West Seattle, Washington
19 Monday
(WSB photos by Oliver Hamlin and Tracy Record)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The West Seattle 5K has been a success since its start in 2009. But the West Seattle High School PTSA, which organizes the WS5K as a fundraiser for WSHS programs, decided it needed a little more school spirit. So this year, they found ways to add it. Listen, for example, to the song played live in our annual video of all the runners/walkers leaving the starting line:
That’s the WSHS fight song, played by an alumni pep band assembled for the occasion, directed by Madison Middle School music leader Clark Bathum (who played tuba too). And the WSHS cheer squad contingent was larger this year:
The cross-country team rallied the runners with their own cheer:
And a WSHS student was even half the announcing team – Zola Northup, now a WSHS freshman, again joining her dad Fred Northup:
Midway through the 5K, Zola got to announce her own grandparents crossing the finish line. The WS5K is big with families – you can lose count of the strollers, for example. But lots of young runners were on the course under their own power – in fact, for the second year in a row, 12-year-old Beau Sitzmann, bib #1248, was the top female finisher, in 18:22:
Lots of cheering on the sidelines in the unexpected morning sunshine:
Top overall finisher was, as mentioned earlier, 41-year-old Kevin Hansen, bib 8556, in 15:43:
Next was 21-year-old Eric Casey, bib 194, in 16:21:
But with a record turnout of almost 1,700, the real winners were the WSHS PTSA and the students who’ll be assisted by the money they raised. Race directors this year were Athena Frederick, Pam Hembrow, and Kelley O’Connor:
They snagged a presenting sponsor for the first time, Proliance. And the sponsor/nonprofits zone by the Bathhouse was livelier than ever. WSB was again among the community co-sponsors, and the lineup included a few of our sponsors too – like Neighborhood Naturopathic and Primary Care:
(Drs. Lauren Oldziej, Megan Taylor, and Allison Middleman)
The West Seattle and Fauntleroy YMCA, with the <strong>West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s newly honored Westsider of the Year, Cleveland, joined by Madisson and CJ:
And Lori and Tim from West Seattle Runner, also newly honored as the Chamber’s Business of the Year:
WSB sponsors Dave Newman State Farm Insurance and PCC Community Markets were among the WS5K sponsors too (full list here).
One other sight of the day – many dogs on the course; you can run or walk the WS5K with your furry friend if you choose to:
Full results from today’s WS5K can be seen here.
P.S. Bonus clip from the “pep band,” performing before the race:
This week Seattle Public Schools announced another group of principal appointments for next school year, and a new principal for Arbor Heights Elementary is among them: Lauren Porto will take over the school as of July. The announcement on the AHES website didn’t say much about her, aside from:
Principal Porto was selected through a formal interview process that included participation of staff, students, parents, and community. What stood out to the Arbor Heights interview team was her collaborative vision for Arbor Heights that is reflective of what the community has named as priorities, along with her expertise with inclusionary practices and special education.
Nooria Miskell has been serving as interim principal of AHES this year, after the departure of Christy Collins, who led the school for more than a decade. Future principal Porto is currently assistant principal of an elementary school in the Renton School District.
Story and photos by Tracy Burrows
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
The West Seattle High School softball team’s season ended Wednesday evening with a 17-1 loss to Garfield High School in a District 2 tournament game at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex.
The #9 seed Wildcats made a deep run in the tournament, but faced a talented Garfield team that was seeded #5.
Garfield pitcher Sammy Breckenridge dominated West Seattle, allowing no hits until the final inning, when Kaila Ignacio (photo above) broke the no-hitter with a solo home run. It was a welcome bright spot that showed the grit of a team that has shown the ability to bounce back all season.
After the game, Coach Kyler Tsukada said that the team had overcome a lot of adversity this season. West Seattle has played with a small roster of 9-10 players all year and Coach Kyler has emphasized avoiding injury and having fun. The Wildcats have a young team, with only one graduating senior. “I’m excited to keep this core group together and we’re looking forward to seeing how the incoming 8th graders will fit into next year’s team,” said Coach Kyler.
Art students at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) have started work on a new mural – and you’re invited to help paint it this Saturday!
Please join South Seattle College art faculty and students on Saturday, May 17 (three time slots available) to help paint the new mural on campus!
A breezeway on the main campus, located in the Puget Ridge neighborhood of West Seattle, is being transformed with a design by Indigenous Pacific Islander Artist Toka Valu.
