What's New

This summer, students became crew in the Skills Center course Introduction to Maritime Vessel Operation. A 25-foot vessel and the San Juan Islands in the Salish Sea became their classroom as they learned to navigate currents and tides, read charts, and gain an understanding of the physics of sailing.

The week of Oct. 8, I visited several schools including Franklin High School where I had the opportunity to meet student body representatives Ashleen and Gabi, see the amazing work at Cleveland's health center, and observe students at Washington Middle School explore college and careers during Discover U week.

Under the state's 24 credit graduation requirement, students must earn three (3) science credits: at least two lab sciences, and a third credit of choice. In previous years, students were able to graduate with two (2) science credits. In addition to the course work, students will be required to pass the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science at the end of their junior year.

Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Denise Juneau is embarking on a comprehensive Listening and Learning Tour to gather an understanding of the district's strengths, challenges, and what is most important for her to consider as plans are developed for the district's future.

Getting students to and from school is top of mind for me. Like many of you, I am frustrated that the start of school hasn’t been smooth for all of our students and families. Our students deserve timely, safe, and predictable transportation to and from school.

Seattle Public Schools invites all seniors to attend one of the many upcoming college application and financial aid events.

This is an update on transportation services contracted with First Student. Anytime there is a late bus, students, families and schools are impacted. We apologize for this disruption. Getting students safely to and from school on time is a top priority.

Seattle teachers and staff recently came together plan and share how they create welcoming classroom environments that offer high-quality education and inclusive school communties through the whole-child framework—MTSS (multi-tiered system of support)

This year’s window for parent referrals for K-8 students currently enrolled at Seattle Public Schools is May 15, 2018 through September 24, 2018 to determine eligibility for school year 2019-20. Applications for students in grades 9-12 will be available in January.

Families in Seattle Public Schools can now pay student fees and other school-related bills online with the district's SchoolPay system. Beginning Fall 2018, all schools will now have access to SchoolPay.

Last year, six Seattle educators were recognized for excellence in teaching as part of a Symetra Heroes in the Classroom awards! Now it is time to nominate 2018-19 educators for this award.

Seattle Public Schools will begin evaluating instructional materials for 9-12 science. An adoption committee comprised of teachers, students, families, and community members from across the district will be formed. Their work will begin in October. Interested individuals are invited to apply.

At a recent School Board meeting, Gail Morris, Native American Education program manager and Stacia Hawkinson, Native Education consulting teacher, debuted the short film, which showcases Native Seattle Public School high school students and staff sharing their stories, hopes, and dreams for their future.

We are excited to share that the Seattle Education Association membership approved the 1-year contract for 2018-19!

All across the district, open doors and smiling faces awaited students and their families. Sept. 5 marked the first day of school for students in grades 1-12.

The 2018-19 school year form is available Sept. 5 through Sept. 30, 2018.

The College and Career Readiness team is holding five regional information meetings to give parents and community members an opportunity to talk directly with staff about the benefits of Naviance, the district’s college and career planning tool.

Seattle Public Schools is hosting community meetings in September to share information about our upcoming Operations Levy and our Building Excellence V (BEX V) Capital Levy, both to be submitted to Seattle voters in February 2019.

Welcome to the 2018-19 school year. I'm excited to kick off the school year as your superintendent. It's going to be a great year!

Jessica Monfils, family and consumer sciences teacher at Ingraham High School was recently announced as the 2018 Nancy Johnson New Professional Teacher of the Year.

We are excited to share that the Seattle Education Association and district have reached a tentative contract agreement. School will begin on Wed., Sept. 5 for 1st through 12 grade students and Mon., Sept. 10 for kindergarten students. The SEA general membership assembly will vote on the proposed contract on Sat., Sept. 8.

Currently, an evaluation and selection process is underway to determine what construction and facilities projects should be recommended to the School Board for inclusion in BEX V. This summer, the Facilities Master Plan Task Force convened to support the School Board’s oversight of capital planning by reviewing elements of the district’s Facilities Master Plan update.

Available to next year’s 8th through 12th graders, Naviance will help students identify their strengths, interests and goals, and link them to potential college and career pathways; providing a deeper knowledge about options for the future.

Tracy Gill, a 6th grade social studies teacher at Denny International Middle School, has been awarded the Regional Teacher of the Year; representing Puget Sound Educational Service District 121.

Each year, the district welcomes incoming kindergarten students and their families to experience their school early through Jump Start, a free, week-long immersive experience.

Wed., Sept. 5 is the first day of school for grades 1-12; Mon., Sept. 10 is the first day of kindergarten and Seattle Preschool Program. Read all key dates for the 2018-19 school year.

The start of the school year is a great time to reinforce the importance of attendance with students. The first 20 days of school are particularly important for establishing good attendance habits.

Over 200 Seattle Public Schools leaders and district staff gathered at West Seattle High School for the annual Summer Leadership Institute (SLI) in preparation for the upcoming 2018-19 academic year.

Dates and locations for Seattle Public Schools high schools graduation ceremonies June 2019.

The air quality forecast has improved, but is still unhealthy for sensitive groups.

It has come to our attention that some district ground crews have used Roundup which contains glyphosate a potential carcinogenic. We have halted our use of this product. We will review grounds maintenance practices to ensure we follow policy and procedure.

As part of the 24-credit graduation requirements that affects all Seattle Public Schools students beginning with the Class of 2021, students must earn at least one credit in Career and Technical Education.

Students taking career-technical education (CTE) summer courses through the Seattle Skills Center had an opportunity to meet with local chefs and employees in the restaurant industry at an event sponsored by Tom Douglas.

