Kimball Cougar News

Dear Kimball Cougars,

Happy February! Happy Black History Month! Black Lives Matter in Schools! & Lunar New Year! We started this month with recognizing World Hijab Day, and we will end the month with our Lunar New Year Celebration – Year of the Horse, including our Lion Dance Event.

I hope you are staying warm and taking care of yourselves as we move through the winter season. February may be a shorter month, but it is packed with learning, kindness, and fun!

This month, we will be focusing on building coping skills and self-regulation. Everyone can support each other by being respectful when friends have big feelings. Let’s challenge ourselves to spread understanding and patience every day.

February is also a great time to celebrate learning. Many classes are working hard on reading, writing, math, and science. Keep setting goals, asking questions, and trying even when something feels tricky. Remember—mistakes help our brains grow!

We also have some exciting moments to look forward to, including special classroom activities, bicycle unit (PE), and celebrating the 100th Day of School in many classrooms. Be sure students come to school every day and on time, so they don’t miss out.

Please remember to dress warmly for recess and follow all school expectations so everyone stays safe. If you ever need help, remember there are many caring adults at Kimball who are here for you.

I am so proud of the kindness, effort, and growth I see every day. Thank you for making Kimball a wonderful place to learn and belong.

Keep shining and keep learning!

Warmly,

Principal Bogan

• Friday, February 6 Pastries with the Principal, 7:30–8 a.m. in the Family Resource Room
• Monday, February 9 National African American Parent Involvement Day (NAAPID)
• Wednesday, February 11
• Black History Month Assembly, 10–10:30 a.m.
• PTSA Meeting (Virtual), 6–7:30 p.m.
• Friday, February 13 Intro to Ultimate Frisbee for Girls, 2:30–3:30 p.m. on the Kimball playground
• Monday-Friday, February 16-20 Mid-winter Break, no school
• Friday, February 27 Lunar New Year Celebration, 5:30–7 p.m. in the Kimball Cafeteria
• Friday, March 6 Cougar Career Day, 8:30–11 a.m.

Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays: 7:55 a.m.-2:25 p.m.

Wednesdays: 7:55 a.m.-1:10 p.m.

• Mr. Williams - 2/20
• Ms. Johnson - 2/27

Happy birthday to all those in our Kimball community who were born in February!

Our amazing playground supervisor Ms. Mi is looking for more volunteers to help support recess activities and playground safety at Kimball! Volunteers can help out at recess by joining in on or leading playground games like jump rope or four square, refereeing team games like soccer, and helping students line up calmly and safely when recess is over. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Ms. Mi mlvassar@seattleschools.org

Recess times:

• Kindergarten/1st grade: 11:20-11:40 a.m.
• 2nd/3rd grade: 11:45 a.m.-12:05 p.m.
• 4th/5th grade: 12:10-12:30 p.m.

Hi Cougars,

Ms. Shaye (my counseling mentee) and I have completed our second round of small groups. We will begin the next round during the week we return from Mid-Winter Break, starting February 23rd.

The focus of this upcoming round will be coping skills and self-regulation. In addition to small group sessions, we will also be teaching classroom lessons to ensure all students have the tools they need to self-regulate and understand what coping skills are—and how they can support them in their daily lives.

Please be on the lookout for communication with teachers regarding group participation.

Thank you!

- Amari Blanton (Mr. B)

Kimball Elementary School presents National African American Parent Involvement Day, a day set aside to celebrate and encourage African American families to come to our school and celebrate our students' excellence!

