News & Events

This year marks the second year Dr. Pedroza and Tukwila School District (TSD) students are actively participating in the prestigious Education Roundtable, organized by The Scholar First Inc. and the Gates Foundation. With a shared mission of positioning all students across Washington state for post-secondary success, this initiative places a special emphasis on supporting students who have been traditionally underserved.

For the 2024-25 year, Foster High School seniors Alex Brewster and Ellyssa Castillo proudly represented TSD, joining a diverse group of over 60 individuals—including students, educators, superintendents, university and college leaders, and members of non-profit organizations. Together, this dynamic assembly aims to shape a future where every student has equitable access to success beyond high school.

Goals of the Education Roundtable

The Education Roundtable focuses on fostering relationships, influencing policy, and promoting best practices that can be shared across schools, districts, and organizations. The collective group works toward five key goals:

1. Building a Community Across Boundaries: By transcending the borders of agencies, school districts, and organizations, the participants are forging strong relationships and learning from one another.
2. Defining Post-Secondary Success: The group is actively working to create and operationalize a shared understanding of what it means for students to succeed after high school.
3. Lifting Up Effective Practices: By sharing best practices, the Roundtable seeks to bring their definition of success to life.
4. Strategizing for Policy Impact: Together, they aim to influence policy and practices that support students at every level, from the classroom to state government.
5. Sharing Data and Insights: Participants are encouraged to share what they’ve learned within their own networks, promoting knowledge-sharing and collaboration.

Alex Brewster and Ellyssa Castillo’s Experience

During the first convening of the 2024-25 school year, the focus was on Inspiration—bringing participants together to reflect on how to shape a more equitable future for all students. Both Alex and Ellyssa had the honor of sharing their reflections on this inspiring gathering.

Alex Brewster highlighted how the experience broadened his understanding of the link between education and the evolving job market.
"Attending the Education Roundtable gave me new insights into the changing job market and its relation to post-secondary education," Alex said.

Ellyssa Castillo was deeply moved by the support and advocacy she witnessed from the educational leaders present at the event.
"Attending the Gates Foundation’s Education Roundtable gave me the opportunity to be surrounded by superintendents and educational leaders who I know not only care about my success but also advocate for it. With their presence, I felt involved in and hopeful about the proactive efforts to support students like me."

Looking Ahead

Throughout the year, Alex, Ellyssa, and Dr. Pedroza will continue to contribute their voices and experiences to the Education Roundtable. Their participation ensures that TSD students are part of the larger conversation about post-secondary success and that our district’s values of equity, access, and student-centered growth are well represented.

Stay tuned for more updates on their work and the ongoing efforts to create brighter futures for students across Washington state!

As we wrap up the school year, we are thrilled to share a recap of the phenomenal work accomplished by our inaugural Superintendent's Student Advisory Board. This board, composed of 13 dedicated student members (grades 5-12), has engaged in meaningful discussions and collaborative work to help shape the future of our district.

Our final meeting of the academic year was held last Wednesday at the District Office, where we celebrated our achievements, finalized the district anti-racism statement, and planned for the next year.

The sessions were thoughtfully designed and led by our two School Board Representatives, Dennis and Alex. They dedicated time outside of the sessions to plan and prepare materials for the group, ensuring that each meeting was productive and engaging.

Meeting Highlights

First Meeting: We kicked off our first meeting by discussing what anti-racism means to each of us and sharing personal experiences within our schools. We also established a community agreement to guide our interactions and ensure a respectful and productive environment.

Second Meeting: The board identified three key focus areas: safety, academic policies, and student-teacher relations. We delved into how school safety impacts students individually and within their communities, sharing observed safety concerns in our schools.

Third Meeting: We continued our discussions on school safety, examined its effects on our communities, and started identifying potential solutions for the concerns raised by students.

Final Meeting and Celebration: Our final session focused on celebrating our work together, finalizing the district anti-racism statement, and planning for the upcoming year.

The Superintendent's Student Advisory Board has provided a valuable platform for student voices to be heard and for impactful changes to be discussed. We are incredibly proud of the insights and contributions of our student members and look forward to continuing this important work.

Thank you to all our student members for their dedication, hard work, and commitment to making our district a better place. Have a wonderful summer, and we look forward to seeing what we can achieve together next year!

We are thrilled to announce that Julie Herdt, our dedicated Quality Engagement Specialist for Students and Families (Elementary), has been honored as the PSESD Regional Classified School Employee of the Year. This prestigious recognition is a testament to Julie's unwavering commitment and passion for supporting our students and families.

Julie's journey into education began with a background in Health Information Management. Her true calling emerged when her youngest child started kindergarten in the Aberdeen School District, where she began volunteering in the classroom. This initial experience led her to become a paraeducator and eventually transition into a Library Tech position. During her four years as a Library Tech, Julie discovered her love for helping children develop a passion for reading.

After relocating to the Puget Sound area, Julie joined the Tukwila School District as a paraeducator. She then advanced to the role of Assessment Specialist before taking on her current position as Quality Engagement Specialist for the past seven years. Throughout her over 17-year career in education, Julie has been a relentless advocate for students facing homelessness, foster care, and economic challenges. She has dedicated herself to breaking down barriers to education and ensuring that students have access to basic needs such as housing, food, and clothing.

Julie's advocacy extends beyond our district as she partners with organizations like School House Washington, Road Map Project for Family Engagement, and Building Changes. Her expertise has been sought after at numerous trainings to guide other school districts on McKinney-Vento data practices and the importance of building community relationships. Additionally, Julie serves on the City of Tukwila Human Services Advisory Board, further demonstrating her dedication to community engagement and support.

Julie works alongside Maryan Abdow, our other devoted Quality Engagement Specialist, to serve our growing McKinney-Vento population. Their combined dedication and authentic care for our students and families are truly commendable.

We are incredibly fortunate to have Julie as part of our Tukwila School District family. Her passion for helping others and her tireless efforts to support our students and families make her an invaluable asset to our community. Congratulations, Julie, on this well-deserved honor. We look forward to seeing the continued positive impact you will undoubtedly make in the years to come.

Thank you, Julie, for your remarkable dedication and service.

Learn More: https://www.psesd.org/news/detail/~board/news/post/psesd-announces-kim-broomer-as-psesd-regional-teacher-of-the-year-and-julie-herdt-as-classified-school-employee-of-theyear#:~:text=Award-,PSESD%20Announces%20Kim%20Broomer%20as%20PSESD%20Regional%20Teacher%20of%20the,School%20Employee%20of%20the%20Year!

