Washington MS Newsletter

Hello Families,

At Washington Middle School we use Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports as a our framework to ensure students at WMS are making positive contributions to their community. We do this through social-emotional learning in advisory, the explicit teaching and reteaching of behaviors, classroom charters, SMART Pass, and more.

One of those ways, is by rewarding students with Dawg Dollars. Students can use Dawg Dollars to participate in the Dawg Den to buy treats. Additionally, students can use it as admission to different activities this Friday at Fall Carnival.

The during the day Fall Carnival is for students only and to celebrate their behavior and attendance for the first two months of school. We will having pumpkin painting, treats, games, and even a Haunted House.

This year, we are also doing an Evening Fall Carnival. Please review the details below for our evening fall carnival that will be open to families.

Additionally, this week is Spirit Week. Information below so that your kiddo can participate!

Best,

Manriquez

Come to our Fall Carnival and Haunted House, Friday, October 30th, 20226 from 6 - 8 PM.

Open to all current SPS students and families who attend WMS or a WMS Partner School: Garfield*, Franklin*, Thurgood Marshall, Bailey Gatzert, Kimball, Leschi, and John Muir.

All elementary and middle school students must come with a guardian.

*All high school students are welcome to come, but need their student ID without an adult.

Cost: Suggested donation of $5 per person or $20 per family via VENMO or PAYPAL. Links will be shared at the event.

Thank you!

As a reminder, students are welcome to wear their halloween costumes to school. There are some limitations - They may not wear blood, weapons, or masks. Thank you!

Yuen Lui Studio – Makeup/Retake Picture Day at Washington Middle School, Friday, November 6.

Students are responsible for going to the photographers if they need a photo.

Makeup Portraits

• For students who missed Picture Day
• Preorder makeup portraits here: 2026-27 Washington Middle School Make-up/ Retake Pre-orders 11/6

Retake Portraits

• Anyone who was absent and/or wants a new one and is purchasing is welcome to take a retake photo. Students are responsible for getting a photo.
• Please note that the retake will replace the original photo for (retakes are recommended only for students who want to replace their picture day portrait):
• The yearbook
• PowerSchool
• If you preordered a photo package earlier:
• You can return it to the photographer on 11/6 and get a new package with your retake photo at no charge.

View or Order Photos from Picture Day

• 2026-27 Washington Middle School - Online Code = SPS Student ID #
• Online Code: Student’s school ID number
• Orders can be placed at any time throughout the school year and are shipped directly to families' homes

Questions?

Contact Yuen Lui Studio for support.

Cari Lui

Account Manager

Yuen Lui Studio

Helpful Links:

Contact Customer Service

Order School Portraits

Dear WMS Families,

As we begin the school year, we want to share an important update with our families about how Seattle Public Schools middle schools will recognize our 8th-grade scholars as they complete middle school and prepare for high school.

Across Seattle Public Schools, middle schools will no longer hold promotion ceremonies. Instead, schools will recognize this important transition through student-centered celebrations.

At WMS, we know that completing middle school is an important milestone. Our 8th graders will have spent three years learning, growing, building relationships, overcoming challenges, and preparing for what comes next. We absolutely want to honor that journey and celebrate them as they move on to high school.

At the same time, we want to distinguish this transition from graduation. Middle school is an important step along a scholar’s educational journey, while earning a high school diploma represents the culminating graduation milestone of their K–12 experience.

Toward the end of the school year, WMS will each hold an 8th Grade Moving Up Celebration. This will be a student-centered event where our 8th graders can celebrate together with their classmates, teachers, and school community. The celebration will focus on their growth, accomplishments, relationships, memories, and excitement about beginning high school.

We plan on holding this celebration during the school day as it allows every 8th-grade scholar to participate as part of their school experience. There will be no need for tickets, special attire, transportation back to school in the evening, or families needing to arrange time away from work in order for their scholar to participate.

We recognize that our traditional evening promotion ceremony has been meaningful to many families, and we understand that this change may feel significant. We are sharing this information at the beginning of the year so families know what to expect and have plenty of time to plan their own special ways of recognizing this milestone.

Our commitment is to make our school-day celebration joyful, inclusive, and meaningful for every 8th grader. We are incredibly proud of our scholars, and we look forward to celebrating everything they accomplish this year as they prepare to take their next step into high school.

More information about the 8th Grade Moving Up Celebration and other end-of-year activities will be shared with families later this school year.

