Hello Salmon Bay Families!

Valentine's Day is next week! I'm sure we're all looking forward to the extra sugar that will come home in our kids backpacks! (ha!) But, regardless of the sugar intake, this holiday is a great chance to talk about kindness with our kids. Not every family will make Valentine's, and that's OK! Whether you're giving or receiving a Valentine, I love the Salmon Bay approach to including every student in the class, to make sure that everyone feels seen and appreciated for being a cool human.

Next week will also begin a book fair held in conjunction with Secret Garden Books. The book fair is held in the library, and parents and students are welcome to browse all week. The book fair is staffed by parent volunteers; volunteers supervise purchases, assist with finding books and keeping the shelves organized. Corinna has posted in several social media avenues that she still needs quite a few parent volunteers. Unfortunately last week's newsletter contained a broken link to the sign-up genius; apologies to anyone who tried and was unable to find the sign-up.

If you are able to help volunteer, please check out the open slots here. This fundraiser is a great way to support a small community business, and our school library.

Finally, please read to the bottom of this email for some important announcements pulled from Principal Dixon's weekly email. You may have to click "view entire message" at the end of this email; there's a lot of news this week!

Thank you and have a great weekend!

Upcoming Events:

Note: if you are planning a class, grade band, or all-school event that is not currently listed in the FOSB newsletter, online calendar, or FOSB FB events and would like for it to be added, please reach out to fosbnewsletter@gmail.com with relevant details to have them added.

TONIGHT: 3rd Grade Movie Night: Friday, February 9th 5:30-8:00pm

All families, siblings etc welcome to join us for a movie night in the SB Cafeterium. Please bring low chairs, pillows, sleeping bags, blankets, etc. to get cozy. You are welcome to bring food and snacks, but we ask that everyone helps to clean up after the event. 

This is not a drop off event, parents must stay with their children! Additionally, families/students should not be exploring other areas of the school. 

FOSB Budget Meeting, Sunday, February 11th, 2024, 7-8:30 pm via Zoom

All are welcome to join; input is welcome and valuable as we discuss the budget for the 2024/2025 school year. Please join us using this Link. 

The meeting agenda can be found here.

February FOSB Meeting - Thursday, February 15th at 6:30 PM

(NEW START TIME)

Join us in the Salmon Bay Library for our February board meeting! Responding to a request from our parent and admin community, our meetings will have a new start time for future meetings; please join us at 6:30! Board meetings are open to all FOSB members - if you have a student at the school, you are automatically a member! This is a great way to learn about the work being done by FOSB in support of our school, and ways YOU can get involved! Meeting agendas and previous meeting minutes are posted here.  Please email Caitlin and Julie (Fosbchair@gmail.com) with any questions.

Childcare is available for potty independent children through Salmon Bay Boys & Girls Club (fka: Coho). Childcare costs are covered by FOSB. RSVP for childcare here.

If you are joining virtually, please use this link to join the meeting.* 

Meeting ID: 836 3649 7160, Passcode: 654321. 

*This link will work for all FOSB Board meetings throughout the year.

Pi Night on Thursday 3/14 6-8 pm, Salmon Bay Cafetorium

Do you like to eat pie? Do you like to play games and solve puzzles? Mark your calendars and make sure to join us for a fun night eating pie celebrating math at Salmon Bay. Two lucky winners will be able to throw pie in the faces of Principal Dixon and Vice Principal Aquino!!  Parents and siblings are welcome to join in the fun. In the coming weeks we will be asking for volunteers to help with the event. Note: This is not a drop off event.

Let’s Go Sounders!

FOSB Community Building Initiative Team has some fun sporting event opportunities coming up! First up - Seattle Sounders! We had a blast last year at Lumen Field. Some of us even got to watch part of the game on the field! If you missed your chance last year, we’re going back! Get your tickets early as inventory is limited. 

What: Seattle Sounders vs Colorado Rapids

Where: Lumen Field

When: March 16 at 12:30pm

Who: Salmon Bay Student and families

How: Tickets are $35 each. Please purchase through SchoolPay (look for "nonprofit groups" tab). Tickets sold quickly last year, so don’t wait!

Scholarship donations are greatly appreciated to help make these events equitable, no amount is too small! Donations are accepted through SchoolPay. 



For scholarships, please email FOSB Treasurers at fosbtreasurer@gmail.com before February 12th, 2024. Email syl@sylvialoh.com for questions.