• When: Monday, February 9
• Where: 3200 23rd Ave, Seattle, WA 98144
• Time: 7:15 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

• 7:15 a.m.-2:25 p.m. Coffee, pastries, and snacks in the Family Resource Room
• 7:25-8:15 a.m. High five students and welcome them to school. If you are a part of the Divine Nine, please represent!!!
• 8:30-11 a.m. Visit classrooms and volunteer at recess
• 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Recesses and lunches
• 11-11:20 a.m. Kindergarten - 1st grade lunch, and recess 11:25-11:55 p.m.
• 11:25-11:45 a.m. 2nd - 3rd grade lunch, and recess 11:50 a.m.-12:05 p.m.
• 11:50 a.m.-12:10 p.m. 4th - 5th grade lunch, and recess 12:10-12:30 p.m.
• 12:30-1:30 pm Light lunch provided in the Family Resource Room
• 1:30-2:25 p.m. Visit classrooms and volunteer at recess
• 2:25-2:45 p.m. Dismissal, high five students going home for the day

Food: 5:30-7 p.m. at Cafeteria (K/3, 1/4, 2/5 share serving stations). Bring a pot-luck dish to share!

Performance: On the cafeteria stage

• 6-6:20 p.m. Kimball Lion Dance
• 6:20-6:30 p.m. Kimball Kidfit
• 6:30-6:45 p.m. Cultural groups from Cleveland High School

Girls in grades 3, 4, and 5 are invited to join us at this event to learn more about Ultimate Frisbee and our mixed gender spring team. No experience required! (We are still accepting signups for girls on this year's team, while boys are now being waitlisted.)

Hosted by Kimball coaches and returning players!

From the DISCNW gender inclusion policy: "Agender, gender non-conforming (GNC), genderqueer, or gender fluid players are encouraged to join teams and match up with players that they feel most comfortable playing with and marking. The goal is to make Ultimate teams and spaces more welcoming and safe for all athletes."

Ready to sign up for our spring frisbee team?

Other questions? Reach out to a coach!

• Coach Anna: anna.goldst@gmail.com
• Coach Arnie: arnie.larson@gmail.com
• Coach Brendan: bbosworth@gmail.com

What is Kimball Cougar Career Day?

Cougar Career Day is an event where all of Kimball Elementary Students hear from a variety of speakers from different industries. Presenters share who they are, what they do for a living and the path they took to obtain their career.

What is the commitment?

Presenters are asked to share a 15-20 min presentation with students about their career. Presenters will rotate through 2-4 classrooms. We ask that presenters prepare a slide presentation and include a brief student engagement activity, especially for those presenting in the primary grades.

How do I become a speaker?

Sign up to be a speaker by February 8th.

Pastries with the Principal will be on Friday mornings after student arrival (7:30–8 a.m.)

Families are invited and welcome to join us monthly to receive the latest news and events happening in our community. Pastries with the Principal is a time for families to hear about instructional programs, meet other families in our community, learn strategies to assist their children, ask questions and/or share concerns that will positively impact student achievement.

All families are welcome!

Monthly Agenda:

• Welcome and introductions
• What is going on in our community this month?

Cirque du Soleil ECHO – Under the Big Top at King County’s Marymoor Park – Seattle, WA (January 30–March 22)

Experience a breathtaking performance that blends poetry, stagecraft, daring acrobatics, and cutting-edge technology—all exploring the delicate balance between people, animals, and the world we share.

Special Offer for Seattle Public Schools:
Save up to 20% off select Cirque du Soleil Echo seats and dates.

For VIP Packages, Groups of 10+, or details about our weekday school matinee program, contact Sarah.Hudson@cirquedusoleil.com.

A video preview of the show

The Jung Hong Kung Fu after school program serves ages 7 and up. Classes are $160/month, with free pick up from Kimball Elementary. Scholarships available!

To join now, text 206-793-1825 or access the online sign up page here.

A.T. Seattle has opened sign-up for 2026 summer camps! For more information on summer camp programs, visit the A.T. Seattle website sign-up and FAQ page.

• July 6-10 Elementary Basketball, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Webster Park
• July 20-24 Elementary Sports Camp, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at Queen Anne Community Center
• July 27-31 Elementary Basketball, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Webster Park
• July 24-28 Elementary Basketball, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Webster Park

Our Kimball Race and Equity Team invites families to join us! We hope to highlight the diversity at Kimball to make sure that everyone feels represented and included. This includes what our students do and see, and what kinds of events we want to have to celebrate together.

