West Seattle, Washington
06 Monday
By Torin Record-Sand
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
West Seattle is not only a place that established members of the local tech industry call home, it’s also a place for budding and exceptional upcoming talent in STEM. This week, we sat down to check in with members of the Rocketry Club at West Seattle High School.
The club offers a variety of opportunities for students to get hands-on experience in applying STEM to real-world production. It combines elements of engineering, programming, building, self-finance, and outreach. “In a way, it’s really like a startup, with the variety of roles you need to take on,” they said when we spoke to a few of them about what it means to have access to this opportunity.
“Rocketry is an adventure. Both in the literal sense, driving out to Redmond on the weekends to launch, and the intellectual sense – we are constantly testing new ideas, constantly writing new features in the code to improve the efficacy of our control system, making many mistakes but importantly learning from said mistakes. The rollercoaster of success and ‘occasional’ failure, and the amount of exploring involved in this process, alongside the team camaraderie render rocketry the most exciting and influential extracurricular I have had the privilege of participating in during my time in high school.” said Aidan Busby.
“Rocketry is the foundation for my future. The club and competition have taught me the tools of patience, ingenuity, and perseverance; essential skills for my plans in entrepreneurship and engineering. Without rocketry, I would not have been able to push my limits and change the standards within WSHS.” said Nathan Vuong.
Both of them are aiming to continue studying STEM in university after graduating this year, looking at programs in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and aerospace/mechanical engineering.
This year, the club is also looking at opportunities to do local community outreach, something new for them. They’ll be looking to share and talk about their work, as well as provide a small demonstration of their rocket, to students at Genesee Hill Elementary later this month at the school’s STEM Night. They’re also looking for similar opportunities to engage other schools in the area, although nothing is finalized yet.
The club is also working on this year’s entry for the American Rocketry Challenge. This year’s challenge is to design a model rocket that will launch 750 feet in the air while carrying a single raw egg, and return to the ground within around 39 seconds with the egg completely intact.
(Parts of the airbrake for this year’s competition rocket)
The club needs around $1,500 for their current project, much of which will go toward allowing them to finish their model so they can compete in this year’s challenge.
As a student-led group, they are dependent almost entirely on self-finance for their projects. “Last year, in order to produce a rocket for competition, we had to spend almost $2,100 from our own projects to get it done.” the club said. They shared that one member of the club had even contributed almost $500 to the cause. And, they noted, the need for fundraising has been growing due to ongoing national events. “Electronics and parts shipping is up around 1.5 to 2 times this year due to tariffs and inflation. It hits a lot of our parts providers, some who are very small hobbyists selling things such as miniature parachutes practically out of their garage.” they said.
If you feel inclined, you can donate to the club via their page here – and the club says it’s a benefit for the wider community: “Contributing to our club is a good opportunity to lower the wealth gap in education, as well as help further STEM education and provide us with means to go and do further community outreach.”
(Recent WSB photo, 59th SW side of under-construction Alki Elementary)
As first reported here in January, newly expanded Alki Elementary – still under construction – will open this fall as a new site for the district’s Highly Capable (gifted) program. West Seattle/South Park families interested in sending their HC-eligible children there have until March 31 to sign up, and before then, an informational meeting is set for two weeks from tonight: Wednesday, March 18, 5-6 p.m. at Alki Elementary’s current interim site at the former Schmitz Park Elementary (5000 SW Spokane). Currently the nearest site for HC programming is at Thurgood Marshall Elementary, across the bridge and I-5; families who want to keep current students there can stay through 5th grade.
Thanks for the tip! A reader points out that this recent announcement of Seattle Public Schools All-Star “Beacon of Hope” awards includes a West Seattle Elementary staff member:
Maryan Khalif, Instructional Assistant – West Seattle Elementary
Maryan Khalif is an extraordinary instructional assistant whose presence strengthens every part of the West Seattle Elementary community. She consistently goes above and beyond her role, building deep, trusting relationships with students through compassion, patience, and a culturally responsive approach that ensures every child feels seen and valued.
Maryan’s ability to connect with students is evident in her day‑to‑day actions. She pays close attention to students’ emotional needs and often notices when a child needs extra care or encouragement before anyone else does.
A native Somali speaker, Maryan plays a vital role in bridging communication between the school and families. She frequently welcomes Somali‑speaking families in their primary language, helping them navigate school routines, building strong partnerships, and ensuring parents feel genuinely connected to their child’s learning.
