West Seattle, Washington
04 Monday
(SSC photo: Dr. Monica Brown at right, greeting students at start of fall quarter)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The new president of South Seattle College (WSB sponsor), Dr. Monica Brown, is in her fourth month of leading West Seattle’s only higher-education institution.
But who’s counting? She is. When we sat down to talk recently, she cited the number of days she had been on the job, “and I have been counting.” (In a good way,)
This is her first college presidency, after several senior roles elsewhere, most recently senior vice president for student affairs at Montgomery College in the Washington, D.C., area, a job in which she was “primarily responsible for all things related to student services.” More of an “internal” role, she said, but with external support involved.
What hasn’t changed in her elevation to a presidency is the “focus on all things students’ success.” Working with her cabinet, she says, it’s important to have a sense of the community’s needs as well as students’ needs, though “these things are ever evolving.”
After more than 20 years at Montgomery College, she crossed the country to come work at South Seattle College. Why?
(Photo courtesy WSHS)
That’s a rehearsal photo from the next student production at West Seattle High School, opening tomorrow (Thursday, November 14), “Ophelia.” The student cast and crew are hoping you’ll be part of the audience during one of the performances. Here’s what it’s all about:
Ophelia
Book by By Jeff WanshelDirected by Allison Irvine, this play imagines a world where, rather than being relegated to an unceremonious offstage death, Ophelia takes center stage in the story of Shakespeare‘s most famous brooding prince. Join us for a night of swords, vengeful ghosts, and perhaps more than one person hiding in the curtains…
The show dates are November 14th, 15th, 16th and 20th, 21st, and 22nd at 7:30.
Here is the link to get tickets.
$10 adults and $5 students
The performance venue is the theater at WSHS (3000 California SW).
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Three weeks after Seattle Public Schools superintendent Dr. Brent Jones announced plans to close Sanislo Elementary and three other schools to save money, district reps came to Sanislo tonight for an info/Q&A session.
Parents and students around the room came for a fight, though the district reps on hand weren’t the decisionmakers (ultimately, that’s the School Board). They held signs like the one below to show their support for the Puget Ridge school and its staff. Principal Erika Ayer opened by talking a bit about the school’s history and traditions. But the night was largely short on specifics – talk of a “transition,” but not of how exactly it would work.
District chief of staff Bev Redmond filled in for the superintendent, who she said is sick. She said “he would tell you …. this is one of the hardest conversations to have with a (school community).” First came a presentation led by Dr. Marni Campbell (below right), the administrator overseeing the process, who said they’re in a “30-day period of public review” for the proposed closures. She insisted the district isn’t taking the closure/consolidation plan “lightly” but that it wants to ensure students have access to things they can’t do at a smaller school. The slide on the screen made lofty promises about “enhanced learning” and expanded “holistic support.”
Next, director of school operations Tyler Hamilton (above left) took the mic. Why is Sanislo one of the four schools targeted for closing? A slide carried three points: “Building condition and learning environment scores” was at the top of the list. Sanislo is in poor condition, Hamilton said, and its learning environment (“design of the building”) is “fair.” (Sanislo has a unique open design.) Also, “regional distribution of students” is a factor, and “which buildings in West Seattle make the most sense to use as schools.” He showed enrollment numbers from last month – 140 currently at Sanislo, 263 at Highland Park Elementary, with which it’s proposed to be merged. The grid he showed also looked at staffing, some of which would go down per student – one principal and a halftime assistant principal for the combined schools as opposed to two fulltime principals for the two schools, for example. A half-FTE librarian for the combined school – as opposed to half for each school.
Then came a slide selling the benefits of HPE – “a well-resourced, updated facility,” for example. They promised a “full continuum of special-education services.” Campbell said the hope is that the two schools would truly come together, even a merger of PTAs.
Next step: A hearing in December, she said, but while the closure isn’t yet a done deal, it’s important to think ahead to “what will we do, what could we do.” That led, about 20 minutes into the meeting, to the moderator for Q&A. They offered the chance for people to speak aloud or write their question on a card.
Ken was first at the mic. “This is a good school,” he declared, and then brought up Chicago’s unsuccessful bout with school closures. “Why are you closing Sanislo without evidence that it benefits students OR the budget?”
