• September 18th- PTO Dine out

Shadle Panda Express(Bring

Flyer)

• September 19th- PTO Skate

night, 6-8:00pm

• September 21st– Individual

Picture Day

• September 24th– Toothsavers

• September 24th– Finch Spirit

Day: Sports(wear your favorite

sports team)

• September 26th– PTO Sports

Night 5-7:00pm

• September 27th– Rescreening

for hearing and vision

• September 28th– Early Release

at 1:45pm

• September 28th– PJamma for

kids with cancer /Hats on Day

• October 5th– Coffee with the

Principle

• October 9th– PTO Meeting

6-7:00pm

• October 12th– No School

September Mustang Messenger

PRINCIPAL’S NOTE For several years now, Spokane Public School has had a district wide initiative called T24, which now falls under what we refer to as College and Career Readiness. The purpose of the initiative is to help students set goals early in their mind for life after high school, instead of thinking the big goal is to just finish high school. Research has shown students as early as 3rd grade have made up their mind about what their plan is for after high school. Research also shows that students who go on to community colleges, technical schools, universities, or military service, create a more successful situation for themselves in the types of job opportunities they can pursue, as well as the financial compensation for those jobs. Here at Finch, we have several ways we are helping students think and plan and goal set for life after high school. One way is a Powerpoint presentation our counselor puts together and shares with the teachers. Last year we learned about Spokane Community College, Eastern Washington University, and the Air Force. This year, we will continue to present those types of items and include some trade schools and careers that have a more on the job training. You might also see staff members wearing different college gear on Monday’s to support the thinking and fun idea of pride in your alma mater or favorite school. We also are supporting our students on this journey by helping them set smaller goals along the way to reach that big goal for themselves as adults. Setting smaller goals and working on strategies to reach them teaches students how to plan and prepare for bigger ones. Each student will be working with their teachers to set reading, writing, and math goals this year and develop strategies to help achieve them. I encourage you to ask your child what goal they set and how you can support them to accomplish these small goals and set them on the path for getting their big goal.

Respectfully,

Shane O’Doherty

Main Phone: 354-2600 Attendance: 354-2555 www.spokaneschools.org/finch

We are Finch • Amber Smith– 3rd Grade Teacher

• How many years have you worked at Finch? This is my first year, but it's my 10th year teaching!

• What is your favorite part of your job? I love it when you see a student have that "aha!" moment--their

eyes light up and it all just clicks!

• What are some of the challenges you face? Watching my three children grow up--it's true when they say,

"If you blink, you'll miss it."

• When you are not at work what do you like to do? I mostly like to spend time with my family and friends,

but I also like stand-up paddleboarding and playing the ukulele and piano.

• What is something most people don’t know about you? I'm a writer--I've published short stories and poetry,

and I also have written for a magazine. I'm working on writing a book.

• What college did you attend? Western Washington University, EWU, and

Whitworth.

• What was your favorite subject in school? All of them!

• What is your favorite Spokane restaurant? That's a tough one! I love great

food. Maybe QQ Sushi right now.

• Best thing you’ve read/seen/heard lately? This summer I read "Ready Player

One." It's 100 times better than the movie!

PTO Dine Out

First one of the year! ALL Day at Panda Express!

Come enjoy a yummy meal and help the Finch PTO

Shadle Panda Express

2223 W Wellesley

Spokane Public Schools has partnered

with CareDox’s Healthy Schools to

bring a Flu Shot Clinic to Finch on

October 22nd, that will take place dur-

ing the school day.

The copay is $0, so there is no cost to

you.

Please return your

consent forms by

October 22nd

or sign up online at

spokaneschoolsflu.com

Finch is Hiring! We are looking for substitutes for our noon-aide and

AM/PM crossing guard positions. If you are

interested in becoming a sub here

at Finch, please stop by the office to fill out an

application.

These positions can vary

from 1.5 to 3 hours a day.

Welcome Back Finch Families! We are so excited to partner with you as we serve our Finch

community! Please remember to complete a volunteer application so that you are able to volunteer in the

classroom, chaperone field trips, assist with After School Activities and facilitate our amazing PTO events!

If you have any questions please contact me, RenaeC@SpokaneSchools.org, or call the office

(509) 354-2600.

We will once again combine our October meetings (Volunteer Orientation, WatchDogs Kick Off and PTO Meeting) in to one

VERY IMPORTANT meeting on October 9th from 6pm – 8pm. Dinner and childcare will be provided. Thank you to Ed Elliot

with Papa Murphy’s for providing the pizza! Thank you to PTO for providing childcare!

When you come to the October 9th meeting you will find out the following:

Volunteer Orientation (with special guest Robin Fiorillo from Volunteer Services)

Topics will include: Security, Emergency Response, Confidentiality, Log In/Out Procedures, Personal Safety and

Opportunities to Volunteer

WatchDogs Kick Off (with our very own Luke Rettele!):

"Calling ALL men who desire to be a POSTIVE role model and mentor to our Mustangs...we need

you!!!"

What is WatchDogs? (visit http://www.fathers.com/watchdogs for a preview) What does a WatchDog do?

I hope to see you ALL at our combined meeting on October 9th... we appreciate your time and we are excited for the year ahead!

Any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me, renaec@spokaneschools.org or call the office (509) 354-2600.

We volunteer because our kiddos are worth it...we get paid in six figures: S.M.I.L.E.S.

This Photo by

Individual Picture Day– September 21st

Individual Picture Retakes– October 19th

T K W H Z C P D R H A S

U M I K C U I V O O T R

H R I N X N U L N N I F

C I T A D I I H O E D W

J L A O I N A F H S I F

P R E P A R E D C T A V

L H W G D P B S F H K P

U B H W C X Y V S Y A Y

Q S O T C E P S E R Q L

K R Y R N Z C U L P I I

K O I C F J S T E Z M U

G S U S J A I C K O C V

Finch Word Search

This Is Finch!

FINCH HARDWORK HONEST

HONOR KINDNESS PREPARED

RESPECT

NON DISCRIMINATION

Spokane Public Schools complies with all federal and state rules and regulations and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, sexual orientation including gender expression or identi-ty, or honorably discharged veteran or military status. This holds true for all students who are interested in participating in educational programs and/or extracurricular school activities, and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Inquiries regarding compliance and/or grievance procedures may be directed to the school district’s Title IX/Staff Civil Rights Officer, ADA Officer and/or Harassment, Intimidation, Bullying (HIB)/Student Civil Rights/504 Compliance Officer. Title IX/Staff Civil Rights Officer, Kevin O’Neill (509) 354-5961 • Harassment, Intimidation, Bulling

HIB/Student Civil Rights Officer, Dr. Adam Swinyard 354-5901 • 504 , Compliance Officer, Gwen Harris 354-7254 • ADA Officer, Dr. Linda , McDermott (509) 354-7318 • Affirmative Action Officer, Kevin O’Neill (509) 354-5961 • Equal Opportunity Officer, Ramon Alvarez, (509) 354-7344 • 200 N. Bernard Street, Spokane, WA 99201-0282.

Pete the Cat

Scavenger Hunt

Mrs. Hester’s

Kindergarten

class!