News and Announcements

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West Seattle Summer Fest on July 10-12

Come Help Staff the Kids' Booth!

Pathfinder is co-sponsoring the Kids' Activity Booth again this year! We need lots of helpers so come join us for a short shift and have some fun while supporting this great West Seattle event! In the past this has been an awesome opportunity to tell people about our school, to let them know what we're about, who we are, our new location, and so forth. It's a way to remind everyone that we are all part of the same community. All the activities are FREE, and the kids always have a blast. This year we continue the tradition, but also as co-sponsors we get to schedule various activities located at our tent, introducing activities for older students too, including: watermelon eating contest, egg toss, twist contest, face painting, arts & crafts, musical instrument discovery, and open-mic and poetry slam! Lou and his amazing jumpers, hoppers, ‘jackers and ‘cyclers perform at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday July 12^th!

We are in great need of people to volunteer for this, to fill 3 two- or three-hour shifts each day. You get a coupon for food while you're there, along with a Pathfinder t-shirt. So if you’re in West Seattle during this time, contact Lashanna Williams at (206) 715-5265 today!

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OPENING CELEBRATION

Tuesday September 8 from 5-8pm

Mark your calendar and plan to join us the evening before the first day of school as we mark a new chapter for Pathfinder. More information will be sent home to all Pathfinder families over the summer. Thanks to all for a wonderful year. Enjoy the summer months with your family and friends!

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PTSA SURVEY: FUNDRAISING & COMMUNICATION

Please take just a few minutes to give the PTSA some feedback on fundraising activities and communication. It's easy and your input is so helpful! Click here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Bd2j_2bcF019Xn6SpQ8ffFKw_3d_3d

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Genesee Hill Closing Ceremony

Our closing ceremony on Saturday June 13 was fabulously attended; old memories exchanged, friendships past…renewed! We collected wonderful memories for our archival scrapbook - if you would like to participate you can add a memory online. Please post comments to: http://pathfinderk8.blogspot.com. Comments will be printed and added to the scrapbook.

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Congratulations to Autism Teacher Rebecca Cressell

Rebecca Cressell, autism teacher at Cooper Elementary School, received the Outstanding Teacher Award from the Seattle Special Ed PTSA.. Rebecca will be joining Pathfinder's staff in the fall along with her colleagues from the autism program. She received the award at the May 26 general meeting at the John Stanford Center. ___________________________________________________________

Congratulations to Mayor's Scholars Award Winners!

Mayor Greg Nickels announced 26 outstanding middle school students (from public and private schools) who have earned this year’s scholar awards for service to their schools and their communities. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Mayor’s Scholars Awards and in celebration, all 189 past award recipients will be honored.

Nine West Seattle middle schools were among the winners – we are especially proud of our very own Pathfinder student winners Emma Khan-Jones, 6th grade and Jesse Tibbits, 8th grade. Each of this year’s students will receive $500 that can be used for education or donated to a charity. Criteria for selection include overcoming obstacles or meeting challenges, giving back to the community, and maintaining good academic standing.

Mayor Nickels will present the awards, along with a mayor’s scholar letterman jacket, to each of the students at a reception at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall on Tuesday, May 12, 2009. The awards are coordinated by the city’s Office for Education, a division of the Department of Neighborhoods, and funded entirely through private donations to the nonprofit Alliance for Education.

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New School Start Times for 2009-2010

The Seattle School Board approved changes to transportation service standards, including start/end times, for 2009-10 at its meeting on June 3rd. According to information posted on the District website, Pathfinder's schedule is as follows: Buses arrive by 8am. School start time is 8:20am. School end time is 2:35pm, buses depart at 2:45. For more information, visit the SPS website.
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Pathfinder K-8 to Move to the Cooper Building

On January 29, 2009 the Seattle School Board voted to approve the Superintendent's Capacity Management Recommendations with three small amendments. This means that Pathfinder K-8 will be moving to the Cooper School building starting with the 2009-2010 school year.

This is a huge vote of support for Pathfinder K-8 and the program that's been created here. Pathfinder K-8 is one of the few schools for which the recommendation includes an immediate and obvious benefit. Many, many school communities are in very real pain now either due to complete closure or much uncertainty surrounding the future changes to their programs.

This move comes after many challenging years of working with the District to address the school's facility needs. Pathfinder K-8 has worked to improve its building in many different ways. It has worked to be included on school levies and it has endured several previous rounds of closures and consolidations which did not find a solution to the problem. (Please see our building history link for more detailed information.)

This vote in support of the Pathfinder K-8 program by the School Board comes with a serious responsibility. The District has displaced a school community for the Pathfinder K-8 program. It is the obligation and intention of the Pathfinder K-8 community to do its best to make this transition a positive one, perhaps in challenging circumstances. And, while this is a very positive move for Pathfinder K-8, it won't necessarily be a simple or easy one.

The District is guiding all schools transitioning in this process through the formation of Design Teams. Pathfinder K-8 Design Team Members represent all stakeholders in the school and community and include: David Dockendorf, Principal; Linda Thomson, Secretary; Janet Osborn, K-1 teacher; Tim Hayes-McQueen, 7th-8th grade teacher; Lisa Clayton, Head Teacher and parent; Rita Garton, Director of Blazing Trails; Rose Rapoza, NAB member and parent; Beth Bakeman, Compass Editor and parent; and Jennifer Giomi, PTSA President and parent. There are also two teachers from Cooper's Autism Program participating on the Design Team.

The overarching goal of the Design Team will be to make the transition as smooth and effortless as possible. The Design Team will work very closely with the Building Leadership Team (BLT), the PTSA and the staff to ensure all voices have been heard. The school community will be kept informed of plans as they develop.

This is a very difficult time for the Cooper School community and we respect the challenge and grief that they are facing as part of the Board decision. We ask that current and prospective Pathfinder K-8 families please not call or visit the Cooper building. Please continue to exercise restraint and compassion for all involved.

If you have questions, call the school 252-9710 or e-mail ddockendorf@seattleschools.org.

Pathfinder K-8 Spruce-Up Day

What an amazing day for Pathfinder K-8!! On Saturday May 10, 2008 over 110 volunteers from the Pathfinder K-8 community and Seattle Works worked cheerfully and diligently to make some MAJOR improvements to our campus.

Gorgeous new colors for the portables
Complete revitalization of the amphitheatre on the lower field
Upgrade & beautification of the front lawn & gardens
Refurbished picnic tables for the middle school area

Special thanks to Jennifer Giomi who led this enormous effort. The project was completed in September 2009, totalling over 1,000 hours of volunteer time and hundreds of dollars in donated supplies from local businesses.

Connect with Pathfinder K-8 Folks Online

Did you know that we have a Yahoo Group? Sign up and take advantage of online information-sharing by receiving email messages from the Pathfinder K-8 community.

Greater Community

Seattle Public Schools

Subscribe to the Seattle Public Schools eNewsletter - School Beat

Check out the unofficial Seattle Public Schools blog. One of the authors is a Pathfinder K-8 Parent!

West Seattle Blog