District chief operations officer Fred Podesta said they have a history of opening/closing buildings and they do know how it’ll affect the budget but they really want to invest in “schools that will be successful.” He claimed very few districts have schools with fewer than 300 students – while SPS “has 29.” “We think we can replicate what’s great” in creating these consolidated schools.
Another parent said her student will have less weekly access to arts and music, and that consolidation will mean less attention for the students already at Highland Park, so why is that better? Hamilton said Sanislo has extra music “purchased through a grant” and that’s not shown in the charts they’ve been circulating, so the situation may be better than it looks. Campbell said the teacher positions follow the students – not necessarily the same teachers, though.
The moderator then read written questions which again noted the lower per-capita staff numbers projected for the combined school, Hamilton said they’re “still working through the budget” to see what the actual plan would be. Another question again focused on the strain that will be placed at Highland Park. Campbell said that all the school administrators citywide involved with this “see the benefit of more students.” She claimed Highland Park’s principal Mary McDaniel had said it was getting harder year by year as the enrollment got smaller and smaller (some scoffing was heard in the crowd).
A parent of two Sanislo students broke into tears as she took the mic. “How can you guys guarantee that our kids aren’t going to bear the brunt of the (budget) fix – what are you guys going to give up?” The district is who broke the budget, not the kids, she said. “Do you have plans for busing the families who live super-far from Highland Park?” She said the staff makes this a special place and if the consolidation goes ahead, she wants to see them go with the kids.
Chris Carter, the district official who supervises principals in this region, and is their liaison with the central office. He said, like Redmond, he wanted to recognize “how hard” this is. “What does the transition look like? All the key stakeholders,” he said, talking about “building transition plans” for staff, students, families.
Ann, both a community member and the nurse at Sanislo and Roxhill, talked about the school sitting in the Longfellow Creek watershed, and being among the most linguistically diverse schools. Low-income children, children of color, benefit from being in these environmental spaces. Roxhill was moved from being next to the greenspace. Now Sanislo is being proposed for a move, and how does that affect social/emotional health? Campbell said that’s “definitely something to take under consideration.”
Back to cards – why aren’t the actual teachers following the kids, who will “lose contact with trusted teachers and staff.” Hamilton said, “We want the communities to be able to move together,” but they also have to honor labor agreements.” But “we want staff who want to move with the students to be able to do that.” But, he said, if enrollment keeps declining at individual schools, they have to make hard choices about what to let go, and this should reduce that.
A question read off a card was from a parent wondering if she’d be able to transfer her student to Louisa Boren STEM K-8. “That would happen during the open enrollment period,” replied Campbell. She added that they could have a “school-closure tiebreaker” to give some preference to families like that.
It was almost 7 pm by then; Redmond offered to extend it 15 minutes, as they had done at a similar meeting at Sacajawea.
The next questioner at the mic talked about her son getting extra reading help from a teacher, which she said might not be available at a larger school. She recalled that a lack of attention like that was a challenge during her school days. What are you going to do for kids not to get passed on when they don’t know the material?
Whatever transition happens, Campbell said, they’ll maintain the “caring relationships you’re talking about.”
Next at the mic, a Sanislo graduate, offering “more of a thought,” and breaking up – “This is personal to us – aside from learning, teachers, they were like our parents. They could scold us. My mom gave permission to anybody at this school to scold me.” She talked about Sanislo’s open layout, not “stuck behind four walls.” She wanted to know what opportunity people have to “raise money, get grants” to try to help with the budget problem rather than see the school “ripped away.”
What are you planning to do with the school and land if Sanislo does close? Podesta answered that, saying they’d keep the property in their inventory and “look for interim uses … as the city grows and grows it’s harder to find property” so they’d keep it, but hopefully make the greenspace available to the community. The building, though, might be torn down.
Note-card question: How does the superintendent justify accepting a raise when the district has a budget deficit? Redmond said “yes, the superintendent did receive a cost-of-living adjustment” – that drew laughter – “I won’t justify that, but” it was part of the “terms of his employment.” But, she said, “we have to hustle” to tell legislators “our schools deserve the maximum funding … we don’t want to be in a position like this.” She returned again to “It’s incredibly hard to have this conversation … I can see the love resonating in you … our next step to balance the budget is to head to Olympia.”