“Each day is meaningful, and I value the positive relationships I have built with students, families, and colleagues. I believe in fostering positive vibes in the workplace, and that sense of respect, support, and collaboration is what makes my work truly fulfilling,” Maryan said.
Maryan is also known for stepping in wherever help is needed, even without being asked. Whether it’s assisting a teacher who suddenly needs coverage, supporting new students as they adjust to school routines, or noticing a logistical need and solving it on the spot, she brings initiative, reliability, and a truly team‑centered spirit. Her work ethic and genuine care make her an irreplaceable part of the school family.
See all the “Beacon of Hope” winners here.
If you have a teenager in your home – no matter what school they attend – you won’t want to miss this Thursday night event at West Seattle High School. We’re showcasing it in case you haven’t already seen it in our Event Calendar:
Stronger Together: Forefront Mental Health Night at WSHS – Library
March 5, 2026, 6-8 pmJoin community to share resources and skills to help support teens as they navigate feelings of anxiety, hopelessness and thoughts of suicide. West Seattle High School has partnered with UW’s Forefront in the Schools Program to educate communities and provide important tools needed to listen, empathize and protect our youth and each other. Bring a friend! Everyone welcome. All attendees have a chance to win raffle items from local businesses. Snacks and warm smiles provided.
RSVP recommended but not required: Mental Health Night at WSHS – March 5, 2026
WSHS is at 3000 California SW.
(October 2025 photo)
Roxhill Elementary teacher Shawna Prynne is launching a fundraiser for outdoor education and hopes you’ll help:
The outdoor school experience is one is remembered for a lifetime. When students have the opportunity to attend outdoor school, not only do they experience unique learning opportunities, they also share valuable time with their peers, building strong relationships that will carry on long after outdoor school ends.
This year, our budget has gotten much tighter. In the past, we received a state grant that helped offset the cost of camp, but those funds have been cut from our state budget. Now, the cost of camp is looming over our already tight budget. We want all our 5th graders to continue to have this opportunity, so we need our community’s help.
The funds raised will be used to cover the cost of outdoor school, including tuition, transportation, and substitutes.
Outdoor school should be an experience available to all students, but unfortunately, the required funds can be a limiting factor, especially for lower income schools, like ours. Often, outdoor school is the first and only opportunity our students have to experience nature. We need our community’s support to continue this invaluable learning opportunity for our 5th graders. Thank you for helping us make outdoor school possible for every student.
The donation link is here.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
“ASB, are you ready?”
That was the opening question as high-school ASB (Associated Student Body) leaders from around the city gathered today for their first-ever Seattle ASB Leadership Summit, hosted by West Seattle High School, where the idea originated (as we reported earlier this week).
As the summit opened, the energy was drummed up, literally, by performers in the gym, including the WSHS Drumline:
The WSHS Cheer Team:
Across 35th, a band of WSHS-student musicians:
In classic pep-assembly style, a few games were interspersed. And then, the speeches – co-lead Lizzy Greene and summit creator Jim Guevara, WSHS seniors, segued into Mayor Katie Wilson:
Lizzy talked about dealing with the “fear of complacency”; Jim talked about the summit potentially connecting tens of thousands of students around the city, and the hope it’ll become an annual event. He urged attendees to remember, “We are young leaders” but will soon enough be in charge.
Mayor Wilson described them as “community organizers” like her. And she lauded the work of other students who were part of her transition team, which met for the last time this week. She implored attendees to “hold us accountable” for working to make Seattle “a place where you can build a future.”
Final speaker was Seattle Public Schools‘ new Superintendent Ben Shuldiner.
He noted that he was a high-school teacher for 10 years, and that his last name translates to “school server.” But he said his main interest was in telling the participants “thank you.”
After the performances and speeches, the ~100 participants settled into a day of sessions on topics including:
-ASB Events, from Idea to Execution
-Sustainable Leadership and Wellness
-Leading the Crowd
-Public Speaking
-Partnering with Your Community
-Unified 101
-Mastering Assemblies
-ASB Law – Finances
-Building a Connected Campus
-ASB on Your FYP
-Spirit Week Spotlight
-Supporting Girls in Athletics
-NAACP Youth Council
-‘Super’ Senior Year
-Diversity and Equity
They were spread between three time periods, so each participant got to decide which three they wanted to attend.
