Sacajawea PTA News
The happenings around Sacajawea
BLM at School: Audre Lorde and Toni Morrison - January/February #BlackLivesMatter
We are highlighting Audre Lorde and Toni Morrison in this newsletter. They share a February 18 birthday. Each author made significant contributions to literature and embodies the guiding principles of Black Lives Matter at School.
Dear Sacajawea Community,
Versión en español
Hello Sacajawea Community,
We are highlighting Audre Lorde and Toni Morrison in this newsletter. They share a February 18 birthday. Each author made significant contributions to literature and embodies the January and February guiding principles of Black Lives Matter at School: Queer Affirming and Unapologetically Black. Lorde and Morrison wrote about Black female experiences, facing opposition that sought to silence their voices. They remained true to themselves, despite the hostility they sometimes faced. Their legacies live on with the power of their words.
Audrey Lorde
Audre Lorde was a self-described "black, lesbian, feminist, socialist, mother, warrior, poet.” To be encompassing so many identities and face oppression on so many different levels, makes her strength and perseverance mind boggling at times. Her voice and her identity resonates strongly with the BLM at school principle of being Queer Affirming. Her words continue to ring true for many other oppressed people and remain relevant over twenty years after her death.
Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison used her voice to write honestly about the black experience, and even more specifically about the female black experience. She brought to life the people and places that had often been ignored throughout history. Her work is intense and beautiful and bold. Her work encompasses the BLM at School principle of Unapologetically Black through lifting up black lives. And the BLM at school principle of Black Women giving the space to be seen, heard, and valued. Toni Morrison became the first black woman to win the Nobel Peace prize for Literature.
What can you do to learn more?
Talk to your students about the info presented above. Ask them what they have been learning in class about the BLM Principals; use this website as a guide: BLM AT SCHOOL - Home (blacklivesmatteratschool.com)
If you have 3 minutes, read 5 Best Audre Lorde Books to Read Right Now
If you have 3 minutes, watch Toni Morrison - Writer & Playwright | Mini Bio
If you have 6 minutes, read Beyoncé and Lamar show what it means to be ‘unapologetically black’
If you have 6 minutes, watch At the intersection of LGBTQ pride and Black Lives Matter
Dig Deeper
Black Lives Matter at School: Unapologetically Black Book List
The 5 Best Toni Morrison Children's Books
I am Perfectly Designed (Younger kids)
Julian at the Wedding (Younger Kids)
12 KID-FRIENDLY LGBTQ COMICS (Older Kids)
Graphic Novels by Black Authors and Illustrators (Older Kids)
Volunteer with Us!
There are many ways to be involved with our Sacajawea Parent Equity Team. A few of the ways to join us are below. Please contact equity@sacpta.org.
Join a monthly virtual meeting. Meetings are the first Wednesday of the month, 7 - 8pm.
Volunteer to write one of our bimonthly newsletters. It's a great way to learn and share, and you won't have to do it alone.
Event volunteer
With gratitude,
Sacajawea’s Parent Racial Equity Team
equity@sacpta.org
BLM at School: Introduction to the 2022-2023 School Year
The Parent Racial Equity Team is happy to share our first newsletter of the year.
Dear Sacajawea Community,
Versión en Español
Hello Sacajawea Community,
The Parent Racial Equity Team is happy to share our first newsletter of the year with you. We hope that many people had the opportunity to learn more about the team and our work at the November 3 Heritage Potluck. It was great to share all the delicious food with many students and their families! The feedback we heard is that families would like to see more events that bring our Sacajawea community together. Please email the Equity Team at equity@sacpta.org with your ideas and let us know if you would like to help with a future event.
The Equity Team is dedicated to helping uproot racism, understanding that the work is a long-term effort that requires reflection as well as action; and to celebrating our diverse community. Learn more about the Equity Team on our Sacajawea PTA page.
Black Lives Matter at School provides a Year of Purpose framework to move educators and parents beyond a Week of Action. This year, BLM at School is asking people to submit “testimonials (audio, video, image, text document) that answer" the Self Reflection Questions posed to introduce a year of purpose. You can find out more about this initiative and submit testimony at BLM at School YOP.
Because we’ve missed a couple months of newsletters, we are sharing the Year of Purpose (YOP) focus for October and November.
October - Justice for George becomes Abolition Day
George Floyd’s birthday, October 14, has become “Justice for George” day, a day to reflect on the murders of Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade and many others in order to spark discussion and justice-oriented work to transform our communities. BLM at School has expanded this day to Abolition Day to pay tribute to the continuing legacy of Black-led abolitionist organizing.
November - Black Trans Lives Matter
November 20 recognizes Transgender Day of Remembrance to honor Black Trans lives. The day marks a BLM principle to be Transgender Affirming. Transgender people and gender non-conforming people experience discrimination and higher rates of violence than other groups of people, particular transgender people of color. See Pacific Northwest Black Pride and Human Rights Campaign to find resources and learn how to be an ally.
National Indigenous Heritage Month
Many families have probably heard about what their students learned during our National Indigenous Heritage Month to celebrate the rich cultures of Washington state Indigenous History. Did you know that Washington’s first Indigenous poet laureate is Rena Priest? Appointed in 2021, her two-year term will run until March 31, 2023. KNKX has a great introduction to her work and her goals as the state’s poet laureate.
