Want to know what your child should bring the first day of school? Read our classroom supply list to see what our teachers have asked parents to send to school with your children when school starts.

Daily Schedule

Wondering when recess lets out? Want to meet your child for lunch? Read our daily schedule to find out exactly what times these recurring events happen.

Visiting Alki Elementary and Classrooms

Every visitor must use the main entrance and sign in at the office: Whenever entering the school campus during operating hours -- this includes all parents! We will lend you a "PTA" or a "Visitor" badge to wear. Please remember this is for everyone's safety!

For visiting your child's classroom: Please check with the teacher for his / her policy about pre-arranging visitations. As a general rule, we request that Alki visitors follow District Policy (to "provide that there is only a minimal level of disruption of the educational process") by planning such visits with the classroom teacher ahead of time. Please set up the time and date of your visit with your child's teacher by:

calling the school and asking the teacher to call back
sending a note with your child asking the teacher to contact you.

When you sign in at the office the day of the visit, the office staff will ask you where you're going, and if the teacher knows you are coming.

Tips for if you are visiting just to observe: Plan your visit so that you see the class at work. If there is special work you wish to see, consult your child's teacher in advance. Please help us maintain the students' learning environment when visiting classrooms by quietly observing, and drawing as little attention from the teacher's lesson as possible. If invited by the teacher, feel free to interact with your child, other students or staff.

Tips for if you are in the classroom as a volunteer: After signing in at the office, be sure to check in with the teacher at the appropriate time, or ahead of time, to find out how you can help. Also remember, you're there for all of the children, not just your own!

To visit other classrooms: We invite current parents to the Kindergarten tours in Jan./Feb.

General pointers: While visiting, look for these indicators of your child's success in school -

ability to listen
independent work habits, problem solving, thinking
success while working with others in group activities
general attitudes, i.e., is he/she happy and well adjusted?

Remember, you will be seeing a very small segment of work which may have been in progress for many days and which may continue developing for some time.

Guidelines for Morning and Afternoon Drop-Off

We ask all drivers (except buses) to approach the school from 60th Avenue SW from Alki Ave. or Admiral Way, driving East on Stevens (toward school), and then turning left on 59th. This may mean going an extra block or 2, but we are trying to separate bus and car traffic in a very congested area.
When dropping off students heading toward the water on 59th, please pull past the school and beyond the Alki Community Center sign. There is an entrance to the grounds there by the big toy. This will allow buses to pull up where and when they need to. Please refer to the traffic pattern in the map below:
Parents should set a good example for students by using the crosswalk (crossing guards provided) at all times.
When dropping off students, please always pull to the curb and drop them off curbside.
Please don't pull to the opposite curb (please point your car in the same direction as the moving traffic).
Please allow ten feet from the crosswalk when stopping, allowing crossing guards to see safely in both directions.
Never stop in the crosswalks!
Idea: If you are staying at school for even a few minutes, park on the other side of the Community Center and field on 58th -- there's usually plenty of space there, and walking past the Community Center is safer than crossing the street!

Safety Patrol

An adult crossing guard will be only duty at 59th Avenue SW & SW Admiral from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m. and from 3:10 to 4:15 p.m.

Fifth-grade Safety Patrol members will be on duty at 59th Avenue SW & SW Admiral and 59th Avenue SW & SW Stevens before school in the morning from 8:45 to 9:15 a.m. and after school from 3:10 to 3:30 p.m.

We ask that parents urge their children to cross only at the intersections mentioned above and at a time when Patrol members and adult crossing guards are on duty. Please follow the directions of Safety Patrol members!

Afternoon Pick-Up

You may meet your child in the playground area at 3:15PM. Most parents park their cars and walk into the playground area to meet their child. Remember, no parking on the school side of 59th! See additional information under Carpool Safety.

Messages to Students (during the school day)

Please do your best to make after-school pick-up arrangements with your child before you leave him/her at school. When the office staff has to deliver messages to classrooms, instruction is interrupted. Try to utilize the office staff for emergency messages only, if at all possible.

Problem-Solving at Alki

If you have a concern about a reported occurrence in the classroom and/or have questions about what is going on in a classroom, bring your concern to the teacher first (see Visiting Alki). A conversation about a concern is the best way to attain information to solve a problem. Upon request, the principal will gladly facilitate a conversation, working toward a common understanding and resolution of the issue.