We are thrilled to announce a groundbreaking achievement that underscores the exceptional talents and contributions of our students and their teacher, Mr. Tim Renz. For the first time, students from our district have been acknowledged in a preprint scientific journal paper titled "Experimental evolution of S. cerevisiae for caffeine tolerance alters multidrug resistance and TOR signaling pathways" by Dr. Renee C. Geck.

This paper, now publicly available on the bioRxiv preprint server, represents a significant milestone in our students' academic journey. It acknowledges the hard work and dedication of students who participated in the Intro to Biotech class as part of the yEvo project during the 2022-2023 school year, under the guidance of Mr. Renz.

The paper specifically references the yeast strains that were evolved in caffeine, and all students who opted to be included in the paper are listed in the Acknowledgements section. This recognition speaks volumes about the dedication, passion, and academic excellence demonstrated by our students.

To access the paper and learn more about this incredible achievement, please visit: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.04.28.591555v1. To view the yEvo poster, use the following link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VLolh4NhWhRi-pH6hOPtUX-biRE4PaY1/view.We encourage all members of our community to share this exciting news and celebrate the accomplishments of our students.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to showcase the outstanding achievements of our district's students. Congratulations to our remarkable students on this well-deserved recognition!

The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) has introduced the SUN Bucks Summer EBT Program to support families with school-age children. Each eligible child will receive a one-time payment of $120 in food benefits on a dedicated SUN Bucks card. This initiative aims to ensure that students have access to nutritious meals throughout the summer months.

How to Access SUN Bucks:

• Eligibility and Enrollment: Families already enrolled in benefits like SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR will automatically enroll their school-age children in SUN Bucks if the program is available in their area. Additionally, children attending schools that offer the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program may also be automatically enrolled if they meet the income requirements for free or reduced-price meals.
• Application Process: If not automatically enrolled, families can apply directly for SUN Bucks by meeting the necessary income limits and other requirements.
• Benefit Distribution: SUN Bucks will be issued from mid-June through the end of August 2024. Once qualified, families will receive an approval notice and a SUN Bucks EBT card within seven to 10 business days via U.S. Mail.
• Expiration: Benefits expire 122 days from issuance, so it's important to use SUN Bucks before they are removed.

For detailed information and additional questions about S-EBT benefits, families can visit the DSHS SUN Bucks webpage at: https://www.fns.usda.gov/summer/sunbucks or call the S-EBT Contact Center at (833) 543-3230 between 8 am and 5 pm Monday–Friday (except observed holidays). Schools are encouraged to share this information with families through communication channels such as social media, emails, and other outreach methods. By spreading the word, we can ensure that families and communities who qualify for the free lunch program are well-informed and can benefit from this vital support.

Together, let's ensure that our students have a healthy and nutritious summer!

We are thrilled to share the success of our recent Afghan Family Nights, held on April 18th and May 9th, which saw more than 50 families and students in attendance. These events were organized by our dedicated Community Liaison, Zia, who has been a steadfast support for Afghan families throughout the year.

Zia's efforts in coordinating these gatherings have been invaluable. Not only did he bring together our Afghan community, but he also invited representatives from various community organizations to connect families with essential resources. These connections are crucial in helping our families feel supported and integrated into the Tukwila School District (TSD) community.

The success of Afghan Family Nights highlights the importance of community engagement and the positive impact of having dedicated liaisons like Zia. His work, along with that of all our Community Liaisons, has been instrumental in making TSD a welcoming and supportive environment for all families.

We deeply appreciate the dedication and hard work of Zia and our entire Community Liaison team. Their commitment to fostering a sense of belonging and home within our district is truly commendable. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of our families and helping to create a strong, connected community.

We are thrilled to announce Hoa Hong as our newest Foster Alumni Wall of Fame inductee. Born in Vietnam and raised in Tukwila, Washington, Hoa is a renowned multidisciplinary visual artist and designer whose work deeply resonates with the vibrancy and adversity of diverse and marginalized populations.

Hoa’s journey began amid the rich cultural tapestry of Tukwila, drawing from the myriad of traditions, foods, and cultures around her. Her artistic expression, rooted in her community's experiences, spans large-scale murals, graphic design, and public art installations, emphasizing the narratives and triumphs of BIPOC communities.

A proud alumna of the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Hoa has transformed public spaces into canvases that reflect communal stories and struggles, from Seattle to New York and San Francisco. Her work has not only adorned city walls but has also been featured in prestigious publications like Billboard Magazine and the New York Daily News.

Hoa also dedicates her time to mentoring young artists and engaging with local schools in King County, shaping future generations with her passion and expertise.

Please join us in celebrating Hoa Hong, an exemplary figure whose artistic endeavors and commitment to community uplift have rightfully earned her a place on our Foster Alumni Wall of Fame.

A few weeks ago, Cascade View Elementary School brought the magic of "The Lion King" to life in an astounding performance that left the audience in awe. Set against the backdrop of Foster High School's state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center, this production was a testament to the talent, dedication, and diversity of our school community.

From the opening scene to the final bow, the stage was alive with drama, music, and laughter, captivating the hearts of all who attended. Congratulations are in order for all Cascade View scholars and staff who were involved in making this production a resounding success.

One of the most remarkable aspects of the performance was the inclusion of lines spoken in students' home languages, adding a unique TSD element to the production. This celebration of linguistic diversity not only enriched the performance but also served as a powerful reminder of the strength and beauty of our truly diverse community.

Behind the scenes, Cascade View Elementary's 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders, along with six dedicated staff members, worked tirelessly for six months to prepare for this production. Their hard work, perseverance, and teamwork were evident in every aspect of the performance, from the choreography to the costumes to the musical arrangements.

As we reflect on this unforgettable experience, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to everyone involved in bringing "The Lion King" to life at Cascade View Elementary. Your talent, passion, and dedication have left a lasting impression on our school community, and we are incredibly proud of each and every one of you.

Here's to many more spectacular performances in the future, and to the continued celebration of diversity, creativity, and excellence at Cascade View Elementary School.

Hello TSD Community,

We are writing to provide an update and outline the next steps regarding the Tukwila superintendent role.

Last year the board made the decision, due in part to the constricted timeframe, to work with the PSESD on interviewing and hiring an Interim Superintendent who had the skills and experience to see Tukwila School District through this significant time of transition. What we didn’t know at the time was the full extent of the work ahead in regards, mostly, to the financial health of our district. We could not have asked for a better person for this time than Dr. Concie Pedroza. 

