West Seattle, Washington
23 Tuesday
12:17 PM: That’s the scene outside Chief Sealth International High School, where a protest is getting under way, as announced last night by the sister of the 15-year-old boy who died last Tuesday of a gunshot wound across the street at Southwest Pool/Teen Life Center. Police have said that others were with him but have yet to say whether they believe the shooting was accidental or intentional.
12:59 PM: Thistle is currently blocked by police as protesters march to and gather outside SW Pool/Teen Life Center.
1:34 PM: It’s over and the street has reopened. Family members and others including City Councilmember Rob Saka spoke. Full report later.
6:33 PM: Find that report here.
Two schools with open houses tomorrow are sponsoring WSB this week to get the word out about these events:
HOLY FAMILY BILINGUAL CATHOLIC SCHOOL: Noon-3 pm Sunday, West Seattle’s only two-way English/Spanish immersion preschool/elementary/middle school invites prospective families to visit. See the flyer here. The school is on the southwest corner of 20th/Roxbury and has a parking lot on the south side of the campus.
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CATHOLIC SCHOOL: 10 am-1 pm Sunday, OLG – also a pre-8 school, on the southwest corner of 34th/Myrtle – welcomes prospective families to come find out about “the strength of our academics as well as our students’ commitment to service.” More info here.
The West Seattle High School girls’ bowling team has reason to celebrate after winning the Metro League championship – again! This is the fifth consecutive year the team, coached by Jeremy Marzofka, has taken the league title – which is every year since the program launched in 2020. (Thanks for the tip, and to WSHS for providing the photo.)
(WSB photo, Tuesday)
The King County Medical Examiner’s Office has just released its daily list of death investigations, which identifies the Chief Sealth International High School student who died of a gunshot wound at Southwest Pool/Teen Life Center on Tuesday. His name was Mobarak S. Adam, according to the KCMEO document, which says he was 15, not 14 as SFD had said on Tuesday. The KCMEO document does not include any insight into the investigation, though; “cause of death” is listed as “pending,” and “manner of death” (this is where the KCMEO usually says homicide, suicide, accidental, or natural) is also listed as “pending.” As we noted here earlier, SPD is not yet releasing any information beyond what Chief Adrian Diaz said at the scene Tuesday. Meantime, Seattle Public Schools superintendent Dr. Brent Jones sent this message to the community:
Like many of you, I am deeply saddened by the loss of this young member of our community.
Our central office and school teams are working tirelessly to offer support to the grieving family and the affected school communities. We are collaborating with city officials to coordinate and share resources.
Multiple agencies are joining forces to react and respond to this tragedy. Although there is no known threat to our schools due to this event, the Seattle Police Department will have additional patrols around the Chief Sealth and Denny campuses.
The Seattle School Board and I remain committed to creating welcoming and safe neighborhoods for our students and staff.
But to make a real difference, larger changes are needed.
Our young people deserve the opportunity to focus on growing and thriving without violence. The availability of firearms only adds to worries.
It’s time for us, as a community, to address this issue together. We need to challenge ourselves to work collectively.
Let’s start with each of us taking a more active role in creating safety in our communities. Be a vigilant neighbor, encourage open communication, or contribute to initiatives that make our shared spaces secure for everyone.
Please remember, you can use the SPS Safe Schools Hotline 206-252-0510 to report any threats to SPS schools. This phone number is managed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
We want our students to be free to take on academic challenges in the classroom, rather than facing threats on our city streets. Together, let’s build a safer and more resilient community.
That’s a photo from the Dick’s Drive-In truck visit to Highland Park Corner Store last May. It’s returning this Saturday (January 27), this time as one of three ways to help nearby Highland Park Elementary School students, via the PTA.
First – show up for a community cleanup at 10 am Saturday – meet on the west side of the school (1012 SW Trenton) by the dumpsters.
Second – At 11 am, head to the HP Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW), where the Dick’s truck will be selling burgers and shakes until 2 pm as part of a fundraiser for the PTA.
Third – While you’re at HPCS, grab a Mighty Mustang soda, and/or a pint of local beer, and bid on raffle items, also at HPCS, as the PTA works to raise money for new stools and acrylic paint for the school’s Art Room. grab a Mighty Mustang Soda or a pint of local beer, and bid on raffle items – the proceeds of which will go to support the Highland Park Elementary PTA. The PTA thanks Dick’s, The Bridge, and HPCS for supporting the school, and hopes you’ll be there to help.
