the Orca Splash

Hello Viewlands Families!

This week we had a few non-routine events happening at school.

On Tuesday this week, we had our annual Multilingual Family Night. This was an opportunity for the multilingual team to connect with families, share about services, and to learn more about the diversity of language and culture represented at Viewlands. Thank you to the families that were able to attend. If you were not able to attend, our multilingual team would love to connect with you.

On Wednesday, it was the Taste Washington day, and Viewlands was lucky to be a school that was able to participate. Farmer Ray visited Viewlands and brought orange carrots, purple carrots, and a Kisabell apples to share with students at lunch time. This program is in partnership with the SPS Nutritional Services team and the City of Seattle. Students were excited about the carrots and the apples and enjoying meeting Farmer Ray.

On Thursday, we had our first earthquake drill of the school year on the Great ShakeOut. We have a safety drill every month so we can help students practice.

A few highlights from my visits in classrooms and with students this week include: hearing 2nd graders share their thinking about different ways to represent mathematical equations and groupings; listening to 4th and 5th graders navigate sportsmanship and competitiveness during enthusiastic games of 4-square at lunch recess; kindergarteners sharing excitement about their lunch table captains (4th and 5th grade student leaders); helping a 3rd grader make an Orca Spotlight video about Ramadan; and seeing kindergarteners and 1st graders use LEXIA, which is a supplemental program for reading instruction that VEPTSA funds for our K-2 students.

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

Picture Day is in 6 days. Every student will take a picture. Pictures will be in the yearbook unless a family opted their student out of appearing in the yearbook. School pictures are also available for purchase through the O'Connor studio. They only accept online orders. You can pre-order photos now.

Order Photos

or you can access through their website

1. Visit the O'Connor Photography website

2. Click the "click here" button for pre-order fall pictures

3. Click on "Elementary"

4. Scroll down and click on "Viewlands"

5. Enter your e-mail

6. Order photos

If you have any questions or need assistance with ordering photos, you can call the O'Connor studio at 1-800-993-4929.

There will be a retake day for students that were absent on picture day.

VEPTSA will help coordinate volunteers, we will only need 6 for picture day. O'Connor does offer free photos for volunteers. Volunteer sign up will be on Konstella.

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!

As previously shared the Seattle Public Schools volunteer approval process has changed this year. After you complete the initial interest form about being a volunteer, there are many more steps. The volunteer application and background check process is completed in the Volunteer Portal. This process takes time. We can only submit a few names daily into those next steps of getting access to the volunteer portal. Once you have completed all those steps, the background check process takes time, and that time is not the same for every individual. It can take longer if you have lived out of Washington state or if you have a name that is relatively common. The background check process can take 1 to 8 weeks. Our Viewlands team has no control over the timeline of background checks.

Our Office Assistant and Volunteer Coordinator, Leandra Davidson, is providing the steps to individuals about this through e-mail. Please read these e-mails and make sure you are completing each step. You can track your pending or approved status in the volunteer portal once you are into that phase of the process.

Ms. Leandra is responding to questions as quickly as possible, but the volunteer coordinator part of her role is just a small part of her Office Assistant role. Please be patient and flexible. Please read through the steps she sends to you in e-mail and make sure you are doing each step. Please track your status in the volunteer portal. We realize this new process is taking more time and has more steps. It is a challenge for all. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

As we prepare for the zoo fieldtrip in two weeks, please know the following:

• Only approved volunteers can be chaperones. We can't wait to the last minute to assign chaperones. Confirmation of volunteers happened this week for many classrooms and will occur no later than the beginning of next week.
• In some grades/classrooms we have more approved volunteers than needed for the zoo fieldtrip. This means not everyone that volunteers will go on the zoo fieldtrip as a chaperone even if you are approved. We understand this can be hard.
• We have been allocated free tickets for all students and 60 adults, which includes approved volunteer chaperones AND staff. They calculate this based on a 6:1 ratio. We already go well above that with around 60 approved volunteer chaperones and then the additional 25 staff members that will also be at the zoo that we cover through shared passes and VEPTSA support.
• The zoo grants these fieldtrips with consideration of capacity. We are already over what is granted (60 adults) and well below the zoo ratio of 6:1.

VEPTSA General Meeting - Monday October 20, 6:30-8pm

The VEPTSA Fall General Meeting is coming up on Monday October 20, 6:30pm-8:00pm in the school library. Join us for updates about budget, community events, volunteer opportunities, and advocacy initiatives. Meet other parents and help shape our work ahead for the 2025-2026 school year! Onsite childcare provided by Creative Kids.

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 >

Orcas Move Week was a huge success!

Our Move-a-thon raised $16,500+ to support Lexia literacy software, playground supervision, field trips, assemblies, and more. Walk, Bike & Roll to School was a joyful event with strong participation. Thank you, Orcas!

Join Viewlands PTSA!

Have a voice, a vote, and access to fun perks—like ticket and retail discounts. There is no time commitment required. Become a member today!

• October 23 School Picture Day (retakes for students absent on Dec 4th)
• October 31 All School Zoo Field Trip (MANY volunteers needed)
• November 7 VEPTSA Sponsored Fall Movie Night, time TBD
• November 11 NO SCHOOL – Veterans Day holiday
• Nov 24-Nov 25 NO SCHOOL, Family-Teacher Conferences
• Nov 26-Nov 28 NO SCHOOL - Holiday
• December 4 Picture Retake/Make Up Day
• Dec 22-Jan 2 NO SCHOOL - Winter Break