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CONGRATULATIONS! Ultimate championship for Louisa Boren STEM K-8 middle-school team
November 19, 2023 1:02 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Thanks to Amy for the report:

I wanted to give a shout out to the Louisa Boren STEM K-8 Middle School Ultimate Frisbee team, who won their championship game (Saturday)! The team worked together, practiced hard, built strong bonds and friendships, and had a lot of fun in the process. Congratulations to all the middle schoolers on the team and their awesome coaches! Well done, Owls!!!

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VOLLEYBALL: West Seattle High School’s stellar season ends at state tournament
November 17, 2023 11:12 pm
|    Comments Off on VOLLEYBALL: West Seattle High School’s stellar season ends at state tournament
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

The season that took the West Seattle High School volleyball team all the way to the state tournament ended there tonight. The Wildcats lost two matches, one in the morning against Shorewood High School (3-0) and one in the evening against Peninsula High School (3-2). The scoreboard shows the last one was a heartbreaker – first WSHS was down 2-0, then took the next two sets to tie at 2-2, but lost the fifth and final set by the barest of margins. Head coach Scott Behrbaum‘s team took second place in the Metro League and third in the district tournament on the way to the state 3A championships in Yakima.

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FOLLOWUP: No Seattle Public Schools closures before 2025-2026 school year
November 14, 2023 10:29 pm
|    Comments Off on FOLLOWUP: No Seattle Public Schools closures before 2025-2026 school year
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

The agenda for tomorrow’s Seattle Public Schools board meeting was updated tonight with the document for superintendent Dr. Brent Jones‘s promised briefing on tackling next year’s expected budget gap – and it does NOT include a list of proposed school closures/consolidations – for now. Instead, the document says Dr. Jones is expected to present his “system of well-resourced schools” plan by May 8 of next year, and closures/consolidations for 2025-2026 might be part of it. From the presentation prepared for tomorrow’s meeting:

Here’s what might instead be used to balance next year’s budget:

Tomorrow’s meeting starts at 4:15 pm at district HQ (3rd/Lander in SODO) and also will be streamed on the SPS YouTube channel.

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CAN YOU HELP? Milestone birthday surprise for former teacher
November 14, 2023 7:33 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Larry asked for help circulating this request:

Are you a former student or co-worker of Mr. Ed Doyle from Denny Middle School?

Mr. Doyle taught band, history, media, and more from 1967-2001 at Denny Middle School, and although he hasn’t taught for over 20 years, the memories and the relationships of his years at Denny Middle School have continued to be a source of joy for him in his retirement.

Mr. Doyle turns eighty this month, and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate this milestone than honoring the career that he was so passionate about and connecting him to the students and staff that meant so much to him.

If you are a former student or co-worker of his and you would like to write a quick, kind thought or share a good memory, please sign his virtual birthday card at kudoboard.com/boards/YcBLzwj0.

Thank you so much in advance for taking a moment to participate in this surprise virtual card! And if you know of anyone, student or staff, who might like adding to this card, we would deeply appreciate you passing the link on to them.

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WEST SEATTLE SCHOOLS: Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day @ Denny IMS
November 14, 2023 1:40 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Denny International Middle School students walked to the campus together from Westwood Village this morning in commemoration of Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day.

It’s a simple observance in honor of what Ruby herself did on this date 63 years ago – as explained on the official event website, “Six-year-old Ruby Bridges stepped into the history books in 1960 when she integrated William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, becoming a national icon for the civil-rights movement.”

The students warmed up with hot cocoa in the Galleria after their walk. Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day continues to grow nationwide, with Denny students among the more than 343,000 who participated last year.

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CONGRATULATIONS! West Seattle High School volleyball team off to state after finishing district tournament
November 11, 2023 6:21 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

(Photo courtesy WSHS Volleyball)

That’s the West Seattle High School volleyball team, photographed today in the gym at Lake Washington High School, where they finished district-tournament play, starting with a 3-0 loss to the host team in the semifinals this morning, coming back with a 3-0 victory over Renton’s Liberty High School this afternoon. That won them third place in the district, following their second-place Metro League finish, and next they’re off to the state tournament. That’s happening in Yakima next Friday and Saturday. The Wildcats, under head coach Scott Behrbaum, are 16-6 on the year so far.