To ensure the first SALS won’t be the last, co-leads Jim and Lizzy convened “SALS Charter Development” in the library; we sat in on that one, and discovered the superintendent was there too. This one quickly broke into small groups, with the intent, as Jim said, to “make (the summit) more of a real thing … self-sustaining,” with its own mission statement. Some of the differences between schools arose in the subsequent discussion (we were within earshot of several small groups) – some ASBs operate with strong committees, some don’t have the same clubs and groups as other schools. There was talk of regional collaboration between summits.
They also talked about how to collaborate on solutions after problems that might include multiple schools, such as a fight at a sports event.
When a voice on the PA system announced that Session 1 was over and it was time to rotate to Session 2, the charter group was just hitting its stride, so many of the participants stayed in place and continued their work. The plan was to present and sign the charter at day’s end, and to “pass torch to the next SALS host.” We followed up with Jim tonight to see who that’ll be; Ingraham High School, he replied. Asked for a comment on how today went, he said, “I think the summit went even better than expected. Seeing the joy and genuine interest on the representatives’ and ASBs’ faces, and the way they connect with one another, is truly inspiring.”
Story, photos, video by Torin Record-Sand
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Last night, West Seattle High School held their annual Lunar New Year Festival. This year marks the year of the horse, which was represented in the decor for this year’s event.
This year’s event was led by student organizers Kian (left), and Kallen (right), respectively from the WSHS Chinese Club and the Asian American and Pacific Islander Club.
It included a performance by students of both a lion dance …
… and a dragon dance.
After the performance, there were various activities available for attendees. These included games for prizes, such as jianzi, a Chinese game which loosely resembles ‘hacky-sack,’ as well as trivia about the lunar new year, and the Korean game ddakji. There were also more artistically inclined offerings, such as paper art and calligraphy.
Traditional food from a variety of Asiana cultures was also served, including items such as dumplings, spring rolls, lo mein, and papaya salad.
We estimate about 80 people were there when we were.
(WSB photo: Jim Guevara, Lizzy Greene)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Digital communication has its limitations.
That observation is from two West Seattle High School seniors who are organizing an in-person gathering for more than 100 of their peers this Saturday.
The gathering at WSHS will make history as the first-ever Seattle ASB Leadership Summit, with students from every comprehensive high school in the city coming to spend the day learning from each other. In our photo above are the co-leads, Jim Guevara and Lizzy Greene. They went to 11 high schools to meet with other ASB (Associated Student Body) leaders to get buy-in for the summit plan.
Not only do they have triple-digit RSVPs, they’re also expecting a few non-student visitors – including two people new to their high-profile jobs, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson (making it her second consecutive Saturday in West Seattle) and Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Ben Shuldiner. But this event is about, for, and by students, partly rooted in how students from around the district came together outside district HQ last fall:
(WSB photo, September 2025)
The reason for that rally was the district’s sudden decision, after the school year had started, to split lunch periods at high schools including WSHS. One of the students’ main objections was a loss of gathering time for activities such as clubs and academic support. That remains an issue, Lizzy and Jim agree. But the lunch controversy wasn’t the only inspiration. Jim says the idea of a summit was a “passion project” for him. They’ve been planning it for months now. The day will include 20 breakout sessions, with topics including event planning. They’ll have in-house performers at the opening ceremony – the band Across 35th, plus the WSHS Marching Band, Drumline, and Cheer Team.
What are they hoping to achieve with the summit? “Showing that Seattle youth can actively collaborate,” says Jim. Lizzy adds that they hope it will result in “continued communication and flow of ideas.” They’re also proud that as the school organizing and hosting the first one, that will shine a positive light on WSHS citywide.
And they have a lot of knowledge to share, noting that the WSHS ASB is one of the largest and most successful in the city, and that this self-sustaining part of student life has enough of a financial cushion to cover what it’s costing to put this on. Costs include security, food, transportation, even “decor.” (Their fundraising activities through the year include dances and Parents’ Night Out group babysitting events.)
But at least one thing about this first-ever summit will be priceless – the fact that it’s, as described by Jim, centering students “as decision-makers, rather than participants in an adult-led program.”
