West Seattle, Washington
12 Thursday
12 years ago, we reported after the Seahawks‘ first-ever Super Bowl victory parade that about a quarter of all Seattle Public Schools students were absent that day. (The district had initially cited the same policy as it did for today – no excused absences – but then pulled back a bit and let each principal decide how to handle it.) So, how was attendance today? We asked the district, and received this reply:
As Seattle celebrated the Seahawks’ Super Bowl victory parade today, Seattle Public Schools (SPS) recorded an estimated 12,697 student absences as of the start of the school day today. While student absences were significantly higher than usual, over 38,000 students are estimated to have attended school today for teaching, learning, connection, and to receive the many other services our schools provide. Our initial estimates suggest that student attendance was slightly better than during the 2014 Super Bowl parade.
In addition, there were 663 staff absences (as of 2:30 p.m.), which is several hundred absences higher than normal. Central office staff, including SPS Superintendent Ben Shuldiner, were deployed to schools throughout the district to provide additional support considering the increase in absences.
We’ll ask on follow up if the “slightly better” is a reference to percentage or number; SPS enrollment was 2,000+ more students in 2014 than it is now.
Tomorrow is the second Thursday of the month – always West Seattle Art Walk night! In addition to the dozens of regular venues, tomorrow night brings a special event – an Art Walk at Chief Sealth International High School, showcasing performing arts as well as visual art. Here’s the invitation we received to share with you:
Chief Sealth IHS invites all community members to our annual Art Walk on Thursday, Feb. 12. Doors open at 6:00.
Grab snacks and wander as you enjoy orchestra quartets, jazz ensembles, and choir ensembles performing in different locations. Take in student visual art as you move from room to room.
The evening will culminate in a combined orchestra, band, and choir performance! Free to the public. Donations accepted.
The school is at 2600 SW Thistle. As for the rest of tomorrow night’s venues – see the preview here.
If you’re a Seattle Public Schools student or staffer, and/or have one in your household, you’ve likely already seen this, but for those who have not, here’s the official SPS word on Wednesday:
Dear SPS Families,
Seattle is buzzing with excitement as we celebrate the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl victory! Moments like this bring our city together, spark pride across generations, and remind us of the power of shared experiences in our community.
As the city plans celebrations, including a victory parade planned for Wednesday, Feb. 11, at 10 a.m., we want families to know that Seattle Public Schools will remain open with the normal early-release Wednesday schedule.
Keeping schools open is an important part of maintaining stability, safety, and continuity for our students. For many families, schools provide not only learning, but also meals, transportation, specialized services, and trusted routines. Remaining open allows us to support students’ academic progress while ensuring essential services continue for those who rely on them.
Please note:
-Attendance policies will remain in effect, and parade attendance will not be considered an excused absence.
-Families should plan ahead for possible traffic or transit impacts, particularly near the parade route.
-Schools will continue instruction and student services.We encourage families to celebrate this historic moment in ways that work best for your household, while also helping us keep learning strong across the district.
Thank you for your partnership and support as we balance celebration with our shared commitment to students.
Go Hawks!
Fred Podesta
Chief Operations Officer
Seattle Public Schools
(Podesta was interim superintendent until Ben Shuldiner started work last week.) In 2014, according to our archived coverage, then-superintendent José Banda let individual principals decide whether to excuse students – but that was a change of heart after the original announcement that nobody would be excused.
(First and last photos courtesy WSHS Softball)
Hours before the Seahawks took the field in California, members of the West Seattle High School softball team took the field at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex. Their mission this morning: A skills clinic for younger players.
(This photo and next three by WSB’s Torin Record-Sand)
They taught two groups, separated by skill level and experience.
This is not only a mentoring opportunity – it’s a fundraiser; the entry fees go to the WSHS Booster Club to fund team needs that the school budget doesn’t cover.
The clinic has been held since 2021, originally the idea of WSHS player Kamil Ygnacio, now an alum, but her sister Kaila led today’s event with her team co-captain Kenzie (they’re at L and R below with head coach Kyler Tsukada):
The fastpitch varsity team has another fundraiser this week that’s open to all, a dine-out fundraiser Wednesday (February 11), 5-9 pm, at Chipotle in The Junction – the info and ordering code can be found in our calendar listing. The team’s 2026 season starts in March.
