Sacajawea PTA News

The happenings around Sacajawea

Karen Murphy Karen Murphy

Open Letter to SPS Regarding Icy Conditions at Sacajawea, Jan 17th, 2024

This post shares a letter to Dr. Campbell and the School Board regarding unsafe travel conditions around Sacajawea on January 17th, 2024.

Dr. Campbell and School Board Members:

I am writing on behalf of Sacajawea Elementary PTA concerning the unsafe conditions that we had to endure this morning (and afternoon) to get our children to (and from) school.

Sacajawea Elementary School is located at 9501 20th Ave NE. This is a little over a block off Lake City Way, set on a wooded hill in the Maple Leaf neighborhood. To get to the school, you have to either come down the steep hill from 15th Ave NE, come up the hill from Lake City Way, or come up the hill on 20th Ave. It is hills in all directions.

In wet weather, it can be slippery and dangerous. In slushy, icy weather conditions, it becomes very dangerous. None of the streets around the school are regularly plowed. At times, with lots of advocacy and effort by our principal, 20th Ave NE might get plowed, though this isn’t even something we can count on.

On Wednesday, January 17th, the roads and sidewalks surrounding Sacajawea Elementary School were slushy, icy, and unsafe for drivers or pedestrians—not at drop-off or pick-up. Our unique geographical conditions (very hilly, more wooded) make it so that icy conditions persist longer. We also tend to get more snow than other neighborhoods due to our elevation, again with it sticking around longer than other parts of Seattle, even just directly down the hill.

Today, families attempted to get their children to school on nearly impassable roads. Some made it, but not without issues. Some turned around due to safety concerns. Some walked and slid their way down, and many fell or nearly fell.

We hope to highlight these safety concerns and ask that our unique geographic area be considered when planning for inclement weather. Our immediate area is not comparable to Olympic View or Wedgwood Elementary School areas. We ask that you include the Sacajawea school area in your safety assessment. If the district decides to send our students to school, we need to be assured of their safety, along with the safety of our families, staff, and neighbors.

Below, I’ve included a number of quotes from parents who experienced dangerous conditions during their travels to and from school today.

Our community appreciates your attention to improving the safety of our students.

Karen Murphy

Sacajawea PTA

Parent Feedback

Bus family- my daughter said the bus was scary- they slid around.

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This morning I made three attempts each an hour apart to take my child to school. On 20th in between 88th and 90th. It was too slick for me to drive. So we got out to walk and we both almost fell. To be honest with all the hills around the school is really hard to believe that wasn’t a delayed start or having snow plows going through dropping down sand or salt.

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Because I live facing Sacajawea Play Field on NE 94th St, my family did not have trouble getting to school—but we did get a front-row seat for all the trouble drivers were having when trying to get out of the neighborhood after drop-off. We watched at least five vehicles try and fail to go up the 94th St hill just between 20th and 17th avenues—which is not even the steepest section of that hill! Each one got stalled out at the new stop sign at 94th/17th, lost traction, and had to slide or back down the hill backwards, creating a hazard for both other drivers and pedestrians behind them. Finally another neighbor pulled one of the “traffic revision” signs out to the middle of the street to discourage drivers from even attempting that stretch.

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On the hills I slid in my car many times, even going a less dangerous way I had struggles, it was quite scary. I made it safely but had a few scares.

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We live just outside Sacajawea's boundaries so walking is not an option for us. I attempted to take 94th (from 15th) down to the park. My anti lock breaks started as soon as I turned. I gave up and turned immediately into the church parking lot where I slid to a stop. I went back out to 15th and drove home. Having slid down that hill in previous winter weather I did not want to chance it. (There is no way for me to drive down to Lake City Way that doesn’t involve a hill!)

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We were unwilling to risk the 98th st slope with the extent of the ice so decided to keep our son home for the day, especially since it was an early release day.

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We live three blocks away from one of the main paths to the school yard. Our walk to school is through a hilly residential neighborhood. The roads and sidewalks on the morning of January 17th were exceptionally icy. The larger through roads-17th Ave NE. and 20th Ave NE., as well as the smaller side streets were barely (or not) walkable. Families were navigating on fallen leaves and gravel for stability. Cars braving the streets were sliding through intersections or weaving through the neighborhood looking for a safe enough road to get to the school.

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I was driving east on 90th St. NE at 7:20am on Jan 17. On a hilly section, about 500 feet west of the intersection of 20th Ave NE, my car started to slip and slide off the road. Fortunately it stopped before hitting anything or anyone. When I parked in the parking lot at Sacajawea I had to walk extremely slowly as the lot was iced over. While on bus duty in front of the school I had to walk extremely slowly and counsel all the students to do the same as the sidewalk was very icy, even though two layers of de-icer had been applied. At the minimum, there should have been a 2 hour late start today at Sacajawea.

