Thornton Creek Digest

Happy Friday, Thornton Creek!

It was a great week of learning and smiles across campus! We came together for an assembly filled with singing, and our 4th graders shared thoughtful ways we can show kindness and care for one another. Expeditions are launching, with our 2nd and 3rd graders putting together clues and hints to uncover what they'll be studying this year! Students soaked up the beautiful weather at recess (soccer has been a HUGE hit!), and our 1st graders have been eager to share their knowledge of spelling patterns! Be sure to check out some of the photos captured around campus this week below.

We hope you'll join us on Tuesday for our next community meeting, focused on parent learning and conversation around kids and technology. Childcare will be provided!

There is so much more happening across campus this month, from 5th grade camp and Harvest Fest to Monster Mash and our Halloween costume share trunk! Be sure to read through this newsletter and the TCPG newsletter for all the ways to connect, participate, and enjoy the fun.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Brandee

Oct

• Sun 18 | TCPG Landscaping Work Party | 9:00 AM - Noon | Sign Up to Help!
• Tues 20 | Community Meeting | 6:30 - 7:30 PM | Commons | Childcare Provided
• Fri 30 | Harvest Festival | 12 Noon | Sign Up to Help
• Fri 30 | TCPG Monster Mash Dance Party | 6:30 PM | Commons | Sign Up to Help

• Sun 1 | Daylight Savings Time | Turn your clock back 1 hour before bed on Saturday
• Thurs 5 | Make Up Picture Day
• Sat 7 | TCPG Landscaping Work Party | 9:00 AM - Noon | Sign Up to Help!
• Wed 11 | Veteran's Day | No School
• Fri 13 | TCPG Family Movie Night featuring Toy Story 5 | 6:30 PM | More information to come
• Tues 17 | Community Meeting | 6:30 - 7:30 PM | Commons | Childcare Provided
• Mon 23 - Wed 25 | Student Lead Conferences | No School for Students | Bring your student to their conference.
• Thurs 26 | Happy Thanksgiving | No School
• Fri 27 | Native American Heritage Day | No School

All Thornton Creek Newsletters

All Thornton Creek Parent Group Newsletters

Seattle Public Schools Calendar. Includes 2026-2027 calendar

October's Community Meeting: Families, Tech, Safety, oh my!

A new parent education initiative is underway at TC! Join other parents grappling with tricky topics, share and learn together, and help strengthen our community. We're starting with a 3-part workshop series about Navigating Family Tech to explore family communication, digital safety, and more facilitated by one of our very own TC parents. These workshops will be held as TC Community Meetings on Oct 20, *2nd date TBD, and Jan 12 from 6:30-7:30pm, with childcare provided. Please fill out this form if you're interested in this series and to share feedback on further topics. See you next week!

School Pictures are ready for Online Viewing and Purchasing | Free Shipping ends Tuesday 10/20!

View Your Student’s Picture Gallery. Your online code is: Your Child’s Student ID #

You may also access your photos using the QR Code your child received on picture day.

Order Soon — free shipping to School ends Tuesday, October 20, 2026.

If you need financial assistance to purchase photos, please email Shannon in the office.

Contact Class Act Portraits directly with questions: info@classactportraits.com or (253) 569-1627

Spare Clothing

Everyone should have a labeled bag of spare clothing (including socks and underwear) left in their locker at school.

We would like donations of new socks and underwear to keep in Nurse Jessey's office as well as gently worn, easy to put on, sweat style pants sizes 4-12.

Pre-School Aged Peer Models wanted for Developmental PreK

We are recruiting preschool-aged peer models for our classroom. We have two classes, an AM class (7:40-10:20) and a PM class (11:45-2:25). Class is 4 days per week (Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri).

• Peer models must be: 3 years old, toilet trained (or mostly), demonstrate age-appropriate skills and behaviors
• Peer models will receive all instruction and assessments delivered in the classroom. They are not eligible for transportation through Seattle Public Schools.

Please contact Mara Oblak at mkoblak@seattleschools.org if you are interested in learning more about this opportunity.