When the individual bowlers at the 3A state championships were all finished today, the top score – and the title “champion” – belonged to one of West Seattle High School‘s three bowlers in the tournament, Molly Combs! Her score for six games at Bowlero in Tukwila was 1191. Also bowling for WSHS, Violet Higenberg finished 55th of 102 with 785, Madison Miller finished 63rd with 714.
As reported here previously, the Chief Sealth IHS flag-football team is in the state tournament, with a must-win game against Lynden in Ferndale at 1 pm Saturday (February 7). Checking other sports, we see five local athletes are in the girls-bowling state tournaments too: In the 3A tournament tomorrow (Friday, February 6), West Seattle HS bowlers Molly Combs, Violet Higenberg, and Madison Miller will compete; in the 2A tournament Monday (February 9), Chief Sealth IHS bowlers Elizabeth Andrews and Claire Chao will compete. Both tournaments are at Bowlero in Tukwila.
Friday is sold out but you have two chances Saturday to catch Alki Elementary students performing the rock musical “Olympus”:
A fun kid-friendly upcoming event. Alki Elementary School is performing Olympus: The Greek Rock Musical this weekend. Tickets are $11. Use this link to purchase.
SHOWTIMES:
Friday, Feb 6 at 6:30 pmSaturday, Feb 7 at 1 pm
Saturday, Feb 7 at 6:30 pm
LOCATION:
Schmitz Park Elementary School
5000 SW Spokane
Jessie Kuehm of Emerald City Drama Club is directing
Seattle Public Schools‘ new superintendent Ben Shuldiner is officially on the job after School Board president Gina Topp administered his oath of office this morning at Mercer International Middle School on Beacon Hill.
It preceded a short media briefing, in which he answered questions about safety and spending. Here’s what happened, (added) starting with district video of the event:
District chief of staff Bev Redmond opened with a statement about the “deep loss” of two teens shot to death in South Seattle Friday and led a moment of silence; four schools in South Seattle are on modified schedules today as part of the response. She said police are still actively investigating. A bit later in the event, School Board president Topp echoed the sentiment.
“An important moment for Seattle Public Schools” is how Redmond then described the start of Shuldiner’s tenure as superintendent. Topp said the former Lansing, MI, superintendent would lead the Seattle district in improving “trust” and “outcomes.” She administered the oath of office to him.
He then took the microphone, starting by saying that last night he had visited the neighborhood where the deadly shootings happened. He then said he was asked about his hope for the year, and turned the question to, “what is OUR hope?” He repeated what he’d said during the interview process – he wants SPS to be the best urban public-school district in America. Safety is vital; so is “raising the bar,” because he believes students will rise to what’s expected of them. He did not speak for long, saying that he didn’t believe anyone really wanted “to hear me speak” – that educators, students, and families instead wanted to get on with the work of education. He said “the collective we” is what will “make this district terrific.”
Media Q&A followed. First question: How to make students safe? He said there are a variety of tactics such as cameras, “single point of entry,” but it’s also “about having a relationship with SPD” and family involvement. “We can do some gold-standard things inside the building” but then must work with the community on everything else.
Second question: Do they need community members watching bus stops, police at bus stops, to keep students safe? (Friday’s shootings happened at a bus stop.) Shuldiner said it’s important for everyone to “work together,” and that would lead to change. He said brainstorming with the community would be vital.
Third question was also about the district’s specific plans for helping students deal with the news of Friday’s shootings, and Shuldiner recapped the support the district was offering – bringing in counselors, giving students time to talk about it. Redmond said the district would offer those supports throughout the week.
Fourth question was about Shuldiner’s promises of transparency in communication. He said he would do his best and pointed to a message he had sent to families last night. If the community has a request and it becomes reality, for example, he said they would follow up and offer proof that it had happened (a photo of equipment installation, for example).