Thank you,

Principal Manriquez

Get your memories right here! Our yearbooks are always a hit with students before the end of the year, so get your yearbook now!

Beginning next week, Tech Hours will be Tuesday and Thursday during 1st, 2nd, and 5th period. Students can ask their teacher to go to the tech room for tech support.

My name is De'Andra Charles, and I am excited to join Washington Middle School as the Prevention and Intervention Specialist (SBIRT) for the 2026–2027 school year.

I have worked with Seattle Public Schools for the past four years and have served in a variety of roles, including Graduation Success Coordinator, Levy Coordinator, Racial Equity Team Lead, member of the Restorative Practices Team, Building Leadership Team member, and community partner. As a Graduation Success Coordinator, I worked closely with 12th-grade students to help ensure they stayed on track and graduated on time.

In my role as Prevention and Intervention Specialist (SBIRT), I will be facilitating the "Check Yourself" questionnaire with 7th and 8th grade students. This screening process helps us better understand students' experiences, identify areas where support may be needed, and connect students and families with appropriate resources. Our goal is to ensure every student feels seen, supported, and equipped to succeed both academically and personally.

I am especially excited to be serving a community that has helped shape who I am today. Building meaningful relationships with students, families, and staff is important to me, and I look forward to partnering with you throughout the school year to support the success and well-being of every student.

I am honored to be a part of the Washington Middle School community and look forward to a great year ahead.

My name is Yasmina Scally (Ms. Yasmna). I am from Seattle. This will be my 13th year working for Seattle Schools, my 10th year as a school counselor. I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, beach days and good food. What to expect from me, is I will support students in feeling safe and accessing their education through academic, social/behavior and career skill building.

Hello families,

If you would like to donate items for our fall carnival/haunted house please use the wish list below so items will be delivered to our leadership and theatre students. Any item big or small helps.

VIEW ONLY (to share): WMS Fall Carnival & Haunted House WISHLIST

Seattle Visiting Nurse Association (SVNA) Vaccine Clinics

The Seattle Visiting Nurse Association (SVNA) will be offering annual vaccination clinics throughout the district this fall, including two clinics at Washington Middle School:

• Sunday, October 4, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Sunday, October 18, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

These clinics provide a convenient opportunity for students and families to receive recommended immunizations.

More information about vaccine clinics

Register for a vaccine appointment

WMS Ski Bus registration is open!

Ski Bus is a great opportunity for students to ski and snowboard with friends! Open to all WMS students, Ski Bus runs on Fridays after school (January 8, 15, 22, 29, February 5, 12), with pickup and drop-off in the WMS staff parking lot. All skill levels are welcome. Ski bus, operated by Mohan Skiing & Boarding, offers bus-only and bus + lesson options, as well as scholarships. Program details and registration.

As a reminder, students are welcome to get school breakfast beginning at 8:35 in the cafeteria.

In order to keep the school clean and welcoming, students are not to have food in classes. This included Starbucks! As a reminder, we have over 500 kids in our building, so messes add up! Students will be asked to toss drinks prior to entering class.

After a successful Back to School Bash, Seattle Parks and Recreation (And Mr. Chandler) are excited to launch Huskies Out of School Time (HOST). We will 22 exciting clubs this year!

Students should complete a registration form and submit to the main office before or after school, or directly to Mr. Chandler in the lunchroom during lunch. Forms are in the lunchroom, main office, and the Husky Hub. There is an online link if you prefer: HOST Fall Registration – Fill out form

Session Times (Oct. 13 – Jan. 14):

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 3:45 – 5:15

Wednesday 2:30 – 4:00

Students may join any of the following:

• Math Tutoring
• Homework Club
• Math Club
• Core Gaming
• Yearbook Club
• Proxima Generacion
• Cooking Club
• Lego Club
• Hair Braiding
• My Brother’s Keeper
• My Sister’s Keeper
• Craft Club
• Dungeons and Dragons
• Choir
• Newspaper
• Avela VR Coding
• Chess Club
• Art Club
• Purple Reign/Dance
• Pokemon Club
• ELA Tutoring
• Asian Pacific Islander Club

Girls' Soccer

First Practice: Tuesday, September 15

Practices will be Tuesday and Thursday with Games on Saturday

Time: 4 - 5:30

Location: Judkins Playfield - past the baseball diamond

In order to play students must:

Have an up-to-date physical

Have completed Final Forms Registration

If you need to get a physical, we encourage you to try getting it done at school through our Kaiser Wellness Center. See information in the Kaiser Wellness Section below.