One more person had a turn with the mic, and impassioned words: “I’m not hearing any solution for our kids – where are our kids in this? I don’t want to lose all this for my daughter to be like a sardine.” Also, she wondered, where will the other $94 million budget savings be found. “How will you fix your mistakes by closing this school? You say this school is old … that’s your fault. … How do you say these things, with no solution? Sanislo has a lot of people behind it” – multiple generations of supporters. “You can make a family in a school – give us a solution – I’m pretty sure Highland Park already has enough work – I hope there is time … make a difference, make it work, for our kids.”
And with that, the meeting was a wrap – after the moderator was interrupted by the last speaker standing up again to say “Sanislo, we love you, we are a family.”
The next meeting will be November 25th, and they hope to have online access for that one as well as in-person.
This very moment brings the start of the Alki Elementary PTA‘s online auction, open to all. Here’s the announcement they asked us to share:
We are excited to have part of our silent auction online this year! Starting on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 9:00 am, everyone can bid on some exclusive items only available online for a few days. This portion of our auction will close Thursday, Nov. 14 at 8:00 pm. You do not need an ticket to our event to bid on the online portion!
This year we have amazing Billie Eilish concert tickets for the SOLD OUT show on 12/5 at Climate Pledge Arena and so many other wow items. Send the auction link to everyone you know so they can help support our school.
Alki Elementary is in its second of three years at the former Schmitz Park Elementary campus while a new school is being built at its site.
Another local high-school team that made it to state is celebrating its success – thanks to the reader who sent this report on the Chief Sealth International High School cross country girls’ results:
Congratulations to Chief Sealth IHS junior Federica Dilley on finishing 7th at the 2A State Cross Country Championship on Saturday in Pasco! Dilley covered the 5k course in a time of 18:59 and led the Seahawks to an 11th-place team finish.
(Pictured: CSIHS junior Federica Dilley (red) receiving her award after earning first team All-State)
(Pictured: The CSIHS girls’ XC team after placing 11th at the 2A State Championship)
Full results from the 2024 WIAA Cross Country State Championships are available here.
Story and photos by Tracy Burrows
Special to West Seattle Blog
The West Seattle High School Wildcats volleyball team faced a strong Seattle Prep squad in last night’s Metro League championship game in the Chief Sealth International High School gym. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t the Wildcats’ night. Prep’s power and shot placement propelled them to a 3-0 win over West Seattle.
In their semifinal match earlier in the day, West Seattle cruised past the Bishop Blanchet Bears, never trailing in any set on their way to a 3-0 win. The team played cohesively against a talented Blanchet team, with Janie McCanna and Sadie Miller notching an impressive number of kills. The individual set scores were 25-12, 25-19, and 25-8.
Next week, West Seattle (15-4) will head to the 3A District Tournament as the #2 Metro seed. Head coach Scott Behrbaum expressed satisfaction with the team’s successful season and is gearing up for the team to take the next step forward. “We’re proud of being the best public school in the Metro League and we’re going into Districts with a clean slate, knowing that we can compete with anyone.”
Story and photos by Tracy Burrows
Special to West Seattle Blog
For the first time since 1974, the Chief Sealth Seahawks have won the Class 2A District 2 volleyball championship. In a thrilling championship match, the Seahawks defeated the Nathan Hale Raiders, 3-0.
The first two sets of the match at Foster HS in Tukwila were both nailbiters, as the lead seesawed. Sealth pulled out wins in both by scores of 25-23 and 25-18.
Nathan Hale started the third set determined to extend the match, charging out to an early 8-point lead. But the Sealth girls hung tough and, on the verge of defeat, they reeled off seven straight points to win the deciding game by a score to 25-23.
After the match, an elated Chief Sealth head coach Lorraine Toilolo referred to the sweetness of breaking Sealth’s 50-year drought since their last District Championship. “It’s been a long time coming. We’ve worked hard and we’re headed to the State Tournament!” The Class 2A State Tournament will be held at the Yakima Valley SunDome next Friday and Saturday (November 15-16).
The state cross country championships are happening today in Pasco. We’ve already reported on runners from our area’s two biggest high schools who qualified – and there’s one more group of West Seattle runners participating, proud parent Beth Martin points out:
O’Dea High School cross country is also at state, qualifying as a team for the first time in 25 years. Five of the seven running today live in West Seattle: Ryan Berta, Maddox Fox, Maks Karman, Isaac Lewis, and Will Martin.
Good luck to all!
At Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex tonight, coach Anthony Stordahl and the West Seattle High School Wildcats ended the football season with a win, 23-20 over Ballard. WSHS ended the season with a winning record – 6-5.
Story and photos by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
History was made tonight as the Chief Sealth International High School girls’ soccer team qualified for the state tournament for the first time in school history.
The Seahawks won their WIAA playoff game against the Lindbergh Eagles at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex in dramatic fashion, on penalty kicks after the two teams played to a hard-fought 2-2 draw at the end of regulation plus a scoreless extra period.
Next up for the 2A Metro League champions from Sealth, who are now 11-3-4 for the season, is a tough road match against the Cedarcrest High School Red Wolves at their home turf in Duvall on Saturday November 8th at 1 pm. This is the final game of districts, and both teams have already qualified for the state tournament which runs November 12-23 at Mt. Tahoma High School.
Proud coach Michael Rillo (at center in the photo below), in his 6th year at Sealth, was emotional after the game and said the team “played their hearts out” to reach “something this school has never achieved.”
The match on Wednesday night was a back-and-forth contest, with Sealth striking first about 10 minutes into the first half on a goal by sophomore Leslie Nunez Castro.
Lindbergh answered with a goal 27 minutes into the half, then Sealth senior Emma Haynes knocked in a goal of her own in the final minutes of the half, and the Seahawks led 2-1 at halftime.
Lindbergh tied the game 2-2 on a goal 25 minutes into the second half, and the score remained 2-2 at the end of regulation.
The teams battled in the overtime period and the score remained 2-2. The match then went to penalty kicks:
Each team then made all 5 initial kicks, so the PKs continued with each team making every shot until Sealth sophomore goalie Davis Mapes stopped Lindbergh’s 12th kick, and then the Seahawks’ Nunez Castro knocked in her kick to win the game.
More photos below:
As previously reported, Sanislo Elementary is one of four elementary schools around the city that Seattle Public Schools is proposing to close to save money. One week ago, we covered a community-organized meeting on the Sanislo playground to talk about families’ desire to fight the closure. The final vote wouldn’t be until early next year, with the closure to take effect starting next school year – Sanislo students, and some of its staff, would be merged into Highland Park Elementary. So what happens in the meantime? First, a meeting for Sanislo families, next Tuesday (November 12), 6 pm at the school (1812 SW Myrtle). The announcement sent by principal Erika Ayer underscores that this meeting is intended for the Sanislo community, and that the formal “hearing” would be in December.
(#23 Olivia LaForest boots a shot on goal)
Story and photos by Tracy Burrows
Special to West Seattle Blog
Tonight, the Chief Sealth International High School girls’ soccer team took on the Sultan Turks in Division 2A postseason play.
It was a cold, crisp night at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex. For the first half,
the Sealth girls dominated the time of possession and fired off several promising shots on goal. The Sultan goalie stood strong until, with under 5 minutes to play in the half, freshman Olivia LaForest rocketed a shot off the goalie and then punched in the rebound. The Sealth Seahawks led 1-0 at half-time. The home team pulled away in the second half as Sultan could not keep pace with the athleticism and superior footwork of the Seahawks.
(Head coach Mike Rillo with three-goal Riley Yip)
Senior Riley Yip repeatedly broke through the Sultan defense on the way to scoring 3 unanswered goals. Final score: Sealth 4-0 over Sultan. Sealth’s next game is at (updated) 5 pm on Wednesday night at NCSWAC against Lindbergh. The winner of Wednesday night’s game is guaranteed a slot in the State tournament.
The West Seattle High School PTSA invites you to a showcase of student talent at its fall fundraiser in a week and a half, launching this year’s “direct give” drive. Along with buying tickets, there are three other ways to help, per the PTSA’s announcement:
Celebrate WSHS at the PTSA Fall Fundraiser
Join Us for a Showcase of Student Talent
Friday, November 15, WSHS Commons, 5–7 pm, $20 TicketsWe’re kicking off our Direct Give donation drive with a “happy hour” celebration of West Seattle High! Explore student art, music, and drama. Your ticket includes appetizers prepared by our culinary arts students and one mocktail. Come celebrate, while raising money to fund grant requests from staff and students. Bid on generously donated auction items and raise your paddle for our school!
Donations Needed: Please consider a donation for our auction.
Sponsor This Event: Check out our sponsorship packages.