Another in-person meeting of note announced today: West Seattle’s newly elected Seattle Public Schools Board director Gina Topp invites you to her first community-conversation meeting. Any questions/comments/concerns about SPS, bring them; no RSVP needed, just show up. The meeting will be at High Point Library (35th/Raymond) 1:30-2:30 pm Sunday (January 28). Topp won election in November with 89 percent of the vote in the race to succeed two-term board director Leslie Harris, who chose not to run again.
With two weeks to go in high-school basketball’s regular season, we checked in on Chief Sealth International High School‘s two Saturday night varsity home games.
(#24, junior Fahima Mohamed)
The Sealth girls opened the night with a big win.
(#14, sophomore Alysse Bland)
They beat Cleveland 74-29.
(#11, sophomore Dajah Johnson)
The girls’ record is now up to 8-7. Their win came with an assistant coach filling in at the helm – former West Seattle High School basketball star Grace Sarver:
In the nightcap, the Seahawk boys lost narrowly to Cleveland, 65-63.
It was Senior Night, so that meant some special recognition for the players who will graduate this year:
(#14, senior Ocean Freeman)
(#22, senior Natniel Goitaom)
(#0, senior James McAllister II)
The boys’ record is now 3-13. Their next game is at Franklin, as is the girls’ next game; the boys play at 7:30 pm Tuesday (January 23), the girls play at 7:30 Wednesday (January 24).
West Seattle High School athletic director Corey Sorenson is looking for two people to step up to the plate and fill out his coaching staff – here’s his announcement:
West Seattle has two coaching positions open for this Spring!
Girls Varsity Softball Head Coach
Boys Junior Varsity Head Baseball CoachInterested applicants can apply via the link listed below. Thank you!
If you ever attended Holy Rosary School, they’d love to see you back next weekend – here’s the announcement:
Calling All Alumni for Holy Rosary Alumni Day
Are you an alum of Holy Rosary, or do you know someone who is? Or, come together as an alumni class! We are celebrating all Holy Rosary school alumni on Sunday, January 28, 11:30 am-1:30 pm. HRS alumni are invited to contribute to the Holy Rosary Alumni Book while enjoying light refreshments in the school hall. Families are welcome to join.
Please direct any question to office@holyrosaryws.org
2 PM: Thanks for the tips. Chief Sealth International High School and Denny International Middle School families have received an email from their schools’ principals about a threat today that they say was determined to be a hoax. Here’s the version sent by principal Ray Morales:
This morning, a threat was reported regarding Chief Sealth International High School. Seattle Police Department (SPD) responded quickly to our campus.
SPD completed a thorough safety check on our shared campus. Seattle Public Schools (SPS) safety and security team has reviewed our security alarm system and found no unauthorized people entering the building. SPD and SPS have determined this was a hoax. There is no credible threat to our students and staff.
The incident remains under investigation with SPD and SPS Department of Technology Services who are attempting to determine the source of the email.
For Denny, out of an abundance of caution, we kept first lunch Denny students inside due to the additional police presence.
I am grateful for the quick and thorough response by SPD and SPS. Today, you or your student may see additional SPD and additional SPS safety and security staff on our campus as they investigate and support our school community.
We’re checking with SPD to see if they have any additional information; the call log on X (formerly Twitter) says police responded to a threat call at CSIHS just after 9:30 am.
ADDED 2:58 PM: Here’s the SPD response to our inquiry:
On 01/19/2024 at approximately 0937 hours, a local news station received an email from an unknown individual. The email was regarding a bomb threat at (the school) and a teacher’s residence. Officers headed to the high school and contacted the principal of the school. Based on the email, the school deemed that the email non-credible and wished not to evacuate the school. The listed teacher declined to speak to officers. Officers checked the outer perimeter of the school and did not locate anything suspicious. The school staff checked the inner perimeter and reviewed security camera footage, nothing was suspicious.
You donate, they read! The Madison Middle School ASB (student association) has a request:
Help us get people reading!
Madison Middle School’s annual fundraiser is approaching! This fundraiser allows us to fund clubs, sports, and extracurriculars. This year, we’ll be holding a read-a-thon, from March 11th to March 25th. We are looking for incentives for students to motivate them to participate. The Madison Middle School ASB will be accepting gift cards/certificates to local West Seattle businesses, no more than $25 each.
