School Beat - Nov. 6, 2024

The Academy for Creating Excellence honored Southwest Regional Director Chris Carter and South Shore PreK-8 special education teacher Alex Rankin with its inaugural ACE Award.

James Baldwin Elementary was selected as the 2024 James D. MacConnell Award recipient by the Association for Learning Environments. This prestigious global honor celebrates educational projects that address a specific planning process.

The Kingmakers program received a surprise donation of $100,000 from First Interstate Bank and the First Interstate BancSystem Foundation. Funds go toward engaging, empowering, and encouraging young Kings.

The SPS All-Star Awards aim to highlight current staff who are positively impacting their school community. This month, we are taking nominations for staff members who are helping to create a sense of belonging for their school community. Nominate a Beacon of Hope from your school by Dec. 6!

SPS recognizes those in our district and around the country who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. In observance of Veterans Day, there will be no school on Monday, Nov. 11. The district office will also be closed.

Native American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month

Nov. 4-8: National School Psychology Week

Nov. 6: End of Quarter 1

Nov. 18-22: American Education Week

Nov. 21: National Parent Involvement Day

In observance of Thanksgiving and Native American Heritage Day, schools will be closed Thursday, Nov. 28, and Friday, Nov. 29. The district office will also be closed.

Authentic family engagement is critical to student success. Family-teacher conferences for elementary and K-8 students are scheduled for Nov. 25-27. We have gathered tips to help you prepare for the conversation.

The Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship is now open until Dec. 19! If you want to learn more, consider attending information nights at Garfield High School on Thursday, Nov. 14, or at the University of Washington Ethnic Cultural Center on Thursday, Dec. 13. Both events are from 5 to 8 p.m.

The Seattle Promise Scholarship is now open. All seniors in the Class of 2025 are eligible to apply. Applications are due Feb. 14, 2025.

11th and 12th grade students and families can explore national, local, and college-based scholarship opportunities on Naviance and WashBoard.

Applications for federal and Washington state financial aid open Dec. 1. Start gathering your paperwork now so that you'll be ready to apply!

Public Health Seattle & King County is hosting a health insurance enrollment event on Saturday, Nov. 9, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at North Seattle College. Free COVID, flu, and childhood/school vaccines will also be available.

Getting vaccines is optimal for getting through cold-weather seasons. SPS is offering vaccine clinics this fall. The clinics are open to all SPS staff, families, and students—regardless of their enrolled school. Dates, locations, and registration information is available on the SPS vaccine clinic webpage.

You can also visit SDOT’s winter weather website for snow route maps and more tips on how to prepare for winter.

Join us online to learn about the proposals to renew two educational levies – the Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) Levy and the Building Excellence (BEX) Capital Levy. The next meeting will take place Thursday, Nov. 7, 6:30–7:30 p.m. A link will be posted that morning.

To learn more about the School Board and its work, public meetings, and upcoming policy initiatives, visit the School Board webpage.