When we began our interim superintendent search, we sought input from the school community to understand the qualities most desired in a superintendent. Consistency, visibility, and a commitment to student and community engagement emerged as key themes. Dr. Pedroza exemplifies these qualities and more, making her the ideal leader to guide us through the tough decisions and actions required to stabilize our district's finances.

Our district is currently facing a significant budget deficit and is under binding conditions for at least two years. During this time, we must take decisive action to address our financial challenges. Dr. Pedroza has already demonstrated her dedication to putting students first and implementing strategies to move us forward. Here are just a few of the highlights: 

• Established the first Superintendent Student Advisory Group
• All Staff Kick 0ff - Prioritizing anti-racist actions as a district and in schools 
• Increasing collaboration and communication across the district through: 
  • Attending school staff meetings
  • Weekly staff updates
  • Ongoing 1:1’s with members of cabinet with the intention of creating clearer goals and alignment across departments
• Visibility in community and schools
  • Attended parent groups, visible at many school events, 
  • Participates in or is present at community board meetings  (TCF, Still Water, Rotary, etc)
• Has increased and continues to embed equity and anti-racist practices into all facets of the organization - including more intentional and aligned PD for school leaders

The Board has determined that it is in the best interest of the district, based on feedback and input expressed by students, staff and families, and the current work over the next two years necessary for the sustainability and longevity of our district, to bring forward a resolution appointing  Dr. Concie Pedroza as our Superintendent. Superintendent contracts are typically signed for a three-year term to allow leaders to make a meaningful impact. At the end of year two, we will engage extensively with our district community to consider the potential extension of the Superintendent's contract.

We remain committed to transparency and accountability, ensuring that the voices of those most impacted by our decisions are heard. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

The Tukwila School District Board of Directors

Carlee Hoover (they/them), President, District 1
Charley Simpson, Vice President, District 4
Terrence Proctor, District 3
Dave Larson, Legislative Rep, District 5

tsdboard@tukwila.wednet.edu
 

At Tukwila Elementary, Mrs. Kodis-Fisher's 3rd-grade class embarked on an exhilarating adventure into the captivating world of animals. Over the past month, these eager learners immersed themselves in research, writing, and creative expression, resulting in an enriching and memorable animal project.

Guided by their curiosity and Mrs. Kodis-Fisher's expert guidance, students selected animals to study. With enthusiasm and dedication, they delved into the lives and habitats of their chosen creatures, gathering information and insights to shape their understanding. Their efforts culminated in detailed 8-paragraph reports, adorned with photos and personalized glossaries—a testament to their hard work and commitment to learning.

But the exploration didn't end there. In Mrs. Kodis-Fisher's class, students delved deeper into the complex relationship between humans and animals. Through thought-provoking discussions, they examined how human actions can impact animal environments, sparking conversations about conservation, habitat preservation, and environmental stewardship.

To further reinforce learning and strengthen the home-school connection, students engaged in a hands-on activity: the creation of animal dioramas. These imaginative displays brought their research to life, showcasing their understanding of animal habitats and the organisms that inhabit them.

The culmination of their efforts was celebrated at Tukwila Elementary's classroom zoo event. Families, administrators, and community members were invited to explore the diverse array of animals through captivating presentations prepared by the students themselves. It was a joyous celebration of learning, creativity, and collaboration—a testament to the hard work and dedication of Mrs. Kodis-Fisher's class.

As the project came to a close, students engaged in self-reflection, evaluating their performance and considering what they had learned. They also shared suggestions for future classes, offering insights to enhance future projects and learning experiences.

The animal project at Tukwila Elementary exemplifies the power of hands-on, inquiry-based learning to engage students, foster curiosity, and inspire creativity. It is a testament to the dedication of teachers like Mrs. Kodis-Fisher and the boundless potential of our students to explore, learn, and grow.

We are delighted to share the resounding success of our recent Parent Education Series event, where families had the opportunity to explore the intricacies of navigating the Skyward Technology platform with expert guidance. This event was a testament to our commitment to supporting families in their educational journey and empowering them with the tools and resources they need to thrive.

The Parent Education Series event was designed to provide families with comprehensive insights into the Skyward Technology platform, a vital tool for staying connected and engaged with their child's academic progress. From accessing grades and assignments to communicating with teachers, Skyward plays a crucial role in facilitating parent-school collaboration and enhancing student success.

At the heart of this event were our dedicated Community Liaisons, whose tireless efforts ensured a fantastic turnout and provided invaluable assistance to numerous families. Their passion for serving our community and commitment to fostering strong parent-school partnerships were evident throughout the event.

Through informative presentations, hands-on demonstrations, and interactive Q&A sessions, families gained a deeper understanding of the Skyward platform's features and functionalities. They learned how to navigate the system with ease, leverage its resources effectively, and make the most of its capabilities to support their child's academic journey.

The event also served as a platform for families to connect with one another, share experiences, and build a supportive network within our school community. By coming together to learn and collaborate, families reaffirmed their commitment to their child's education and demonstrated the power of collective engagement.

As we reflect on the success of the Parent Education Series event, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to our Community Liaisons for their unwavering dedication and exemplary service. Their leadership and guidance were instrumental in making this event a meaningful and impactful experience for all involved.

Moving forward, we remain committed to providing ongoing support and resources to empower families in navigating the ever-evolving landscape of education technology. Together, we will continue to strengthen our partnership between home and school, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive and succeed.

In a stirring tribute to Black History Month, students from Showalter Middle School and Rainier Beach High School embarked on a poignant journey through the Northwest African American Museum (NAAM), accompanied by Seattle Seahawks player, Matt Gotel. This meaningful field trip not only celebrated the rich tapestry of African American heritage but also provided a profound opportunity for reflection, education, and cultural exchange.

The museum's exhibits offered a window into the diverse experiences and contributions of African Americans throughout history. In the words of the museum:

"In 'Freedom of Expression,' the Northwest African American Museum features a variety of rotating talented artists. This exhibit showcases the strength and range of visual artistic expression produced by artists of African descent residing in the Pacific Northwest."

"In 'Positive Frequencies,' artists delve deeper into the profound impact of music on our lives. Through these intricate mixed media pieces, they aim to capture the essence of different musical genres, representing the diverse array of emotions and experiences they evoke."

"Making a Way: The Jacob Lawrence and the Northwest Black Experience" offers a compelling journey through pivotal moments in Black history, as reflected in the classic work of Jacob Lawrence.