Valu reflected on artwork and stories created by SSC students, faculty and staff during Winter Quarter workshops and collaborated with Sasha taqʷšəblu LaPointe (Upper Skagit and Nooksack) to develop a design that incorporates creation stories, the Land that South Seattle College is built on and occupies, and the yəhaw̓ story. The design centers community care, community collaboration and the importance of carrying knowledge into our lives.
Bring clothes you don’t mind getting paint on, or an apron, and comfortable shoes are recommended!
Please RSVP using this form. Additional information will be emailed before the event.
Time & Location:
Saturday, May 17, with 3 two-hour time slots: 9 am-11 am; 11 am-1 pm; 1 pm-3 pmMeet at the South Seattle College Robert Smith Building – “RSB” on the campus map (near the bus stop up the hill on campus). Parking will be free on Saturday!
We reported on mural designer Toka Valu creating another Puget Ridge mural three years ago.
Story and photos by Tracy Burrows
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Monday night at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (NCSWAC), the #9 seed West Seattle High School softball team defeated #8 seed Sammamish High School 17-5 in the first round of the District 2 championship tournament.
The West Seattle Wildcats appear to be hitting their stride just as the postseason heats up. West Seattle jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. In the bottom of the inning, Sammamish had the tying runs on base, but Wildcats catcher Marina Strange ended the threat with a bullet throw to catch a runner stealing second.
West Seattle broke the game open in the second inning, scoring 8 runs to take an 11-1 lead. Julia Herron topped off the hitting spree with an RBI triple. Facing elimination from the tournament, Sammamish put together a rally of their own, closing the score to 11-5 in the third inning. But West Seattle kept finding the gaps in the Sammamish defense on the way to scoring 6 runs in the fifth inning. Hits by Daeja Piggee (photo below), Kaila Ignacio, and Julia Herron highlighted the inning. Kaila (photo above) pitched a brilliant two innings of relief, notching several strikeouts and shutting down the Sammamish offense.
Up next for the Wildcats on Tuesday at 4 pm at NCSWAC is a rematch with the top-seeded Ballard Bears, to whom they recently lost, 11-6, in the Metro League tournament. Win or lose, they will still have at least one more game to play in the District tournament as they continue their quest to make this year’s State tournament in Lacey.
It’s a big spring for sports success at local schools! Two days ago, Chief Sealth International High School‘s baseball team qualified for the state 2A tournament. Tonight, West Seattle High School locked in a berth at the state 3A tournament. The Wildcats did it by beating Eastside Catholic 8-2 at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center, and that’s where they’ll play Ballard for the Metro League title at 4 pm Saturday (May 17). WSHS is the defending state champion.
By Hayden Yu Andersen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Last Sunday, the Chief Sealth International High School Drama Company wrapped their spring production of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” It was a moment of pride for the cast and crew, but also bittersweetness for the graduating seniors. For everyone, though, the predominant feeling was hope.
After spending many years without a theater program, Chief Sealth returned to the stage in 2023 with a production of “She Kills Monsters” (as reported here), a play written by Qui Nguyen. Since then, the Chief Sealth Drama Company has produced five shows. The theater program’s revival is thanks to BAYFEST Youth Theatre, a West Seattle-based nonprofit organization which runs K-12 theater programs across Seattle.
Reflecting on the experience, Satomi Giedeman, who played pianist Schroeder in last Sunday’s show, said it’s been a privilege to be in the program. “It’s changed big time,” said Giedeman, who’s been with the Chief Sealth Drama Company since the beginning. “This was by far the best production I’ve been in. Because the cast was so small, we got the chance to get really close together.”
(L-R: Rowan Loidhammer, Leena Nguyen, Satomi Giedeman, Josey Kent, Katie Ackers, Richie Nguyen – photos by Robert Shampain)
Echoing the sentiment were crew members Josephina Smith Matteucci and Georgia Palmer-Markham. As the Stage Manager and Assistant Stage Manager respectively, both of them are excited to see the program continue to grow. Palmer-Markham has also been with the program since 2023, and said the changes since then have been incredible. “For our first show, we didn’t even use the full stage,” she said. “The program has gotten so much bigger, and the community has kept growing and changing.”
Kekoa Dilay, who directed “Charlie Brown,” said it was great to work with such a small cast, especially with the increased support to the crew this year. Dilay, brought on by BAYFEST to direct the show, is a teaching artist and actor and the first out-of-school director for the drama program.
