Thanks to Dan for sharing a back-to-school photo! This trio, he says, is headed to Holy Rosary – from left, Elena, 11; Cameron, 13; Elliot, 8. Lots of school notes in today’s highlights list from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, and we’ll start with those:

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL: In our daily traffic watch, we mapped the five major schools that start today – if you missed it, they are:

*Holy Rosary (42nd/Genesee)
*Seattle Lutheran High School (40th/Genesee)
*Hope Lutheran (42nd/Oregon)
*Our Lady of Guadalupe (34th/Myrtle)
*Holy Family (20th/Roxbury)

Note that for some, the first day of school is a half-day.

CHIEF SEALTH ‘WELCOME BACK, SEAHAWKS’ DAY: At Chief Sealth International High School, students are invited to campus today (on a staggered schedule spelled out here) to get schedules, locker assignments, etc.

ARBOR HEIGHTS MEET-AND-GREET: Arbor Heights Elementary is inviting families to the campus 2-3 pm today so students can meet their teacher and see their classroom, and to get a jump on start-of-school paperwork. (37th/104th)

TEACHERS VOTE: Members of the Seattle Education Association gather at Benaroya Hall downtown at 4:30 pm to vote on a proposed contract. Their leadership recommends approving it, but the union also confirmed last night that the leadership vote was a close one. No specific time is set for announcing the results, but we’ll publish an update here when there’s word.

LAFAYETTE NIGHT-BEFORE-SCHOOL BARBECUE: As previewed here last night, at 5 pm on the playground, community members are invited to join the Lafayette Elementary school community for a hot-dog barbecue and live music with the West Seattle Big Band. (Lander west of California)

MADISON SIXTH-GRADE ORIENTATION: Sixth-graders and families are invited to Madison Middle School 6:30-8 pm tonight for orientation. (45th/Spokane)

In non-school happenings:

TRANSPORTATION TALK: 9:30 am, King County Executive Dow Constantine and Governor Jay Inslee plan a media briefing downtown, regarding transportation issues. Not a public event, but this is likely to relate to Metro Transit and potentially looming budget cuts, so we’ll be monitoring it and reporting on what they have to say; you can watch live here.

WEST SEATTLE BIKE CONNECTIONS MEETS: 6:30 pm, this month at West Seattle Cyclery (WSB sponsor) in The Junction. Meeting details here. (4508 California SW)

TOASTMASTERS’ HUMOROUS SPEECH CONTEST: You’re welcome to join West Seattle Toastmasters 832 for their humorous speech and table talk contest, 6:30 tonight at Merrill Gardens-West Seattle (WSB sponsor) in The Triangle – details in our calendar listing. (4611 35th SW)