Pathfinder Compass

School is here! You can now expect to see the Compass every Sunday!

• Health and Safety Protocols
• Pathfinder Operations
• School Opening and Pathfinder 101
• Partnership with Duwamish Longhouse
• Family Connectors University
• Dr. Holmes' Incoming Goals

We have to reframe how we are thinking, our kids are not behind - their learning just looked different!

-Pathfinder Staff

Please click the link above for additional information, highlights include...

• Beginning September 1st and lasting until at least October 28th we will be holding ALL MEETINGS virtually (only district staff and vaccinated volunteers will be allowed in the building).
• K–12 school district employees are required to get a COVID-19 vaccination or be approved for a medical or religious exemption by October 18, 2021.
  
• If there is a positive COVID-19 case, all families with students in the same classroom will be notified.
• SPS is partnering with Health Commons Project to provide free, in-school COVID-19 testing for students and staff who have been exposed to COVID-19 or have COVID-like symptoms.
  
• We are are in need of vaccinated volunteers!
  

When to Keep Students Home

Mask Wearing for Students

• Amharic Mask Wearing
• Chinese Mask Wearing
• English Mask Wearing
• Somali Mask Wearing
• Spanish Mask Wearing
• Vietnamese Mask Wearing

Hand Washing

• Amharic Hand Washing
• English Hand Washing
• Somali Hand Washing
• Spanish Hand Washing
• Vietnamese Hand Washing

At Pathfinder, we will maintain air quality by managing air circulation and using high-performance air filters. Merv 13 filters have been installed in building HVAC systems that can accommodate them, and are being supplemented, as necessary with free standing HEPA filters in classrooms and other spaces that require it.

Our Facilities team will continue to monitor air quality with and without folx in building to ensure we maintain clean air.

Masks are required to be worn by all students, staff, and volunteers. We will have extra masks on hand for students who may need them.

We will follow the state Department of Health guidelines in order to mitigate the spread of Covid-19. Our students will practice 3ft of social distance, or to the extent possible and reasonable, in classrooms and will maximize distance between students to the extent possible and reasonable in common spaces.

Please begin discussing with your scholars that we must stay distanced from everyone on campus, even if we see each other outside of school.

Regular hand washing is important to preventing the spread of COVID-19. We will continue to teach our students how to properly wash their hands, reinforce positive behaviors, and provide adequate supplies to every classroom.

All students will wash their hands prior to and after lunch, before and after recess, and after using the restroom and throughout the day. Hand sanitizer will be made available when handwashing is not possible.

In order to ensure the health and safety of our students, it is critically important to follow all of our procedures. With the return of full-time, in-person instruction, we are going back to our pre-pandemic bell schedule.

Monday | Tuesday | Thursday | Friday

• School begins at 8:55 a.m. and ends at 3:25 p.m.

Wednesday

• School begins at 8:55 a.m. and ends at 2:10 p.m.

Please note while September 1 is a Wednesday, the first day of school will not be an early release day.

The early release Wednesday schedule will begin on Sept. 8 for 1st - 8th grade students.

As we work to mitigate the spread of COVID we are taking full advantage of the land we have access to. Our scholars will have various points of entry dependent on their grade. If you have multiple children, please follow the protocol for the youngest child.

We are happy to begin welcoming scholars at 8:35 am.

Middle Schoolers

• Please enter the field from Genesee anytime after 8:35

Fourth and Fifth Graders

• Arrival window 8:35 - 8:45 please note this is to avoid buses it is VERY helpful if you are able to arrive during this window
• Please drop off in the first parking lot

Second and Third Graders

• Arrival window 8:40 - 8:50
• Please drop off in the main parking lot

Kindergarten and First Graders

• Arrival window 8:35 - 8:45
• Please drop off in front of the main entrance

Things to keep in mind...

• Drivers will NOT be allowed to park on campus during drop off.
• It is VERY helpful when you prepare your scholar and all of their materials to quickly and safely exit the car.
• Traffic on campus will be bad. Please aim for your arrival window as this helps us mitigate the spread of COVID and have a better flow of traffic.

Tentative Schedule

Kindergarten / First 10:55 - 11:35

Second and Third 11:25 - 12:05

Middle School 12:10 - 12:45

Fourth and Fifth 12:45 - 1:25

Lunch Planning Committee!