Volunteers Needed: Sign up here for set-up, clean-up, and everything in between.
Can’t Make the Party? Make a gift directly on the PTSA website.
The PTSA’s other fundraising events include the West Seattle 5K – save the date for that, May 18, 2025!
If you’re shopping for a middle school for next year, you’ll want to go to Greater West Seattle Middle School information Night tomorrow (Monday, November 4). 6 pm to 7:15 pm in the Our Lady of Guadalupe gym (35th/Myrtle), you’ll find reps from schools including Explorer West MS (WSB sponsor), Harbor School (Vashon Island), Holy Family Bilingual, Holy Rosary, Hope Lutheran (WSB sponsor), Lake Washington Girls, McMurray MS (Vashon Island), Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Bernadette, Summit Atlas, and Westside School (WSB sponsor). You can RSVP by going here.
Cross country continues to be a success story in fall sports for both of our area’s largest high schools. Today we have updates from Chief Sealth International High School:
Congratulations to Chief Sealth International High School’s girls’ cross country team for winning the 2A Sea-King District Championship this week at Lower Woodland! Runners Federica Dilley, Doe Doe, Elena Latterell, and Casey Greger also earned all-district honors in the race. The win advances the team to the WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco on November 9th! It will mark the first return to State for the Chief Sealth girls XC team since their 1975 state championship-winning run.
(Pictured: Chief Sealth’s girls state XC qualifiers Federica Dilley, Doe Doe, Elena Latterell, Casey Greger, Paige Dempsey, Satomi Giedeman and Abby Peloza with Coaches Miguel Bautista and Charlie McDonald)
Additional congratulations to the Chief Sealth boys XC team, who finished fourth in the race (one spot out of team-qualifying) and had three runners advance to State as individuals: Remy Wittman (all-district), Cole Peloza, and Forest Andrews-Wehling. They will be the first boys XC runners from Chief Sealth to compete at State since 1987.
(Pictured: Chief Sealth’s boys state XC qualifiers Forest Andrews-Wehling, Remy Wittman and Cole Peloza)
See the full district championship race results here.
Thanks to Barry White for the report and photos from a historic achievement for West Seattle High School‘s cross country runners:
It was a great day at the Sea-King 3A District Championships on Thursday for the West Seattle HS XC runners and Head Coach Shelley Neal. This was the first time in program history that a full boys’ and girls’ team qualified for Districts at the same time.
Congrats to Aran Connolly, Lukas Doig, Clara Peak, and Daisy Pierson, who qualified individually for the WIAA State XC Championship next weekend in Pasco. Doig, Peak, and Pierson all ran PRs on the tough Lower Woodland course. The boys’ and girls; teams both finished 10th overall.
Our two Unified team runners, Elliott Weinmann and Garrison Etheridge, also qualified for State. They and their running partners Liam Baier and Ryan Wade will compete in the first-ever State Unified XC race in Pasco on 11/9 at 2:00 PM.
Meet The Bridge School Cooperative Elementary, a returning WSB sponsor. Here’s what The Bridge School would like you to know about what they do:
The Bridge School Cooperative Elementary is a small, independent K-5 school located in White Center. Find us on social media to see what our community is up to these days, and read on to learn what we’re all about!
What We Teach & How
Our curriculum is designed to support students as learners exactly where they’re at academically, while prioritizing relationships and social-emotional learning. Classroom teachers have over a decade of teaching experience and use multi-age classes and hands-on learning to excite young learners. With specialized instructors, nature and the arts take center stage with our Outdoor Education and Creative Enrichment programs. Students spend one day a week learning outdoors and have ample time exploring visual arts, music, and theater.
What Makes Our Cooperative School Different
There’s no one way to do co-op at The Bridge School! Families are welcomed into all aspects of the school, from working as teaching assistants in classrooms, to accompanying young naturalists on outdoor days, to leadership and governance. Participation looks different for everyone, as families’ contributions are tailored to fit their availability and skills. For all, however, it’s the shared values of community and support that make The Bridge School a school home for students and adults alike.
Spaces Available for This Year
Are you considering a school change for 24-25? Our small class sizes and focus on meeting each student where they’re at allow us to ease the transition for students joining throughout the year. The community of teachers, students and families welcome each new student with open arms. Our Monday Outdoor Ed and Friday Arts enrichment are also open to homeschooling families. Contact Amanda amanda@bridgeschoolcoop.org for more details about mid-year enrollment.
