Regional School News Roundup
Summary: Across every region, students took part in opportunities that sparked curiosity and brought school communities together
Learning Comes Alive in SPS
Central Region News
Family Fun Fest Brings Hands-on Learning, Community Connection to Washington MS
Washington Middle School’s 1st Annual Family Fun Fest was created with a simple goal in mind: listen to families and build something better—together. Based on feedback from previous evening events, families shared that while Curriculum Night and Student-Led Conferences were valuable, they wanted more time to connect and engage with multiple staff members and other families in a more relaxed setting.
In response, Washington Middle School reimagined family engagement as an open-house-style celebration. The more flexible format allowed families to move at their own pace and gave interpreters greater ability to support WMS’s multilingual community.
The numbers said it all: 130 current WMS families, 53 future families, and 533 total attendees.
Teachers and leadership students brought learning to life through hands-on experiences for all ages—from Slime in Science and Sensory Activities with Special Education to Lotería with Spanish, Mindfulness with Counselors, and a World’s Fair hosted by Social Studies.
“By the end of the night, it truly felt like a “cup-filling” moment—bringing current, past, and future students and their loved ones into one joyful community space,” said WMS Principal Adrian Manriquez.
Lowell Elementary Students Grow Through IslandWood Experience
At Lowell Elementary, the annual trip to IslandWood has become a transformative tradition for 5th graders. For more than a decade, teacher Laura Schulz has guided students on this journey, impacting over 300 learners.
Lowell partnered with IslandWood for a film project to prepare 4th graders for what’s to come. In the video called “Who You Become in the Woods,” 5th graders reflected on how the experience changed them—encouraging future attendees to be brave, curious, and open to trying new things.
This year, with more than $20,000 raised by the community, every student had the chance to experience outdoor learning—an opportunity many might not otherwise have.
In the woods, students from 16 different language backgrounds build connections through shared discovery. They explore trails, observe wildlife, and find confidence in a new environment. Language barriers fade as nature became a common ground.
Northeast Region News
Eckstein Girls Find Their Spark at IGNITE STEM Event
Thirty-six girls from Eckstein Middle School stepped into a world of possibility during an IGNITE Worldwide field trip hosted at Slalom.
IGNITE Worldwide is a nonprofit dedicated to closing the gender gap in STEM by connecting girls with real-world experiences, role models, and career pathways in science, technology, engineering, and math. Through hands-on activities, workplace visits, and panels with women in STEM careers, IGNITE helps students see what’s possible—and themselves in those futures.
At Slalom, the day began with a tour of the building, giving students a behind-the-scenes look at a professional tech workplace. The girls then jumped into a hands-on challenge, using artificial intelligence to help design an app that asks users how they’re feeling and generates a music playlist to match their mood—a creative blend of technology, problem-solving, and everyday life.
Nathan Hale Students Lead the Way on Climate Action
Nathan Hale High School marked Earth Day in a big way this April, hosting its seventh annual all-school Climate Day of Action. Organized by the school’s Climate Justice Club, the event featured three sessions of more than 30 workshops led by students and experts across fields like agriculture, solar energy, urban planning, environmental stewardship, mental health, and activism.
The day included a keynote assembly featuring Nathan Hale alumni and event co-founders Hannah Griffith and Althea Ericksen, along with Redmond City Councilmember Vivek Prakriya. Their insights helped set the tone for a day focused on learning, collaboration, and inspiring climate solutions.
A documentary film capturing the event—sponsored by Earth Creative—will be released later this year, offering an inside look at this student-led movement for change.
Northwest Region News
Cascadia 5th Graders Explore AI and Climate Through Project-Based Learning
Fifth graders at Cascadia Elementary showcased their learning after diving into a three-month, project-based unit exploring the question: What impact does artificial intelligence (AI) have on the climate crisis?
The result? A gym buzzing with energy and impressive presentations. Students led their own learning—choosing topics, designing projects, and sharing their ideas in ways that were as unique as they were impactful.
What stood out most was students’ ability to think beyond simple answers. Presentations were creative, informative, and engaging. They explored both the pros and the cons of AI, getting into topics like energy use, environmental impact, and the future of technology. From cool scale-sized models to testing the audience’s knowledge through quizzes to full-on dramatic storytelling, these 5th graders did not hold back when it came to their displays.