Thanks to Denny International Middle School student/family advocate and Kingmaker facilitator Keenen Allen Ladd for the report and photo from Denny’s Black History Month assembly today:
(From left, CM Saka, Keenen Allen Ladd, Dr. Mia Williams of SPS Office of African American Male Achievement, 8th grade math teacher Ms. Brown, Denny principal Mary Ingraham)
During our Black History Month Assembly, our students delivered powerful presentations honoring Black trailblazers and our Kingmaker students recited our King’s Pledge with pride and excellence. The program was a meaningful celebration of culture, history, and student leadership.
We were also honored to welcome Councilmember Rob Saka, who officially proclaimed today, February 25, 2026 as “Denny International Middle School Black History Month Day” in the City of Seattle. It was a powerful civic moment for our students to witness their school and community recognized at the city level.
To find out more about the Kingmaker program, you can read about it here.
If you’ve been hoping for a chance to hear from/talk with new Seattle Public Schools superintendent Ben Shuldiner, this district announcement says your chance is coming up in about a month (we’ve highlighted it in bold at the end of the list below):
Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Ben Shuldiner is hosting a series of community engagement meetings across the city to listen, learn, and begin building trust with students, families, staff, and community members.
The “Meet Superintendent Shuldiner” community conversations will take place in each School Board Director District, along with a citywide virtual session. School Board Directors representing each region are expected to attend. All sessions are open to the public, and attendees do not need to live in a specific district to participate.
These conversations mark an important step in Superintendent Shuldiner’s commitment to listening deeply to community experiences, capturing feedback, and following through with action.
WHAT
Community Conversations with Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Ben Shuldiner
WHO
Ben Shuldiner, Superintendent, Seattle Public Schools
School Board Directors (by district)
Seattle Public Schools students, families, staff, and community membersWHEN & WHERE
Thursday, Feb. 26 | 7:30–8:30 p.m.
Bailey Gatzert Elementary School
1301 E Yesler Way, SeattleTuesday, March 3 | 7:30–8:30 p.m.
South Shore K–8
4800 S Henderson St., SeattleTuesday, March 10 | 7:30–8:30 p.m.
Salmon Bay K–8
1810 NW 65th St., SeattleTuesday, March 17 | 7:30–8:30 p.m.
Eckstein Middle School
3003 NE 75th St., SeattleTuesday, March 24 | 6:30–7:30 p.m.
McClure Middle School
1915 1st Ave W., SeattleThursday, March 26 | 6:30–7:30 p.m.
James Baldwin Elementary
11725 1st Ave NE, SeattleTuesday, March 31 | 6:30–7:30 p.m.
West Seattle Elementary
6760 34th Ave SW, SeattleThursday, April 2 | 6–7:30 p.m.
Virtual (online; link forthcoming)
DETAILSSessions will include introductions, full‑group discussion, small‑group breakout conversations, and open Q&A.
Interpretation services will be provided at every session in Amharic, American Sign Language, Chinese, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
All sessions will be livestreamed and recorded on the SPSTV YouTube channel.
Superintendent Shuldiner will also be visiting every Seattle Public Schools campus during his first 100 days in the role.
Last weekend, we noted that two Chief Sealth International High School wrestlers won state championships. Sealth athletic director Ernest Policarpio says that’s just part of the team’s triumphs toward season’s end, and sent full details with photos:
It was a great finish for the boys and girls wrestling team of Chief Sealth.
The girls won their 7th consecutive Metro Title and their 2nd District 2 Title, bringing 5 girls to the Tacoma Dome.
The boys won their first Dual Meet Championship in over 30 years, going 16-0 in Metro Duals. Their 2nd 2A Team Metro Title and 2nd District 2 Championship.
