West Seattle, Washington
12 Monday
(WSB photos by Oliver Hamlin)
~300 of our area’s young adults are waking up today for their first full day as high-school graduates. They are the Chief Sealth International High School Class of 2025, whose commencement was celebrated last night at Memorial Stadium downtown. With the school band playing “Pomp and Circumstance,” faculty and about-to-be-grads made their grand entrance, with Sealth principal Hope Perry and School Board president Gina Topp leading the procession:
(WSB video by Tracy Record)
This was Perry’s first graduation ceremony as CSIHS principal.
She spoke of how proud she is of her students, for their questioning, their advocating, her certainty that their “resilience will create a community of leaders,”
Questions were at the heart of the speech given by featured student speaker Ryan Tran – “who am I? … who am I supposed to be, who am I meant to be … who are we?”
He also told the parents and guardians looking on from the Memorial Stadium stands, “As much as you are proud of us, we are proud of you.”
The featured staff speaker, teacher Angelia Thornton, told the Class of ’25, “You can pave your own way – you don’t have to follow.”
Then, what those on the field and in the stands had been awaiting – the reading of names as the seniors streamed onto and off the stage:
Emma Haynes led the tassel move:
Shortly thereafter, after some engaged in the ceremonial cap toss, it was time to bid farewell to the faculty as the new grads exited the stadium on the way to the next chapter of their lives.
P.S. The Sealth ceremony included a bonus performance by the band, directed by Joey Roberts:
If you want to see the entire ceremony, here’s the recording of the district’s stream. SPS is streaming all ceremonies, including West Seattle High School‘s upcoming graduation, set for 5 pm Tuesday (June 17).
As mentioned briefly in today’s highlight list, the Chief Sealth International High School Class of 2025 graduates tonight, 8 pm at Memorial Stadium downtown. The school just asked us to publish this info, including how to watch the live stream/broadcast.
Here’s a clickable link to the YouTube stream. We’ll be there too, covering the ceremony for a report late tonight here on WSB.
That photo courtesy of the Alki Elementary PTA is from last year’s Alki-A-Thon – an end-of-school-year all-school fun(draiser) that’s coming up again this Friday (June 13)! They’re hoping you’ll pitch in and pledge in advance – here’s what the PTA wants us to know:
This jog-a-thon brings together students, staff, and families for a fun-filled day of running, music, and community spirit, all in support of vital programs at Alki Elementary. We’re actively seeking donations now through the event to fund arts and science enrichment, field trips, classroom resources, and equity efforts not covered by district budgets. It’s our most energizing school event of the year, and we’d love community donations to keep SPS students thriving.
Who: Alki Elementary students (kindergarten through 5th grade) running; family and immediate friends invited to attend
What: Alki-a-Thon, the school’s annual jog-a-thon fundraiser
When: Friday, June 13, 2025 (during the school day)
Why: To raise funds for PTA-supported programs that enrich student learning and support
To donate: app.99pledges.com/fund/alkiathon25
With a little more than one week of classes left for most Seattle Public Schools students, it’s time to look ahead. That includes a Roxhill Elementary fundraiser this Friday for which your help can make a big difference – here’s how:
Roxhill Elementary School will host our annual Jog‐A‐Thon on June 13 to support the 5th grade overnight outdoor learning field trip to Nature Bridge in the fall. Our students are collecting pledges for running laps on the playground this Friday, and community members are invited to make a donation.
During their 4-night stay, students engage in various outdoor learning activities that build self-confidence, team building skills, and knowledge of physical sciences. It has been a tradition for many years that each 5th grade class attends an outdoor learning education overnight field trip. It is the experience of a lifetime! Donations will help cover a portion of transportation costs, meals, and other expenses.
This year’s fundraiser is especially important because the new Washington State budget removed the Outdoor Learning Grant program that previously helped offset the cost for Title I schools to go to camp. We hope our community will help us fill the gap and also support other impacted West Seattle elementary schools facing the same cuts.
