Principal Wheeler’s Weekly Update 10-4-24
Principal Wheeler’s Weekly Update 10-4-24
Hello Viewlands Families!
We started this week with the Double Dutch Divas who did an active participation style assembly in the gym in two groups, Kindergarten through 2nd grade and 3rd through 5th grade. One of the Double Dutch Divas coaches was a Viewlands alum student! It was an active fun activity where students explored jump roping, hula hoops, soft pogos, and of course double dutch. Thank you to VEPTSA for supporting this activity. We are very grateful for the partnership with VEPTSA to bring in enrichment activities through assemblies and workshops for students! Many students were very excited about the Double Dutch Divas!
Please remember next week, there is no school for students on Friday, October 11th. This is a professional learning day for educators, a state-wide in-service day.
A few highlights from my visits in classrooms and with students this week: talking about favorite genres of books and recently read books with 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders, getting to know some hot takes on some favorite books right now; hearing students share how proud they were that they were able to successfully double dutch; listening to 1st graders share their place value understanding as they discussed patterns in numbers one to 100; and watching kindergarteners engage in beginning phonics learning around names and sounds with supporting sign language.
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
Viewlands Move-a-Thon
We are excited to bring back the Move-a-Thon on Monday. We last had the Move-a-Thon before remote learning, the transition to a temporary space, and then transition back to the our new building. The Move-A-Thon is a fun activity that focuses on moving our body for health and fitness and is the fall VEPTSA fundraiser. This happens during the school day. VEPTSA fundraising supports important educational and social experiences at Viewlands, as well as supervision supports. VEPTSA fundraising helps support fieldtrips, reading supplemental digital curriculum for 1st and 2nd grade, enrichment learning and assembly activities, like the Double Dutch Divas assembly we had on Monday, as well as hourly support for playground and lunch supervision with Mr. Lenny.
During the move-a-thon students will be outside jogging and walking on the playground, setting goals for themselves about how many laps they think they can accomplish. During the event, we will be encouraging students to keep moving. At lunch, we will provide students popsicles as an after move-a-thon treat. Please see more information from VEPTSA on Konstella.
LGBTQ+ Families Dinner
The Health Educator Office will be hosting the 25th annual Seattle Public Schools LGBTQ+ Families Dinner on Thursday November 14th from 5-7PM at Meany Middle School. This event brings together LGBTQ+ parents/guardians and parents of LGBTQ+ or gender-expansive students in SPS. They offer a communal dinner, a resource fair, time for community and connection, family-friendly entertainment, and fun activities for kids.
Interested families should RSVP. RSVP for LGBTQ+ Families Dinner
Families can also join the Rainbow Families Mailing list for future updates. Rainbow Families Newsletter Request
VEPTSA
Updates and Messages from our VEPTSA Partners:
Fall Enrichment – Registration extended until 11:59pm on Sunday 10/6
Move-A-Thon Donate before Monday October 7, 9-10am
Please pledge and spread the word to extended family, friends, neighbors, and businesses.
Walk, Bike, & Roll – October 9 before school
All students, parents, and family members are welcome to join! Whether you prefer walking, biking, scooting, or rolling, everyone can participate in a way that suits them.
Volunteer opportunities:
Oct 7: Move-A-Thon
Oct 9: Walk, Bike & Roll to school
Oct 31: All School Halloween Field Trip – more information coming soon!
Important Upcoming School Calendar Dates
- Monday, October 7th – Viewlands Move-a-Thon
- Wednesday, October 9th – Walk, Bike, & Roll to School Day
- Thursday, October 10th – Multilingual and Latinx Family Night – an event specifically for our Latinx families AND all families with students that are part of our multilingual program. Information will be sent to those families individually.
- Friday October 11thth – No School, Staff Professional Development Day
- Thursday, October 31st – All School Zoo Fieldtrip, lots of approved SPS family volunteers needed during the school day to support this field trip