QAE News - 10/14/2016

Oct. 17th – 22nd: #CloseTheGaps Initiative
Eliminating opportunity gaps and ensuring educational excellence for each and every student is a key area of focus for Seattle Public Schools. While our district outperforms similar districts academically and is considered a high performing urban district, we still have unacceptable opportunity and achievement gaps. Our district is committed to doing better.

As a result, the district announced a new campaign that demonstrates our collective commitment to eliminating opportunity gaps and accelerating learning for all students – specifically for our black students and other students of color. The campaign is called #CloseTheGaps. We are kicking it off the week of October 17-22. You can learn more about the district-wide initiative by visiting the webpage highlighting Seattle Public Schools’ work to eliminate opportunity gaps. Together, we are united in our commitment to each and every student.

During this #CloseTheGaps Initiative Week, at Queen Anne Elementary we have our first PTSA-funded Book-It Theatre performance on Oct. 18th: “Last Stop on Market Street”, based on the 2016 Newbery Medal winning book by Matt de la Peña. This play focuses on seeing beauty in the world around us through the eyes of a child and his grandmother. Diversity is also a theme in the book as it explores the beauty in every neighborhood.

Also during this week, Seattle Education Association (SEA) is promoting October 19th as a day of solidarity to bring focus to racial equity and affirming the lives of our students. QAE staff and QAE Families of Color have been working together to educate students about the importance of equity and recognizing and celebrating diversity. On this date, many QAE staff will be wearing Black Lives Matter t-shirts to show their commitment to students in a coordinated effort. Teachers and staff will be talking with students about the shirt they are wearing to bring focus to racial equity and address how racism impacts the lives of Black people in the US. SEA is leading this member driven effort and working to promote transformational conversations with staff, families and students on this issue. This is an important conversation to have with our students as we support students, as citizens of the world, to work together as a community towards racial equity and unity. These events will be part of QAE’s continued efforts to support students' social and emotional learning particularly in regards to cultural competency.

Oct. 18th: “Last Stop on Market Street” Performance
We have our first PTSA-funded Book-It Theatre performance on Oct. 17th: “Last Stop on Market Street”, based on the 2016 Newbery Medal winning book by Matt de la Peña. This play focuses on seeing beauty in the world around us through the eyes of a child and his grandmother. Diversity is also a theme in the book as it explores the beauty in every neighborhood.

As we need to alter our performance area to accommodate the needs of the theatre company, we are unfortunately unable to have parents and preschoolers join us for this performance due to space restrictions. The play needs to be performed on the floor of the cafeteria with 5th graders seated on the stage and K – 4th grade students sitting horizontally across the length of the cafeteria to view the performance. We appreciate the support of the PTSA to provide this performance for our students, and we appreciate parent understanding and support of our space restrictions for this show.

Lost and Found
We delayed sending off the lost and found for one week, as we have 3 HUGE garbage bags of clothes that will be leaving QAE on Monday. If you have suddenly realized that your child’s precious coat, sweatshirt, or hat is missing, please dash to QAE on Monday before it is too late. All Lost and Found will be sent to a needy community agency each month, so we need to get this completed ASAP. If you are a parent who would like to help with this process, please contact Jennifer Connolly at jaconnolly@seattleschools.org.

Parent Help Needed for Lunch Time Clubs
We need your help to get some student-requested clubs underway. If you are available one day per week during the following times, we would greatly appreciate a parent to supervise a club for the following grade groups:

• 10:00 – 10:40 – 4th – 5th grade
• 10:20 – 11:05 - 2nd – 3rd grade

​Students have clubs they want to create, but we need a caring parent who will be a supervising adult in the room. No expertise needed! Please contact Janine Roy at jbroy@seattleschools.org for more information. Thank you in advance for any help you can provide!