If you have any questions, or would like to make a donation, please email madisonmsasb@gmail.com
Last April, in this report on a community-conversation event hosted by then-School Board member Leslie Harris, we mentioned two students who were there to ask her support for creation of a West Seattle High School water-polo team. It’s finally happening, according to reader Jennifer, who sent this update because now they need community help:
The league and district have approved a club team (no district funds) so that the girls can play. The season starts in late February! However, the team has no funds to cover pool time, equipment, or coaching. Please consider supporting them through the West Seattle Booster Club at wsbooster.com/#donate (be sure to put “Water Polo” in the notes!)
Drugs are taking too many lives, from kids to seniors. What do parents and guardians need to know to save lives? That’s one major topic of this parent-education event tomorrow night (Thursday, January 18) at Madison Middle School:
All are welcome, not just families with connections to Madison. The school is at 45th/Spokane.
8:32 AM: Just in – Madison Middle School‘s principal has messaged families to announce that the school is going remote today because of a pipe problem. Here’s the message parents forwarded to us:
Overnight, a pipe burst in our building. Fortunately, the district facilities team is working to clean up the water and fix the pipe.
Because of this work, we will transition to remote learning today, January 16, with students at home engaged in remote learning.
Your student should have brought home their device last week. Please have your student sign in to their school accounts to look for updates and resources from their teacher or school staff.
Student Meals: families may pick up a sack meal at the school today from 10 a.m. until noon.
I will follow up with families as more information becomes available.
The message was timestamped less than an hour before the scheduled start of classes. We’re checking with the district to see when the problem was found and how extensive it is/was.
9 AM: Commenters say Madison families have just received another text saying that remote classes will start two hours late.
3:53 PM: The SPS media office says they won’t have answers to our questions, such as when the break happened, where, and how much damage was don, before tomorrow. They do say they expect word this afternoon on whether in-person classes will resume tomorrow.
5:30 PM: According to the SPS media office, in-person classes will resume tomorrow (Wednesday, January 17).
WEDNESDAY UPDATE: A district spokesperson responded today to our questions about when the break happened, where, and how much damage: “We can’t be sure when it actually broke, but it was found Tuesday morning. It broke in the ceiling above Classroom L221. There are 6 classrooms, an office, some mechanical spaces and a hallway impacted. Carpet, floor tile, walls and ceiling all got wet. There were also some books and other teaching materials that were damaged.”
(WSB photos)
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is more than a holiday – it’s MLK Day of Service for thousands of volunteers all over the country. Dozens of them spent today at Denny International Middle School, doing work to “revitalize” the school, much of which involved art:
Some of the art celebrates Dr. King and his words:
These fish will hang in a hallway:
Marine themes are a big part of Denny decor, since the school mascot is the dolphin:
Outdoor work was part of the plan too; many of the volunteers were on a well-deserved lunch break when we stopped by:
Today’s work was organized by City Year, which has AmeriCorps members working at Denny throughout the year.
Want someone else to do the cooking? Here are two ways to do that this week while helping local schools:
ROXHILL ELEMENTARY @ THE WESTY: Friends of Roxhill Elementary will benefit from a share of the proceeds, dine-in or take-out, at The Westy (7908 35th SW) today, Tuesday, and Wednesday (January 15-17), 11 am-11:45 pm. If you dine in (21+), tell your server you’re there for the Roxhill fundraiser; if you order take-out online, use the promo code ROXHILL.
WEST SEATTLE ELEMENTARY @ MOD: This Wednesday, the Westwood Village MOD Pizza (2800 SW Barton) will donate part of its proceeds for dine-in and take-out customers who mention they’re supporting West Seattle Elementary – if ordering online, use the code MODGIVES20. Here’s the flyer. The restaurant is open 10:30 am-10 pm
Some of the funds featured in the Giving Opportunities section of our Holiday Guide this past season are still open to donations, such as this one for Chief Sealth International High School, trying to ensure help for their most-vulnerable students. School staff asked us to publish this request:
Please consider donating to the CSIHS InvestEDF fundraising campaign. These funds are used to help our students that are struggling to fund the basic needs for a successful high school experience. Our current funds will not meet the many needs of our students this year so we are asking the community for help. The CSIHS InvestED fund helps provide students with necessities such as school supplies, clothing, emergency gear, and bedding.
Beyond the basics, these funds can help with test and activity fees too, so that students in need have the same opportunities as their schoolmates. Just use the drop-down on this page to designate that your donation is for Chief Sealth International High School. “Any donation is greatly appreciated!” they add.
