February 12, 2021
Calendar

February
15 - 19: Midwinter Break - No School
23: Auction Committee Meeting
24: SED Committee Sip and Share
25: FOSB Finance Committee Meeting, 7 pm

March
4: FOSB Directors Meeting
11: School Auction, 6:30 - 8:00 pm
18: FOSB Meeting, 7 pm
Happy Lunar New Year Salmon Bay!

Wednesday our neighbors on Beacon Hill were sweeping their front porch and back deck as we went on a family walk. They shared with us that this was to sweep out the bad luck that 2020 brought with it in preparation for the New Year. I’m hoping that works, so back at home I went and did some sweeping too!

I don’t know what the coming months will hold, but I am confident that together we will regain some normalcy with face-to-face connections and community. We know that this past year has been so hard for so many families with economic uncertainty or hardship, stressors on relationships, technical challenges, health and safety challenges, and concern for students falling behind or becoming disaffected with school. 

In the coming week we anticipate receiving the budget rules and allocation for the coming school year. Our building leadership team met this week to begin our process of thinking about how to support students and programming in the coming year. We are working to put together a budget and structures that are supportive academically, reconnect students to the joy of learning in community, and that build friendships at school.

Happy Hearts Day Weekend – Thanks for spreading love and sharing your loved ones with us. 

Neil

Seen in the Salmon Tank
We have been taking weekly videos of our growing salmon.You can view the latest video by clicking here. Look near the bottom of your screen under the rocks!
Polar Region Presentations
Second grade students in Kim's class have been doing research on the Polar Regions. We are sharing links to two student presentations this week. Click on the links below to watch!

View Anna's presentation here
View Leyo's presentation here

5th Grade Newspaper
Read the latest edition, or catch up on past editions, of the 5th grade newspaper at this link!
Staff Introductions
My name is Ms. Candice!
I am going to be the substitute teacher while Katie, 6th grade Social Studies, is on maternity leave. I am so excited to get to know your students and yourselves. I wanted to introduce myself and share a bit of information with you all about me!

Some things to know about me:
  • That is my beautiful puppy June who just turned a year and half! I also have an all white kitty named Rosey. If you ever want me to get distracted bring up my puppy and kitty! I am sure they both will say hi to the students during our time together.

  • I love Musical Theatre. I have been performing since I was 5 years old! I love singing, dancing and acting whenever I can and I still perform today.

  • I am a 2 time UW alumni! One of my favorite subjects to study is Social Studies and culturally responsive teaching. 

I am thrilled to get started with you all! 
Have a wonderful, much needed, break.

Candice Lundy
She/her
6th Grade Social Studies- Longterm Substitue
Hello, sun in my face.
Hello, you who made the morning and spread it over the fields...Watch, now, how I start the day in happiness, in kindness.    
-Mary Oliver   


Hello Salmon Bay community,   
   
I am excited to start my practicum in a school that provides positive supports to foster a thriving community of compassionate, creative, and independent thinkers!    
   
Currently, I am graduate student studying school counseling at Seattle Pacific University. As a soon-to-be school counselor, I use a culturally responsive, intersectional framework that yearns for liberation and wellness. I strive to build relationships with compassion, partnership, and a growth-oriented mindset.  
   
I have a background in Positive Discipline and previously worked as a para-educator in K-5 special education.  In my 13+ years of experience working with children of various ages and abilities, I have sought kind, compassionate, and strength-based approaches to learning.  
 
When I am not helping students or busy with school, I enjoy creative writing, making music & art, farming, gardening, and spending time with my super sweet cat, Isabelle. I also co-facilitate an all-gender LGBTQ+ group at the Lambert house, assist with the racial equity student union at Lawton Elementary, and volunteer as part Food Access Partnership on Vashon Island where I live.    
  
I have grown exponentially from the breadth of wisdom, curiosity, and creativity that children have to offer from my work in education. I am looking forward to learning and growing with you, too. 