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SCHOOL SEARCH: Looking for Holy Rosary alums from ’60s and ’70s
November 10, 2023 9:02 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

A group of Holy Rosary School alums is looking for classmates from the ’60s and ’70s and asked us to publish this announcement:

We are actively searching for classmates who attended Holy Rosary Elementary anytime between 1962 and 1970 and graduated high school in 1974. We are putting together a reunion/gathering celebration for next Spring/Summer in West Seattle and would like to include everyone.

I am attaching a Google Doc that can be filled out with your contact information if this description fits you and you are interested in being involved.

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SPORTS: West Seattle High School’s volleyball victory at district tournament means trip to state
November 9, 2023 9:49 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

9:49 PM: Five nights after taking second place in the Metro League championships, the West Seattle High School volleyball team scored a shutout win in their first district-tournament match tonight. Playing at Lake Washington High School in Kirkland, the Wildcats beat Bellevue 3-0. Lake Washington is also where WSHS will face the host team at 9 am Saturday (November 11th) in the district semifinals. If we’re reading the bracket correctly, tonight’s victory has already guaranteed them a berth at the state tournament.

9:58 PM: Head coach Scott Behrbaum confirms his team has earned a trip to state – that’ll be November 17-18 in Yakima.

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YOU CAN HELP: Chief Sealth IHS’s first fundraising auction in four years
November 7, 2023 7:42 pm
|    Comments Off on YOU CAN HELP: Chief Sealth IHS’s first fundraising auction in four years
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

The Chief Sealth International High School PTSA‘s “rebuilding year” includes a big fundraiser that’s now less than four weeks away, and in addition to selling tickets, they’re also welcoming sponsorships and auction-item donations:

It’s the Season of Sealth! For the first time in four years, Chief Sealth International High School is hosting an auction. We’re so excited to be celebrating our school, its successes, and our students, teachers, and staff with an event that’s sure to sparkle and amaze. The auction will be December 2nd at 5:30 pm at the Brockey Center, South Seattle College.

The funds raised at auction are hugely impactful for our school. In the past, we’ve used these funds to support everything from academic programs, books, college readiness programs, sports uniforms, healthy snacks for test days and much more. We’re currently in the process of reaching out to businesses and members of the community who might have something great to donate for the auction, whether that be physical goods, a gift card, service, or a monetary donation. Have something to contribute? We’d love to hear from you!

Businesses can also become auction sponsors, which is a great opportunity to get visibility for your business and its support of our school. The following Sponsorship levels are available:

Seniors ($3,000 and above) Your logo on all advertising materials including social media plus a table for 10.
Juniors ($2,000) Your logo on all online advertising plus 6 tickets to the event.
Sophomores ($1,000) your logo on online advertising plus 4 tickets to the event.
Freshmen ($500) your logo on all online advertising plus 2 tickets to the event.

Please contact Auction Chair Dawn Pomeroy with any questions or to arrange pick-up of a donated item. You can also send general questions to chiefsealthptsa@gmail.com. Buy tickets, donate funds or auction items, and learn more on our CSIHS auction website.

You can preview what’s already been donated here – including ticket packs for the Mariners and the Seahawks, ski and snowboard equipment, gift cards from all sorts of local West Seattle businesses. and a lakeside cabin getaway.

P.S. Along with sponsorships and item donations, the PTSA welcomes auction volunteers too.

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SCHOOL CLOSURES? District’s ‘system of well-resourced schools’ plan debut approaches, as does end of local rep’s time on the board
November 5, 2023 11:09 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

The early agenda for the Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors‘ November 15 meeting is online. This meeting will attract more attention than most meetings, because SPS Superintendent Dr. Brent Jones is scheduled to unveil his plan for dealing with a budget crunch by transforming the district into “a system of well-resourced schools.” That is expected to include a proposal to close and consolidate some schools.

Four school-board seats are on the citywide ballot for Tuesday’s election, so the eventual fate of the plan could be decided by a majority-new board. One of the two board members who aren’t running for re-election is our area’s representative, Leslie Harris, finishing her second term, staying involved until the end (and, she promises, beyond). Weekend before last, she held her final pre-election community-conversation meeting. The anticipated battle over likely closure proposals was on many minds, including Harris’s.

She admitted it feels “bizarre” to realize she won’t be among those making the decision. But before she steps down, she has a truckload of questions she suspects won’t be answered when the proposal is first presented – such as what the cost will be for securing buildings and for eventually reopening them, and is it true that charter schools would get dibs on renting a mouthballed school building? She also recapped some of the issues she had raised at a budget “work session” two days before her community meeting, such as a lack of “guiding principles” for the decisionmaking.

