"There is always light. If only we're brave enough to see it. If only we're brave enough to be it."

Amanda Gorman, inauguration poem, The Hill We Climb

September

• Saturday 9/9: Landscaping Work Party 9 am - 12 pm - sign up
• Sunday 9/10 Parent Groups Community Playdate 1 - 3 pm TC playground
• Monday 9/11: Kindergarten Parent Coffee 8 am TC Commons
• Thursday 9/14: Picture Day
• Wednesday 9/20: Curriculum Night

From the Chair

Welcome back, Thornton Creek Community!

Hello and welcome to the first week of school! I hope your summer was wonderful and that you and your students are ready to have a fantastic year ahead. All the TC staff have worked so enthusiastically to get ready for the school year. Thank you to those who shared treats and snacks for staff preparation days. I feel confident our entire community is truly going to THRIVE, as Principal Kischner shared in his welcome message last week.

It is my pleasure to serve as your Thornton Creek Parent Group (TCPG) Chair for a second year. Along with other members of the TCPG Board we're here to support your family in the school year ahead. TCPG works to foster communication and cooperation between the administration, teachers, staff, and parents. All parents/caregivers of current TC students are automatically a TCPG member. Please reach out to me at chair@thorntoncreekparentgroup.org if you have questions, concerns or could benefit from some support and connection within the community. Also, contact information for our board members/leaders is listed below, or learn more about TCPG from our website. 

This year, the TCPG Board members have intentionally set our focus on fostering inclusion, community-building, and having fun! TCPG will be supporting the school this year through engaging volunteers, supporting school events, and fundraising for the school’s priority needs. We hope you will join us in helping to make our school community as strong as possible. As our school’s motto states, “we’re crew, not passengers!”

In that vein, we’re looking for volunteers! Your participation in our school is an essential ingredient to build community. The Thornton Creek Parent Group has formal roles available (e.g. Hospitality Chair/Co-Chair), as well as many opportunities to support events, projects, and school day needs. We can help you find a role that is right-sized for your time and interests. If you haven’t already, please get SPS volunteer approval and fill out the TCPG Volunteer Interest Survey, details below.

Last school year, thanks to your generous donations, TCPG fundraised $152,000 to support TC this school year. These funds will be used by our school to great benefit, including investing in Academic Interventionists, Equity and Access Fund to support Expeditionary Learning needs for students, art and library materials, professional development for teachers, school emergency supplies, and support to help make many school community events succeed.

Thank you so much for your partnership as we launch what I believe is going to be an amazing school year!

Erin MacDougall (she/her)

2023-2024 Thornton Creek Parent Group Chair

The TCPG Board and Parent Leaders are here to help! Please reach out anytime.

To learn more about us, visit our website.

Volunteers are a vital part of our Thornton Creek community. Whether you’re new to the school or you’ve been around for a while, if you have a lot of time to offer or just a little, we hope you'll lend a hand. We encourage every parent/caregiver to find at least one way to volunteer your time this year!

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

- Mahatma Gandhi

To Volunteer:

Step 1:

Let the Thornton Creek Parent Group know what you're interested in, so we can match you up with opportunities that will be meaningful to you. Take the Volunteer Interest Survey here. Check our website for current volunteer opportunities.

Step 2:

Those who share their interests through the survey will hear back from us with next steps. Otherwise, we’ll reach out to the school-wide community through our newsletters, website, emails to approved volunteers or other means when volunteers are needed. You may also hear about opportunities through your teacher or the room parents in your student's classroom.

Step 3:

Complete (or renew) your volunteer application* using the instructions that are found on the Seattle Public Schools volunteer web page here.

*Approved volunteer applications are good for two calendar years. They expire two years from the volunteer's completed background check.

*The Thornton Creek front office receives a list of eligible volunteers from the district each week. Once you've submitted your volunteer application, wait several days, then check in with Sarah Fulton (sffulton@seattleschools.org) in the office to confirm your eligibility to volunteer.

Thank you for supporting Thornton Creek!

Lunchroom and Recess support (ongoing) - sign up here

Landscaping party 9/9 - sign up here

Keep up to date with current volunteer opportunities on our website

Questions? Email the Thornton Creek Parent Group Volunteer Chair at volunteer@thorntoncreekparentgroup.org