Congrats to our Volunteer and Educator Award Recipients for 2018-2019

Congratulations to our outstanding volunteer and educator award recipients! Here are some of the reasons why Sacajawea is such a wonderful community.

Our Golden Acorn Awards recognize volunteers who go above and beyond.

Rowell Llanillo (Jordan’s Dad)
Rowell has been the mastermind behind the design of the Sac t-shirts for the last several years. (As well as the Ultimate Team and Safety Patrol shirts!) His creative skills are constantly called upon to design posters and other special effects for so many events at our school. Rowell also dedicates his Friday mornings to helping with Packs for Kids prep and distribution.

Jennifer Sunami (Cora’s Mom)
Jennifer is co-chair of the parent equity team. She is a dedicated volunteer that steps in where needed. Jennifer is also a member of the grants committee, helps with Packs for Kids on Friday mornings, and created and led the Makers Market at Arts Fest. We wouldn’t have a school handbook without Jennifer! All this PLUS she volunteers in her daughter’s classroom weekly to help with Book Bridges.

Melissa Walsh & Mike Bindschadler (Elizabeth’s Mom & Dad)
A dynamic duo at Sacajawea for almost a decade – it felt right to recognize them together! They contribute to our school in every way possible. Whether it’s running the drama program, driving kids to school when the bus strike was happening, donating to a bake sale, chaperoning field trips, working events, they are always there. Mike helped to run our Ultimate Frisbee team and is a member of Sac Dads, while Melissa is on the Parent Equity Team and was a Global Reading Challenge coach (sometimes for multiple groups).

Our Outstanding Teacher Award recognizes a member of the staff whose dedication and impact is evident throughout the year.

Anne Singh
Ms. Singh is our amazing reading specialist and has played a significant role in helping so many students at Sacajawea become confident, growing readers. Her professionalism, caring, expertise and innovation make all the difference! Ms. Singh spear-headed last year’s summer reading program and book swap, that stopped most of our early readers from experiencing the “summer slide”. She facilitated the smooth implementation of the new reading curriculum over the past few years and continues to bring literacy resources to our teachers and parents. She is an active member of the staff Equity Team and has worked to acquire diverse books, lessons, and curriculum.

The Roy Norman SHINE Award* is given in honor of Ms. Norman’s late husband. Roy was an amazing man and the type of person who would jump in to help anyone, anywhere.

Sara Taylor
Sara’s care and concern for her students are apparent with the dedication she shows daily. She knows how to respond and react to each child in a way that suits them best. Sara is also highly involved and engaged in several staff committees at Sacajawea. She cares deeply about our school and it shows! In addition, she has demonstrated outstanding leadership in the face some highly challenging situations. Ms. Sara supported two distinct classrooms while Ms. Kelly was on maternity leave and even had 3 new students added during this time. She has handled this in stride and has been doing an amazing job supporting the students and staff in both classrooms!

*This is the second annual presentation of the SHINE award, with last year's given to our Field Day Diva, Ann Schlossman!

Our school is a better place because of all your efforts, Thank You Rowell, Jennifer, Melissa, Mike, Anne and Sara!

Artist-in-Residence: Silvio Dos Reis

Silvio Dos Reis

Capoeira Instructor and Sacajawea Artist-in-Residence

The Sacajawea Arts and Culture committee is happy to announce two events presented by a performing artist from Brazil, Silvio Dos Reis. He will be presenting Capoeira skills for the students in a Monday morning assembly on June 10th. You are welcome to join us!

In addition, Silvio will be doing an artist-in-residency from June 17th – 21st. During this time, he’ll work with each of our classrooms, building upon the skills he demonstrates at his assembly.

