(Photo courtesy Eric)
It is a stirring first-day-of-school tradition at Schmitz Park Elementary – a flag ceremony that includes members of the school’s namesake family, who donated the land on which it was built as well as forested Schmitz Preserve Park nearby, and other West Seattle treasures.

(Photo courtesy Sean)
This year, not only did the family present a new flag, but there’s also a new plaque on the flagpole, presented by descendants of Ferdinand and Emma Schmitz.

(Photo by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
Here’s the text, shared by Vicki Schmitz Block:

In honor of Alan F. Schmitz, a new flag is presented to Schmitz Park School by the Schmitz Family.

Alan F. Schmitz (1934 – 2012) attended the opening day/flag raising ceremony at Schmitz Park School for over 30 years, representing the Schmitz Family, who donated the land for this school.

This tradition began in 1962 when the school building opened. At that first opening-day ceremony, Alan’s father, Dietrich G. Schmitz (1890-1970), participated for the Schmitz family and for many years thereafter.

Today, Alan’s son Dietrich Schmitz continues this wonderful and historic tradition, providing a link between West Seattle’s rich history and today’s children at Schmitz Park School.

(Added 11:43 am) Here’s Dietrich Schmitz at this morning’s ceremony with SP principal Gerrit Kischner:

(Photo courtesy Sean)
P.S. We’re continuing to receive WSB readers’ back-to-school photos from all over West Seattle – editor@westseattleblog.com – and will be assembling a gallery later today. Thanks!

ADDED 8:48 PM: Clay Eals from the Southwest Seattle Historical Society also was there this morning, and has published comprehensive coverage – including video of Dietrich Schmitz’s speech – on the SWSHS website. You can see it all here.

West Seattle’s city-run community centers are home to many more programs than you might realize – including preschools! One of them, Bright Beginnings at Hiawatha Community Center in the Admiral District, is still accepting students for the coming school year – read on for the announcement:

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At right, that’s new Lafayette Elementary principal Robert Gallagher, one of the half-dozen new principals leading West Seattle public schools as classes begin tomorrow. Assistant principal Karmen Nordhougen was with him, making the rounds of the playground, at tonight’s Night Before School Barbecue.

Other schools might have barbecues too, but this was the first time we’d ever seen one with live music from the West Seattle Big Band:

This year’s enrollment stats won’t be available for a while, but for the past few years, Lafayette has been West Seattle’s most populous elementary school, with about 550 students listed as the official 2012 enrollment. P.S. If you missed it, we interviewed new principal Gallagher earlier this year, after his appointment was announced.

(Scroll down for latest updates – contract ratified; reaction coming in …)

ORIGINAL REPORT, 7:36 PM: We’re watching news from the Seattle Education Association membership meeting downtown and will update here as it comes in. They’ve just updated via Facebook/Twitter that “Debate on the certificated staff contract has started” as of a few minutes ago – that means the teachers. Two smaller workgroups’ contracts were approved, according to SEA, by voice vote. Updates to come – and we’re embedding the union (and other key sources’) tweets here so you can follow along.

(Refresh the WSB home page to make sure you’re seeing the newest tweets.)

8:04 PM UPDATE: As you can see in the tweetstream above, the union says all contracts have been ratified. (Post-vote tweets continue, as the stream remains “live.”)

8:14 PM: Quick statement e-mailed to news media by district Superintendent José Banda:

I want to thank everyone involved for their hard work and dedication in negotiating this agreement. I appreciate each and every one of our staff members, whose work contributes to the academic success of our students. All of us at Seattle Public Schools look forward to welcoming our students and families to a new school year tomorrow.

With fall and the new school year arriving, Seattle Public Schools‘ board is scheduled to make major decisions soon about “growth boundaries,” including the future of some West Seattle schools. As reported here a month ago, West Seattle’s STEM elementary – about to start its second year – is hoping to either stay at the Boren building on Delridge Way and grow to a K-8, or move into Fairmount Park Elementary, which is being expanded prior to reopening next year. Back in May, though, the district proposed moving K-5 STEM onto the current Schmitz Park Elementary site after it’s vacated upon completion of the new school at Genesee Hill in 2016. STEM has been marshaling community support, and is getting it in a letter being sent today by the North Delridge Neighborhood Council, backing the suggestion to stay at Boren. Co-chairs Parie Hines and Kirsten Smith write, in part:

Delridge as a neighborhood has felt the negative effects of having the Boren school used as a transitional and temporary school for many long years. It has been a pleasure to see the students, parents, and staff of the STEM school begin to “take ownership” of the building

Read the entire letter here:

NDNC letter supporting keeping K-5 STEM at Boren

(If you can’t see the document, try it here on our server as a PDF.) The school board’s decision is due later this fall; before then, the district plans a series of community meetings detailed here, one of which is in West Seattle – 6:30 pm September 25th at West Seattle High School. Comments are being accepted before (and after) that meeting via e-mail: GrowthBoundaries@seattleschools.org.

West Seattle’s two most populous elementary schools have evening events this week to which the community’s invited – both out on the playground!

