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Pathfinder Compass

February 13, 2022

PathfinderCompassFebruary 13, 2022

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
  • Pathfinder Budget Survey
  • Community Building Groups for BIPOC and Multiracial Scholars
  • The Pledge
  • Mark Your Calendars


New News

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


Old News

  • February Affinity Groups
  • Pathfinder Teams
  • 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
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Don't listen to what they say, go see.

- Chinese Proverb

Pathfinder Budget Survey

In Seattle Public Schools each building plans and develops the budget for the coming year and it is required to be submitted in March. To prepare we need to hear from our community to ensure we are centering our students while also meeting the needs of our staff and partnering with families. To help us do just that, please complete the anonymous Pathfinder Budget Survey as soon as possible and before Tuesday February 15th.

Community Building Lunchtime Groups for BIPOC & Multiracial Scholars


We are happy to resume our lunchtime groups this Wednesday, 2/16/22! We 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.

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The Pledge

Greetings Pathfinder community! REC would like to invite you to our 2022 Pledge Winter Workshop. Our Fall Pledge Gathering was inspiring and motivating – join us to continue our communal work in creating an actively anti-racist Pathfinder.

Details


When: Thursday, March 24th from 6-7:30

Where: Zoom link to follow

What: Continued connection around shared action interests. Review our Personal Pledges.

Sharing of new resources. Continued support in helping each other stay accountable to our commitment.


Important note: You do not need to have attended our first workshop to join us! This workshop is open to everyone and anyone interested in learning more about the Anti-Racist Pledge and connecting with other families around anti-racist action.


The beauty of anti-racism is that you don't have to pretend to be free of racism to be an anti-racist. Anti-racism is the commitment to fight racism wherever you find it, including in yourself. And it's the only way forward. – Ijioma Oluo


Check out an example of a Pledge created by a Pathfinder family..

Mark Your Calendars!

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

February 21st - 25th Mid-Winter Break

Pathfinder Operations

Upcoming Listening Sessions

February 15th Fourth and Fifth Grade Listening Session

March 22nd Middle School Listening Session

March 29th Special Education Listening Session

Hiring Help - 1:1 Support for Students

THANK YOU!! We have found two folx interested and appreciate your help!
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Student Teachers

Hi Pathfinder community, my name is Maddie Appel and I am excited to be doing my student teaching with Megan, the Bears, and the Bobcats in 8th grade! I grew up in the Bay Area and recently moved to Seattle. After a successful professional equestrian career, I realized my love for teaching and started at Seattle University for my master's degree. I love history and am so excited to share my passion with the eighth grade.

MLK Day

Pathfinder we have been unable to download the broadcast of the MLK Assembly. Please take a look at the PowerPoint, and a presentation from 2nd grade, if you are interested.

Planned Mental Health Days

We are working on developing a system to ensure our teachers and staff are taken care of. We are hoping to ensure everyone is able to take a Planned Mental Health Day where they are able to focus on healing themselves as the toll of COVID and teaching is weighing heavy on us all.


We are looking for folx who may be able to offer a menu of options that support the healing of our staff. Things include:


  • Sound bath
  • Massage
  • Food
  • Spa
  • Other healing opportunities...


If you are able to share or donate please email Candice at president@pathfinderptsak8.org

Just so you know...

Work2BeWell

There is an upcoming Virtual Teen Mental Health Summit! At the summit teens will facilitate and discuss mental health themes and highlight clinically-vetted resources. Check it out for more information!

High School Resources

Continue to check back for updates!
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The Seattle Public Library’s Global Reading Challenge In-School Final

This coming Thursday, February 17th, at 1:30pm, Pathfinder will hold its 5th annual Global Reading Challenge In-School Final Challenge for the 49 participating fourth and fifth grade students. The students have been furiously reading and quizzing each other since November to compete in this “battle of the books.” The eight competing teams are: The Flaming Mangoes, The Strawberry Axolotls, The Doughnut Corgis, The Readalotls, The Supreme Readers, The Mighty Flamingos, The Darth Chapters and The Puffin Muffins. Our in-school final will be moderated (remotely) by Seattle Public Librarian Leslie Sumida, with scorekeepers Ami Pendley and Robin Kanev. The winning Pathfinder team will go on to compete (remotely) in a city semi-final on March 15th. This has been a joyous experience to come together as teams of kids who love reading and working together. We are so grateful for our eight middle school coaches who have been encouraging and teaching our teams. Please wish our Water Hall students the best for this fun annual event! -Ami and Robin

Movie Day

ASB has planned a few spirit days throughout our year! One of these is Movie Day and it is this Friday!

