Big Lake Elementary

Cascade Middle School invites all current sixth-grade students and their families to attend one of our upcoming 6th Grade Information Nights. These evenings are designed to help families prepare for a smooth transition to middle school. 🗓 Dates: May 7 – Suggested for families from in-town schools May 13 – Suggested for families from outlying schools (Due to limited parking and seating, we encourage families to attend on the date designated for their school. However, families may attend the alternate date if needed.) 📍 Location: CMS Cafeteria 🕡 Time: Presentation begins promptly at 6 p.m. 🎒 What to expect: • Select electives for 7th grade • Learn about sports and extracurricular activities • Hear tips for transitioning to middle school • Take a self-guided tour with your family 🚗 Parking is available in front of the school and in the bus lanes. We look forward to welcoming you to CMS!

***Please see corrected time. Events start at 6 p.m. Cascade Middle School invites all current sixth-grade students and their families to attend one of our upcoming 6th Grade Information Nights. These evenings are designed to help families prepare for a smooth transition to middle school. 🗓 Dates: May 7 – Suggested for families from in-town schools (Central, Evergreen, Mary Purcell) May 13 – Suggested for families from outlying schools (Big Lake, Clear Lake, Lyman, Samish) (Due to limited parking and seating, we encourage families to attend on the date designated for their school. However, families may attend the alternate date if needed.) 📍 Location: CMS Cafeteria 🕡 Time: Presentation begins promptly at 6 p.m. 🎒 What to expect: • Select electives for 7th grade • Learn about sports and extracurricular activities • Hear tips for transitioning to middle school • Take a self-guided tour with your family 🚗 Parking is available in front of the school and in the bus lanes. We look forward to welcoming you to CMS!

Mark your calendars to join us May 15 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Cascade Middle School Cafeteria for “Celebrating Our Culture.” Enjoy traditional dance performances, authentic cuisine and a celebration of our local Latino culture.

🥜 Peanut Butter Race Alert! 🥜 Big Lake Elementary School has teamed up with the Mount Vernon Post Office to Stamp Out Hunger! The school's goal? 400 containers of peanut butter to support local families in need. 🗓️ Donations accepted through Monday – let’s make a difference, one jar at a time! 💛 #StampOutHunger #BigLakeBeavers #CommunityCaring

This week, we're celebrating National Physical Education and Sport Week! In a town that loves its sports, we're proud of our PE teachers and coaches who help students stay active, build teamwork skills and have fun. Let's keep moving, Sedro-Woolley!

Cascade Middle School invites all current sixth-grade students and their families to attend one of our upcoming 6th Grade Information Nights. These evenings are designed to help families prepare for a smooth transition to middle school. 🗓 Dates: May 7 – Suggested for families from in-town schools (Central, Evergreen, Mary Purcell) May 13 – Suggested for families from outlying schools (Big Lake, Clear Lake, Lyman, Samish) (Due to limited parking and seating, we encourage families to attend on the date designated for their school. However, families may attend the alternate date if needed.) 📍 Location: CMS Cafeteria 🕡 Time: Presentation begins promptly at 6:30 p.m. 🎒 What to expect: • Select electives for 7th grade • Learn about sports and extracurricular activities • Hear tips for transitioning to middle school • Take a self-guided tour with your family 🚗 Parking is available in front of the school and in the bus lanes. We look forward to welcoming you to CMS!

The Sedro-Woolley School District is proud to recognize Elizabeth (Beth) Vaith as Big Lake Elementary School’s Outstanding Employee of the Year! A 6th-grade teacher, Beth goes above and beyond her daily responsibilities to support students, families, and colleagues. Each year, she personally meets every student's family at the start of the year, establishing trust and building a strong foundation for a positive school community. One of her unique traditions invites each student to bring a special guest—whether a parent, relative, or family friend—to the classroom to share about their experiences, helping foster pride, belonging, and meaningful connections. Beth's commitment to students extends well beyond the school day. She leads a variety of student clubs, including art, Lego, tutoring, and homework help, offering students enriching opportunities to learn, explore, and grow. She also regularly attends students' extracurricular activities, participates in parent group and auction meetings, and even hosts family connection dinners, strengthening ties between school and home. Known for setting high expectations paired with support, Beth mentors young teachers, leads district-level committees, and serves as a district mentor, bringing passion, knowledge, and inspiration to her colleagues. In her classroom, she holds one-on-one student conferences, helping each student reflect on their academic progress, set goals, and realize their full potential. Through her guidance, Beth fosters independent thinkers who are well-prepared for the next steps in their academic journey. Beth’s exceptional leadership, dedication, and heart for her students make her an invaluable part of the Big Lake Elementary community. Congratulations, Beth, on this well-deserved honor!