Come Get to Know Us
All are welcome at our upcoming Open Houses Saturday, November 16th and December 7th 10 am-12 noon. Children are welcome to explore our classrooms and playground and light refreshments will be served. Teachers, current families, and Head of School will be on hand to answer questions and show you around.
How You Can Support the Mission of The Bridge School
We’re so glad you asked! Consider purchasing your holiday wreaths through our Holiday Greenery Sale (open until Nov. 11) and save the date for our annual auction February 1, 2025 – it’ll be a circus-themed good time with performers, games, and unique auction items!
Community members are also welcome to reach out about partnering with The Bridge School. We love to take learning outside the classroom, so if you’re with a small business or non-profit that would like to engage elementary students for community service or learning opportunities, please reach out.
The Bridge School is at 10300 28th SW; here’s how to reach them.
If the season has your family in school-shopping mode, you might be interested in an open house coming up Saturday. Independent West Seattle K-5 Tilden School (WSB sponsor) is opening the doors on Saturday afternoon, 1-3 pm, for prospective families to come visit. Tilden is just north of The Junction, co-housed with, but not affiliated, with First Lutheran Church of West Seattle (4105 California SW). You can RSVP for the open house by going here.
(Seattle Public Schools photo)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The word “devastated” came up repeatedly when more than 50 people gathered tonight outside Sanislo Elementary to talk about Seattle Public Schools‘ proposal to close it.
The community-organized gathering – whose leaders asked that video not be taken – was a chance for parents, teachers, neighbors, and students to talk directly to school board director Gina Topp about how they feel, as well as, as an organizer put it, a chance for their voices to be heard in the process, where they had not been heard previously.
They told their stories about what the school is like for them and their kids. Every student is known, every student is greeted, every student is understood, many participants explained. The school has 145 students, according to district data, and is proposed to be merged into Highland Park Elementary, with 276, for a combined population of 421,
It was a diverse crowd – including an immigrant parent who said that after coming to this country “looking for something better,” she discovered a school that was “like a family – received us with open arms.” She also appreciated that Sanislo is a “multicultural school.” The school is 78 percent BIPOC, 74 percent low income. Its staff is diverse too; one of the bilingual teachers who attended the meeting has been at Sanislo for 35 years.
Some of the participating parents have or had multiple children there. More than one expressed sadness that if the closure plan for next year and beyond goes through, their younger children won’t be able to attend the same school as their siblings. One mom was a Sanislo alum herself.
Topp said she was mostly there to listen. Both she and a union rep stressed that there’s not much information yet about how this will all play out – except that the board’s final vote is due in January, after a round of hearings at the four elementaries around the city, including Sanislo, that are proposed for closure. She said she didn’t know yet how she would vote on it. But she stressed that the district’s $94 million budget gap has to be closed somehow – and that the overarching issue is the need for more state funding to fully cover the cost of education.
But that big issue is hard to get your arms around when what you see is a plan to close your child’s school. Some of the staff will be able to move with the students, but not all: “Our librarian dressed up as Mary Poppins yesterday,” recounted one attendee. “She can’t go to Highland Park because it will be kept as a half-time position there,” and that position already is filled. The uncertainty of staffers’ fate “compounds the situation,” one attendee observed.
Some attendees were angry at the injustice they see in the closure plan. One pointed out that eastern West Seattle already has seen other school communities disrupted in recent years – Roxhill Elementary and Cooper Elementary, for two.
Organizers assembled fact sheets, including a refutation of what they say some school-board directors claimed, that Sanislo has a high educational cost per student. Larger West Seattle Elementary, for example, costs only $333 less per year per student. The fact sheet also notes that the “well-resourced school” to which Sanislo students would be moved isn’t necessarily going to be more “well-resourced” than their current school once its population balloons – they say it’ll mean “less time in the library and less specialist time in Art and Music.” Some students who live north of Sanislo will be bused more than two miles to Highland Park, though they are less than half a mile from Boren STEM K-8
Other arguments organizers are making to try to save Sanislo: “Highland Park and Sanislo will BOTH be needed as neighborhood schools to keep up with population increase. By closing Sanislo, Highland Park will be the only neighborhood school for all of Delridge, which has a population of 32,044.” They contend it should be rebuilt rather than closed.