Another announcement as the school year approaches its end: Chief Sealth International High School’s Drama Company will be staging two events to close out 2024-2025. On Saturday and Sunday – June 14th at 6:25 pm and June 15th at 4 pm – it’s the one-act play “The Angel Intrudes” by Floyd Dell. This one-act play is directed by students, and tickets will be just $2.
Then on Saturday, June 21st, at noon, the Intergenerational Theatre Project will present “The Lear Project,”described as a “company-devised piece based on participants’ writings, group exercises and discussions, and the first scene in Shakespeare’s King Lear.” We told you about the Intergenerational Theatre Project earlier this year. Essentially, it pairs students in the Chief Sealth Drama Company with adults to produce a theater show that bridges the generational divide. Tickets for the June 21st show will be free. Find out more about all these shows by going here.
Big weekend for reunions – especially West Seattle High School alums who time theirs to coincide with the annual All-School Reunion (which was held on Saturday). Easy Street Records proprietor Matt Vaughan shared the pic from the reunion of the WSHS Class of 1985, which gathered at his shop/café/music venue! Easy Street opened just three years after the Class of 1985 graduated, so its own 40th anniversary is in view too.
Another school fundraiser happening right now – the Westside Pickleball League‘s “Rally on the Rock” tournament at the Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex racquet-sport courts. 150 players an 201, with players ages 16-82, according to the league’s Rosina Geary, who adds that it’s a fundraiser for the Chief Sealth International High School athletic department. CSIHS principal Hope Perry (below left) was there helping hand out medals earlier this afternoon:
Westside Pickleball League presented two $2,000 scholarships to graduating Chief Sealth seniors this year. Today’s tournament continues until around 4 pm, and there’s plenty of spectator space around the courts, which are west of Southwest Pool (2801 SW Thistle).
From today’s highlight list: Small but spirited assemblage of classic cars (and a few motorcycles) are parked for your perusal right now in the West Seattle High School parking lot (3000 California SW). This student-organized show is the first of two car shows at the school today/tonight. Above is a 1958 Oldsmobile Super 88; below, a 1957 Jeep:
This is a fundraiser and you can contribute to that by buying something at the bake sale that’s accompanying the show. They’re planning award presentations around 2:45.
Tomorrow (Saturday, June 7), 4-7 pm, the West Seattle High School Alumni Association welcomes all WSHS alums back to the campus for the annual All-School Reunion. It’s a start-of-summer tradition for the Alumni Association to organize this gathering to reconnect with schoolmates, celebrate student achievements, induct alumni into the Hall of Fame, and recognize members of the community.
This year, the two Hall of Fame inductees are Class of ‘66 graduate Kevin Mason, a professional vocalist with 50 years of experience, and Class of ‘63 graduate Gary Drobnack, an international forestry consultant and philanthropist.
The alumni publication Chinook has their stories as well as detailing 68 student scholarship recipients. 42 new scholarships for graduating seniors, and 26 scholarships for returning students. It also lists graduating class-specific events, including the Class of ’75‘s 50th reunion bash, at the West Seattle Golf Course. The day after, Sunday, June 8th, the Class of ’80 will be hosting its 45th reunion from 6-9 pm at Kenyon Hall.
The WSHS Alumni Association’s website has the schedule for tomorrow’s All-School Reunion events, including the traditional Classic Car Show on the driveway west of the historical entrance, also starting at 4 pm.
PHOTOS BY OLIVER HAMLIN FOR WSB
Summit Atlas, West Seattle’s only charter school, has just begun summer break. Hours before the last classes of this school year, the middle/high school’s 67 graduating seniors gathered for their commencement ceremony.
(Graduating senior Masarra Aljanabi speaking)
This year’s ceremony was held last night at South Seattle College‘s Brockey Center.
(Graduating senior Genesis Desiree Victorio-Contreras embraces teacher Deborah Haislip)
Proud families and friends filled the event venue to help launch the grads into their post-high-school lives.
(Ofelia Cortes takes a moment before thanking her parents)
This year’s graduating class is twice the size of Summit Atlas’s first one back in 2021.