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SPORTS: West Seattle HS volleyball on to next level of postseason play after finishing #2 in Metro League
November 5, 2023 4:45 pm
|    Comments Off on SPORTS: West Seattle HS volleyball on to next level of postseason play after finishing #2 in Metro League
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)

Last night’s Metro League volleyball championship match was closer than the final score – Seattle Prep over West Seattle High School, three sets to none – would suggest.

During the faceoff in the Chief Sealth IHS gym, the first two sets’ scores were close – 25-23 and 26-24.

The third set was almost seesaw until a 10-10 tie – and Prep started pulling away after that, taking the set 25-16.

Next up for the Wildcats and head coach Scott Behrbaum, a district-tournament game at 7:30 pm Thursday (November 9) vs. either Bellevue HS or Eastside Catholic (who they beat 3-0 earlier on Saturday to get to the Metro final). They’ll be playing at Lake Washington High School (12033 NE 80th, [corrected] Kirkland).

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SPORTS: West Seattle High School’s football season ends
November 4, 2023 10:57 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

A strong season for West Seattle High School ended tonight in Tacoma. WSHS played a postseason game at Mount Tahoma High School, with a state-tournament berth at stake, but lost 53-14. Head coach Anthony Stordahl‘s team finished the year 6-3.

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WEST SEATTLE HOLIDAYS: Ready to order your greens?
November 4, 2023 8:23 pm
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE HOLIDAYS: Ready to order your greens?
 |   Holidays | How to help | West Seattle schools

If you’re ready to shift gears into the holiday season, here’s another way to do it – Hope Lutheran School (WSB sponsor) is selling wreaths and garlands:

Get your Holiday Greens! Orders due this Monday, November 6th!

Order your wreaths and garlands today and check that off your Holiday list while benefiting Hope Lutheran School’s East Coast Fundraising committee for 7th- and 8th-grade students.

Order online at: form.jotform.com/232977354905164

Act quick!

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SPORTS: West Seattle HS volleyball team plays for league championship tonight
November 4, 2023 1:30 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

We mentioned in today’s preview list that West Seattle High School would play Eastside Catholic in the Metro League volleyball semifinals this morning. The Wildcats won the match, 3-0, and that means they will play for the league championship tonight – 7:15 pm in the Chief Sealth IHS gym (2600 SW Thistle). If you want to go cheer them on, ticket info is here.

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FOLLOWUP: Parking or no parking for new Alki Elementary? Checking back, post-court ruling
November 3, 2023 9:57 pm
|      29 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(WSB photo, Alki Elementary site, last month)

Two weeks ago today, a judge rejected Seattle Public Schools‘ challenge to a city Hearing Examiner ruling in the fight over whether the new, larger Alki Elementary can be built without off-street parking. That left the district having to do what the Hearing Examiner ruling in August ordered – work with the city Department of Construction and Inspections to address the parking issue.

If you’ve missed previous coverage, the city originally granted the district’s request for zoning exceptions – aka “departures” – including a plan to build the school without off-street parking (48 spaces would have been required otherwise). Four nearby residents appealed the departures; part of the appeal was settled, part was denied, and the part pertaining to parking was granted. The district challenged that in court and lost. So now, two weeks later, we wondered, what’s happening? We took the question to SPS; a spokesperson replied, “SPS is reviewing designs to include parking while also continuing to work with SDCI.” Some site work has been done, as allowed even without the building permit; the district tells us, “Demolition and site clearing have been completed. With the project paused, the contractor has been preparing the site and gymnasium building for winter. This includes weather protection, security, and temporary soil control measure, which includes hydroseeding.” Alki Elementary is holding classes at the former Schmitz Park Elementary, originally expected to last through this school year and ’24-’25.

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WEEKEND PREVIEW: School open houses Saturday
November 3, 2023 8:28 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

It’s open-house time for families who might be changing schools next year. Tomorrow, three West Seattle independent schools are inviting prospective families to visit:

BRIDGE SCHOOL COOPERATIVE ELEMENTARY (10300 28th SW): 10 am-noon Saturday, “Join us for a cup of tea or coffee and tour the school while learning about what makes cooperative elementary education unique. We might be just the school community and your children have been searching for!” More info is in our calendar listing.

