Pathfinder Compass
January 22, 2023
What to expect with the Compass!
Welcome Back, Pathfinder!
Happy Sunday Pathfinder! We hope you all are doing well as we settle into the 2023 year! As you likely know we are excited to begin bringing back some of the programs that complete Pathfinder. This year we were able to bring swimming back. While it was bumpy, we have to shout out Leanna for bringing 8th grade and 4th grade general education peers to swimming with our scholars served in Distinct! It was a great success and we are optimistic this is something we can continue in the future.
In this Issue:
- Camping
- Lockdown Drill
- Spirit Day: Color Wars!
- Upcoming Listening Sessions
In Case You Want To Know More:
- Cell Phone Reminder
- Heart and Sole
- Groups for Scholars
- Pathfinder Network Connectivity
- Book Launch Celebration
- Clickable Link Blazing Trails Monthly Newsletter
PTSA
General Meeting Agenda
After School Enrichment
Things I already Know:
Mark Your Calendars!
PTSA General Meeting | Tuesday, January 24th, 7 pm
Global Reading Challenge In-school Final | February 9th, 1:50pm in Pathfinder Cafeteria. Family members are welcome to attend!
Family Game Night | (Tentative) Thursday, February 16th, 6:15 pm-8:30 pm in the Pathfinder Lunchroom
Tall and Small Disco Ball | Friday, March 24th in the Pathfinder Gym
Every Wednesday is Early Release at 2:10pm
This Month We Celebrate
CAMPING!!
Lockdown Drill
SPIRIT DAY: Color Wars!
Our next Spirit Day is Friday, January 27th. It’s Color Wars be sure to wear your hall color so you can win the bragging rights!
Sky Hall | Red
Earth Hall | Gray
Water Hall | Blue
Middle School | Black
Upcoming Listening Sessions
Our sessions will be focused on grade band specific information and opportunities to share praises, questions, and concerns. To allow for more folx to join all sessions will happen via Zoom! Please join the session or sessions that make the most sense for you!
Tuesday, January 24th 6:00 - 7:00pm Kindergarten, First, and Second Grade
At this listening session we will update folx on the plan for K/1 looping and spend lots of time building community!
Thursday, January 26th 6:00 - 7:00pm Third, Fourth, and Fifth Grade
For the last 20 minutes of this listening session we will hold space for Elk families to discuss what has happened this year and ensure we are moving in the right direction!
Tuesday, January 31st 6:00 - 7:00pm Middle School
We invite 5th grade families to join us for this session! Our 6th grade teachers, Clarissa and Trissa, will facilitate an open house to give incoming 5th graders a better idea of what to expect next year.
Wednesday, February 1st 6:00 - 7:00pm Families Receiving SPED Services
We also encourage folx who are learning more about the REACH, SIT, and/or 504 processes. Please join to build community and have your questions answered.
Tuesday, February 7th 6:00 - 7:00pm BIPOC and Mixed Race Families
More information to come!
Cell Phone Reminder
Phase 1 | January 23 | Cell phones in lockers all day, turned into office if out during school.
If you need to contact your middle schooler during the school day, please call the front office.
We are still working with staff to solidify the plan for the subsequent phases. Our goal is we are able to work back into having free access and reasonable use of phones while on campus.
Heart and Sole
Groups for Scholars
Teachers Timmesha and Fatuma are beginning our Black affinity space. This too will begin with our Middle School scholars and we will seek a similar path to including our elementary school student.
Pathfinder Network Connectivity
If you have ever been on campus you have likely noticed connectivity is TERRIBLE! With the help of the BEX 5 Levy, we are able to upgrade the wireless network at Pathfinder to provide a better user experience.
On Monday, January 23 after 4:00pm this work will begin, please note while a wireless device may lose access if the wireless access points in their physical area are being upgraded, once connected the new equipment should be able to service users within 20 minutes.
THIS Tuesday! PTSA General Meeting: Please join us!
Tuesday, January 24th, 7 pm
Online meeting link (Google Meet)
Agenda:
- Pathfinder PTSA and Dr. Holmes updates
- Presentation on gun safety by Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America (Everytown for Gun Safety)
- Join the PTSA online here
- Read more about why you should join (TLDR: Membership entitles you to vote on PTSA officers, budgets and standing rules)
- Questions or comments about the PTSA are always welcome and should be sent to president@pathfinderk8ptsa.org
- Connect with us: Our website, Connect with your class, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
- Join the PTSA Volunteer Corps!
