the Orca Splash

Hello Viewlands Families!

There is no school on Monday, January 19, in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., day. This week as we head into MLK weekend, students were discussing, sharing, and grappling with concepts related to freedom, social justice, and activism. Each classroom approached this in different ways specific to their grade level and the bests way to integrate these concepts in their literacy and social studies core content.

There are many ways families can honor and continue to learn through activities around Seattle this weekend to honor the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.

• Seattle MLK Coalition are hosting Seattle's 43rd Annual Celebration 2026: Where do we go from here? There are different events, including opportunity fair, community discussions, workshops, a rally, and a march. There isa youth event "This is Where We Go From Here" on Saturday, January 17 at 4 p.m. at Washington Hall. The march is scheduled for Monday, January 19.
• Seattle Parks and Recreation will commemorate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr with a community event at on Saturday January 17. The event is free for all ages. There will be a gathering at 11 a.m. at MLK Jr Memorial parkway, youth speeches at 11:30 a.m., and a youth led march from the park to the Rainier Community Center at 12:30 p.m.. There will be more activities in the celebration at Rainier Community Center after the march.

At Viewlands we will honor MLK, Jr, and Black History month with a student led assembly in February before mid-winter break. The assembly will be led by Christa's 2nd grade class, Ms. Norma's 2nd grade class, and Mr. Brandon's 1st and 2nd grade class.

A few highlights from my visits in classrooms and with students this week include: playing blah blah blah with a couple 3rd graders during small group reading; playing roll and read with a 1st grader and a 5th grader;

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

Together with VEPTSA support, we will have a school event, a family math night open to all Viewlands students and families hosted by Zeno and funded by VEPTSA and a Community Resource Fair hosted by our school staff. This is an open-house style family event. Typically families stay 45-60 minutes so you can come anytime between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.. Please note the event starts at 5:30 p.m. and ends at 7 p.m., so please arrive by 6:30 p.m. at the latest. This is a family event, children must attend with an adult. Families are supervising their children. Children can't attend on their own.

There will be math games and activities to enjoy! Thank you VEPTSA for co-hosting and supporting Family Math Night! The Lincoln High School and Robert Eagle Staff math clubs will be supporting this event with student volunteers and will have information to share. We will also have alum Viewlands students from Robert Eagle Staff, Whitman middle school, and Ingraham high school volunteering at this event! We love our alum students!

Viewlands will be hosting the Community Resource Fair, an event focusing on community partnerships, during math night. This will include Family Works, Seattle Public Library, NeighborCare, and King County Metro. These organizations will have booths to provide information and assist with applications.

There are many changes that have occurred this school year in the identification categories, pathway options, math progression options, timelines, and more in the Highly Capable services in Seattle Public Schools.

There are important dates / timelines regarding notification for newly identified students and enrollment. The enrollment considerations are for students that qualify for highly capable services and are entering 2nd through 6th grade next year.

Below are a few of those important dates and timelines. I have also attached an "Understanding Highly Capable Services" document for Viewlands and the website link to the Highly Capable department page on the Seattle Public School site.

Important Dates:

• Newly identified highly capable eligibility notifications will be available on the source on February 7. Highly Capable is now the only designation.
• Appeals: Families can appeal eligibility decisions. The appeal window is Feb 7 through Feb 20. Families must submit appeals in that window. Final appeal decisions will be available in the Source on February 27.
• Enrollment Dates: Open Choice enrollment is required for students identified for highly capable services that plan to enroll in the cohort model option school (Cascadia for 2nd through 5th) AND for the Highly Capable pathway middle school (Robert Eagle Staff Middle School) for 6th grade. It is recommended that families with 5th grade students that are eligible for highly capable services review the math pathway options carefully in the attached document. The open choice priority enrollment window is January 5th through February 28. Late applications will be accepted through March 31st, but submitting open choice applications in the priority window is recommended. No enrollment forms are needed to stay in your neighborhood option.