Summit Atlas ASB President Ella Galaites (below) also took to the podium to congratulate her classmates:
Mentors – including teacher Mandy Vu (below) – gave personal remarks about every student graduating:
Next commencement ceremony for a local high school will be Chief Sealth IHS, Wednesday, June 11, 8 pm at Memorial Stadium downtown, which is also where West Seattle HS‘s ceremony is planned for 5 pm Tuesday, June 17.
Thanks to Sanislo Elementary teacher Shannon Crowley for the photos! Above are some of the 150+ volunteers from Deloitte who descended on the Puget Ridge school today for volunteer work including mural painting. The one above is on a portable, and this one in the gym features the school’s namesake, Seattle Fire Captain Stephen Sanislo, who according to this HistoryLink vignette spent 31 years educating children about fire safety:
P.S. Here’s another photo of the portable mural, after it was complete:
Other Sanislo projects planned for the volunteer TLC today included garden beds. This was part of their company’s “Impact Day.”
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The breezeway of South Seattle College‘s central Robert Smith Building used to be a blank, bleak passageway through a space framed by unadorned concrete.
Not any more.
Now the college’s first mural “We Carry the Light, We Carry the Sky” graces the walls on both sides, even wrapping around the corners beyond. The mural painted by more than 100 students, staff, and community members was at the heart of a noontime celebration today. It was described as more than a “wall decoration … a radical reimagining” of the hopes and dreams of all who comprise the college’s community.
SSC’s dean of arts, humanities and social sciences Dr. Eileen Jimenez emceed the courtyard event, introducing Seattle Colleges tribal liaison Willard Bill Jr. of the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe for a welcome with drumming and singing:
Muralist Toka Valu told the two stories depicted by the mural – one about the coyote carrying fire, the other about collaborating to lift the sky:
Scott Mexcal, SSC art faculty and instructor for the mural class, described the mural as a “seed” that grew “a lot bigger than ever dreamed.” It depicts “what makes us, us,” he observed, “a community in which 80 primary languages are spoken.”
He also called it something befitting “the gateway for the larger community into the intimacy of our learning community.” And so it received a grand unveiling – curtains of gold tinsel draped over it, removed to reveal the panels:
You can see the mural any time by visiting the campus; it’s steps away from the SSC ballot box, among other landmarks. And if you want to support the creation of more murals – this one is envisioned as the first of seven – you can help with a fundraiser by donating here.
Just under two weeks of classes remain for Seattle Public Schools. But the goodbyes have already begun. For some, it’ll be just for the summer. Others won’t be back in fall – retiring faculty, for example.
West Seattle Elementary School staff gathered after school Wednesday afternoon to celebrate retiring co-workers. At the top of the list: Award-winning longtime principal Pamela McCowan-Conyers, retiring after 16 years at the school in High Point.
After a gathering in the library at which McCowan-Conyers and other retiring staffers were presented with crowns and sashes reading “OFFICIALLY RETIRED,” as well as gift bags, everyone headed downstairs for an extra surprise for the principal:
The plaque on the lobby wall was placed without her catching on, and will remain as a tribute to her years there. Assistant principal Ritchie Garcia will succeed her as interim principal next school year. His words of appreciation for her included that she “just cares straight up for people.” She also was celebrated for recognizing employees’ talents and knowing where to place them to maximize growth, and for her role in successes such as WSES’s multiple honors as a School of Distinction. She also was honored with a Thomas B. Foster Award for Excellence two years ago.
Former WSES staffers who returned to help celebrate McCowan-Conyers’ retirement included her predecessor as principal, Vicki Sacco, who departed in 2016, leading to McCowan-Conyers’ promotion. In the style of what staff called “Pam-ism” sayings, she said, “You have served your community, served your school, now it’s time to put a period on it.”