Bottled Water Update

Reducing waste, starting with bottled water

In a return to pre-COVID operations, bottled water will not be supplied to Seattle Public Schools (SPS) staff or students as of March 1 unless on-site water is not available or does not meet district standards. This information will be shared via School Beat and the website.


Bottled water was provided because there was not frequent circulation of water in the pipes while SPS sites were closed during the initial outbreak of the COVID pandemic. During extended school breaks, flushing of the water system is required prior to the return of students. With students and staff back on site, occupancy and flow of water is no longer an issue.


Bottled water is not necessary to prevent the spread of COVID. The Centers For Disease Control has determined that COVID is most easily spread via airborne droplets and less so via touch points. However, frequent cleaning of high touch points is still being performed by custodial staff.


Also, drinking water provided at water fountains and water bottle filling stations at all SPS sites is tested regularly and is of high quality. (More info on the SPS Drinking Water Quality.)

COVID Updates

Upcoming COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics

As of January 25, 74% percent of SPS students are now vaccinated. Thank you to our nurses, medical partners, and school leaders for making this possible. Vaccination has helped to keep students in classrooms – learning. We are also anticipating that the Pfizer COVID vaccine for children 4 years and younger will be approved by the end of February and are planning to support families in accessing vaccines for their preschool age children.


Saturday, Feb 5th and Saturday, Feb 26th, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm, Broadview-Thomson K-8 School

Medical provider: Othello Station Pharmacy

Pre-registration is encouraged, and there is also capacity for walk-ins

Vaccines provided: Pfizer for 5-11, Pfizer 12+, Moderna (18+) and Pfizer (12+) boosters


Wednesday, Feb 9th and Saturday, Mar 3rd, 1:30-4:30 pm, Upton Flats in the SHA High Point neighborhood. 6070 35th Ave SW

Medical provider: Seattle Fire Department


Saturday, Feb 12th and Saturday, Mar 3rd, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm, Emerson Elementary School

Medical provider: Othello Station Pharmacy

Pre-registration link TBA, and there is also capacity for walk-ins

Vaccines provided: Pfizer for 5-11, Pfizer 12+, Moderna (18+) and Pfizer (12+) boosters


Sunday, Feb 13th and Sunday, Mar 4th, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm, Dunlap Elementary School

Medical provider: Othello Station Pharmacy

Pre-registration link TBA, and there is also capacity for walk-ins

Vaccines provided: Pfizer for 5-11, Pfizer 12+, Moderna (18+) and Pfizer (12+) boosters


Here are some other places where staff and students can get vaccinated:


Lost and Found Fridays

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

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!

February Affinity Groups

On February 1st a small group of parents, Pathfinder staff, and SPS District folx came together for our first affinity group!


During the affinity group, we started with everyone so we had a clear understanding of what affinity groups are, what affinity groups are not, and why we are here.

What racial affinity groups are…

  • A time for White folx to embrace, excavate, and reckon with their Whiteness, including their privilege and power examine how to center the voices and experiences of BIPOC without harming and/or re-traumatizing BIPOC
  • A time for BIPOC folx to take care of themselves and one another while unpacking racism, internalize oppression, and racialized trauma, discussing the impact of White Supremacy Culture and the pressure of assimilation in the absence of Whiteness.

What racial affinity groups are not…

  • Racist or segregationist
  • A replacement for doing mixed-race racial equity work
  • A time for White folx to avoid discussion about race by focusing on other identities
  • A time for White folx to rely on BIPOC to educate or coddle them

Why we are here…

  • The Survey -- administered during the 2020-21 academic year by our family based Racial Equity Team.
  • Student Voice – a few anecdotes that including “I’ve been here since Kindergarten, and I have never felt a part of this school…” “They care, but they don’t see me…” “My skin color is a curse here…”
  • Community Café – during this time we learned of specific requests from our families of color. Learning in The Compass.
  • The Noose – opened the need have continued conversations and unpack what is happening in our community.


We then broke into small groups to discuss and unpack what was shared.


Finally, we came back as a whole group to share the gifts we received from each other!


We encourage more folx to join. Prior to our April Affinity Group we will be reading the first 26 pages of My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialize Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem.


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

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!