As the sun set Tuesday night, the curtain rose on the next chapter of life for the 300+ Class of 2023 graduates from Chief Sealth International High School. Their compact commencement ceremony ended the night at Memorial Stadium downtown, with unique touches, like CSIHS musicians performing the “Pomp and Circumstance” entry music live, as well as a second song, Encanto, directed by Joey Roberts:

Student speaker Fatima Garnica Escamilla exulted, “We did it – we all accomplished one of the first major milestones of our lives.” She shared wisdom from her parents, that life is like a long train ride – “some people will get on and stay with you to the end … some will get off at an earlier stop and that’s OK.”

She also noted that many of the class members had immigrant parents and/or came from underrepresented communities. Many cultures got proud nods, on the field and in the stands:

Staff speaker Dijana Raco was among those who brought up the unprecedented disruption of COVID-19 – “it wasn’t easy to have your freshman year disrupted so suddenly by a global pandemic.” She urged the new grads to make big plans for themselves – “and be prepared for those plans to not happen”:

Chief Sealth principal Ray Morales offered advice too – express gratitude, “focus on what brings you joy,” stay humble, and make healthy decisions.

He presented the class to school-board director Leslie Harris, who was participating in her last local graduation, as she’s leaving office at year’s end. “Go, Hawks!” was her sendoff for them.

P.S. As noted in our coverage of the night’s first ceremony, for West Seattle High School, the district is recording all of this year’s graduations and publishing the video quickly, so here’s the link for the full multi-camera video of the CSIHS commencement.

(WSB photos/video)

West Seattle has more than 600 brand-new high-school graduates tonight, after back-to-back ceremonies at Memorial Stadium downtown. The night began with West Seattle High School, which packed its hour-and-a-half ceremony with more speakers and more music. After principal Brian Vance‘s welcome, ASB president Ami Doukourai spoke, describing graduation as “the moment that symbolizes the beginning of the rest of our lives.” She spoke of challenges, and had to overcome one in the moment, as a military helicopter inexplicably buzzed the field three times during her speech. She was followed by Kathryn Hooper and Makenzie Jensen, who spoke of how the class had to deal with heart-wrenching loss, wearing blue cords to honor four classmates who died, and leading a moment of silence in their memory “and any other loved ones who couldn’t be here today.”

The featured staff speaker, teacher Kira Hopkins, addressed the graduates as writers. She offered five points of advice, including “consider your context,” noting that they were just partway through their freshman year when the pandemic hit, and that they’ve also dealt with crises including political turmoil, climate change, and racial injustice – “you have come through a lot.” Her other points included “stay curious” and make plans but “leave room for the magic of the moment.”

Featured student speaker Elliott Burdett also mentioned the pandemic, saying “the universe threw a cosmic wrench” in his class’s freshman year, while in the next breath he acknowledged that “talking about COVID is cringe.” Ebulliently, he noted that “we really have no idea what the future who has in store for us – anything can happen at any moment.” Don’t miss the possibilities he lists:

Then it was time for a song from the acclaimed band THEM, whose members include two of tonight’s grads as well as a 2020 WSHS alum, “so this is her real graduation”:

The class’s valedictorians Sophia Butler and Cece Pyfer offered reflection and gratitude:

Then principal Vance led one last “W-E-S-T-S-I-D-E” countdown, and offered his own three points of advice: Make good choices, “bring your ‘A game’,” and express gratitude. Then our area’s school-board director Leslie Harris accepted the class and told them “it’s legal – you’re graduates!” The reading of names, with proud cheering from the stands, followed, as did a few final words from tassel-turning leader Lachlan Swanson, who warned that life is “pretty damn scary” but “you have to believe it’ll work out.”

P.S. Seattle Public Schools didn’t stream graduation ceremonies live this year but is recording them and making the video available quickly – here’s the recording of tonight’s WSHS ceremony.

(SSC photo: A Bachelor of Applied Science graduate poses with Seattle Colleges Interim Chancellor (former SSC President) Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap as Board of Trustees Vice Chair Rosa Peralta looks on)

Graduation time! The newest grads from South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) celebrated their achievements during a three-college ceremony last night – here’s the story from SSC:

South Seattle College celebrated the Class of 2023 on the evening of June 22 with a commencement ceremony at T-Mobile Park. The ceremony brought together graduates from South Seattle College, Seattle Central College, and North Seattle College – all part of the Seattle Colleges District.

720 graduates from SSC were recognized for their achievement of earning a degree or certificate.

“Graduates, tonight we celebrate your story,” SSC Interim President Dr. Jean Hernandez said at the event. “It’s one you will share with family and friends for decades to come. It is a story of pushing through in life, work and education during a time that still brings economic and social challenges. The burden of the past three years has been massive and yet here you stand strong: a college graduate more than ready to write your next chapter and make your mark.”

Ana Chamale was SSC’s 2023 graduation speaker. She served as student government president, graduated with an associate transfer degree, and will be attending New York University in the fall to pursue a bachelor’s degree in political science.

“I am a proud Guatemalan-Mexican-American,” Chamale said. “Many of us here today are not only representing ourselves, but our parents, our children, our siblings and our family back home. We are here, and we have made it.”

