Licton Springs K-8 2026-2027

Please enjoy this video that introduces Licton Spring’s theme for 2026-27 and a message for the year ahead

At Curriculum Night last week we shared that an area of focus for Licton Springs this year is family engagement. Specifically, we want to improve in 3 ways:

1. Family partnership around student learning
2. Consistent two-way family communication
3. Meaningful family voice and input

(Insert little picture attached: We need your input to grow)

We asked families what your experience has been with these 3 areas of family engagement at Licton Springs, and families shared what’s working, and how we can do better. Here’s what you’ve shared so far:

What’s Working:

• Talking Points x3
• Newsletter
• Prioritization of the student experience
• Commitment to experiential learning
• A passion for forward thinking
• Daily point sheets
• Communication sharing of positive interactions as well as challenging ones
• Classroom access for parents
• Open door for communication
• Passionate and caring staff
• Flexible parent involvement
• Dedicated staff and parents

How Can We Do Better?

• Music programs
• Art and cultural expansion as experience
• Empathy, always room for more
• Real life learning
• Opportunities. (Cooking=math and science)
• Improve criticism and negative self-identity talk
• Welcoming tone when tardy or close to bell time
• Support from school district
• Advocacy and acknowledgement from school district

If you haven’t had a chance to share yet, we’d love to learn from you. Please share your experience with family engagement at Licton Springs here: Licton Springs K8 Family Input Activity

This week, in an effort to build family partnership around student learning and two-way communication, we are sending home a family questionnaire with students. It is also available here: Family Questionnaire. We would love to learn from you! Please return or email your responses to your child’s teacher. Thank you for your partnership!

We’re having a field trip!

On Friday, October 23, our K-8 students and staff (and hopefully a few family chaperones) will visit Carkeek Park with Nature Guides from the City of Seattle’s Environmental Education and Outdoor Learning Department. This exciting outdoor learning experience will take place from approximately 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., returning for lunch at school.

This field trip provides an opportunity for students to learn about the seasonal return of salmon to Piper’s Creek. Many of our students have been stewards of salmon at our school and participated in the smolt release at Carkeek Park. This will be a fun and educational opportunity to observe another stage of the salmon life cycle.

Students will also learn about habitats, watersheds, food webs, and the connections between freshwater ecosystems and Puget Sound. Depending on conditions, students may be able to observe salmon in the creek. We will connect classroom learning with the outdoors as students explore ecosystems, plant and animal relationships, living things, and human impacts on the environment.

Cost: $2.50 per student
Payment may be made:

• By cash or check (payable to Licton Springs K-8) at the school office, or to classroom teacher
• Online through SchoolPay: https://www.schoolpay.com/link/SeattleParksScience

* Permission slips went home last week please take a look in the backpacks if you have not seen it (it is bright yellow!) We ask that you sign and return them as quickly as possible to confirm your child's participation.

* If you would like to chaperone, please let us know as soon as possible by contacting your child's classroom teacher or emailing Salem Garvey at shgarvey@seattleschools.org.

We are looking forward to this wonderful fall outdoor learning opportunity and hope all students will be able to participate.

Picture Retake Day is scheduled for Monday, October 26. We will also have our class photos taken on that day.

Portrait packages from our September picture day are expected to arrive in approximately one more week. Once they arrive, families will have an opportunity to review their child's photos before retake day.

Students who ordered individual portraits will receive a class photo mid-November. Information about ordering portraits for retake day will be shared soon.

• If you placed an order (in Sept) but your child was not photographed, no action is needed. Your child can simply have their picture taken on retake day.
• If your child was photographed in September but you would like a retake, please have your child bring their original photo package to school on October 26 and they will have their picture retaken.

If you have questions about orders, packages, or retakes, you may contact Yuen Lui Photography directly for assistance. customerservice@yuenluischools.com

We look forward to seeing lots of smiles on Picture Retake Day! 📸

Daily Schedule

• Breakfast: 7:30–7:50 a.m.
• First Bell: 7:50 a.m.
• Classes Begin: 7:55 a.m.
• Middle School Lunch: 10:50–11:15 a.m.
• Elementary Lunch: 11:00–11:20 a.m.
• Regular Dismissal: 2:25 p.m.
• Wednesday Dismissal: 1:10 p.m. 💥

October is Principal Appreciation Month

9/15-10/15: Hispanic Heritage Month 🌎

10/9: No school for Students (teacher learning day)

10/15: The Great Washington Shakeout - Earthquake Drill

10/26: Picture Re-Takes AND class/group photos 📷

10/23: Field Trip - K-8 to Carkeek Park

10/23: Harvest Fest - a PTO Event

10/30: Final Friday Event - Costume Parade 🦹🏻‍♀️🧙🏻‍♀️👻👯

Licton Springs K-8 will be participating in the Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill on October 15. At 10:15 a.m., students and staff will join schools and organizations across Washington in practicing Drop, Cover, and Hold On.