Announcements:

Volunteer Opportunity: Observe a Music Class

Are you interested in seeing what happens in music class at Salmon Bay? At our last FOSB meeting, our wonderful music teacher, Mark Oesterle, said he would like to have a few parent volunteers come observe his classes and share with the Salmon Bay community what is happening in music. If this sounds fun to you, please contact Mark to schedule a time to visit: Please email Mark (meoesterle@seattleschools.org) and FOSB Chairs Julie & Caitlin (fosbchair@gmail.com)

Coming in April: Kids on the Run!

FOSB will be launching a free before school running club on Wednesdays and Friday mornings from 7:45 am - 8:30 am. Parents and siblings are welcome to run with us. Our goal is to make running fun and help kids get a great start to the school day. Those who are interested can challenge themselves and register to run a 5k in June. Stay tuned for details and information on how to sign up.

Salmon Bay Theatre

Middle School: Under the Hulders’ Spell

Equal parts spooky and funny, this original tale is packed with characters based on magical beings from around the world.

Registration: February 12 - March 3

Auditions: March 4-7th 

Rehearsals: Monday-Thursday from March 11th to May 2nd in the cafeteria (Once casting decisions are made, a rehearsal schedule will be published - most students will not be required to be at rehearsal every day)

Tech Rehearsals: All students will be required to attend tech rehearsals the April 24th to May 4th

Performances:  May 3rd and 4th.

Cost: $180

Email Melissa Mock at mjoymock@gmail.com to request a discount code if your family could use some financial support.  The cast is capped at 40 students, so don’t wait to sign up! 

If your student is interested in being a crew member for Under the Hulders’ Spell please fill out this Tech Theater Interest survey.  We will be providing some opportunities for students who want to do tech theater, but we need to gauge interest to see what that will look like.  

Elementary School: Just So Stories and Scenes

How did the elephant get its trunk? Why do leopards have spots? What makes a whale's throat so large? Students in each level will use aspects of story theater and creative dramatics to devise scenes based on Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories and perform together in a three-act show. 

Registration: February 12 - March 22

K/1st - Mondays from March 25th - May 20th, 3:30-5:00, 

2/3rd - Thursdays, March 28th - May 23rd, 3:30-5:00

4/5th - Wednesdays, March 27th - May 22nd 2:15-4:30

Tech rehearsals: Monday through Thursday May 24th - June 6

Performances: June 7 and 8

Cost: $165

Email Niahm Ward at nimwardie@gmail.com to request a discount code if your family could use some financial support.  Each class is capped at 15 students, so don’t wait to sign up! 

If your 3rd-5th grade student is interested in being a crew member for Just So Stories and Scenes  please fill out this Tech Theater Interest survey..  We will be providing some opportunities for students who want to do  tech theater, but we need to gauge interest to see what that will look like.  

Save the date! The 2024 FOSB Auction is Friday, May 3.

Planning is underway for the annual FOSB auction and you won't want to miss the experience. Our live event will be held at Metropolist in SODO on Friday, May 3. Doors will open at 7 p.m. 

Volunteers are needed to help the auction committee put this massive event together. We are currently looking for people to help create decor. We will have jobs for those who want to create items while binge-watching a tv show at home and we will have jobs for those who want to work in small groups together on a larger piece! If interested in helping with decor, please contact Decor Lead Erin Rosenberg (erinkpate@gmail.com).

If you have an item to donate to our live auction line-up or interested in hosting an auction party this year, please contact Auction Chair Shelby Reynolds (shelby@ShineEventDesign.com).

Lost & Found Clean Out:

Final Day to Claim items is 2/16

To view an album of photos, please click here; this is everything that was in the lost and found as of 1/30. There are more things that have been added since the photos! Take a look! Find your missing clothes! Last chance to claim items is the week before break. During the end of the week, remaining items will be available to the school community. Please claim your items early. Unclaimed items will be donated to Mary’s Place and Goodwill. Please email fosbnewsletter@gmail.com with any questions.

Save the Date: Multicultural Celebration & Potluck

Wednesday, April 17th, 6:00 - 8:00 PM

SAVE THE DATE! The FOSB Building Community Initiative (BCI) invites the entire Salmon Bay Community to a Multicultural Celebration & Potluck. This event aspires to bring our community together to share and celebrate our diverse cultures, heritages, and whole selves through food, music, hands-on activities (arts, crafts & games), and live performances. Families can participate by simply attending or volunteering to share something that feels meaningful to you and your cultural identification.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! We're currently in the planning stages, and looking for several go-getters to join small teams that organize the communities' contributions to the potluck, hands-on-activities, and performances. Please consider volunteering as a coordinator by clicking here to learn more and sign up! We are hopeful that coordinators can begin working with BCI leaders to plan and secure participation in February, with the bulk of organizing occurring a few weeks prior to the event - no more than a couple hours per week.