(Katie Ackers as Snoopy in ‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown’)
Supporting the program is a challenge BAYFEST has taken on enthusiastically over the last few years, and owner and founder Robert Shampain says they’re committed to expanding the program as much as they can. “There are lessons learned from each show, and we want to make sure that each year we’re stepping it up in terms of sets, costumes, and how things are organized.”
Someday, he hopes the program will become self-sufficient. “We’re really trying to focus on making the program sustainable, without needing outside nonprofits. We all believe it should be funded by the school.” It seems like things are going in that direction, as this year BAYFEST signed a contract with the Career Technical Education program to provide academic credit to students participating in the program.
(Rowan Loidhammer as Charlie Brown in ‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown’ – p Robert Shampain)
There are big things on the horizon as well, including the upcoming intergenerational theater project, which we wrote about previously here. In short, the program has Chief Sealth students working alongside adults, with priority given to seniors, as part of a six-month program culminating in a final show in June. “The Intergenerational Theater Project is something I’m especially proud of,” Shampain said. “It’s bringing together senior adults and teens for an intergenerational project which is about more than acting, but also themes of intergenerational life together.”
If you’re interested in supporting the program, you can donate to BAYFEST Youth Theatre here.
UPDATED TUESDAY WITH PHOTOS, SUMMARY COURTESY CSIHS BASEBALL
ORIGINAL SATURDAY REPORT: As mentioned here earlier, the Chief Sealth IHS Seahawks were due to play in the 2A district semifinals this morning at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center. They emerged victorious, 11-1, over Sultan, and will play for the district championship at 7 pm Friday (May 16) vs. Nathan Hale, also at Steve Cox. And because they made it to the district championship game, they’re guaranteed a berth in the state tournament.
ADDED TUESDAY: Sent by Sealth athletic director/baseball head coach Ernest Policarpio:
Teo Perala (photo above) drove in four runs on two hits to lead Chief Sealth past Sultan 11-1 on Saturday. In the fifth inning, Perala hit a grand slam to left field in the fifth inning, part of a seven-run fifth inning for the Seahawks.
Seth Clark (photo above) led things off on the mound for Chief Sealth, giving up only four hits and one run over six innings, striking out four and walking none.
West Seattle High School‘s softball team is headed to the district tournament after finishing the Metro League tournament in sixth place. That’s where the Wildcats wound up after a win and a loss at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex on Friday, beating Seattle Prep 14-7 in the afternoon, then losing 6-5 to Holy Names in the evening. Their first district game will also be at NCSWAC (2801 SW Thistle), 4 pm Monday (May 12). … Also Friday night at NCSWAC, WSHS baseball scored a win, 1-0 over Bishop Blanchet. Their next Metro tournament game is 4 pm Monday at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center (1321 SW 102nd), vs. Eastside Catholic. … And Steve Cox is where the Chief Sealth International High School baseball team plays Sultan at 10 am today in the 2A district semifinals.
Thanks to Chief Sealth International High School athletic director Ernest Policarpio for the report and photo:
Congratulations to the Chief Sealth 2025 Washington Athletic Club /101 Club award winners:
Winners were Micah Policarpio, Jay Johnson, and Xavier Nguyen; Riley Yup, Hannah Mueller, and Allison Ohta
The WAC & 101 Club Awards honor 3 boys and 3 girls from each school who have athletic & academic achievements.
If you play pickleball, the West Seattle Booster Club has an invitation for you!
Who will be crowned the pickleball champions of WSHS?
We are excited to invite you to participate in the WS Booster Club’s inaugural Paddle Battle Pickleball Tournament, benefiting student-athletes at WSHS. Please sign up and bring your family, neighbors and friends to join us for this fun community event benefiting WSHS.
Learn more and REGISTER NOW:
The tournament is set for all day June 1 on the courts west of Southwest Pool.
Story and photos by Tracy Burrows
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Last night at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (NCSWAC), the West Seattle High School softball team took on top-ranked Ballard High School in the Metro 3A League tournament. Ballard lived up to its ranking, quickly going on a scoring spree that was topped off by a 2-run home run that cleared the fence. The Beavers led by a score of 10-0 after 3 innings,
But the Wildcats, whose team motto “Boogie with a Suitcase” captures their irrepressible spirit, never gave up. Coach Kyler Tsukada urged the girls to keep their energy up, forget about the score, and just work on getting one run at a time. The Wildcats broke through with 3 runs in the fifth inning, powered by a triple from Molly Lefkowitz.