Coach Maurice Dolberry won 2026 2A Metro Coach of the Year, Xander Gomez and Eli Policarpio won 2026 most outstanding wrestler of the year for the Metro League,
The wrestlers below qualified for the state tournament
120lbs Senior Stevens Nguyen (2nd in Metro, 4th in Districts)
120lbs Senior Lucas Jones (Metro Champ, 3rd in Districts)
126lbs Senior Jonnathen Seng (Metro Champ, District Champ)
132lb Junior Xander Gomez (Metro Champ and District Champ)
138lb Junior Jumpy Kamili (2nd in Metro and District Champ)
144lb Sophomore Seneca Nguyen (3rd in Metro, 2nd in Districts)
144lb Sophomore Abdi Abdi (Metro Champ, 3rd in Districts)
150lb Senior Vlad Ponce Ramos (2nd in Metro, 3rd in Districts)
190lbs Senior Jessie Gilmore (Metro Champ and District Champ)
215lb Junior Eli Policarpio (Metro Champ and District Champ)
285lb Senior Shane Allen Tino (2nd in Metro and 4th in Districts)
285lb Junior Yusuf Donzo (Metro Champ and District Champ)Girls
110lbs sophomore Nicole Ork (Metro and District Champ)
120lbs Senior Petra Sheppard (Metro and District Champ)
140lbs Senior Lucy Self (Metro and District Champ)
145lbs Senior Lanu Amituanai (Metro and District Champ)
155lb Senior Nyko Herndon (Metro and District Champ)4 wrestlers placed at the State Tournament:
Lanu Amituanai won the STATE CHAMPIONSHIP in the 2A 145lb bracket and became the 1st Seattle Public Schools female State Champion!
Eli Policarpio won the STATE CHAMPIONSHIP in the 2A 215lb bracket. 2nd State Champion in Sealth history and 5th State Champ in the Metro League.
Lucy Self took 3rd in State at 140lb and Yusuf Donzo took 6th in State at 285lb.
Two Chief Sealth International High School wrestlers are coming home from this weekend’s state tournament at the Tacoma Dome with championships! Eli Policarpio won the boys’ 2A 215 class by 9-8 decision over Theo Stevens of North Kitsap; Lanu Arnituanai won the girls’ 2A 145 class by fall (at 3:39) over Emily Gomez, also from North Kitsap. Both of those champion Sealth wrestlers took 5th at state last year. Two other CSIHS wrestlers made it to the state semifinals – Lucy Self in girls’ 2A 140, Yusuf Donzo in boys’ 2A 285. Congratulations to the wrestlers and coach Maurice Dolberry!
More local high-school swimmers headed for state, starting tomorrow! Here’s the announcement about West Seattle High School athletes:
Congrats to the West Seattle Boys Swim & Dive team – after a nearly undefeated dual meet season, the Wildcats recently finished 4th overall at the Metro League Championships, where they were also awarded the team Sportsmanship Award.
Thirteen Wildcats made Districts cuts during the season, 11 of whom competed at 3A Sea-King District Championships last weekend: Nate Boehmer, Enzo Conte, Luca Conte, Mason Duffy, Brisan Hruska, Casey Laplante, Lars Norman, Jeremy O’Keefe, Mac Rysemus, Ben Wrenholt, Tom Wrenholt.
Of this group, 10 athletes are headed to State this upcoming weekend, qualifying to compete in all three relays: 200 Medley Relay, 200 Freestyle Relay and 400 Freestyle Relay, as well as select individual events: Tom Wrenholt (500 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle), Ben Wrenholt (200 IM), and Mason Duffy (100 Fly, 100 Back).
Congrats to the whole Wildcat Boys Swim & Dive team and their amazing coaches — Karen Boehmer (Head Coach), Logan Rysemus & Ryan O’Donnell — on an awesome season, and good luck, State swimmers!
State competition is at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.
Also looking ahead to the state championships, Chief Sealth International High School swimmers! Here’s the update we received to share with you:
Chief Sealth Boys Swim & Dive had an outstanding performance at the Sea-King District Championships this past weekend!
The team finished 3rd overall with 160 points, competing against schools from across the district. Our swimmers posted 21 personal records throughout the weekend, demonstrating the hard work and dedication they’ve put in all season.
Most exciting, we’re sending athletes to the State Championships:
• Two individual events qualified for state. (Theo Franzen)• Our 400 Free Relay team secured their spot with a thrilling 0.54-second victory over Renton in the final event. (Cole Peloza, Theo Franzen, August Truman, Dominic Melanese, David Ohta, and Nico Balducci)
Thank you to all our swimmers, families, and supporters. Best of luck to our state qualifiers as they prepare for the championship meet this Friday!
The championships are happening at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.