(WSB photos)
In those bags were some of the 2,600 eyed coho-salmon eggs that hundreds of students and teachers in West Seattle are about to raise for the Salmon in the Schools program. Volunteer Phil Sweetland picked them up at the Soos Creek Hatchery this morning, and this afternoon, reps from the 14 participating local schools came to fetch their future fry.
Akemi Sakaida, for Alki Elementary, and Adrian Parke, for Highland Park Elementary, were among those retrieving eggs today outside the home of Sweetland and Judy Pickens, who also is a longtime volunteer with the program (among many other community roles).
Participating students this year range from preschool to high-school age. The eggs will be placed in tanks at schools, where, Pickens explains, “Students will rear their fish and learn about salmon, habitat, and stewardship until releasing their fry in Fauntleroy Creek in May.” (Almost 1,000 people participated in last year’s releases.)
Five notes for school-shopping season:
TILDEN SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: Independent K-5 Tilden School (4105 California SW; WSB sponsor) is hosting its next open house this Saturday, 10 am-noon. Head of School Dr. Jorge Olaf Nelson and Tilden staff and families will be there to answer questions and talk about the school’s programs.
BRIDGE COOPERATIVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: Also ready to welcome prospective families 10 am-noon this Saturday is The Bridge School (10300 28th SW; WSB sponsor) – “Families will learn about our whole-child, hands-on approach to learning that includes multi-age small classes, an outdoor education program, and an emphasis on the arts.”
WEST SEATTLE PRESCHOOL FAIR: Next Monday night, it’s the return of this event bringing together representatives from more than a dozen local preschools. The Preschool Fair is set for 5:30-7 pm Monday, January 8th, in the Menashe Gym at Hope Lutheran North (4100 SW Genesee). Hope Lutheran and Westside School (WSB sponsor) are coordinating it and are two of the participants.
NEW PRESCHOOL: The Torah Learning Center of West Seattle has announced that it’s starting a Jewish Forest Preschool in the Alki area this summer, for ages 2-5. It’ll be a “nature-based preschool” featuring “exploratory play and learning.” They’re accepting inquiries at jewishalkibeach@gmail.com.
PUBLIC-SCHOOL OPEN HOUSES/TOURS: We’re starting to get announcements from individual West Seattle schools and are adding them to the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar as we get them. We’ve heard so far from Highland Park Elementary (dates here) and Lafayette Elementary (info here). The district website also is building a list here.
School-related info always welcome – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thanks!
Though school was out for two weeks, high-school basketball teams kept playing, and now the regular season has a month to go. Tonight West Seattle High School hosted Eastside Catholic. We went to WSHS for the varsity games.
(WSB photos. #10, freshman Seneca Lucas)
The Wildcat girls opened with a win, 43-32, after a strong fourth quarter.
(WSHS #21, junior Alyssa Neumann, and #4, senior Carmen Cruz)
They’re now 6-5 on the season.
(WSHS #20, junior Colby Timmons)
Head coach Darnell Taylor‘s team plays at Seattle Prep next, 4:30 pm Saturday.
After the girls’ game concluded, the WSHS and ECHS boys took to the court.
(WSHS #23, senior Pawlose Aschalew)
In this one, Eastside Catholic, which arrived undefeated, stayed that way, winning 78-63.
(WSHS #3, senior Bo Gionet)
The Wildcat boys’ season record is now at 6-5.
(WSHS #0, junior Alex Pierce, #13, senior Nathan Schiavo, #2, sophomore Sully Janiwade)
Head coach Dan Kriley‘s team also plays at Seattle Prep on Saturday, 6 pm.
Cozy Comedy, run by two West Seattleites who produce shows here and around the region, has big news:
We have our FIRST charity comedy show coming up on January 11, 2024, benefiting the Lafayette PTA! Cozy Comedy will not be making a penny of profit from this show; all proceeds are going to the Lafayette PTA. Otter on the Rocks has graciously agreed to let us have an additional evening of entertainment in their business for this great cause!
Tickets are available at this link – eventbrite.com/e/laughing-for-leopards-comedy-fundraiser-for-lafayette-pta-tickets-759136446547
Date and Time – Thursday, January 11, 7 pm show start!