The girls kept it going in the 7th inning, putting together a fierce rally, including a double by Julia Herron. But the Wildcats came up short, losing by a score of 11-6.
Pitcher Daeja Piggee went the distance for the Wildcats, bouncing back after being hit by a fastball pitch to the ankle.
After the game, Coach Kyler praised the team for their competitive drive and for showing that they can hang with any team they come up against. The team’s next game is on Friday at 1:30 pm versus Seattle Prep at NCSWAC.
(File photo, past Mini-Cheer Camp)
West Seattle High School‘s cheer team is offering a mini-camp later this month – and signups are open now! Here’s the announcement we were asked to share with you:
West Seattle High School Co-Ed Cheer Team is hosting a Mini Cheer Camp for ages K-6th Grade!
Are you ready to cheer your heart out? Join the WSHS Cheerleaders for a fun-filled day at our Mini Cheer Camp on May 31st, 2025, from 10 AM to 1 PM at the West Seattle High School Gym for ages K-6!
What’s in Store?
Fun Cheers & Crafts: Learn exciting cheers and create awesome crafts with our talented cheerleaders!
Swag Bag: Each camper will receive a stylish camp T-shirt and an official cheer hair bow.
Memorable Moments: Capture your cheerleading spirit with a picture alongside your favorite cheerleader!Cost: Only $70!
Registration Deadline: May 28, 2025 (to guarantee your T-shirt) Please click the link below to register. https://tinyurl.com/27b8a537
Spaces are limited, so don’t miss out! Register early to secure your spot in this exciting camp!
Questions? Contact Coach Nadine Nguyen at nmnguyen@seattleschools.org
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
This Wednesday, Seattle School Board directors will hold the third and final “community engagement” session in their new series.
The second was in West Seattle, this past Wednesday evening, in Denny International Middle School‘s library.
Two board members showed up – president Gina Topp, who represents West Seattle and most of South Park, and Evan Briggs (arriving a bit late), who represents Northwest Seattle. Both are in their first term.
They heard a long list of concerns. Topp said that was the intention – a “chance for us to hear from folks, what’s on your minds, potential questions,” adding that the board hopes to do this monthly. Asked how the feedback/information would be put to use, she said they’re taking notes so they can be referred to. “I know it’s a lot to come here” with everyone taking time out of busy lives, she acknowledged.
Much of the gathering was spent just going around the room giving everyone a chance to introduce themselves and explain what issue or concern had brought them to the meeting.
One of the first to introduce themselves was Topp’s predecessor on the board, Leslie Harris, who listed three areas about which she’s “extraordinarily concerned” – the budget, the district’s handling of waitlists, and the board’s decision to operate under “student-outcome-focused governance” (SOFG).
Three of the next four people were district or city employees. Then a Denny staff member, who said she was there because “safety is #1,” explaining that parents keep asking her “what is the game plan?” for safety.
And again, three of the next four were district employees; one said they were “here to see what engagement looks like.” Then a student and a parent who said it’s difficult to communicate with the district, “hard to reach the division you need to reach.”
A Roxhill Elementary parent listed the budget as a key concern and described the previous year – which included proposals to close schools to save money – as “a rough rollercoaster.”
A school nurse said she wanted to know how SOFG could work with equity. A fourth-grade teacher, with 30 years in that occupation, said she doesn’t have the support she needs to help her students become successful.
Student success was a parent’s concern, warning that the “quality of education has plummeted,” noting that her child isn’t being challenged, “he’s not learning anything,” he’s getting perfunctory coursework and no homework. “How is this getting our kids college ready?” she asked plaintively, saying she was frustrated “because I moved to the area for its good schools.”
She was followed by a teacher from Roosevelt HS who had a very specific, urgent concern, a project installing new A/V equipment but in the process throwing out whiteboards and bulletin boards that she said teachers desperately need and students like using. She said they’d tried to stop the contractors and were told they’d be happy not to toss the boards as long as they got direction from district managers, saying that they were “fine saving it, but you just have to tell ‘downtown’ to tell us.” (We don’t know whether this was resolved.)
Another parent declared that communication with the district “is terrible.”
