Green Lake Family Newsletter
September 18, 2026
Happy Friday!
Principal information
Important Dates
September 24 Open House 5-7pm- Pizza provided!
September 25 Picture day
September 28 Vaccine clinic
September 29 PTA meeting at 6pm
September 30 National day for Truth and Reconciliation - Orange Shirt day
October 2nd Walk and roll a thon all day
October 5 Principal Chat 2:45pm in the library
October 6-8 5th grade Camp at Camp Osprey
October 9 NO SCHOOL- Teacher professional development day
November Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month
November 11 NO SCHOOL Veteran's day
November 23-25 NO SCHOOL- conferences with teachers
November 26-27 NO SCHOOL Thanksgiving Holiday
December 18 ONE HOUR EARLY DISMISSAL at 2:25
December 21-January 1st NO SCHOOL winter break
Community info
Hi,
We have hired a permanent 5th grade teacher, Ms. Ruby Higashi! She will start officially Monday but she will come by today to meet students briefly and start to get ready for the week! Please welcome her and we are excited to have her join GLES and work with Ms. Beede! We thank Mrs. Gilliam and Mr. Leahy for being a great support to our class and getting things started this year.
Buses
Our buses are starting to come closer to on time (minus major accidents in the city!)! We will continue to work with transportation and let you know any issues that we know about. Some students have already gotten a bus card that they will boop as they get on/off the bus. If your student has not gotten one yet they will hopefully get one next week. They will be attached to their backpacks so please make sure that even if your student only rides occasionally that they have their card!
PLEASE DO NOT PARK IN THE BUS ZONES!
In the morning do not park in the bus zones at all as buses come up Sunnyside and 65th.
Please do not park before the third big tree on the right on Sunnyside in the afternoon. If all three buses are here they need that much space to fit. There is a cone by the tree to signify where you can park in front of in the afternoon. Do not park behind it please! Thank you for leaving room for buses! I know parking is tight!
Open House- Celebrating literacy!
5-7pm September 24
Food PROVIDED
We will have dinner available at 5pm and a presentation regarding our new ELA curriculum, Emerge! from 5:30-6 in the cafeteria while everyone is eating. After the presentation, kids can do a scavenger hunt to show their families around and learn about what programs and opportunities school has to offer. If they complete their map they can get a little prize on their way out! The night ends at 7pm! This is not a drop off event- please plan to stay with your students.
Yuen Lui Studio will photograph individual portraits at Green Lake Elementary on Friday, September 25. Families can preorder portraits here: 2026-27 Green Lake Elementary Picture Day 9/25. Print orders will be delivered to the school in 3-4 weeks after picture day; digital orders will be sent via email from no-reply@imagequix.com. Contact Yuen Lui Studio with any questions. Thank you!
VACCINE CLINIC
Our upcoming flu and COVID vaccine clinic on 9/28. I’ve included the registration link below and a few registration details:
- We accept most insurance, but are unable to accept Cigna, Tricare, and some out-of-state Blue Cross Blue Shield plans.
- Each patient needs their own appointment, in the patient’s name, with their individual information.
- A family of four will need four appointments.
- If you cannot register all family members in the same appointment window, register the remaining members in the closest available time window. You may still visit the clinic together at one time.
- Cash rates for the 2026 season are $200 per COVID vaccine and $60 per flu vaccine.
- We are providing the updated 2026-27 Moderna COVID vaccine and Flucelvax trivalent preservative-free flu vaccines.
- Parents and students can get their shots at the same time if you wish. Parents should come and get their student at their appointment time for their shots as we do not get a list of who signed up due to medical confidentiality, so we at the school cannot call students down to get their shots. Older students may be able to know their appointment time and go on their own, but younger students definitely need a parent to be with them.
Registration Link: https://schedule.seattlevna.com/home/9d20cac8-d510-ec11-b6e6-000d3a57ec4c
Warmly,
Liz McFarland (she/her)
Principal
Community
PTA events and news!
Want to get the full PTA newsletter and communications from your class room parent? Sign up here
Scholarships for After-School Enrichment!
Need a scholarship for a Fall After-School Class? Email our counselor, Ms. Schneider before the end of THIS Friday (Sep 18)! Her email address is mmschneider@seattleschools.org
See all our Fall class offerings here. Class signups will open on September 27th at 7pm.
1st PTA meeting of the year:
Join us Tuesday, September 29th from 6-8pm in the GLES Cafetorium. We’ll have food and childcare!
6:00 - 7:00 : Eat dinner and socialize with other families.
7:00 - 8:00 : The meeting part!
All are welcome! You do not need to be a member of the PTA to come!
NOTE: This is not a drop-off event! All children must be accompanied by an adult.
Anyone requiring special accommodations to attend or participate in our PTA meetings should contact the PTA President: ptapresident@greenlakedragons.org
Volunteer for Walk-and-Roll-a-Thon:
Volunteer at our kid-powered fundraiser and incredibly fun community event on Friday, Oct 2nd! Morning (grades K-2) and afternoon (grades 3-5) shifts are available
Sign up here to volunteer: https://volunteersignup.org/RMMEJ
Reminder that volunteers must be approved for Tier 1 volunteering with SPS (good for 2 years): https://good.samaritan.com/custom/521/organization_details/1757
Questions about volunteering or if you’re still approved to volunteer? Email Bev Denny in the front office: brdenny@seattleschools.org
Green Lake Costume Swap
Donate your clean, gently used costumes for collection NOW through Friday, October 2.
Students can give to their teacher, or you can drop off in the Front Office.
Please have all pieces bundled together and labeled with approximate size/age.
We will have all the donated costumes arranged by size/age outside the Front Office from Monday, October 5th through the 30th
Swing by anytime to browse donations and hopefully find a costume for your little dragon!
Fun way to make community and help the environment!
Questions? Email Jen→ community@greenlakedragons.org
High-school Volunteer Opportunity:
We would love to have some high school volunteers to help with childcare at our PTA General Meetings. The first one is coming up on September 29 from 6 - 8pm. They get free food too!
If you know a highschooler who might be interested they can email ptapresident@greenlakedragons.org or if cold-emailing is a bit too intimidating they can fill out this form and we’ll reach out to them :)
Upcoming Community Events
Luminata Lantern Walk - Saturday, September 19th
Join neighbors and friends for Luminata, a beloved community lantern walk around Green Lake. Families can purchase lanterns starting at 5:30 p.m. and join the illuminated procession at 7:30 p.m., followed by a display of lighted art. Hosted by the Fremont Art Council. Luminata — Fremont Arts Council
The Great Wallingford Bratwurst Festival - September 18th - 19th
Bring the family to the Great Wallingford Bratwurst Festival! This neighborhood event features kids' games, bouncy houses, live music (Mr. Kunkle’s band, the Honeyjacks will be playing at 7:00 on Friday!), and plenty of food. The festival runs Friday from 4-10 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. The Great Wallingford Bratwurst Festival
Connect with other families!
The School Directory
Want to set up a playdate with a friend your kid met in class? Send out some birthday invitations? Or perhaps you bonded with a fellow parent while waiting for the same (very late) school bus but didn't get their number!
Make or update your account on the PTA Website and then find each other in the School Directory!
(Note: you only show up in the directory if you opt-in. So, if you want people to be able to find you too, go make or update your account!)
Join the GLES Discord!
Join our school's Discord Server! Meet other families in your child's grade-level and connect with others in our school community!