We want to offer our sincerest thanks for all of the families that have shared their concerns and offered solutions to ensure we have a plan that will ensure the safety of our scholars!

Pathfinder will safely implement lunch plans that allow:

• Eating outdoors
• Limiting time that students are sitting at lunch
• Minimal talking during lunch by providing lunchtime entertainment
• Maximizing physical distancing to the extent possible.
• Assigned seats to ensure we are able to contact trace.

In addition, we will be working to build a common understanding of good habits while eating lunch:

• Wash your hands before and after lunch.

• Minimal talking and use quiet indoor voices while at lunch.

We are happy to accommodate families who are interested in pulling students during lunch by opening our play field to vaccinated volunteers.

• If you are interested in becoming a volunteer please see information here AND connect with Dani, our Safe Lunch Volunteer Coordinator, at danielleyung@yahoo.com

Please note we will continue updating and revising plans as needed.

Similar to entry, students will exit the campus from different locations that will provide appropriate social distancing for students and families.

Kindergarten, First, Second, and Third Graders please pick up in front of the school.

Fourth and Fifth Graders please pick up from the first parking lot.

Middle Schoolers please pick up from the field near Genesee.

Device distribution will happen on the first day of school in classrooms. Ami and a team of volunteers logged eighty collective hours of checking our laptops to our scholars -- please help me in thanking them for this hard work!

All scholars will need to use a district device, families are being asked to sign an agreement form and provide a $25 usage and repair fee. Families can use School Pay to pay the $25 fee. We are happy to work with with families who many need support in paying the fee.

Pathfinder 101 is an overview for our newest families to become familiar with what we at Pathfinder are about. This event will be hosted by our fabulous PTSA! Drs. Cordell and Holmes will be in attendance.

Monday, August 30 5:30 - 7:00 pm

5:30 - 6:00 School Opening

6:00 - 7:00 Pathfinder 101

Join Zoom Meeting

https://seattleschools.zoom.us/j/87264420915?pwd=Rktnc1lGZ3p5MUJPdVlvTVJrMGcyUT09

Meeting ID: 872 6442 0915

Passcode: 356535

Pathfinder K-8 is exploring a deeper relationship with and connection to The Duwamish Tribe. This started with a walk from Pathfinder to the Longhouse led by Andrew G.! If you would like to explore this partnership with us, please contact Christine Clark at Christinimcb@me.com

As it stands, we are unable to attend field trips. The Herons Nest is an outdoor educational center that is walkable from Pathfinders doors. This is a great opportunity for our scholars to experience, explore, and even camp! Please consider supporting their efforts if you are able.

Seattle Public Schools (SPS) families are invited to join North Seattle College’s Family Connectors University (FCU) class, a family-focused online course designed to help parents support their child’s learning and growth.

In partnership with North Seattle College and SPS Family Partnerships Department, topics include:

• Helping your child with learning
• Social Emotional Learning ideas for home
• Becoming a supportive partner at your school
• Helping your child with ‘big emotions’
• Supporting your child with reading and math
• Talking to kids about race, racism, and antiracist actions

Take this course in real-time or attend offline at a time that works for you. Check out video here and course details here.

Participants report that this year's pandemic-informed curriculum has been immensely helpful to families during remote learning:

“The Family Connectors University class was a wealth of practical ideas, and definitely worth the time investment!”

“…the conversations about self-care, supporting our kids' social emotional growth, dealing with "big feelings" and recommendations on supporting reading and math were fantastic.”

“Implementing just a few of these ideas brought the pressure level in our 'locked-down' household from a 9 to a 2.”

“I loved the chance to have one hour to myself each week to get ideas for helping my child and talk with other parents.”

The class takes place online via Zoom for 10 weeks beginning Tuesday, September 28th at 6-7 pm. Parents can participate synchronously or asynchronously, as sessions will be recorded.

Course is facilitated by NSC Parent Education Instructor Lea Evans, Principal Janine Roy, SPS Family Partnerships Coordinator Asosa Sailiai, and special guest speakers.

The cost for the 2-unit class is $39.42 and some scholarships are available.

Email Asosa Sailiai to enroll or find out more information: amsailiai@seattleschools.org.

• 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!

https://www.pathfinderk8ptsa.org/

Email: bdholmes@seattleschools.org
Website: https://pathfinderk8.seattleschools.org/
Location: 1901 SW Genesee St, Seattle, WA 98106, USA
Phone: 206.252.9710