That’s Chief Sealth International High School principal Hope Perry, onstage in the CSIHS Auditorium tonight as the Senior Awards ceremony began. More than 200 awards and scholarships were announced in the ceremony, including honors for outstanding scholars in specific departments, and cord recipients for GPA achievement (single cord means 3.2 to 3.49, double cord means 3.5 or higher), Seal of Biliteracy recipients, plus 60+ seniors qualifying for the Above and Beyond Service Award, which means they did at least twice as much volunteer/service work as required to graduate:
Among the announcements were the Chief Sealth PTSA‘s scholarship presentations; this year they set a record with seven, three named for community members including one in memory of WSB co-founder Patrick Sand (congratulations to recipient Ayana Meyer). CSIHS’s Class of 2025 graduates next Wednesday (June 11), 8 pm, at Memorial Stadium downtown,
Two Chief Sealth International High School sports teams are selling discount tickets to an upcoming Mariners game, and offering them to the community:
“Chief Sealth Football Night at the Mariners”
Tickets can be purchased using the QR code on our flyer or by clicking this link: schoolpay.com/pay/for/Mariners-vs-Astros–July-18th-710PM/Sd5GIel
The game is Friday July 18th at 7:10 PM against the Houston Astros. It is also an ’80s-themed fireworks night!
View Level Seats – $20 each
Main Level Seats – $30 each
Last day to purchase tickets is Friday, June 13th.
Proceeds will directly support Chief Sealth Football and our partnering organization, Chief Sealth Girls Bowling.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School teacher JC Santos was intensely proud of his students as their “Voices for Immigrants and Refugees: A Community Meal” unfolded this afternoon.
“They designed this whole thing,” he exclaimed, gesturing around OLG’s expansive Walmesley Center gym/event venue. “I didn’t even know what it would look like until I got here.”
We previewed the event after receiving postal-mail letters from two students inviting us – and the entire community – to attend. Right after arriving today, we met one of those students, Emmett, near the door, which was attendees’ gateway to an immersive experience.
Emmett was explaining a section of the gym’s south wall that held flags from the more than two dozen countries from which the participating students claim ancestry, and a map where all were invited to place dots near a city from which someone in their family emigrated.
Having been invited immediately to ponder their ancestry, attendees were in the perfect frame of mind to learn the difficulties often faced by the immigrants and refugees of today.
Some of these challenges were interpreted as versions of classic games – you could roll dice on a version of “Chutes and Ladders” and either make progress or face a setback; nearby, another table of students had a version of Jenga.
Many tables were set up for attendees to sit down and enjoy the student-prepared lunch, and each had a card with a factoid such as “40 percent of foreign-born residents own their own homes,” among other stats.
At one table were visitors who were immigrants and refugees themselves, a delegation from the United Methodist Church in Riverton that’s become a magnet for new arrivals. One of them talked with us, saying they had arrived here last year, stayed at the church six months, then got an apartment with their family (including two children ages 8 and 14), and now has a job too. We didn’t discuss their home country, but they repeated multiple times that they came here because it’s “safe” in comparison.
All around the gym, displays expressed messages of welcome and taught lessons about new arrivals, as well as showing examples of “welcome kits” helping set up homes for newcomers, who often arrive with nothing but the clothes they’re wearing. (Go here to donate to the fund for them.) And on the north side of the gym, students were serving the food that made the occasion “a community meal”:
Every dish – from lumpia to lasagna – had a story:
Once everyone was seated, Mr. Santos and some of his students gave a blessing, a welcome, and an explanation:
And there was evidence everywhere of an important takeaway – showing kindness to everyone, no matter where they’re from:
Volunteers at the first welcoming table estimated about 200 people had shown up.
West Seattle High School‘s nationally recognized Unified Sports program has a state championship to add to the honors. Thanks to the reader who sent the photos and report:
The West Seattle High School Unified Soccer Team (through Special Olympics) just won the state championship! Congrats to be shared with WSHS Unified leader Rachel Myers, the coaches, and all the athletes and players.
The matches were played today in Puyallup.
(Photos courtesy Brandy DeWeese, Gatewood PTA)
The banner says it all – Gatewood Elementary‘s third annual Gator Fair is on right now! Everyone’s welcome to join in free fun on the playground on the west side of the 4320 SW Myrtle campus:
Some activities and performances are scheduled – here’s the lineup:
The Gator Fair continues until 2:30 pm today (rain or shine!).
