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News and Events

Seattle Public School

Seattle Public Schools has a no tolerance policy towards weapons, drugs, or alcohol on its campuses and at District-sponsored activities.

Principal Newsletter

To see the Graham Hill Newsletter click here; on this page you will also find archived newsletters.
For Vietnamese, Spanish, Tagalog, or Somali versions of the newsletter click here.
For newsletters from previous years click here.

2013-14 Class Placement Process

Dear Graham Hill Families,

Each spring, the Graham Hill staff begins the process of forming classroom groups for the coming academic year. This thoughtful procedure takes into consideration the educational needs of individual students, while providing equity within the larger school community. The end result should be classes that are balanced in terms of class size, age, ethnicity, language, gender, academic strengths and needs, and student behavior. Teachers and members of our Wellness Team provide input to the process by articulating the special needs of individual children, student relationships that may be most productive if they are together or separated, and class size commitments at various grade levels. As you can imagine, this is a difficult and dynamic process. Because we take into account the comprehensive makeup of each child and each classroom, the placement of students in classrooms must be a staff decision.

If, however, you have information about your child that we may be unaware of and would be critical in this placement process please send a letter or email to Laurie Morrison (lemorrison@seattleschools.org) with the pertinent information. Please note that there are no guarantees for requested or desired class assignments.

Whether or not you are planning to attend Graham Hill next school year please fill out the statement of intent and return to Graham Hill as this will help with planning for next year.

May 13th, 2013 | Contact: Graham Hill, (206) 252-7140

School Climate Survey

SPS families invited to participate in school climate surveys starting May 21

In an effort to ensure that Seattle Public Schools is doing all it can to support students’ academic success, the district is inviting SPS students and their families to complete a climate survey regarding the learning environment at their school.

Each spring, SPS conducts a climate survey of families, students and staff at all elementary, middle and high schools, asking questions regarding student engagement, academic rigor, discipline and safety, and family involvement. Results are reported through our annual school reports, found here: http://bit.ly/school_reports.

The family survey will be administered starting May 21 via the district's automated SchoolMessenger system. This allows families to provide feedback by touch-tone phone response, or – if there is no response by phone – through a unique link to an online web survey sent by email.

The family survey will be offered in eight languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, Somali, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Amharic and Tigrigna.

Phone calls will occur between 7 and 7:30 p.m. on the following dates:

May 21, May 28, and June 4: Elementary School families with children in grades K-5, including K-8 schools

May 22, May 29, and June 5: Middle School families with children in grades 6-8, including K-8 schools

May 23, May 30 and June 6: High School families with children in grades 9-12

It’s important to note that some families may receive more than one phone call. For example, if a family has one child in high school and another child in middle school, they will receive two separate calls. Families who don’t respond by phone will receive a follow-up email with a link to an online survey.

A third and final round of phone calls/emails will be made June 4-6. The email survey will close on June 14.

Families can also take the survey in person at the SPS Family Symposium, “Building Bridges for Summer Learning,” Saturday, May 18 at Garfield High School, 400 23rd Ave. The symposium, which runs from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., includes a resource fair with community resource booths and activities for children ages 4 and up.

If you have questions about the family surveys, please contact research@seattleschools.org. For more information about the Family Symposium, call Bernardo Ruiz at (206) 252-0693.

May 7th, 2013 | Contact: Bernardo Ruiz, (206) 252-0693

Graham Hill Morning Math Club

The Early Algebra Project at Graham Hill for Kindergarten and First Grade

Graham Hill Morning Math Club
Tuesdays, 8:00-8:50 in the library

featuring, Norman Alston from eMode Learning Foundation

www.emodefoundation.org

The program for kintergarteners and first graders will begin on Tuesday, May14^th and will run through Tuesday June 11th the school year. Family members are welcomed to attend with their students

Graham Hill’s Morning Math Club promises to inspire access for early algebra concepts for all children and provide an opportunity for parents to learn alongside their children. There are no pre-requisites for understanding and all math “abilities” are welcome.

Mr. Alston reminds us it’s never too early or too late to fall in love with math!

Graham Hill students may attend without their parents. There is no cost for this program.

Please contact Laurie Morrison, Principal, at 206.252.7140 if you have questions.

Otherwise, give it a try on May 14^th…you’ll be challenged and inspired!

February 4, 2013 | Contact: Laurie Morrison, (206) 252.7140

May is Bike to School Month

Graham Hill Elementary and the Cascade Bicycle Club Education Foundation
invite you to join us for Bike to School Month

May is Bike to School Month, designed to encourage bicycle commuting, mentor new riders and foster a love of bicycling. When you bike to school with your child you:
• Help your child become a safe, knowledgeable and independent cyclist.
• Create daily exercise habits that help keep your child active and healthy.
• Reduce car traffic and air pollution.

We envision participation in Bike-to-School Month as a family project, one that may also introduce parents to the fun of cycling with their kids! You know your child and your route to school best, but in general young children are not prepared to ride on the street alone. Most elementary school children ride with their parents or another adult.

