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Pathfinder Compass

January 23, 2021

PathfinderCompassJanuary 23, 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
  • Welcome Back!
  • Upcoming Affinity Groups
  • Pathfinder Student Teachers
  • Meet Nelsen!
  • Boosters Available!
  • 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
Amanda Gorman Shares New Poem to Kick Off 2022

Welcome Back!

We had three Pathfinder classes shut down due to COVID! We are thrilled to welcome them all back tomorrow.

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.


February 1st 5:30 - 7pm registration will close Thursday, January 27th.


April 5th 5:30 - 7pm

June 7th 5:30 - 7pm

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Pathfinder Student Teachers

Hello Pathfinder Community! My name is David Spindel and I am a Student Teacher from Seattle University's Master in Teaching Program. I committed to becoming an elementary school teacher after spending a wonderful year serving at MLK Jr. Elementary as an AmeriCorps Member with City Year. Outside of the classroom, I love singing, disc golfing, and playing board games with my friends. Thank you all for welcoming me into your school and community, and I am excited to be spending more time with Brenda and the Crows this Winter and Spring!
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Meet Nelsen!

Nelson is returning! Ian, a 7th grader in the Coyotes, will begin bringing his service dog Nelson to Pathfinder again to help him carry and retrieve personal items as well as providing emotional support.


Nelson is a professionally raised service dog from Assistance Dogs Northwest and has lots of experience in schools from before the pandemic. He has been training with Genya in the Orcas to prepare for the return to the classroom and can use your help.

  • Please help Nelson be successful by focusing on Genya or Ian, rather than Nelson.
  • Please do not speak to Nelson or pet him while he is at work at school.
  • When Nelsen is wearing his blue jacket, he is working and is very serious about his job.


Thanks for your help!

Boosters Available!

Wednesday, January 26, 4-6 p.m., South Shore PreK8 School

Medical provider: Othello Station Pharmacy

Walk-in only. Please bring your student’s vaccination card to the clinic.

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


Sunday, January 30, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., Olympic Hills Elementary School

Medical provider: Othello Station Pharmacy

Walk-in only. Please bring your student’s vaccination card to the clinic.

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


You and your child can also get vaccinated at:

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!

January 25th Second and Third Listening Session 6 - 7pm

January 27th School Day

January 27th Registration for Affinity Groups Closes

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

Upcoming Listening Sessions

January 25th Second and Third Grade Listening Session

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 829 7474 9106

Passcode: 267842


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

Middle School Electives

The semester change is here! Should your scholar be interested, they have the opportunity to change the second semester elective to PE or Art. Please encourage them to complete the Second Semester Elective Transfer Request by Tuesday January 25th using their SPS email if they want to make this change.

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.

Just so you know...

COVID Updates

Last week we closed three classrooms due to positive COVID cases. SPS has been following DOH guidance to inform these challenging decisions. Please know your students health is of the upmost concern, to continue protecting our community it is essential families let us know should you learn of a positive COVID case for your student or close contact, please notify our Health and Safety Specialist, Thomas at ttnguyen5@seattleschools.org and your homeroom teacher.


We will continue providing testing for students who show symptoms while at school. If your student needs a test, be sure to complete the paperwork!


As always, if there is a positive case in your class, you will be notified as soon as possible. If your student has had a close contact, an investigator will call you to gather additional information. Please note due to the increase in cases across the district, there may be a delay in the investigation.


Please note absences due to COVID are coded as such and do not negatively impact attendance.

MLK Day Assembly

Apologies for all of the Teams technical trouble we ran into. Many folx were unable to log on and unfortunately the Assembly was not recorded. In the future we will be sure to troubleshoot prior to the meeting.

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The WEST SEATTLE LACROSSE CLUB (WSLC) is looking for youth girls! Fun sports opportunities for kids grades three (age ~9) through middle school, with a new high school girls program starting in 2023. New players are welcome and encouraged to participate! Grab a friend, come check it out, and get your questions answered at our unofficial and casual winter “practices” at Hiawatha playfield Sundays from 9am to 10:30; no gear or RSVP required!


The Lacrosse Spring Season starts on 2/28 and registration is open NOW at www.westseattlelaxclub.org! The WSLC organization currently encompasses the West Seattle High School boys’ team and U10, U12, and U14 girls’ teams (with HS Girls and more planned for the ’23 season). Youth boys’ opportunities are available via our friends at the www.swlacrosseclub.org. Feel free to reach out to us at westseattlelax@gmail.com with questions or interest and we hope to see you soon!

Lost and Found Fridays

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

Vision and Hearing Screening Coming Soon

Being able to see and hear are important for learning. The state requires that we identify students who may have trouble seeing or hearing.


Students in grades K, 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 will be screened for vision and hearing in early January.

We would like to add students in grades 4, 6 and 8 because these students were missed last year.


The school nurse will use a SPOT screener or eye charts to screen for vision and an audiometer for hearing. Families will be notified rapidly if their student does not pass the screening.

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.

Lunchtime Community Building Groups for BIPOC & Multiracial Scholars

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


The sign-up will be sent out again the last week in January for those who have not yet had a chance to join.


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

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!