LAFAYETTE BARBECUE: The Tuesday night party at Lafayette Elementary‘s playground just got bigger, according to PTA president Sean Reynolds:

The Lafayette Night Before School BBQ is an event open to the community – we welcome all those who attend, surround and support Lafayette Elementary.

We will be joined this year by the West Seattle Big Band – – starting at 5 pm on the playground.

Hot dogs, chips and drinks provided – as well as some dessert treats, too.

The playground’s on the west side of the school, which is at California/Lander.

SCHMITZ PARK OUTDOOR MOVIE: Friday night, Schmitz Park Elementary‘s PTA invites you to come see “Epic” on a big screen set up on the SP playground. Gate opens 6:15 pm, movie at dusk (around 7:30 pm), $3/person (kids 3 and under are free), pizza and snacks/drinks will be sold ($2 or less). “It is open to the community and supports the 4th-grade outdoor-education experience at Islandwood,” says Christine Morrell, PTA fundraising chair. The playground’s on the northeast side of the school, which is at 50th/Spokane.

7:10 AM: Per a statement sent to news media by Seattle Public Schools superintendent José Banda, negotiators for the district and its teachers union reached a tentative deal very early this morning:

I want to express my thanks to the Seattle Education Association and Seattle Public Schools bargaining teams for their efforts to craft a tentative contract agreement for the 2013-14 school year.

All of us at Seattle Public Schools value the contributions, skills and dedication that our educators bring to Seattle Public Schools every day, and their commitment to our students’ success.

SEA has informed us that the membership will vote on the tentative agreement on Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 4:30 pm.

We look forward to having an approved agreement and a successful start to the 2013 school year.

The Seattle Education Association‘s Facebook page says the agreement was reached at 12:18 am.

8:32 AM: For those who are asking – we are continuing to comb the Web, including Facebook/Twitter, and still haven’t found details of the deal – BUT SPS has just answered the question posed by a sharp-eyed commenter who wondered about the superintendent’s mention of only this school year: It’s a TWO-YEAR contract proposal, according to spokesperson Teresa Wippel. Also a point of discussion – the Tuesday afternoon union meeting is a date/time already set days ago, as we had previously noted here.

9:36 AM: West Seattle’s school-board rep Marty McLaren has sent e-mail to her public list making note of the agreement:

… The details will first be presented to the teachers, who are set to vote on it Tuesday. With the recommendation of union leaders to accept the agreement, I am optimistic that it will be ratified, and that YOUR CHILDREN CAN GO BACK TO SCHOOL ON WEDNESDAY AND OUR TEACHERS WILL BE EAGERLY AWAITING THEM!!!!! I’m incredibly grateful to, and proud of, all the people who participated in leading us to this agreement. More details will be coming, after the information is shared with our teachers. …

5:54 PM: If Seattle Public Schools don’t open on time because the district and its teachers’ union haven’t reached a contract agreement, the city will offer a drop-in program at most of its community centers, for children who qualify for free and reduced-price lunches. Go here to read the full text of that announcement made this afternoon; the program would start on Thursday of next week and run at least through Friday, September 13th, unless school started before that date. The announcement says all of this area’s centers would offer the program – Alki, Delridge, Hiawatha, High Point, and South Park, along with 15 others around the city. Interested families who qualify would need to register starting this weekend – the announcement explains how.

P.S. No new updates in the teacher-contract situation so far; negotiations continued again today, according to the union’s Facebook page.

10:30 PM UPDATE: The union says there’s no agreement yet and that they’ll go into mediation tomorrow.

4:10 PM: One demonstrator carries an umbrella along with his picket sign in the Seattle Education Association – mostly Seattle Public Schools teachers, but some other staffers are included – picketing that’s under way right now at 35th and Fauntleroy. Picketers at all four corners totaled more than two dozen when we stopped by a short time ago. They’re scheduled to be there until 6 pm, as a show of support for their union’s ongoing negotiations with the district; their contract expires on Saturday, and they voted earlier this week to reject the latest offer. Their next vote is scheduled for Tuesday, the night before the scheduled start of classes, and the district has already warned families to have a backup plan in case school is delayed – although there has NOT been a strike vote so far. This, by the way, is one of four spots around the city where teachers are demonstrating this afternoon.

6:31 PM: Via Facebook, teacher Misty asked to share this message: “I would like to take a moment to thank all of the people who nodded, smiled, waved, and honked their horns today as they were driving by. We felt very honored by their show of support. It was appreciated.”

Two more West Seattle schools are sharing reminders of pre-school-year events for their students/staff/families – both of these are happening tonight:

PATHFINDER K-8: 5-7:30 pm tonight is the back-to-school barbecue, with “hot dogs, watermelon, chips, and Pathfinder fun,” according to PTSA vice president Michael Schweers. The unveiling and dedication of the mosaic sign will happen, too, along with appreciation for “all the volunteers who made it happen,” he adds. (1901 SW Genesee)

GATEWOOD ELEMENTARY: Tonight is meet-and-greet night, in these groups and times:

*K/1 5:30-6:15pm
*2/3 6:00-6:45pm
*4/5 6:30-7:15pm

Says the announcement: “This is a great opportunity to come and meet your teacher, see the classroom and reconnect with returning Gatewood families.” (4320 SW Myrtle)

Even with the uncertainty (see our previous story), preparations for the start of school continue – and for those going to Sanislo Elementary this year, we were asked to share this announcement for tomorrow evening:

Sanislo Kindergarten Orientation will be at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, August 28th ! It will be followed by an All-School Ice Cream Social at 6:30 pm, put on by our PTA! Class lists will be posted that evening.

