Calendar
May
11: New 2021-2022 Kindergarten Family Welcome
13: FOSB Meeting, 7 pm
26: Parent Ed: Digital Safety 101, 6:30 pm
31: Memorial Day - No School
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Hello Salmon Bay Families,
This week, it was well-proven that Salmon Bay staff is fully appreciated! There were donuts, and Snack Shacks, and a Green House, oh my! If the sweet and salty delicacies, the indoor and outdoor plants including MANY veggie starts weren’t enough, the gracious words and notes certainly made the message clear. In a school year jampacked with change and uncertainty, it has often been challenging to maintain confidence in the effectiveness of our work. Thanks to you all, we have experienced at least one certainty this week. Salmon Bay staff members are seen, valued and appreciated for what they bring to each day and moment.
Salmon Bay has had the good fortune of working with and learning from the NAACP Youth Council (N-YC) this school year. N-YC first met with the United Body of Students of Color (UBSC) to further educate them on Black Lives Matters at School’s “Year of Purpose”. We then welcomed this formidable group to one of our Racial Equity Team’s planned professional developments. Recently, N-YC returned to focus on the restorative justice approach and circles as we strive to further integrate this powerful practice at Salmon Bay. In total, we have been entirely impressed with N-YC’s powerful voice and progressive presence in the city and beyond.
Lastly, to all those for who it applies, we wanted to wish you a Happy Mother’s (and Grandmother’s) Day! Every now and again, it may feel that your day isn’t always filled with grace and glamour. That said, on this Sunday (and forevermore), we hope that you bask in the glory and adoration that is bestowed upon you.
In partnership,
Darren, Neil and Suro
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Staff Appreciation Week
We celebrated Salmon Bay staff this week with donuts, a plethora of tasty snacks and our traditional gift of plants to all staff members. Everyone had so much fun visiting our Salmon Bay greenhouse! Thank you to all who donated toward our appreciation activities. Our staff definitely felt your love and gratitude!
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Salmon Release Update
As you know, the salmon we successfully raised here at Salmon Bay this year were joyfully released by 5th graders into the imprint pond at Carkeek Park on March 21st. Salmon fry have to stay in the imprint pond for a week or two to get the smell “imprinted” on them, so they know where to return to spawn when they are ready to return from the ocean later in life (3-4 years for chum). So, March 21st was when we said farewell and best of luck to our fry to continue the rest of their journey! But the salmon saga continues…
I had a special opportunity to get to visit them again and be part of their release from the imprint pond into the flowing waters of Venema Creek that runs through Carkeek Park, and down into Puget Sound. It was so much fun and a real inspiration to be part of the team of volunteers helping to restore salmon runs in Carkeek Park. Here are my video clips of that exciting day: https://youtu.be/vsvE5KZm7UY
I am so grateful for the Carkeek Watershed Community Action Project that coordinates these efforts to restore salmon to Carkeek Park, where salmon runs used to be natural, until increased urbanization caused their extinction from Carkeek.
I highly recommend volunteering with the organization that does this work at Carkeek Park! It is so much fun and you learn so much and get to do important actions that help our salmon, and our watershed, a habitat we all share. An example of what you could do as a volunteer: you can be one of the many volunteers that care for the salmon while they are in the imprint pond (feed, observe, record data). Citizen Science is the best! If you are interested in volunteering, email Tim Ricord, the imprint pond volunteer coordinator, here: https://www.carkeekwatershed.org/volunteer/
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Funds Supporting Salmon Bay Families
Salmon Bay School has limited funds available to support our families financially. If you are in need of financial support, please fill out our request form by clicking on the button below. Rob and Jenny are working on supporting as many families as possible during the pandemic and beyond. If you need other types of support (such as mental health or school support), please send Jenny or Rob an email and they will respond as soon as possible. You matter. You are loved. You are not alone.
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Middle School Poetry Unit
All Salmon Bay middle schoolers have been immersed in reading, analyzing and writing poetry during the last month or so. During this time, we had the pleasure of receiving inspiration and instruction from Artist in Residence, Daemond Arrindell. This Flipgrid Poetry Slam is a celebration of students original and inspired work. Please enjoy and congratulate your student on a job well done.
Access the Flipgrid Poetry Slam here using password Poetry2021
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Parent Education: Digital Safety 101
After more than a year of remote schooling, nonstop developments in educational technology, and social media overload -- now more than ever -- it’s important for families to educate themselves on digital safety. To address this, we’re partnering up with PNW Parent
dad, Master’s-level therapist, author and sex educator for tweens, teens and parents, will help
parents figure out how to balance their family’s digital life with boundaries, etiquette, and good judgement. This FREE online
This relevant and engaging presentation will also include the following information:
- An overview of youth behavior in a digital age: the risks and benefits of online life;
- Raising digital natives: setting up guidelines and house rules for safety;
- Roadmap of highways & potholes of digital development;
- Q&A with guest moderator: Christy Keating of the Heartful Parent.