Then a former teacher – herself an SPS graduate – talked about cuts she said would displace assistant principals, particularly at option schools, because of “how enrollment was managed” – the waitlist issue to which former board member Harris had referred earlier.
Next, a Gatewood Elementary PTA board member who said she came “because I care a lot … public education is the foundation of democracy and it seems like it’s crumbling everywhere.” But, she said, as a poster in the library reminded her, “Everything is hard before it’s easy.” Finally she added that she too had concerns about SOFG.
A shift back toward redlining was what concerned a parent who said her kids were in elementary and middle school. With boundaries moving that way over the past decade, she said, schools were suffering.
Anybody want to run for school board? asked longtime district watchdog Chris Jackins, offering his help, since it’s now “filing week” and four directors’ seats are up this year.
Another parent with elementary and middle schoolers expressed concern about too much screen use in schools.
Two Pathfinder K-8 parents followed, saying that the assistant principal cuts threatened to take away an AP who had done an amazing job in the wake of an administrative shakeup at the school. “We need to fight for our AP,” one said. “Schools are being starved of APs,” warned another.
A Highland Park Elementary parent wondered if money the district was allotting toward capital projects could instead be spent on operations. (Short answer: No.)
The around-the-room continued with a Seattle Times education reporter, a parent of a special-education student, another Pathfinder parent, a West Seattle HS family with a specific problem involving a teacher.
Another Denny employee, parent of an adult SPS alum, declared herself “tired of asking for fully funding public education.” She also wondered why the 300-student enrollment difference between Denny and Madison MS hadn’t yet resulted in boundary-redrawing. Instead, she said, the district continued to “fill portables … it feels racist.”
When the around-the-room ended, the hour-and-a-half meeting window was two-thirds over. (Topp and Briggs stayed past the scheduled end, though, talking with attendees.) Topp noted printouts on the tables with suggested questions, including one regarding the search for Superintendent Dr. Brent Jones’s successor. Attendees were split into two groups, one to talk with Topp, the other to talk with Briggs; that’s the group we stayed with.
She first addressed a question about the superintendent search, saying the search firm was chosen “beccause of robust community-engagement strategy … (they have a) very multi-pronged approach so they reach as many stakeholders as they can.” Asked about the hiring timeline, she said it’s an “awkward time because most have a job for next year,” so if they don’t find the perfect candidate, they might “settle for an interim for a year and then start again in fall.” But whichever they chose, she said they’ll have someone in place by the start of August.
They’ll be meeting with the search firm May 14, she said, stressing that she understands families’ frustration, as she has three kids in the district. It was pointed out that you can read chosen search firm HYA‘s full proposal in the April 9 meeting agenda (starting on page 84).
One parent suggested the new superintendent should not be “hellbent” on shoehorning every possible bit of technology into the schools: “I don’t want another technocrat.” Another parent agreed they didn’t want to “go too high-tech.” The big question would be, it was suggested, what’s the vision? An interim superintendent could come in and do a deep dive into that. Support for teachers is crucial, someone declared, saying teachers are being thrown into situations for which they have none.
The topic of SOFG came up again. Briggs said she wanted to offer “a little context, saying it came about because the board needed “a policy-governed framework,” and that while SOFG might not ultimately be The One, it hasn’t even been “effectively enacted” yet, so “nobody knows what it would look like if we were doing it well.”
So how are they assessing the outome? Many complaints about testing ensued. One teacher said that students “know these tests don’t matter” and don’t provide “meaningful data … you’re sending our money down the drain” to the materials providers. She suggested the community should run the schools, and that it would result in greatness: “The most important thing you as school-board members can do is advocate for the community.”
What does Briggs consider helpful to hear? she was asked. She said she truly doesn’t know “because it’s a truly broken system,” mainly because “public education in our country is broken,” so “what we’re asking of schools and people who work in schools is impossible.” She said she asks herself sometimes if there’s any point to her work because “how do you fix something that’s so fundamentally broken? All these desperate people (herself included) … we’re trying to put Band-Aids on this big gaping wound and maybe that’s all we can do right now.”
But in the meantime, the next superintendent must be hired. Briggs said she’s hoping for a “systems thinker” and some fresh ideas. Someone suggested, for example, that the district sell its SODO headquarters and have central staff work out of the many (school) buildings. Briggs also said there’s the opportunity to learn from history, via work like this.
