MLK Day Marching Resources for Sacajawea Families

What’s Happening? 

We will meet at the ​Garfield Community Center playground​ on Cherry Street at ​noon​.  To take public transit, we recommend going to the UW Light Rail Station,​ ​as parking at UW is free for the holiday, then taking ​bus route 48​ (leaving from NE Pacific St & Montlake Blvd NE, across from the stadium).  Get off at 23rd Ave & E Cherry St and walk to the playground across the street.  From the playground, we will join the 12:30 pm march​ from Garfield High School.  If you only want to march halfway and you took public transit, you can stop at ​Cal Anderson Park​ and take the light rail back to UW.  If you march the whole way (about 2 miles) and join the rally at the end, you can take the light rail from ​Westlake​.

What Should You Bring? 

Overdress for the weather and bring lots of snacks for kids.   Bring ORCA cards or cash for public transportation.  Bring signs, musical instruments such as drums or other fun noise-makers, and wear your Sacajawea t-shirt.  The march will be very family-friendly!

If you are still a little nervous about bringing your small folks, check out these tips: http://parentstogetheraction.org/2017/01/13/10-tips-marching-safely-successfully-kids/

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/11-tips-for-protesting-with-kids_us_587d41dae4b0740488c3ddbf

What Will We Bring?

• We will take a group photo before the march starts.

• We will have markers to write parent phone numbers on kids' arms (just in case!).

• We will have a few extra snacks and drinks to share

Recommended Books and Media for Preparation:

http://www.scholastic.com/parents/blogs/scholastic-parents-raise-reader/picture-books-about-dr-martin-luther-ki ng-jr-young-children

YouTube also has read-aloud books and clips such as:

• The Story of Martin Luther King Jr.​ ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ8Xqzb2XSU

• Martin’s Big Words​ ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBKP6v3rWSI

• My Brother, Martin​ ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xmYleKG_HA

• My First Biography of Martin Luther King Jr.​ ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1artaZZrKeQ

• My Daddy Martin Luther King Jr.​ ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dPRLCTWceQ

• Great for elementary age ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6Au81aHuSg

Ideas for Slogans and Signs

Choosing simple, child-friendly slogans makes it easier for your kid to relate to the purpose of the march. Here are some ideas, but feel free to create your own! You can also print designs from websites like https://amplifier.org/ or the MLK March website ​ ​https://www.seattlemlkcoalition.org/​.

• I love naps but I stay woke (for babies and toddlers)

• Black Lives Matter

• Kindness counts

• Books not bullets

• We the people

• Unity, Equality, Justice

• Racism isn’t born, it’s taught

• Future voter

Another idea is to put a quote from MLK on your sign:

• Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

• In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.

• Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

• I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.

• Character is how you treat those that can do nothing for you.

• Those who love peace must learn to organize as effectively as those who love war.

• There comes a time when silence is betrayal.

• Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.

Chants and Songs 

Making noise and singing songs can be one of the most fun aspects of marching with kids:

●      (Call and repeat each line)​ Everywhere we go /​ ​People want to know / Who we are / So we tell them / We are the people / The mighty, mighty people / Fighting for justice / And for liberation

●      (Call and repeat each line)​ What does marching do for me? / Build a strong community / One thing here is clear to me / people here have unity

●      (Chant) ​Ain’t no power like the power of people cause the power of people won’t stop! Say what? (repeat)

●      (Chant) ​The people / united / will never be divided

●      (Chant) ​Whose streets? / Our streets!

●      (Chant) ​Hey, Hey!  Ho, Ho! / Racism has got to GO!

●      (Song) ​We shall not, we shall not be moved / We shall not, we shall not be moved / Just like a tree that's planted by the water / We shall not be moved.

(verse 2)​ We're fighting for our rights, we shall not be moved / etc.

(verse 3)​ We shall all be free, we shall not be moved / etc.

https://youtu.be/Qf0vf6eV6JE

●      (Song) ​Ain’t gonna let nobody / Turn me ‘round / Turn me ‘round / Ain’t gonna let nobody / Turn me

‘round / I’m gonna keep on walkin’ / Keep on talkin’ / Marchin’ into freedom land

(verse 2) ​ Ain’t gonna let no​ (insert obstacle) ​/ Turn me ‘round / etc. https://youtu.be/27sNOouXRJU?t=60

●      (Song)​ If you miss me at the back of the bus / If you can’t find me nowhere / Oh, come on up to the front of the bus / I'll be sittin’ up there / I'll be sittin’ up there / Oh, come on up to the front of the bus / I'll be sittin’ right there

(verse 2)​ If you can’t find me in the schoolroom / If you can’t find me in there / Oh, come on out to the picket line / I’ll be marchin’ out there / etc. https://youtu.be/-ODLwix8DGM

About the March (​updated 1/20/2020) 

The annual MLK Day March and Rally at Garfield High School celebrates the life and legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. with an opportunity fair, workshops, and pre- and post-march rallies. This year's event is in support of “20/20 Vision, to reflect the clarity of Dr. King's dream,” and your own vision for the future. These events are a low-barrier introduction to social justice action, and we hope everyone will consider bringing their family. Find more information at: https://www.seattlemlkcoalition.org/

Upcoming Community Events, 1/9/20

Here’s a collection of upcoming community events curated by our Racial Equity Team.