If you have a concern about an issue not related to your child's teacher or classroom (such as the playground, buses or lunchroom), please call the administrative secretary or the principal to express your concern. The principal or appropriate staff member will address the issue.

If a problem is not resolved to your satisfaction, please let us know. We won't know how you're feeling unless you tell us. Keep on asking, please!

Some people to go to for help:

Principal/office staff for anything (we can refer you to someone else if necessary)
Family Support Worker for issues with your child or family (e.g. getting to school, housing issues, transportation issues)
Bilingual Teacher for bilingual families who need guidance
Psychologist/SIT Leader for concerns about your child's academic, social or emotional progress
Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP) for concerns about your child's speech
Nurse for any health-related questions/issues

Absences

Please notify the school office at 252-9054 before 9:30 AM, any day that your child will not be attending Alki. Please send a note with your child for any planned future absences.

If your child has a fever, you should not send him/her to school. You may contact our school office (nurse, if she is available) if you are not sure about symptoms.

The following District definitions of excused and unexcused absences are for students of all ages:

Excused Absences:

Unplanned absences are excused when your child's personal illness or injury, or the illness, injury or death of a family member, prevents your child from attending school. The school may require a note from your child's doctor before excusing those absences if your child is absent due to illness or injury for an excessive number of days.
Planned absences are excused when you submit a request to the principal or assistant principal at least three school days before the start of the planned absence, usually for a family trip of short duration, doctor or dentist appointment, or religious or other special event one time event. The school may require your child to complete missed classroom assignments and/or make another academic assignment for extended planned absences. Long-term absences or a succession of long-term absences may affect whether your child will be promoted. Absences for longer than twenty consecutive school days may result in your child being dropped from school enrollment.
Absences due to short-term discipline of your child are excused on District attendance records unless your child is under court order to attend school without additional truancies or behavior problems.

Unexcused Absences:

All other absences are considered unexcused, including absences caused by the student or parent oversleeping, student missing the bus, transportation problems, students needed for babysitting, student job requirement, etc.
Absences by long term suspended and expelled students for whom space is available in the reentry program, but who do not enroll and attend, are unexcused.
A parent request to "excuse my child's absence" without a stated reason or with a reason that does not meet the above criteria for excused absences will cause the child's absence to remain unexcused.

As a reminder, the Compulsory School Attendance law requires that the District file petitions with the Superior Court of King County for all students who have seven (7) or more unexcused absences in a month or ten (10) or more unexcused absences in a school year. The juvenile court will then monitor your children's attendance in school. If your child's attendance does not improve, there can be penalties for both you and your child.

The Seattle School District his its own procedures for dealing with truant students. On the first unexcused absence, the school is to notify parents/guardians. If the students has another unexcused absence, we can schedule a conference with you (and your child, as appropriate) to discuss the attendance problem. As a result of the conference, a Seattle School District Student Attendance Agreement will be developed. If you cannot attend the conference, an Agreement will be developed without your input, and you will be sent a copy.

Alki Connections -- Newsletter

This is a bulletin that is published by the school office. It contains principal and school messages as well as PTA announcements and dates of upcoming meetings. Your child will receive a copy from his/her teacher. You can also find Alki Connections on our Website.

What can you do? Please remind your child that it is important that he/she gives it to you.

Library

The Alki Elementary School Library is available for book checkout throughout the school year. Students will be notified weekly in class about overdue books. Notices to parents/guardians are sent periodically during the year. During the last month of school, bills are sent home for missing books. If the books are not returned, families are responsible for replacement costs. The Seattle School District's Policy is that a student's year-end report will be held at school if books are not returned or paid for. If books are found later, families can be refunded.

Lost and Found

Please PLAINLY mark all clothing (hats, coats, etc.), lunch boxes, paper lunch sacks, backpacks, purses with your child's name. There is a lost and found area in the Cafeteria. Parents and students may check for lost articles. Small items such as jewelry, wallets, money, etc. are kept in the office lost and found.

Medications

Parents must submit a Medication at School Authorization form before any medication can be given at school. Both the parent and physician must complete the appropriate section of the form before medication can be given. This form is available in the school office.