(WSB photos)
Pride month begins tomorrow, but Louisa Boren STEM K-8 in Delridge got an early start with a Pride Kickoff Party on the playground last night. Rainbows were everywhere, from chalk creations to costumes:
Sponsors and participants included the PTA, GGLOW, and area organizations like White Center Pride:
WC Pride’s street festival is one week from today, June 7 on 16th SW between Roxbury and SW 100th.
9:05 AM: Police are at Madison Middle School after an incident described in this note sent to families:
Good Morning Madison Families, at approximately 8:25 am students reported a vehicle approached some students in an unfriendly manner in the front of the school and sped away. Seattle Police were immediately notified and we escorted all students inside the building. We are currently sheltering in place and have extra SPS security on site. We will notify you when our SIP is lifted.
The note didn’t describe the vehicle but police in the area are currently looking for one described as a light-colored 4-door Hyundai Elantra.
9:18 AM: The initial dispatch was that a “suspect in a mask pulled up to the school and pointed a gun at them.” Four people in all reported to be in the car (described above), with the armed person described as a “Hispanic male, late teens,” dark clothing including a ski mask-style black face covering.
10:04 AM: No word of any arrest(s) but the investigation continues; commenters report the “shelter in place” has been lifted.
12:55 PM: Just to note, we have of course requested followup info both from the district and from SPD and will add whatever we hear back.
5:45 PM: Still no word from SPD. The district provided us with the message Madison principal Dr. Robert Gary sent to families at day’s end, but it contained no new information about the actual incident.
11:45 PM: Just got the police report narrative. It says, as we wrote above, the initial dispatch was that “suspect with mask pulled up to school, pointed a gun at RP (reporting party), last seen driving northbound on 45th … suspect description Hispanic male, late teens, black balaclava [ski mask], all black clothing.” The report says the person who reported a gun was pointed at them was a Madison staffer, not student. Then 911 got “a call from a parent saying her daughter told her that occupants of the vehicle are trying to sell narcotics to students and threatening to shoot up the school. This complainant has limited information, says daughter is in the office with staff now.”
The officer who wrote the report subsequently arrived at Madison, talked with the principal, who aid “he called after a staff member … advised him that suspects in a white vehicle had pointed a firearm at (the staffer).” The officer wrote that the staffer said they were in their vehicle “approaching the school when (staffer) noticed a 2010s (redacted) sedan with tinted windows parked facing SB on 45 AV SW near SW Hinds ST. XXXXX stated the sedan was obviously stopped speaking to students who were on the sidewalk and (staffer) stated the students appeared scared. (staffer) pulled up behind the vehicle and the vehicle reversed and pulled up beside (staffer, who) yelled at the occupants stating “what’s up?” when the driver of the vehicle pointed what appeared to be a silver firearm in (staffer’s) direction saying “what’s up?” back in an aggressive manner. (Staffer) told the kids to go inside of the school. The vehicle then took off. (Staffer) advised the kids to let the principal know and to call 911 and then assisted in getting the kids inside of the school to lock down. (Staffer) described the suspects as all HMs, with tanned skin, wearing all black clothing and balaclava’s showing their eyes and noses.” The report says two students talked to police, with the principal’s permission, about what they saw; they said the people in the car “offered to sell them marijuana” and “continued to circle the school approximately three times.” The report says these students did not report seeing a gun “but stated they were told by friends that the occupants had firearms.” It also says officers “were unable to locate the teen whose parent called in stating that the suspects threatened to shoot up the school” and that “the principal was unaware of a student making these remarks.” That’s where the report ends; the only other info we’ve received is from a district spokesperson who says “an SPS Security Division Lead was placed at the school after the incident occurred and stayed for the remainder of the school day.”