What about the Sanislo building being in bad shape? That’s the district’s fault, organizers contend, neglecting to invest in building improveents for many years: “The building’s disrepair is the result of the District’s neglect, hich now students are paying for.” But the school has an incredible asset in their “green space and city-protected wetlands.”
The fact sheet ends with a plea to “keep Sanislo open.”
Early in the meeting, one participant described Sanislo as a “little sanctuary.” Asked how best to have a say in its fate, Topp replied, “Talk to me, talk to other board directors,” and help them figure out how to fix the budget long-term. “We need everyone heading in the same direction to make our education system work.” (You can reach her, for starters, at gktopp@seattleschools.org.)
The Chief Sealth International High School PTSA has a reminder this morning:
Last chance to get your tickets for Soaring with Sealth, the Chief Sealth IHS Annual Fundraising Dinner and Auction. We’re raising money to support the PTSA, Performing Arts, and Athletics. Please join us for an evening of fun at the Brockey Center on Saturday, November 9, 2024 at 5:30 pm. Get your tickets at this link by October 31st.
So, just one day to go. The venue, Brockey Center, is at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor).
One of our newer WSB sponsors, The Downtown School, is having its next fall open house this Saturday. New sponsors get to tell you about themselves – here’s what The Downtown School wants you to know:
“I had never considered private school before and I feel like I hit the lottery for having found this school for my kids.” – Current parent
Founded in 2018 by Lakeside School, The Downtown School is an independent high school located near Seattle Center — one that is unlike any other in Seattle. With a maximum enrollment of 160 and a tuition half that of most local independent schools, The Downtown School offers students an applied education that empowers them to thrive at the intersection of academic rigor and learning with purpose. With the city as our campus, every day is an opportunity for students to explore their independence, to learn, and to lead. Whether visiting the U.S. District Court for their history class, building miniature theater sets for their English class, or directing one of our many student-led clubs, students at The Downtown School are innovative problem solvers, courageous and empathetic leaders, and curious thinkers.
This is not a one-size-fits-all education.
The central focus of The Downtown School is the academic experience. Our students are scholars. They think critically, ask questions, innovate, and iterate. Our curriculum promotes inquiry because we believe that grappling with complex problems teaches students to navigate life’s ambiguities and challenges from multiple perspectives. During the day, students take three 75-minute classes with two 45-minute community periods for advisory, clubs, assembly, and lunch. With an ending time of 2:15 p.m., The Downtown School allows our students the flexibility after school to pursue club, select, and public-school sports; music; sailing; dance; service work; volunteering; and robotics. Many of our students perform at the national level in these extracurricular pursuits.
Graduates from The Downtown School have pursued a range of paths after high school. Our graduates have been accepted into over 180 colleges and universities around the world, and alumni leave The Downtown School with a sense of agency, the courage to ask big questions, and the independence to explore the world freely and with confidence.
The Downtown School is at 160 John St., Seattle, 98109, reachable by phone at 206-717-2849, or by email at admissions@downtownschoolseattle.org. Saturday’s open house is 9 am-11 am.
Chief Sealth IHS teacher Andy Tuller is a faculty adviser to the school’s new bike club, which is looking for donations:
(Photo courtesy Andy Tuller)
Bike Club’s purpose is to promote a love for cycling, foster a sense of community, and encourage healthy, active lifestyles among students. Our club provides a welcoming environment for all bike enthusiasts, from beginners to experienced riders, to connect, share knowledge, and embark on exciting cycling adventures. We are seeking donations from the West Seattle community of used bikes. We will be working in conjunction with a local bike non-profit to teach students to repair bikes. Students who participate in the club and who demonstrate proficiency in safe urban-riding skills can earn a bike to keep. If there are any West Seattle residents who have a bike that they no longer need, we request that they donate it to the club, and we will ensure that it finds a new home with a deserving student. West Seattlites can reach me at artuller@seattleschools.org and I can arrange a time to come pick up their donation. Thank you!
That’s some of what West Seattle/South Park’s Seattle Public Schools board director Gina Topp told those gathered at High Point Library this morning for her first community-conversation meeting since the district’s school-closure announcement last Thursday; West Seattle’s Sanislo Elementary is one of four schools the district wants to close, combining it with Highland Park Elementary. We counted 20 people at her meeting, which will be followed up by a gathering at Sanislo later this week.
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