Spring Auction Postponed & Math and Science Fair Canceled.

In accordance with the recommendations of the CDC, King County Public Health, and Seattle Public Schools, we're making a number of adjustments to our upcoming events calendar.

1. We're postponing the March 14th Spring Auction. Though it is disappointing to postpone this event, we're hopeful that we can successfully reschedule this event for later this spring. We'll communicate more in the coming week about our progress. 

2. We're canceling the March 26th Math & Science Fair. Per SPS, we can't have any large gatherings at school during after school hours. The Math & Science Fair team will work with teachers to help facilitate as many of the educational aspects of this event as possible during school hours. Stay tuned for more information.

3. Our March 12th PTA board meeting is online next week. We'll do this meeting as an online event. Please see your newsletter for more details.

We'd like to thank the Auction team for all of their hard work in the last few months to make this event a success. We're optimistic that we'll all get to enjoy the fruits of their work in the coming months.

In closing, we'd like to acknowledge that these are stressful times for all of you, as we're living in uncertain, frequently changing-conditions. If you need help, don't hesitate to ask for it. You can always reach us at our email address: chair@sacpta.org.

Ara Swanson Merkens and Seth Bridges
Sacajawea PTA Co-chairs

En español

De acuerdo con las recomendaciones de los CDC, King County Public Health y Seattle Public Schools, estamos cambiando nuestro calendario de eventos.

1. Estamos posponiendo la fiesta/subasta de primavera del 14 de marzo. Aunque es decepcionante posponer este evento, queremos reprogramar este evento dentro de unos meses.

2. Estamos cancelando la Feria de Matemáticas y Ciencias del 26 de marzo. Según SPS, no podemos tener grandes reuniones en la escuela después del horario escolar. 

3. Nuestra junta directive de la PTA del 12 de marzo tendrá lugar en línea. Mas detalles aquí.

Nos gustaría agradecer al equipo de subasta/fiesta por todo su trabajo en los últimos meses. Somos optimistas que podremos celebrar juntos dentro de unos meses.

Para concluir, nos gustaría reconocer que estos son tiempos estresantes para todos. Estamos viviendo en condiciones inciertas y que cosas cambian con frecuencia. Si necesita ayuda, no dude en pedirla. Siempre puede comunicarse con nosotros a nuestra dirección de correo electrónico: chair@sacpta.org.

Ara Swanson Merkens y Seth Bridges

Co-presidentes de la PTA de Sacajawea

CANCELED: Amy Lang talks Birds and Bees and Kids This Thursday, March 5th

Come learn how to talk to your kids about sexuality, love, and relationships in a way that is simple and based on your values. We'll serve pizza at 6 pm, and childcare will be provided.

Please RSVP to help us plan 

More details below. Mas detalles á continuación (en español).

2020 Spring Auction Site is Live!

The time for the Annual Sacajawea Spring Auction and Party is here! This year’s theme is Fiesta Mexicana, and it’s sure to be a good time.

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CANCELED: Positive Discipline Parenting Classes at Sacajawea in Feb-Mar 2020

Raising Our Children with Love and Firmness

This class is a free series for parents wanting more cooperative, respectful, and warm relationships with their children.

• Sponsored by Sacajawea Elementary School and the Puget Sound Adlerian Society.

• Funded in part by the Horizons Foundation.

• Presented by Ximena Grollmus, M.Ed. (Certified Positive Discipline Trainer) and Paulina Cuevas, M.A.(Certified Positive Discipline Lead Trainer)

• Wednesdays February 05, 12,(break) 26, March 4, 11, 18, 2020. 6:00 - 8:15 p.m. Sacajawea Elementary

• Free childcare (limited spaces)

• Register early, space is limited!

• For registration or information e-mail ximeseattle@gmail.com or call 206 579 7066.

Class schedule

1. W 2/05- Introductions, Adlerian Overview, Parenting Styles, Self-regulation

2. W 2/12 - Why Do Children Misbehave? Kind and Firm at the Same Time

3. W 2/26- Establishing Appropriate Limits, Finding Solutions

4. W 3/04- Family Meetings, Encouragement vs. Praise, Self-care

5. W 3/11- Sibling Rivalry, Teenage Years, Empowering vs. Enabling

6. W 3/18 - Small Steps for Change, More Positive Discipline Tools, Bringing It All Together

Suggested Reading

• Suggested Reading:  Positive Discipline, by Jane Nelsen, Ed. D. 

