UPDATE 6/15/2017:

The Council voted to approve the funding for a two-tier system. Here is a Seattle Times write-up on the vote: With Grant, Seattle Schools to Change Start Times

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Genesee Hill Families!

We need you to advocate on behalf of Genesee Hill families and the community as a whole to support the City and Seattle Public Schools in funding a switch to two-tier start and ends times starting next year.

We need you to take action NOWbecause the City and the School Board are voting on this Wednesday, June 14th, which could either confirm the switch – or – lock us into three-tiers moving forward. We know at least two council members oppose the proposal and the School District has made it clear that if the Council does not approve the funding next week, they will revert back to a three-tiered schedule for the 2017-18 school year.

Currently, all students in Seattle Public Schools fall into one of three-tiers for start & end times next year:

  • Tier 1: Elementary Schools (including Genesee Hill) start at 7:45 and end at 2:15;
  • Tier 2: Middle and High Schools start at 8:35 and end at 3:25; and
  • Tier 3: Select K-8 and some Elementary Schools from start at 9:25 and end at 3:55.

We have the opportunity to remove this 3rd tier and re-align start and end times to the following schedule if we can compel the City of Seattle and Seattle School Board to provide one-time funding, allowing for only two-tiers moving forward:

  • Tier 1: Elementary Schools would start at 8:00 and end at 2:30
  • Tier 2: Middle & High Schools would start at 9:00 and end at 3:50

These time frames are supported and recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – most importantly, they just make sense! Many K-8 and select elementary school parents have expressed concerned about their young children coming home from school after dark during the fall and winter months.

Please ACT NOW and send the following message to the Seattle City Council and School Board. For greater impact, please personalize with your own spin and subject line. If you have been negatively impacted by the change to three-tiers, please include a note as to what that impact has had on your child and family. (Email addresses are listed below.)

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Dear Seattle City Council and Seattle School Board,

As a parent of Elementary-aged students attending Genesee Hill Elementary school, I ask that you fund the one-time cost of transitioning student start & end times to two-tiers for the 2017-2018 school year and beyond. This transition is in the best interest for all students of Seattle Public Schools.

Thank you,

Genesee Hill Elementary School Parent

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EMAILS
spsdirectors@seattleschools.org
ltherndon@seattleschools.org
bruce.harrell@seattle.gov
lisa.herbold@seattle.gov
rob.johnson@seattle.gov
debora.juarez@seattle.gov
mike.obrien@seattle.gov
sally.bagshaw@seattle.gov
tim.burgess@seattle.gov
lorena.gonzalez@seattle.gov
leslie.harris@seattleschools.org

Our Move-A-Thon was a huge success! We raised $40K for our PTA General Fund. Thank you to the teachers, volunteers, children, parents, and sponsors (Part 1, Part 2). Our success is because of all of you!

Congratulations to Ms. Ferris' class, who won the raffle for the Roller Skating/ Pizza Party!

Our top runners who won a FREE pair of running shoes from West Seattle Runner are:

K/1st Grade

  • Ayla Moore (Grasel) – 37 laps
  • Connor Schoeb (Funke) – 36 laps

2nd/3rd Grade

  • Sydney Bradbury (Williams) – 39 laps
  • William Frederick (Oschrin) & Tyler Martinez (Williams) tied with 41 laps

4th/5th Grade

  • Samantha Sherick (Veling) – 43 laps
  • Tyler Christman, Brock Moore, Hayden Rayner (Nelson) – 43 laps

Our top runners in each grade:

Kindergarten

  • Makenna O'Connor (Cook) – 28 laps
  • Anna Lee (Funke) – 28 laps
  • Connor Schoeb (Funke) – 36 laps

1st Grade:

  • Ayla Moore (Grasel) – 37 laps
  • Alex Freeman (Piestch) – 34 laps
  • Nico Bazakas (Grasel) – 34 laps

2nd Grade:

  • Louisa Gliko (Aylesworth) – 31 laps
  • Azalea Hinson (Frazier) – 31 laps
  • Sophie VanDeWalle (Frazier) – 31 laps
  • Casey Laplante (Turner) – 40 laps

3rd Grade

  • Sydney Bradbury (Williams) – 39 laps
  • William Frederick (Oschrin) – 41 laps
  • Tyler Martinez (Williams) – 41 laps

4th Grade

  • Samantha Sherick (Veling) – 43 laps
  • Josephy Sherick (Veling) – 42 laps

5th Grade

  • Eile Swain (Nelson) – 36 laps
  • Brock Moore (Nelson) – 43 laps
  • Tyler Christman (Nelson) – 43 laps
  • Hayden Rayner (Nelson) – 43 laps

UPDATE: Move-A-Thon 2017/18

We have decided, based upon teacher/ parent feedback and the busy schedule at the end of the year, to change our Move-A-Thon back to the fall. The Move-A-Thon will be on Thursday, October 12, 2017. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor or a member of our Move-A-Thon Team, or a future Co-Chair, please contact Athena at volunteers@geneseehillpta.org.

Every year, we award volunteers in the Genesee Hill community who go above and beyond to help out in and around our school. The state refers to this as the "Golden Acorn Award*," but we'd like to officially welcome the new members to "the nut club."

The 2017/18 Golden Acorn recipients are Matt Cannard, Karen Kasameyer, Pam Linxweiler, and Katie Greenberg.

Our volunteer community is the glue that keeps our amazing programs running. Thank you!

From left to right: Matt Cannard, Karen Kasameyer,
Pam Linxweiler, Katie Greenberg

*A Golden Acorn Award is presented by a local PTA or council to a school or community volunteer in recognition of her or his dedication and service to children and youth. Since the beginning of this program in the 1930s, more than 54,000 Golden Acorn Awards have been presented to volunteers throughout Washington state. Recipients receive a certificate and pin, and a contribution is made in their name to the Washington State PTA Scholarship Program that benefits students.