Please reach out to our staff for further information.

Coaches:

Wickwire, Susan T stwickwire@seattleschools.org

Martinson, Ryan D rdmartinson@seattleschools.org

Athletic Director:

Hardy, Raymond E rehardy@seattleschools.org

Please talk to your scholar about lime scooters. We have had several students injured while riding them on their own time, off campus. We encourage them to use the sidewalks, but ultimately we need families to discuss lime scooter safety.

Lime scooters are NOT permitted on school grounds. Students must ride them off campus.

One big change this year is that lunches are no longer based on grade level. Lunches are based on your scholar's 3rd period teacher. We split lunches by classroom location to ensure hallways can be emptied in a timely manner and to keep lunches even in number for safety.

We will not honor schedule change requests based on lunch/friends.

Did you know students can access healthcare right at school?

The Washington Wellness Center, located at Washington Middle School and operated by Kaiser Permanente, provides students with convenient access to medical and mental health services in a welcoming, student-friendly setting.

From sports physicals and immunizations to routine medical care and mental health support, students can receive many of the services typically available through a primary care provider. Having healthcare available at school helps remove barriers to care, making it easier for students to stay healthy, attend school, and succeed both in and out of the classroom. All services provided by the Wellness Center are free.

Information is available in the main office! You can also contact Ms. Washington at kana.i.washington@kp.org

Sign up for Kaiser Wellness Center. Please be sure to go through all the pages as some get missed.

All students will receive a Washington Middle School Planner on Tuesday, September 8. Teachers will have different expectations of what students put in it, but we encourage parents to check daily as another way to have two-way communication with your child's scholar!

Washington Middle School shares your concern around reliable bus transportation. Unfortunately, WMS is not responsible for transportation. We encourage you to voice your concerns at transdept@seattleschools.org.

Please note when a student is late to first period via yellow bus, they are to sign in at the main office and will receive a pink pass to go to class. Then, their attendance is changed from absent to late bus (LB) in our coding system. For any questions or concerns around the late bus coding, please email nihall@seattleschools.org

It is school policy to not allow food delivery services to students.

• It is a safety issue as students may allow unvetted drivers into the building and keep exterior doors open.
• We do not have the staffing to support delivering food items to students.

Food deliveries will be denied. WMS is not responsible for reimbursement of food orders.

To support your scholar, we are a 100% free lunch school, so in the event of a forgotten lunch students can get food from the cafeteria with no charge.

Thank you for your support.

All students should return athletic uniforms, technology (laptops + chargers), and library books.

If you need support, please let us know that as well as we are happy to help.

Fines

• Soccer:
• Short- $36
• Shirt- $42

• Basketball:
• Short- $52.50
• Shirt- $52.50

• Volleyball:
• Short- $32.50
• Shirt- $43.50

• Track:
• Short- $34.50
• Shirt- $34.50

• Technology:
• Laptop- $350
• Charger- $48
• iPad - $250
• iPad Case - $49
• iPad Charger - $40
• WiFi Hotspot - $50

• Library Books:
• Various Price Points

Check out our PTSA Newsletter

In this issue

• Upcoming Events - See below for a list of events to add to your calendar
• Reminder about important forms to fill out and turn in, and why
• One simple way to show care to WMS staff
• Help stock the Clothing Room for students
• School Supply Amazon Wishlist
• Ski Bus info
• First Community dinner and PTSA Meeting - Monday, October 5 from 6-7:30 p.m. in the WMS library.

Dear Washington Middle School Music Families -

We are writing to you from the Friends of Washington Music (FOWM), which supports excellence and equity in music education for the students of Washington Middle School. We are writing to welcome you back to school, and to offer a very warm welcome to all new WMS Band and Orchestra families!

We’re excited to meet you and see your students grow in their love of music! We are very fortunate at WMS to have TWO full-time music directors: Orchestra Director Joseph To, and Band Director Kieran Harrison. Together, they continue to carry forward the long tradition of excellence in music education at WMS. Here is some important information about FOWM and the year ahead.

Friends of Washington Music supports the music program at Washington Middle School in many ways, and we fund the following:

• Instruments, instrument repairs, music equipment and sheet music.
• Funding for travel to participate in music festivals and competitions.
• Professional clinicians, supplemental instructors and after-school classes.
• Continuing education for WMS’s music directors.

