Sawyer Woods Elementary -

Celebrating National Mentoring Month: Highlighting Kent Youth and Family Services 💙

January is National Mentoring Month, and as OneKSD, we are proud to recognize the incredible work of Kent Youth and Family Services. For more than 55 years, KYFS has supported children, youth, and families in our community through professional counseling, education, and a variety of support services.

Their mission—to promote healthy development and help youth and families achieve their goals—reflects values we share as a district: equity, inclusion, partnership, and advocacy. By working together, we can help students thrive and build brighter futures.

We are grateful for partners like Kent Youth and Family Services who strengthen our schools and our community every day.

🏀🤼 Middle School Season 3 begins January 26! Girls Basketball and Wrestling are starting soon. Families who qualify are encouraged to complete the CNEEB Application (Child Nutrition Eligibility & Education Benefit) to help reduce or waive sports and activity fees and support student participation this winter. Apply today through the Nutrition section of the Kent School District website.

Final Reminder: OneKSD Art Contest 🎨

There’s still time to participate in the OneKSD Art Contest! We are still accepting digital entries until 11:59 p.m. on January 11.

This is your last chance to showcase your creativity and share what OneKSD means to you through art. We can’t wait to see the inspiring work from our talented students across the district! 💙💛

Don’t miss out—submit your digital entry before the deadline!

Thursday, December 18: Power has been fully restored at Sawyer Woods Elementary, and the school is open and operating on its regular schedule today, Thursday, December 18. 

As you travel to school, please use caution. There may still be fallen branches or debris in some areas following the recent windstorm. Allow extra time for your commute and remind students to stay alert when walking near roadways.

We appreciate your flexibility and support during this time, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back.

Due to possible flooding in the Kent Valley, out of an abundance of caution, all after-school activities are canceled at these schools for Monday, December 15:

• East Hill Elementary

• Kent Elementary

• Meadow Ridge Elementary

• Mill Creek Middle School

• Neely-O'Brien Elementary

• Panther Lake Elementary

• River Ridge Elementary

• Scenic Hill Elementary

• Springbrook Elementary

Due to heavy traffic, school buses in the valley will be late.

The city of Kent confirmed that the messages sent from the National Weather Service and King County were to a broad audience. The city of Kent is working to provide additional communications.

Please know the district is closely monitoring the situation, working with the City of Kent Emergency Operations Center, and keeping the safety of our students and staff as our highest priority.

As always, keep monitoring your communications, be safe and cautious. We will provide updates as more information becomes available. Again, continue to monitor your communications.

Kent School District is hosting a free vaccine clinic to help ensure students are healthy and up to date on required and recommended immunizations. For ages 6 months to 18 years are welcome—no cost, regardless of insurance status!

📅 Date: Thursday, December 12

⏰ Time: 12:00–3:00 p.m.

📍 Location: KSD Administration Building – Mt. Adams Room

💉 Routine & School-Required Vaccines Available:

• DTaP/Tdap (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Whooping Cough)

• Hepatitis A & Hepatitis B

• IPV (Polio)

• Hib (Haemophilus Influenzae)

• HPV (Human Papillomavirus)

• Varicella (Chickenpox)

• MenACWY-TT (Meningococcal)

• MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)

• Men B (Meningococcal B)

• PCV20 (Pneumococcal)

• COVID-19 & Flu (Influenza)

🎨 Get ready, KSD—It’s almost time! Building on the amazing momentum from last spring, the OneKSD Art Contest returns December 1! Students and staff are invited to show what equity means to them through original artwork celebrating opportunity, belonging, and helping everyone thrive in our diverse community.

🎉 Check out all the details and start dreaming up your design: www.kent.k12.wa.us/oneKSDart

🏀🤼‍♀️🎉 Winter sports are heating up! Whether your student is hitting the court, the mat, or the sidelines, completing a CNEEB Application (Child Nutrition Eligibility & Education Benefit) , for those who qualify,  can help make participation more affordable.

By filling out the form, families can unlock:

✅ Reduced or waived fees for basketball, wrestling, cheer, and other activities

✅ More school funding for programs and student support

✅ A stronger, more connected OneKSD community

It’s quick, confidential, and makes a big difference all year long.

📝 Complete your CNEEB today and get ready for a great winter season!

 Fill it out here: Nutrition | Kent School District

Outdoor education is an important part of student learning. It builds curiosity, teamwork, and resilience while helping students connect with the natural world. For many fifth graders, it’s their first learning experience outside the classroom.

Due to recent changes in state funding, Washington has eliminated financial support for outdoor learning programs. This puts these experiences at risk—especially for students in underserved communities.

The Kent School District remains committed to providing a one-day outdoor learning experience for all fifth-grade students in the 2025–26 school year. To sustain and expand this opportunity in next year and beyond, we need help from our community.

Your donation to the Kent Schools Foundation’s 5th Grade Outdoor Education Fund will directly support outdoor learning for every fifth grader in the district, ensuring all students have access to this valuable experience.

Make a donation today: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CV2VLWF9Z3PUL

Together, we can make sure outdoor education continues to be a meaningful part of every Kent student’s education.

If the federal government shutdown continues, food assistance benefits in Washington will end on Oct. 31, 2025. Losing food assistance will have devastating impacts on the well-being of hundreds of thousands of Washington residents and will hurt local economies across the state. DSHS has more information about the impacts as well as what clients can do to prepare for the loss of benefits.

For more information visit: Community Resources | Kent School District

📅 Elementary Conference Week: Oct. 13–17

Please note schedule changes for elementary schools during conference week:

✅ Elementary Schools Dismiss 3 Hours Early

• Monday, Oct. 13

• Tuesday, Oct. 14

• Thursday, Oct. 16

• Friday, Oct. 17

Wednesday, Oct. 15 – ALL SCHOOLS Dismiss 2 Hours Early

Preschool Schedule:

• Oct. 13 & 14 – Regular Schedule

• Oct. 15–17 – No Preschool

Please check with your child’s school for specific conference times. Thank you for partnering with us in your student’s success!

For the 2025-2026 school year, every student in the Kent School District will receive essential school supplies at no cost to families.

This initiative is OneKSD in action as we prioritized district funding and partnered with local community groups to provide supplies for our students.

For more information about the provided school supplies, visit School Supplies