From the Presidents…

Thank you to everyone who joined us for last week’s PTSA General Meeting! We had a great conversation, and we were grateful to have GHS parent Marquita Jones join us for a wonderful presentation. You can find her presentation slides here.

The Garfield PTSA voted unanimously to join the Washington State PTA and oppose the three upcoming statewide initiatives that will be on your ballot in November. Click here to learn more about the initiatives and why the Garfield PTA opposes them.

Please join us for our next PTSA Board Meeting on Tuesday, November 10th at 6:30 PM via zoom. (Zoom link here)

Gabrielle Ventenbergs and Sarah Bruemmer

2026–2027 GHS PTSA Co-Presidents

For families of graduates: 2026 Diplomas are available for pickup at the office

Collecting Graduation Gowns

Do you have an extra cap and gown to donate to a student? Please drop them off with a note to send to counseling office.

Volunteers needed for PSAT and SAT

• Tue Oct 13: PSAT for 11th grade (volunteers needed)
• Wed Oct 14: SAT for 12th Grade (volunteers needed)
• Thu Oct 15: PSAT/SAT makeups (volunteers needed)



Volunteers are needed to 1) monitor hallways and/or 2) proctor exams.

PSAT/ SAT testing.dates:

• Tue Oct 13: PSAT for 11th grade
• Wed Oct 14: SAT for 12th Grade
• Thu Oct 15: PSAT/SAT makeups

https://garfieldhs.seattleschools.org/academics/testing/#gade576f1e15f

https://www.seattleschools.org/departments/assessments/school-day-sat-psat/

Study resources:

practice test on College Board site

Kahn Academy

FREE SAT prep materials from Tutor.com via Seattle Public Library.

Tutor.com offers the full Princeton Review SAT prep course entirely for free with your library card. 

Band and Orchestra Fall Concert

Tuesday, October 13, 2026

7:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Quincy Jones Auditorium, Garfield

This is our first concert of the year, featuring all band and orchestra ensembles. Bahn Mi and baked goods will be available for purchase. 

A big shout out to the class of 2030!

For the month of September, their class had the best attendance at over 90%.

Because of this, they earned 5 Gumball Points and are our Color Wars Leaders heading into Homecoming week.

2026 "Secret Garden" Homecoming Dance

October 24th in the GHS Commons, 8:00 - 11:00pm

Ticket sales and more info coming soon!

Homecoming is the chillest of all dances - in all the ways. Really no wrong way to do it.

2 years ago a kiddo wore his beloved Spiderman costume to it, some kids go all out and get really dolled up.

Go solo, go with a date, go with a group.

The dance will be in the commons, there will be a quiet room with games and there will be a photo booth.

Please help make this is a fun and memorable evening for every Bulldog by volunteering! Sign up here

Volunteer help needed:

• during the day with set-up and decorating
• during the dance with ticket-taking, coat check, and chaperoning
• after the dance with clean up

Fall Musical, Ride the Cyclone!

• OPENING: Friday, October 23 at 7pm
• Saturday, October 24th at 2pm
• Wednesday, October 28th at 7pm (Pay What You Can)
• Thursday, October 29th at 7pm (Pay What You Can)
• Friday, October 30th at 7pm
• CLOSING: Saturday, October 31st at 2pm

Purchase tickets here.

Purple Clothing Drive Oct 1-30

Garfield ASB is collecting purple clothing so more students can participate in Purple Fridays.

Jackets, shorts, pants, tops, shoes, purple things.

Drop Purple clothes off in the office with a note to send to ASB room or leave outside the ASB room.

https://www.instagram.com/garfieldhs.asb/

Due date for Senior quotes and photos:

Nov. 20th.

Link to the google form where seniors and their families may submit is here.

Senior Photos

These businesses were recommended by other parents:

Cheri Pearl (Garfield parent) info@cheripearl.com

Jim Meyers (Garfield parent) www.vertizonphoto.com

James Drage (Garfield parent alumni) https://eevisuals.com/Portfolio/

Terrell Elmore (Garfield parent and alumni) - terrellelmore@msn.com

https://www.shoott.com/

https://www.starrphoto.net

Garfield High School Open House & Tour for prospective students and their families!

We invite you to join us for an informative, fun evening on:

Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2026, 6:00 – 8:00pm

There will be a second open house in January - date TBD

Come learn about what makes Garfield High School great, including school history, academics, student support, clubs/activities/athletics, campus environment, and more.

