seattleschools.org | January 2019
Admissions Fair Event Offers Students and Families Options for Schools and Services
On Sat., Jan. 19, 2019, Seattle Public Schools hosted the annual Admissions Fair at Mercer International Middle School, offering students and families information about option schools, service schools, and student support services (such as Advanced Learning, Special Education, and district communications).

Respective school staff and district departments were in attendance to answer questions from families and provide additional information.
BEX V Capital Levy Supports Equitable Access to Technology
On February 12, Seattle voters will consider Prop. 1 and Prop. 2, two expiring levies—the Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) Levy and the Building Excellence V (BEX V) Capital Levy.

The BEX V Capital Levy includes significant funding for technology equipment, staffing, and services. The district recognizes that access to technology and digital resources can play a pivotal role in enabling students to learn and have skills to be college, career, and community ready.

Watch this video to better understand the need for local levies for our students.
Students Dabble in Innovation and Technology in School Makerspaces
Seattle Public Schools is proud to provide spaces for students to learn, create, and explore together.

Makerspaces support student innovation and creative thinking within a communal space where students can tinker with crafts, tools, software, and electronics. Truly student-centered, they are designed to promote learning environments with limitless possibilities.
Around our District
Sand Point Elementary Squirrels Rock Out

Lights were dimmed, red and yellow spotlights were centered on the performers, and families and students waited in anticipation. When the emcee introduced the band, families and friends erupted in applause as the performers took the stage.

Leaders Honored for Work in Support of Students and Families

In December 2018, Somali North American Business and Professional Inc. hosted an education event in Seattle and honored Seattle Public Schools’ Mohamed Roble and Farhiya Omer for their decades of service to the community.

Students Encouraged to Apply for Prospective Educator Program

Slated to begin in the summer of 2019, students will have the opportunity to take courses and participate in internships to complete the prerequisite requirements for a paraprofessional position in the district; earning a salary, full benefits, and a pathway to a lifelong career in education.

Seattle Public Schools Welcomes New Chief Academic Officer and Chief Operations Officer

Join the district in welcoming Dr. Diane DeBacker and Fred Podesta as Chief Academic Officer and Chief Operations Officer, respectively.

Adapted Physical Education Services Create Inclusive Learning Environments

Adapted physical education is fostered in Seattle Public Schools through the offering of inclusive programs where both general education and special education students team up to participate in physical education activities. The program is offered in all middle schools throughout the district.

Students Organize Youth Voter Registration

Good Temperance and Citizenship Day is observed annually in the state of Washington on January 16. This year, students at Rainier Beach and Cleveland high schools ran a youth voter registration campaign, where they encouraged their peers to pledge to vote when they turn 18.
Families Invited to Special Education Resource Fair

Families and students are invited to the second Special Education Resource Fair of the 2018-19 school year on Tuesday, January 22nd, 6:30-8:00 pm, at South Lake High School. Attendees will have the opportunity to to ask questions, collect information, and learn face-to-face from the people supporting coordination of services for students. Special Education Directors and other district staff will be onsite during this open-house style event. Childcare will be provided.

Families requesting translation services may do so by contacting SpEdCommunications@seattleschools.org.
The Creative Advantage Strives for Educational Justice

Since 2013, the number of elementary schools with regular visual art and music classes has more than doubled, and thousands of students are receiving arts instruction from Seattle’s diverse corps of professional teaching artists and cultural organizations thanks to the work of The Creative Advantage.

Superintendent and Strategic Plan Steering Committee Share Draft Strategic Plan

Shaped from priorities shared by the community during the Superintendent's Listening and Learning Tour and online discussion, the final 2019 Strategic Plan will set the course for Seattle Public Schools for the next three-to-five years.

Upcoming Dates 2018-19

Jan. 21: Martin Luther King Jr. Day- No School

Jan. 22: Advanced Learning Task Force Meeting

Jan. 22: Strategic Plan Community Meeting

Jan. 22: Special Education Resource Fair

Jan. 22: Levies Community Meeting

Jan. 23: Regular Board Meeting

Jan. 24: Community School Registration Event

Jan. 24: African American Male Advisory Committee Meeting

Jan. 25: Strategic Plan Community Meeting

Jan. 26: District VII Community Meeting with Director Patu

Jan. 26: District II Community Meeting with Director Burke

Jan. 28: Strategic Plan Community Meeting

Jan. 28: Equity and Race Advisory Committee Meeting

Jan. 29: End of 1st Semester

Jan. 29: End of 2nd Quarter

Jan. 29: Board Special Meeting: Work Session: 18-19 District SMART Goals Check-in; FEPP Levy

Jan. 29: English Language Learners (ELL) Registration Event

Jan. 30: Day Between Semesters - No School

Jan. 30: Board Special Meeting: Work Session: Budget; Strategic Plan

Jan. 31: Community School Registration Meeting

Feb. 2: Science Instructional Materials Open House

Feb. 2: Superintendent's Student Advisory Board Meeting

Feb: 4-15: Open Enrollment for School Choice

Feb. 5: SEACC Meeting

Feb. 6: Regular Board Meeting

Feb. 7: Board Special Meeting: Operations Committee

Feb. 7: Community School Registration Event

Feb. 9: Science Instructional Materials Open House

Feb. 11: Board Special Meeting: Audit & Finance Committee

Feb. 11: Information Technology Advisory Committee (ITAC) Meeting

Feb. 12: Special Election Day
*Remember to Vote*

Feb. 12: Community School Registration Event

Feb. 12: Board Special Meeting: Curriculum & Instruction Committee

Feb. 12: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community Gathering

Feb. 13: Community School Registration Event

Feb. 13: Board Special Meeting: Work Session: 19-20 SMART Goal Development; Strategic Plan

Feb. 14: Board Special Meeting: Executive Committee

Feb. 14: Native Education Parent Advisory Committee Monthly Meeting

Feb. 18: Mid-Winter Break - No School

View the District Calendar for details as well as more upcoming events and school year dates.
South Lake High School Students Trained to Facilitate Mediation

Seventeen South Lake High School students attended and completed a 12-hour training session with the King County of Alternative Dispute Resolution to become youth co-mediators. Held after school for four days, the students completed a restorative mediation program co-organized by the King County Office of Alternative Dispute Resolution team, Community Passageways, and South Lake teacher Dion Schell.

District Reopens Application Process for Title IX Task Force

Seattle Public Schools is committed to maintaining a positive and productive environment, free from discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence for adults and students. Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination in any educational program or activity. 

The application for this task force reopened Jan. 7. Applications are due by February 28, 2019 at 5 p.m.

Seattle School Board
School Board Approves District Boundary Changes

On Jan. 9, the School Board voted to approve new attendance area boundaries for Magnolia Elementary and changes to attendance area boundaries for Catharine Blaine K-8 and Lawton Elementary. Magnolia boundary scenario D was approved by the school board and a map of the boundaries can be found here. The School Board also approved grandfathering assignments.

The School Board also approved a boundary adjustment to Robert Eagle Staff and Jane Addams middle schools. The change assigns all Olympic View Elementary students to Jane Addams Middle School for grades 6-8. This change was made in response to community feedback and to help ease overcrowding at Robert Eagle Staff.

Resources
Seattle Public Schools
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