The next attendee to speak was a student who asked about Native-focused curriculum, such as Since Time Immemorial. Briggs said implementation could be a “funding issue.”
So what about making the schools a little less tech-dependent? it was suggested again. Briggs said she would like to see that, but it’s not simply up to her. Maybe start a petition, she suggested, and get “a lot of people (to) sign on.” Yet, she cautioned, she also hears from people who are resigned to it – “this is just our new reality now.” The counter to that, though, could be separating the screens into a lab that students use part of the time, rather than having it be pervasive. There’s a lot of research supporting a reduction in tech dependency, a teacher offered, saying that’s how they were able to move toward attendance schedules geared toward age groups’ needs – citing research.
Not long after that, with the clock well past the advertised 7 pm end, the gathering was officially ended – though conversations continued.
WHAT’S NEXT: The third “engagement session” is at 5:30 pm Wednesday (May 7) at Daniel Bagley Elementary School‘s library, 7821 Stone Ave N.
If you’re up for a little online shopping this afternoon/evening, local businesses’ gift cards and more are still up for grabs in the online auction to benefit two nonprofit preschools, SouthWest Early Learning and the Refugee and Immigrant Family Center. The auction links are here; bidding continues until 10 pm tonight (Sunday, May 4).
It’s a winning season for one of our area’s newest high-school sports! We first mentioned West Seattle Water Polo – open to players from other schools too, not just WSHS – when players came to a meeting to ask then-School Board director Leslie Harris for district acceptance. This is now the team’s second season! Here’s the update we received, including two ways to support them – as a spectator and/or donor:
WSHS Girls Water Polo is having a winning season with a league record of 5-1, logging wins again Ingraham, Roosevelt, Shorecrest and Newport and is on pace to qualify for the Division 2 State Championship Tournament in Puyallup the third weekend in May. Sadly, the team had their first loss of the season in a heartbreakingly close 8-9 game against Mercer Island on Friday, April 25th at Medgar Evers Pool.
The team will host its first home game in West Seattle versus Bellevue at Colman Pool on (updated) May 9th at 6:20 pm. Bellevue will bring both varsity and JV teams, so there will be water polo to watch from 6:20-8 pm. This Friday, the varsity team will host Roosevelt at Medgar Evers at 8:50 pm and then on Saturday the JV squad will head down to Tacoma for a full-day tournament at Silas High School.
Earlier this year, the girls held a successful Tread-a-Thon fundraiser (thanks to all our supporters) and jumped right in to a busy season, consisting of 14 games, 3 one-day tournaments, and at least 1 multi-day tournament.
The team has set up an ongoing online auction with the goal of making the team more affordable. Supporters can join the auction to bid on gift cards donated by local businesses at: paybee.io/@wswaterpolo@3
Local businesses and organizations have again stepped up to donate auction items to help a local school – and now it’s your turn to pitch in by bidding! Here’s the announcement from Friends of Roxhill Elementary:
The entire West Seattle community is invited to bid in Friends of Roxhill Elementary’s online fundraising auction from now through Saturday, May 3 at 4:30 pm.
With our school facing reduced resources next year, our “Roxstar” students need support now more than ever. Thanks to many generous West Seattle businesses, every dollar raised goes directly back to help the students, teachers, and families who make up the Roxhill school community.
Items available for bidding include:
*Family outings to the zoo, aquarium, Museum of Flight, MoPOP, and more
*Birthday party packages + kids art/music classes and camps
*VIP tailgate + 4 tickets to UW Football opening day
*Sounders and Mariners single-game tickets or Junction FC and Rhodies season tickets!
*Romantic date nights + restaurant, bakery, and cafe gift certificates
*Practical services for your home and family
*Donation funds to support the Kings & Queens student empowerment club and new soccer goals for the playgroundBuy something you’re already planning to get or treat yourself. Every item supports local students!
Bid on items now. (Use the “Max Bid” feature for fast and easy bidding.)
Question about the auction? Email auction.fore@gmail.com.
(Salmon hats and a salmon song gave fry a festive send-off)
Story by Judy Pickens
Photos by John Sturtevant
Special to West Seattle Blog
Preschoolers from The Cove School in the Admiral District opened salmon-release season today on Fauntleroy Creek. Teachers brought the coho fry the 22 students had helped rear through the Salmon in the Schools program, and a like number of parents, grandparents, and others came to celebrate with the children. Volunteers with the Fauntleroy Watershed Council gave a hand to be sure the inch-long fish had a gentle entry into the water.