Fifth question recounted Shuldiner’s talk about budget review during interviews last year “to make sure everybody’s in the right place.” Will budgetary challenges result in layoffs? He replied, “There is a pot of money that we need to fill, what does that look like?”- they don’t yet know. Maybe positions will be eliminated through attrition (such as retirement), for example. “I don’t think initially you’re going to see any (changes/cuts) large-scale.”
Sixth question was about immigration-enforcement concerns on campuses. Shuldiner replied that the district has worked hard ‘to get information out” to communities. That’s important, but so is “the law … and understanding what we can and cannot do,” he said. “The school building … is probably the safest place for children to be,” not just because of physical security of schools but because there are administrators and (district) lawyers as resources that can be drawn on. “School is the safest place to be.”
Seventh question was about his communication plans. He will write a weekly letter to the community and is reviving a “roundtable” involving students, plus planning to visit schools. He also invited students and others to email him. “My job is to be a superintendent for all the people.”
The event was wrapped at 8:39 am, after a little more than half an hour.
Tomorrow (Monday, February 2) is the first official weekday on the job for Ben Shuldiner, the new Seattle Public Schools superintendent, coming here from Lansing, Michigan. If you’re interested in hearing from him as he gets started, the district plans to livestream a media briefing scheduled to start at 8 am Monday at Mercer Middle School on Beacon Hill. During the briefing, the district preview says:
-School Board President Gina Topp will deliver brief remarks and administer the oath of office to Shuldiner.
-Afterward, Shuldiner will speak about his excitement for rolling up his sleeves and getting to work, spending time in each and every school and their classrooms, and collaborating with communities to build the best schools for all our students.
-Stepping into office in the aftermath of Friday evening’s tragedy in the Rainier Beach neighborhood, Shuldiner will also emphasize his commitment to acting to strengthen student safety and security.
The briefing will be livestreamed via the district’s YouTube channel. (Here’s what Shuldiner told WSB in an interview after the School Board chose him as the lone finalist for the job last fall.)
(Added: Team photo from Friday night, sent by Angela)
ORIGINAL SATURDAY REPORT: Congratulations to the Chief Sealth International High School flag-football team, for earning a trip to the state tournament. Head coach Melvin Estes-Glaspie‘s Seahawks finished third in the district tournament with a 28-14 win this afternoon over, and at, Renton. When the state matchups are set, they’ll be on this page; quarterfinals are at various locations next weekend, with semifinals and championship the following weekend in Federal Way.
SUNDAY UPDATE: The bracket update has the Sealth team playing at Lynden next Saturday, time TBD.
(WSB photos unless otherwise credited)
Thanks to everyone who tipped us (mostly via our text hotline, 206-293-6302) about student walkouts as part of today’s “national shutdown” to protest deadly violence during federal immigration enforcement. We mentioned the walkout plans in our ongoing list of shutdown participation and we sent a photographer out to see if they happened.
They did.
Our first three photos are from Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex, where students from Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School (across the street) gathered. On Delridge, smaller groups walked out of Louisa Boren STEM K-8 and gathered along the street:
And students from Madison Middle School headed out to California Avenue SW a few blocks east:
Some walked down Admiral to Alki, as shown in this photo sent by a reader:
According to messages sent by school administrators to families, as well as what our photographer saw, school staffers monitored the walkouts but made it clear participation was a “family choice,” saying classes would continue as usual. Meantime, we’re continuing to update our list of shutdown-related closures, donations, and related notes here.
P.S. Thanks to the students who have sent additional photos – we’ll add a few of those later.
ADDED 7:21 PM: Among what we received from students, an organizer of the Denny walkout sent this video explaining the intent:
South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) on Puget Ridge now has another pathway to a full four-year degree, as part of the new agreement between Seattle Colleges and Western Washington University. From the announcement:
Students at Seattle Colleges now have a streamlined and guaranteed route to a bachelor’s degree at Western Washington University through a new transfer pathway partnership announced today by both institutions.
The agreement guarantees admission to Western for Seattle Colleges transfer students who complete a transfer degree, providing a clear and dependable path to continue their education at one of the state’s top public universities.
