the Orca Splash
Viewlands Community Principal Wheeler Update
Hello Viewlands Families!
The fall weather is here, with some cool crisp blue skies sunny days and the rain. Rain is part of our Pacific NW weather! At Viewlands we go outside for recess rain or shine! We go outside at recesses unless there are unsafe conditions, such as thunder/lightening storms, hail, or torrential downpours with flooding areas on the playground. Outside recess time is important! Next week looks rainy!
Please send your child in with a coat on cooler or rainy days. Please remember to label coats and any other belongings with your child's name. Labeling items with their name helps us reunite your child with items left at school and in the overflowing lost and found!
A few highlights from my visits in classrooms and with students this week include: talking about different ways to make numbers and expanding those ideas with 1st graders; throwing and catching activities in stations with kindergarteners in the green group; 4th and 5th graders working on their research about Native American tribes and the regions of the United States; and making marigolds from tissue paper in art class with 3rd graders and coloring marigolds with kindergarteners in the yellow group.
Your children are bright, inquisitive, and creative thinkers. We will continue to seek ways to make every student feel known, valued, and empowered through the year.
In Partnership,
Carrie Wheeler | Viewlands Principal
Our annual zoo fieldtrip is next week on Friday, October 31. A few reminders about our fieldtrip:
Important Information for Families:
- We go to the zoo rain or shine. This means it will be important for students to wear appropriate clothing if it is rainy. We are outside while at the zoo. If your child needs a coat, we have a limited number of sizes at school. Please e-mail Ms. Lin in the office at lkmccormick@seattleschools.org
- We will be outside and walking around and playing while at the zoo. Please make sure your child wears comfortable shoes that are suitable for being outside on our zoo adventure all day. Please do not wear shows that slip off easily or are not comfortable for lots of walking!
- Students that bring home lunches, please remember we will be eating outside and will NOT have access to silverware or napkins, so they need to have everything they need for a picnic style lunch.
- Student that requested a school lunch, will have a picnic style lunch from the school.
- If your child is feeling sick or has any even light illness symptoms, they should stay home. All students are going to the zoo and will be outside and walking most of the day.
- We go to the zoo on Friday, October 31, as our fall celebration. We do not dress in costumes or host Halloween parties at school. Students and families that celebrate Halloween traditions can enjoy those in the evening!
- Students need to arrive on time to school. We will be leaving the school between 9 and 9:15 a.m.. Students that arrive after that will not be able to go on the fieldtrip and there will not be any classes and teachers at school. Please be on time!
- We will not return to school until around 1:30 p.m.. We won’t be able to accommodate early pick-ups until after 1:45 p.m..
- Parents/guardians that are chaperoning, can sign their children out at the end of the zoo fieldtrip. There will be a sign out at our bus pick up zone at the zoo if you want to leave with your child from the zoo. There will be a sign out at the school if you return on the bus, but want to leave with your child at that time.
Reminders for Chaperones:
- If you are one of the approved chaperones, please make sure the teacher knows if you plan to ride one of the school busses to and from the zoo with students and teachers OR meet us at the zoo.
- Chaperones meeting us at the zoo, we will be arriving at the south entrance by the zoo store parking lot. This is the lion lot on North 50th Street. We will arrive and leave from the south entrance. If you are meeting us at the zoo, please meet us at the south entrance (lion lot). Please arrive to the south entrance lion lot area between 9:15 a.m. and 9:25 a.m.. You will sign in with Ms. Leandra at the entrance while we wait for the busses to arrive.
- Chaperones riding the bus, should arrive to school around 8:45 a.m.. You will sign in at the office and then head to the classroom to pick up student lunches from your group and support the class in getting ready. Most chaperones will ride the bus with their group assuming there is space.
- A packet will be provided to you with a zoo map, chaperone details, your student group, and specific times. This will be provided by the classroom teacher either in the classroom before we leave or at the zoo entrance when they arrive.
- Please dress to be outside all day, you will be chaperoning a small group of kids exploring the zoo, so be prepared to be outside and for the weather. Younger siblings should not attend with you as a chaperone. That is a requirement of being a fieldtrip chaperone.
- Please bring a backpack as you will be carrying a small bag of first aide (band aids) and the student lunches from your group.
- Ms. Wheeler and Ms. Leandra will be there at the zoo entrance with the sign-in for chaperones meeting us at the zoo and to provide the chaperone stickers.
In art/Multilingual this month, students will be discussing and learning about the tradition of El Dia De Los Muertos and the cultural significance that it has within the Latinx community. Students will be using their personal connections, stories, and inspirations to create beautiful sugar skulls and paper tissue flowers. This topic has sparked powerful conversations while also providing a deeper understanding of how other cultures honor family through remembering rather than mourning. This unit will allow students to learn about symbolism and symmetry in their work. Our day-to-day work has created numerous opportunities to highlight the importance of both patience and practice as it relates to learning new skills and techniques. Displayed before you is an example of an Ofrenda which is used to display photos, items, or offerings that commemorate family members of the past. Many students donated their paper tissue flower to help brighten and decorate our official Viewlands Ofrenda.
This project is optional. Viewlands Elementary School respects the traditions and beliefs of all cultures. Students can reflect on a loved one or pet who has passed away. We focus on all the positive things we remember about the person or pet that made us love them so much and never forget them. This is a great way to learn a little more about our ancestors. If you wish to participate:
1. Decide who you want to remember for this celebration.
2. Focus on the positive things that remind you of your loved one.
3. Unleash your creativity by making a drawing that represents that loved one.
Because love never dies!
Gracias for collaborating with us!
Fall Movie Night - Friday November 7, 5-7:30 p.m.
Join us for our annual movie night to watch Lilo & Stitch on Friday November 7, 5pm - 7:30pm. We will have pizza, healthy snacks, popcorn and drinks. Bring blankets, stuffies, and pillows for a cozy time. Note: this is not a drop off event. Kids should be accompanied by an adult.
Also, do you have Viewlands spiritwear that no longer fits? Or are you looking for a new piece to show your school pride? Our Spiritwear Exchange Program offers a way to recycle and reuse spiritwear within our community. Bring in gently used spiritwear that no longer fits, and exchange it for another item in your size. No spiritwear yet? No problem! Come by and pick out something to join in the school spirit!
Lastly, we need volunteers to make this event successful. Check out the opportunities for volunteering.
VEPTSA Events Team - Save the Dates:
- Saturday, Nov 22, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Salmon Celebration
- Wednesday Dec 10, 5-8 p.m.: Give Big & Winter Drive at Chuck’s [if link in Konstella is finalized, insert link]
Save the Date! Blockbuster Bash - Spring Theme Party and Auction
Get ready for an evening supporting our school with a blockbuster-themed party and auction at Old Stove Brewing Co - Gardens in Ballard! Mark your calendars for March 28th and stay tuned for more details.
Viewlands Crossing Guard positions
The SPS Transportation team is looking to hire crossing guard positions near our school. The current crossing guard positions available are at 3rd Ave NW/N 107th St, Holman Rd / 3rd Ave NW, and Greenwood Ave NW/N 110th St. Please share this SPS flyer with neighbors who might be interested >