West Seattle, Washington
27 Thursday
West Seattle’s second 2021 graduation filled the gym at Seattle Lutheran High School last night. The Saints’ Class of ’21 numbered 27.
Student speakers included valedictorian Tad Eisenberg, above, and salutatorian Carsen Broga, below:
Also speaking, class president Melina Menashe, seen below accepting an award from Denis Shapiro of the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle:
One major theme at this and other 2021 graduations … making up for time lost to the pandemic. P.S. The ceremony was livestreamed and you can see the archived video here.
(WSB photos/video)
The first of this week’s four graduation ceremonies for West Seattle high schools happened last night in the Brockey Center at South Seattle College.
In our video are the first-ever high-school graduates from Summit Atlas, West Seattle’s first and only charter school, which opened four years ago and has been adding grades each year until reaching a full complement of 6th through 12th grade classes this year. The “founders’ class” numbered 33 graduates. Five Class of 2021 students spoke – Zahria Perry, Zakariya Osman, Esther Mumbi, Anishta Rojini Kathireson, and Jackson Alvis, with whom we spoke before the ceremony:
Jackson is one of the 30 grads that the school says are headed for college. The ceremony also featured keynote speaker Toyia T. Taylor, the award-winning educator/advocate who chaired the 2020 Seattle Children’s March.
Teachers and staffers spoke too, including the high school’s executive director Dan Effland. Along with diplomas, the graduates received parting mementos such as a founders-class commemorative painting of orcas (the school’s mascot):
This milestone for the school comes 6 1/2 years after we broke the news that a charter school was taking over what had been a church and former supermarket at 35th/Roxbury. Summit Atlas opened in fall of 2017 as the second of California-based Summit‘s two Seattle schools.
The boys’ soccer teams at Chief Sealth International High School and West Seattle High School have both done well this pandemic-abbreviated season. So a lot was on the line in their rematch at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex today, one week after Sealth defeated West Seattle 3-2. But today – the Wildcats took the win, 1-0
Another note – as the last home game of the year for the Seahawks, this was Senior Night for Sealth.
(Both schools’ graduations are this Saturday, at Memorial Stadium downtown.)
Thanks to Laura James for the report and photo:
After dominating the Metro League for the past two months, the incredible Chief Sealth girls’ wrestling team put an exclamation point at the end of their season with a resounding team win at the Metro championship tournament last weekend! We also honored our awesome seniors from the girls’ and boys’ teams: Hazel Dahlquist, Mariajose Estrada, Michael Laudermilk, Erick Mejia, Owen Murray, María Pérez, Khalia Tenari, Renaeh Ureste, and Dominic Novito (who joined us this season from West Seattle High School).
Next up: the boys’ Metro tournament on Friday at Ingraham High School. Both teams are led by Head Coach Maurice Dolberry and Assistant Coaches Daron Camacho, Sergio Lopez, and Joey Richards.
(WSB file photo)
A little more than a week left in the school year, and we have two notes about Lafayette Elementary:
DONUT FUNDRAISER: The PTA is again selling Krispy Kreme “Digital Dozens,” this week only, redeemable for a dozen original glazed donuts. The fundraising sale is all online, except the part where you pick up the donuts. Orders are being taken here through 5 pm next Tuesday (June 15th). The nearest Krispy Kreme is in SODO, but you also can get a Digital Dozen certificate for family/friends in other areas who might be fans.
SUMMERTIME PLAYDATES: Also from the Lafayette PTA:
WELCOME, KINDERGARTEN FAMILIES! Kindergarten Play Dates are a great way for families and their little lafayette leopards to-be to meet other little leopards joining our school community – come make new friends or re-connect with old ones. Mark your calendars, if you are around, join us for these PTA hosted play dates at the Hiawatha Community Center playground:
Saturday, August 14 at 10 AM – RSVP, it helps us to plan accordingly
Saturday, August 21 at 10 AM – RSVP, it helps us to plan accordinglyIf you know a new incoming family, welcome them to our community and pass this information on!
(Got news from YOUR school? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!)