It’s mid-winter break for most, but not all, schools. Families, students, and staff obviously already know, but in case you need to know too for traffic or other reasons, we checked the calendars for the schools we routinely track:
CLOSED ALL WEEK: Seattle Public Schools, Westside School, Explorer West Middle School, Tilden School, Summit Atlas, Vashon Island School District
CLOSED MONDAY-TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY: Hope Lutheran School
CLOSED MONDAY-TUESDAY: All three local Catholic schools (Our Lady of Guadalupe, Holy Rosary, Holy Family)
CLOSED MONDAY: Highline Public Schools, Kennedy Catholic High School
(Unlike many art walks, visual arts were just part of this one)
By Macey Wurm
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
The arts are alive and well at Chief Sealth International High School, showcased through Thursday night’s third annual CSIHS Art Walk. Originally proposed by Sealth’s choir director Katie Lenoue, the Art Walk is intended to cohesively showcase all of the school’s fine arts programs.
The event was open to the public, and began at 6:00 p.m. with a brief introduction, before guests were invited to explore the various rooms. Each room was home to a department – choir, jazz, orchestra, or poetry – which each put on three performance “sessions” throughout the night. Attendees were encouraged to continuously explore various rooms, paying no mind to performance starts, or end times. This created a well-rounded arts experience where attendees could linger as long as they wanted with programs they particularly enjoyed.
The choir department took over room 206, and showcased multiple soloists, a duet, and a quintet over the course of the three performances. Director Lenoue expressed her joy in the group, mentioning that one student had qualified as a state alternate in a recent competition on Jan. 31, and that she and a partner had qualified for state as a duet.
“We’re really proud of those kids, and we thought people would enjoy hearing them,” Lenoue said.
Jazz music filled the Little Theater, three different ensembles, each with at least 5 members, played for the audience in the span of an hour. This was just a snippet of the jazz program at large, which has seen recent growth at Chief Sealth, according to Joey Roberts, the band director. He mentioned that more than 50 students pursued the program this year, causing it to split into two stage bands and three combos. The program will be attending the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Idaho again this year, in April.
Unique from the other rooms were the poetry readings held in 209. An ensemble labeled on the directory as “Addison Whited and Friends” overtook the space in what seemed like an organic, mostly unstructured slam poetry session. Students took turns reading famous works and mixed in self-written poems. The poetry branch is largely student run, with some help from Chief Sealth’s English department.
The main auditorium was home to the orchestra, with three consecutive performances by a chamber orchestra and a string quartet. At 7:50, attendees gathered back into the auditorium to observe a brief combined show by the choir, jazz band, and orchestra. The diverse body brought together a piece from “The Prince of Egypt,” followed by a sneak peek into the drama department’s upcoming musical “Little Shop of Horrors.”
Chief Sealth plans to bring its music programs to Disneyland in June, with the help of DSPA Parent Boosters, the booster group for arts at Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth IHS.
The Art Walk is typically DSPA’s most prominent fundraiser. “Performing arts programs are sorely underfunded, so we just do a lot of work throughout the year to try to raise as much money as we can,” said an officer of the booster group. Fundraising will ensure that all students would be able to go on the California trip. Consistently, funds go toward instruments, sheet music access, and other materials necessary to continue the livelihood of the arts. You can donate online by scrolling down this page to the “Direct Give” links.
12 years ago, we reported after the Seahawks‘ first-ever Super Bowl victory parade that about a quarter of all Seattle Public Schools students were absent that day. (The district had initially cited the same policy as it did for today – no excused absences – but then pulled back a bit and let each principal decide how to handle it.) So, how was attendance today? We asked the district, and received this reply:
As Seattle celebrated the Seahawks’ Super Bowl victory parade today, Seattle Public Schools (SPS) recorded an estimated 12,697 student absences as of the start of the school day today. While student absences were significantly higher than usual, over 38,000 students are estimated to have attended school today for teaching, learning, connection, and to receive the many other services our schools provide. Our initial estimates suggest that student attendance was slightly better than during the 2014 Super Bowl parade.
In addition, there were 663 staff absences (as of 2:30 p.m.), which is several hundred absences higher than normal. Central office staff, including SPS Superintendent Ben Shuldiner, were deployed to schools throughout the district to provide additional support considering the increase in absences.
We’ll ask on follow up if the “slightly better” is a reference to percentage or number; SPS enrollment was 2,000+ more students in 2014 than it is now.
Tomorrow is the second Thursday of the month – always West Seattle Art Walk night! In addition to the dozens of regular venues, tomorrow night brings a special event – an Art Walk at Chief Sealth International High School, showcasing performing arts as well as visual art. Here’s the invitation we received to share with you:
Chief Sealth IHS invites all community members to our annual Art Walk on Thursday, Feb. 12. Doors open at 6:00.
