We could sing, but then we’ll just be thirsty! For this year’s fabulous auction we will have a new item we think you’ll be excited about: 99 Bottles of Beer! But we need your help with the procurement so we’ve decided to make it easier for you to contribute and hopefully have a bit fun too.

On Monday March 7, we will be hosting a parent social at Beer Junction at 7:30PM. Please come up and help us select the beer to be included in this package. Share some of your off-the-beaten-path favs or contribute a bottle of your old stand-by. And by purchasing a bottle or two to support your school’s PTA through the auction, you can enjoy a 20% discount on your tab (for draft beer) while hanging out with other parents from our great community.

For those unable to make it on Monday but still want to contribute, please feel free to stop by Beer Junction anytime to purchase something for the cause. They are putting together and maintaining a list of suggestions in store to reduce redundancy. 

Parents! Join your Schmitz Park educators at 8:20 a.m. on Thursday, February 18 on the playground in a national day of action.  Students, teachers, and parents from schools across the country will be participating in a walk-in to demonstrate our commitment to fully funding education for all children.  Once the 8:35 a.m. bell rings, students will join their classmates and teachers to enter school together.  We invite parents to stay afterward to talk!

If you are interested in helping organize coffee and treats, please contact alaylesworth@seattleschools.org or just bring some along!

#ReclaimOurSchools

Help Schmitz Park send a clear message to our legislators to continue to fund education! Come and help plan a “walk-in” at Schmitz Park for February 18. The walk-in is being held to continue to show support for funding education. This is a district wide event.  We need a few interested parents to meet with Ms.Alyesworth to plan the morning walk-in. Please meet in room 12 on Friday, February 12 at 3:15. This walk-in will not interfere with bell times and is a great opportunity for us to come together as a community to support our children’s education. Email Ms. Alyesworth with questions: alaylesworth@seattleschools.org. #reclaimourschools

DIRECT GIVE – THANK YOU ALL!!!

Direct Give total $58,000 ($30,000 over our best year). THANK YOU SO MUCH! And with matching funds, we’re at $67,000! This is absolutely amazing! We are so fortunate to be at a school where parents are able to help bridge the funding gap to help ensure our kids get the best education possible. Thank you for your support and keep up the amazing involvement.

Our Golden Ticket “Get Under Before We Get Out” winners are:  Sofia S. (2nd grade), Amelia S. (K), Peter F. (5th grade), Liliana F. (K), Breanna O. (2nd grade), Ryan C. (2nd grade), Issac T. (K), Oscar C. (4th), Jacob M. (2nd), Reid E. (2nd), Bellamy J. (4th), Min H. (3rd), Bert H. (K), Lauren B. (1st), Aiden H. (5th), Parker H. (1st), Rowan G. (K), Jesse L. (3rd), Lucy L. (1st), Nathan M. (4th), Ryan W. (4th), Samantha S. (2nd) and Zoe. W. (1st). Thank you parents and congratulations to the kids!  Parents will receive an email tonight with more information.

In just a little over 6 months we will be dropping our kids off at a new school and adjusting to new routines.  Come hear from the Building Transition Team to find out what they have been up to and what they can share so far. We also want to hear from you!  We will have a few minutes to discuss how we can make this new campus evoke our spirit from day one.

Come join us as we kick off Auction season!  

As we look forward to next year we also want to take the opportunity to look back at our history.  This year’s Auction is March 19 and the Theme is Schmitz Park, circa 1962.  1962 was SP’s first year and also when Seattle hosted the World’s Fair.  It was the year they first heard ‘Surfing Safari’, ‘Do you love me’ and ‘Twist and Shout.  James Bond made his debut in Dr. No., Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The Hustler and West Side Story were still in the theaters.  Should give us some fun and exciting ideas for attire.

At Thursday’s meeting you will be able to:

– Purchase Tickets.  Tickets go on sale that night.  $62/per person.

– Pick your table and table mates – Table Captains who organize a table of 10 will receive a special Auction package at the event.

– Share your ideas on the “auction fund an item,” which will be focused on finding an item for the new campus.

– Get ideas on what to wear for the big event– from Madmen, Early Elvis, Jackie K., early years of the Mod’s, or maybe a little Audrey Hepburn.  The year was filled with style icons!

Join us for 60s style libations after the meeting at West 5!

Today, February 3, we had 40 parents and students in Olympia learning how to advocate more directly on behalf of our kids and fully funding education, among other WSPTA priorities. The day included a meetings with representative Eileen Cody, Joe Fitzgibbon and Senator Sharon Nelson.

Thank you so much to everyone who took time out of their day to attend this event. Way to go 34th District & Region 6!

Thank you to Tiea Hanson, mom to Bella & Zoe. This is her second time this school year winning the coveted parking space.  Tiea has worked 22.9 hours in January.  She is busy helping in numerous classrooms for the auction and has also volunteered 10.5 hours to recess. Thank you so much for your hard work this year Tiea!

She is a huge asset to the  Auction Committee and enjoys gardening and anything creative in her spare time.

“Schmitz Park is a great school and I love being able to help out”.- Tiea Hanson

“Tiea is amazing. She rocked our school art projects last year and has come back again this year. She always comes through!” Pam Linxwieler, Auction Co-Chair

“Tiea is so great! She is willing to help in any way I need. I even sent her a desperate email asking if she would come in on an off day to help and her reply was simple, it said “gladly, I’ll see you tomorrow.” She is happy to help in any way she can which I love but the kids benefit from too.

I love having her as a parent in my room!”, Mrs. Marroquin (1st grade teacher)

This is a critical year for a large demonstration at our Capitol Building! We need to deliver the message loud and clear that our children deserve a fully funded education system to prepare them for the future. Please join West Seattle families and schools across the State on the steps of Olympia to rally for K-12 Education.

Register here – then RSVP to coordinate group transportation or see who else is going! Parents are encouraged to bring students to this approved school trip as it is important for school aged children to experience civic engagement. Questions can be sent to Angela Cough and Emily Giaquinta -legistative@schmitzparkpta.org.

Please RSVP HERE

POSTER PARTY/PTA MEETING, Thursday, Jan 21st @6:30pm

Chris O’Claire will lead a poster making party in the gym during the PTA meeting. Angela Cough will present the “talking points” we will deliver to Legislators.

FOCUS DAY Schedule: Wednesday, February 3rd

9:00am – caravans/carpools depart Schmitz Park for Olympia 10:00am – Meeting with Eileen Cody (Group A – 10 people)

11:00am – meet in the northwest corner of the Columbia Room (Columbia Room, State Legislative Building Washington State Capitol 416 Sid Snyder Ave SW Olympia, WA 98504). We will collect materials from the WA PTSA and see what meeting slots may need filled with legislators outside our district, including ones on education commitees)

12:00pm – noon rally on the Capitol Steps 1:15pm – Meeting with Sharon Nelson & Joe Fitzgibbon, Room Leg 316 (Group B – 10 people)

1:30pm – OPEN for meetings with other legislators, schools, leaders to exchange information.

2:00pm – lunch/depart Olympia

3:00 – Focus Day ends

** UPDATE: there are NOT planned activities for kids this year but kids are still welcome & encouraged to come with parents.