In his classroom instruction time, he’ll work with our students to:

• warm up with basic capoeira movements

• learn the basic capoeira movements

• work with your partner and learning how to use the capoeira movements to build the "body dialogue" necessary to play the capoeira game

• learn how to play the capoeira instruments, such as tambourines, drums, African bells, and the musical bow known as "berimbau"

Silvio Dos Reis has dedicated his life to Capoeira for the past 31 years. He started teaching Capoeira in Brazil and moved to Seattle in 2004. Since then he has been teaching after school programs at Seattle public schools, Capoeira workshops and ongoing classes at Evergreen State College , Western Washington University and University of Washington. He offered Capoeira classes for kids and youths at Northwest School and Gage Academy summer camps from 2012 to 2018. He worked for Seattle Parks and Recreation offering the ARTS IN THE PARKS - kids and youth program - for the summer of 2013. Silvio has been offering the capoeira workshop at NWFolklife for the past 10 years. As a way to promote Capoeira in the community, Silvio runs his own Capoeira school, the International Capoeira Angola Foundation/ICAF SEATTLE, located in Seattle where he offers regular classes for adults, youths, kids and toddlers

Upcoming Community Events, 5/16/19

Here is this week’s collection of community events, curated by the Equity Team.

1. Celebrate Africa Day! May 16 from 4:00pm–7:00pm at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center. Free, RSVP requested. http://events.gatesfoundation.org/events/africa-work-stories-that-provide-insight-into-progress-and-impact/event-summary-be6aa8f839234edeade080daa647b912.aspx

2. Brown v. Board Turns Sixty-Five with Integrated Schools. May 16 from 6:00pm–8:30pm at Garfield High School. Free, registration required. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/brown-v-board-turns-65-seattles-school-segregation-story-tickets-60738873606

3. Justin Jesty: Art and Engagement in Early Postwar Japan. May 16 at 6:30pm at Seattle Art Museum. Free. http://seattleartmuseum.org/visit/calendar/events?EventId=65226

4. Loreen Lilyn Lee: The Lava Never Sleeps. May 16 at 7:00pm at Third Place Books Seward Park. Free. https://www.thirdplacebooks.com/event/loreen-lee-lava-never-sleeps

5. Syttende Mai Festivities. May 17 from 10:00am–5:00pm at the Nordic Museum. Free. https://nordicmuseum.org/events/175101

6. Community Iftar Dinner. May 17 from 8:00pm–10:30pm at New Holly Gathering Hall. Free. https://www.facebook.com/events/2131033963651172/

7. Life Wide Angle/Close Up Exhibit Opening Week. May 10–17 at Wing Luke. $17. https://www.wingluke.org/life-wide-angle-close-up

8. Kent International Festival. May 18 from 10:00am–8:00pm at ShoWare Center. Free. https://kentinternationalfestival.com/

9. Literacy Jamboree 2019: You're a STAR. May 18 from 11:00am–2:00pm at Filipino Community of Seattle. Free. 
https://www.facebook.com/events/305746273662334/

10. A Glimpse of China: Chinese Culture and Arts Festival. May 18 from 11:00am–6:00pm at Seattle Center Armory. Free. http://www.chinaartandculture.org/

11. Northwest Folklife: Balkanarama. May 18 from 6:30pm–8:30pm at Crossroads Market Stage. Free. https://crossroadsbellevue.com/marketstage

12. "But I’m A Good Person—How All White People Benefit From Institutional Racism" with Tilman Smith. May 21 from 5:30pm-7:30pm at Leschi Elementary Library. Free. RSVP required and childcare available upon request. RSVP to Lisa at lisa.a.lotus@gmail.com or (206) 676-0023.

Elliott Bay Gift Cards, Sponsoring IslandWood

We still have Elliot Bay Gift Cards available for purchase! Gift cards are $25 each and 10% of the proceeds go to help all of our 4th and 5th-grade students attend IslandWood Outdoor Learning Center. See flyer for more details or email Laura (lkriley99@Outlook.com) to purchase.

Please Nominate: Annual Golden Acorn Awards

Each year, Sacajawea PTA, along with PTAs throughout the state, awards 3 outstanding volunteers and 1 educator in recognition of their dedication and service to children and youth. Awards will be announced at the June 18 Ice Cream Social.

Please place your nominations by May 24: at www.sacpta.org/awards. Paper nomination forms will also be coming home with your student.