Where: Otter on the Rocks, West Seattle
Benefitting the Lafayette PTA
Otter on the Rocks (4210 SW Admiral) is one of the venues where Cozy Comedy – whose backstory we told last year – presents shows each
(New design proposal for Alki Elementary, with 15 parking spaces in southwest corner of site)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Four months after a city hearing examiner ruled that Seattle Public Schools must address parking concerns in its plan for rebuilding and expanding Alki Elementary, the district has submitted a new plan to the city. The original plan had no offstreet parking; the new one has 15 spaces.
First, some backstory – the hearing examiner’s order was the result of an appeal filed by nearby residents challenging the original city Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) decision last May to grant zoning exceptions (“departures”) for the project, including building it with no offstreet parking. The appeals were either dismissed or settled, except for the parking issue; the district was ordered to “revisit” it. SPS instead chose to go to court to challenge the ruling; after a hearing October 20th, a judge dismissed that challenge (on a technical point, not on its merits), leaving the district no option but to come up with a project revision. Now it’s done that.
One point of contention for the nearby residents’ appeal had been the parking study done for the original plan by Heffron Transportation, during a time period when both the pandemic and the West Seattle Bridge closure were factors. The firm has done a new study (see it here), looking at neighborhood parking this past August and September, and also looking at parking at and near the former Schmitz Park Elementary, to which Alki Elementary has moved until its new building is ready. The new parking study has findings similar to the previous one, contending that school-related needs still wouldn’t max out the available street parking near Alki Elementary. The new study also says they found Schmitz Park’s 47-space lot a little more than half-utilized.
All this, and the new plan, is summarized in a memo to SDCI (see it here) by project architect Rebecca Hutchinson of Mahlum Architects. Here’s how she explains what they did to come up with the 15 spaces:
… the design team was able to remove the loading platform and a dedicated driveway and staging area for SPS delivery trucks and garbage pickup. The design team also relocated the proposed transformer further away from the school building, which adds a greater cost than the original design. The design team then removed some storage space from the school and reconfigured the long-term bike parking structure (while still retaining the same number of long-term bike parking stalls). Finally, the design team removed the dedicated pedestrian path at the south edge of the site. This redesign sacrificed those elements that are desired for the functioning of the school, such as better loading, storage, and separated pedestrian path, and left only those architectural elements that were necessary to meet educational goals.
The result is that SPS was able to redesign the school to accommodate 15 parking stalls, including one ADA van stall. Depending on the needs of the student and staff population at the time the school reopens, it is possible that SPS can include one additional ADA stall and/or a time-limited load or unload zone. Now that the ADA stall can be included on the school site, the previously proposed on-street ADA stall across the street has been removed, which will result in retaining one additional on-street parking stall.
The architect’s memo also details why that’s the most they could do in terms of parking (if the project was built to code, 48 spaces would be required). A parking garage wasn’t an option, either above or below ground, Hutchinson wrote, for factors from height to water table to “(it) would increase the potential for uninvited persons to utilize the parking structure for a multitude of nefarious reasons.” She also wrote that a parking garage would likely add at least $10 million to the project price tag.
Another option examined: Condemning/buying adjacent residential property. They looked at a 16-unit apartment building south of the school and two single-family homes east of the school; neither seemed feasible or desirable for using that way, nor would either site enable the code-compliant number of spaces, the architect wrote.
In one last bit of case-making, the memo notes that seven SPS elementaries have no parking (none in West Seattle), 12 have fewer than 15 spaces, six have 20 or fewer; the project team has pointed this out before.
WHAT’S NEXT: It’s up to SDCI to review the revised plan and decide whether to approve the new version of the zoning exception (departure) or to reject it and insist on a plan with the required 48 spaces. If SDCI approves the revised departure, it would again be subject to appeal. The old school building already has been demolished but construction permits won’t be issued until this issue is settled.
Next year’s the big one for members of the Class of 1974 = and organizers of the West Seattle High School ’74 reunion sent this to get the word out early:
The West Seattle High School class of 1974 will be holding their 50th class reunion on May 31st, 2024 from 5-9 PM at Whisky West Bar and Grill, 6451 California Ave SW. The cost is $25 per person, of which $18 will go toward your food and drink. Checks are to be made payable to and mailed to Wayne Senter, 134 Dolphin Ave NE, Ocean Shores, WA 98569. Payment can also be made through PayPal to wsenter@aol.com. The WSHS class of ‘74 has a facebook page. Any questions can be answered by committee members there or by contacting Wayne at wsenter@aol.com.
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