Two big events this week at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle): The Metro League track and field championships are planned at the stadium Wednesday and Friday afternoons/evenings (June 9th and 11th). 16 schools are scheduled to participate; the schedule for Wednesday’s events is here. (Thanks to meets announcer David Feinberg for the tip.)
As reported here last week, four West Seattle high schools have graduation ceremonies this week. Attendance is limited and general-public spectators won’t be accommodated, but you can watch three schools’ graduations live online:
FRIDAY: West Seattle’s only private high school, Seattle Lutheran HS, celebrates its grads with a ceremony on campus at 7:30 pm Friday (June 11th). It wil be streamed here via Vimeo (as will an Agape service at 7:30 Thursday night)
SATURDAY: West Seattle High School (11 am) and Chief Sealth International High School (5 pm) both have ceremonies at Memorial Stadium downtown on Saturday (June 12th). Seattle Public Schools is hosting most commencements there this year and says the stadium ceremonies will be livestreamed on the SPS YouTube channel.
Seattle Public Schools‘ last day of the year is June 18th, a week from Friday. The following Monday (June 21st), summer meal programs start up, and four sites are planned to operate in West Seattle, 11 am-1 pm Mondays through Fridays (except July 2nd and 5th):
Arbor Heights Elementary (3701 SW 104th)
Denny International Middle School (2601 SW Kenyon)
Highland Park Elementary (1012 SW Trenton)
Roxhill Elementary (7740 34th SW)
They’ll offer sack breakfasts and lunches, as well as reheatable meals, to all students/families – more info (and menus) can be found here.
Fauntleroy Children’s Center, located in the historic schoolhouse, welcomes you to join in this year’s fundraising auction starting right now, wherever you are! Here’s the announcement:
The Fauntleroy Children’s Center 34th Annual Auction is going on now online! Now until midnight on Sunday, June 13th we are excited to extend to our Greater West Seattle Community the opportunity to bid on the over 160 fun items and experiences all while supporting FCC. Click on our online auction link to sign up, browse the catalog, and bid high (and often!).
Our goal of our fundraiser is to fill FCC’s annual budget gap, which funds continuing education and staff appreciation, as well as tuition assistance for families in need and other critical projects like technology and play-structure upgrades.
For additional information, please visit the Fauntleroy Children’s Center website or email the FCC auction committee at auction@fauntleroychildrenscenter.org.
Fauntleroy Children’s Center is a nationally accredited nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the community and families of the greater West Seattle area since 1977 by offering high quality childcare in an educational environment. Our skilled, professional staff provides a secure, stable and diverse environment where children want to be. Our mission is to work in collaboration with the families we serve and the community to enrich each child’s social, emotional, intellectual and physical growth.
This year, West Seattle has four ceremonies for the Class of 2021. The peninsula’s only charter school, Summit Atlas, says farewell to its first 33 graduating seniors with a ceremony at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) next Thursday (June 10th). The next night (Friday, June 11th), West Seattle’s only private high school, Seattle Lutheran HS, celebrates its grads with a ceremony on campus. The next day – Saturday, June 12th – West Seattle High School (11 am) and Chief Sealth International High School (5 pm) both have ceremonies at Memorial Stadium downtown, where Seattle Public Schools is hosting most commencements this year. All of these events are limited in attendance because of the pandemic.
(Photos by Pete Draughon. Above, students and siblings from Westside Wonderspace preschool got to release coho fry last week with Dennis Hinton in the lower creek)
By Judy Pickens
Special to West Seattle Blog
Kindergarten students, parents, and staff from Sanislo Elementary had the honor of releasing the last of this spring’s Salmon in the Schools fry into upper Fauntleroy Creek.
Despite the pandemic’s many extra demands on teachers, seven West Seattle schools (half the usual number) managed to rear coho this year. In addition, two preschools released fry reared by volunteer Jack Lawless for the Fauntleroy Watershed Council to supplement what schools were able to produce.
Most teachers scheduled their releases in Fauntleroy Park by family groups. All told, 130 students, plus 190 adults and siblings, put 1,044 fish in the water.
(This Sanislo student added a bit of glamour to the last salmon release of the season on Fauntleroy Creek)
An additional 30 park users who happened by the release site on Saturday let the last of the supplemental fish go for their year in freshwater.
