November 17 Owl Post

In my staff bulletin, I started off by listing all of the events and activities that took place last week. I wanted to share them with you as a way to highlight and celebrate the remarkable group of teachers and families that support our students. Look at this list: Multicultural Night organized by Race and Equity Team, Teacher led professional development, sports and robotics competitions, field trips rain or shine, restorative conversations amongst staff, food distribution being supported by the district, PTA and the school, project based learning units started and ongoing, grade level teams creating plans to support students in meaningful ways, and growing our practices around professional learning teams. And these were just the things I saw! STEM is a wonderful community with creative staff and supportive adults that help create a truly unique experience for students.

The above picture is of Nicole Anderson and Zack Elway leading professional development for STEM staff on Wednesday. During the meeting they spoke about Professional Learning Teams. During the meeting, Albertson and Elway explained the reasoning for strong teams: One reason was that It ensures high levels of learning for ALL students. By collaborating, reviewing data, and teaching practices with one another, teachers and staff can shift the conversation from what are we teaching to what are students learning. We will continue to focus our school's professional development time around learning how to work together in these teams. Our Building Leadership Team is supporting us lifting this work off the ground. I am looking forward to sharing the data we gather from the shift in our practice.

Lots of weekend celebrations! Our Distinct Robotics team made it to the finals this weekend at the Liberty High School Unified Special Olympics competition. Ultimate Frisbee won their final game of the season. The STEM's middle school girls soccer team will be playing in the championships this Saturday at Chief Sealth at 11:30 a.m.. Go Owls!

There will be no school the week of November 24 because Parent Teacher conferences will be held on the 24-26. There will be no school on November 27-28 to recognize and celebrate Thanksgiving and Native American Heritage Day.

At STEM we believe that parents are a child’s first teachers which is why it is so important that we learn from you during conferences. Hopefully, you have heard from your child/children's teachers and scheduled a time to meet. Our goal is to have 100 percent of families take part in conferences. If you have not heard from your child's teacher, reach out to them or to the school's front office 206-252-8450 so we can make sure that we get to see one another.

Seattle Public Schools delivered food boxes to our school at the end of the day on Friday. We will have them available for pickup this Tuesday.

• One box per family
• Each box weighs about 19.5 lbs and has a mix of food items
• Available for up to seven weeks, while supplies last
• Pickup days and times will be announced each week.

Nov. 17-21 is the final week food boxes will be distributed to families at Seattle schools.

Read more about SNAP benefit news at: Partial federal government shutdown | DSHS

We’re grateful to all the families, school staff, and community partners who helped ensure food was still available during the shutdown.

Food boxes will be available for pick-up this Tuesday. For those of you that would like to reserve a box, please fill out this form All remaining boxes will be handed out First Come - First Served. If your family still needs support accessing food with SNAP benefits being restored, please visit SPS’ Support for Families in Need webpage or Dana Fink.

The SPS Enrollment team is hosting community information sessions to help answer questions about

• The enrollment process
• The new School Choice lottery timeline
• Understanding school choice options and eligibility

There will be five in-person and three virtual sessions to make it easy for every family to participate.

In-Person School Events (5:30–7 p.m.)

• Tuesday, Nov. 18 – South Shore PreK–8
• Thursday, Nov. 20 – Licton Springs K–8
• Tuesday, Dec. 2 – Leschi Elementary
• Thursday, Dec. 4 – John Rogers Elementary

Virtual Outreach Events

Links will be provided soon.

• Tuesday, Dec. 9, 6 -7 p.m.
• Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, 7-8 p.m.

Districtwide Enrollment Events

• Annual Enrollment Fair at JSCEE
  Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
  Learn about schools, programs, and services across the district.
• Saturday Registration Fair
  Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026 | 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
  John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence
  Get hands-on help with enrollment and school choice application.

Questions? Contact Faauu Manu, Director Enrollment & Planning Services, fmmanu@seattleschools.org

All students at STEM receive one free breakfast and lunch per day- vegetarian options daily!

• The Cafeteria is open at 8:35 a.m. to serve breakfast daily
• Students can check-in with any adult in the Cafeteria to navigate breakfast & lunch service

By filling out the The School Meals Application, it helps our school receive federal and state funding. It does more than just support our cafeteria. Please fill out!

Please reach out to our school Social Worker, Dana Fink, for direct support and resources: dmfink@seattleschools.org

Seattle Public Schools, in partnership with PEPS, is offering a free four-part virtual workshop series for parents and caregivers of students ages 10–19.

These engaging 90-minute sessions are designed to help families better understand and support their teens during adolescence. Topics include adolescent brain development, navigating social challenges, effective communication, and more.

Families can attend any or all the workshops based on their interests and availability. Live captioning is provided, and all sessions are held virtually via Zoom.

We encourage principals to share these flyers with families and promote this valuable opportunity within their school communities.

• Dec. 2 – Navigating the Changing World of Teens
• Jan. 22, 2026 – Effective Communication with Teens
• Feb. 10, 2026 – Adolescent Stress and Coping Strategies

Contact: Lisa Davidson, Manager of Prevention & Intervention, lmdavidson@seattleschools.org

11-20: November General PTA Meeting & Movie Night to benefit Giving Tree

6/6:30-8 p.m. (details below!)

Week of 11-25: No school- Parent Teacher Conferences

SPS School Calendar

'The STEM Girls On the Run team is collecting donations for local animal shelters this month!

Help animals by donating toys and food. We are donating toys and food to animal shelters. You can put the donations in the boxes in front of the front office.