We encourage all families to take this opportunity to review emergency plans, update emergency kits, and talk with children about earthquake safety. The Great ShakeOut website offers excellent resources, checklists, and preparedness information to help your family be ready before an emergency happens: Great ShakeOut Resources.

A little preparation today can make a big difference tomorrow! 🌎🏫💙

Families can subscribe to the district and/or school website online calendars. Your personal calendars update automatically when a change is made or when a new event is added. How to subscribe:

1. Click the calendar link(s) below:
   • Licton Springs K-8 School Calendar
   • Seattle Public Schools Calendar
2. Scroll to the bottom of the calendar page.
3. On the right-hand side, under Subscribe to Calendar, select a subscribe option.

Please Complete the CNEEB Application

While school meals are available to all students at no cost, SPS encourages every family to complete the Child Nutrition Eligibility & Education Benefit (CNEEB) application. The information helps schools receive important funding and resources and may qualify students for additional educational benefits. Families who do not wish to provide income information may select the “Decline Benefits” option.

Fill Out The Child Nutrition Eligibility & Education Benefit Form

Learn More
Learn more about school meals and the CNEEB application on the SPS Culinary Services webpage.

Tasks would include:

• group books by type/level
• restock when shelves get empty
• pull uninteresting titles (books generally not interesting to children, like Better Homes and Gardens Landscaping How-To)

Licton Springs is looking for someone that can come to the building once a month and clean up the Lost and Found.

Tasks would include:

• Looking to see if items are labeled with student name and returning to correct classroom
• Hanging up/sorting lost and found items
• Date Items, and remove after 60 days for donation
• Take photos for newsletter in hopes someone recognizes their scholar's belongings

Please send an email to Carole in the office at cljohnson@seattleschools.org and let her know. This will get the ball rolling!

First of the year LSK8 PTO Meeting | Mon, Oct. 5 | 6:00 PM (Virtual)
All families & staff are welcome!
Topics:
-Agenda to come-
Questions, ideas, & discussion
Whether you're new or a longtime volunteer, we'd love to see you there
Join on Zoom

Mark your calendars for our PTO Evening Event on Thursday, October 29! 🧡🖤💜

Planning is currently underway, and we look forward to sharing more details soon. This will be a great opportunity for our school community to come together and connect.

Interested in helping with the event? The PTO would love additional volunteers. Please reach out to Hannah at pto4thunderbirds@gmail.com to learn how you can support this fun community event.

Stay tuned for more information coming soon! 🎃🧄🍂🍎

Seattle Public Schools is partnering with the Seattle Visiting Nurse Association to offer flu and COVID-19 vaccination clinics for SPS staff, students, families, and community members. Appointments are required, and space is limited. Be sure to register early. The updated 2026 Moderna COVID-19 vaccine will be available. For clinic dates, locations, and registration information, visit the SPS clinic registration site.

Important:

• Insurance information must be entered during registration, or payment is due at the appointment.
• Out-of-pocket costs: $60 for flu vaccine, $200 for COVID-19 vaccine.
• Cigna, TRICARE, and First Choice insurance are not accepted.
• Flu shots are available for ages 4+; COVID-19 vaccines for ages 5+.

Please see the clinic schedule link and registration link below, and feel free to share with family and friends.

SPS Clinic schedule
REGISTER HERE!

For insurance questions or registration issues, contact info@seattlevna.com before confirming your appointment.

Effective July 31, MySchoolBucks increased its online credit and debit card transaction fee from $3 to $3.25 per payment. This fee is charged each time funds are added to a student’s meal account, including one-time deposits and automatic payments. The fee is not charged per meal purchased.

Families can avoid the online transaction fee by submitting cash or checks directly to their school’s cafeteria to be deposited into their student’s meal account. Checks should be made payable to Culinary Services.

Questions? Contact Culinary Services.

As you know, all youth aged 18 and younger ride transit for free in the Puget Sound region. King County Metro highly encourages young people to use a Youth ORCA card when they ride; this provides ridership data to funding partners at the State of Washington, helps Metro plan its service, and simplifies fare enforcement.

Students and families can order a Youth ORCA card for a student online with proof of age.

School Safety: Everyone Has a Role

SPS is committed to creating safe, welcoming environments where every student can thrive. Keeping schools safe is a shared responsibility.

• Keep your contact information up to date to receive emergency alerts via phone, email, and text. You can update your emergency contacts through the Student Data Verification Form starting in September.
• All visitors and volunteers must check in at the school’s front office upon arrival.

Together, we can build a culture of safety and trust in every school community.

At Licton Springs K-8, student safety is our top priority. We would like to remind families that the Kindergarten/1st Grade classroom is designated as a Nut-Free Zone to protect students with life-threatening food allergies.

Previous Licton Springs Newsletters can be found on the Website
Licton Springs Weekly Newsletter (and Archives)