WMS Music Virtual Family Welcome Night - Thursday, October 15, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

To kick off the year, we would like to invite you and your student to join us for a virtual Family Welcome Night on Zoom to learn more about our music program: Thursday, October 15, 6:30-7:30 p.m.!

• Meet Band Director Kieran Harrison, and Orchestra Director Joseph To, and learn about activities and concerts for the year
• Meet the Friends of Washington Music (FOWM) Board and learn how you can support your student by supporting or volunteering with FOWM
• Q&A - What questions do you have about the WMS music program? We’re here to help you and your family get the most out of your time with us!

Please register your student with FOWM:

We hope that all families with a student involved in music at Washington Middle School will register their student with FOWM each school year, and support our efforts with an annual donation of $100/student. If $100 is out of reach for your family, please still register and contribute what you can - any amount is appreciated!

Volunteer with FOWM:

We have several leadership roles we need to fill this fall in order to have a great year ahead. Please let us know if you are interested: wms.music@gmail.com. We are particularly excited to welcome parents of 6th graders into these leadership roles.

• Citrus sale co-lead. The orange/grapefruit sale is our fall fundraiser, with sales occurring in October/November, and citrus delivery tentatively scheduled for Friday, December 4. Our long-time coordinator "graduated" last year so we need two people to carry the torch forward. There is clear documentation on the process and friendly support from last year's coordinator. This is an immediate need!
• Communications coordinator. Help prepare and deliver communications to the community, donors, etc.
• Bake-sale coordinator: Prepare a "Sign-up Genius" form for each concert to manage baked goods and make sure there are people to staff the sale. (You can still see your child perform!).
• Fundraising chair who can run our spring fundraising campaign. This campaign does not involve any goods; we simply generate enthusiasm around FOWM and ask for continued financial support from community members, WMS alumni, families, etc.
• Advocacy efforts. We have learned in recent years that funding music programs at Seattle Public Schools cannot be taken for granted. Help us to create a system where public dollars support our teachers' important work.
• Several one-day volunteer opportunities will arise as the year progresses (working a bake sale, unloading citrus). Stay tuned.

Support our student musicians by attending their concerts:

• Nov 19, 6 p.m. - Orchestra Fall Concert. Help with the bake sale. **We need help with volunteers to provide baked treats to sell, and volunteers to sell treats and WMS merch during concerts.
• Dec 10, 6 p.m. - Band Winter Concert. Help with the bake sale.
• Other events will be communicated later.

Attend a FOWM Board Meeting:

All are welcome to join FOWM Board Meetings, where we receive updates from Mr. Harrison and Mr. To, and discuss how FOWM can best support the WMS music program. This fall, our meetings are at these times:

Tuesday, November 3, 3 p.m., FOWM Board Meeting via Zoom.

Tuesday, December 8, 3pm, FOWM Board Meeting via Zoom.

We look forward to engaging with you in the year ahead, and hope to see you on Zoom at the Welcome Night on October 16.

Ann McNally and Annie Harlan
Friends of Washington Music Co-Presidents

Title 1, Part A is a federal program designed “To provide all children significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education, and to close educational achievement gaps.”

We use additional Title 1, Part A funding for the following positions:

• Math Interventionist to support students who need additional support in mathematics.
• House Administrator to support student academic and behavioral outcomes.
• Academic Interventionist and Staff Professional Development position to ensure our additional resources support students such as preparing our family engagement night, assessment coordination (MAP, WIDA, SBA, iReady), prepare professional development for staff to improve their practice and thus, student outcomes.
• Social Worker to support students with social emotional and overall whole child needs.
• We also use it to fund family engagement opportunities (i.e., events, staffing, food), professional development (i.e., workshops, collaboration, extra time.), and possible intervention supplies.

As part of our Title 1 commitments, we co-developed a Parent Compact with input from students, staff, and families through a variety of methods including feedback forms, surveys, parent representatives, leadership students, and more. The Parent Compact is Attached.

Hello Jr. Husky Families,

Please see below for important pick-up and drop-off procedures for the 26 - 27 school year. Following this procedure ensures a smooth process for all students, families, and staff.

School Street

20th Place S, in front of Washington Middle School’s Flagpole, is a designated “School Street” and is open to only school buses, district transportation, deliveries, and people walking and biking. This street is closed to families dropping off or picking up their students. We’re partnering with the City to make the signage permanent and widen the sidewalk so it’s more comfortable for walking, biking, and school bus loading. "School Street" Info.

