Dear Orca Families,

On Tuesday, November 18 we will have a Lockdown Drill. The state requires us to hold a series of emergency drills throughout the year. Lockdown Drills are held twice during the school year.

Please be assured that we take great care to ensure these drills have minimal impact on our students. For that reason, we practice for a lockdown situation by announcing on the intercom that we are having a drill and it is just a drill.

We will not rattle door knobs, make loud noises, ask students to run, fight, or block doors. 

We understand that these drills—and conversations about them—can sometimes make students uncomfortable. To support students, teachers will use a developmentally appropriate script when discussing lockdown drills. We take student safety seriously and work hard to help students feel safe and supported, even as we practice monthly emergency drills.

The link below provides important information for parents about what to expect and how to respond in the event of an actual school lockdown. Lockdown Drill Parent Handout

As always, please reach out to me if you have concerns. It is important for students to hear the message that they are safe at school and we want to be partners in that messaging.

Sincerely,

Rhonda Walton

Principal

The x̌alilc PTO is pleased to announce our 2nd annual Food Drive to support Helpline House this holiday season. Local food banks are facing increased demand and reduced resources, making community support more crucial than ever.

Currently, we’re collecting items to help our neighbors experiencing food insecurity. Please send donations to school with your student through Tuesday, November 25.

Thank you for helping us support our community during this important time!

Get your family moving this Thanksgiving while supporting a great cause!

The Helpline House Turkey Trot is the perfect way to kick off your holiday—whether you walk 1 mile, run/walk the 5k, or volunteer to help the event happen, it's all about coming together as a community and supporting those in need.

We'd love to see a whole flock of x̌alilc families out there trotting together! Sign up your crew today and make it a morning to remember. 

Join us on Wednesday, December 3rd from 5:30–7:30 p.m. for a private shopping event at Wavekelly!

Shop owner, designer, and x̌alilc parent Megan Sanchez and her team will be on hand to help you find the perfect pieces and create custom curated looks.

Enjoy refreshments, connect with fellow Halilts families, get some holiday shopping done (or treat yourself!), and feel great knowing that a percentage of all sales will benefit the Halilts PTO.

No problem—shop anytime on December 3rd in person, or shop online and pick up in-store another day. Purchases made on 12/3 will still count toward our fundraiser. Visit: www.wavekelly.com

If you have any gently used soccer or basketballs that have been looking for a home, we could really use some more for recess! Please consider donating them to x̌alilc!

Any donations can be dropped off in the front office.

It is fun to hear about the successes of our high school friends!

Spartan athletes are dominating the post-season. Volleyball, Girls Soccer and our defending State Champion Girls Swim team are all District Champs. All three teams have punched their ticket to State. Girls Cross Country placed 6th at State and, for the first time in BHS history, Boys Cross Country are STATE CHAMPIONS! Congrats Coach Howard and team. 

12-25: Helpline Food Drive

26-28: Thanksgiving Break - No School

3: Wavekelly Shopping Event for PTO

11: School Board Meeting @ 5.45

12: PTO Meeting @ 9:00 am in Library

22-31: Winter Break - No School

1-2: Winter Break - No School

5: School Resumes

Looking for things to do around town? Visit our Community Events page for local happenings, classes, and family activities—updated regularly.