Hello Viewlands Families!

The lost and found is quite full again. We will be partnering with volunteers to sort and organize it. If you want to support us with the lost and found, please reach out to VEPTSA or Ms. Lin. We would love support sorting, looking for any items with names, and organizing the lost and found items.

A big highlight of the week was the all-school assembly on Tuesday celebrating dance, music, and St. Paddy’s Day. One of our very own Viewlands students, 5th grader Fiona Laher, is a member of the Irish dance team at Tara Academy of Irish Dance studio. As part of their community service and to celebrate St. Paddy’s Day, dancers at the studio spend the entire day and evening performing for free at schools and senior living centers. Viewlands was lucky to be one of the schools they visited for the 2nd year in a row. Our Viewlands students were an exceptional audience and the dancing was wonderful. Thank you to Fiona and family for helping Viewlands have this opportunity to be one the schools where they performed! Thank you to Fiona for sharing this love and passion with our school community.

A few other highlights from my visits in classrooms and with students this week include: talking with 2nd graders about the different fieldtrips they took on Monday this week; watching some 1st and 2nd graders share their mathematical thinking and exploring their different ideas on how to show numbers and solve problems with others; and being part of the initial exploration the end of this week with 4th and 5th graders trying to figure out how to create circuits and switches.

Your children are bright, inquisitive, and creative thinkers. We will continue to seek ways to make every student feel known, valued, and empowered through the year.

In Partnership,

Carrie Wheeler | Viewlands Principal

Our 4th and 5th graders successfully supported the salmon as they moved from egg to alevin to fry stage. Now that the salmon are in the fry stage, we are feeding them. Mr. Arango, along with the 4th and 5th graders, have shared opportunities for other classes to schedule times to visit the tank and feed the salmon. The salmon fry typically hide in the rocks and other areas in the tank, but excitedly come out for feedings. This gives students more opportunities to observe them. We will have our salmon for a few more weeks before the 4th and 5th graders take them to the Imprint Pond at Carkeek Park.

The new superintendent started Monday, February 2nd. He has organized seven community conversations centered in in the School Board Director districts and a city-wide virtual community conversation. Superintendent Shuldiner has expressed that the community meetings will be an opportunity to connect, share, and dream big together. There are five opportunities remaining.

We all want Seattle Public Schools to be successful for ALL students. All families are encouraged to share their ideas and connect with new leadership by being part of a community conversations! Viewlands is part of district 1, so the closest location to our attendance zone is at James Baldwin, but you can attend a different one if that location and time frame work better for you!

• Tuesday, March 17, 7:30–8:30 p.m., Eckstein Middle School, 3003 NE 75th St.
• Tuesday, March 24, 6:30–7:30 p.m., McClure Middle School, 1915 1st Ave W.
• Thursday, March 26, 6:30–7:30 p.m., James Baldwin Elementary, 11725 1st Ave NE
• Tuesday, March 31, 6:30–7:30 p.m., West Seattle Elementary, 6760 34th Ave SW
• Thursday, April 2, 6–7:30 p.m., Virtual, online; link forthcoming

Every spring students 3rd-8th grade and again in 10th grade take a state testing in English Language Arts (reading and writing) and Math. This is sometimes referred to as the "state test". These tests are benchmark assessments to show how students perform grade level standards in those content areas. This starts in 3rd grade. Students will take them every year between 3rd and 8th, and then once again in 10th grade. All students are allowed as much time as they need to complete these assessments. They are not timed.

These tests are scheduled in May with make-ups extending to the first few days of June. It is important students attend school as most prefer to take these tests at the same time as their peers. Please do not schedule appointments or trips during the tests. The schedule is available on the website.

The science test for 5th grade is scheduled for April 29th. It is important students attend school as most prefer to take these tests at the same time as their peers. Please do not schedule appointments or trips during the tests. The schedule is available on the website.

Blockbuster Bash Next Saturday; Live Auction Open Today!

Last call for tickets for the Blockbuster Bash – the PTA’s biggest (and final!) fundraiser of the year at Old Stove Gardens in Ballard next Saturday, March 28. This is a fun night to connect as a Viewlands community and raise funds to support our students and school (Grownups Only!).

Get Your Tickets!

Online Auction is Now Live: Bid Here

• April 13th-April 17th – NO SCHOOL, Spring Break
• Wednesday, April 29th, 5-7PM- Viewlands Evening of the Arts and Culture