the Orca Splash

Hello Viewlands Families!

This week was Black Lives Matter at school and the beginning of Black History month. The theme this year was Local to Global: Loving Engagement in the Age of Change. Next week on Friday we will have a student-led assembly to honor Back History month and MLK Jr's dream. After the student-led assembly we will do a school community march focused on peace! The community march will happen around 1:40-1:45 p.m. (after the assembly). It typically lasts around 20 minutes as we march around the school. Families are welcome to cheer us on along the trail behind the school or in the entry pavilion area outside.

Please note next Friday, we will be doing our assembly and community march in the afternoon. We will not be able to accommodate early dismissal after 1:30. If your child needs early dismissal, it will need to be 1:30 p.m. or before. If you come to cheer us on at the community march, you will need to wait for the regular dismissal time to pick up your students.

On Thursday this week we had our school Global Reading Challenge competition with 4th and 5th graders that chose to participate. The Global Reading Challenge is a reading incentive program supported by Seattle Public Library in partnership with Seattle Public Schools. Viewlands loves being a part of the Global Reading Challenge. Forty-two 4th and 5th graders participated this year on six teams. The Reading Snow Leopards are the Viewlands 2026 Global Reading Challenge school winners.

Congrats to the Reading Snow Leopards: 5th graders Anne, Embry, and Christopher, and 4th graders Wesley and Laurel. This team will be representing Viewlands at a district level competition in March.

The Global Reading Challenge was a big highlight of the week. A few other highlights from my visits in classrooms and with students this week include: 4th and 5th graders supporting 2nd graders with ideas for posters for our community march for peace next week; learning more about the topics of the 3rd graders opinion pieces in Ms. Meagher's class; and teaching PE today with Teacher Nelson's Kindergarten class, Ms. Norma's 2nd grade class, and Ms. Schilke's 4th/5th grade class.

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

There are many different viewpoints, opinions, and preferences from our families on how February 14th Valentines Day is or is not recognized at school. At Viewlands, Feb 14th, or the school day closest when it is on a weekend, is referred to as a "Friendship Day". The exact way teachers decide to celebrate 'Friendship Day" varies. Valentines Day does not have historical context that connects to elementary learning in core subjects, but can be a way to connect to our social-emotional learning centered around friendship or a way to acknowledge our classmates/peers.

• If a classroom teacher chooses to do something to celebrate “Friendship Day”, it is something handled in the classroom so all students can participate (i.e. friendship cards, pictures, compliments for every student). I encourage teachers to communicate ahead of time of their plan for this day. We want this day to feel successful for all students.
• We do not want candy or high sugar treats from home as part of any friendship day celebrations. This is because families have different opinions and preferences around candy/high sugar treats and those types of snacks/treats can impact the emotional regulation and social behavior responses for some students, as well as how students respond to each other.
• When classrooms do something to honor or celebrate Friendship Day, the goal is to connect to classroom community building that our educators are working to cultivate throughout the year and social-emotional learning around friendships and how to be a kind, positive, and productive member of a community.

I appreciate your understanding and flexibility. If you have specific questions about what is happening in your child's classroom, please reach out to the classroom teacher.

VEPTSA and the Viewlands Office Team host a Viewlands cover art contest annually. The cover art contest is open the whole month of February. This could be a great activity now or over mid-winter break. Every submission will be featured in a small way in the yearbook as borders and will be displayed in the main office. The winning entry will be our yearbook cover for the 2025-2026 school year.

• Paper: 8.5” x 11” portrait (only portrait oriented artwork can be considered)
• Details: Artwork must include an orca. Write the student’s full name and teacher's name on the back in pencil.

Students can submit their cover art to Ms. Lin in the office. The last day to submit an entry is Friday, February 27!