Speaking directly to her family members in Guatemala who were able to watch on livestream, Chamale said, “Estoy hoy aquí representándote, no te he olvidado ni a ti ni a tus palabras de aliento. Cuando mis estudios se pusieron difíciles o parecían abrumadores, siempre pensé en ti y en cómo algún día estaré en un taburete con pedales como este para darte las gracias y lo hicimos.” (English translation: “I am here today representing you. I have not forgotten you or your words of encouragement. When my studies got difficult or seemed overwhelming, I always thought of you and how one day I’ll be on a pedestal like this to say thank you and we did it”).

Of the awards South Seattle College conferred this year:

-374 graduates earned associate transfer degrees that enable them to transfer to four-year colleges and universities in Washington and beyond to complete their bachelor’s degrees.

-228 graduates earned career training associate of science degrees and certificates that prepare them to enter the workforce immediately.

-93 graduates earned high school diplomas or equivalents, allowing them to take a significant step toward future education and employment opportunities.

-25 graduates earned Bachelor of Applied Science degrees, taking their careers to the next level and increasing their earning potential.

SSC is headquartered on West Seattle’s Puget Ridge, with a satellite campus in Georgetown. Registration is open now for summer-quarter classes, which start June 26, and fall-quarter classes, which start September 26.

(WSB photos)

Thanks to Nicole Sipila of the Chief Sealth International High School PTSA for telling us about last night’s Senior Honors & Awards presentations for the school’s Class of 2023. We attended the event in the CSIHS auditorium. Above are students who received the Seal of Biliteracy, in which we’re told Chief Sealth had the district’s largest number of participants! Next, valedictorian Kayla Buechler:

Salutatorian Merichle Nguyen:

Cords were presented for other academic achievements – single cords for 3.2-3.49 GPA (57 recipients), double for 3.5 or higher GPA (130 recipients):

And the Robert Jackson Block Award was presented for distinguished students in art (Shelby Dow), theater (Shanti Rose Birch), and music (Riley Pomeroy Tobin):

Scholarship recipients were honored too, including 64 recipients of the Promise Scholarship, The ceremony featured a performance by senior members of the CSIHS Jazz Band:

The Chief Sealth Class of 2023’s commencement ceremony is next Tuesday (June 27th), 8 pm at Memorial Stadium downtown.

Reminder (for next year if your school’s already out for summer) – if something’s happening at YOUR school that the community should know about, tell us! Email westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/call 206-293-6302 – thank you!

(WSB photo, CSIHS graduation 2022)

In case you wondered too: Both public high schools in West Seattle are sharing a graduation date again this year. This time, both ceremonies are at Memorial Stadium downtown (401 5th Ave. N.), on Tuesday, June 27th. The West Seattle High School Class of 2023 will take the walk at 5 pm, followed by the Chief Sealth International High School Class of 2023 at 8 pm.

Summer vacation has begun for at least one local school, and for many others, it’s just days away. In case you’ve wondered, we looked up the last-day-of-school dates – here’s what we found via online calendars:

TODAY (June 9): Summit Atlas
TUESDAY (June 13): Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor)
WEDNESDAY (June 14): Our Lady of Guadalupe
THURSDAY (June 15): Westside School (WSB sponsor)
NEXT FRIDAY (June 16): Highline Public Schools, Holy Family, Holy Rosary, Tilden School (WSB sponsor), Vashon Island School District
JUNE 30: Seattle Public Schools

Note that for most schools, the last day is a shortened day, so you’ll see activity outside the usual scheduled hours.

(WSB photo, 2019)

Our photo above is from 2019, the last year West Seattle High School alumni gathered for the traditional all-school reunion. It was on pandemic hiatus 2020-2022, and this year it’s back. Grads from all years are welcome. Organizers say it’ll include the usual features such as class breakouts and a classic-car show. It’s set for 4-7 pm Saturday (June 3); you can RSVP here, but reservations aren’t necessary, and there’s no admission fee. Whether or not you go, there’s also an after-party at Whisky West (6451 California SW), 7 pm to midnight, featuring live music by alumni members of The Nitemates.

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

By Monday afternoon’s deadline for appealing the city decision to grant nine zoning exceptions for the Alki Elementary School rebuild, six appeals had been filed with the city Hearing Examiner, which today ordered them consolidated into one case.

Two hours after the appeal deadline, Seattle Public Schools discussed the project at an in-person community meeting, which turned contentious as frustrated neighbors at times shouted their concerns about some of those zoning exceptions, particularly those related to transportation, including the removal of all on-site parking.

We reported last month on the city’s recommendation that the zoning exceptions – formally called “departures” – be approved. The district first mentioned in an online public meeting last June that it would seek departures, and a request for public comment went out last fall. However, the usual public process was truncated because of pandemic-related policies, and that’s part of what neighbors are upset about, saying they didn’t have a chance to participate in the design process or, later, to have their concerns heard.

So last night, after listening for an hour to district director of capital projects Richard Best, architect Becky Hutchinson of Mahlum, and transportation consultant Marni Heffron, they did what they could to be heard, at times shouting their disagreement with the project team’s contentions.

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