Through the Project-Based Learning Showcase, students built essential skills that go beyond the classroom. They practiced teamwork and learned how to turn ideas into finished products.
Rather than seeing the issue as black and white, students showed a mature, nuanced understanding—and a clear message: the future of AI depends on how we choose to use it.
McDonald International Students Sing for Seattle’s Trees
What started as an after‑school musical at McDonald International Elementary ended up on the floor of Seattle City Council.
This spring, a small group of third graders took part in an after-school enrichment class built around “This Life We Share,” an original musical written and directed by retired Seattle Public Schools educator Carlen Luke. The story follows a child who rallies their community to save a beloved city tree. It ends with young voices standing before city leaders speaking up for their neighborhood. Then came an unexpected encore.
After seeing the school performance, community partner Sandy Shettler of Tree Action Seattle invited the students to bring their message to real life. On April 6, during a City Council public hearing, four McDonald students stepped up to the microphone—this time not playing characters but speaking and singing as themselves.
At the council table, they performed a song from the musical called “Lot Sprawl.” The song is about protecting trees while building a growing city, echoing the scene they had practiced on the school stage weeks earlier. For the students, it was a powerful moment of connection: the lessons they learned through music, storytelling, and teamwork mattered beyond the classroom walls.
Watch the performance at the City Council meeting. McDonald students perform at the six-minute mark.
Southeast Region News
Strengthening Grade-Level Math Through Inclusive Math Excellence
The Department of Highly Capable Services launched the Inclusive Math Excellence Project this year to strengthen grade-level math for students in grades 4-6. Teachers across 10 schools use live classroom studios, lesson study, and mathematically rich tasks aligned to the Envision curriculum to create challenging math lessons that support all learners.
Recently, educators across the city gathered at Hawthorne Elementary to learn new strategies and refine lessons that challenge all students. What the teachers learned was then put into play in a Hawthorne classroom. The lesson, which focused on fraction skills, gave students the chance to work as a team to justify a fair tax plan.
These efforts help build classrooms filled with strong conceptual understanding, persistence, rigor, and joy for every student. More details about the program will be shared soon.
Multicultural Night Brings Rainier View Community Together
Rainier View Elementary came alive with color, music, and excitement on April 30 as students, families, and staff gathered for the school’s annual Multicultural Night.
Families explored cultures from around the globe through food, games, music, performances, and traditional fashion. This year’s event featured a creative twist—students and families created their own “passports” and traveled the world without leaving the school. Families had the chance to visit different cultural stations representing countries across the seven continents. They learned through stories, sampled foods, and collected stamps along the way.
Events like Multicultural Night play an important role in building inclusive school communities. By sharing traditions, languages, and experiences, students deepen their understanding of one another. These moments help students see themselves reflected in their school while also broadening their perspectives of the world.
Southwest Region News
Kingmakers Students Tour KING 5 Studios
Denny Kingmakers students recently took a look behind-the-scenes at KING 5 Studios.
During the visit, students were immersed in the world of broadcast journalism and media production. They had the opportunity to read from teleprompters, deliver a seven-day weather forecast, operate camera equipment, and learn about video editing. Students also explored producer spaces and gained insight into the many behind-the-scenes roles that make daily news broadcasts possible.
KING 5 Traffic Anchor Shante Sumpter led the tour and created an engaging, hands-on experience for students. Students also had the opportunity to hear from Christy Moreno, President and General Manager of KING 5, who shared the history of the station and spoke with students.
Previous News Roundups
April 1, 2026
Celebrating the Importance of Reading with the Seahawks
The Seahawks brought the joy to Lowell Elementary with its 12 Pages reading program, created to make reading fun and encourage literacy across Washington state.
Partnering with PEMCO Insurance, former Seahawk Garry Gilliam Jr. and Seahawks dancers read books and shared why reading is important to them. Students also had the chance to win Seahawks swag—keeping the Super Bowl excitement going while celebrating the power and importance of literacy.
Unity in the Community Brings Nathan Hale Together
After a brief delay to make room for the Seahawks’ celebratory parade, Nathan Hale High School’s most anticipated tradition returned right on cue: Unity in the Community.