TILDEN SCHOOL (4105 California SW; WSB sponsor): This independent K-5 school is in its fourth decade of offering “academic, engaging, individualized K-5 education” and welcomes your visit 1-3 pm on Saturday. You can learn more about Tilden in our story from earlier this year.

EXPLORER WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL (10015 28th SW; WSB sponsor): Also at 1 pm, “You’re invited, whether you have a 5th-grade student thinking about next year or want to begin middle-school research early. Our event features a program with faculty, current students, and families, as well as time to visit our classrooms to offer an in-depth look at our community and programs. Explorer West has been serving local families since 1996.

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UPDATE: Police response at Pathfinder K-8
November 2, 2023 10:38 am
|      162 COMMENTS
 |   Pigeon Point | West Seattle news | West Seattle police | West Seattle schools

(Added: WSB photo)

10:38 AM: Police have converged on Pathfinder K-8 in Pigeon Point and here’s what we know. The original call that came into 911 was from a passerby who claimed they saw a man with a gun “walking into the school.” According to radio communication, police have NOT found anyone so far but are searching the school. More information as we get it.

10:45 AM: Just to be clear – NO REPORTS OF GUNFIRE. Police, including SWAT officers, are clearing the school room by room. The original description of the person a passerby said they saw was “unknown-race male, 5’5″ to 6’0″, medium build, red puffy coat.”

10:52 AM: Police have just told dispatch “We’ve cleared the whole structure and found no evidence of a weapon, a suspect, or a shooting.” … Individual classrooms remain locked and sheltering in place, they added. (Update – school staff in comments says it’s a lockdown.)

11:04 AM: They’ve been trying to get back in contact with the original caller, who was apparently on their way off-peninsula when they called in the report. … Meantime, SPD has sent a media team member, who will eventually brief us outside the school.

11:17 AM: They’re now checking individual classrooms. Meantime, Police Chief Adrian Diaz is there and has just briefed us.. Notes from our crew in a moment.

11:22 AM: Chief Diaz says there were two 911 calls of concern. One was the original one reported above. The second one, which has come up in comment discussion below, was a 911 call claiming there was a “school shooting” somewhere – no location given. That was an unfounded call – there has been no gunfire anywhere, school or otherwise. No injuries of any kind. Police will stay at the school through day’s end.

11:45 AM: Now our crew says the school’s announced that it’s closing for the rest of the day and setting up procedures for parents to sign out and pick up kids. The police response is downsizing.

12:25 PM: We’ve left the school too but expect more information later – we have followup inquiries out both with police and the district. We have also added three more photos above.

2:42 PM: For the record, here’s the official district statement, from SPS spokesperson Bev Redmond via email:

Earlier today, a concerned citizen contacted 911 to report a potential safety issue regarding the sighting of an individual with a weapon on the Pathfinder K-8 campus. In response to this report, and in close coordination with the Seattle Police Department (SPD), the school initiated a lockdown procedure as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of our students and staff.

During a lock-down classroom and exterior doors are locked. Students remain indoors and in their classrooms until the lockdown has been lifted.

We are pleased to report that after a comprehensive safety sweep of the school and campus, SPD confirmed that there was no credible threat to our students or staff. The safety and well-being of our students remain our top priority, and we are grateful for the swift and thorough response of the SPD in this matter.

As of now, the school has transitioned to a shelter-in-place status, maintaining heightened security protocols to ensure ongoing safety. We want to assure all families that Pathfinder students and staff are safe.

During a shelter-in-place, all exterior doors are locked and students remain indoors while the normal instructional day continues.

The school will continue with the school day as scheduled, following the standard Thursday dismissal time of 3:25 p.m.

We understand that incidents like these can be concerning, and we will continue to communicate with the Pathfinder community as we receive further updates and information.

The “continue with the school day” conflicts with what the principal said when we reported it above, but hopefully families have received updates. The district has not yet answered our question about the Genesee Hill shelter-in-place, which appears to have been related to a second unfounded 911 call.

2:55 PM: SPS has just answered that question, also via email: “Genesee Hill was placed in a shelter-in-place as a precaution until SPD could clarify the focal point of the 911 call. Genesee Hill was the former location of Pathfinder K-8.”