Grab snacks and wander as you enjoy orchestra quartets, jazz ensembles, and choir ensembles performing in different locations. Take in student visual art as you move from room to room.
The evening will culminate in a combined orchestra, band, and choir performance! Free to the public. Donations accepted.
The school is at 2600 SW Thistle. As for the rest of tomorrow night’s venues – see the preview here.
If you’re a Seattle Public Schools student or staffer, and/or have one in your household, you’ve likely already seen this, but for those who have not, here’s the official SPS word on Wednesday:
Seattle is buzzing with excitement as we celebrate the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl victory! Moments like this bring our city together, spark pride across generations, and remind us of the power of shared experiences in our community.
As the city plans celebrations, including a victory parade planned for Wednesday, Feb. 11, at 10 a.m., we want families to know that Seattle Public Schools will remain open with the normal early-release Wednesday schedule.
Keeping schools open is an important part of maintaining stability, safety, and continuity for our students. For many families, schools provide not only learning, but also meals, transportation, specialized services, and trusted routines. Remaining open allows us to support students’ academic progress while ensuring essential services continue for those who rely on them.
Please note:
-Attendance policies will remain in effect, and parade attendance will not be considered an excused absence.
-Families should plan ahead for possible traffic or transit impacts, particularly near the parade route.
-Schools will continue instruction and student services.We encourage families to celebrate this historic moment in ways that work best for your household, while also helping us keep learning strong across the district.
Thank you for your partnership and support as we balance celebration with our shared commitment to students.
Go Hawks!
Fred Podesta
Chief Operations Officer
Seattle Public Schools
(Podesta was interim superintendent until Ben Shuldiner started work last week.) In 2014, according to our archived coverage, then-superintendent José Banda let individual principals decide whether to excuse students – but that was a change of heart after the original announcement that nobody would be excused.
(First and last photos courtesy WSHS Softball)
Hours before the Seahawks took the field in California, members of the West Seattle High School softball team took the field at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex. Their mission this morning: A skills clinic for younger players.
(This photo and next three by WSB’s Torin Record-Sand)
They taught two groups, separated by skill level and experience.
This is not only a mentoring opportunity – it’s a fundraiser; the entry fees go to the WSHS Booster Club to fund team needs that the school budget doesn’t cover.
The clinic has been held since 2021, originally the idea of WSHS player Kamil Ygnacio, now an alum, but her sister Kaila led today’s event with her team co-captain Kenzie (they’re at L and R below with head coach Kyler Tsukada):
The fastpitch varsity team has another fundraiser this week that’s open to all, a dine-out fundraiser Wednesday (February 11), 5-9 pm, at Chipotle in The Junction – the info and ordering code can be found in our calendar listing. The team’s 2026 season starts in March.
When the individual bowlers at the 3A state championships were all finished today, the top score – and the title “champion” – belonged to one of West Seattle High School‘s three bowlers in the tournament, Molly Combs! Her score for six games at Bowlero in Tukwila was 1191. Also bowling for WSHS, Violet Higenberg finished 55th of 102 with 785, Madison Miller finished 63rd with 714.
As reported here previously, the Chief Sealth IHS flag-football team is in the state tournament, with a must-win game against Lynden in Ferndale at 1 pm Saturday (February 7). Checking other sports, we see five local athletes are in the girls-bowling state tournaments too: In the 3A tournament tomorrow (Friday, February 6), West Seattle HS bowlers Molly Combs, Violet Higenberg, and Madison Miller will compete; in the 2A tournament Monday (February 9), Chief Sealth IHS bowlers Elizabeth Andrews and Claire Chao will compete. Both tournaments are at Bowlero in Tukwila.
Friday is sold out but you have two chances Saturday to catch Alki Elementary students performing the rock musical “Olympus”:
A fun kid-friendly upcoming event. Alki Elementary School is performing Olympus: The Greek Rock Musical this weekend. Tickets are $11. Use this link to purchase.
SHOWTIMES:
Friday, Feb 6 at 6:30 pmSaturday, Feb 7 at 1 pm
Saturday, Feb 7 at 6:30 pm
LOCATION:
Schmitz Park Elementary School
5000 SW Spokane
Jessie Kuehm of Emerald City Drama Club is directing
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