Principal Trotman Newsletter

Dear Meany Mountain Lion Families and Staff,

Happy Friday, Mountain Lions!

As we continue into October, I want to thank our families for helping us make such a positive start to the school year. Our students are settling into routines, building relationships, and continuing to learn what it means to be a proud Meany Mountain Lion.

Last week, we celebrated our August, September, and October birthdays with a small token of recognition. Moving forward, we will celebrate student birthdays each month! You may have also noticed that we have begun celebrating attendance success. Each month, we will recognize students in different attendance categories, including perfect attendance, improved attendance, and meeting individual attendance goals. We want to celebrate the many ways our students are showing up and growing. Please help us celebrate your student's successes at school!

MAP Assessment Begins Next Week

Next week, our students will begin taking the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Assessment. MAP is a computer-based assessment that helps teachers understand what students know and what skills they are ready to learn next.

The questions change based on how a student answers. This helps give teachers a better picture of each student's learning and growth. Students will take the assessment in Math this week and English Language Arts (ELA) next week. Each assessment usually takes about an hour.

Families can help students prepare in some very simple ways:

Get a good night's sleep. A rested brain is ready to learn!

Eat breakfast. Students need fuel to help them think and stay focused.

Encourage your student to do their best. Remind them that the MAP assessment is an opportunity to show what they know and help their teachers understand how to support their learning.

Take your time and stay focused. Students should read each question carefully, think about their answer, and keep trying even when a question feels challenging.

Most importantly, please remind your student that MAP is not about being perfect. It is about showing what they know today so we can help them continue to grow.

No School for Students – Friday, October 9

A reminder that Friday, October 9, is a no-school day for students. Our teachers and staff will be participating in professional learning and development. This time allows our staff to learn new strategies, work together, and continue finding ways to support the academic and social-emotional growth of our Mountain Lions.

Thank you for continuing to partner with us. When families and schools work together, our students have an even stronger foundation for success.

Let's have a great week, Mountain Lions, and remember to ROAR!

R — Be Respectful
O — Take Ownership of your choices
A — Have the right Attitude
R — Be Ready and Responsible

With appreciation,

Chanda E. O. Trotman
Principal
Meany Middle School

Upcoming Dates

• October 5-8, 2026 - MATH MAP
• October 9, 2026 - Teacher Professional Development (No School)
• October 12-15, 2026 - ELA MAP
• October 20, 2026 - Curriculum Night
• October 26-30 - Spirit Week

Reminders and New Information

Meany Out of School Time Clubs:

• Grades got you down? Homework Club is here for you! Starting October 6th, swing by room 28 in the science hallway on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4- 5:30 p.m. for extra help in math, ELA, Science, and History. Homework Club is a free after-school resource for all Meany students; all you need to do is sign up, and you can use it as needed! Grab a permission slip from any of your teachers, get it signed by your family, and bring it back to Ms. Keller in room 31 (or drop it off in the office). Snacks provided

• Many Meany clubs will be launching in October. We now have club registration forms for Homework Club, Chess Club, Jazz Club, Math Club, and Yearbook Club for students to pick up outside of the main office. PRIDE Club, Sewing Club, Stage Club, and potentially others will be out, soon. We are still looking for club leaders for Lego Club, DnD Club, Ping Pong Club and Art Club. Unfortunately, CoRe Gaming and choir will not be returning to Meany this year.

• Morning Arrival

To support a smooth and safe start to the school day:

• 8:35 a.m. – School doors open for students who need to eat breakfast.
• 8:50 a.m. – Hallway access opens for all students.
• Meals at No Cost

We are pleased to continue offering two nutritious meals daily—breakfast and lunch—at no cost to all Meany families. We encourage students to take advantage of this opportunity each day.

The following information will help us all get off to a smooth start this school year:

• Stay Connected with Meany

Please visit the Meany Middle School website frequently for updated information, calendars, announcements, and important resources:

• Communication - We have many ways to stay connected with families throughout the year:

• Chats with Chanda and Ask Your Administrator: Our administrative team will bring these opportunities back this year. More details about dates, formats, and frequency will be shared soon.
• S’More Newsletter: I will begin using this newsletter format for regular updates.
• School Messenger: Voice and email messages (also known as robocalls).
• Meany SPS Website
• Talking Points: Used for short principal messages.
• Teacher Communication: Through Schoology, email, and Talking Points.
• PTSA Newsletter

Please make sure your contact information is updated so you receive important school communication. Weekly newsletters and robocalls will be sent to the primary phone number and email addresses listed in our system.

If you are not receiving emails, please check that all household email addresses are updated.

• Attendance Matters

Attending school every day is one of the most important things students can do for their success. Punctuality and regular attendance are top priorities at Meany because every day of learning matters.