Everyone who rides at least once wins a prize!
• All participants who ride on BTS Day (May 8)earn a Cascade Bike to School Month rubber bracelet
• 1-14 trips earn a cool bike key chain
• 15+ trips earns a red round reflector light

So, how do you participate? It's easy! Fill out the form below and return to (Ms. Gill) by (May 3st). We will send home bicycle safety information, “passport” and instructions. You keep track of your trips each day you ride* and turn in your passport at the end of the month. We'll add your trips to our school total and deliver your prizes.

For more information check out Cascade's website at http://www.cbcef.org/bts/index.html or contact Lindsey Parker at Cascade Bicycle Club (ypa@cascadebicycleclub.org) or (Jupinder K. Gill)

Golden Pedal Award: New for2013, the Golden Pedal Award will be given to the Elementary school with the most new Bike to School Month riders!
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R.S.V.P. Form, Bike to School Month, May 2013
Yes! I would like to participate by biking to school* and keeping track of my trips for the Graham Hill Elementary Bike to School Team.

Name:________________________________________________________ Email:________________________________________________________
Teacher:______________________________________________________
Grade:________________________________________________________
Parents: I give permission for my child to participate in Bike to School Month and I will provide the support he/she needs to do so safely.
__________________________________________________________ (parent signature here)

May 1, 2013 | Contact: Jupinder Gill, (206) 252-7140

Family & Education Levy Winner

I am so happy to announce that Graham Hill Elementary has been selected to receive the City of Seattle Elementary Innovation Award! Following a rigorous process of data analysis and telling the sweet story of Graham Hill, our school was awarded the highest amount at $316K/year, which is renewable for six years (per meeting our milestones).

The request for investment (RFI) grant process has been an opportunity for us to showcase the amazing work that we are already doing as well as shine a light on the essential equity work that we need to do for all students at Graham Hill. I am proud of our school and our staff – the relentless drive toward excellence as educators for our students inspires me each day.

The Levy resources (leveraged with other investments) include:

• A focus on Early Learning across PreK-Second grade

• Extended Learning Opportunities – Before and After School Academic Supports

• Support in language development

• Case Management Support for Social-Emotional development

• Community partnerships within our South Seattle Community (PreK providers, Powerful Schools, Afrique Support Services, Asian Counseling Services, El Centro de la Raza)

Our particular focus groups are children in Kindergarten, First and Second grade who speak Somali, Vietnamese and Spanish. This allows us to refocus other dollars on supports and opportunities for other learners at Graham Hill. I am excited about the supports that this additional funding will bring and about the opportunity to be a part of an educational movement like no other!

Thank you to the families and voters who made this investment with the City of Seattle possible. It is a day of celebrating the audacity of hope, high expectations, and authentic innovation at Graham Hill!
Cheers!

Laurie Morrison, Ed.D.
.

March 8th, 2013 | Contact: Graham Hill, (206) 252-7140

Girls on the Run

The next session of Girls on the Run starts the first week of March and there are still a few spots open. Read below to see what a success the fall session was.

Girls on the Run was a success at Graham Hill Elementary School this fall. It was the first time Girls on the Run was at Graham Hill. There were three volunteer coaches and 15 girls from third through fifth grade who participated. Each of the 15 girls attended 20 practices and embodied the Girls on the Run spirit. They all crossed the finish line on December 1, 2012 at the Girls on the Run 5K. Here are some of their favorite memories of Girls on the Run from fall 2012:

"Running with my running buddy at the 5K." -Halle, 5th grade

"Running with my running buddy at the 5K because it was just really fun." -Zoe, 4th grade

"Running the 5K and finishing it. Also meeting all the nice girls in this group and my running buddy." -Jazmin, 3rd

"Practicing our 5K because we were just running." -Fatou, 4th grade

"Meeting my running buddy and running through the finish line of balloons. I also liked doing the community project and making the cookies and trying to keep up with the coaches." -Addy, 5th grade

"Running through the finish line of balloons and when we met our running buddies and ran the practice 5K."
-Lilly, 5th grade

"When we completed the 5K and I got my medal." -Kidest, 4th grade

"I liked learning the running games and running with the coaches around the track." -Rachel, 5th grade

"I liked doing the adjectives before our names when we were getting to know each other." -Helpful Husna, 4th gr

"Receiving my medal and meeting my running buddy." -Jimena, 5th grade

"Getting to make up another name and getting to know everyone and meeting my running buddy." -Summer, 3rd

"When I ran with my running buddy she kind of kept me going." -Sierra, 3rd grade

"My favorite part was when we got to meet our running buddies and do the practice, but I also really liked the part when the days were numbered until our 5K. I was really excited the big day was approaching. We also got to play games and learn more about ourselves." -Madelin, 3rd grade

"My favorite part was running in the 5K with my running buddy, meeting my running buddy and running really fast towards the finish line with everybody cheering." -Allison, 4th grade

Girls on the Run, Girls on the Run, Girls on the Run is so much FUN!

February 22th, 2013 | Contact: Ellen Kleymen, (206) 252-7184

Upcoming Events

5/24/2013