Among other team projects, RET is hoping to get some family support with research and/or display setup for future Genius Boards. If you are interested in participating please reach out to Rachael LeValley relevalley@seattleschools.org or your child’s classroom teacher and let them know you want to be part of the team!

• If you are interested in volunteering at Kimball, please start by reaching out to the staff member who will supervise your volunteer role and ask them to complete a volunteer invite form for you. (You can volunteer in more than one role once you're approved, but start with just one.)
• For recess/lunch volunteering, contact Ms. Mi mlvassar@seattleschools.org
• For library volunteering, contact Ms. Campbell jwcampbell@seattleschools.org
• For classroom or field trip volunteering, contact your student's classroom teacher
• Once the invite form is complete, the staff member will send you an email with instructions for completing your volunteer application (if you are a new volunteer) or checking to make sure your background check is up to date (if you are a returning volunteer).
• Please make sure you sign in at the digital kiosk in the front office every time you volunteer. For your first volunteer shift, also bring a current photo ID and show it to the front office staff.
• If you have any questions about the volunteer process or want to check your current approval status, please contact our Volunteer Liaison Mx. Moss mabosch@seattleschools.org

• Family Support Worker - Abdifatah Husein, aahusein@seattleschools.org
• School Counselor - Amari Blanton, adblanton@seattleschools.org
• School Nurse - Jessie Macomber, jpmacomber@seattleschools.org

Free Family Saturdays at Seattle Art Museum

Saturday, February 7 in the Brotman Forum

11–11:30 a.m. | Family Gallery Tour

11 a.m.–2 p.m. | SAM Creates: Lanterns Aglow

• This lively space is filled with hands-on art making, concerts, and moments of community—all inspired by SAM’s permanent collections and exhibitions. Whether you’re an art enthusiast, a curious newcomer, or just looking for a place to recharge this weekend, you’re always welcome. Learn about art through interactive activities, meet new friends, or simply enjoy the atmosphere before exploring the galleries. Programs in SAM’s entry gathering spaces are always free and open to everyone. Bring your curiosity and imagination, we’ll provide the rest.

• On Saturday, February 7, Join children’s book illustrator Olivia Sua for a glowing lantern making workshop! Decorate and assemble your own lantern to light up the dark days of winter. Inspired by SAM's Lang collection, design with abstract forms or intricate details that illuminate your unique story!

Saturdays at Seattle Art Museum

January 8 - February 28 at 616 Olive Wy

11 a.m.–6 p.m.

• Explore Feathers, Fossils, and Flight, a free, hands-on exhibit uncovering how the first birds took to the sky. See feathers, fossils, skeletons, and a life-size Archaeopteryx reproduction up close—then decide for yourself: could the earliest birds truly fly? Perfect for bird enthusiasts, families, students, and anyone curious about natural history, Feathers, Fossils, and Flight blends science, discovery, and hands-on learning. You’ll leave with a new appreciation for how feathers, bones, and evolutionary innovation shaped the birds we see today.

Thursday, February 12 and 26 at Frye Art Museum

5:30–7 p.m.

• Sketch in the galleries, or get creative in the Studio with Frye teaching artists during twice a month drop-in programs. Open to all experience levels, youth welcome with an accompanying adult. Come solo or with a friend; stay for fifteen minutes or settle in for the full session—the choice is yours. Free, materials provided.

• Drop-in Drawing: monthly, second Thursday - Every second Thursday, the Frye galleries become a welcoming space to drop-in, slow down, and draw inspiration from the works on view. Frye teaching artists are present to support your drawing, encourage close looking, and help create a relaxed, self-guided experience.

• Drop-in Studio: monthly, fourth Thursday - Every fourth Thursday, beginning in February 2026, the Frye Studio becomes an open, drop-in art space where you can experiment freely, follow your curiosity, and create art at your own pace within a supportive community. Frye teaching artists offer gentle guidance as you investigate provided materials and draw inspiration from the exhibitions on view.