Hello Viewlands Families!

Last weekend, VEPTSA held the 3rd and final fundraiser for this school year, the spring auction. Our partnership with VEPTSA is an incredibly important part of our school community. This partnership helps us live and continue to build on our goals. "Every child known" and "every child and family known, valued, and empowered" is not possible without our partnership with VEPTSA.

While fundraising can feel controversial in a public school for some, it is critical to the work of being a thriving, growing, and diverse school community in Seattle and in Washington state, where there is limited funding and budget shortfalls. VEPTSA supports in so many ways, vital ways, volunteers, funding, and resources! The fundraising efforts support students directly, including but not limited to: an hourly role for a consistent person for lunch and recess supervision; supplemental literacy digital software for every K-2 student; snacks for all students throughout the year; teacher grants to purchase needed materials and resources for their classroom of learners; guest artists and authors for assemblies and enriching Orca experiences; supporting fieldtrips by funding costs associated with the destination and transportation; supplies for the Orca Cares Closet; emergency resources for families in crisis; and more. Thank you VEPTSA, I, and our school staff, are beyond grateful for your continued partnership! Thank you to all the families that were able to contribute to the spring fundraiser. They surpassed the goal, which will help VEPTSA continue to support our school in all of those vital ways! THANK YOU!

A big thank you to Susanna Wood and Jared Carlstom, who were the VEPTSA Volunteer Auction Co-Chairs. I know there were many other families that helped them coordinate the auction, the classroom art, procurement, and planning. Thank you to everyone that supported this event!

This week was full of different student experience highlights. On Tuesday, we hosted a visit from Robert Eagle Staff Middle School (RESMS) staff to visit our 5th graders that will be future Raven 6th graders. Students were a thoughtful audience, asked great questions, and showed a lot of excitement for this next step of independence and learning! On Thursday the 4th and 5th graders visited the Wing Luke Museum and did an international district walking tour on their field trip. I heard lots of positive reflections from students about the international district walking tour. On Friday this week, 1st and 2nd graders in Mr. Brandon’s class hosted a Writing Celebration. The 1st and 2nd graders wrote stories and made puppets for a puppet theater project in small groups. Many families came to be part of the puppet theater today! Finally, on Friday this week, Ms. Misner launched the Connect 4 Tournament with 4th and 5th graders. This has become a tradition at Viewlands for the past few years. Students that chose to participate are very enthusiastic about the Connect 4 bracket! They will continue the bracket play next week!

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

We need to know if your child has a different plan (not Viewlands) for next school year. It it vital we know if your child will be attending a different school because of a move or other reason as we begin planning for next school year. If your child is transferring to the Highly Capable cohort model school, Cascadia, we already have that information so no additional steps are needed.

If your child will not be at Viewlands next school year due to a family move or for any other reason, we need to know. You have two options:

• You can complete this Not Attending Next Year (NANY) form linked below.
• You can send our office team or the classroom teacher a talking points text or e-mail sharing that your child will not return to Viewlands and the reason (a move out of state, a move to a different location in Washington, private school, or homeschooling). The office team will then complete the NANY form for you.

Again, it is really important for us to collect this information. It helps the school have accurate enrollment information, which is critical for planning for next school year.

LINK to the NANY form:

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.

Viewlands Orca Cup Soccer – Saturday, April 25, 2-4pm (Sandel Park, 9053 1st Ave NW)

This annual Orca Cup Soccer event is all about having fun together as a community. Students will get to engage in enjoyable warm up, fun field games, and friendly soccer matches. We will have energetic music, a photo op with a custom Orca Cup trophy, stickers, snacks, and special guest … Ollie the Viewlands Orca. For students who want something else the playground will be open to enjoy while also hanging out with friends. This community building event is free. Note, it is not a drop off event, adults must accompany their children. For more details check out the Konstella event. Reach out to events@viewlandsptsa.org with questions. Volunteers are needed, signup here >

🚶 🚲 🛼 Walk, Bike, & Roll to School Day – Wednesday, May 6, before school

Lace up your shoes, and walk or roll into the school day again with our second Walk, Bike, & Roll to school day event of the year! This is a bi-annual event where we enjoy active transportation and build a stronger community spirit as we make our way to school together. All students, parents, and family members are welcome to join! Join a bike or walk/roll group around 7:10am and visit the celebration table at school between 7:30-7:55am. We also welcome students who carpool with their family or take the bus to stop by the table as well to celebrate with us as you also reduce your environmental footprint. For more details please visit Konstella event. Reach out to bikebus@viewlandsptsa.org with questions.

Volunteers are needed, signup here >

BLOCKBUSTER BASH

🎥🍿Thanks to our amazing community, our spring auction was a huge success. We smashed our goal and brought in $64,000 and counting! Who doesn’t love a rerun? Some of our favorite auction items are back—custom merch, teacher experiences, summer and more—now available at new ‘Buy It Now’ prices.” Shop here >

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