Held annually, Unity in the Community is a student-led seminar day featuring educational, informative, and engaging workshops designed to bring the Hale community together. Planned and organized by students, the event is one of the most looked-forward-to days of the year at Hale.
From there, students led the way—organizing more than 50 workshops for their peers to choose from. Student-led sessions included What’s Mime is Yours, Upcycling Shark Tank with Thrift Club, and African Dance. Community partners and guests also joined the day, offering workshops such as Legally Brunette with attorney Michelle Farris, sessions with the Seattle Asian Art Museum, a making workshop with Yaoyao Liu and Malika Bennett, and Disaster Preparedness with the Seattle Office of Emergency Management.
The day kicked off with a powerful keynote from Deaunte Damper of King County Public Health, followed by the always-popular Cultural Fashion Show, celebrating identity, culture, and self-expression.
Beloved returning favorites—like 50 Questions to Fall in Love, Palestinian Embroidery, and Line Dancing with Ms. Toni—rounded out a full day of learning, connection, and fun.
Licton Springs Scholars Shine in Seattle Opera Partnership
Students at Licton Springs K–8 recently teamed up with Seattle Opera to bring a joyful, student-powered version of “The Pirates of Penzance” to life. With music and lyrics provided by Seattle Opera, third and fourth graders rehearsed three days a week from January through March, building their skills, confidence, and love for the performing arts.
All the students learned the group songs, while others took on special roles as pirates, wards, and constables—shining on stage through their dedication, teamwork, and enthusiasm. The opportunity came to life thanks to student interest in more performing arts, a parent who championed the idea, PTA funding, and the leadership of art teacher Anne Wasson, who organized the experience.
The performance was shared during an all-school assembly, with families invited to attend so the entire community could celebrate together.
Bagley Elementary Celebrates Pi with Math, Robotics, and Pie
The Daniel Bagley Elementary community came together for an evening of math and engineering fun during its Pi Night celebration on March 13. Families, students, and staff filled the cafeteria to celebrate Pi and the many creative ways math shows up in everyday life.
The evening kicked off with an exciting robotics demonstration from the award-winning Ballard Robotics team, inspiring students with hands-on examples of engineering and innovation. The spotlight then turned to Bagley students during the Pi Recitation contest, where participants confidently recited anywhere from one to 105 digits of Pi. One special guest—a Bagley alum—returned to impress the crowd by reciting more than 300 digits from memory.
Throughout the event, families explored a variety of math games set up around the cafeteria, encouraging problem-solving and playful learning for all ages. And no Pi Night would be complete without pie—guests enjoyed a delicious pie potluck that brought everyone together to end the night on a sweet note.
Bagley’s Pi Night was a joyful celebration of learning, community, and the fun side of math, leaving students inspired and families smiling.
South Shore PreK‑8 Celebrates Student Learning at the 4th Annual Black Studies Student Showcase
On March 12, South Shore PreK‑8 was the host of the 4th Annual Black Studies Student Showcase, an evening filled with learning, creativity, and pride. Students confidently shared their work, demonstrating how Black Studies supports academic growth while strengthening identity, voice, and community connection.
Throughout the showcase, students presented projects focused on community safety, comparative studies between Black and Native American communities, and the use of holding circles to create healthy learning environments at school. Acting as docents for their work, students guided guests through their projects, explaining their research and the meaning behind their creations.
Middle school students highlighted their understanding of Ubuntu, a philosophy rooted in shared humanity and the belief that we are all connected and responsible for one another. Students shared how Ubuntu shapes the way they build respectful relationships and care for their school community.
A special highlight of the evening was a film created by 12th‑grade alumni about the impact of Black Studies. They shared how these courses continue to influence their learning and commitment to supporting Black Studies, inspiring both students and families in attendance.
Denny International Community Comes Together to Support Families
The Denny International Middle School community recently showed the power of collective care and generosity. Through a coordinated effort, more than 300 families received free groceries and essential household supplies—thanks to the dedication of over 40 volunteers who helped make the event run smoothly.
This meaningful work was made possible through strong community partnerships with Seattle CARES, Churchome, the City of Seattle, the 4C Coalition, and King County Best Starts for Kids. Seattle Public Schools’ Distribution Services also supported the effort to ensure an efficient and seamless delivery process.
With many moving parts, this effort demonstrated what’s possible when a community unites around a shared purpose.
