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Chambers Primary

Kids Come First

Chambers Primary Weekly Principal Newsletter September 20, 2026

Posted Date: 09/20/26 (09:00 AM)


Champs

Chambers Primary

Weekly Principal Newsletter

September 20, 2026
 

Upcoming Events

9.22 PTA Takeover at Bliss Ice Cream
9.24 PTA General Membership Meeting (Library)
9.25 Popcorn Friday

Principal's Message

Thank you to all the families who joined us for Back to School Night this week! It was wonderful to welcome you into our classrooms and give you an opportunity to learn more about your child’s daily routines, classroom expectations, and learning experiences.

Your partnership is an important part of your child’s success. When families and school work together, students feel supported, connected, and ready to learn. We appreciate you taking the time to meet with our staff and begin building those strong connections. We are grateful to have you as part of our Chambers community!

Another way to connect is through our PTA. We have a general meeting (open to everyone) on Thursday at 6pm. We hope you can make it!

Gratefully serving Chambers students, staff and community,
Mrs. Gann

Assistant Principal's Message

Dear Chambers Primary Families,

It was fantastic seeing so many of our families at Back to School Night! Thank you to everyone who took the time to join us, visit classrooms, and connect with our teachers and staff. Your active involvement and strong partnership play an important role in our students' growth and success, We appreciate everything you do to support our Chambers Champs, and we look forward to continuing to work together throughout the school year!

Attendance

Attendance Reporting & Planned Absences
Consistent attendance is key to your child’s success, but we know illnesses and family emergencies happen. If your child is going to be absent, please notify our office using one of the following methods and be sure to include the specific reason for the absence:
  • Phone: Call the main office at 253-566-5650.
  • Email: Send a note to our office staff at tdobson@upsd83.org and svanderpuy@upsd83.org.
  • Family Access (Skyward): Submit an “Absence Request” 
  • ParentSquare: Reply directly to the automated Attendance Notice Alert by clicking “Send Note to School”

Planning Ahead: If you know your child will be absent for 3 or more consecutive days, please contact the office in advance to request a Primary School Planned Absence Request Form. Thank you for helping us keep our attendance records accurate and our students supported!
  • Tip for Families: Schedule non-urgent appointments and vacations outside of school hours whenever possible. If an appointment during the school day is unavoidable, bringing your child in for the portion of the day they can attend still makes a huge difference!
  • Right now, all grade levels are meeting our schoolwide attendance goal of at least 90% of students attending 90% of days! Keep it up!

Social Emotional Learning

This week our regulation skill is called Comfort Spot from the "do it"  category, which are task and goal-oriented strategies that involve taking action.

What is a Comfort Spot?
  • Think about a place that feels comfortable and cozy. 
  • Where can you go to relax?
  • Do you have a comfort spot like this in your classroom?
  • This is the safe place we can use to take a break and reset. 

In partnership,
Ms. Catie Bartley

Reminders/Notifications

Student Drop Off Line

Thank you for helping our student drop off line run smoothly. Our drop off line functions as a drive-thru. It is very important to remain in your vehicle and pull all the way forward so your student can exit quickly and safely. If you need to help your child exit the car or you need to give them a hug, please park your vehicle in a parking space and have them walk up. 
student drop off

Temporary Traffic Cameras and Counters

On September 24th you may see some temporary cameras and counters that our engineers are using to help plan for the new building and parking lot. 
 
Breakfast & Lunch Menus
Spirit Days
UPSD Primary Student Handbook
Arrival & Dismissal Procedures
My Ride (School Bus Tracking)
Chambers Primary Website
Chambers Primary PTA Website
 
UPSD Nondiscrimination statement

Chambers Primary PTA

Newsletter

Hello, Chambers families! 🐾
Thank you to everyone who joined us for Back-to-School Night! We have more fun ahead—here are our upcoming PTA events and a few reminders for our Chambers Champs.

🍦 Bliss Takeover — Tuesday, September 22
Enjoy a treat at Bliss Ice Cream in University Place from 3–9 p.m. while supporting our school! Mention Chambers Primary at checkout, and a portion of your purchase will go back to our school. Thank you for supporting our local restaurant takeovers!

📅 General Membership Meeting — Thursday, September 24
Join us from 6–7 p.m. in the Chambers Primary Library for our first General Membership Meeting of the year! Meet our board members and event chairs, hear about upcoming activities, and share your ideas. Kids are welcome!

You can also join online or by phone:
💻 Meeting link: Join on Google Meet
 📞 Phone: +1 240-650-4574
 PIN: 239283212

🍿 Popcorn Friday — September 25
Our first Popcorn Friday of the school year is coming up! Students will enjoy popcorn and a small treat, thanks to our PTA volunteers. Interested in helping pop and distribute popcorn? Contact us at info@chambersprimarypta.com!

👟 Mileage Club Starts in October!
Mileage Club is coming up next month! Keep an eye out for volunteer sign-ups—we’d love your help keeping our Chambers Champs moving and cheering them on!

🍬 Feed the Candy Monster—and Win a Class Party!
Our Candy Monster collection begins September 28 and runs through October 23! Help us collect candy and treats for our October Trunk or Read event. Classes will compete to collect the most donations by weight, and the winning class will earn a class party!

Starting September 28, donations can be dropped off in the front-office collection bin before or after school. Please label your bag with your student’s class so your donations count toward the contest!

👕 School T-Shirt Reminder
If your student’s Chambers shirt still fits, keep wearing it! You do not need to submit a new request form unless your student needs a shirt or a different size.
Completed T-shirt request forms can be returned to the school office. If you have an outgrown Chambers shirt you’d like to donate, please place it in the labeled returns and donations bin in the front office. Thank you for helping us keep our Champs outfitted!

💙 Join the PTA!
Your membership helps support student activities, school events, and our school community. Whether you attend events, volunteer, or simply become a member, your support makes a difference!
We’re offering two individual membership options:
  • $15 — Membership only
  • $25 — Membership plus a T-shirt
Sign up by October 15 to take advantage of the T-shirt offer. You can join the PTA throughout the school year.

As always, if you have questions or there is anything we can do to support your family, please email info@chambersprimarypta.com.
Thank you for being part of our Chambers community! 🐾
Important Dates:
Bliss takeover: September 22nd - all day at Bliss Ice Cream in University Place (Just mention Chambers Primary when checking out)

General Membership Meeting: Thursday September 24th at 6:00 pm at Chambers Primary Library

PTA membership with T-shirt: Order is due October 15th to get the T-shirt deal (but you can always join the PTA throughout the year). 
bliss
pta membership
join pta