The program includes performances by Garfield’s renowned music programs and opportunities to speak with teachers, students, current parents and tour the building.

Tell your middle school family friends.

GHS PTSA Endorses Opposition to Statewide Initiatives

On October 6, the Garfield PTSA voted unanimously to oppose the three statewide initiatives I-001, I-638, and I-645 on November's ballot.

Read the Washington State PTA's opposition to each of the initiatives here.

COLLEGE VISITS AT GARFIELD - on SchooLinks

10/12 1:05 pm Colby College

10/12 1:15 pm Washington University in St. Louis

10/13 1:20 pm Whitman College

10/13 10:30 am Scripps College

10/13 12:20 pm University College London

10/14 12:10pm Gonzaga University

10/14 12:45pm University of Oregon

10/14 1:00pm New York University Shanghai

10/15 12:30pm University of British Columbia

10/15 1:20pm Oregon State

10/16 1:05pm University of California, San Diego

10/19 12:05pm Sarah Lawrence College

10/19 12:30pm Tulane University

10/19 1:00pm Dartmouth College

10/20 10:00am Montana State University

See the full list of dates on the PTSA Website

Students can login to SchooLinks through Clever. Parents/Guardians log in to the new SchooLinks app

You can find a short video showing how to login to SchooLinks here.

World Language Assessment for Students Who Acquired Language Proficiency Outside the Classroom

Seattle Public Schools offers World Language Credit Testing remotely and in-person at some middle and high school sites on dates the schools decide.

World Language Credit Test Dates for 2026-2027:

November 7, 2026, January 23, 2027, March 13, 2027

To register for remote testing click here. More info here.

Help Stock the Student Closet! Dress shirts and homecoming

We are still accepting new clothing to curate the student closet. Thank you to all of you who have contributed to getting the student closet fully equipped for our students to shop & be styled!

Learn about: closet organizing, merchandising, color analysis, clothing seasons & textiles. 

📍 Drop off donations at the office, clearly marked "Student Closet."

Questions? Contact Arika at justarika@gmail.com

Thank you for helping every Garfield student start the year feeling confident! 💜 

FAFSA & College Application Workshop

Wednesday, October 21, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm in the Garfield High School Library

Got a senior and not sure how the college application or financial aid process works? The counseling office is partnering with the college network to offer this workshop where you can get one on one help completing the FAFSA, WASFA, college applications and more! We will have experts with lots of experience who can answer questions, guide you through applications, and give you lots of tips and advice.

We'll have light snacks and drinks.

What to bring: your senior, a laptop and charger, and lots of questions!

Sign up here

Join the New Garfield Parent WhatsApp Community!

To stay informed and connected, we launched the Garfield Parent/Guardian WhatsApp Community.

👉 Click here to join Garfield HS Seattle Community

1. Join Chat Discussion ALL Chat GHS
2. Find Your Grade: join the specific chats for your child's graduation year.

• Special Education Chat
• Music
• Visual Arts
• Theater
• XC and Track

We look forward to building a great community together!

WhatsApp has many language translation options: Tap and hold a message, tap More, and select Translate!

Congratulations to Girls Swim and Dive who beat Eastside Catholic in their meet on Friday!

Sports updates:

Another busy week of games and matches including Varsity Soccer and Volleyball at home on Tuesday!

Winter sports (Basketball, Girls Bowling, Wrestling, Girls Flag Football and Boys Swim/Dive) are getting ready to start in November. Make sure you are signed up and fully cleared in FinalForms.

Mon Oct 12

Golf vs Rainier Beach

• Boys - 3:00 @ West Seattle GC
• Girls - 3:30 @ West Seattle GC

Girls Soccer vs Nathan Hale

• JV - 5:00 @ Jane Addams MS

Tue Oct 13

Golf vs Franklin – SENIOR NIGHT

• Boys - 3:00 @ Bill Wright GC
• Girls - 3:30 @ Bill Wright GC

Girls Soccer vs Lincoln

• Varsity - 4:00 @ Garfield HS

Volleyball vs Cleveland

• JVC - 4:15 @ Garfield HS Main Gym
• JV - 5:30 @ Garfield HS Main Gym
• Varsity - 7:00 @ Garfield HS Main Gym

Thu Oct 15

Boys Golf Metro Tournament

• All Day @ Bill Wright GC

Cross Country Metro Meet #5 – SENIOR NIGHT

• Boys - 3:40 @ Lower Woodland
• Girls - 4:10 @ Lower Woodland

Girls Soccer vs Lakeside

• Varsity - 4:00 @ Garfield HS

Volleyball @ Ingraham

• JVC - 4:15 @ Ingraham Main Gym
• JV - 5:30 @ Ingraham Main Gym
• Varsity - 7:00 @ Ingraham Main Gym

Fri Oct 16

Football @ Nathan Hale - TICKETS

• 6:00 pm @ Northeast Athletic Complex

Garfield Teen Health Center provides Sports physicals!