1. Queer Parent Networking Dinner. Jan 9 from 5:30pm–7:30pm at Hillman City Collaboratory. Free. https://www.nwnetwork.org/events/2017/1/12/queer-parent-networking-dinner

2. Shawn Wong and Tara Fickle: Aiiieeeee! An Anthology of Asian American Writers. Jan 9 at 7:00pm at Elliott Bay Book Company. Free. https://www.elliottbaybook.com/event/shawn-wong-tara-fickle

3. 'Pushout': Second Screening and Community Conversation. Jan 10 at 5:30pm at Emerald City Bible Fellowship. Free. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pushout-second-screening-and-community-conversation-tickets-88197379737

4. Jaleesa Johnston Artist Talk. Jan 10 from 7:00pm-8:00pm at Wa Na Wari. Free. https://www.wanawari.org/jaleesa-johnston.html

5. A Celebration of South Asian Resilience. Jan 11 from 11:30am–4:30pm at MOHAI. $22 museum admission, 14 and under free. https://mohai.org/event/a-celebration-of-south-asian-resilience/

6. Viet Thanh and Ellison Nguyen: Chicken of the Sea. Jan 11 at 2:00 pm at Elliott Bay Book Company. Free. https://www.elliottbaybook.com/event/viet-thanh-nguyen-ellison-nguyen-especially-younger-readers

7. Dreaming in American. Jan 11 at 7:00pm at Elliott Bay Book Company. $15. https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4472464

8. Brighter Future: To be heard To be seen To be free. Through Jan 11 at ARTS at King Street Station (top floor). Free. https://www.seattle.gov/arts/programs/arts-at-king-street-station

9. Jewish Storytelling. Jan 12 from 2:00pm–3:30pm at Kol HaNeshamah. Free. https://khnseattle.org/education/education/

10. Pre-King Day: “King in the Wilderness” Film Screening. Jan 12 from 4:00pm–5:00pm at NAAM. $7/$5 museum admission. https://www.naamnw.org/event/pre-king-day-king-in-the-wilderness-film-screening

11. More Dumplings, Please! Jan 13 from 4:00pm–5:30pm at Kingsgate Library. 8 and up, free RSVP. https://kcls.bibliocommons.com/events/5de6ed3008fcc45b0072f014

Girls on the Run Registration opens Jan 10th, 2020

Girls on the Run is back at Sacajawea this Spring! Girls on the Run is a girl empowerment program that teaches girls important life skills while creatively integrating running and walking. This program is 10-weeks long and is for 3rd-5th grade students that identify as female. The program culminates in a celebratory, non-competitive 5K (3.1 miles) on Sunday, May 17.

Girls on the Run is for every girl – the curriculum includes adaptations for girls with sensory, intellectual and physical disabilities. Girls on the Run also provides unlimited scholarships and running shoes and sports hijabs for any girl in need. More information about financial aid can be found here. You will be able to communicate your financial aid needs and request shoes or hijabs for your girl within the online registration form.

Girl Registration opens TOMORROW, January 10th, 2020. The team size is 8-15 girls and a random lottery will be used to select the 15 girls for the team if more than 15 girls apply between January 10th-24th. The last day to sign up, if spots are still available, is March 9th, 2020.

Here are details for our 2020 GOTR team:

• SEASON DATES: March 2nd-May 18th, 2020

• DAYS/TIMES: Mondays (2:30-4:00pm) and Wednesdays (1:15-2:45pm)

• SITE LIAISON CONTACT INFORMATION: Ara Swanson Merkens (araswanson@gmail.com)

• END OF SEASON 5K EVENT: Sunday, May 17th @ Renton Memorial Stadium

• Sign up HERE on January 10th!

Please learn more about the program on Girls on the Run’s website or by emailing Ara. If you are also interested in being a practice partner, please email Ara as well! We hope that your girl will participate in Girls on the Run this Spring!

Participate in the Seattle Flu Study

You and your family can help Outsmart the Flu! Seattle Public Schools has been invited to participate in the Seattle Flu Study, which is a new effort to understand how flu spreads in our city. If you and your family live in Seattle and have one or more children who attend school, your household could take part in this community science project from the comfort of your own home.

As part of the study, you'll:

• Answer questions about your household using an electronic survey that takes about 5 minutes

• Send swabs of each person’s nose when you join the study (don’t worry; it’s quick and painless!)

• Take a home flu test if someone in your household gets sick

• Send one to three nose swabs if a person gets sick

It is important to enroll before you get sick, so if you are interested, please sign up at Seattle Flu Study. If you want more information, you can contact the study director (and Sac parent) Mark Rieder mjrieder@gmail.com.

Move-a-thon Was a Great Success!

Congratulations Sacajawea on a hugely successful Move-a-thon! We can’t thank our parents, teachers, students, community, family and friends enough for their amazing support. Whether it was cheering, running, walking or donating time and money, everyone played an important role in making this event a success.

We were able to raise almost $27,000 to help support our students and school. And, we’re hoping that with some additional company match donations, we may get even closer to the $30,000 we were aiming for! Please don’t delay in submitting your matching donation requests.

We awarded prizes to classrooms based on raising the most money, returning all of their envelopes (with or without money), and completing the most laps. Parties will be happening for the following classrooms. Congratulations again!

Fundraising Prize – will receive a pizza or ice cream party

• 1st place – Ms. Bermet with $5,156

• 2nd place – Ms. Rings with $4,472

• 3rd place – Ms. Jackson with $3,229

Participation Prize – will receive an ice cream party

• 100% participation – Ms. Teague (and raised $3,223)

• 100% participation – Mr. Norman (and raised $2,581)

Most Laps Prize – will receive an ice cream party

• 672 laps (40 laps more than the next closest classroom!) – Ms. Doss (and raised $2,466)

Let's offer a big thank you to Stephanie Henry for leading the event for the 1st time this year. Everything went as smoothly and successfully as it did because of her hard work. Thank you for your time, coordination, ideas, and enthusiasm! And of course, thank you to Laura Riley, our PTA Treasurer, who helped keep the event (and the accounting) on track. Go team!