathy Quenzer, Art

Librarian: Lindsay Yost

Interventionists:

• Gina Frazzini, Reading
• Mick Philp, Math

Special Education: Tia Demirkaya, Megan Kahn, Kyle Vercammen, Dorothy Wells

English Language: Lisa Barajas

Counselor: Allie McDonald

Support Staff:

• Geri Thompson, School Nurse
• Tania Karshner, Psychologist
• Tiffany Hutchings, Speech Language Pathologist
• Tami Brockschmidt, Occupational Therapist

Curriculum

• ELA – Center for Collaborative Classroom (CCC)
  • Making Meaning
  • Being A Reader
  • Being A Writer
• Math – envision Mathematics
  • Solve & Share
  • Visual Learning
  • Guided Practice
  • Independent Practice
  • SuccessMaker
• Science – Amplify Science
  • Units based on Next Generation Science Standards
• Social Studies
  • Since Time Immemorial
• Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
  • Second Step
  • RULER
  • Child Protection (K-3)
  • Bullying Prevention (4-5)
• Sexual Health Education
  • Grades 4-5

Assessments

• Kindergarten: WAKids
• K-5: Measure of Academic Progress (MAP)
• K-2: DIBELS
• 3rd-5th grade: Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA)

What Do I Do When My Child struggles?

• CHAMPSS support
• ELA Intervention
• Math Intervention
• SEL Support
• MTSS

Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)

Tier 1 – Strong Core Curriculum Instruction with Universal Accommodations for all students – Inclusionary Practices and UDL

• Classroom teachers differentiate, put interventions in place, and track data for all outliers (students needing extra support and those students needing extension)​
• Tier 1 interventions include small group instruction, CHAMPSS support, selected independent practice, SuccessMaker, etc.

Tier 2 – Core Instruction plus targeted interventions

• Grade Level Teams will meet to discuss student concerns, possible solutions and ongoing intervention plans
• MTSS Leadership Team will meet to review Grade Level meeting notes, recommend tier 2 interventions and continue to monitor and modify supports

Tier 3 – Student Intervention Team (SIT)

• MTSS Leadership Team will determine when it is necessary to schedule a formal SIT meeting
• SIT Team will meet to review all data and determine next steps:
  •  Additional Tier 2 supports
  •  504 Plan
  •  Special Education Evaluation for possible IEP

Advanced Learning Opportunities (ALO)

At Genesee Hill, we have high expectations for all students, and we know that each will be challenged by the rigor and depth of our curriculum. To that end, we follow the inclusion model in which teachers differentiate instruction for all students.

Learn more about Advanced Learning at Genesee Hill

Bell Schedule 2023-24

School Hours: 7:55 a.m. – 2:25 p.m. 
Wednesdays: 7:55 a.m. – 1:10 p.m.

Genesee Hill daily bell schedule

SW Dakota Permanently Closed

The permanent school street will have 2 main components:

• Painted curb bulbs and concrete bollards with signage
• Thermoplastic art in the street

Drop-off & Pick-up Procedures

Genesee Hill drop-off and pick-up procedures

Attendance

Genesee Hill Attendance Information

Transportation

Genesee Hill Transportation Procedures

School Meals

School Meals information

Start of School Forms

We will no longer be sending home the traditional “First Day Packet”.

All Start of School forms are available online

Student Data Verification is available online September 6-30. The online Student Data Verification form includes the Emergency Release Form and the Student Health Information Form. To access, log in to your Source account and select Student Data Verification form from the navigation menu.

Please view all forms and fill out as needed:

• Change of Address
• Child Find and 504
• FERPA
• Health and Immunization
• McKinney-Vento
• SPS Student Devices
• Native Education
• Creating a Source Account

The Source

• Parents and guardians of students actively enrolled in SPS need to set up an account on The Source.
• Parent and guardian Source accounts display attendance, assessment scores, Elementary Progress Reports, Secondary Performance Reports, secondary student assignment scores, SchoolPay, Schoology Access Codes and other information.
• To set up your account go to “The Source” on the SPS website
• From there you will enter the email address on school record to receive a confirmation email from sourcesupport@seattleschools.org.
• Open that email, click the link, then create a password and your good to go!

Volunteers and Family Engagement

Our teacher teams love to use volunteers in the classroom. Watch for your teacher to reach out for their specific needs and Room Parent wishes.

In the meantime, please visit the district website to complete the volunteer application process.

Join the Genesee Hill PTA!

Please consider becoming a member of the Genesee Hill PTA! The Genesee Hill PTA serves the school and community by providing a powerful voice to all children, relevant resources to families, and cohesive advocacy to, and partnership with, the greater West Seattle Community and School District.

For more information or to become a member, please visit the Genesee Hill PTA website.

PTA Board Members will be available at the Open House on September 5 as well as serving coffee at morning drop-off on the first day of school to help welcome you back to school and answer any of your questions.

Cell Phones & Smart Watches

We recognize that many students carry cell phones to communicate with parents to and from school, however students are not allowed to use cell phones or Smart Watches on school property.

If a student has an emergency call to make, they must first obtain permission from an adult to use a phone or go to the office and ask the front desk to call parent/guardian.

1. The first time an adult takes away a cell phone, the phone goes to the office and the child picks it up from the principal at the end of the day.
2. When this happens a second time, the principal keeps the cell phone until the parent can collect it.

The school is not responsible for any lost or stolen cell phones or other electronic items. Should a cell phone or electronic device go missing, the administrator will only investigate if a child was “strong armed”, and the device was taken that way. Lost, missing, or presumed stolen electronics will not be investigated.

Safety and Emergencies

Student safety is our priority.

To that end, and in accordance with SPS Safety & Security priorities, our building will always remain locked. All visitors/volunteers must check in through the buzzed entry at the main entrance.

• Staff and visitors will be required to wear an ID badge when in the building.
• Fire drills, earthquake drills, reverse evacuation, shelter-in-place, and lock down drills are all practiced during the school year. Escape routes are posted in each instructional space in the building.
• Genesee Hill Elementary’s building lock-down plan assists in maintaining order and safety within the school building.
• “Lock-down” means all inner and outer doors are locked, including classroom doors. No one may come in or out.
  • Parents are sent email notification after each lock-down drill.
• “Shelter in Place” means that the outer doors are locked but staff and students may move within the building.

Important Upcoming Events

• Start of School Open House – Tuesday, September 5 at 3-4
• Kindergarten Parent Orientation – Friday, September 8 at 8-9
• Curriculum Night – Thursday, September 28
  • 5:45- 7:15 – All specialists will be stationed in the Lunchroom with information about their specific program
  • 6-6:45 – K, 1st and 2nd grade classroom presentations
  • 7-7:45 – 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classroom presentations

Family Handbook

More information can be found in the Genesee Hill Family Handbook.