The GTHC provides physical and mental health services, including sports physicals, vaccinations, well-child check ups, individual therapy and so much more!

Students under 18 must have a parent's signature on file, which can be done in person or online. 

Follow them on insta @garfieldteenhealthcenter

To schedule call: (206) 987-7210

More info on Teen Health Center webpage

Check Your (and your student's) Voter Registration

Make your voice heard this election. King County Elections provides you the ability to check your registration or register to vote online. Ballots arrive the week of October 18.

Check your registration here and

register to vote here by October 26.

BALLOT PARTY AT GARFIELD COMMUNITY CENTER

Sunday October 25th, 11:00am-2:00pm

Bring your ballot (we will also have sample ballots in various languages) to a non-partisan community event for everyone - snacks and drinks will be provided. There will be tables where folks can sit, eat, and discuss amongst themselves what is on the ballot.

Members of the League of Women Voters of Seattle King County and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority will be available to answer any non-partisan questions regarding the ballot. Afterwards, you can drop your completed ballot in the ballot drop box outside the community center.

Please come join us!

Washington YMCA Youth & Government Open House at Meredith Mathews YMCA

Wednesday Oct. 14, 2026, 6-7:30 pm

More information here

Safety improvements MLK and Alder

SDOT is making the intersection at Martin Luther King Jr Way S and E Alder St safer for everyone. The project is adding:

• A new crosswalk and crossing signal on the south side of the intersection
• An improved sidewalk near the southbound bus stop on the west side of MLK Jr Way S at E Alder St to meet ADA accessibility standards
• A median island restricting left turns to protect pedestrians while crossing

SDOT expects to start making these upgrades early October 2026. For 3 to 4 weeks, including weekends, crews will work primarily during the day between 8 AM – 5 PM. 

Youth Substance-Use Prevention Listening Session

Centering youth voices in substance-use prevention

Thursday Oct 22, 6-7:30pm on Zoom

• Hear directly from young adults
• Experience spoken-word performance
• strengthen prevention together
• Youth SUD treatment options

Scan the QR code to sign up or use this link

COVID-19 and Flu shots offered at Garfield Oct. 31 and Nov. 15

Seattle VNA is partnering with Seattle Public Schools to provide a series of vaccination clinics, providing flu shots and COVID-19 vaccines.

They will offer three services at the clinics: a standalone flu shot, a standalone COVID-19 vaccine, or you may elect to receive both a flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine during the same appointment. 

You must input your insurance information during registration, or pay out-of-pocket at the time of service. The out-of-pocket costs for flu and COVID-19 vaccines are $60 and $200, respectively.

The clinic will be at Garfield in the gymnasium on Oct. 31 and Nov. 15, 9am-4pm Register here

Teen Employment (YESL) ages 13-18

Pre-Employment Training for Fall. Classes start the Week of October 13 and run through December 11 depending on class day and holidays attached to the class day. Class times vary for each site so please check the times in the application.

Gain skills on time management, resume writing, fostering a growth mindset and more! 

Earn a $300 stipend towards program expenses or 14 service-learning hours 

For Seattle residents or students attending Seattle school district 

Register with QR code or here

Join the Garfield HS PTSA

Members need to renew their membership each year.

We make it easy—click the link below, check the top box and any other appropriate boxes, then submit! https://garfieldptsa.org/signup/

No PTSA "dues" or other financial barriers to PTSA membership exist at Garfield. Instead we ask for contributions to our Annual Fund from families who are able.

PTSA funds are used to support school activities, clubs and so much more.

If you would like to be removed from this newsletter write to us ghsbark@garfieldptsa.org.

We have many mailing lists. For graduating families we move you to Alumni list for occasional emails but not the frequent newsletters but sometimes our volunteer run system has errors.

For a global remove from every list - please use the unsubscribe button below ⬇️.