About the same time that fry were going into the creek, 49 smolts were heading out for their two years in saltwater. Between mid-March and late May, volunteers Dennis Hinton and Pete Draughon documented 15 smolts leaving from the upper creek and 34 from middle and lower reaches of the mile-long system. This number is about average for the past five years of this 19-year study.
Next up will be spawning season, starting in mid-October.
If you or someone in your family attended Genesee Hill or Schmitz Park Elementary, you may know Marilyn Mears, who retired recently. And you may be able to help with this effort to celebrate her years of work – here’s the announcement:
One of our beloved West Seattle elementary school teachers, Marilyn Mears, has recently retired and we would love to complete a book of pictures, memories and well wishes to celebrate this milestone. We are looking for submissions from current and previous students and families of Genesee Hill and Schmitz Park Elementary. She has served such an important part of many students’ lives in the West Seattle community and we want to acknowledge her dedication and accomplishments in education by providing a memento book for her to cherish. If you would like to contribute to the book and have any pictures or thoughts you would like to share, please email submissions to: mearsretirement@gmail.com
***We are hoping to have submissions by June 4th***
Letters and pictures for the book can also be dropped off at the front of Genesee Hill Elementary in the vestibule area between the first and second set of doors during school hours. These items can be digitized for submission into the memory book.
If you have any questions, please use the mearsretirement@gmail.com email.
Thank you! We look forward to your contributions!
As noted in our roundup last night, the weekly food-box distribution at Food Lifeline is NOT happening this Friday – but here’s something that is. Highland Park Elementary family-support worker Dominique Pie is teaming up again with Together Washington for a drive-up/ride-up grab-and-go food distribution 2-5 pm Friday. It’ll happen in the school-bus-loading zone at HPES (1012 SW Trenton); masks required, first-come first-served.
Brooke Jones, an educator at Lafayette Elementary in The Admiral District, is hoping for help in giving a retiring colleague a special sendoff:
Did you or your child attend Lafayette Elementary and have Amanda Miller as a first-grade teacher? After over 20 years at Lafayette Elememtary, she will be retiring. Please help us wish her a fond farewell and thank you for all of her years of teaching. Students and families, past and present, are invited to send cards, art, poems to the front office to be compiled to send as a surprise to her.
Please feel free to email your letter to bjjones1@seattleschools.org and I will print it out. Or mail your letter to Lafayette Elementary (2645 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116) addressed to Amanda Miller c/o Brooke Jones. Thanks so much!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
“This feels so eleventh-hour,” one frustrated parent said toward the end of an online meeting today about asbestos-removal work at Lafayette Elementary.
That wasn’t an exaggeration. In response to copious concerns voiced by staff and parents, Seattle Public Schools‘ project-team leaders met with them this afternoon toward the end of the last workday before the work is set to start. The work actually was supposed to get going this past Monday – as noted here a week ago when the district sent us a community notice – but was pushed back so concerns could be addressed. (Here’s a letter from staff and PTSA members spelling out the concerns.)
The asbestos removal is the opening act of a project that has been in the works for going on two years – earthquake-proofing work, fire-sprinkler installation, and replacement of the school’s 70-year-old boiler. It’s the consolation prize of sorts for Lafayette having been passed over for a rebuild in the district’s most-recent BEX levy, though it was listed as “priority” for condition/capacity concerns during levy planning. (It’s not likely to be up for a rebuild for 10 to 15 years, one district official said today when the topic came up.)
Though the overall project is long-planned, the asbestos-removal component wasn’t mentioned until last week, staff and parents say.
This year, supporters of Pathfinder K-8 on Pigeon Point “have reinvented our annual fundraising auction … This year is virtual and we have over 100+ items open to the community to bid & purchase!” Bidding started this morning and continues through Saturday (when the fundraising culminates in an online event at 5:30 pm, but you can bid without attending). Go here to get started;
you can see the auction items here – gift certificates, gift baskets, more. Questions? fundraising@pathfinderk8ptsa.org – the bidding continues until 11:59 pm Saturday.