“This collaboration creates new momentum for student success and takes the guesswork out of transfer” said Seattle Colleges Chancellor Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap (above left, with WWU president Sabah Randhawa). “By simplifying the process, we are ensuring our students have every opportunity to complete their four-year degrees.”
Under the agreement, Seattle Colleges students qualify for guaranteed admission to Western if they:
-Complete either an Associate in Arts – Direct Transfer Agreement (AA-DTA) or Associate in Science – Transfer (AS-T) degree
-Earn a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
-Earn at least a 2.0 GPA in the last quarter before applying for admission and the final quarter before transferringStudents admitted through this program will enter Western as juniors, ready to progress toward a bachelor’s degree.
In addition to general admission, eligible Seattle Colleges students may receive direct admission into nearly 30 academic majors at Western. Some majors may require additional admissions steps or prerequisites.
South Seattle College is one of three schools in the Seattle Colleges system; the other two are part of this too. Find out more via this Seattle Colleges webpage and/or this WWU webpage.
Eight days after rumors of ICE presence led to four Seattle Public Schools campuses (none in West Seattle) going into shelter-in-place mode, the district has a new webpage and policies to address those types of concerns and others surrounding immigration-enforcement operations. They were briefly presented and discussed in the first 50 minutes of tonight’s special meeting of the Seattle School Board (the second part of the meeting, still under way, is a budget update).
First – here’s the slide deck from the presentation/discussion. It includes word of this new page on the district website devoted to the topic. Here are the toplines on dealing with “reports or rumors” of ICE activity near schools:
What if agents actually show up on campus? That was addressed too, with superintendent Fred Podesta noting it’s similar to how they deal with any type of law-enforcement officer turning up:
And finally, a resource page:
District officials say the updated policies and clarifications will be discussed with building leaders this Friday; how they’re rolled out to the rest of school staffs, they said, is up to building leadership. They said the point of the policies is to be simple and easily committed to memory, so no one will have to “run for a three-ring binder” to figure out what action to take.
One of our area’s FIRST Robotics teams has made it into the state championship round! Thanks to Ash for the photo, report, and video:
A LEGO robotics team called Brickrolled, made up of five students in grades 3 through 6 from Westside School, has qualified for the FIRST LEGO League Western Washington State Championship and will be representing West Seattle this Sunday.
At the semifinal tournament held January 25 at Lincoln High School, Brickrolled earned the Championship Award, the top overall award at the event.
The award recognizes teams that perform strongly across robot matches, innovation projects, teamwork, and core values.
The team will compete at the state championship on Sunday, February 1, 2026. The event is open to the public and is one of the highest-level FIRST LEGO League competitions in the region. Winning teams from this tournament go on to represent Washington at the FIRST World Championship in Houston this April.
Event details are below in case you would like to share or attend:
FIRST LEGO League Challenge
Western Washington State Championship
Sunday, February 1, 2026
Amazon Meeting Center
2031 7th Ave, Seattle
Opening ceremony begins at 1:00 PM.
Robot matches and judged presentations followThe event includes autonomous robot matches using LEGO SPIKE Prime, as well as judged sessions covering robot design, innovation projects, and teamwork.
Alki Elementary currently has 265 students enrolled, but will be moving into a brand-new building this fall with a capacity for almost twice that many. Now the district is proposing making Alki Elementary a regional headquarters for a program that could significantly boost its enrollment. At last week’s School Board meeting, a briefing on the district’s Highly Capable (gifted) program included the announcement that Alki Elementary is proposed as a new Southwest Region site for the “cohort pathway” format of HC learning, along with Rainier View Elementary for the Southeast Region.
Right now, HC-identified students from those regions have to go to Thurgood Marshall Elementary to access a “cohort pathway” – self-contained classes offered there and at only two other SPS elementaries. So how many more students could that mean for Alki? Last week’s briefing projected that the Southwest Region will have 266 second through fifth graders identified as HC next school year:
Next school year is when the new Alki Elementary will open. Meantime, the proposal to make it and Rainier View sites for the HC program will be part of a proposal the board is scheduled to vote on February 11. (The full slide deck from the board meeting, which also touched on the feedback collected in community meetings around the district, is here. And thanks for the tips on this!)
