Family and Community News | Sept.11, 2022

Kicking off the new school year

We were thrilled to welcome most of our students back to school last week, and now we look forward to meeting our youngest learners.

• Kindergarten starts Tuesday, Sept. 13
• Full-day preschool starts Thursday, Sept. 15
• Half-day preschool and peer inclusion preschool start Monday, Sept. 19.

Late start Wednesdays begin this week

The first late start is this Wednesday, Sept. 14. All schools begin one hour later on Wednesday mornings except when noted otherwise. Check your school's calendar and bell schedule for more details.

Now is the time to register high school students for Tacoma Flex

Tacoma high schoolers can increase the flexibility in their schedule by registering for Tacoma Flex courses. Students can take up to two online courses at the beginning and/or end of their school day, in addition to completing the rest of their classes in person at their high school.

Working with Tacoma Online, all remote courses will be delivered by Tacoma teachers and housed in the district’s Edgenuity learning management platform. 

Students can work with their school counselors to enroll in Tacoma Flex. The deadline to add Tacoma Flex to a student's schedule is Sept. 21. Deadlines for changing in-person classes may vary by school. 

Tacoma Flex is an ideal opportunity for students who have jobs or family commitments that the traditional in-person school schedule does not allow for. And we know developmentally, teenagers sleep patterns change and that good sleep hygiene is essential to our students' success. A flexible schedule can help accommodate those needs. 

Parental consent is required to participate. Find course offerings and more information.

Attending a high school athletic event? Take a look at this checklist 

If you’re planning to attend an event at Stadium Bowl, Lincoln Bowl or Mt. Tahoma Stadium, take a look at these updated regulations, which allow spectators to bring in bags and single-serve snacks and drinks.

• Only clear bags and/or a small clutch/purse/wallet are allowed inside the stadiums. Bags must be clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and may not be larger than 12” x 6” x 12”. A small clutch, not larger than 4.5” x 6.5” (with or without a handle or strap) may be carried inside the stadium.

• Single-serving food and drinks are allowed.

• Spectators may not bring sports equipment, such as soccer balls or footballs, into the facility.

• Students may not cross to the other side of the facility.

• Spectators are not allowed on the field at any time.

• Students will not be allowed to re-enter the facility once they leave.

• Ticket sales will end after the 3rd quarter; there will be no stadium entry after that.

Superintendent: We are better together

Superintendent Josh Garcia welcomes Tacoma's students, staff and families back to school, enthused about growth, success and partnership in our larger community. 

As a school district we'll continue to work in strong partnership to serve all kids. Let's make it a great year!

Why do we sometimes move teachers and students to different classes? 

Experience tells us that every year our enrollment will fluctuate during the first two weeks of school as some students moved elsewhere and other students who moved into the neighborhood over the summer have not yet enrolled.

So, when enrollment numbers stabilize around the third week of school, we make final classroom adjustments. Some years we don’t have to change much. Other years, the changes are more extensive. We’re always working to support students and staff while ensuring we’re living within our budget. This short animation helps to explain.

Help your child build the habit of good attendance 

Starting as early as preschool, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school.

• Missing 10%, or about two days each month over the course of a school year, can make it harder to learn to read.
• Students can still fall behind if they miss just one or two days every few weeks.
• Being late to school may lead to poor attendance.

Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school—and themselves. When we start building this habit early, kids learn right away that going to school on time, every day is important. Eventually good attendance will be a skill that will help them succeed.

Jobs 253 celebrates 10 years and hosts trades fair

Rewarding, well-paying careers in the trades are ready and waiting for people in Tacoma. That was the message shared with Tacoma Public Schools students, graduates and community members at our Summer Jobs 253 10th Anniversary Celebration at Silas High School.

Tacoma Online Senior Quincy Tinnin spent his summer working in the plumbing and pipe fitting program gaining valuable work experience along with a paycheck. He said he was looking forward to finding a job where he could use his skills and make a living wage. Learn more about Jobs 253. 

Families can file for child tax credit

This year, more families and individuals with low or no incomes across Washington could get thousands of dollars in federal payments due to policy changes - even if they have never filed taxes before. To get this money, eligible families can file a simplified tax return in 15 minutes or less (if they have not already filed taxes this year). 

It is estimated that at least 46,000 children in Washington could miss out on at least $3,000 each with the Child Tax Credit.

People who have not yet filed a tax return can do so before mid-November to claim these credits.  

Join Team Tacoma: TPS is hiring for positions across the school district

Looking for a new, rewarding opportunity? Know somebody looking for a new part-time or full-time commitment? 

TPS is now hiring for the following positions:

• Nutrition Services team members
• Education support professionals
• Bus drivers and monitors
• Athletic coaches and assistant coaches
• Health clerks
• Classified and certificated substitutes

Benefit package for qualifying employees includes medical, dental, vision and retirement. TPS also offers new hire bonuses.

Work for Metro Parks Tacoma

Interested in after school employment opportunities? Metro Parks Tacoma is hiring on a first-come, first-served basis to support after-school programs for Tacoma students. Apply at Metro Parks. 

Tacoma Learns provides activities for students all year long

Looking for student activities and opportunities all year long? Check out Tacoma Learns, an online directory of youth programs throughout Tacoma and Pierce County for those in pre-K through 12th grade. Families and students can search by grade level, cost, interest, location, and more! Explore the directory for upcoming program activities and beyond.   

Tacoma Public Schools | tacomaschools.org | 253-571-1000 | info@tacoma.k12.wa.us

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