After School Enrichment Updates
We are looking for more students to join some of our after school classes
Would your student be interested in:
- Mandarin (Wednesdays K-4)
- Python Coding (Mondays 6-8th grades)
If so, email afterschoolprograms@pathfinderk8.org
Scholarships available
Please email afterschoolprograms@pathfinderk8.org
Volunteer request
We are looking for additional help with after school enrichment programs. Do you excel in spreadsheets? (Pun intended) Or do you love project/logistics management? If so we’d love your help! Please email afterschoolprograms@pathfinderk8.org
Understanding Special Education in SPS from PTSA
In October 2022, the Seattle Special Education PTSA published Getting to Results: A Guide to Special Education in Seattle Public Schools.
Written by PTSA volunteers and available in 10 languages, the Guide is an effort to demystify the special education system for families.
Financial Support Request
You can complete The Financial Support Request any time, this information will be shared with the Administration Team and Counselor.
COVID Updates
You can now report positive COVID cases yourself! Please be sure to also notify the office of an absence due to COVID.
If you plan to offer consent for your student to take a rapid test at school,
please click this link to complete the consent form.
Please consult the DOH COVID 19 Flowchart for guidance, we are also using the flowchart internally. If you are interested in tracking COVID, please check out the SPS COVID-19 Dashboard we will ONLY be sending notifications if there are multiple positive cases that are connected at Pathfinder. Our Central COVID Command team will support us in determining when that is appropriate.
You may learn more about SPS’ process for responding to COVID-19 on the district website.
Associated Student Body (ASB) Report
Our ASB is off to a great start. The students have identified their top priorities for the year. These include completing the all gender restrooms, improving access to drinking water at school, ensuring that athletic teams have the uniforms and equipment they need, sponsoring spirit days and middle school dances, increasing safety at recess, advocating for more field trips and bringing back special events like the Craft Fair.
Our officers for this year are:
- President: Dylan Clark
- Vice President : Aliza Stier
- Secretary: Jones Bene
- Treasurer : Ari Joblin
The next K-8 ASB meeting will be on December 7th.
Building Leadership Team (BLT)
BLTs are school-based teams comprised of teachers, support staff, families, and school leaders that together work collaboratively to make decisions about school-based functions. Decision-making through an equity lens focuses on budget development, professional development, and Continuous School Improvement Plans (CSIPs). This is a critical space for families to use their knowledge and expertise to inform critical decisions about resources for for their schools.
For the next two years, our BLT Representatives are:
Parents:
- Amanda Fisher
- Karen Stone
- Ed Li
Staff:
- Kassandra Sandoval
- Jami Hanulik
- Lisa Stencel
- Teacher Syd Bridges
- Diana Bridges
- Leanna Heritage
- Clarissa Resendez
- Scott Rose
- Lisa DeBurle
- Genya Scharks
- Ms. Ellen Want
- Dr. Britney Holmes
- ASB President - Dylan Clark
- ASB Vice President - Aliza Stier
Below is a link to a summary of the school's last Building Leadership Team (BLT) meeting. If you have any feedback you would like to provide, please use the Feedback form for Pathfinder families, which is reviewed by the parent representatives, reach out to your parent reps, or email PathfinderBLT@seattleschools.org, which goes to all BLT representatives.
Ms. Want's Incoming Goals
- To learn who is at Pathfinder; who are our students? What are their stories and strengths? Who works here in service of those students? What are their stories and how do their strengths help them serve students?
- To learn what is part of Pathfinder; what artifacts, beliefs, assumptions, cultural norms, traditions, and practices exist here? Why have each of those continued to live or grow here?
- To learn how we serve students and their families at Pathfinder. How do we allocate money, time, and people in service of students? What data do we use, and how do we use it to understand our efficacy and measure equitable outcomes? How do we understand change? How do we navigate change together?
Dr. Holmes' Incoming Goals
- To know all folx personally and professionally connected to the school. Further, allow others to know me as fully as possible outside day to day connection, crisis, and problem solving.
- To use qualitative and quantitative data to determine concerns and issues regarding improving student performance that needs to be closely examined and addressed to repay the educational debt.
- To learn the artifacts, beliefs, and basic underlying assumptions through engaging in essential conversations with Pathfinder students, staff, and community.
- To identify, hold onto, and strengthen traditions that center students and bring the community together. Further, partner with students, staff, and the community to ensure social emotional learning and growth is embedded in the curriculum, adult strengths are highlighted, and we have fun!
We're available to support you!
Email: bdholmes@seattleschools.org
Website: https://pathfinderk8.seattleschools.org/
Location: 1901 SW Genesee St, Seattle, WA 98106, USA
Phone: 206.252.9710