Tobi Nussbaum 
(She/Her/They/Them)  
Funds Supporting Families
Salmon Bay School has limited funds available to support our families financially- either through InvestED or Alliance for Education. If you are in need of financial support, please fill out this form to request support. 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.

Suffering
I have been reading The Choice: Embrace the Possible by Dr. Edith Eva Eger, who was a teenager at Auschwitz and is now a clinical psychologist in California. The book has been heavy, humbling, and inspiring. This paragraph stood out to me and I hope you’re able to connect with it as well.

I also want to say that there is no hierarchy of suffering. There’s nothing that makes my pain worse or better than yours, no graph on which we can plot the relative importance of one sorrow versus another. People say to me, “Things in my life are pretty hard right now, but I have no right to complain- it’s not Auschwitz.” This kind of comparison can lead us to minimize or diminish our own suffering. Being a survivor, being a “thriver” requires absolute acceptance of what was and what is. If we discount our pain, or punish ourselves for feeling lost or isolated or scared about the challenges in our lives, however insignificant these challenges may seem to someone else, then we’re still choosing to be victims. We’re not seeing our choices. We’re judging ourselves. I don’t want you to hear my story and say, “My own suffering is less significant.” I want you to hear my story and say, “If she can do it, then so can I!”

As I connect with families during the pandemic, one theme in particular stands out to me. People are hesitant to reach out for support because they feel their challenges are so much less than the challenges of others. Yet, they are suffering- whether financially, with health, mental health, grief, or the huge demands of parenting, teaching, and working during a pandemic. Suffering is suffering and I hope we can show up for each other, as a community, to help get through this time. If you are struggling, please reach out- to your neighbor, a family member, friend, or a staff member at Salmon Bay. We are here to help, you are not alone. 

In Community,
Jenny Brooks
School Counselor, K-5

Rob Bright
School Counselor, 6-8
Middle School News

7th & 8th Grade Materials Pickup
If you missed our distribution event this past Wednesday, don't worry! All of the materials have been placed in the Panther Passage (alley) located between the school building and the playground.

To pick up materials, you need to enter from 18th Ave. Walk down the ramp. You'll see a caged area on the right, under the playground. To the left side, you'll find middle school materials. Packets should be clearly marked. Please check off your student's name on the clipboard. Panther Passage will be open during mid-winter break Tuesday - Friday from 7 am - 2 pm. Thank you!

For 8th Grade Families: High School Information
A number of high schools have posted tour information on their websites. We encourage you to visit websites for any schools you are interested in attending.

Ballard High School
Please visit the BHS 8th Gr Choices Event page for more information, video links and current updates.

Ingraham High School
To learn about Ingraham High School visit our main website.

Nathan Hale High School
For a virtual introduction to NHHS, please join us at this link. If you have questions after your virtual visit, please email us.

Lincoln High School
Lincoln’s New Student Information is posted on the LHS website. We will cover the following topics: Academics, Athletics, Activities, HCC, Special Education, ELL, Dual Language Immersion, 9th grade transition. You can find additional information in this flyer.

Roosevelt High School
Visit the RHS website for school information.
After School Theatre Winter Play
After School Theatre is excited to announce our winter play! Registration is now open for students in grades 2-8. We will start immediately after midwinter break with auditions on February 22nd-24th. Check out the After School Theatre page on FOSB's website to learn more about online theatre or email Program Coordinator Biz Freebairn with questions. Registration can be found here. Space is limited, so reserve your student's spot today!
Open Enrollment runs from February 1 - 26th. School Choice applications are now being accepted! Visit the SPS School Choice & Open Enrollment website to learn details. Download the choice application on the district website or by clicking here.

Note: If you have a current student at Salmon Bay and wish to enroll a sibling, you must complete the School Choice Enrollment Form. To receive the sibling tiebreaker/ priority enrollment, your form must be returned by February 26th. Forms will be accepted after this date through May 31st, but will be considered "late" and will no longer qualify for sibling or Geo-zone priority tiebreakers. 
Option School Transportation
The school board passed a motion in committee that unless reversed will remove Transportation for most options schools for general education students.
Currently about 40% of our population (264) students are eligible for transportation, so this change will affect quite a few families who may currently utilize transport to get their child to or from school or to an aftercare provider.

