Pathfinder Compass
UPDATED August 23, 2021
What to expect with The Compass!
The purpose of the Compass is to provide relevant information to our Pathfinder families and community. During the summer you can expect to see a newsletter in July and August.
As you all know, school begins next week! You can now expect to see the Compass every Sunday!
In this issue:
- COVID Protocols
- The Lunch Plan
- Device Distribution
- Class Rosters
- 6th Grade Letter from Mr. Bores
- Pathfinder 101
- Listening sessions learning!
I cannot wait for my child to be at school socializing with his peers. We missed that last year!
-Pathfinder Parent
Please click the link above for additional information, highlights include...
- K–12 school district employees are required to get a COVID-19 vaccination or be approved for a medical or religious exemption by October 18, 2021.
- If there is a positive COVID-19 case, all families with students in the same classroom will be notified.
- All non-represented SPS staff are required to be vaccinated.
- Correctly warn masks are required at all times (a medical exemption is required if mask wearing is not possible for a student).
- We are in the process of installing air filters in all Pathfinder classrooms.
- Beginning September 1st, we are NOT required to complete the health screen (attestation).
- We are happy to have vaccinated volunteers!
The Lunch Plan
Tentative Schedule
Kindergarten / First 11:25 - 12:00
Second and Third 10:45 - 11:20
Fourth and Fifth 11:55 - 12:30
Middle School 12:10 - 12:45
The movers have come!
We hope to partner with a handful of families who are representative of our student population to support us in developing a lunch plan to keep all of our students and families safe!
We will be able to dedicate two days to developing this plan. Wednesday, August 25th AND Thursday, August 26th both 5:00 - 6:00pm in person at Pathfinder. We realize this is last minute, we realize folx may have prior commitments, and we want to hold this time to learn from you all. AND we want to hear from families that might not be able to make this time. Please add your concerns here so we are able to address them.
SPS can safely implement lunch plans that allow all students to eat inside with use of effective mitigation strategies, such as:
- Limiting time that students are sitting at lunch
- Supporting indoor effective air change so that we are either changing or cleaning the air 5-6 times per hour for excellent ventilation.
- Maximizing physical distancing to the extent possible.
- Organizing students so they will not be facing directly across from each other while eating/drinking. They will either be staggered or facing the same direction.
In addition, we will be working to build a common understanding of good habits while eating lunch:
- Wash your hands before and after lunch.
- Only remove your mask when you are eating and drinking. Pull down your mask (or pull it to the side) when you take a drink or a bite, then put your mask right back on.
- Use quiet indoor voices while at lunch.
We are happy to accommodate families who are interested in pulling students during lunch by opening our play field to vaccinated volunteers.
- If you are interested in becoming a volunteer please see information here!
Please note we updating and revising plans as we gain more information, we appreciate your patience.
Device distribution will happen on the first day of school in classrooms. To prepare, Ami is asking for parent volunteers to help check out and label iPads and laptops on Thursday 8/26 and Friday 8/27. If you are able to help, please email alpendley@seattleschools.org.
Please note, families are being asked to sign an agreement form and provide a $25 usage and repair fee. Families can use School Pay to pay the $25 fee. We are happy to work with with families who many need support in paying the fee.
Class Rosters
This year rosters will be shared via the Source. This information is still being uploaded, in the mean time please check your personal email for your class assignment.
Middle School
To support our Middle Schoolers success, we will be hosting an orientation that is scheduled for the evening of Thursday, August 26th 6:00 - 7:00pm via zoom.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://seattleschools.zoom.us/j/85837481942?pwd=Sm9KVmt0TUdzTUVJOTg1ZHo5OGIxdz09
Meeting ID: 858 3748 1942
Passcode: 511326
Please note, we are unable to accommodate classroom requests.
A special note to our 6th Graders from Mr. Bores
Hello Pathfinder families! Please share this message with your 6th grade students.
My name is Mr. Bores, and I am the new music teacher here at Pathfinder K-8! I am so excited to get to know you all and spend this year making music together. This year, we have the unique opportunity to offer our Beginning Middle School Band to ALL 6th grade students who are interested! No previous experience is required. I repeat, you do not need to know how to play an instrument to join band in 6th grade!
In band, students usually start out on saxophone, flute, trumpet, clarinet, percussion (drums), or trombone. However, if you are interested in playing another instrument let me know! If you are passionate about playing an instrument, we want you in the Pathfinder band! It is one of my core beliefs that everyone can learn to play an instrument, and everyone is inherently musical.
In-person band is much different from an online band class, so if you learned to play an instrument in 5th grade online last year, I highly encourage you to continue into middle school band and experience what our in-person class will be like! Band will be a lot more engaging and involved. You will get to hear everyone play with you all at the same time!!
Band is a unique class in that we get the chance to express ourselves and create a strong music family. Music is incredibly diverse, and there is room for everyone's musical journey in Pathfinder's program. We get the opportunity to learn so many different kinds of music from orchestral music, to movie music, to popular music, and more!
I sincerely hope you consider joining our band. If you are interested or have any questions, please send me an e-mail at jabores@seattleschools.org
Thanks, and I hope to make music with you soon!
Pathfinder 101
Monday, August 30 5:30 - 7:00 pm
5:30 - 6:00 we invite all families to learn about opening
6:00 - 7:00 our PTSA will facilitate Pathfinder 101
Join Zoom Meeting
https://seattleschools.zoom.us/j/87264420915?pwd=Rktnc1lGZ3p5MUJPdVlvTVJrMGcyUT09
Meeting ID: 872 6442 0915
Passcode: 356535
Summer Listening Sessions
Dr. Cordell and Dr. Holmes have hosted all five scheduled summer listening sessions! We are so thankful to have learned with and from you all as we embark on this journey together.
We would invite anyone who was unable to attend to reach out if you are so inclined - we are happy to meet with you! And we will have more time throughout the school year!
Dr. Holmes' Incoming Goals
- To know all folx personally and professionally connected to the school. Further, allow others to know me as fully as possible outside day to day connection, crisis, and problem solving.
- To use qualitative and quantitative data to determine concerns and issues regarding improving student performance that needs to be closely examined and addressed to repay the educational debt.
- To learn the artifacts, beliefs, and basic underlying assumptions through engaging in essential conversations with Pathfinder students, staff, and community.
- To identify, hold onto, and strengthen traditions that center students and bring the community together. Further, partner with students, staff, and the community to ensure social emotional learning and growth is embedded in the curriculum, adult strengths are highlighted, and we have fun!