Local educational nonprofit Invest in Youth tells us that some of their best tutors come through WSB, so they’re again asking us to help with recruitment. If you can help with a small weekday gift of time, here’s how!
Are you interested in giving back to our community, narrowing achievement gaps for neighborhood students and promoting educational equity right here in West Seattle? Invest in Youth offers a unique opportunity to connect one-on-one with a local student.
Tutors meet one day a week with the same student in the classroom with other student-tutor pairs, and work on math and reading fundamentals, all while serving as a mentor to foster lifelong academic success.
No experience is necessary; just a commitment to show up for one hour, one day a week. Two local schools need tutors:
Roxhill Elementary at E.C. Hughes
Sanislo ElementaryVisit our website for more information or complete our tutor application to reserve your spot to begin tutoring.
Several readers asked us on Tuesday about some Seattle Public Schools campuses outside West Seattle going into shelter-in-place after rumors of ICE sightings, and they asked us about additional rumors of a possible sighting here, in the Admiral Safeway area, of particular concern since that is just north of West Seattle High School. None of these rumored sightings, in West Seattle or elsewhere, were verified; some regional news outlets reported on the non-West Seattle shelter-in-place schools, and quoted the district as promising a more detailed statement. We just received it and are publishing it given its district-wide focus:
On Tuesday, several Seattle Public Schools campuses enacted shelter-in-place protocols out of an abundance of caution following unconfirmed community reports of possible Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in nearby neighborhoods.
The schools that entered a shelter-in-place protocol included Mercer International Middle School, Aki Kurose Middle School, Cleveland STEM High School, and Maple Elementary. While other schools took precautionary measures, it was mistakenly reported that Dearborn Park International and Beacon Hill International were under a shelter in place.
During a shelter‑in‑place, all exterior doors are locked, and normal learning and operations continue inside the building. Many schools maintained this posture for the remainder of the school day. Aki Kurose lifted its shelter‑in‑place at noon, and Cleveland STEM High School lifted after lunch. All classroom instruction continued uninterrupted, and the day ended safely.
Throughout the day, SPS Safety and Security staff were present at school sites and did not observe any ICE presence at or near SPS campuses. The district continues to monitor information closely and works to verify all reports before acting.
Should immigration enforcement agencies attempt to enter school property, SPS has established clear procedures for schools to follow in coordination with legal counsel. Immigration enforcement cannot enter school buildings without a verified judicial warrant or court order. We will continue to work with our building leaders to provide guidance and support to conduct risk assessments when there are any reports of ICE in the community.
Seattle Public Schools remains committed to providing safe, welcoming, and inclusive learning environments for every student, regardless of race, religion, national origin, immigration status, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
(WSB photos by Torin Record-Sand)
Before the three-day weekend that ends with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, at least one local school honored his memory with an assembly followed by a march.
Students and staff at Louisa Boren STEM K-8 marched around their campus along the 5900 block of Delridge Way SW this morning.
They carried handmade signs with messages of peace and justice.
Some signs highlighted quotes from Dr. King.
Thanks to the STEM K-8 PTA for letting us know about this!
One week from tonight, Chief Sealth International High School opens its doors to prospective students and their families for an open house. School administrators asked us to share the reminder. The open house starts at 5:45 pm Thursday, January 22. Here’s a brief preview on the school website. A student panel will be there to answer questions, along with staff. Food will be provided in the Galleria, and interpretation will be available in Spanish, Somali, and Oromo. CSIHS is at 2600 SW Thistle.
(Photos taken at Roxhill Elementary with classes of Kyoko Giedeman and Margaret Gamache)
Story by Judy Pickens
Photos by Torin Record-Sand
For West Seattle Blog
Since 1991, West Seattle schools in the Salmon in the Schools program have received their coho salmon eggs in early January, but not this year.
Students returned from winter break to find their tanks already populated by tiny alevin (the first stage of growth).