School board directors Leslie Harris and Lisa Rivera-Smith are inviting community members to a meeting tomorrow:

Saturday, February 13th at 3:00 p.m.
Click here to register.
We’re hoping to hear from families who would be directly affected if yellow/First Student bus service were cut for the 2021-22 school year. We would especially like to hear from families of color and families whose socio-economic status would prevent them from continuing at their student’s current option school.
Attention 5th & 8th Grade families: LEEP
Since 1965, LEEP (the Lakeside Educational Enrichment Program) has served more than 3,600 students entering 9th grade at Seattle Public High Schools. For summer 2021:
  • We will be enrolling students in the 5th-to-6th grade cohort and in the 8th-to-9th grade cohort.
  • LEEP is a four-week summer session. It will run from July 6-July 30, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • It remains completely free for families. Transportation within Seattle, all needed materials, and breakfast/lunch is provided at no cost.

What is LEEP?
Think of LEEP as a blend of summer camp and summer school. Through engaging and fun activities and classes, LEEP helps students build excitement around school and learning. Classes are interdisciplinary and intended to improve skills like organization, time management, and self-advocacy.
Highlights of the program include:
  • Prepare for middle or high school academics.
  • Discover leadership abilities.
  • Develop computer and multimedia skills.
  • Enjoy outdoor education, sports, and other physical activities. *
  • 6th graders: learn to swim in single-gender classes, and go on an outdoor trip.
  • 9th graders: get service learning hours, learn to row, and practice public speaking.

* For virtual LEEP 2020, students engaged in an Activity Period that had them interact with others online while engaging in physical activity in their homes. We would continue to do this if the program is fully virtual. If it is a hybrid, we would reduce the sizes for activities as required by state guidelines.

If you have questions, please consult the LEEP website.

Salmon Bay Middle School Counselor
(425) 528-0842
You're invited to the 2021 FOSB auction – Salmon Bay Totally Virtual, an evening of LIVE late night television where anything can happen!
Thursday, March 11, 2021 
Pre-show at 6:30 p.m. 
Live event from 7-8 p.m. 

Tickets are free for all. And, to enhance your SBTV experience, we're offering the following fun (and tasty!) options:

Add a Late Night Snack for a $50 donation
Enjoy Lovely Night Catering's gourmet savory appetizers for  two (with vegetarian option), a petite dessert box from Coyle's Bakeshop, and mineral water all packed into a reusable SBTV shopping bag. Only 50 available. 

Add a Top Ten Toast for a $25 donation 
A new twist on our popular auction wine grab. Test your luck, select a bottle of red or white, and pick up your mystery bag! While supplies last. 

Event registration and sales of the Late Night Snack and Top Ten Toast will begin following mid-winter break. Watch for more information following the break and follow @SalmonBaySchoolAuction on instagram and Facebook for more announcements and behind the scenes fun!
Friends of Salmon Bay (FOSB) is our school parent teacher organization. All parents and guardians are members.
Year of Purpose: Unapologetically Black
If you missed our Year of Purpose speaker sarahlloyd last night, you can watch a recording of Unapologetically Black, How I Stopped Apologizing at this link.
Passcode: 9*$4Mc7@ 

SED Committee Sip & Share Meetup
The SED Committee will be having a monthly Sip and Share Meetup to connect Special Ed IEP/504 parents/caregivers to share information and experiences.

Our first meetup will be 2/24 at 7:00 pm 
We will be presenting a YouTube information film. "Everything you need to know about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children. Thomas E. Brown, PhD, discusses ADHD diagnosis, ADHD symptoms, available ADHD treatment options." Understood.org

Parents and Caregivers that do not have a student on an IEP or 504 plan and wish to learn more about ADHD are welcome.