Accompanied by Matt Gotel, students engaged in meaningful dialogue and reflection, drawing inspiration from his personal journey and experiences.

As the field trip coincided with the start of Black History Month, it served as a poignant reminder of the ongoing quest for justice, equality, and inclusion. Through education, dialogue, and shared experiences, students were empowered to become agents of change in their communities and beyond.

As we continue to honor Black History Month beyond the month of February, let us reaffirm our commitment to celebrating the richness and diversity of African American culture. May this catalyze meaningful conversations, transformative learning experiences, and a renewed dedication to building a more equitable and inclusive society.

We are thrilled to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Preston Hopp, a senior at Foster High School, for his outstanding achievement in making it to the prestigious Washington Music Educators Association (WMEA) All-State Wind Symphony this year!

Over President’s Day Weekend, Preston had the incredible opportunity to join a select group of talented musicians from across Washington State. Under the guidance of Dr. Kaitlin Bove from Diablo Valley College, the Wind Symphony delivered breathtaking performances, showcasing a diverse repertoire that included a Suite of Squamish Music.

Preston's dedication and musical prowess shone brightly as he secured the 1st chair position in his section, among eleven exceptionally talented young musicians. His remarkable talent even earned him a small solo during the performance!

Reflecting on his experience, Preston shared, "I had a great experience. It was a lot of fun to play with such a big band and get to know people from all over the state. I wore my cross-country sweatshirt and met some people that run for other schools. This was such a cool experience, and I'm really glad I chose to audition. I wish I had done it sooner."

Preston's journey to the All-State Wind Symphony not only exemplifies his musical excellence but also highlights the power of stepping out of one's comfort zone and embracing new opportunities. His enthusiasm and dedication serve as an inspiration to his peers and the entire community.

As a district, we take immense pride in Preston's achievement and commend him for his hard work, talent, and commitment to excellence. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Preston and wish him continued success in all his future endeavors.

Let's join together in celebrating Preston Hopp's remarkable accomplishment and in recognizing the importance of supporting and nurturing the arts within our schools and communities.

Let's give a resounding cheer for the Foster High School Cheer Team as they showcase their unparalleled talent and spirit at the State Competition in February! 📣💪

With their dynamic and innovative "Stomp & Shake" style, the Foster HS Cheer Team dazzled on the competition floor, capturing the attention and admiration of all in attendance. Their unique approach not only set them apart but also exemplified their dedication to pushing the boundaries of traditional cheerleading.

A special round of applause goes to the Co-Ed team for adding that extra flair and bringing their A-game to the competition! 🌟 Their synchronized routines, infectious energy, and unwavering teamwork truly showcased the strength and unity of the Foster HS Cheer program.

In the face of intense competition, the Foster HS Cheer Team exemplified resilience, determination, and sportsmanship, embodying the true spirit of champions. Their commitment to excellence and passion for their craft serve as an inspiration to us all.

As a district, we couldn't be prouder of the Foster HS Cheer Team for their outstanding performance and representation of our school community. Their hard work, dedication, and countless hours of practice have undoubtedly paid off, and they deserve every accolade they receive.

Let's continue to show our support and appreciation for the incredible achievements of our Foster HS Cheer Team! Congratulations on a job well done! 🎉👏

In the heart of our district, a beacon of hope shines brightly through Still Waters Services, a vital organization dedicated to supporting families in transition. Founded in 2016, Still Waters emerged from humble origins in a church to address the pressing need for sustenance among students transitioning from the foster care system. At its core, Still Waters strives to ensure every child is nourished and prepared for the challenges of learning.

Abigail, the dedicated Executive Director and parent to two Tukwila Elementary students, embodies the spirit of advocacy and compassion that defines Still Waters. Her personal journey, rooted in the Philippines where she taught and experienced constant transition, fuels her passion for serving those in need. Recognizing the struggles of students in transition housing, Abigail saw a gap in access to basic nutrition and sprung into action.

The Tukwila Weekend Snack Pack Program, a cornerstone of Still Waters' initiatives, brings much-needed sustenance to our students. Designed to fill the hunger gap during weekends and holidays, these snack packs are carefully curated to offer nutritional value and cultural alignment. From elementary to middle school, students benefit from these packs, which have expanded beyond their original scope to ensure no child goes hungry.

But the impact of Still Waters extends far beyond the contents of these packs. Families express profound gratitude for the support, noting the essential role these snacks play in supplementing their meals. Students, too, find solace in knowing they are seen and heard, fostering a sense of belonging within our community.

Central to the success of Still Waters are the volunteers who selflessly dedicate their time and effort. Every Wednesday morning, a team of volunteers converges to prepare and distribute over 5000 items to families in need. From stocking shelves to delivering packs to classrooms, these volunteers form the backbone of Still Waters, ensuring its mission is realized.

Yet, Still Waters' commitment to uplifting students’ voices sets it apart. Through innovative initiatives like the Viking Pantry at Showalter Middle School, students are empowered to make choices and voice their needs. Middle school volunteers and high school athletes from Foster Football actively engage with the organization, amplifying student representation and leadership.

Community involvement stands as a pillar of sustainability for Still Waters. Partnerships with local businesses and organizations, like Westfield and BECU, bolster their efforts through donations and volunteerism. Yet, there is always room for more support and engagement, as Still Waters continues to serve as a beacon of hope for our community.

As we reflect on the profound impact of Still Waters, let us reaffirm our commitment to supporting and uplifting one another. Together, we can nourish the hearts and minds of our students, empowering them to thrive and succeed. Join us in our mission to make a difference and create a brighter future for all.
 

Dear Tukwila School District Community,

I am writing to you with great enthusiasm and a deep sense of commitment as the newly appointed Principal of Foster High School. I am honored to serve this vibrant community I hold dear to my heart.

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is LaTanya Parker, and I come to this role as a highly collaborative, equity-driven leader of color. As a mother of three sons and a wife, family is at the core of my values. I am a proud graduate of the University of Washington's Danforth Educational Leadership Program, and my journey in education spans over 16 years. During this time, I have had the privilege of serving scholars and families in K-8, elementary, and high schools within the Southeast Seattle communities.

Having been a former resident of Tukwila, I intimately understand the special and unique qualities that define this diverse community. This understanding has been a driving force behind my decision to serve here for the past three years, first as the assistant principal and now as the principal of Foster High School.