Attendance and Office Procedures

Tissues and Snack Donations

If you are able to donate unscented tissues and individually packaged, allergen free, snacks are greatly appreciated for students who forget or don't have snacks we will be delighted to accept them in the office. Thank you!

Volunteering

If you are signing up to volunteer, please first be sure you have completed your volunteer paperwork. Here’s the link to volunteer and to check the status of your paperwork. Choose “Tier 1” volunteer and take your time going through the steps. When asked who has asked you to volunteer please enter the email of the teacher for whom you will most often volunteer. Teacher emails can be found right here on our website. Volunteer paperwork can two more more weeks to process. If you run into any road blocks, there is a FAQ available on the link provided. If you're still stuck, feel free to email or call Sarah in the office at 206-252-5304. Sarah works to update our master volunteer list on Wednesdays. Thank you.

Paying for Student Meals

While all students qualify to receive free meals, charges may still occur for items purchased outside of the free meal benefit. Culinary Services offers convenient payment options for these purchases, including online payment, check, or cash.

Additional Items and Second Meals

Students will be charged à la carte prices when they:

• Take extra items such as milk, fruit, vegetables, or other side items
• Purchase a second breakfast or second lunch
• Select only a single item from a meal instead of taking a complete reimbursable meal

If a student takes only one component of a meal, that item is charged at the published à la carte price. For these reasons, we strongly recommend that students maintain funds in their meal account to cover any additional purchases. Families may add money to student meal accounts through MySchoolBucks or by payment at their school.

Brandee here --- I want to introduce you to our Social Worker, Rachael Moulton. We are delighted to have Rachael with us while Channon is on leave. For the past five years, Rachael worked as a Children’s Advocate at a domestic violence shelter and transitional housing program, supporting youth and parents navigating safety, stability, and big life transitions. A large part of her work focused on relationship-building, fostering healthy relationships, and helping young people feel seen and supported. She also visited Bailey Gatzert Elementary to teach whole-class lessons on healthy friendships, something she would love to do at Thornton Creek. Additionally, she has worked with youth who are incarcerated at the Woodinville Community Facility and with high-school students in San Diego through AmeriCorps.

While earning her MSW at UW, she was an intern with Channon at Thornton Creek, and valued that experience to learn more about school social work. Rachael looks forward to bringing her past experiences to her time at Thornton Creek on Thursday, Friday and every other Wednesday, learning from all of you, and getting to know the students and school community.

Rachael can be reached via email or phone 206-252-5251.

Free and Reduced Breakfast, Lunch and More

This year, school breakfast and lunch will be paid for by the city. Families should apply for free and reduced lunch if you may qualify and/or have previously qualified as it supports by: securing funding for our school, reducing school fees, and summer food benefits. If you qualify or think you may qualify for free and reduced lunch, please apply for this school year. Check if you qualify here. Here is the link to apply You can also request a paper application in various languages from the office or Social Worker, Rachael.

TC Community Pantry
We have a pantry in our building to help support the community. Pantry items include: household cleaning supplies, laundry soap, personal hygiene items, and food. The pantry is available to shop between 7:30 AM and 3:00 PM Monday through Friday. If you are unable to come to the school, email Rachael and she can pack items in your student's backpack.

We accept and appreciate donations for the pantry in the office. Please donate items that are unopened and not yet expired. You can also purchase items for the pantry from our TC Community Pantry Wish List.

Weekend Food Packs

University District Food Bank provides weekend food packs for students. Please let me know if you have dietary needs. Food packs are put into student’s backpacks every Friday. If you are interested in a food pack or have any other needs, please email Rachael.

We are always in need of more PE/recess equipment. Gently used sports equipment is appreciated. If you want to purchase something for the school, here are some of our preferred items.

Your Thornton Creek art teachers want your toilet paper/paper towel tubes! Please donate as many empty ones as you can. This will be an ongoing need for the whole school year. Thank you! Donations are collected on the small, silver cart in the office.