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I can't speak about drop-off, but pick-up was still pretty precarious. There was black ice on parts of my route to the school since the side streets don't get treated. And this was in the afternoon. Walking up 20th was an accident waiting to happen since there was still black ice on the sidewalk. I walked on the asphalt instead, which felt dicey with cars going up and down the street, but it was either that or sliding down on our bottoms.

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My family struggled to get to school on the morning of the 17th. We live on 20th Ave. just about one block uphill from Sac. We slid most of the way down the hill, and two of my three children fell along the way. Even when we got to the school, right in front of where the buses let off, the sidewalk was not sufficiently deiced, though staff were in the process of trying to rectify that. I also needed to help one of the Sac staff walk from the stairs by the bus stop to school, because the walk was too treacherous for her to make it without assistance. As I was deicing our block, multiple cars spun out, trying to drive southbound on 20th Ave., and needed to turn around to escape the neighborhood. There is no way that we should have been trying to access the school in those conditions this morning

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We slipped our way to school on 17th. Side streets were really not walkable, but we found some leafy/gravelly patches to walk on. Very scary on foot or by car.

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We took 95th and it was very slippery.

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My kid and husband went down 95th, sticking mostly to lawns and other non-asphalt or non-concrete surfaces. And then down the path and into Sacajawea park. I did notice the middle school kids waiting for then bus slipping in the parking lot.

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We made it via car by going LCW & 98th. But we do have AWD and needed it a couple of times. The sidewalks looked treacherous. Based on my driving in the general vicinity, it seems that the roads/sidewalks around Sac were the worst in the area.

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We “walked” down 96th. My kiddo fell once and we debated turning around and going home but instead walked along the perimeter of someone’s driveway and garage and then through the gardens (sorry) of those new houses. Very treacherous!

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Made it to bottom of 20th via Lake City. Started walking up hill armed with sidewalk salt based on previous experience but ran out just to get across 97th. Son had better traction, so wished him good luck in getting the rest of the way solo.

We are set up to flex to virtual, and this seems like it was a perfect opportunity that was missed.

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I am west of Roosevelt and all the cross streets were bad (96th, 97th, 98th) so I went up to Northgate Way, to 24th Ave to Lake City to 98th to 20th. I think this is a bus route. Even that well traveled little part of 98th to 20th was sketchy, and 20th south of the school was sketchy.

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To the city: IMHO the “one lane road” obstacles on 98th make it worse, as traffic which goes both directions, is skidding, and must share a lane. Since that is the SPS-prescribed path to the school, that part of 98th should be made more functional for 2 way traffic.

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Equity Robin King Equity Robin King

MLK Day 2024 Marching Resources for Sacajawea Families

All the details you need to join Sacajawea at the 2024 MLK March. We’d love to see you there!

Version en español

What’s Happening?

We will meet at the Garfield Community Center playground on Cherry Street at noon.  To take public transit, we recommend taking light rail to UW Light Rail Station (or parking at UW; 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/BLM 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:

What Will We Bring?

  • We will take a group photo before the march starts; Day of contact; Mandi Grover; 206-612-3689

  • 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

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 Amplifier or the MLK March website.

  • 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 ideas 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 school room / 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 2024 March

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. 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/

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Jessi Friedrichs Jessi Friedrichs

Treasurer's Report for January 2024

From our January PTA Board meeting, here’s a look at this month’s financial report.

The PTA's budget for the current year is approximately $82,000, with over half of that amount allocated for staff and school support and 25% designated for arts and culture programs. With nearly two-thirds of the year's budget still remaining, the PTA remains committed to supporting the school and its students through various initiatives and events.

The PTA has received a total of $36,883 in income as of the December close, with $28,219 of that amount coming from funds raised and the remaining $8,664 coming from grants and pass-through expenses.

In terms of spending, the PTA has spent a total of $27,034 so far this year, with $7,543 of that amount being spent in December. The December spending includes $3,200 for t-shirts, $3,000 for family support, and a $1,000 contribution to CANSSPA.

You can find the detailed breakdown of income and expenses in the full report (PDF XLSX).

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Justin Pritchett Justin Pritchett

Welcome to the 2023-2024 School Year!

It is my pleasure to welcome new and returning families to another year at Sacajawea Elementary on behalf of the PTA. We are excited to be back to school and we look forward to connecting with you and your families. 

Versión en español

Hello Sacajaweans!

It is my pleasure to welcome new and returning families to another year at Sacajawea Elementary on behalf of the PTA. 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.  

 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 Tuesday, September 12th, at 7:00 pm at school. This year, we will be meeting in person once a quarter, and on Zoom for the other months. 

