Hello Salmon Bay Families!

Another busy week, and another Friday email going out on Saturday!

Looking at the calendars of the FOSB events coming up, and all the school events, it is hard to believe that we are in the home stretch of the school year! Many fun things happening between now and June 21st!

As busy as we are with all of the activities happening, please take time to read some of the updates in our new School Advocacy section. There are lots of important decisions and conversations happening around school closures - and there are a lot of frustrated community members. As tired as we are at the end of a long school year, now is an important time to make our voice heard so we can continue supporting the school, staff and students we care so deeply about.

Have a wonderful weekend as Pride Month kicks off!

Upcoming Events:

Note: if you would like to publicize an event here, please reach out to fosbnewsletter@gmail.com with relevant details.

June 3rd, 3:30-6 pm: 8th Grade Camp Bike Check

Parents will doing a 'safety check' of 8th grade bikes going to camp. Please see the announcements section below for more info, and ways to help.

June 7, 6-8 pm: 5th Grade Trivia Night

5th graders and their families are invited to join us for a kids vs adults trivia night on Friday, June 7, 6-8pm in the school library. Sign Up to Bring Food Here Questions? Contact Katie Roberts at katieqroberts@gmail.com.

June 14th, 5ish-8ish: 3rd Grade End of School Year Picnic

We hope you can make an end of the year celebration! This will be a casual gathering at Golden Gardens, beach games, lawn games, quiet games/art.....The details of food, exact location at the park, how to contribute etc will be coming. Keep an eye out in our Facebook group, class emails and paper invites.

June 21st: Last Day of School!

June 22nd, 1 pm: 2nd Grade end of year picnic/potluck!

Congratulations 2nd Graders!! Please meet us at the Soundview wading pool and playground to celebrate our new 3rd graders!! Keep in mind it is a wading park so swim gear, towels, change of clothes encouraged. This event will be potluck so bring something to share! Let us know what you’re bringing so we all don’t bring the same thing! Here’s the sign up link. 

School Advocacy:

Waitlist Update for Salmon Bay

SPS has moved some kids off of the waitlist in recent weeks, but they have not yet fully enrolled Salmon Bay for next year. The Enrollment and Planning department at the district has not responded clearly about why they haven’t yet filled our school to their projected (purple book) numbers even though there remain many families on the waitlist. Please reach out to Julie and Caitlin if you have additional ideas on how to help advocate for our school.

SPS Thought Exchange

The district has created a ThoughtExchange to gather parent/community comments on their current plan to close schools. There are many avenues for advocacy, and this is one that is important as it is set up by the district. If you have a moment, please take a look and consider advocating in favor of not only Salmon Bay, but option schools in general. Specific problems we are facing are that waitlists are not moving, and option schools in general seem to be on the chopping block.

Find the link here.

School Closures Advocacy

Here's an open letter to consider signing regarding school closures created by the folks at All Together for Seattle Schools. They are gathering signatures of those who support their recommendations to the district and Board. In this letter, they urge them to:

• Work with the community to create and share alternative proposals
• Focus proposals on addressing student needs and outcomes
• Show detailed analysis to the public

All signatures collected will be shared with Superintendent Jones and the SPS Board of Directors as endorsing the position of the letter. You can be anonymous.

Information from All Together Schools can be found here.

The letter can be found here. Please consider signing.

School Closures - Message From SPS

Our upcoming well-resourced schools community meetings begin next week. If you haven't already, RSVP or send us your questions using this form.

During these meetings, senior leaders will share information about the proposed plan for creating a system of well-resourced schools serving kindergarten-5th grade students. Learn more here.

Advocacy Roles - Researcher, Videographer

All Together for Seattle Schools is looking for someone who can help with each of these two pieces. Are you that person? Or know someone who could be? Reach out so Julie and Caitlin can put you in touch.

Videographer:

Can you create a video that tells the story of the importance of option schools? How has attending Salmon Bay made a difference to your student? Or, maybe you aren’t the videographer, but can help with some of the logistics? We could use some leadership around this task.

Researcher:

One narrative that is circulating is that option schools were created as a response to white flight when bussing was mandatory in SPS. A counter narrative is that they were created with social justice in mind. We have been told that the Seattle Times, the paper of record, archives might offer an answer. Are you able to dive into this topic and share what research you find?

District Two School Board Director

Salmon Bay is represented by newly elected School Board Director Sarah Clark. Her email can be found here. Please reach out to her if you have concerns regarding the current conversations surrounding school closures and/or waitlist movement.

Announcements:

Bike Safety Check for 8th Grade Camp

Raise your hand if you know a few things about bikes and are available this coming Monday afternoon? The 8th grade teachers could use your help after school, if you're available.

Here's a note from teacher Sam Olson:

One element of support we need from the SB Community are parents who are 'big bikers'. On Monday, June 3rd from 3:30-6:00 pm we will have parents doing a 'safety check' of 8th grade bikes going to camp. We have 78 8th graders biking from the Orcas Ferry to Camp Orkila. Part of our job is to make sure bike tires are pumped up, seats heights are correct, and brakes are in working order. We typically have a group of about 6 parents helping with this 'safety check' process. If there are any parents who'd like to help with this they should email me and I can give them more information.

4th Grade Parent volunteers needed: Tuesday, June 18, 6:30-8:30pm

We are looking for 4-6 4th grade parent volunteers to help with 5th grade promotion. Traditionally, 4th grade parents support 5th grade promotion so that parents can just enjoy the celebration and not worry about the details. It's a pay it forward model and next year's parents get to do the same! Please contact Katie.

Welcome Incoming Freshman Families to Ballard HS!

