School Beat: May 6, 2026

It's Teacher Appreciation Week, and we’re giving a big shout‑out to five of our longest‑serving teachers. Together, they’ve dedicated an incredible 216 years to inspiring students, shaping classrooms, and making our district stronger—one lesson at a time.

Teacher Appreciation Week is here, and our students are honoring some of the educators who have impacted them the most. Watch as SPS students and the superintendent surprise some of their favorite teachers with special tributes.

From rocks to robots, Denny International Middle School's Proyecto Saber students explored science hands‑on at UW’s MESA Day, sparking curiosity and big STEM dreams. An added bonus: Ingraham students advanced to state in the robotics competition!

Hamilton International Middle School student Raven Amrhein is headed to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. where they will battle more than 200 students for the title. Raven is the only student from Washington state in this year's spelling bee.

The projects get bigger and family turnout continues to grow at school events! Across every region, schools engaged students and families through innovative educational and community-building events with hands-on learning, and cultural experiences. See what's happening around the district!

Help us celebrate these students whose achievements—academic, intellectual, and personal—are earning recognition at the local, state, and national levels. From prestigious national scholarships to state chess competition and powerful advocacy, these students exemplify excellence across the district.

Today is National Bike to School Day, and 30 schools across the district are celebrating biking and walking with events and activities throughout the month! At Concord International School, STEAM teacher Kate Ayers marked her 26th (and final) Bike to School Day before retiring in June. Thank you, Kate, for years of leadership. Shout out to the staff and families keeping the wheels turning across SPS! Photos courtesy of Seattle Department of Transportation

We're celebrating 24 SPS schools recognized for excellence by the Washington School Recognition Program. These schools are being honored for academic achievement, student growth, and closing opportunity gaps during the 2024–25 school year.

May 6 is National School Nurse Day! They got some well-deserved recognition at the Mariners' Nurse Appreciation game night on May 5. It is the group's third year attending this special game night. Seattle Public Schools is grateful for our dedicated school nurses, who provide compassionate care and support for students and families across our district. Thank you for keeping our students healthy, safe, and ready to learn.

May marks Arts Education Month in Washington state, a time to celebrate the essential role of arts in education, including dance, music, theater, and visual arts. May is also Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Jewish American Heritage Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, and National Bike Month.

Other key dates and observances:

May 1: National College Decision Day

May 1: National School Lunch Hero Day

May 1-7: National Physical Education and Sport Week

May 4-8: Teacher Appreciation Week

May 5: Teacher Appreciation Day

May 5: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day

May 6: National School Nurse Day

May 6: Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day

May 18: National Speech Pathologist Day

May 25: Memorial Day (No school)

To help students stay focused, connected, and ready to learn, SPS rolled out districtwide cellphone expectations on May 4. The goal? Fewer distractions, calmer classrooms, and more time for learning and connection.

Seattle Public Schools has selected McGraw Hill’s Emerge! as the district’s new K–5 English Language Arts curriculum, following a thorough review by adoption committee members and field testers and approval by the School Board for a seven‑year adoption.

There's still time to catch The Naramore Art Show at the Seattle Art Museum Community Gallery. The exhibition runs through the end of May and features over 200 artworks by SPS middle and high school students. Be sure to check it out!

Stay connected to music instruction over the summer with the Seattle All-City Band! The band brings together students from schools throughout the greater Seattle area to entertain in upwards of 20 parades and community celebrations each summer.

All SPS student devices and accessories must be returned by your school’s collection deadline. If the device and accessories are not returned, students will be charged a fine. This is what families need to know.

Graduation is right around the corner. SPS will hold 10 high school graduation ceremonies at McCaw Hall. Families can find the full graduation schedule and a list of frequently asked questions on the district website.

It's not too late to catch the April episode of First Bell, where students from Mercer International Middle School took over the broadcast. You can also find past episodes and translated versions online. A new episode will be released May 20. Be sure to tune in to see which school from the Northeast region takes over!

Learn more about the School Board and its work, public meetings, and upcoming policy initiatives.

During the April 22 Regular School Board Meeting, the Board approved the adoption of McGraw Hill Emerge! elementary school curriculum and their Washington State School Directors' Association (WSSDA) positions. They also heard presentations about the expanded access to advanced math in middle school and an enrollment update.

May 6: Policy Committee, 1 - 3 p.m.

May 6: Board Special Meeting, 4:30 p.m.

May 13: Regular Board Meeting, 4:30 p.m.

May 18: Finance & Audit Committee, 10 a.m. - noon

May 20: Policy Committee, 2 - 4 p.m.

May 21: Operations Committee, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.