Along with the Seattle Public Schools student-vaccination clinics already announced, the city is partnering with charter and independent/parochial schools to host clinics. According to an announcement from the mayor’s office today, that will include two pop-ups in our area – one for local independent schools (and students’ families/caregivers) at Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School (20th/Roxbury) 9 am-4:30 pm on Wednesday, May 26th, and one at Summit Atlas (35th/Roxbury, awaiting word on the date). The city also is offering “youth and family days” at the vaccination hub at the Lumen Field Event Center, with “updated hours to better serve families, on-site pediatric clinicians administering the vaccinations, and special Seattle Seahawks programming for kids and families.” No appointments required. These special events are 1:30-5:30 pm tomorrow (Wednesday, May 19th) and 11:15 am-5:45 pm Saturday (May 22nd).
Tomorrow is when Seattle Public Schools start offering on-campus student vaccination clinics for ages 12+ in partnership with the city. From the full districtwide list, the local schools’ dates are:
1st dose: Monday, May 17
2nd dose: Monday, June 7West Seattle High School
1st dose: 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 18
2nd dose: 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 8
1st dose: 2 – 5:30 p.m., Friday, May 21
2nd dose: 2 – 5:30 p.m., Friday, June 11Louisa Boren STEM K-8
1st dose: 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Thursday, May 20
2nd dose: 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Thursday, June 10Pathfinder K-8
1st dose: 2 – 5:30 p.m., Thursday, May 20
2nd dose: 2 – 5:30 p.m., Thursday, June 10Denny International Middle School
1st dose: Monday, May 24
2nd dose: Tuesday, June 15
1st dose: Thursday, May 27
2nd dose: Friday, June 18Madison Middle School
1st dose: Tuesday, May 25
2nd dose: Tuesday, June 15
If the specific time isn’t listed, that should have been – or will be – sent to families via email. Signed parent/guardian consent forms are required; they’re available in seven languages, all linked here.
Seattle Public Schools is circulating this notice sent to the Lafayette Elementary community, since it’s of potential wider interest to neighbors as well as nearby businesses and their customers who might see the crews:
Included in the upgrades, is replacing the existing boiler and associated piping. Asbestos abatement of insulation materials will be required prior to removal of the various mechanical components. The abatement, or removal process, is a monitored process to safely remove or handle any asbestos that may be in our older buildings in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
Due to the limited number of work days this summer, and the time required for removal and replacement of the various mechanical systems, asbestos abatement activities are scheduled to begin on Monday, May 17. The abatement activity will be confined within the Boiler Room and associated sub-surface utilidor tunnels. Work will only take place during non-school hours and in areas where no students have access to.
SPS has hired an independent third-party environmental consulting firm, NOVO Laboratory and Consulting Services, who are certified to oversee this work and will ensure the work is being performed safely and in compliance with the project manual as well as all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
Questions? Capital projects manager Tom Gut is the contact at twgut@seattleschools.org.
(WSB photo: Mark and Meghan Hogan of Dream Dinners present $1700 check to Mike Kreiger, WEB coordinator, and some of his WEB students)
A big boost for the student-powered WEB student-to-student mentorship program at Madison Middle School, in partnership with longtime WSB sponsor Dream Dinners West Seattle, which provided the announcement:
An enormous shout-out to WEB Coordinator Mike Kreiger and Madison Middle School Families! They helped the WEB (Where Everyone Belongs) Program WIN the Dream Dinners $500 March Matchness nationwide contest. Out of 70 nationwide stores they had the most signups to support their cause, with 50 families.
Dream Dinners Corporate Office donated and matched the initial contribution of Madison families to the maximum of $500. Together with the help of the 50 local families’ outstanding participation and the West Seattle Dream Dinners store, they raised $600 to give back to Madison’s WEB program. But that’s not all, Mark and Meghan Hogan – West Seattleites themselves, Madison Middle School parents, and owners of the West Seattle Dream Dinners store – donated and matched an additional $600. They are so proud of our community and know that it all starts in the schools. West Seattle has a bright future and they want to be a part of it. In total, the Madison WEB program earned $1700.
If you would like to find out how Dream Dinners can help you raise money for your favorite local nonprofit, please contact them by email at WestSeattleWA@dreamdinners.com. They would be honored to partner up with you.