Did you know you can sign up for the Ballard HS PTSA Newsletter anytime? Learn about upcoming events for new students and families, Ballard Athletic paperwork deadlines, and find out about our BHS PTSA and how you can get involved! Incoming Class of 2028 Sign Up Today. Families, you can also explore more about Ballard HS, including our summer open library hours, on our School Website and the Incoming Families page.

Lost & Found

The lost & found is FULL! Plans are being made to sort, clean and donate items in mid-June. Would you like to help with this huge, yet oddly satisfying job? Please email Erin if you're interested!

Please stop by the lost & found or send your kids to look before the big sort happens.

School Reminders & News:

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:

We had a short but very busy week. It was great meeting some of the incoming families for next year at incoming families events, and a great joy to watch our Middle School Band perform. With May coming to an end Pride Month starting tomorrow, we also raised our Pride Flag on the flagpole today. We are getting ready for another busy week with 4th, 7th and 8th grades leaving for their camps, and a couple field trips on the calendar. Please keep an eye on your emails for information on those from your kids’ teachers. Please read on for important updates and reminders. 

Elementary School News: 

Congratulations to our Yearbook Cover winner Nissa from Mr Nathan’s class and runner up Kira from Ms Carol’s class. They will be the front and back cover for the elementary school yearbook. Yearbooks will be distributed to every student on the last week of school. 

Middle School News:

Congrats to the "Ken's" for coming in 2nd place at the Battle of the Books! We are so proud of you!

Last week, the middle school theater production performed two shows in front of a packed audience. The show was amazing - well done everyone!

School Calendar Dates: 

June 3-5: 4th Grade at Camp Seymour

June 4-7: 8th Grade at Camp Orkila

June 5-7: 7th Grade at Camp Naturebridge

June 7: Kindergarten Camp Day

June 10: Elementary Instrumental Music Concert - 2:40pm (assembly), 6:30pm (evening concert)

June 11: Elementary School Talent Day

June 12-13: 2nd Grade at Camp Indianola

June 13: Middle School Marimba Concert - 7pm (arrival by 6:45pm)

June 14: Elementary School Field Day

June 17: Middle School Graduation Ceremony at Ingram High School

June 18: 5^th Grade Promotion

June 19: Juneteenth (No School)

June 21: Last day of school 

Seen Around School:

Auction Art Party!

Salmon Bay parent Steph Tichenor hosted a Shibori art party as part of the auction this year. Thanks Steph!

Auction Art Party!

Salmon Bay parent Steph Tichenor hosted a Shibori art party as part of the auction this year. Thanks Steph!

Ongoing Announcements:

Teacher Snack Shack

We could use a few more volunteers to help stock the teacher lounges with snacks and coffee through the end of the year. Highly requested items include: protein bars, small bags of chips, fruit, chocolate covered espresso beans, sparkling waters and coffee pods of non-flavored coffee. Sign up here if you can donate some snacks!

Lunchroom Volunteers Needed:

Volunteers needed in the elementary lunch period from 11:10-12:05 daily. Please check that your volunteer paperwork is up to date and sign up here. Ms A appreciates any days you can come in to assist her during lunch! She shared during our last FOSB meeting that lunch time is a great time to get to know and connect with the students at school!

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 ID Cards: Families can now purchase an ID card online for $5. ID card orders take about 7-10 business days to arrive to the home.

2023-24 Salmon Bay K-8 Picture Days

Online Code: SPS student ID number

Resources:

Interrupting with Care: Navigating Identity Based Harm:

recording and resources available

"It was only a joke." "I didn't realize what that meant." "My friend told me it was okay." Young people use derogatory language and perpetuate harmful stereotypes as they test boundaries, repeat what they hear in the media, attempt off color humor, and more. How do you navigate if your child is found to be using microaggressions - those words and actions that offend and hurt, even though they may be unintended - and racism towards others? Learn some ways to have authentic conversations about race and privilege, as well as practical strategies for dealing with when microaggressions or racism happen to your child, to their classmate, friend, or if they are the ones who have used the language. Discuss and practice how to “call in” privately, interrupt in the moment publicly, and receive interventions gracefully. 

The recording of the presentation by Rosetta Lee hosted earlier this week is available at this link (Passcode: 5ijJBKP+) and viewing will require registration to help curb any problematic trolling or misuse of her intellectual property. Content begins just after the 1 minute mark. Rosetta also shared her slides and these resources: conflict and bullying, microaggressions, talking to kids, and adolescents. Please reach out to Julie & Caitlin with any questions!

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

Stay Connected & Get Involved!

While you automatically receive emails from Salmon Bay K-8 administration, staff, and teachers on all things school-supported and classroom related, it doesn’t always include FOSB-related events, opportunities, and information. Tap into these information pipelines to stay connected and find ways to get involved.

• FOSB Calendar
• FOSB Friday Bulletins 
• FOSB Facebook
• Grade Google and Facebook groups (request to join)
• FOSB Committees
• Monthly Board Meetings
• Monthly Community Coffee (held before the first Friday Sing of each month)

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!

Community Announcements:

June 1 - Rainbow Hop 

Kick off Pride Month on the Ridge! There are still some seats left for the (amazing) free pre-event anti-bullying play at the Taproot Theatre, and seats can be reserved here. The play starts at 9:30am. ILS Greenwood will have its annual Rainbow Hop balloon dance party starting at 10:45am, following our Toddler Music and Movement class.

Upcoming Camps (5-11 year olds):

We are thrilled to share some exciting events lined up for the upcoming months at ILS Greenwood:

1. **School Year Camp:**

  – June 19: From Trash to Treasure

2. **Summer Adventure Camps** - 

Full day - 5 - 11 year olds

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.