My passion and dedication revolve around ensuring that all scholars, especially those furthest from educational justice, receive an enjoyable and equitable learning experience. I am committed to highlighting the genius and brilliance of our scholars and families in the classroom and woven throughout the district in our instruction, curriculum, decisions, and actions.

As a first-generation college graduate, I deeply understand the significance of how representation, identity, sense of belonging, and belief from educators play a crucial role in determining whether scholars show up to school, contribute their genius, and feel genuinely seen, which can impact their academic success.

My vision for every scholar who graduates from Foster High School is for them to feel confident in their abilities and equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to implement their post-secondary plans. I want them to leave Foster not as mere student ID numbers, grades, or transcripts but as change agents, knowing that regardless of how they entered Foster, our educators genuinely care and believe in their ability to succeed in life.

I envision every Foster Bulldog walking with purpose, heads held high, and entering their next phase of life reflecting on the empowering words of James Baldwin, "Your crown has been bought and paid for. Put it on your head and wear it."

In partnership with you, the families, and the Foster High School community, I look forward to fostering an environment where each scholar's potential is recognized, celebrated, and nourished.

Thank you for your warm welcome, and I am excited to continue this journey with you.

Principal LaTanya Parker

In the spirit of fostering unity and celebrating diversity, Showalter Middle School commenced the new year with a powerful event - the Week of Solidarity in January. This impactful celebration not only ignited inspiring visions for a just world but also seamlessly transitioned into a heartfelt observance of Black History Month.

Showalter Middle School recognizes the invaluable contributions of our students, who serve as architects of positive change. Their diverse perspectives weave a rich tapestry that defines the essence of our community. The Week of Solidarity stood as a poignant reminder of our steadfast commitment to nurturing inclusivity and acknowledging the strength inherent in our differences.

As we delve into Black History Month, we take a moment to pay homage to the past, acknowledging the remarkable contributions of Black leaders who paved the way for positive change. Our students, with their distinct visions and voices, embody the spirit of future leaders poised to shape a world marked by equality, understanding, and unity.

Join us in celebrating the spirit of solidarity at Showalter Middle School. As we honor Black History Month, let's collectively champion a future where every voice is heard, every perspective is valued, and positive change becomes our shared legacy.

Earlier this month, Thorndyke Elementary School buzzed with excitement as the community gathered for the grand opening of their new playground. The vibrant structure, made possible by a voter-approved bond, replaced a decaying play area that was no longer safe for the Eagles, as the students are fondly known.

Laughter and joy filled the air as students explored the colorful slides and swings. The highlight of the day was a special student who, with a beaming smile, cut the ribbon, officially inaugurating the playground. It was a symbolic moment, marking a commitment to the safety and well-being of the Eagles.

The event showcased the power of community unity, with parents, teachers, and community members celebrating together. The new playground wasn't just a recreational space; it was a testament to the resilience of a community dedicated to providing the best for its students.

In the weeks following, the sounds of laughter echo daily as children enjoyed their new play area. Thorndyke Elementary's playground standa as a symbol of transformation, a beacon of joy, and a testament to the positive impact that can result from collective community efforts.

In a dazzling display of cultural richness and unity, Foster High School recently hosted a Multicultural Assembly, providing students with a platform to showcase their diverse talents. The event, held in December, brought together a tapestry of traditions, highlighting the unique cultural heritage within our school community.

The assembly was a testament to the vibrant tapestry that makes up the Foster High School family. From captivating dance performances to soul-stirring musical renditions, students poured their hearts into sharing the beauty of their backgrounds. This celebration not only honored the diverse roots of our student body but also fostered a deeper sense of understanding and appreciation among peers.

Beyond the colorful performances, the Multicultural Assembly served as a reminder that our differences are a source of strength, contributing to the rich fabric of our school community. As we look back on this event, we celebrate the talents, traditions, and the unity that define Foster High School, where every voice is heard, and every culture is embraced.

This multicultural showcase not only added a burst of energy and joy to our school halls but also reinforced the importance of fostering an inclusive environment where every student feels seen and celebrated. We look forward to more events that celebrate our diversity and strengthen the bonds that make Foster High School a truly special place.

This Giving Tuesday, Thorndyke Elementary experienced a heartwarming collaboration that brought smiles and warmth to its students. Operation Warm, a nonprofit dedicated to providing winter coats to children in need, partnered with Nordstrom to ensure that each student, including those from the large refugee community, received a brand new coat.

Aside from me organizing Operation Warm at Thorndyke, Nordstrom also donated 50 boxes of brand new children's socks and clothes that our district's own Julie Herdt and Kimberly Goodman were able to link with the Tukwila Children's Clothing Bank. The Tukwila Children's Clothing Bank provides clothing to all of our district families in need.

The Eagles, as the students are affectionately known, eagerly embraced the thoughtful gesture, especially with Seattle experiencing below-freezing temperatures. For many students, including those who have recently arrived in the community, this initiative provided not only physical warmth but also a sense of comfort and inclusion during the holiday season.

Nordstrom's volunteers worked tirelessly alongside Operation Warm to make the day extra special. The collaboration between the nonprofit and the retail giant exemplified the positive impact that corporate social responsibility can have on the lives of students, particularly those from diverse backgrounds. Beyond the practicality of the coats, the initiative fostered a spirit of togetherness, compassion, and a shared sense of belonging for all students.

As the students proudly showcased their new coats, the act of generosity extended far beyond protection from the cold. It symbolized a moment of collective kindness and care that will resonate within the school community, particularly among families who have recently resettled.

This heartening event serves as a shining example of the positive change that can occur when organizations unite for a common cause. Operation Warm and Nordstrom, through their collaboration, not only provided warmth but also shared joy and gratitude with the Thorndyke Elementary community, creating a meaningful impact for students, especially those who may be navigating the challenges of adjusting to a new community.

We are thrilled to share a momentous occasion that not only celebrates individual achievements but also serves as a source of inspiration for our entire community. Foster High School takes immense pride in announcing the induction of one of our distinguished alumni, Mycal Ford, into the esteemed Wall of Fame.

Event Details:

• Date: December 7th
• Time: 5:00 pm
• Venue: Foster High School

Mycal Ford's journey from the halls of Foster High to making meaningful contributions to our community and beyond is a testament to the power of dedication, resilience, and the pursuit of excellence. His achievements exemplify the impact that individuals from our area can have on the wider world.

This event is not just about honoring past achievements; it's about fostering inspiration among our current students. Seeing the community gather in support of one of their own sends a powerful message about the values we hold dear in Tukwila.

