Green Lake Family Newsletter
March 20, 2026
Happy New Year!
Important Dates
- Spanish Speaking Connection meetings every Monday and Friday 8:40-9:15 a.m.
March 20 Field Trip 4th and 5th grade to Woodland Park Zoo 10 a.m.–1:15 p.m.
March 26 Field Trip 3rd grade to Benaroya (Seattle Symphony) Hall 9:45 a.m.–11:45 a.m.
March 28 School Auction at 5 p.m. at Sodo Park
April 9 Evening Concert (Kunkel) in our cafeteria: K-2nd grades 6:30-7 p.m. & 3rd–5th 7:30-8 p.m.
- April 13-17 No School Spring Break
- April 20 Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast 9 a.m. in the library!
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April 24 Field Trip 1st grades – Baker and Johnson – to Seattle Art Museum 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
May 1 Field trip 1st grades – Gogolowicz and Poss-Hahn – to Seattle Art Museum 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
- May 14 Multicultural night 5-7 p.m.
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May 15 Field Trip 3rd grade to Woodland Park Zoo 10 a.m.–1:15 p.m.
- May 25 Memorial Day No School
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May 28 Field Trip 5th grade to Seattle Art Museum 9:30 a.m.–1:15 p.m.
June 12 Field Trip All K-5 Field Day
- Last day of School June 17 - 1 hour early release, 5th grade promotion
Principal information
Hi,
We will be celebrating all of you that volunteer your time to our school on April 20 at 9-10 a.m. for a little Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast! We will have healthy breakfast items, pastries, donuts, and coffee and a little gift for your time! We hope to see you there and to give you some well deserved appreciation!
Have a great weekend!
Warmly,
Liz McFarland (she/her)
Principal
emmcfarland@seattleschools.org
Girls on the Run
What: Girls on the Run is an after school program for girls and non-binary youth in 3rd-5th grade. It combines physical activity with life skills lessons to emphasize the important connection between emotional and physical health.
When: Tuesday March 25-May 19. The students meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30-5 p.m at Green Lake Elementary. Also, there is a 5K fun run at Renton Memorial Stadium on Sunday, May 19.
Where: Green Lake Elementary
For more information and to register, visit: gotrpugetsound.org/programs. You may also contact Monica Schneider, school counselor with questions at mmschneider@seattleschools.org with any questions. Scholarships are available.
Want to go to Summer Camp?
Apply for a scholarship from the Assistance League of Seattle!
- Maximum scholarship awarded will be $500
- All camps/programs will be considered, with the exception of those with religious affiliation
- Must currently be in grades 4 to 11 in a Seattle school to apply
- More information available at assistanceleague.org/seattle/ under Programs: Enrichment Scholarship Program
- Applications must be submitted by May 2, 2026; apply directly use this link
- Contact scholarships@alseattle.org with any questions. (For example, we can send you more information that we've received about camps at the YMCA, etc.!)
Have more questions? Contact School Counselor, Monica Schneider, mmschneider@seattleschools.org
Community info
PTA events and news!
PTA general meeting 3/18 6-8 p.m. in the cafetorium
Slight change of plans: we’re saving the crafting project for another day and doing another of our ever-popular potlucks. We’ll socialize for the first part, before heading into the business portion of the meeting where you can learn about what the PTA is up to and discuss the issues facing our school today. Bring a dish, bring the kids (we’ll have childcare), and come connect the GLES community
Swim Lessons: We need your help
Hi Green Lake Families!
We are just about done with lessons for Ms. Merlin's class and Ms. Davis' lessons start March 23. Thanks so much to all the parents who have helped out and signed up.
First off, thanks so much for the folks helping in the boys locker room for upcoming swim lessons. The help is much appreciated!
We are very short on volunteers for the remaining lessons in the girls locker room and for in-water help. Please sign-up to support this unique Green Lake activity.
Lessons are every Monday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at Evans Pool when school is in session, January 26 through May 11. Each second grade class will have 7 lessons. Ms. Merlin's class continues until March 16. Ms. Davis' class starts March 23.
In order to run the lessons we need:
- Chaperones - walk with the class to and from Evans Pool
- Locker room monitors - keep an eye on the students in the locker rooms before and after lessons
- In-water assistants - help the swimmers practice their skills
Chaperones will walk the students to and from the school, meeting at the classroom at 9 a.m., returning to GLES by 10:30 a.m.. Locker room helpers and in-water assistants can arrive at Evans Pool at 9:15 and leave with the students at 10:15, or walk down with the class.
If you'd like to volunteer, and do please help out between the two classes.
If you have questions, contact Matthew Rutishauser: swim@greenlakedragons.org or at 831-419-0401.