SED Committee Meeting Sip and Share Meetup
Feb 24, 2021 7:00 PM
Join our Zoom Meeting at this link
Meeting ID: 849 2998 8175
Passcode: 836755

Budget Committee
The next Budget Committee meeting will be held February 25 at 7:00 pm.

Topic: FOSB Finance Check-In
Time: Feb 25, 2021 7:00 PM
Join the Zoom Meeting at this link
Meeting ID: 846 8512 4456
Passcode: 257082

Legislative Committee Update
The Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors has cut bus transportation for most Option schools, including Salmon Bay, for next year in order to save money. This may not affect you directly but this decision is being fast tracked during open enrollment which will have repercussions for enrollment of current and future students. There are several petitions going from other options schools, please read and support these.

School board member Lisa Rivera Smith has given permission for us to share her attached letter which provides lots of details of how we have gotten to this point.  

You can take action by attending a community meeting tomorrow, Saturday, February 13, at 3 pm. Register to attend the meeting here.

You can also contact the board directly TODAY (note: we in district 4 don’t have a director currently so contact Board president Chandra Hampson and also email schoolboard@seattleschools.org


If you have questions contact Ian Whyte and/or Scott Koch, ​FOSBLegCom@gmail.com 

Save the Date - March FOSB Meeting
Our next FOSB Meeting will take place on March 18th at 7 pm. Meeting link here. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend. We'll be discussing the budget for next school year.
Student Meals
SPS is offering free student meals at 40 school locations and eight bus routes. Meal sites are open Monday-Friday from 11:15 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.

For more information about student meal sites, including monthly menus, please click here.
Free Tutoring
Seattle Public Library has launched free virtual tutoring in a variety of subjects for K-12 students. This service will be available 7 days a week in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese and help is available in math, writing, science, history, foreign languages, college essay writing, AP courses, and more. Sign up for Library Link using your SPS student ID and get access to thousands of free tutors today. More information here.
Nutty Squirrel is excited to announce their new community fundraiser: A DIY Gelato Sandwich Kit. In partnership with two local businesses, this fundraiser benefits 12 participating schools including Salmon Bay. Here are the details:

This fundraiser takes place February 2 – March 31. During that time, you can purchase a Cookie Kit at Nutty Squirrel in Phinney and Nutty Squirrel in Magnolia. Online orders and home delivery are available online

Each Community Cookie Kit has costs $30 and $5 of purchase will be donated to a local school of choice. 

Each kit includes:
  • 2 pints of gelato
  • 8 take-n-bake cookies made by the local La Liath Bakery
  • Premium melting chocolate
  • Nutty Stash special sprinkle mix with gelato cones, unicorns, stars, etc.
  • Seattle sticker by local Artist Sean Hoyt 
Community Announcements
Meet Astronaut Joan Higginbotham!
Celebrate "Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day" and join us for a live Q&A with Joan, an electrical engineer and astronaut whose job took her out of this world! Students can ask Joan questions, hear her stories, and get an inside look at how she is making the world a better place! February 25, 9 am. Register here
Seattle Ultimate Winter Break Camp
February 16-18, 2021 at Montlake Playfield, 3 days, 3 hours each day. 
Open to students in grades 3rd - 12th, All genders and abilities
Cost: $150
Includes either a disc or neckie
Scholarships available via the registration page
Spring Boys Lacrosse
Spring Boys Lacrosse (lax) Registration is now open, we hope to start practicing mid-March with possible games in April thru the end of May! Props is recruiting all boys for recreational lacrosse, Grades 1-8. All new and returning players are welcome. No prior experience necessary.

Lacrosse (lax) is one of the fastest growing sports in America, and Seattle. Lax is a great team sport where we have tons of fun and get some great exercise. For more information, please visit the club page at http://www.propslacrosse.org/ If you have any questions about lacrosse please feel free to reach out to Marcos Dachary  or submit an inquiry via our website.
UW Virtual Recess
The UW is continuing to offer a fun opportunity for kids to get their wiggles out on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12 - 12:15 pm. These short sessions are hosted by UW coaches and athletes. You can join the fun at this link: https://washington.zoom.us/j/94755524160