Staff Parking Lot

The staff parking lot will be closed to families. This is common at many schools across the district and a change we decided to make to support our students. Information on supported pick-up and drop-off locations is shared below.

Pick-Up / Drop-Off

In partnership with the City of Seattle, there are two school load and unload areas. We encourage families to do this quickly during arrival and dismissal.

• School Load on S Jackson St – 30 minutes between 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
• School Load on 20th Pl S – just south of S Lane St – 15 minutes between 8 a.m.–10 a.m. and 3 p.m.–5 p.m.

To assist with safety and congestion, students are encouraged to:

1. Ride the school bus if they’re eligible. Email transdept@seattleschools.org to request service for students who live outside of a 2-mile radius.
2. Ride the Metro bus (free for all youth under 19). The 4, 8, 14, and 48 all stop within a block of our school.
3. Walk or bike – did you know over ½ of our students walk or bike to school at least one day a week? We’re proud to have so many students arriving by walking, biking, and busing and we’re working with the district and the City to support more students to get to school without driving.
4. We understand sometimes families need to drive! If you need to drive, please pick-up or drop-off your scholar in the surrounding community and walk in.

We encourage families to practice their arrival/departure procedure with their student prior to the first day of school for a smooth transition.

School departure and arrival takes a village to ensure students are getting to where they need to be in a timely and safe manner. Thank you for your assistance.

With Gratitude,

Principal Manriquez

This email was shared with families through SPS Public Affairs:

Dear SPS Families and Staff,

The events of the past few weeks in Minneapolis and across the country weigh heavily on our hearts. Our immigrant students and families are valued and beloved members of our SPS community. We are committed to ensuring our schools are places of safety and belonging for every student.

We understand that in the current landscape, fears and concerns about immigration enforcement in our own Seattle community are heightened. We have put together some guidance for our schools and resources for our families.

Guidance to Schools

If a school leader is made aware of a rumor or report of immigration enforcement activity near one of our campuses, they will notify the district’s Safety and Security office. The report will be assessed by Safety and Security, and next steps will be determined in partnership with the school leader.

If immigration enforcement agents attempt to access our school buildings, they will not be granted access unless Seattle Public Schools legal counsel is able to verify a judicial warrant. More information can be found in Superintendent Procedure 4310SP.B – Limiting Immigration Enforcement at Schools.

Resources for Families

Families and community members can find resources and supports on our website. These include links to know your rights materials, the City’s rapid response program, legal resources, and family preparedness planning.

Emergency resources can also be found by calling 844-724-3737 to report immigration enforcement activity or get connected to emergency resources.

We are grateful for our community’s partnership in upholding our students’ sense of security and their right to an equitable education. We ask that any reports of immigration enforcement presence near our schools be provided via Safe Schools Hotline at 206-252-0510. The Safety and Security Department is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Community members can make reports of safety issues impacting schools to District staff. In an emergency, reports should be made directly to 911.

In partnership,

Fred Podesta
Superintendent
Seattle Public Schools

Adrian Manriquez, Principal

admanriquez@seattleschools.org

Tahera Kapasi, Assistant Principal / 6h Grade and 8th Grade M - Z

tekapasi@seattleschools.org

Dione Batiste, House Administrator / 7th Grade and 8th Grade A - L

dcbatiste@seattleschools.org

Stephen Aguayo, MTSS and 504 Coordinator

sjaguayo@seattleschools.org

Katherine Landerholm, Academic Interventionist, Testing, and Levy Coordinator

kglanderholm@seattleschools.org

Lauren Weber, Head Counselor & McKinney-Vento Support

laweber@seattleschools.org

Yasmina Scally, Counselor

yhscally@seattleschools.org

Serene Myers, Social Worker

srmyers@seattleschools.org

DeAndra Charleston, SBIRT

dccharleston@seattleschools.org

Nayheli Mendivil, Behavioral Health Coordinator

nmmendivil@seattleschools.org

Emily Harris, Librarian

echarris@seattleschools.org

Stephanie Nash, Nurse

sanash@seattleschools.org

Elijah Hardy, Athletics Coordinator

rehardy@seattleschools.org

Robert Chandler, HOST (Huskies Outside of School Time) Coordinator

rachandler@seattleschools.org

Kendall Johansen, Seattle University Mentorship Coordinator

ktjohansen@seattleschools.org