Pathfinder 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!

Has anyone else given a HUGE THANKS to Gillian for planning an amazing Harvest Festival 2022! Thank you, thank you! And also thank you to all of the volunteers who made apple pressing, pumpkin carving, and a feast possible - I am honored to be a connected to the Pathfinder community.

We have another couple of events this week, so be sure to check the calendar and we hope to see you all on Tuesday for Open House! Be sure to check the syllabus your homeroom teacher sent out and bring questions on Tuesday should you have them.

CONNECTION | The energy that is created between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued. When they can give and receive without judgement.

- Brene Brown

Things You Should Know:

• Affinity Groups
• Listening Sessions

In Case You Want To Know More:

• MS Electives
• Fauntleroy Fall Festival
• Clickable Link Blazing Trails Monthly Newsletter
• Lunch Volunteers

PTSA

• Direct Give starts now!
• We need class coordinators!
• Door Decor for the Outdoors - project planning has begun!
• Racial Equity Committee: Request for Volunteers, Cultural Calendar and Fall Pathfinder anti-racism pledge workshop
• Free Shipping on spirit gear in October
• Screenagers NEXT CHAPTER online or in-person viewing
• Join or renew your membership!
• Special Education PTSA news

Things I already Know:

• Ordering Pictures
• Volunteers
• COVID Updates
• School Lunch
  
• Family Handbook

Direct Give Begins | October 17th-21st

Open House | October 18th, 5:30 - 7pm | Pathfinder K-8

Seattle Special Education PTSA General Membership Meeting | October 18, 2022

Panel Discussion: Inclusive Education Benefits All of Us: So Why Aren't We Doing It? | October 19th, 7-8:30 PM

3-5 Listening Session | October 20th, 6 - 7pm

MS Listening Session | October 25th, 6 - 7pm

Screenagers Next Chapter | October 25th at Fairmont Park Elementary (7-9pm)

Special Education Families Listening Session | November 1st, 6 - 7pm

BIPOC and Mixed Race Families Listening Session | November 3rd, 6 - 7pm

Anti-Racism Pledge Workshop | November 6th, 4:00-5:30pm

A Conversation with Dr. Ross Greene: "KIDS DO WELL IF THEY CAN" | November 15, 2022, 6-8 pm

Disability History Awareness

National Bullying Prevention Month

LGBTQ+ History Month

October 24th: Diwali

October 31st: Halloween

Next month:

November 1st: Dia De Los Muertos

November 8th: Guru Nanak Dev Ji's Birthday

November 11th: Veteran's Day

See more on the Cultural Calendar

Similar to last year, Affinity Groups are starting soon! These are open to the community, staff are also welcome to attend. We are hoping to open our affinity groups to a wider range of intersections last year and build a foundation that is not rooted in the trauma of the year, but the forward growth we all seek.

The groups we are offering this year are: BIPOC, Mixed Race, White, LGBTQIA2+, Disabled, and Jewish. We realize folx can share more than one of these identities, so we plan to offer groups on a rotation. We are still working on identifying facilitators so do not have a start date yet, and hope to soon!

At Pathfinder we are excited to re-start our listening sessions! Listening sessions are time for families to check in with our Admin team. Our hope is to build community, listen, and learn from Pathfinder families! We will use what you share with us to inform our practice and further consult with teachers.

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!

Third, Fourth, and Fifth Grade

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 895 6417 1361

Passcode: 608602

• Middle School
• Families Receiving SPED Services
• BIPOC and Mixed Race Families

We hope to see all of you at at least one of the listening sessions!

We are so excited that middle school students have more choices this year! Our first semester electives are well under way. As an update, at this time we will no longer be making changes to students' electives given how much of the semester has already passed. Thank you for your understanding!

The Fauntleroy Fall Festival is back for 2022 and Endolyne Children's Choir (ECC) is thrilled to be performing again this year. There will be FREE kids' activities and local eateries offering fall-themed food. Come join your neighbors and community partners in celebrating fall on October 23! 3 of our own Pathfinder students are singers with ECC.

***ECC is a secular (non-religious), no-audition choir, welcoming all singers in grades K-12.***

To allow our lunches and recess to run as smoothly as possible, we need 4 adults. Currently we we have 3 staff to supervise our lunches, we need one more person each day 10:35 - 1:30 - if you are able and available, please email pathfinder@seattleschools.org for more information.

Monthly Pledge: A little each month goes a LONG way!

One Time Donation: Name your price. Share with your family and friends! Anything helps!

Do you know that Pathfinder PTSA funds many of the programs that make Pathfinder K-8 the school we know and love?

Give now or Read more about it here and help us raise the money we need to give ALL our scholars access to ALL programs! Dig deep and give what you can!

• Classes still in need: Elk, Kingfisher, Hare, Fox

• Please contact classcoordinator@pathfinderk8ptsa.org to volunteer

• Read more here: https://bit.ly/3ExIEp5

We will begin work on our annual Racial Equity Questionnaire this winter and need your help! If you’d be willing to join us for 10 hours, please email Jamelia, Becky, and Andy at equity@pathfinderk8ptsa.org. We will be working together on administration, analysis, and report writing.

