🦫💦 SURPRISE! It was Attendance Day at Big Lake Elementary!
Big Lake held its first Surprise Attendance Day yesterday, starting the morning with music, bubbles, signs and lots of cheers as staff welcomed students to school.
The fun continued in the afternoon when students turned their water shooters on Principal Matt Lutes! 💦 And teacher Natalie Sakuma made sure Mr. Lutes didn't escape without getting completely soaked, dumping a container of water over his head!
Big Lake plans to hold a Surprise Attendance Day each month, with different activities throughout the year designed to make coming to school fun and help students feel welcomed, connected and excited to learn.
Because every day at school is an opportunity to learn, connect and grow — and showing up matters.
Way to go, Beavers! 🦫
Big Lake held its first Surprise Attendance Day yesterday, starting the morning with music, bubbles, signs and lots of cheers as staff welcomed students to school.
The fun continued in the afternoon when students turned their water shooters on Principal Matt Lutes! 💦 And teacher Natalie Sakuma made sure Mr. Lutes didn't escape without getting completely soaked, dumping a container of water over his head!
Big Lake plans to hold a Surprise Attendance Day each month, with different activities throughout the year designed to make coming to school fun and help students feel welcomed, connected and excited to learn.
Because every day at school is an opportunity to learn, connect and grow — and showing up matters.
Way to go, Beavers! 🦫
⚠️ EMAIL SECURITY ALERT
Several Sedro-Woolley School District staff email accounts were recently compromised, and fraudulent emails containing links may have been sent from those accounts to current and former families, community members and other contacts.
Because the messages were sent from legitimate staff email addresses, they may appear to be real.
If you receive an unexpected or unusual email from a district staff member, please do not click on links, open attachments, make purchases or provide personal or financial information.
If you received a suspicious message but did not click anything, report it as spam or phishing and delete it.
If you clicked a link and entered a username or password, change that password immediately. If you provided banking or credit card information or made a purchase, contact your bank or credit card company immediately and report it as potential fraud.
When in doubt, verify the message before responding or clicking anything. You can contact the staff member through the contact form available on the staff directory (available on each school's page by clicking on "Menu" then "Staff". Do not reply to the suspicious email or use contact information or links contained within it.
Please share this information with others who may have received a suspicious message from a district account, including former SWSD families.
Thank you for helping us keep our community safe online.
Several Sedro-Woolley School District staff email accounts were recently compromised, and fraudulent emails containing links may have been sent from those accounts to current and former families, community members and other contacts.
Because the messages were sent from legitimate staff email addresses, they may appear to be real.
If you receive an unexpected or unusual email from a district staff member, please do not click on links, open attachments, make purchases or provide personal or financial information.
If you received a suspicious message but did not click anything, report it as spam or phishing and delete it.
If you clicked a link and entered a username or password, change that password immediately. If you provided banking or credit card information or made a purchase, contact your bank or credit card company immediately and report it as potential fraud.
When in doubt, verify the message before responding or clicking anything. You can contact the staff member through the contact form available on the staff directory (available on each school's page by clicking on "Menu" then "Staff". Do not reply to the suspicious email or use contact information or links contained within it.
Please share this information with others who may have received a suspicious message from a district account, including former SWSD families.
Thank you for helping us keep our community safe online.
📅 There is no school on Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day.
Our first regular district newsletter of the 2026–27 school year is here! Catch up on district news, upcoming events, important reminders and more: https://app.smore.com/n/ry0va
🎒 Today, September 4, is the first day of kindergarten. Welcome to all of our newest learners!
🎉 Welcome back! September 1 is the first day of school for students in grades 1–12. We are excited to begin another great school year.
*Please note: Sedro-Woolley High School will follow a Blue Block schedule (periods 1–4) today; White Block (periods 5–8) on Wednesday, September 2.
*Please note: Sedro-Woolley High School will follow a Blue Block schedule (periods 1–4) today; White Block (periods 5–8) on Wednesday, September 2.
