Thornton Creek Digest

Happy Tuesday,

Welcome back from break! It was so wonderful to see students and staff back in the building yesterday and to hear all the stories from the week away. Some of you traveled to find snow, others found sunshine and warmth, and some of us enjoyed the wonderfully wacky weather right here at home (I fell into that last category!).

Break offered a chance to rest, reconnect with family and friends, and reset before heading into these next busy weeks and the stretch toward spring. There is a renewed energy in the building, and it feels good to be back together.

As we move into planning for next year, I invite you to join us for our upcoming Community Meeting on March 10 at 7 p.m.

At this meeting, I will:

• Share current and historical enrollment data

• Review budget updates and projections

• Begin discussing what the 2026–2027 school year may holds for Thornton Creek

Do you have a question, wondering, or topic you would like included in the discussion? We want to hear from you. Below you will find an input form to help shape the agenda — whether it’s something for this meeting, a future Community Meeting, a TCPG conversation, or a topic you’d like addressed in the SMORE newsletter. The input form will remain open through March 6.

I hope to see many of you on Friday for our Connected in Culture Potluck!!

In partnership,
Brandee

February

• Fri 27 | Artifact Day | Parent/Guardian Volunteers needed from 8-11 a.m. | Community Elder Volunteers Needed
• Fri 27 | Connected In Cultures Potluck | 6-7:30 p.m. | More information below | Sign up for Connected in Cultures Potluck!

March

• Fri 6 | Spring Picture Day | Class Photos + Individual make-ups per request | see below for more
• Tues 10 | Community Meeting at Thornton Creek | 7 p.m. (Adult only event)
• Fri 13 | TCPG Movie Night | Details to come | Save the evening! | 6:30 p.m.
• Thurs 19 & Fri 20 | No PK1 or PK2 | Teacher/Guardian Conference Sign-Ups coming soon
• Wed 25 | Book Character Day - Dress like your favorite literary character

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We so look forward to Artifact day on Friday, February 27. We are still hoping for parent volunteers between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. and elder volunteers to support our students as they share about their identity. We hope you'll sign-up using the links attached.

Join us for a Connected in Culture potluck dinner in the lunchroom on Friday, February 27th, from 6–7:30 p.m. as we celebrate our diverse school community through food and connection. Families are invited to bring a dish that is special to their culture and/or family. Please label dishes with the dish name, family name, and any allergens (dairy, peanuts, or gluten). To support our sustainability efforts, please bring your own plate and utensils.

We will create a Connected in Culture: Thornton Creek Community Cookbook to celebrate and share our community’s favorite recipes. If you would like to include your dish in the cookbook, please use the link below to submit your recipe by Friday, February 27. Cookbooks will be created and available for purchase following the event, with proceeds supporting Thornton Creek Elementary. Submit Your Recipe today!

On Friday, March 6th Class Act Portraits will take class photos. If you would also like for your student to have an individual photo taken on this day please fill out the google form. No form is required for class photos.

If you would like to volunteer to help from 7:30-10:50 a.m. and/or 11:35 a.m.- 2:25 p.m. please let the Thornton Creek office know if you can volunteer.

Photos will be available for viewing a few days after picture day. Ordering will take place online only, accessed using your Student ID#

If you have questions about picture day call 253-569-1162.

Our new SPS Superintendent is hosting a series of Community Conversations across the city to listen, learn, and build trust with families and staff. These sessions are designed to:

• Listen to your experiences, ideas, and concerns

• Capture feedback so it leads to action

• Build stronger partnership between schools and community

Each meeting will include a brief introduction, whole-group discussion, smaller breakout conversations, and time for open questions. Interpretation will be available (Amharic, ASL, Chinese, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese). All are welcome — you do not need to live in the region where the meeting is held.

Meeting Dates:

• Feb. 26 – Bailey Gatzert Elementary (7:30–8:30 p.m.)

• March 3 – South Shore K–8 (7:30–8:30 p.m.)

• March 10 – Salmon Bay K–8 (7:30–8:30 p.m.)

• March 17 – Eckstein Middle School (7:30–8:30 p.m.)

• March 24 – McClure Middle School (6:30–7:30 p.m.)

• March 26 – James Baldwin Elementary (6:30–7:30 p.m.)

• March 31 – West Seattle Elementary (6:30–7:30 p.m.)

• April 2 – Virtual Session (6–7:30 p.m.)

Sessions will also be livestreamed and recorded on SPSTV for those unable to attend.

I want to encourage you to join and share your hopes for Thornton Creek and Seattle’s students.

• The Annual Dragonfly Bazaar on April 9 is in the planning stages. Many volunteers make this a successful and fun event. Show our support by helping or email the parent group with questions.

• WOW Art Night and Fundraising Event is scheduled for April 30. We would like volunteers to help plan and support the event. If you'd like to donate to WOW Art Night's Silent Auction and Raffle Baskets, sign up today.

More information about both of these events can be found in the TCPG Newsletter and in the January 28 Bulletin.