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Pathfinder Compass

January 30, 2021

PathfinderCompassJanuary 30, 2021

What to expect with The Compass!

Every Sunday you will receive The Compass to keep us all informed and connected of essential Pathfinder news. If you are interested in narrating The Compass please reach out to Dr. Holmes!

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In this issue:

Essential News
  • Pick Up and Drop Off Reminder
  • High School Resources
  • Mental Health Update
  • VOTE!
  • Mark Your Calendars


New News

  • Pathfinder Operations
  • PTSA
  • Just so you know...


Old News

  • Vision and Hearing Coming Soon
  • Pathfinder Teams
  • Lunchtime Community Building Groups for BIPOC and Multiracial Scholars
  • Clickable link Blazing Trails News
  • Clickable link Let us know if you need support
  • Clickable link Virtual Tutoring with Library Link
  • Recordings of Virtual Events
  • Previous Compass Links
  • Dr. Holmes' Incoming Goals

Pick Up and Drop Off Reminder

We want to offer a gentle reminder to drivers to please be careful when dropping off and picking up scholars. We had a few close calls in our lot as students cross the street!

High School Resources

8th Grade Promotion is around the corner and you will soon have a high schooler! Wow. To support in preparing for this transition we have developed some resources - check them out!

Mental Health Update

King County Crisis Connection and Teen Link are coming in this week! The presentation focuses on how students can support their peers to help prevent suicide. The content includes identifying warning signs, how to respond by talking to their peers and linking peers to appropriate trusted adults and/or resources.

February 1st

8th: 11:10

6th: 1:40

7th: 2:35


February 3rd

8th: 11:10

6th: 1:40

7th: 2:35


This presentation is educational rather than therapeutic; it educates students about the effects of stress and the potential for suicide as a reaction to difficulty managing stress. It empowers students to get help for themselves and their classmates. Research has consistently shown that discussing stress and suicide does not in itself lead to suicide attempts, and in fact, the opposite is true, that stigmatizing and ignoring the topic may increase feelings of isolation.



We also encourage you to take look at 10 Things Parents Can Do to Prevent Suicide so adults can also inform themselves about how to talk to teens about stress and suicide, as well as have regular conversations with their youth about mental health and stress management.



If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to smparis@seattleschools.org or contact Crisis Connections training staff at 206.204.9520 or training@crisisconnections.org for additional support about how to discuss suicide prevention.

VOTE!
Seattle voters will be asked to consider renewing two school levies that expire in 2022 to continue funding for our students and schools.

Mark Your Calendars!

February 1st Affinity Groups (check your email for the link if you registered)

February 8th Kindergarten and First Listening Session 6 - 7pm

February 8th General PTSA Meeting

February 15th Fourth and Fifth Listening Session 6 - 7pm

February 21st - 25th Mid-Winter Break

Pathfinder Operations

Community Building Groups for BIPOC & Multiracial Scholars

Given the uncertainty around Omicron, groups will restart the 3rd Wednesday in February (2/16/22) and will continue to gather on the 3rd Wednesday of each month for the rest of the school year. Please let your scholars know!


Here’s the sign-up for those who have not yet had a chance to join. Students will meet Jamelia in the HUB at the beginning of their lunchtime on group days. Please find additional details in the sign-up link.


Please feel free to contact Jamelia Alnajjar at jmalnajjar@seattleschools.org with any questions.

Update from the Music Box

Hello Pathfinder Community,


I am happy to report that last week, I was able to meet with the Seattle Police Department and recover almost all of what was stolen from our music room. Some small electronic devices are still missing, but all of our instruments were found and released back to us.


All instruments and equipment will be cleaned, sanitized, and disinfected before getting back into students' hands.


I want to thank everyone who has reached out, donated, or considered donating in response to this event. It has been challenging, but we are ready to move forward and continue to grow our music program.


Thanks for your support,

Mr. Bores

Upcoming Listening Sessions

February 8th Kindergarten and First Grade Listening Session

February 15th Fourth and Fifth Grade Listening Session

March 22nd Middle School Listening Session

March 29th Special Education Listening Session

Just so you know...

MLK Day Assembly

We have found the assembly, to access you will have to log into the Microsoft using your scholars email address. Check it out using your scholars device!


Shout out to Luna (VP of Advocacy) for finding this work around!

Lunch Volunteers

Given the surge of Omicron we have remained outside for Lunch. We will continue outside until it is safe to move back in.


It is EXTREMELY helpful to have volunteers support lunch. If you are able please do sign up, we need the most help on Monday and Friday.


We will continue planning for this shift, feel free to let us know your thoughts as we plan.

Bookkeeper Needed

The PTSA is looking for a bookkeeper to help make sure our books are in good shape. Do you have 5-10 hours a month to help with this? Quickbooks experience required. It's a paid position! Email the PTSA treasurer, Lily Evans, at treasurer@pathfinderk8ptsa.org.

Volunteers Needed

We have a storage container that houses our camping equipment and emergency materials. We will have to find a new home on campus because the storage container will have to move off of our campus. We are hoping to have a bit of help with organizing and moving these materials. Please email president@pathfinderk8ptsa.org to help!

Lost and Found Fridays

Our lost and found is piling up! Please be sure to grab what's yours from the undercover play court!

Upcoming Affinity Groups

Pathfinder is working with the SPS Behavioral Health Team to continue the healing process and transformational learning experiences that will allow our community to be Safe and Welcoming for us all!


Affinity groups are a part of our continued healing, we are holding space to continue unpacking Octobers events to ensure they do not seep out in other ways that have negatively contributed to the Safe and Welcome environment Pathfinder is seeking to have for all of our students, staff, and community.


Please register for any of the Affinity Groups you will be attending. We ask that each adult register separately. Please note, this is one of the few places that are reserved for adults only.


April 5th 5:30 - 7pm

June 7th 5:30 - 7pm

Family Based Racial Equity Committee

As we usher in the new year, REC is very excited to share that we recently welcomed Andy Woo and Precious Airhiavbere to our team! We're in the process of renewing our charter and making plans for the rest of the school year. Please watch this space for events and other updates from our team.


We have updated REC's Cultural Calendar for 2022 along with the Heritage Month Calendar. These calendars are intended to be living documents, and will be updated annually to better serve Pathfinder students, teachers, and families.


All comments and recommendations are welcome on the REC page. We will share the upcoming dates each month in the Compass to support the continued celebration of our diverse families and cultures at Pathfinder.


We hope that the Pathfinder teachers, staff and families will use this as a tool to help them explore on their own and also share with others. The resources we used to compile the calendars are shown in the footer of each calendar. A pdf version of the calendars is available on our page.


To add your thoughts and learn more about our work, please join the REC page.


- Your Racial Equity Committee (REC)

Precious Airhiavbere, Andy Woo, Jamelia Alnajjar, Becky Greenberg, Veena Prasad

Pathfinder Teams

There are several entities at Pathfinder K8 that serve this community. These entities are:

  • The Building Leadership Team
  • The Parent Teacher Student Association
  • The family-based Racial Equity Committee
  • The school-based Racial Equity Team.

Please follow this link to learn more about what each entity does and how to get further information.

Please note there is currently space for 2 more parents to serve on the Building Leadership Team (BLT). If you are interested in serving on the BLT, contact Dr Britney Holmes at bdholmes@seattleschools.org.

Recordings of Virtual Events

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!