Around the Viewlands campus students will be discussing and learning about the tradition of Lunar New Year and the cultural significance that it has within the Asian community. This topic has sparked powerful conversations while also providing a deeper understanding of how other cultures honor family and community through celebration. In art class, students will be using their personal connections, stories, and inspirations to create bright paper lanterns that represent good fortune and joy for the entire Viewlands community. This unit will allow students to learn about color, symbolism, and pattern in their work and has created opportunities to highlight the importance of collaboration.

As an extension to our classroom learning, we are inviting students to share their knowledge and experiences of the Lunar New Year. Here are a few ideas If you wish to participate

1. Bring in a photo, writing or drawing of how you and your family celebrate Lunar New Year.

2. Reflect on a wish or goal you have for the Year of the Horse.

3. Unleash your creativity by making a drawing or decoration that represents the qualities of a horse; energetic, independent, and intelligent.

This work will be on display along with our lanterns. Please write your name and classroom teacher’s name on your work. You can turn this into the office or your teacher (they will make sure it gets to Ms. B, our art teacher). This project is optional; Viewlands Elementary School respects the traditions and beliefs of all cultures.

If you would like to help hang the lanterns, please email Ms. Buschmann at kbbuschmann@seattlepublicschools.org.

Sui Sui Ping An or may you have peace and safety year after year!

Practices: Tuesdays 2:30-4 p.m. at Viewlands starting February 24

Games: at Magnuson Park on Saturdays from March 7 until May 16

Cost: Pay what you can, from $0 to $95.

If interested -

English Ultimate Frisbee Team Interest Form

Spanish Ultimate Frisbee Team Interest Form

Questions? Contact Coach Valentine cjdeweyvalen@seattleschools.org

The new superintendent started Monday, February 2nd. He has organized seven community conversations centered in in the School Board Director districts and a city-wide virtual community conversation. Superintendent Shuldiner has expressed that the community meetings will be an opportunity to connect, share, and dream big together.

We all want Seattle Public Schools to be successful for ALL students. All families are encouraged to share their ideas and connect with new leadership by being part of a community conversations! Viewlands is part of district 1, so the closest location to our attendance zone is at James Baldwin, but you can attend a different one if that location and time frame work better for you!

• Thursday, Feb. 26, 7:30–8:30 p.m., Bailey Gatzert Elementary, 1301 E Yesler Way
• Tuesday, March 3, 7:30–8:30 p.m., South Shore K–8, 4800 S Henderson St.
• Tuesday, March 10, 7:30–8:30 p.m., Salmon Bay K–8, 1810 NW 65th St.
• Tuesday, March 17, 7:30–8:30 p.m., Eckstein Middle School, 3003 NE 75th St.
• Tuesday, March 24, 6:30–7:30 p.m., McClure Middle School, 1915 1st Ave W.
• Thursday, March 26, 6:30–7:30 p.m., James Baldwin Elementary, 11725 1st Ave NE
• Tuesday, March 31, 6:30–7:30 p.m., West Seattle Elementary, 6760 34th Ave SW
• Thursday, April 2, 6–7:30 p.m., Virtual, online; link forthcoming

Seeking Volunteers for VEPTSA’s Nominating Committee

The PTA is seeking 3–4 volunteers to serve on our VEPTSA Officer Nominating Committee. This small group will help recruit and recommend PTA Officers for the 2026–27 school year. We especially encourage families who are newer to Viewlands, or who are interested in getting more involved in shaping our school community, to consider joining.

• To learn more, please contact vicepresident@viewlandsptsa.org or reach out to your classroom’s Family Ambassador.

Ticket Box Opens is Open for Blockbuster-Themed PTSA Spring Auction

Get ready for a night of fun, community, and great vibes at Old Stove Brewing Co. Gardens in Ballard on March 28th! 🎟️ PTSA Spring Auction Tickets are available

We’re also still on the lookout for fun auction items! Have a great idea, a connection, or something to contribute? Contact fundraising@viewlandsptsa.org.

• February 16- February 20 - No School, Mid-Winter Break
• April 13-April 17 - No School, Spring Break
• Wednesday, April 29, 5-7 p.m.- Viewlands Evening of the Arts and Culture