Read the World Around You:
Menus.
Recipes.
Instructions.
Maps.
Invite children to help read everyday items around your home and community.
Menus.
Recipes.
Instructions.
Maps.
Invite children to help read everyday items around your home and community.
Reading Under the Stars: Take a blanket outside and enjoy a book together in the evening.
A change of scenery can make reading feel like a special summer adventure.
A change of scenery can make reading feel like a special summer adventure.
When temperatures rise, Memorial Park's splash pad is a great way to stay active and cool.
Open daily from 10 a.m. until dusk.
Open daily from 10 a.m. until dusk.
Storytelling counts: Reading isn't the only literacy activity.
Tell family stories, discuss favorite memories, and encourage children to retell events from their day.
Strong storytelling skills help build future writing skills.
Tell family stories, discuss favorite memories, and encourage children to retell events from their day.
Strong storytelling skills help build future writing skills.
You're invited!
Join us as we celebrate the dedication of the Robert and Becky Gates Outdoor Learning Center at Big Lake Elementary School.
📅 August 15, 2026
🕚 11 a.m.
📍 Big Lake Elementary School
For decades, Bob and Becky Gates have quietly supported students throughout the Sedro-Woolley School District, helping fund classroom innovation, educational experiences, and opportunities that have enriched the lives of countless children.
This new outdoor learning center honors their extraordinary generosity and the many volunteers, donors and community partners who helped bring this vision to life.
Everyone is welcome to attend this special community celebration. We hope you'll join us as we recognize a legacy of giving that will continue to inspire future generations of students.
Join us as we celebrate the dedication of the Robert and Becky Gates Outdoor Learning Center at Big Lake Elementary School.
📅 August 15, 2026
🕚 11 a.m.
📍 Big Lake Elementary School
For decades, Bob and Becky Gates have quietly supported students throughout the Sedro-Woolley School District, helping fund classroom innovation, educational experiences, and opportunities that have enriched the lives of countless children.
This new outdoor learning center honors their extraordinary generosity and the many volunteers, donors and community partners who helped bring this vision to life.
Everyone is welcome to attend this special community celebration. We hope you'll join us as we recognize a legacy of giving that will continue to inspire future generations of students.
Practice listening and following multi-step directions.
Try:
"Please put your shoes away, wash your hands, and bring me your backpack."
Listening skills are important for classroom success.
Try:
"Please put your shoes away, wash your hands, and bring me your backpack."
Listening skills are important for classroom success.
Children are more likely to become readers when they see adults reading.
Whether it's a newspaper, cookbook, magazine, or novel, let your children see reading as part of everyday life.
Whether it's a newspaper, cookbook, magazine, or novel, let your children see reading as part of everyday life.
Color.
Draw.
Cut with scissors.
Use glue.
These activities strengthen the fine motor skills children will need in kindergarten!
Draw.
Cut with scissors.
Use glue.
These activities strengthen the fine motor skills children will need in kindergarten!
Family Fitness Challenge:
Can your family walk one mile together?
Ride bikes together?
Visit a new park?
Physical activity helps children stay healthy and ready to learn.
Can your family walk one mile together?
Ride bikes together?
Visit a new park?
Physical activity helps children stay healthy and ready to learn.
Library Treasure Hunt
Challenge your child to find:
• A nonfiction book
• A mystery
• A book about animals
• A book set in another country
• A graphic novel
Exploring different genres helps children discover new interests and keeps reading fun.
Challenge your child to find:
• A nonfiction book
• A mystery
• A book about animals
• A book set in another country
• A graphic novel
Exploring different genres helps children discover new interests and keeps reading fun.
Practice writing names using crayons, pencils, whiteboards, finger tracing, or even sand.
Recognizing and writing their name helps children start kindergarten confidently.
Recognizing and writing their name helps children start kindergarten confidently.
Take a family walk and identify plants, birds, insects, and trees. Nature provides endless opportunities for science learning.