Questions? Want to help? Contact Chase Treisman (phone: (480) 787-6531 or chasetreisman@gmail.com)

Resources:

Bulletin board seen in the hallways after Friday Sing.

Picture, and resources below shared by SB parent Cynthia Anderson (thank you Cynthia!)

This has been Black Lives Matter: Week of Action at Salmon Bay. Our teachers and staff have been introducing curriculum and having discussions with students. Make sure to ask your child about how they have been engaging and if they have questions you can talk through as a family.

The Black Lives Matter at School guiding principle of collective value states, “ we are guided by the fact that all Black lives, regardless of sex assigned at birth, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, economic status, ability, disability, education, location, age, immigration, status, religious, beliefs, or disbelief, matter. None of us are free until we are all free.” Please click here for more information and conversation starters for your family.

Ongoing Announcements:

Volunteer Opportunity: Teacher Snack Shack

We continue to keep snacks supplied for our teachers; if you are able, please volunteer to bring snacks, drinks or Keurig pods to school on Fridays. Feel free to drop snacks in the front office or the Volunteer Coordinator office. Sign-up for snack delivery here.

School Spirit Wear

Want to show some school pride? Salmon Bay apparel is available for purchase online! You can choose from a variety of shirts and sweatshirts and have them delivered straight to your door. Both Youth and Adult sizes are available. Use this link to order.

School Crossing Guard - Still Needed

Seattle Schools is hiring crossing guards at multiple locations including Salmon Bay! You can find out more by clicking on this link.

Get to know the PTO (that's FOSB!):

Stay Connected

Set yourself up to stay aware of FOSB events and news this school year! Sign up here to receive FOSB emails as they are released. Subscribe to our web calendar at this link, or follow us on FaceBook for more info about meetings and events.

Additionally, there are GoogleGroups and Facebook groups for most grade bands. If you’re looking for a way to connect with other Salmon Bay parents and caregivers, consider joining the relevant Google and/or Facebook Group for community building amongst parents and caregivers in the same grade levels and classes as your kid(s)! To be added to the appropriate email list(s), send an email to sb-join-email@googlegroups.com, and let us know which grade group(s) you would like to join.

Everyday Ways to Give

You can support Friends of Salmon Bay in everyday ways, like shopping at a merchant of your choice or searching online. Details about programs offered by Fred Meyer, Bing, and Office Depot/Office Max are on our website. Consider signing up!

More Info on FOSB Committees:

Please check out our website for more information about FOSB’s existing committees and ways to get involved!

School Reminders:

The following dates, activities & announcements pertain to the school and come from information provided by school staff/teachers/admin. We are pleased to include them as reminders to our community, but this may not be an exhaustive list of everything the school has planned. Please check with your student’s teacher(s) or office staff for more information.

News from Principal Dixon:

Friday Sing:

We wanted to take a moment to express our gratitude for your continued support and enthusiasm during our Friday Sing sessions. It's truly heartwarming to see such active participation from all our parents.

As we strive to create an enjoyable and focused environment for our children during Friday Sing, we kindly request your assistance in ensuring minimal disruptions during the session. While your engagement is invaluable, excessive conversation can sometimes detract from the experience for all who attend.

We would also like to remind any families that come in late to make sure to sign in at the office as the elementary teachers take attendance before Friday Sing starts. Any student that comes during Friday Sing and don’t check in at the office would likely be marked absent.

Snacks:

We have students that feel hungry occasionally and come to the office asking for snacks. We’d appreciate any type of snack donations to the office with the intent to give to students when needed. Thank you!

Middle School Sep:

Middle School Families, please double check if your kids’ SEP program needed an online waiver through the vendor and make sure they’re completed. Also, please ensure that you have made your payments for the upcoming SEP programs. You can do full or partial payments (if you’re requesting partial scholarship) through School Pay. If you are requesting any scholarship, please contact school counsellor Rob to arrange for it. You can reach him at rabright@seattleschools.org

If you have any problems with payments, please reach out to our volunteer coordinator Elif at elgumrukmokr@seattleschools.org

Attendance:

Please email anything related to attendance to use attendance inbox instead of office staffs’ individual email addresses salmonbay.attendance@seattleschools.org.

Playdates:

We kindly ask that any playdates are arranged before school starts. We have an increase of kids coming in during school to call parents for permission to go to friends’ houses. It disrupts both classes and the office work. If your kids will need bus passes to ride with friends, we also need parents to let the office know in advance (until 2:30 PM, and 1:30 on Wednesdays) so we can get the passes ready. 