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SPORTS: Seeking a swim coach
November 2, 2023 9:00 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Four years ago, we told you about the search for a swim coach at Chief Sealth International High School. Stephanie Hunt read about it here, got the job, and less than three years later was honored as Metro League Coach of the Year. Now she’s sent this announcement about the search for a new boys’ swim coach:

CSIHS is looking for a Swim Coach who is available early mornings and Friday afternoons to lead our Boys Swim Team this school year. Red Cross lifeguard certification is required. Our current coach is stepping back to focus on coaching diving for the Metro League. For additional information or to apply, please contact Athletic Director Ernest Policarpio at edpolicarpio@seattleschools.org.

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SURVEY: Change the school calendar?
November 1, 2023 7:34 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Even if you don’t have a student in Seattle Public Schools, its annual calendar may affect you – for example, some independent schools follow it, and some school-vicinity neighborhoods’ day-to-day rhythms are yoked to it. So a survey launched today by the district might be of interest. SPS says it’s gathering feedback for future negotiations in which the district and its unions agree to calendar dates (this page includes the tentative dates for the next few years). In particular, the survey asks if you’d like to see changes in any of these current policies:

First Day of School – 1st Wednesday in September

Winter Break – at least 10 weekdays

Mid-Winter Break – President’s Day week

Spring Break – 2nd week in April

Emergency Closure Make-Up Days – currently day between semesters and end of school year

The survey’s open through November 13th; go here to participate.

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WEST SEATTLE SCHOOLS: Explorer West Middle School’s first fall open house Saturday
November 1, 2023 9:40 am
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE SCHOOLS: Explorer West Middle School’s first fall open house Saturday
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

As we’ve been noting, though it’s only two months into the new school year, it’s also time for many families to look ahead to the next one. If you have a future middle-schooler in your household, Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor) invites you to visit this Saturday (November 4) at 1 pm:

You’re invited, whether you have a 5th-grade student thinking about next year or want to begin middle school research early. Our event features a program with faculty, current students, and families, as well as time to visit our classrooms to offer an in-depth look at our community and programs. Event registration is available (but not required) through Ravenna. We’re located at 10015 28th Ave SW.

If you can’t attend this one, Explorer West – serving local families since 1996 – has another one planned for 11 am Saturday, December 9.

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SPORTS: West Seattle High School’s postseason win
October 31, 2023 11:37 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

The West Seattle High School Wildcats are one win away from the state football playoffs after a postseason victory tonight over Rainier Beach. WSHS emerged victorious at Memorial Stadium downtown, 22-20. Next, they play at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma at 7 pm Saturday (November 4). Winner of that game goes to state.

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HALLOWEEN SCENE: West Seattle High School students’ Fall Fest
October 30, 2023 4:59 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Halloween | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Until 7 pm, everyone’s welcome at the decorated West Seattle High School courtyard where Fall Fest is happening – a student-created community event for this Halloween Eve. Indoors and outdoors, you’ll find games …

Also some fundraising sales (bring cash), like the one we mentioned in today’s preview list – the AAPI Club‘s candy sale:

Student organizers from the Class of 2026 who let us know about this include Lilly and AJ:

Go support students and get into the Halloween mood! (They’re showing “Nightmare Before Christmas” in the Commons, too.) WSHS is at 3000 California SW, and the courtyard entrance is off the south end of the parking lot.

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14 SCHOOLS, 1 EVENT: Greater West Seattle Middle School Information Night set for November 6
October 25, 2023 9:36 am
|    Comments Off on 14 SCHOOLS, 1 EVENT: Greater West Seattle Middle School Information Night set for November 6
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

If one or more students in your household will be a middle-schooler next year, you might want to set your calendar for Monday, November 6th – you’ll be able to get information about more than a dozen middle schools, public and independent, in one place. The Greater West Seattle Middle School Information Night is set for 6-7:15 pm November 6th, at Our Lady of Guadalupe‘s gym (7000 35th SW). Organizers so far say participants planning to be there so far include Denny International Middle School, Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor), Harbor School (Vashon), Holy Family Bilingual, Holy Rosary, Hope Lutheran, Lake Washington Girls Middle School, McMurray Middle School (Vashon), Our Lady of Guadalupe, Pathfinder K-8, Rainier Valley Leadership Academy, St. Bernadette, Summit Atlas, and Westside School (WSB sponsor). If you’re interested in going to the open-house-format event, organizers request pre-registration, which is fast and easy at this link.

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