We extend a warm invitation to all members of the Tukwila community to join us in this celebration. Your presence will not only enrich this event but also reaffirm our commitment to nurturing and celebrating the achievements of those who have their roots in our community.

As we come together on December 7th, let's make this evening memorable for Mycal Ford and create an inspiring experience for everyone in attendance. This is more than a ceremony; it's a celebration of our shared values and the heights we can achieve together.

We express our gratitude to everyone who has been part of our community's journey towards excellence. Your support is invaluable, and we look forward to celebrating this special occasion with you.

We are thrilled to share the outstanding success of our recent Tukwila School District Resource Fair held at Showalter Middle School. The event, dedicated to connecting families with valuable resources, exceeded expectations, fostering a sense of community support and engagement.

On November 21st, the fair brought together families, district staff, and more than 20 community organizations, creating a vibrant atmosphere of collaboration. Attendees explored various informational booths, connected with service providers, and participated in interactive activities.

One of the highlights of the evening was the turkey giveaway, where more than 40 turkeys were distributed to families in need, ensuring everyone left with something special for their Thanksgiving celebrations.

In addition to the turkey giveaway, the event featured an exciting gift card raffle, including Gas cards and Walmart cards, adding an element of anticipation and fun for participants. Lucky winners left with these valuable prizes, contributing to the overall festive spirit of the evening.

A special thank you goes to the organizers of the event, Quality Family Engagement Specialists Maryan Abdow and Julie Herdt, who dedicated many hours coordinating the event and ensuring its success. Their commitment to community engagement and resource accessibility was evident throughout the planning and execution of the fair.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the numerous volunteers who generously contributed their time and effort to support the event. Your dedication and enthusiasm were instrumental in making the Resource Fair a positive and impactful experience for all.

With more than 20 community organizations in attendance, the fair showcased the strength of our collaborative efforts, demonstrating the unity within our community to support one another. The engagement of these organizations enriched the event and highlighted the valuable services they provide.

As we reflect on the Resource Fair's success, we are inspired by the unity and collaboration evident throughout the evening. The event provided essential resources and strengthened the bonds within our community, fostering a shared commitment to the well-being of our students and families.

We look forward to building on this success in future events, continuing to create opportunities for connection, support, and community growth. Thank you to everyone who made the Resource Fair a resounding success – your efforts truly make a difference in the lives of our Tukwila School District community.

Due to a national milk carton supply shortage, Nutrition Services is making changes based on current milk availability.    Beginning tomorrow, 11/7, we will be switching to white milk being served during breakfast and juice and water being offered at lunch. These challenges are expected to persist into mid-week, with the potential for a complete absence of milk by that time.  Please be aware that our priority will be to reserve milk for breakfast service for as long as possible. Currently, it is estimated that this shortage could last anywhere from 4-6 months.

In response, we're taking prompt measures, including introducing additional water stations in cafeterias and providing water bottles when feasible. We're actively investigating alternative milk distribution solutions. To ensure everyone is informed, we will post this information on our website and communicate it to district staff as soon as possible.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this challenging period.

Our recent Newcomer Family Night at Showalter Middle School was an unforgettable evening filled with warm welcomes, connections, and support. Newcomer families were introduced to our community with open arms, delicious food, and a chance to meet fellow students, parents, and staff. We provided books and clothing to meet essential needs, and families received guidance on our district's systems, processes, and software, ensuring a smooth transition into their educational journey. A special shoutout to our Multilingual Learners (MLL) team for their dedication. This night was a celebration of new beginnings, unity, and the strength of diversity in our community. We look forward to witnessing our newcomer families thrive and become an integral part of our vibrant district. Thank you to everyone who made this night truly special. Your presence and enthusiasm were a testament to the strength of our inclusive community. Together, we are creating a brighter future for our newcomer families, ensuring they have all the support and resources they need to succeed. Our commitment to fostering an environment where every student feels valued, supported, and welcomed is unwavering. We're excited about the bright future ahead, and we're here to help our newcomers embrace it with open arms.

Leave your bags at home, Foster High School students are taking a trip around the world to explore diverse cultures and cuisines with celebrity chefs right from the comfort of the school cafeteria.

Tukwila, WA — October 2023– For many students, the school cafeteria is their first opportunity to taste and learn about foods from cultures beyond their own family's recipes. In partnership with food service provider Chartwells K12, Foster High School has introduced an exciting new program, "Global Eats," designed to bring the world's flavors to the cafeteria. The program offers students an educational and culinary journey through countries like China, India, Italy, and Mexico.

On October 17th, Global Eats landed in the school cafeteria, offering students a unique opportunity to explore the rich and authentic tastes of Indian cuisine. This experience allowed them to broaden their cultural horizons and savor India's magical flavors, all within their school's familiar setting. Students delighted in sampling a refreshing mango lassi smoothie and flavorful basil-curried chickpeas. These mouthwatering dishes, created in collaboration with renowned celebrity Chef Aarti Sequeira, winner of the sixth season of The Next Food Network Star, left a lasting impression on the students.

"Growing up in Dubai, all my friends were from all over the world, which meant when I went over to their homes for dinner, I got to learn and understand their culture and heritage in an active, fun, and delicious way! I'm so excited about Global Eats! We get to offer that same experience to the next generation, which is vital because I firmly believe that when we break bread together, we knit our spirits together too," said Chef Aarti Sequeira.

We are looking forward to visiting more countries this school year through our Global Eats program.

About Chartwells K12: Chartwells K12 is committed to enhancing the school dining experience and promoting healthy, diverse, and exciting food options for students. With years of culinary and educational expertise, Chartwells K12 delivers customized dining programs to all sizes and types of schools.

Dear Families,

We hope this message finds you well. In today's digital age, social media is an integral part of our students' lives. While it offers numerous benefits, it also presents certain challenges, particularly regarding the safety and well-being of our children.

We are writing to request your partnership in monitoring and ensuring safe social media use by your students. It is crucial that we work together to maintain a healthy online environment for our students and to address any concerns promptly.

Encourage Open Communication:

We urge you to have open and critical conversations with your children about safe and responsible social media use. Please emphasize the importance of talking to a trusted adult when they experience anything that makes them feel uncomfortable, threatened, or unsafe. Creating a culture of open communication is essential.

Immediate Lockdown Protocol:

In the event we receive credible threats during the school day, we will implement an immediate lockdown to ensure the safety of all students and staff. Safety is our top priority, and we are prepared to act swiftly in such situations.