(OLG photo: Walmesley Center)
Two students from Our Lady of Guadalupe School have sent us postal-mail letters about this community event coming up Sunday (June 1). This transcribed excerpt is from one letter, sent by 7th grader Emmett:
…This year our class has read books on a refugee’s journey and the history of discrimination and racism in our country, even here in Seattle. We also had a guest speaker come in and talk about his journey from Equatorial Guinea, through South America, and making his way to Seattle. After listening to his powerful story, we began taking action in our Missionary Discipleship Institute response project. After brainstorming, we decided on hosting a community meal. This response project matters to me because my grandparents were immigrants from the Philippines, and I was never really told the story. The reason the event is so important to me is so that immigrants and refugees can tell their story, their journey to America, to Seattle.
Our event is called “Voices for Refugees and Immigrants: A Community Meal” and will be hosted on June 1, at 12 pm. Our meal will take place at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Gymnasium, and the address is 3401 SW Myrtle St., and our goal is to welcome the community of Seattle. At this event, we will be taking donations that will be put into making care kits for immigrants or refugees settling into their homes. …
The OLG website announcement notes that students have designed the entire event! The gym is in the Walmesley Center, across SW Myrtle from the main school building, with its main entrance off the parking lot to its east.
West Seattle High School students hosting a “beautify the school” event are inviting donations for their gardening project. Here’s the announcement they asked us to share:
West Seattle High School ASB members Sam Flynn, Jonah Pelander, Charlie Lewis, and Christiano Solis are putting on an event to add beauty and color to the surrounding premises of WSHS through plant life. We’re all very passionate about nature and our community and we would love if fellow community members could support us through donations, specifically to buy plants to plant. We thank you for your time and the impact you will have on the youth.
Here is the link for donations. Thank you for your time.
(Photos by Rick McGann)
Those are some of the 16 students from our area’s two largest high schools who were honored this past Monday night at Alki Masonic Lodge‘s 44th annual School Awards Night. Every year the lodge works with school counselors to choose juniors as honorees, as part of their mission “to recognize and thus encourage participation in public-school education,” as its parent organization “has long supported the public-school system as one of the basic necessities in maintaining the American ideal of democracy.” In addition to presentation of plaques – and, later, pizza – all in attendance listened to some observations and advice from their hosts. Martin Monk, who emceed, noted that he was a recipient of one of the awards in the 44-year-old program’s very first year. He offered a little more history: The lodge, at 40th/Edmunds in The Junction, has been there since 1906; they have 100 members now, though membership in the past has been as high as 500.
Chaplain Alan Sawyer suggested the student recipients consider the awards “a launching pad” for their future efforts.
(Ron Creel standing, Tom Christie seated)
Sporting a top hat, the lodge’s leader, Worshipful Master Ron Creel, mentioned he had spent time as a high-school teacher, and offered six points of advice to the students:
-Stay curious through your lifetime and never stop learning new things.
-Find something to be passionate about.
-Develop creative outlets, like art and/or music.
-Be kind to all people.
-Volunteer your time and skills.
-Learn another language – it will open you up to multiple possibilities in life.
The ceremony traditionally includes a presentation to faculty representatives of both schools; (corrected) school counselor Daniel Rosen took the stage representing CSIHS; WSHS faculty representatives included assistant principal Nancy Carroll.
(Daniel Rosen with Martin Monk)
Tom Christie preceded that part of the presentation with a speech reinforcing the Masons’ commitment to public education, noting that “freethinking is a tenet of Freemasonry” and expressing hope that the recipients will be inspired to “search for truth.” Rosen thanked the Masons for recognizing juniors, as senior year becomes such a blur by the time students get to the end of their high-school years.
The students’ achievements were briefly noted as they came forward to accept their awards, with hopes of future studies in areas of focus ranging from business to science. Here are the lists from both schools, in the order featured in the event program:
Chief Sealth International High School
Caitlin Boyer
Dayami Angulo Lopez
Tara Kankesh
Hamdi Elmi
Ann Nguyen
Elena Latterell
Azhar Samatar
Addison WhitedWest Seattle High School
Lilly DuPuis
Adelyn Martin
Keegan Chapman
Ioannis Athanasiadis
Nina Nakajima
Jim Guevara
Anhelina Hutsu
Justice Jenkins
The recipients also received monetary gifts, described by Monk as “not a lot of money, but every little bit helps” when it comes time to cover college costs.
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