School Breakfast and Lunches

The school offers a cafeteria breakfast and lunch. Children can pay either cash or by check. Your child can pay daily or any amount you choose in advance (i.e. pay 1 month in advance). Checks should be made out to Nutrition Services and given directly to the Cafeteria Manager.

Each child has an account in the computer used by the Lunchroom Manager. The Lunchroom Manager will give your child a PIN (Personal Identification Number). If you have more than one child in the school, it is easier for your children if you give them separate checks. Your child is to give the check to the "lunch lady". When your child's account is getting low in funds, the "lunch lady" will give your child a reminder note.

Every day there are two entrée choices. A line is formed on either side on the lunchroom for each choice. At the beginning of the line is a picture of the entrée served in that line.

Request Forms for free and reduced meals are mailed to each family prior to the beginning of school. These forms are also available in the school office.

Rainy Day Recess

We try to get students outside for recess as much as possible. One person is in charge of deciding for each recess (before school, morning, lunch, and afternoon) whether the students will go to their assigned classrooms for indoor recess activities. Before school, the lunchroom is open for breakfast and the library is often open as an option. We recommend that students come to school prepared for any kind of weather -- raincoats and umbrellas are encouraged during rainy season!

Art tiles from Alki students

Special Programs

After School Program

These are optional fee-based after school enrichment activities. Financial scholarships are available through PTA. Watch for announcements in the Alki Connections, on the school website and flyers sent home with students.

What can you do? Do you have time to donate? Do you know a foreign language? Are you a chess player? Then call the After School Program Chairperson, find out how you can help.

Alki Community Center

Our school enjoys a close working relationship with the Community Center, which is right next door! They offer before and after-school care as well as a variety of activities for both children and adults. Call them 684-7430 for more information.

Classroom Parents

Each class has two "room parents". The responsibilities of these volunteers are to help the teacher plan, recruit volunteers and execute classroom parties, special classroom projects and field trips. A request form will come home the first week of school asking for volunteers.

School Banking

Each child may set up a savings account at school with Washington Mutual Savings & Loan at school. The goal of this program is to teach children early about saving money on a consistent and weekly basis. The minimum to open an account is 25 cents and the minimum weekly deposit is 10 cents. This is a great program because there is no bank service fee with these accounts. Children may withdraw their money at any Washington Mutual branch.

What can you do? Volunteer to help. The program needs one to two volunteers who are willing to work two Fridays a month. You can volunteer to work either before school begins or during the lunchtime. Please call the PTA Chairperson if you are interested in learning more about volunteering for this program.

Yearbooks

Alki Memory Albums are available for pre-sale purchase in the Spring. Albums are usually distributed during the last week of school. Extra albums are sold if available at that time.

Special Needs

Gently Used Clothing

Our Family Support Worker can always distribute "gently used clothing " (used clothing). If your child has out grown any clothing and you are looking for somewhere to donate them please consider giving them to the Family Support Worker at Alki. You may leave clothes in the school office for her. The office also needs a supply of spare clothing, especially sweatpants, leggings, and underwear. New toothbrushes are also needed.

Kindergarten ONLY

Please send your child with an extra set of clothes (pants, underwear and socks). Accidents will happen and your child will be less embarrassed if she/he has some old clothes in his/her locker. Please send these clothes in a plastic bag (large zip-lock is the best).

Other Opportunities

Governance

The Alki Building Leadership Team(BLT) is the recommendation and decision-making body for our school. See our governance page for BLT information and documents

Site Council

This is an advisory group, which brings together parents, staff, administration, and community members to advise on processes, policies and goals for the school. Meetings are held monthly, usually in the late afternoon. Parents are always welcome to attend meetings. Ideas for topics of discussion can be submitted on "We're Listening" forms available in the office. Membership changes annually. If you're interested in serving on the Site Council, you may fill out a form also available in the office.

Staff Hiring

If you're interested in participating on a committee to help hire new staff at Alki, you should contact the Principal. A District-led training session is required to participate. This training is usually offered once a month in the late afternoon at the District A&S Center, located downtown.

Suggestions for this site are welcome. Email alkielementary@gmail.com.