Your Racial Equity Committee (REC) has updated our annual Cultural Calendar https://www.pathfinderk8ptsa.org/blog/cultural-calendar/

This year, the calendar matches up with the school year. The objective is to provide families opportunities to research and celebrate holidays and traditions within and outside their own cultures.

Your Racial Equity Committee (REC) is excited to invite you to our Fall Pathfinder Anti-Racism Pledge Workshop. The Anti-Racism Pledge was developed to provide families with concrete and accessible steps they can use to work together toward a more anti-racist Pathfinder community. Our Fall Workshop will focus on exploring the Pledge, answering questions, and connecting families around similar interests. Last year's Pledge Workshops created connections and inspired growth, and we look forward to continuing this journey together.

You can access the Pledge here.

Please note: your Pledge does not have to be completed to join! This Workshop is meant to introduce our community to the Pledge and each other -- the work is always ongoing.

Email questions to equity@pathfinderk8ptsa.org

WHO: For Pathfinder families

WHAT: A structured and collaborative space to support and connect families as they create and commit to anti-racist action.

WHEN: Sunday, November 6th from 4:00-5:30pm

WHERE: Google Meets (link to be provided closer to the date)

HOW: Register here!

Pathfinder PTSA in partnership with Fairmount Park PTA and SSC Coop Preschools present a viewing of the film Screenagers NEXT CHAPTER: Uncovering Skills for Stress Resilience

• Watch remotely between October 17th and October 31st. Click here
• OR Join us in person on October 25th, 7-9pm at Fairmount Park Elementary for a viewing followed by a moderated discussion. Read more here

Visit our store, stock up on your favorite Pathfinder merch, and save!

We've renamed the Wreaths program "Door Decor for the Outdoors". Read why here

Looking for Volunteers! Phase One planning now underway!

NOW

• Big Help: Need a volunteer to be the Farmer’s Market Lead
• Semi-Big Help: Can you host a door decor workshop for your grand band or your personal network (aka social fun for a cause)?
• Less-big but super important: Everyone start collecting greens and ornaments to make diverse door decor, please.

LATER

• We need makers, buyers & sellers
• Help make wreaths to see and/or just make your own wreath that you buy (sliding scale).

Contact info: kathleen.hynes@me.com and bae.jungun@gmail.com

Support the PTSA by joining or renewing your membership!

The Pathfinder Parent Teacher Student Association is a non-profit organization that works toward enhanced student achievement and increased community involvement. We accomplish these goals through community building efforts and raising funds for key programs like garden, art & music, a school counselor, camping, community events and so much more!

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!

Tuesday October 18, 2022, 7-9PM

Seattle Special Education PTSA General Membership Meeting

The meeting is on Zoom

__________________________________________

Wednesday October 19, 2022, 7–8:30 PM

Seattle Special Education PTSA is hosting Inclusive Education Benefits All of Us: So Why Aren't We Doing It?

Hear from a panel of inclusive education experts from The Washington State Inclusionary Practices Project. Register on EventBrite for this event.

__________________________________________

November 15, 2022, 6-8PM

The Seattle Special Education PTSA, in partnership with The Arc of King County, Roots of Inclusion, PAVE, Open Doors for Multicultural Families present A Conversation with Dr. Ross Greene: "KIDS DO WELL IF THEY CAN"

How Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) Helps Schools Meet the Needs of ALL LEARNERS While Reducing Exclusionary Disciplinary Practices Like Suspensions, Restraints and Isolation.

Register at KidsDoWell.eventbrite.com

Please see the below message from Class Act Portraits for instructions on ordering pictures:

GREAT NEWS - School Pictures are ready for Online Viewing!

3 Ways to View your Student’s Private Picture Gallery:

1. On Picture Day your student brought home a flyer with picture ordering instructions. Simply follow the QR code or weblink on the flyer.

2. You may have received an email with a direct link to your picture gallery. No email? Check your Spam/Junk Folders. The email comes from: info@classactportraits.com

3. Go to: https://vando.imagequix.com/79CYK9R

Online Code: PATH followed by the Student ID# (no spaces)

ex: PATH123456

Order Soon – FREE Shipping to School ends Sunday, October 16 at 9PM Questions: info@classactportraits.com or (253) 569-1627

Enjoy your pictures & Smile On!

This year we are thrilled to re-open our in person partnership with families! It has been great to see folx faces and welcome you all into the building. Parent volunteers support our community in a multitude of ways and sometimes with short notice. If you are interested in volunteer at any time this year, we hope you can do the paperwork as soon as possible so you are prepared to volunteer during school hours!

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, look for a link from CIC Health to give approval.

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.

This year we are changing how we serve lunches. Please see the below changes:

• If you need Free and Reduced price lunch, you will have to apply.
• To pre-pay for school meals, sign up. If your student wants milk they are required to have a pre-paid account.

August 14, 2022 | Hello 1st Families | Hello Middle School! | August 28, 2022 | Welcome Packet

September 4, 2022 | September 13, 2022 | September 18, 2022 | September 25, 2022

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 Steinhauser
• Karen Stone
• Ed Li

Staff:

• 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

Students:

• ASB President
• ASB Vice President

You may contact BLT at PathfinderBLT@seattleschools.org. Please give us a week to respond.

• 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?

• 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!

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