Please refer to the student handbook for more information about SPS attendance policies.

To report an absence, please call our Attendance Line:

206-413-2104

• Counseling Support

Our counseling staff is available for parent and guardian consultation. Please reach out to schedule an appointment with your student's grade-level counselor or to ask questions.

Mr. Au Yeung or Mr. Johnson
arauyeung@seattleschools.org, gajohnson1@seattleschools.org

You may also contact our Main Office at:

206-413-2100

Thank you for your continued partnership and trust. Together, we will help every Mountain Lion feel known, challenged, supported, and celebrated.

Let's have an amazing school year.

Meany Mountain Lions R.O.A.R!!!!

Be Responsible

Taken Ownership of Your Choices

Have the Appropriate Attitude

Be Ready and Responsible

Hello Families,

Please review the information below regarding practices, transportation, and what student-athletes will need for Fall Sports.

Practice Schedule

• Ultimate Frisbee: Mondays & Fridays
• Soccer: Mondays & Fridays
• Practice Time: 4–5:30 p.m.

Athletes should meet out on the field for practice. Students who need to change into their athletic clothes may use the bathrooms before heading out to the field.

Transportation After Practice

Please note that there are no buses available after practice. All athletes must have a plan for getting home. This can include being picked up by a parent/guardian or walking home with parent/guardian permission.

What Athletes Should Bring

Students should come prepared with appropriate clothing and equipment for their sport. For example, soccer players should have:

• Soccer/athletic shorts
• Shin guards
• T-shirt or sweatshirt
• Appropriate athletic shoes/cleats
• Water bottle (recommended)

If your student does not have any of the items needed to participate, please have them talk to Mr. Rance. We will do our best to make sure students have what they need.

Game Schedule

We have not yet received the official game schedule from the district. We do know that the Varsity Soccer team will have a game on September 26. We expect the full schedule to be released closer to the start of games, most likely during the week of the first game. Once we receive it, we will share it with families.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Rance.

We’re looking forward to a great fall sports season!

Mr. Rance

If your student plans to participate in sports this year, all athletic paperwork must be completed online through FinalForms

Questions about athletics can be directed to Henry Rance, Athletics Director, at hcrance@seattleschools.org.

More detailed information can be found on the Meany Middle School Athletics page

My name is Andre McKinney, and I am Meany's SBIRT Prevention & Intervention Specialist. As you may know, SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Services) is an evidence-based approach to identifying behavioral health concerns to enable school support teams to provide intervention and connect students to resources when necessary. We'll be providing this service at Meany again this year.

The September SBIRT newsletter is focused on how you, as parents and caregivers, can help your child with anxiety. The newsletter is attached, but you can also view our newsletter on our website at SBIRT Newsletters - Seattle Public Schools. You can also find more resources at this page for mental health resources. If you have any further questions, feel free to reach out to Andre McKinney (awmckinney@seattleschools.org)

PTSA Information

Please join us on Tuesday, September 22nd at 6:00 p.m. for our first PTSA meeting. This meeting is open to all Meany families - please help spread the word to families who may not be on this list yet.

We encourage all families to get involved in whatever way fits them best. Family partnership is an important part of what makes Meany a strong and connected community.

Ways to get involved include:

• Join the PTSA.
• Volunteer your time. Participate in building meetings, the Race and Equity Team, Special Education gatherings, support student clubs and after-school activities, help at school events, volunteer in classrooms, or chaperone field trips.
• Attend events. At this age, simply spending time with our students matters. Stay connected and show your support by attending Meany athletics, performances, family events, and other activities.
• Donate financially. Contributions help support student experiences, programs, and activities.
• Stay in touch. Subscribe to the Meany PTSA Newsletter to stay informed about events and other important Meany updates.

Questions? Contact Meany PTSA at:
meanymiddleschoolpta@gmail.com

Chanda E Oatis Trotman, Principal, ceoatis@seattleschools.org

Carlon Munroe, Assistant Principal, camunroe@seattleschools.org

Sarah Marshall, Administrative Secretary, semarshall@seattleschools.org

Christie Hanson, Attendance Specialist, cahanson@seattleschools.org

Kamari Thompson, Registrar, kjthompson@seattleschools.org

Arthur Au Yeung, 6 and 7th Grade Counselor, arauyeung@seattleschools.org

Arlo Johnson, 8th Grade Counselor, gajohnson1@seattleschools.org

Lyndsey Johnson, Social Worker, lbjohnson1@seattleschools.org

Meagon Williams, Nurse, mmwilliams@seattleschools.org

Henry Rance, Athletic Director, hcrance@seattleschools.org