Threat Assessment Outside School Hours:

When threats come to our attention outside of school hours, we will conduct a thorough threat assessment. We will then communicate with families to share information and next steps. Your support and understanding during these times are invaluable.

In Case of Student Pickup During an Emergency:

In case of a situation that requires the parent or guardian to pick up students, we kindly request you not come to the school. Please wait for District Communications to instruct you on where and how to do so.

National Resource Links:

To assist you in guiding your children towards responsible social media use and to provide additional support, we have compiled a list of national resources. These organizations offer information, guidance, and tools to help you navigate the challenges of online safety:

1. National Online Safety (NOS)- National Online Safe Homepage

2. Common Sense Media- Keep Your Students (and Yourself) Safe on Social Media: A Checklist

3. Cyberbullying Research Center- Cyberbullying Research Center Homepage

4. Connect Safely- Connect Safely Parent Guides

5. StopBullying.gov- Stop Bullying Homepage

We are committed to the safety and well-being of all our students, and your partnership in this endeavor is crucial. Please know that we are here to support you and your children in navigating the digital world safely.

Thank you for your attention and cooperation in this important matter. Together, we can create a safer online environment for our students.

Sincerely,

Dr. Concie Pedroza

Interim Superintendent

Tukwila School District

On September 29th, students from various high schools attended the Green Jobs Green Futures Summit, an eye-opening event held at the Fremont Foundry in Seattle. This unique summit was hosted by King County and featured a Green Industry Showcase that allowed students to explore the promising world of green economy industry sectors.

The Green Industry Showcase was a highlight of the event, featuring immersive and interactive demo stations where students could get hands-on experience with cutting-edge technologies. They engaged in various activities and had the opportunity to meet with industry professionals to learn about future career prospects and to ask questions.

One delightful surprise of the day was the availability of free ice cream, adding to the fun and excitement of the summit. The event saw a significant turnout, with Foster High School (FHS) being the largest group in attendance, bringing a total of 51 enthusiastic students.

Apart from the valuable experiences gained, students walked away with gift bags and business cards, building connections with professionals in the field. This event provided our students with a new perspective on green jobs and the exciting opportunities available in our region's growing green economy.

We extend our gratitude to all who made this field trip a success, giving our students a chance to explore, learn, and connect in the dynamic world of green jobs and industries.

Last spring, our very own dedicated teacher, Maria Cruz, had the incredible honor of being invited to participate in a video highlighting the significance of dual language learning. This video, produced by the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, is a testament to the expertise and dedication that Maria Cruz brings to our program.

Maria Cruz, with her deep understanding of early childhood education and her commitment to supporting the development of young minds, made a significant contribution to this important video.

Dual language learning is a critical aspect of our program, and we are proud to have a teacher of Maria Cruz's caliber representing us in this initiative.

We invite you to watch the video and learn more about the importance of dual language learning and the valuable contributions of our educators. Check the Video Out Now! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHxWk4iSsOI (Spanish) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEQBYd1NmhU (English).

Congratulations to Maria Cruz on this well-deserved recognition, and thank you for your dedication to the success of our students and the broader community. We are proud to have you as a part of our team!

Stay tuned for more updates and exciting news from Tukwila Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program. Your support is greatly appreciated.

We are delighted to announce the launch of our 2023-24 Parent Education Series, a comprehensive program designed to empower parents and caregivers with valuable knowledge and resources to support their children's educational journey. Organized by our dedicated team of Community & Family Liaisons, this series promises an array of informative sessions throughout the school year.

What to Expect:

Our Parent Education Series is tailored to address a wide range of topics that matter most to our parents and guardians. From understanding special education rights to fostering healthy study habits, our sessions will cover subjects essential to the holistic development of our students.

Why Attend:

By participating in these sessions, you will have the opportunity to:

• Gain insights from experts and professionals in various fields.
• Connect with fellow parents and caregivers, fostering a supportive community. 
• Access valuable resources and tools to enhance your child's educational experience.
• Strengthen your partnership with our school district to ensure your child's success.

Dates, Times, Locations, and Topics:

We've scheduled these sessions at convenient times and locations to accommodate your busy schedules. Each session will focus on a specific topic relevant to your child's education. Please refer to the flyer for details regarding dates, times, locations, and specific subjects covered in each installment.

We are committed to providing you with the tools you need to be actively engaged in your child's education. Join us for our Parent Education Series and be part of a community that values the education and well-being of every student.

We look forward to learning and growing together throughout this exciting journey. See you at the first session, "Special Education: Parent Rights," on October 26th!

Mr. Tim Renz of Foster High School has been recognized by the Yale Office of Undergraduate Admissions as a recipient of the 2023 Yale Educator Award.

The Yale Educator Recognition Program recognizes outstanding educators from around the world who support and inspire their students to perform at high levels and to achieve excellence. Of this year's 385 nominees, who represent 43 states and 28 countries, 80 teachers and 32 counselors were selected to receive the award. Matriculating students were invited to nominate high school educators, and a committee of Yale admissions officers reviewed each nomination individually and selected recipients. In September, the winners were sent their awards with congratulatory letters, and administrators of the high schools were notified of their achievement.

The Yale Admissions Office attributes the exceptional quality of the Yale student body to educators like these recipients of the 2023 Yale Educator Award, who shape their students long before they attend Yale. The Admissions Office is proud to thank Mr. Renz and all educators for their ongoing efforts in motivating and supporting their students.

On August 31, 2023 Tukwila School District celebrated the launch of our Dual Language Program with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Cascade View Elementary School. Planning for this program has been several years in the making and we are so grateful for the many staff, students, and families who have been a part of bringing this opportunity to the Tukwila School District. Bilingualism and biliteracy are valuable assets and our dual language program aims to provide all students with the opportunity to develop proficiency in two languages (Spanish and English) while also promoting academic achievement, cultural understanding, and a positive self-identity. The program launches with a group of Kindergarten students this year with one grade level being added each year through high school.

For more information about Tukwila School District's Dual Language Program, please visit our website.

Program Vision Statement

Our vision for the Tukwila School District Dual Language Program is to educate globally focused and multilingual citizens equipped with the linguistic and sociocultural competence necessary to succeed in a diverse world.

Nuestra visión para el Programa Bilingüe del Distrito Escolar de Tukwila es educar una comunidad de ciudadanos con una mentalidad global y multilingües que están preparados con las habilidades lingüísticas y socioculturales necesarias para tener éxito en un mundo diverso.