Our school, of course, is named after an Indigenous woman whose history has often been misrepresented. Although there is much that remains unknown about her extraordinary life, you can read a brief history here: Sacajawea.
What can you do to learn more?
If you have 3 minutes watch Martha Redbone's beautiful rendition of Sleep Sleep Beauty Bright.
If you have 4 minutes (or more!) read How to Explain Thanksgiving to Your Kids: 5 Tips to Center Native American Voices.
If you have 9 minutes read 4 Ways George Floyd’s Murder Has Changed How We Talk About Race and Education.
Dig Deeper with the resources
Books
Telling the Thanksgiving Story from a Native American Perspective (book list)
We are Grateful
Sarah Rising
Breonna Marches Through Time
With gratitude,
Sacajawea’s Parent Racial Equity Team
equity@sacpta.org
Kindergarten Tours
Join an in-person tour or virtual Teams event. Upcoming tours are Virtual: January 31st at 6:30-7:30 p.m. and In-Person: Monday, February 6th at 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Join an in-person tour or virtual Teams event, designed to introduce new families to our Sacajawea Community!
Virtual: Tuesday, January 31st at 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Click here to join the Sacajawea Teams meeting
In-Person: Monday, February 6th at 8:30-9:30 a.m.
School Day Campus Tour and Q&A. Please RSVP to Charlene Shanahan cyshanahan@seattleschools.org
Washington COVID Relief Fund / Fondo de Asistencia Debido al Coronavirus
If you’re an immigrant living in Washington State and you’ve experienced hard times because of the COVID-19 pandemic, you can apply for the Washington COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund.
If you’re an immigrant living in Washington State, you aren’t eligible for federal stimulus funds or unemployment insurance due to your immigration status, and you’ve experienced hard times because of the COVID-19 pandemic, you can apply for the Washington COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund. If your application is approved, you could receive a payment of at least $1,000. It is not a loan, and you will not have to pay anything back. Your information is safe and protected: it will never be voluntarily shared with the government or ICE. The public charge rule should not apply for this fund. You can apply or get help with your application in multiple languages. The application is open from September 19, 2022 to November 14, 2022. It’s always free to apply. To apply, visit www.immigrantreliefwa.org. If you want to get free help with your application, you can contact one of the community organizations listed on the website, or call [your organization’s number, or 844-620-1999].
Si es un inmigrante que reside en el estado de Washington, tiene al menos 18 años de edad, no es elegible para recibir fondos federales de estímulo económico o seguro por desempleo debido a su estatus inmigratorio, y tiene dificultades debido a la pandemia del Coronavirus, puede aplicar para el Fondo de Asistencia Debido al Coronavirus para Inmigrantes de Washington. Si su aplicación es aprobada, podría recibir un pago de, por lo menos, $1,000. No se trata de un préstamo y no tendrá que devolver este dinero. Su información está segura y protegida: no se compartirá nunca intencionalmente con el gobierno o con Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE). La regla de carga pública no se debe aplicar a este fondo. Puede aplicar u obtener ayuda para la aplicación en muchos idiomas. El plazo para aplicar comienza el 19 de septiembre de 2022 y termina el 14 de noviembre de 2022. Aplicar es siempre gratuito. Para aplicar, visite www.inmigrantesenwashington.org. Si desea obtener ayuda gratuita para su aplicación, puede ponerse en contacto con una de las organizaciones comunitarias que aparecen en la lista del sitio web, o llamar al [número de su organización, o WAISN a 1-844-724-3737, o LiveStories a 844-620-1999]
Welcome to the 2022-2023 School Year!
It is our pleasure to welcome our new and returning families to another year at Sacajawea Elementary. We are excited to be back to school and we look forward to connecting with you and your families.
Hello Sacajaweans!
It is our pleasure to welcome our new and returning families to another year at Sacajawea Elementary. We are excited to be back to school and we look forward to connecting with you and your families.
The Sacajawea Elementary School PTA is a small-yet-mighty organization that works to help support our school, educators, administration, and most importantly, our students. Throughout the year, we host community events, work to promote equity, and raise money to support our school. We also send a weekly newsletter with school news, Principal note from Mr. Fisk, school calendar and more.
One of the great strengths of Sacajawea is the broad participation and involvement of our parent community. As kids return to school, we, as your PTA, will work to support you and your families as much as possible this year with consistent communication and community-building events. We are planning even more fun events this year, and can always use an extra hand- please let us know if you are able to get involved. Now is a great time- while your kids are still excited by your involvement!
If you’re looking for an easy way to meet fellow parents and see all that we do, please attend our monthly PTA board meetings. They’re a welcoming, productive, and fun way to get involved. We meet monthly, and our first meeting is Wednesday, September 21st, at 7:00 pm on Zoom.
Please be in touch with us as the school year gets underway. We’re here to help, and you’ll find our contact details below. And, to ensure you receive all of our PTA updates throughout the year, please subscribe to our email list. You can also visit our website throughout the year for up-to-date info on school and PTA events. Finally, join our Facebook group for more discussion on life at Sacajawea.
Sincerely,
Karen Murphy and Justin Pritchett
PTA Co-chairs, 2022-2023