School Spirit Week:

Here are the school Spirit Days for the week of Feb 12th - 16th, if your kids would like to join!

Elementary:

• Monday: Funky hat day
• Tuesday- Twin Day
• Wednesday- Fancy Day
• Thursday- Sports Team Day
• Friday- PJ & Stuffies day

Middle School:

• Monday- School Spirit (dress in red or black)
• Tuesday- Dress as a teacher; teachers dress as students
• Wednesday- Valentine’s Day colors (6th pink, 7th white, 8th red)
• Thursday- Book Character
• Friday- Pajama Day (stuffies optional) 

Middle School Sports:

Spring sports are right around the corner!!! The available sports are Girls Volleyball, Boys Soccer and Co-Ed Track. It is looking like these sports will begin around the week of March 11. You will hear more by the end of the month after filling out the interest form below.

To Do List:

• Complete this Interest Form (Note: I made a mistake last week on the interest form, if you could please fill this one out instead, that would be greatly appreciated!)

• Start getting the Middle School Paperwork completed and turned in to Erin Telford. Digital copies are preferred. (ALL PAPERWORK must be completed before your student athlete can participate)

***Ultimate Frisbee is not run through SPS in the Spring, so please connect with Sam Olson if you are interested in that sport*** 

Global Reading Challenge Results: News from the Library

Congratulations to all teams for participating in the Global Reading Challenge. 4th& 5th grade participants worked hard for months on reading books and practicing for the challenge. The scores were super close, and everyone did a wonderful job; enthusiasm was very high too. This was the most participants I have ever had in the 12 years that I have been doing this! Congrats to the "Bombastic Barbies" as this team will be going onto the next round at the Central Library on March 12. More information to follow..

Volunteer Opportunity: Secret Garden Book Fair

February 12th-16th

Secret Garden Book Fair is coming to Salmon Bay!

When: Feb. 12-16th 8:30-4:30 daily in the Library

Please come and support Secret Garden Book Store and the Salmon Bay Library by purchasing high quality books! This book fair cannot run without parent volunteers! Please consider volunteering this week to help out. See sign up genius here.

A note from Corinna:

This is the week of Feb.12-16th from 8:30-4:00pm. I need help Tuesday afternoon, all day Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. This event cannot run smoothly without volunteer help. (see link above to sign-up).

Upcoming Camp Dates:  Spring 2024 Class Camp Trips

* Please note: these camps are planned by the staff at Salmon Bay, not by FOSB. Please keep an eye out for pertinent planning information from your child’s teacher(s). Dates listed here could possibly change - check in with teachers for the most current info or if you have specific questions. 

March 18 – 21, 2024: 5th Grade at Camp Islandwood

May 20 – 22, 2024: 3rd Grade at Camp Colman

May 22 – 23, 2024: 1st Grade at Indianola

June 3-5, 2024: 4th Grade at Camp Seymour

June 4 – 7, 2024: 8th Grade at Camp Orkila

June 5 – 7, 2024: 7th Grade at Camp Naturebridge

June 7, 2024: Kindergarten Camp Day

June 12 – 13, 2024: 2nd Grade at Camp Indianola

School Calendar Dates:

• February 1 – February 29: Open Enrollment School Choice priority applications will be accepted (tiebreakers apply)

• February 12-16: Secret Garden Book Fair

• February 12-16: Spirit Week - Please see “School Happenings” section for daily themes • February 19: Middle School Report Cards go live on the Source

• February 19: Presidents’ Day – no school

• February 19-23: Mid Winter Break 

• March 1 – May 31: School Choice late applications will be accepted (NOT eligible for tiebreakers). 

Legislative Information:

Hi! Do you want to keep your finger on the legislative pulse for the SB community? We could use your help; if this interests you, please reach out to fosbchair@gmail.com.

Meet School Board Rep, Liz Rankin: Monday, 2/12 at 6:30

On Monday, 2/12 at 6:30pm the North Beach Elementary PTA will be hosting District 1 School Board Representative Liza Rankin for a Q&A session (after a very brief PTA meeting). North Beach knows it can be difficult to get face to face time with the Board and re offering to share their time with our neighboring schools.

The school is small, so please make sure that those who wish to attend register in case there is a large interest in this event. People also have the option of submitting their questions anonymously before the meeting. I've also attached a flyer to send in your newsletter if you'd like. 

Questions: contact Beth Carman at president@northbeachpta.org. 

Where: 9018 24th Ave NW (meeting in person only)

When: Monday, 2/12 at 6:30pm

SPS Board Proposal Information

A group of SPS parents/caregivers from across the city have come together to share information about upcoming SPS Board proposals, and to figure out actions to support our schools and students. The group formed a group called All Together for Seattle Schools. Find out more on their website here.