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May is National Bike Month! Bike Month is a time for people of all ages across the country to engage in active transportation through bicycling.
The 2021 Bike to School Challenge has transformed into Bike ‘Around’ School Month as we navigate staying healthy and active. Youth, grades K-12, are invited play Bike Bingo. More information, Instructions and Bingo cards can be found here.
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Informational Meeting for New Families
If your student will be entering kindergarten next fall (2021-2022), please join us at an upcoming informational meeting!
Kindergarten New Family Welcome
May 11, 2021 at 6:30 pm
Meeting ID: 861 0268 7707
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Happy Mother’s Day Moms!
We hope that you all are doing well this week. Just a reminder to put your oxygen mask on first so that you may help others without sacrificing your own mental health. We know it can be difficult for many moms to take time for themselves, especially when there are young children in the home. Please remember to schedule your self-care time for yourself. It’s important to think preventatively before blowing a gasket and having to pay for repairs. May is Mental Health Awareness month. A valuable lesson in the last year has been to prioritize our self-care to help our mental health. The Child Mind Institute wants you to Learn more about how we’re Getting Better Together.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to us for any support you may need.
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Office Notes
Main Office Hours - Wednesdays
The main office will be staffed on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The office will not be open on Wednesdays, although staff will be available via email.
Panther Passage (alley) Hours
You can visit Panther Passage on
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 2:30-6 pm.
Wednesday hours are 7 am – 6 pm.
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Friends of Salmon Bay (FOSB) |
Dear Salmon Bay Community,
We have 2 meetings left this school year. We have a solid budget prepared for next year that we will vote on at our next meeting (next Thursday). We’re still looking for more volunteers to step up and fill positions as Directors and in leadership. Please consider joining FOSB to support and create all the opportunities we want for our school.
Officers for next year:
MS Co-chair - Open
K-5 Co-chair - Shawna Sullivan
Treasurer - Samsi (Samsara) Martin-Gray
Treasurer - Open
Secretary - Kelly Tilford
Directors for next year:
Melissa Amrhein
Phoenix Johnson
Misti McDowell
Julie Schneider
Jessica Timins Greenberg
We’ll vote on new Directors and leadership at our June meeting. We need more Directors and invite you to participate! Directors are trustees of FOSB and are responsible for oversight of all FOSB activities, especially those involving the organization’s governance and finances. Directors are expected to make most meetings and give input on how to best serve our community.
There are two open positions for Officers. We have a Treasurer position open (MS or K-5 parent) as well as a co-chair. Our current Officers will get you up to speed and ready for next year if you’re interested in joining. Please contact us if you have any questions or would like more information.
Thanks,
Scott and Shawna
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Upcoming Meeting Links:
May FOSB Meeting - May 13th at 7:00 PM
Meeting ID: 891 5215 7798
Passcode: 764610
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Food Support at Salmon Bay
Students are invited to pick up a lunch (and breakfast for p.m. cohorts) prior to leaving school each day. Meals are "grab-and-go" style and are to be consumed off campus.
Meals are free for any student (not just those who qualify for free/reduced meals). Families who do qualify are encourage to fill out free/ reduced meal paperwork because there are additional benefits that might be helpful.
Families are also encouraged to visit any of the SPS dedicated meal sites to pick up a variety of meals including hot entrees, fresh fruits and vegetables, frozen dinners provided by FareStart and weekend pantry bags. Adams Elementary and Whittier Elementary are two close meal sites, open between 10:45 am - 1:15 pm daily.
In addition, students can request a weekend food bag provided by the Ballard Food Bank. To arrange for a weekend food bag, please email Jodi Russell, Volunteer Coordinator.
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Ballard High School’s virtual musical Spring Awakening
The nature of all teenagers is to question their parents. Back in 1890’s Germany, things were no different. Spring Awakening follows three teenagers in a small village who experience the dawn of their own sexuality. They inevitably awaken to both joy and pain, with little direction from the adults around them.
The original play from 1891 was so scandalous for addressing sex violence and suicide that it was not staged until 1906. This contemporary production was first staged on Broadway in 2006, with a rock soundtrack by Duncan Sheik.
The performances will be live-streamed on May 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, and begin at 7:30 pm.
Tickets
***Parental advisory due to subject matter***
Tickets are $25. Order at www.showtix4u.com and you will be sent a link to watch it on the evening you select.
Make it Dinner and a Show
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Bricks 4 Kidz Seattle Summer Camps
Join us for in-person Summer Camps at four outdoor locations! Seattle Parks and Recreation is hosting Bricks 4 Kidz camps from June 21 - August 27 all around the city. Click here to sign up your student at the Seattle Parks website, and check out the camp brochure for the full camp schedule and descriptions. Scholarships are available too!
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Black Lives Matter Community Action
Join your Ballard neighbors at an ongoing opportunity to come together and express our solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Every Friday at 5 pm. More details here.
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