Our 4th and 5th graders were excited to welcome our salmon eggs as part of the Salmon in Schools project last Friday. Our salmon eggs are from the Squamish Hatchery on Grover's Creek. The hatching has begun this week. We anticipate the hatching to conclude next week.

Viewlands loves being part of the Salmon in Schools project. Our 4th and 5th graders are the main stewards of the salmon and Mr. Arango, one of the 4th and 5th grade teachers, is the lead for this project. All students will have the opportunity to learn about this while we are caretakers of the eggs.

The tank is in our 4th and 5th grade learning cluster. We will be supporting the salmon as eggs and the alevin stage. As they transition from alevin to the fry stage, we prepare to return the salmon to Carkeek. The small salmon fry spend a few weeks in the Imprint Pond before being released in Piper’s Creek.

Typically, the salmon are returned to Carkeek between the end of March and beginning of April.

The 4th and 5th graders will be taking care of the tank and will be inviting our K-3rd grade classrooms down to visit and learn about the salmon over the next couple months.

Whitman Middle School Open House:

Open House 1/20/26

Join Us!

The Whitman Middle School Open House is on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, from 5:30–7 p.m. for incoming 6th Graders for the 2026-27 School Year.

Parents/Guardians and Students are all welcome to attend!

Whitman MS Open House Schedule

• 5:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. Special Education Presentation
• 5:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. Parents can browse the information tables outside the auditorium
• 6 p.m. Principal/ASB Student Panel & PTSA Presentation in the auditorium with student led school tours.
• Event ends at 7 p.m.

Robert Eagle Staff Middle School Open House:

Open House 1/22/26

Join Us!

The Robert Eagle Staff Middle School Open House is on Thursday January 22, 2026, from 6-8 p.m. for incoming 6th Graders for the 2026-27 School Year.

Parents/Guardians and Students are all welcome to attend!

Robert Eagle Staff Middle School PTSA Musical Theater presents Shrek, The Musical Jr. This a great opportunity to support RESMS and see a musical!

• Shows on January 23 and 31, 7 p.m.
• Shows on January 25 and February 1 at 3 p.m.
• Tickets are $15 for adults and $7 for students (non RESMS students)
• RESMS students and Kids under 5 are free
• Shows are at RESMS
• Purchase Shrek the Musical Jr. Tickets

The Broadview Branch Library of Seattle Public Libraries is having a 50th Anniversary Celebration. There are music and board game activities Thursday Jan 22 from 5-7:30 p.m. and Indigenous Storytelling with Siobhan Kekoa on Saturday Jan 24 at 11 a.m., following by a celebration at 1 p.m..

Family Math Night & Resource Fair

Next Thursday, January 22, 5:30-7 p.m.

Bring the whole family to Family Math Night and Resource Fair on Thursday, January 22, 5:30-7 p.m. Viewlands is partnering with Zeno, local middle and high school math clubs, and local organizations for an evening of fun math activities and family resources. We have just a couple of open volunteer spots left. This is such a fun night! We hope to see you there!

VEPTSA General Meeting

The VEPTSA Winter General Meeting is coming up on Tuesday January 27, 6:30pm-8:00pm in the school library. If you’ve never been to a PTA meeting before, we encourage you to join us. We’ll talk about how our fundraising is making an impact, get your input on our budget, and learn about advocacy initiatives, and ways you can engage even if you have very limited time. Meet other parents and help shape our work ahead for the 2025-2026 school year!

VEPTSA General Meeting Agenda.

Free onsite childcare provided by Creative Kids the Viewlands afterschool care & preschool provider.

Save the Date! Blockbuster-Themed PTSA Spring Auction

Get ready for a night of fun and community at Old Stove Brewing Co – Gardens in Ballard on March 28th for an unforgettable evening supporting our school. More details coming soon—stay tuned!

• January 19 - No School, MLK Day
• January 22 (Thursday) - Viewlands Math Night and Community Resource Fair 5:50-7 p.m.
• January 27 6:30-8 p.m. VEPTSA Winter General Membership Meeting
• February 16- February 20 - No School, Mid-Winter Break