Upcoming School Open Houses/Registration Info:

Ballard HS Shadowing Information

Ballard HS allows shadowing for prospective students during certain dates in February. Prospective students need to find a current Ballard student to host their visit and a Shadowing Permission Form must be completed. The current BHS student should have the completed paperwork turned into the Main Office at least 3 days ahead of the proposed visit. 

Students interested in Music, may contact the Directors: Jay Gillespie (Band)  jrgillespie@seattleschools.org, Courtney Rowley (Choir) chrowley@seattleschools.org or Dan Valdez (Orchestra) dmvaldez@seattleschools.org. They may be able to arrange for a shadow with a current music student.

For more information, click here.

Center School Open House:

Thursday, February 15th, 5:30 - 7:30 pm

Is your 8th grader thinking about high school? The Center School will be hosting an open house in February for prospective students and families. Thursday, February 15, 2024 at 5:30-7:30 p.m. There will be student led tours and information sessions for both students and parents.

Click here for a short video about The Center School and an RSVP link for the Feb 15th event.

Community Announcements:

Children’s Piano Lessons Available with Chandry Abreu

Chandry Abreu is a vocalist and piano teacher who brings her passion of music and love of singing to her students. Chandry’s experience in early childhood education has helped her develop age appropriate pedagogy in children’s music instruction. Chandry is an experienced early childhood teacher with a background in classroom teaching as both a kindergarten and 1st grade teacher. She is additionally experienced in Dalcroze Eurhythmics, a pedagogy in which kinesthetic movement, ear training, solfegetto, and improvisation are key components in learning and enjoying music. Teaching highlights include 10+ years as a kindergarten and first grade classroom teacher as well as teaching as a faculty at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music in New York. Other credentials: BA in Music: Voice Performance, M.S.Ed in Early Childhood Education, active teaching artist/musician/performer. She teaches from her home in Green Lake. 

Weekdays 3-6pm, Sat & Sun

Free 30 Min Lesson

Contact: CApianovoiceseattle@gmail.com or click here for more info

Illumination Learning Studio Opportunities:

School-Year and Summer Camps!

Illumination Learning Studio has some exciting themes out this year! School-Year Camps are run from our Greenwood Studio. Summer Camps are run from both our Ballard and Greenwood studios. 

Mid-Winter Break - Comics and Zines

Spring Break - ILS Goes 80's

June 19th - From Trash to Treasure

Pre-K Story Hour

For your rising Kindergartner families – We are hosting a Free Pre-K Story Times at Illumination Learning Studio Ballard on the 3rd Saturday of each month - we just ask that you register so we know how many supplies to prepare! Learn more here.

Read-a-Rama

Read-a-Rama's 2024 children's camp dates are here! Join us for one of our fun and fabulous spring day camps, and mark your calendars for summer camp in July and August. Camp locations and registration information will be shared in January.

Save the Dates:

Winter/Spring Saturday Camps, all dates 9:30-4 pm

February 17, March 16, April 27, May 18

Ballard Basketball: Mid-Winter Break Camps

Dates: February 20 - 23

Location: Ballard Boys and Girls Club

Times:9:30am - 12:30pm for 3rd-5th grade all genders (beginner to intermediate)

12:30pm-3:30pm for 6th-8th grade boys (intermediate)

Scholarships are available so fees aren't a barrier to participation

To register for Mid Winter Spring and & Summer Break Camps, visit this link. Questions? Email Sara Wetstone at ballardbasketballinfo@gmail.com

Women in Chemical Engineering at the University of Washington presents:

Introduce a Girl to Food Science

This event uses food in engaging STEM demonstrations to teach young girls and gender expansive folks ages 6-15 about science! All are welcome regardless of age or gender. This event is completely free for all participants!

When: February 10th, 2024, 12 P.M.- 3 P.M. 

Where: Husky Union Building (HUB)

Event Registration: click here

Seen Around School:

Making Room

Parents mobilized quickly to help remove & re-home library books that Corinna culled from the shelves as she makes room for a refresh of material. Books that were still in good condition have found their way into other classrooms, homes and charitable organizations. Volunteers are always needed for random projects like this that come up quickly. If you're interested in helping with projects like this, please let FOSB know!

Field Trip!

Kindergarteners visited Capitol Hill to view the Northwest Film Forum's Children's Film Festival.

1st Grade Dragon Party!

Thanks to the BCI for putting on this amazing evening for our first graders (and their families)!

SPS Safe Schools Hotline: 206-252-0510.

The Seattle School District Safety and Security Department is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.