As we prepare for the 2018-19 school year, our district has spent time this summer looking ahead at our overall finances.

Despite our projected funding gap starting in the 2019-20 school year, Seattle Public Schools is committed to ensuring our students have the access and opportunities they need to succeed. This includes balancing paying our amazing educators a fair and competitive wage with providing the programming our students and families need and expect.

Jump Start takes place each morning Mon-Fri., Aug. 20-24.

Important Dates for Kindergarten Families

• Aug. 20 - 24 Jump Start
• Sept. 5 - 7 Each family meets with their kindergarten teacher
• Sept. 10 First day of school for kindergarten students (grades 1 through 12 will start school on Sept. 5)

Keep your student engaged with learning throughout the summer.

Seattle Public Schools welcomes students from nearly 150 countries of origin; our diversity is our strength. On Tues., June 26, 2018, the Supreme Court upheld the travel ban in its entirety. The ban limits travel from seven counties: Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. As stated in an open letter after the November 2016 elections, and in a response to previous executive orders, the district remains steadfast in our commitment to serve and support every student in our care.

Pathfinder K-8 eigth-graders spearheaded a student service project that modernized a school mural and helped create a welcoming school environment that support the identity safety of every student.

On June 3, Sand Point Elementary schoolwide musical production "Salmon Boy" retold a legend of Pacific Northwest native tribes and highlighted the school's and district's commitment to positive, inclusive learning environments that support belonging and identity safety for all students.

In 2019-20, new high school boundaries will be implemented with the opening of Lincoln High School in north Seattle. Watch a video that highlights the changes.

The school year has ended but Seattle Public Schools will be hard at work to prepare for a great 2018-19 school year. Below is a collection of resources and helpful links that families may need during the summer

We caught up with seven of the 10 members of Franklin High mock trail team who recently won the 2018 Mock Trial National Championship to talk mock trial, the ”magic of Franklin High” and the power of positive adult-student relationships.

As Jessia Sua sang, “I’ll rise up, I’ll rise like the day, I’ll rise up, I’ll rise unafraid. I’ll rise up, and I’ll do it a thousand times again,” her peers and teachers joined her. On June 21, Jessica and her classmates walked across the Memorial Stadium stage to receive their diplomas at the Interagency Academy graduation.

Tenth-grade students at Chief Sealth International High School had cause for celebration after their first gradewide student film festival. Student filmmakers worked with Chief Sealth staff, mentor teaching artists from Arts Corps, Writers in the Schools and the Seattle International Film Festival, to write, film, produce and direct each of the short documentary films that were shown to audiences.

Three of the 26 Seattle School Scholarship Fund recipients share stories and advice.

When school lets out for summer, work ramps up for projects funded through voter approved capital levies. While school construction and addition projects take multiple years, smaller projects are completed over the summer months to avoid disrupting teaching and learning activities.

Seattle Public Schools is anticipating increased demand for world language courses in response to new graduation requirements and student and family interest. In addition to world language classes in all middle and high schools, our district offers dual language immersion program in five international elementary schools.

I am excited to be serving the families, students and staff of Seattle Public Schools. I truly believe that together we can make Seattle Public Schools the best public education system in the nation - providing every student the education and future they deserve.

Join Seattle Public Schools staff and families at June 24 Seattle Pride Parade. Meet us at the school bus before 11 a.m. on 4th Ave. between University and Seneca.

Click the Student Portal blue icon at the top of all Seattle Public Schools websites for quick links to The Source, Schoology and other online tools to support students.

The Seattle Skills Center, in partnership with R3 Community Services, hosted a “Try-A-Trade” event on June 5, to help students gain a hands-on experience with construction trade opportunities.

On June 8, 2018, Franklin students welcomed community members, sister schools, alumni, city officials and staff to join a youth-led demonstration centered on the seriousness of gun violence and need for greater safety in the south end in honor of classmate Ryan Dela Cruz.

Help us improve district communications with a quick online survey. Your anonymous responses will help us identify the most effective communications tools and strategies to ensure our entire community receives the news and information it needs from schools and the district.

In April, five regional community meetings were held to share the planning process for the Operations Levy and the Building Excellence V (BEX V) Capital Levy. District staff members shared information about the district's budget and funding and the BEX V planning process.

Transitions are exciting times. With each move, comes a level of hope for the future, the anxiety of what’s to come and a chance to reflect on what has been accomplished thus far. Serving the students, staff and families of Seattle Public Schools for the past four years has been one of my greatest professional opportunities and a profound joy.

When Cleveland High School's football team suit’s up next year, they will be doing so with new equipment thanks in part to a $20,000 donation from the Seattle Seahawks.

This spring, Seattle Public Schools Research & Evaluation department has produced its first public newsletter. The newsletter provides families, community partners and the public with information about the reports and analyses the R&E department produces during the year, as well as synthesis of national reports that mention Seattle Public Schools. Read the Research & Evaluation Spring 2018 newsletter.

U.S. News and World Report has recognized several Seattle Public Schools high schools as top high schools in Washington state in their annual report.

The Seattle Public Schools School Board and Facilities and Operations Department are establishing a Facilities Master Plan task force. You are invited to apply. Applications are due by Thurs., June 7.

The Visual and Performing Arts Program offered a professional development session on May 2 in partnership with the Family Partnerships and the Center for Arab and Islamic Resources (CAIR).

Student chefs at Franklin High, Rainier Beach Skill Center, Roosevelt High, Ingraham High and West Seattle High School have been hard at work in the kitchen for the past month, learning new techniques and employing their creativity to whip up delicious dishes for professional review.