(Dennis Hinton has been helping students put fish in the creek for 15 years)
Twenty two seems to be the number this spring – 22 volunteers to staff 22 school releases on the schedule (a record number), plus an all-ages community release on Sunday, June 1, 1:00-3:00 pm at the big bridge in Fauntleroy Park. By then, nearly 800 students will have come and roughly 2,000 fry will have started their year-long stay in the creek.
(Young, elder, and in between hands released 134 healthy coho fry)
Since late March, fry released last spring have been leaving the creek as smolts for their two years in saltwater. Volunteers will continue to check net traps in the upper and lower creek twice daily through most of May. So far, they have documented 18 smolts headed for nearshore habitat in Fauntleroy Cove to fatten up before moving into open water.
Thanks for the tip. Seattle School Board members are hosting events around the city for general “community engagement,” not just linked to one specific issue or program, and the next one is at Denny International Middle School in West Seattle on Wednesday. All are welcome to attend in the library at Denny (2601 SW Kenyon) 5:30-7 pm Wednesday (April 30). The district hasn’t announced which School Board directors plan to attend – we’re checking – but you can count on this area’s elected representative Gina Topp, who currently serves as the board’s president.
With an 11-1 rout of Rainier Beach at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex on Friday night, the Chief Sealth International High School Seahawks became the Metro League’s 2A and Valley Division champs. CSIHS athletic director Ernest Policarpio forwarded info with photos, including the seniors who were celebrated at the game:
(L-R, seniors Luis Toledo Walls, Micah Policarpio, Marko Woelfle, Peter Sketchley, Teo Perala, Brady Murphy, Seth Clark, Rocco Batterson-Ecton)
Two big scoring bursts for the Seahawks: In the bottom of the second, Chief Sealth racked up five runs on three hits. Then they scored another five runs on six hits in the bottom of the third. Senior Teo Perala had three of those runs, four RBI total in the game:
Eleven hits and nine walks factored into the Sealth win, as well as starter Sam Popelka‘s six strikeouts plus four relievers’ strong performances. The Seahawks are now 13-7.
For the second time in less than a month, the West Seattle High School and Chief Sealth International High School boys’ soccer teams faced off last night, this time at Walt Hundley Playfield. And again last night, the Wildcats won. Final score was WSHS 3, CSIHS 2 (last month, West Seattle won 2-0). It was also Senior Night for graduating WSHS seniors:
(L-R: Hollis Johnson, Finn White, Cole Heinrichs., Collin Temme, Jacob Stevens, Kingston Darocy, Arjun Rajaratnam, Pa Njie. Photo by Brandon Faloona)
You can see photographer Brandon Faloona‘s game gallery here. WSHS is now 9-3, #2 in the Metro League, while Sealth is 5-9. The Wildcats have a 4 pm Monday game against Seattle Academy at Delridge Playfield; the Seahawks’ next local game is on Friday, 4:30 pm vs. Cleveland at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex.
Even if you’re not going to the Lafayette Elementary PTA‘s fundraising dinner and auction this Saturday, you can still give students a boost by bidding in the online auction, open now through Friday:
Lafayette’s Silent Auction is now live and open for bids through Friday. We have many great packages from local businesses, including Alki Bike & Board, Meeples Games, Fit4Mom, West Seattle Arcade, and more! You can browse our silent auction packages and place your bids here: lafpta2025.ggo.bid/bidding/package-browse
You can bid 24/7 through Friday!
Thanks for the tip. At day’s end, Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Brent Jones announced that Hope Perry is now the permanent principal of Chief Sealth International High School, after two and a half months in the interim role. She has been leading the school since previous principal Ray Garcia-Morales‘s arrest (and, later, resignation) in February. Here’s the heart of Dr. Jones’s brief announcement:
… Principal Perry was selected through a formal interview process that included participation of staff, students, parents, and community. What stood out to the Chief Sealth interview team was her vision for the school that is inclusive of what community named as priorities. Specifically, essential safety needs along with rigorous and supportive instruction and learning outcomes for Chief Sealth students.
We will be setting up opportunities for building staff, students, and families to meet with Principal Perry in her new role. …
According to her online resume, Perry taught special education in Colorado and Ohio before moving to Seattle; she became assistant principal in 2022.
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