Pathfinder Compass

Every Sunday you will receive The Compass to keep us all informed and connected of essential Pathfinder news. If you are interested in narrating The Compass please reach out to Dr. Holmes!

Essential News

• Curriculum Night
• Transportation Updates for Assistant Superintendents Podesta and Redmond
• Mark Your Calendars

New News

• Pathfinder Operations
  
• The Herons Nest
• Blazing Trails News
• Just so you know...
  

Old News

• Upcoming Listening Sessions
  
• Recordings of Virtual Events
  
• Previous Compass Links
  
• Dr. Holmes' Incoming Goals

If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. if you are determined to learn no one can stop you.

-Zig Ziglar

Please Join us for Curriculum Nigh October 12th 6:00 - 7:15pm.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://seattleschools.zoom.us/j/86033590632?pwd=NkdjNU9OVmU0djl0TEFqYU54dEQ2Zz09

Meeting ID: 860 3359 0632

Passcode: 793094

We will begin with a whole school opening, then break into two sessions. Both sessions will have the same content.

Whole School: 6:00 - 6:25

Session 1: 6:30 - 6:50pm

Session 2: 6:55 - 7:15pm

Dear SPS Families,

We know that the impact of national bus driver shortage has been disruptive and acknowledge that service has been delayed or inconsistent for some of our families since school began.

On behalf of our busing vendor First Student, we are writing to let you know that we are anticipating a significant decrease in available bus drivers following the deadline for the COVID-19 vaccine mandate on October 18. We hope this notification will help you prepare alternatives.

The mandated vaccine proclamation issued by Governor Jay Inslee requires that all “all state employees, higher education, childcare, and K-12 education employees, and most health and long-term care providers to be fully vaccinated with a recommended COVID-19 vaccine by October 18, 2021 as a condition of employment.” Employees who refuse will be subject to non-disciplinary dismissal from employment for failing to meet the qualifications of the job.

While we cannot predict with total accuracy how this will impact our transportation routes, we are estimating that we may lose up to 100 drivers. The remaining drivers will be assigned to routes transporting students who have specialized transportation as part of their Individual Education Program (IEP). Students receiving transportation accommodations under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) are federally protected and make up over half of our current ridership. These students will be prioritized to receive transportation following October 18.

It is possible that the remaining drivers may only be able to cover one third of the general education routes we currently run. If that is the case, we will not be able to provide transportation to the majority of our general education routes while we implement other strategies.

We would recommend considering the following stopgap measures:

• Transporting your student to/from school if possible
• Consider carpooling with families in your community
• Consider public transportation options

Our team has been working hard throughout the spring, summer, and fall to recruit drivers, get them trained, and on the roads as soon as possible. Neighboring school districts are also contending with the same limited resources, high demand, and limited vendor options. We are exploring a number of different plans to maximize the number of students we can successfully and consistently transport. Racial equity and our strategic plan will continue to guide our decision-making process about prioritizing students. We will also be facilitating community conversation around solutions for transportation in the upcoming weeks. More communication will be coming shortly.

If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to us on the Transportation website.

Seattle Public Schools

October 12th 6:00 - 7:25pm Curriculum Night

October 15th 7:00 - 8:00pm BIPOC Community Cafe led by Parent Racial Equity Team

November 8th 6:00 - 7:00pm SPED Families Listening Session

November 15th 6:00 - 7:00pm BIPOC Families Listening Session

The tents are scheduled to be installed this week!

Sign up times available until winter break- The sign up is now available for shifts up until winter break. If you have a constant schedule and know you are available on certain day(s), I would encourage you to sign up now. Pathfinder K-8: Pathfinder Outdoor Lunch Volunteer Support (signupgenius.com)

As always, we are happy to accommodate families who are interested in pulling students during lunch by opening our play field to vaccinated volunteers. Please be sure to let us know you are coming.

Please do not hesitate to contact Dani (danielle.y.wyss@gmail.com) if you have questions, comments, or concerns. Thank you in advance for stepping up to keep all the students at Pathfinder K-8 as safe as possible during lunch!

We have continued to make revisions throughout the week to ensure our scholars are safe and comfortable during lunch.

@theHeronsNest.org

Supporting Indigenous First Peoples.

Help the Heron’s Nest and Shared Spaces Foundation in their mission to repatriate this $1 million-dollar parcel of land to the Duwamish Tribe. Purchasing this 3.5 acre parcel will increase the land owned by the Duwamish Tribe by 500%. The Heron’s Nest is located just uphill and to the south of the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center. It’s a great, amazing outdoor space hikable from the Longhouse and Pathfinder School. The goal is to raise money to purchase the property, do improvements, and turn it into an outdoor education center for all ages to learn art, building, carpentry, sustainable farming practices, urban permaculture/land design, native flora, camping retreat.

Would you like to host an outdoor movie night, event, musical performance? They have this as well.

