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Pathfinder Compass

February 6, 2022

PathfinderCompassFebruary 6, 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
  • Hiring Help
  • High School Resources
  • Lunch Update
  • COVID Update
  • VOTE!
  • Mark Your Calendars


New News

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


Old News

  • Upcoming Listening Sessions
  • 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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Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.

- Langston Hughes

Hiring Help - 1:1 Support for Students

SPREAD THE WORD! We are looking to hire someone to work who would be a great fit for:
  • A student who needs support in accessing his academic learning. This scholar needs consistent positive reinforcement and supervision due to unsafe behaviors when dysregulated.
  • A student who is a wheelchair user and is dependent for transitions throughout the building, all transfers in/out of his wheelchair, and for all toileting and self-care needs. This student will need close adult supervision due to safety.


If you are interested please let Dr. Holmes & Dr. Cordell know ASAP and we can provide further details. This job is available from Monday, February 6th until the end of the school year. While we would prefer to have someone consistently five days a week, we are open to working with your schedule given the urgency.

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!

Lunch Update

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.


Beginning Monday, we will allow our Middle Schoolers to have recess in the cafeteria. Students will be allowed to enter the cafeteria AFTER they eat lunch and not before 12:25. We expect students to:

  • Remain in the cafeteria
  • Keep the cafeteria clean
  • Keep masks on and follow all safety protocols
  • Keep electronics away
  • Leave when the whistle is blown


Please let your scholar know this is an option for them and should they choose to have recess in the cafeteria they should follow all expectations.

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:

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 8th Kindergarten and First Listening Session 6 - 7pm

February 8th General PTSA Meeting

February 10th Pathfinder High School Panel

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

February 21st - 25th Mid-Winter Break

Pathfinder Operations

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

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

Just so you know...

Transportation Updates

Route 560 will be coming back on 2/16!


Check with the Transportation Department for more transportation updates.

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.

General PTSA Meeting

Tues, Feb. 8th @6:30pm


We're holding our 2nd General Meeting of the year! Please join us to learn more about the PTSA, hear from our ASB President, and Dr. Holmes. We'll also share the budgeting process (for '22-23) and our Spring Fundraiser! We will also be showing highlights from the school MLK Assembly celebration, this is a great opportunity to see our children in action! I hope you will join us, please use this link to join.

President Pathfinder K-8 PTSA is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: General PTSA Meeting
Time: Feb 8, 2022 06:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 945 7309 1387
Passcode: w4MG8Y

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!

Upcoming Listening Sessions

February 15th Fourth and Fifth Grade Listening Session

March 22nd Middle School Listening Session

March 29th Special Education Listening Session

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.

Lost and Found Fridays

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

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!