Donations will be delivered to local shelters at the end of November.'

Thanks you so much for your support in this!

Cheers,

Girls on the Run coaches

Attendance: One of the most important things your student can do to achieve academic success-being at school each day! Regular attendance and arriving on time are key for your student's academic success. Studies have proven that these two factors play a crucial role. Missing class not only affects your student but also disrupts the entire class. It's important for the teacher and the class to make progress, which is challenging when students are frequently absent or late. We appreciate your partnership in our mission to support your student's education and success.

For students with 3 or more unexcused absences, the school will be connecting with you to understand barriers, and come up with plans to support.

Visitors Check in with the Office

If you have to come into the building for some reason, you will need to check in with the front office. All visitors in the building should have an visitor sticker or lanyard. There is a new kiosk to help us keep track of all of the wonderful people that are passing through.

STEM loves volunteers! Opportunities range from recess help, classroom organizers, 1:1 tutoring sessions, field trips, Enrichment parent chaperones and more! Before volunteering can begin, paperwork needs to be filled out and a background check completed through SPS. This process can take up to 3 weeks. Interested? Please contact our Office Assistant, Leo mrshaughness@seattleschools.org, to get the ball rolling.

I shared the staff shout-outs that families/caregivers sent my way about our staff. They were wonderful! If you would like to recognize a teacher or a staff member, I will share your comments in the staff bulletin for all of our staff to see. It is a wonderful way to help staff feel celebrated for the work that they do. Recognize a teacher or staff member!

STEM is hosting a food drive for the West Seattle Food Bank,! Details on donation items needed. Thank you!

Drop off boxes are located just inside the front doors of STEM.

Giving Tree is led by school Social Worker, Dana Fink, with support from the STEM PTA. Donations will go directly towards providing STEM students and families items to meet their basic needs; needs that include comfort, dignity and a sense of belonging to an inclusive learning community that welcomes and cares for ALL of our students. With help, we will be able to provide needed food, warm clothing, hygiene products, cleaning supplies including dish soap and laundry detergent- items that don't cost a lot, but are necessary to our students' health and well-being. No donation is too small. Contribute to Giving Tree. Thank you!

Eastridge Church on November 22, 2025 starting at 9am and ending at 11:30- or while supplies last. Details can be found here: Turkey Giveaway

- Offered on Thanksgiving day and Friday November 29 -

• The Hall at Fauntleroy: Free Community Thanksgiving Dinner | November 27, 2025 | 12–3 p.m. | 9131 California Ave. SW | 28th Annual Free Thanksgiving with all the trimmings! All are welcome—no RSVP required.

• Additional locations

See here for resources available now and please reach out to our school Social Worker, Dana Fink, for direct support: dmfink@seattleschools.org | 503-766-3648

Join us to watch the animated How to Train Your Dragon, suggested donation of $5-$10 for entry + snacks. We're hoping for LARGE community participation to support STEM families through these incredibly tough times right now. Snack donations are greatly appreciated! They can be dropped off in the front office labeled "Movie Night".

**Please see here for volunteer and snack donation opportunities- thank you!**

Stay connected, help plan out the year and participate in important discussions that help shape our school support!

Join us the STEM Library - while students are at Movie Night! - or via Zoom. Join the General PTA meeting Zoom meeting.

Information on STEM's PTA, and to join for Free!

STEM Outdoor Education gear is available for purchase thru 12/12, show your STEM pride with adult & youth tees + hoodies!!

All proceeds from the sales of these awesome shirts and hoodies (designed by a STEM student!) will go directly to help fund the outdoor overnight trips for our ’25-26 5th & 8th graders!

🌳See here for additional info and to purchase.

Our Enrichment team is looking for feedback and suggestions for future programing. Share your thoughts, thank you!

Questions: enrichment@stemk8pta.org

• December Movie Night- Friday 12/12 @ 6pm: To benefit the 5th grade camp field trip to Islandwood, showing KPop Demon Hunters!
• Staff Appreciation- Wednesday 12/17: Help celebrate our amazing staff with yummy food and treats! Signup Genius to come. staffappreciation@stemk8pta.org

* View our calendar here for up-to-date PTA & school events *

STEM's Lost & Found is filling up. Please check out the racks just inside the front door of school when you are in the building- or if your family is missing anything!

Current Full Board open positions: Co-Race, Equity & Inclusion, Co-LGBTQ+, Membership, Field Trip Coordinator (grades 5-8) and Garden Club Coordinator. We're looking to grow our Fundraising Committee! If you'd like to join us for one or a few fundraising efforts this year, or have ideas you'd like to share, let us know! Please reach out to executiveboard@stemk8pta.org for additional info on these roles or with interest.

Updated PTA & school activities, contacts for our Executive & Full Board, our PTA's Mission & Values, financial details, ways to support our PTA, updated Enrichment info, tours & Open Enrollment details and MORE!

🦉 stemk8pta.org | Facebook | Instagram | communications@stemk8pta.org

STEM partners with the YMCA to provide an on-site before and after school program. See here for additional information or contact our Site Director, Anna Hofmann, at ahofmann@seattleymca.org.

Principal: Adrienne Ollerenshaw amollerensha@seattleschools.org

Assistant Principal: Andrea Stowell anstowell@seattleschools.org

Administrative Secretary: Latisha Ellis ljellis@seattleschools.org

Office Assistant: Leo Shaugnhessy mrshaughness@seattleschools.org

School Social Worker: Dana Fink dmfink@seattleschools.org