Again a hearty Congratulations to Mike Kreiger and the Madison Middle School WEB Program, from the entire West Seattle Dream Dinners team, who “Took the Stress Out of Dinnertime” for 50 West Seattle families! To view their monthly menu go to dreamdinners.com.
P.S. We talked briefly to two of the students who were there to accept the donation, Clara McCall and Marlo Pietsch:
They are two of about 90 eighth-grade leaders involved with WEB, according to their adviser.
With final approval expected for dropping the Pfizer vaccine eligibility age from 16 to 12, Seattle Public Schools is helping organize clinics for students. Here’s what Chief Sealth International High School principal Aida Fraser-Hammer sent this message to families:
Seattle Public Schools is partnering with the City of Seattle, Seattle Fire Department, and city’s Department of Education and Early Learning to organize and host a vaccination clinic at the Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex for all students 12 and up. The first dose will be administered next Monday 5/17 and the second dose will be administered on 6/7. Clinics will be operated and staffed by Seattle Fire Department and students must bring a signed permission slip with them to get the vaccine. More information will be shared with you this week.
But it’s not just for CSIHS students. We subsequently checked with district spokesperson Tim Robinson, who replied, “The city and SPS are partnering to hold several student vaccination clinics, starting next Monday. In the coming days, additional efforts to vaccinate 12+ will be announced.”
Three local high-school varsity teams scored basketball victories Friday night:
West Seattle with a 52-51 victory over O’Dea HS! Isaiah Watts with the game winning 3! #WestSeattle #BleedBlue #GoWildcats #noplacelikewestseattle @westseattleblog @AthleticsMetro @donaldwatts24 pic.twitter.com/i7MTQ7IdAz
— WSHS Athletics (@WSHSAthletics1) May 8, 2021
WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL: The tweet above includes the late-in-the-game winning three-pointer in the Wildcat boys’ 52-51 victory over previously undefeated O’Dea. The team, coached by Dan Kriley, played at home; they’re on the road against Cleveland next Friday night. (Last night’s scheduled girls’ game vs. Holy Names was postponed.)
CHIEF SEALTH INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL: Both varsity teams beat Cleveland last night. 66-57 was the final score for the boys, coached by Colin Slingsby; 40-24 was the final score for the Seahawk girls, coached by Mario Martinez. The girls are scheduled to play at Nathan Hale on Wednesday; the boys’ next scheduled game is at Franklin next Friday.
(Image courtesy WSHS)
More high-school-football honors – West Seattle High School finished the abbreviated season 3-1, and postseason honorees in the Metro League Valley Division include head coach Jeffery Scott and a long list of his players. Here’s the list we received of the Wildcats’ honorees:
2021 METRO VALLEY ALL-LEAGUE TEAM
Offensive MVP: Jimmy Fomby (senior)
Defensive MVP: Reuben Leiataua (junior)
Coach of the Year: Jeffery ScottFIRST TEAM
RB: Jasper Mors (senior)
Wide Receiver, Defensive Back: Jimmy Fomby (senior)
Tight End, Linebacker: Jaxton Helmstetler (junior)
Offensive Line: Reuben Leiataua (junior)
Offensive Line: Dominic Novito (senior)
Defensive Tackle: Reuben Leiataua (junior)SECOND TEAM
QB: Axel Johnson (sophomore)
RB: Quinn O’Neill (junior)
Wide Receiver: Connor Berry (senior)
Offensive Line: Sebastian Chik (junior)
Offensive Line: Chris Manion (junior)
Defensive Back: Roman Centioli (sophomore)
Linebacker: Connor Berry (senior)
Defensive End: Ben Lapchis (senior)
Defensive End: Dominic Novito (senior)
Defensive Tackle: Chris Manion (junior)
Defensive Tackle: Sean Satia (junior)
Kicker: JP Dufour (senior)
Punter: Bo Gionet (freshman)HONORABLE MENTION
Wide Receiver: Christian Halter (senior)
Tight End: Mark Ursino (junior)
Defensive Back: Julian Tooman (sophomore)
Defensive Back: Rune Hendershot (sophomore)
Linebacker: Casey Maxwell (junior)
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