📢 This Week's District Newsletter is Here! 📢 Stay up-to-date with the latest happenings in the Sedro-Woolley School District! ✨ Read this week's newsletter here: https://secure.smore.com/n/nugxs5 Thank you for staying connected with us! 💙 #SWSD #CommunityUpdates #SchoolNews

Cascade Middle School invites all current sixth-grade students and their families to attend one of our upcoming 6th Grade Information Nights. These evenings are designed to help families prepare for a smooth transition to middle school. 🗓 Dates: May 7 – Suggested for families from in-town schools May 13 – Suggested for families from outlying schools (Due to limited parking and seating, we encourage families to attend on the date designated for their school. However, families may attend the alternate date if needed.) 📍 Location: CMS Cafeteria 🕡 Time: Presentation begins promptly at 6:30 p.m. 🎒 What to expect: • Select electives for 7th grade • Learn about sports and extracurricular activities • Hear tips for transitioning to middle school • Take a self-guided tour with your family 🚗 Parking is available in front of the school and in the bus lanes. We look forward to welcoming you to CMS!

Cascade Middle School invites all current sixth-grade students and their families to attend one of our upcoming 6th Grade Information Nights. These evenings are designed to help families prepare for a smooth transition to middle school. 🗓 Dates: May 7 – Suggested for families from in-town schools (Central, Evergreen, Mary Purcell) May 13 – Suggested for families from outlying schools (Big Lake, Clear Lake, Lyman, Samish) (Due to limited parking and seating, we encourage families to attend on the date designated for their school. However, families may attend the alternate date if needed.) 📍 Location: CMS Cafeteria 🕡 Time: Presentation begins promptly at 6 p.m. 🎒 What to expect: • Select electives for 7th grade • Learn about sports and extracurricular activities • Hear tips for transitioning to middle school • Take a self-guided tour with your family 🚗 Parking is available in front of the school and in the bus lanes. We look forward to welcoming you to CMS!

Kindergarten Registration for Big Lake, Clear Lake, Lyman, and Samish is on April 24 from 5–7 p.m. If your child turns 5 by August 31, 2025, make sure to attend! If you missed our recent event at Evergreen, Central, and Mary Purcell Elementary, please take a moment to visit your child's neighborhood school before the school year ends on June 13 to complete the registration packet. Registering is essential—it gives us the accurate student numbers we need to determine the right number of teachers for our incoming kindergarten class. Without these numbers, planning staffing levels becomes challenging, which can impact your child's learning experience. Thank you for helping us ensure every child gets the attention they deserve! 📅 #KindergartenRegistration

Reminder: Staff at Camp Orkila are posting photos to the district's camp Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SWSDCampOrkila.

Happy Earth Day! 🌱 Let’s all remember to do our part in taking care of the environment today and every day. Together, we can make a difference! #EarthDay

Camp Orkila starts today! 🌲 Our 6th graders are off on an unforgettable adventure. Have a great time exploring, learning, and making memories! Staff will be posting photos on the SWSD Camp Orkila Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/SWSDCampOrkila #CampOrkila

Today is School Bus Driver Appreciation Day and since some buses pull out of the barn well before 6 a.m., we're posting this a bit earlier than usual! 🚍 A big thank you to all our bus drivers for getting our students to and from school safely every day and for transporting them to field trips, athletic events and other extracurricular activities. You are appreciated! #BusDriverHeroes

Mark your calendars (and please share this with friends who have children who will be 5 by August 31, 2025)! Kindergarten Registration for the 2025–2026 school year is on April 22 from 5–7 p.m. at Evergreen, Central, and Mary Purcell Elementary! 📅 Kindergarten Registration for Big Lake, Clear Lake, Lyman, and Samish is on April 24 from 5–7 p.m. If your child turns 5 by August 31, 2025, make sure to attend! #KindergartenRegistration

It’s Administrative Professionals Week! 🎉 A big thank you to all our amazing admin staff for keeping our schools running smoothly. We appreciate everything you do! #AdministrativeProfessionals

Happy Public School Volunteer Week! 🙌 From April 21–25, we’re celebrating the incredible volunteers who help make our schools great. We’re thankful for all of our wonderful volunteers. Your support makes a huge difference in the lives of our students! #PublicSchoolVolunteers #VolunteerAppreciation

This week’s Sedro-Woolley School District newsletter is full of important updates, including Camp Orkila info, summer activities, student highlights, and more! Check it out here: https://secure.smore.com/n/h40gq

📣 Do you know a child who turns 5 between Sept. 1, 2025 and Aug. 31, 2026? They may be eligible for Foundations K—a free, full-day early learning program in the Sedro-Woolley School District! Foundations K helps young learners build confidence, develop essential skills, and get ready for kindergarten. 🖍️📚 💻 Learn more: https://www.swsd.k12.wa.us/page/foundations-k 📄 Apply in English: https://forms.gle/wfkYWMJYE9xhzuoX9 📄 Apply in Spanish: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScHNOFgw2xVgN6358Gv2fCSENwmQPeReMqqRbWmHku8A7EIsw/viewform?usp=sharing Questions? Contact Paula Torgeson at ptorgeson@swsd101.org. Let’s give every child the strong start they deserve! 💙