• “Pay-It-Forward” donations to help fund future series are most welcome. Go to www.psasadler.org to donate

About the Puget Sound Alderian Society

The Puget Sound Adlerian Society is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational organization affiliated with the North American Society of Adlerian Psychology.  Our mission is to nurture dignity for all by encouraging democratic relationships and a sense of belonging.  Alfred Adler, M.D., founder of Adlerian Psychology, believed that healthy families, classrooms, workplaces, etc., rest on a cornerstone of mutual respect.  PSAS helps people learn and model the skills and attitudes of mutual respect.  Please see www.psasadler.org for PSAS Events and The Parenting Calendar, a quarterly listing of parenting classes and support groups sponsored by many organizations in the central Puget Sound area.  Visitors are welcome to our free monthly First Friday Forums.  We also have a free library of books, CDs, and DVDs.   To learn more about PSAS or to add your name to our “friends” list for event notices, please call us at 206-527-2566, or email us at psasadler@gmail.com.

Pink for Kindness Week, January 27 through 31, 2020

Each year, Sacajawea Elementary celebrates  Pink for Kindness week. Sponsored by the Parent Equity team, the goal is to continue to cultivate a culture of “inclusion, anti-bullying and acts of kindness” in the context of establishing social norms in our school community, rather than in response to incidents over time. The event was inspired by an earlier occasion when a valued member of our school community was bullied for wearing pink; in less than 12 hours the student population, teachers and staff rallied by wearing pink as a visible reminder of Sacajawea’s dedication to providing a supportive and inclusive environment where bullying is not tolerated.

The week-long celebration involves student participation in classroom activities such as Mr. Walker’s daily “kindness challenge,” and activities families can do together at home.

Because learning happens in many places beyond the classroom, we encourage parents to support our efforts and participate by:

• Watching this short video and discussing it at home.

• Inquiring about the Kindness Challenge action your child took on that day, inspired by Mr. Walker’s announcement on the P.A. system that day.

• Identifying kindness conversation starters to use at home or with friends

• Online: 

  • Read about Bullying & Bias on the Teaching Tolerance site.

  • Watch this interview with the director of the Bedari Kindness Institute at UCLA on Christiane Amanpour & Co.

Additional Resources for Parents:

• About Pink Shirt Day https://www.pinkshirtday.ca/support-for-parents-teachers

• What is Bullying? https://www.tolerance.org/professional-development/bullying-basics

• What is an Upstander https://www.stopbullying.gov/prevention/bystanders-to-bullying

• The Science of Kindness https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/kindness-videos/18-the-science-of-kindness

• Color Your World with Kindness  http://www.thenedshow.com/kindness-video.html

• Be an Upstander – Prevent Bullying http://www.thenedshow.com/upstander.html

• History of Pink Shirt Day (Why we wear pink for anti-bullying and kindness) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYEPQIVb8wc

For students: 

• Look for Posters (“come back to school with kindness!”) and identify opportunities to rise to the challenge:

  • Monday: Kindness Challenge #1: Read a book to a friend or adult, draw a picture, give a compliment, pick up litter.

  • Tuesday: Kindness Challenge #2: Send mail (Sac MB), hold the door, donate clothes or books or toys you’re done using.

  • Wednesday: Kindness Challenge #3: Let someone go ahead of your or Invite someone to play/join your group (on a different floor e.g. distinct classroom or younger kid).

  • Thursday: Kindness Challenge #4:  Call a friend on the phone (or family member or pal in another state), offer someone a high five, do extra chores without being asked.

  • Friday: Kindness Challenge #5: Write a thank you note (for holiday gift or kind gesture), Smile at everyone you meet.

Extra Credit:

In an effort to acknowledge and think about acts of kindness from the other’s perspective, please consider putting notes in your child’s lunchbox, in their backpack, on a mirror—or do the same for a friend or co-worker!

Message ideas/starters:

• Nice job

• Look on the bright side

• Kid, you’ll move mountains

• Have a fantastic day

• You are awesome

• I like your style

• You shine like a diamond

• Well done

• I think you are: … Because: ...

• I’m jumping for joy because:...

• You make me smile when:..