Sanislo is one of a half-dozen West Seattle public schools starting the new year with a new principal; as announced in April, Bruce Rhodes succeeds Ernie Seevers, who retired after a career that wrapped up with four years leading Sanislo.

5:16 PM: With one week until the scheduled start of classes, Seattle Public Schools is formally warning families that school might not start on time. The district has just started sending robocalls and e-mails telling families to have a backup plan just in case its lack of a contract with the Seattle Education Association delays the first day of school. As noted here last night, union members voted Monday to reject the newest offer and are not scheduled to meet again until next Tuesday.

ADDED 6:10 PM: SEA says it will have informational pickets this Thursday, 3-6 pm, at spots including Fauntleroy and 35th SW here in West Seattle. Meantime, read on for the full text of the e-mail sent to SPS families:

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With less than a week and a half until Seattle Public Schools students are due to return to school, the district and its teachers have yet to reach agreement on a replacement for the contract that expires Saturday (August 31st). Members of the union representing teachers and some other employee groups, the Seattle Education Association, voted “nearly unanimously” against the latest proposal this afternoon, according to an update on the union’s Facebook page. It should be noted, that was NOT a strike vote – the union says they voted “to return to bargaining.” The district listed details of its offer on its website three days ago; tonight, in a statement acknowledging the union’s rejection vote, Superintendent José Banda said, “While we are disappointed that members of the Seattle Education Association did not approve our proposal, we are hopeful that we will reach an agreement that is in the best interests of students prior to the start of school.”

Aida Fraser-Hammer is one of six new Seattle Public Schools principals in West Seattle for the school year that starts a week from Wednesday – in charge of our area’s most populous school, Chief Sealth International High School. Her leadership team includes two new assistant principals, joining Andra Maughan, who moved to Sealth from West Seattle High School last year: Clint Sallee from Baltimore and Cheryl Sullivan comes to us from Arizona. Fraser-Hammer previously worked in the Kent School District, as noted when her appointment was announced almost two months ago. Her “get ready for school” message for families, with dates and details, can be seen here; you’re also welcome to stop by and meet her and her team – students welcome too! – at the school today, until 6 pm.

Seattle Lutheran High School will soon welcome three NFL veterans as part of its annual fundraiser for its Football and Cheer programs. Former Seahawk Orlando Huff and former Huskies Mario Bailey and Greg Lewis will speak to students, parents, and friends at the Pasta Dinner Fundraiser on September 5th at 6 pm in the SLHS gym. The event will also be emceed by journalist and video host (and former UW athlete) Jenni Hogan, who you might recognize from her work in Seattle TV. If you’re interested in attending, tickets are on sale for $10 here.

Thanks to Pam Rago, family-support worker at Highland Park Elementary, for sharing this information that will affect not only some families at her school, but at three others in our area:

Washington State has approved what is called “slow start” for Title 1, full-day kindergarten schools including Highland Park, Roxhill, Sanislo, and West Seattle. This means that kindergarten will not start on September 4th. Kindergarten will start three days later, on Monday, September 9th.

During the first three days of school (September 4th – 6th) the kindergarten teachers will be meeting with families for a beginning-of-the-year parent-teacher conference. This will give our teachers the opportunity to learn more about the incoming kindergarteners before school begins which will then help teachers tailor their program to best meet each child’s needs.

If you have an incoming kindergartener at one of the schools involved, she says, the school will contact you (if it hasn’t already) about setting up the meeting time.

Less than two weeks until classes start at Chief Sealth International High School and other Seattle Public Schools. As announced in early July, Chief Sealth will have a new principal for the new school year, Aida Fraser-Hammer. And she has just announced an invitation to the Sealth community to drop by next Monday (August 26th) for a “meet and greet”:

On Monday August 26th, 2013, the doors of Chief Sealth International High School will be open for you!!!

Come on in anytime between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm to Meet ‘n Greet Principal Aïda Fraser-Hammer and her administrative team, Andra Maughan, Clint Sallee, and Cheryl Sullivan.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME!! BRING THE KIDS!!

The district’s first day of school is Wednesday, September 4th.

(WSB photo of the WSHS band at a game in January 2013)
Less than three weeks until Seattle Public Schools (and many others) start a new year of classes. Tonight, West Seattle High School music leader Ethan Thomas has a message for his incoming and returning band members:

Attention West Seattle High School Band Students. We will be hosting a band camp at the Southwest Athletic Complex on September 7th and 8th for students involved in the WSHS band in the 2013-14 school year. Please check the West Seattle High School website for complete details and registration information (westseattlehs.seattleschools.org).

That’s the weekend after the first day of school (which this year is September 4th).