Help The Heron’s Nest and Shared Spaces Foundation meet their goal of raising $1 million by the end of 2021 to purchase this amazing 3.5 acres of land to give in trust to the Duwamish Tribal Services by attending their auction at The Heron’s Nest sight Saturday, October 16, 2021. Gates open at 4pm. The Auction will also be available online as well. Silent Auction, Blessing of the site by the Duwamish Tribe, Live music, FREE dinner, and Documentary Screening on their HUGE outdoor movie screen.

RSVP @TheHeronsNest.org.

If you have an item you or your company are able to donate or would like to make a financial donation please reach out to Christine Clark at christinimcb@me.com. Every little bit counts!

Curious about the project? Happy to set up a tour!

Check out the Seattle Special Education PTSA page. Four amazing volunteers curated the books, podcasts, videos, articles, and other posts. One reading room is for younger students and one is for teens and adults. You can click on any object and be taken to a source about disability history -- even the plants!

Restorative justice is the commitment to build a beloved and loving community that is sustainable and growing.

We know that if you hurt somebody, you have to help them feel better; you can’t just say “sorry,” and walk away. We also know that its important for kids to be able to make a better choice another time, and it’s grownups’ job to help them make better choices and to give them chances to do that. Another way to say that is restorative justice.

SPS is pleased to announce the expansion of our K-5 Virtual Option Pilot Program (VOPP) in October to include more virtual classrooms.

In July, Seattle Public Schools launched VOPP to offer an online learning option to our most vulnerable K-5 students. Many families expressed interest in participating, and we heard your requests. The VOPP program was enthusiastically launched in September and as interest continues to grow, we are adding additional VOPP ‘seats.

Next steps:

• SPS will reach out to waitlisted families in the days ahead to offer a spot in a virtual classroom. Priority will be given to those currently on the VOPP waitlist.
• Each family has 48 hours to consider this admissions opportunity for their child.
• Once the family accepts admission, the enrollment process begins. Further information will be provided directly to each enrolled family at that time.
• New families can still apply to the VOPP waitlist and consideration will be given to students with existing, documented health (physical, mental or emotional) issues or concerns.

Students who accept a spot in a VOPP classroom must remain enrolled through the end of second trimester, March 17, 2022.

If you have not yet applied to be on the waitlist, fill out the K-5 waitlist application. A list of answers to common questions can be found on our website. Questions about VOPP enrollment can be sent to admissions@seattleschools.org.

Yours in partnership,

Janine Roy

K-5 VOPP Head Principal

If your scholar is a part of BT, please check here for the monthly update.

Our upcoming sessions will be focused on grade band specific information and opportunities to share praises, questions, and concerns. We look forward to seeing you all on Zoom! All sessions will be recorded and take place 6 - 7pm.

Fourth and Fifth Grade Folx | October 19th

Middle School Folx | October 26th

Folx with students in any SPED program | November 8th

BIPOC Folx | November 16th

Working in partnership with Dr. Holmes and Dr. Cordell, your family-based Racial Equity Committee (REC) invites all Families of Color, Black Families, Indigenous Families, and Multiracial Families at Pathfinder to the inaugural Pathfinder Community Cafe!

WHO: For our Black Families, Indigenous Families, Multiracial Families, and Families of Color

WHAT: Meant to connect and foster relationships, Community Cafes bring community members together for a series of loosely structured conversations that directly address issues important to the community. Please check out the video below to learn more!

WHEN: Friday, October 15 from 7:00-8:00PM

HOW: Please RSVP for this event here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-cafe-at-pathfinder-tickets-174447676697

WHY: This event responds to data collected during our Racial Equity Questionnaire last year. Black, Indigenous, Multiracial and Families of Color at Pathfinder expressed a desire for more opportunities to connect and be heard in our community. We hope you and your families join us in this safe space of welcome, belonging, and hope!

PLEASE SHARE: Please forward this invitation to other Pathfinder families that are Black, Indigenous, Multiracial and Families of Color and encourage them to attend with you.

ALSO — JOIN REC! If you are interested in joining us in this important work this school-year, and/or facilitating a small break out room during this Community Cafe, please reach out to us at equity@pathfinderk8ptsa.org.

—Your Racial Equity Committee (REC)

Veena Prasad, Becky Greenberg, Jamelia Alnajjar

Our lost and found is piling up! On Fridays we will pull the cart to the front of the school - please be sure to take your belongings home when you find them :)

• Dr. Holmes Meet and Greet
• MS Orientation
  
• School Opening and Pathfinder 101
• Second and Third Listening Session
• Kindergarten and First Listening Session

October 3, 2021

September 26, 2021

September 19, 2021

September 12, 2021

September 5, 2021

August 29, 2021

August 22, 2021

August 16, 2021

July 2021

• 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!

https://www.pathfinderk8ptsa.org/

Email: bdholmes@seattleschools.org
Website: https://pathfinderk8.seattleschools.org/
Location: 1901 SW Genesee St, Seattle, WA 98106, USA
Phone: 206.252.9710