“Temperature affects the pace at which salmon eggs mature and our mild fall weather caused them to mature much faster than usual,” explained Phil Sweetland with the Fauntleroy Watershed Council. “On very short notice, teachers had their tanks ready for eggs two weeks early.”
In the quiet of hallways across West Seattle, those eggs started hatching into more than 2,000 alevin on December 24. Because they come equipped with a food sac, the alevin took care of themselves until classes resumed. As they watch their alevin grow and change into fry, students will be learning about biology, habitat, and stewardship until release season in May.
Fauntleroy volunteers will assist with an expected 17 release field trips.
Because of construction to replace the Fauntleroy Creek culvert under 45th Ave. SW, preschool and other small groups will release into the lower creek and elementary groups will release into Longfellow Creek.
Two announcements regarding local high-school basketball games scheduled tomorrow night. First, West Seattle High School athletic director Corey Sorenson sent this community announcement:
Dear West Seattle Community,
We are excited for our upcoming basketball matchups this Friday and appreciate the incredible support for our student-athletes.
At this time, we have reached full capacity for Friday’s Girls Basketball game vs. Lakeside and Boys Basketball game vs. Rainier Beach High School. As a result, tickets will no longer be available.
For those who are unable to attend in person, both games will be broadcast live on the NFHS Network with a subscription. You can access the stream using the link below:
https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/schools/west-seattle-high-school-seattle-wa/basketball
Thank you for your understanding and continued support of our athletic programs. Go, Wildcats!
(added) As a commenter notes, one big reason for the interest in the WSHS-Rainier Beach boys’ game is that the nation’s top-ranked player is on the RB team.
Second, Chief Sealth International High School‘s girls-basketball home game at 7 pm vs. Mt. Tahoma will be preceded by a ceremony honoring Sealth legend Regina Rogers-Wright, who died in 2024. Among the participants will be City Council President Joy Hollingsworth and District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka, presenting a proclamation.
(WSB file photo)
Before school PTAs, PTSAs, and other types of PTOs can invite guests to fundraising auctions, they need to get donations so they have something for guests to bid on. This is another role local businesses play in the community – they often support local schools via donations for these events. The first PTA to contact us this new year is from Genesee Hill Elementary, asking us to share their request:
On March 7th 2026, the Genesee Hill Elementary PTA will host our annual auction — our biggest fundraiser of the year! It’s an uplifting community celebration that directly supports nearly 500 students, teachers and staff members. We’re inviting caring individuals and local businesses to help us make this event a success by donating an item or contribution. Would you consider supporting our students by donating goods, services, experience, gift certificates, or cash?
Your donation will help support fundamental student needs like reading intervention, classroom supplies, sponsorships, and mental health services – and we greatly appreciate anything you are able to provide.
Our PTA is a 501(c)3 charitable organization and your donation is 100% tax-deductible. A donation receipt with our tax-exempt ID (91-1252753) will be provided. Should you donate by February 20, your organization will also be recognized in the event program.
To donate goods, services, experiences, or gift certificates, please visit:
geneseehill.schoolauction.net/2026/donate_items/new?qr=1To make a cash donation or sponsorship, please visit:
geneseehillpta.givebacks.com/shop/items/1101842Thank you for investing in our students and helping us create opportunities that last far beyond the auction night. Your generosity makes a real and immediate difference.
Looking for a K-5 school? Tilden School (4105 California SW; WSB sponsor) is having its final open house of the season this Saturday. Here’s the invitation:
Tilden School Open House
Tilden School invites prospective families to its Winter Open House on Saturday, January 10th, from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event to tour the campus, learn more about Tilden’s academic program and close-knit community, and meet faculty, administrators, current parents, and alumni.
Tilden’s Open Houses offer a meaningful opportunity to explore the school’s educational philosophy and discover what makes this independent K–5 school such a special place to learn and grow.
For those unable to attend our final Open House of the season, private tours may also be scheduled by contacting the school office.
There are limited openings available for students in grades 1–5. Applications can be found online at tildenschool.org.
For additional information, please contact Jennifer Trise at info@tildenschool.org.
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