Please be in touch with us as the school year gets underway. We’re here to help, and you’ll find contact details below. And, to ensure you receive all of our PTA updates throughout the year, please subscribe to our email list: sacpta.org/subscribe. You can also visit our website (sacpta.org) throughout the year for up-to-date info on school and PTA events. Lastly, join our Facebook group (sacpta.org/facebook) for more discussion on life at Sacajawea. 

 Thank you all for making this school such a special place! At Sacajawea, we truly do all SHINE.

 Sincerely,

Justin Pritchett, PTA Chair for 2023-2024

Versión en español

¡Hola Sacajaweans!

Es un placer dar la bienvenida a nuestras familias nuevas y que regresan a otro año en la escuela primaria Sacajawea. Estamos emocionados de volver a la escuela y esperamos conectarnos con ustedes y sus familias.

La PTA de Sacajawea es una organización pequeña pero poderosa que trabaja para ayudar y apoyar a nuestra escuela, facultad, administración y, lo más importante, a nuestros estudiantes. Durante todo el año, organizamos eventos comunitarios, trabajamos para promover la equidad y recaudamos fondos para apoyar a nuestra escuela. También enviamos un boletín semanal con noticias de la escuela, nota del director del Sr. Fisk, calendario escolar y más.

Una de las grandes fortalezas de Sacajawea es la participación de nuestra comunidad de padres. A medida que los niños regresen a la escuela nosotros, como su PTA, trabajaremos para apoyarlos a ustedes y a sus familias tanto como sea posible este año con una comunicación constante y eventos de construcción de la comunidad. Estamos planeando eventos aún más divertidos este año, y siempre podemos usar una mano extra. Háganos saber si puede participar. ¡Ahora es un buen momento, mientras sus hijos todavía están emocionados por su participación!

Si está buscando una manera fácil de conocer a otros padres e involucrarse, por favor asista a nuestras reuniones mensuales de la junta de la PTA. Son una forma acogedora, productiva y divertida de participar. Nos reunimos mensualmente y nuestra primera reunión es el martes 12 de septiembre a las 7:00 pm en la escuela. Este año, nos reuniremos en persona una vez por trimestre y por Zoom los demás meses.

Por favor, póngase en contacto con nosotros a medida que avanza el año escolar. Estamos aquí para ayudar y encontrará nuestros datos de contacto a continuación. Y, para asegurarse de recibir todas las actualizaciones de nuestra PTA durante todo el año, suscríbase a nuestra lista de correo electrónico: sacpta.org/subscribe. También puede visitar nuestro sitio web (sacpta.org) durante todo el año para obtener información actualizada sobre los eventos de la escuela y la PTA. Únase a nuestro grupo de Facebook (sacpta.org/facebook) para discusión sobre la vida en Sacajawea.

¡Gracias a todos por hacer de esta escuela un lugar tan especial! En Sacajawea, realmente hacemos todo SHINE.

Atentamente,

Justin Pritchett, Presidente de la PTA

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Seth Bridges Seth Bridges

The 2023-2024 School Year is Almost Here at Sacajawea!

As we roll into Kindergarten JumpStart and the start of the school year, we want to ensure you can stay connected with our school and PTA updates. Here’s your checklist!

Versión en español

Hello, Sacajaweans!

Another school year is almost upon us, and we hope you’re enjoying the last bits of your summer vacation.

As we roll into Kindergarten JumpStart and the start of the school year, we want to ensure you can stay connected with our school and PTA updates.

Here are a few things to do (or double-check) as we head toward September:

  1. Register for our email list for periodic updates and event notices.

  2. Join our Facebook group for more discussion on life at Sacajawea.

  3. Interested in volunteering? Contact our volunteer coordinator, Charlene Shanahan, for details: cyshanahan@seattleschools.org.

  4. Become a PTA member and opt into our school directory at Sacajawea.

We’re having a back-to-school pizza party event on Tuesday, September 5th.

We'll meet on the upper playground from 5:30pm - 7:00pm, and we'll have (free) pizza, drinks, and fun. Come have a bite, see old friends, and meet our newest community members, too.

Please RSVP to help us plan how much food to order.

Versión en español

¡Hola, Sacajaweans!

Otro año escolar está a punto de comenzar, y esperamos que estén disfrutando de los últimos momentos de sus vacaciones de verano.

A medida que nos acercamos al inicio de Kindergarten JumpStart y del año escolar, queremos asegurarnos de que puedan mantenerse conectados con las actualizaciones de nuestra escuela y de la PTA.

Aquí hay algunas cosas que hacer (o revisar) mientras nos dirigimos hacia septiembre:

Estén atentos para más detalles sobre un evento de regreso a clases el martes 5 de septiembre.

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