Program Mission Statement

Our mission is to empower students to become proficient bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural individuals who thrive in a multilingual and multicultural society. We strive to engage and prepare our students for academic, personal, and professional success through rigorous academic instruction and meaningful cross-cultural interactions.

Nuestra misión es empoderar a los estudiantes para que se conviertan en personas capacitadas bilingües, biletradas y biculturales preparadas para desarrollarse en una sociedad multilingüe y multicultural. Nos esforzamos para involucrar y preparar a nuestros estudiantes para el éxito académico, personal y profesional a través de una instrucción académica rigurosa, e interacciones interculturales significativas.

Please join us for our Dual Language Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Thursday, August 31 at 3:30 p.m. at Cascade View Elementary (13601 32nd Ave S.)

We hope you had a wonderful summer and we're so excited for school to start! Here's some important information for the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year:

The first day of school for K-12 is Tuesday, September 5.

• Showalter and Foster hours are 8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
• Elementary hours are 8:50 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.
• All students will be getting free school supplies during the first week of school. Please see our school supplies page for more information.
• All first meals will be free again this year! There will be a charge if a student chooses to have a second breakfast or lunch.
• Please reach out to your student's school with questions:
  • Cascade View Elementary: 206-901-7700
  • Thorndyke Elementary: 206-901-7600
  • Tukwila Elementary: 206-901-7500
  • Showalter Middle School: 206-901-7800
  • Foster High School: 206-901-7900

Saturday, August 19 from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at Foster High School (4242 S. 144th Street)

Hello Tukwila Families,

The Tukwila School District will be providing the following school supplies for all students:

K-5

• Pencils
• Crayons
• Markers
• Notebooks
• Glue sticks
• Erasers
• Scissors
• Pencil pouch

6-12

• Pencils
• Color pencils
• Highlighters
• Pens- black and blue
• Composition notebooks
• Erasers
• Dividers
• Notebook paper
• 3 ring binder

Please reach out to your student's school with questions.

Hello Tukwila Families,

I am thrilled to be here in Tukwila School District.  Although this is the end of my first week, I have started to get to know many staff members and have begun the process of relationship building. I am going out to schools, observing summer programming and will continue to do so throughout the summer.  I will be meeting with staff, the Board and community members over the next few weeks to learn about the amazing work they have done in support of students. 

I am looking forward to spending this time getting to know the heart of this community and I am excited to be serving in this role for the 23-24 school year. I look forward to spending time in the buildings when students come back in the fall. Have a great summer and we'll see everyone back in school on September 5!

Dr. Concie Pedroza
Interim Superintendent
Tukwila School District
pedrozac@tukwila.wednet.edu
District Office Phone: 206-901-8000

Please join us for a vaccine and routine immunization clinic on Thursday, July 27 from 12:00 - 3:00 p.m. at Tukwila Elementary. No appointment needed!

Everyone is invited to attend our upcoming Community Budget Forums where you can learn details about our current financial situation, including ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funding. Please reach out to Chief Financial Officer Veronica Birdsong (birdsongv@tukwila.wednet.edu) with questions.

Wednesday, July 12, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. at the Tukwila Library (14380 Tukwila International Blvd.)

Wednesday, July 26, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the Church by the Side of the Road (3455 S. 148th Street)

The TSD Board of Directors is pleased to announce the selection of our new interim superintendent, Dr. Concie Pedroza. Dr. Pedroza began her career as a teacher over 25 years ago and later served as an elementary, K-8 and high school principal including Seattle World School, a newly established high school for immigrant, refugees and bilingual students. Under her leadership, they held their first graduation and high school accreditation. She was also recognized for her work with families and community partners. 

Dr. Pedroza earned her Master’s and Doctorate in Education Leadership & Policy Studies from the University of Washington. She has served in various leadership roles including the Director of Leadership Development for Equity and Chief of Student Support Services. Dr. Pedroza currently serves as the Associate Superintendent for Seattle Public Schools, overseeing the divisions of Schools & Continuous Improvement, Student Services, Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment. Dr. Pedroza has served on several state and national work groups and previously served as the Chair of the Bilingual Education Advisory Committee for OPSI.

Dr. Pedroza says, “I am honored to support and serve the community of Tukwila School District. I value equity, social justice, and service in everything I do for students, families, and staff. I believe these values are aligned to Tukwila’s commitment to academic excellence. I am excited to learn from the entire community as we begin our work together.”

Dr. Pedroza’s first day will be July 10. We’re so excited to have her join our staff as the interim superintendent for the 2023-2024 school year and bring her dynamic and compassionate leadership to our community.

Sincerely,

The Tukwila School District Board of Directors

Carlee Hoover, Board President
Dave Larson, Board Vice President
Pastor Jan Bolerjack
Edna Morris

A huge thank you to the Tukwila Pool for coming to Thorndyke to teach our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders about water safety and giving each a free lifejacket! We're so appreciative of this partnership and know our students learned a lot. A big thank you also to Thorndyke PE teacher Courtney Martinez for helping to make this event happen.

Congratulations to Thorndyke 4th grade teacher, Duane Meyer, for being chosen as a TSD Superstar!

"Duane is an amazing 4th grade teacher, he is very supportive of the 4th grade team, both teachers are early career teachers. He is always willing to listen and give advice and shares his wealth of knowledge with his colleagues."

-Dita Ellermeier

Congratulations to Athletic Director, Gabe Gutierrez, for being chosen as a TSD Superstar!

"Gabe has simply done a great job in his first full year as AD. He puts his full effort into everything he does. It is a hard job communicating with the vast number of administrators, coaches, parents and everyone else involved. But he has been amazingly communicative and responsive whenever I or others have had questions. He started an after school sports program for the elementary students this year, which I'm sure has been a lot more work, and something he really didn't have to do. He just thought it would be great to give more access to our students, many of whom got to play on their first organized sports team ever this year. He would show up to all the games to make sure everything was organized and help referee. Everyone who was at those games saw how much the students enjoyed it. He even helped the CV Dance Crew get t-shirts for their performance at a Foster basketball game. He has just gone above and beyond in so many ways. He deserves to be recognized for his good work."

-Anonymous

Please congratulate Stephanie Aragon, 5th grade teacher at Cascade View, for being honored as a TSD Superstar!

 Stephanie is a caring, compassionate teacher who creates a warm and welcoming classroom for all her students. She works diligently to incorporate science practices into her classroom, making concepts interesting and accessible to students of all language and academic levels. Stephanie has taken a leadership role at Cascade View, spearheading the Race and Equity Group at CV and instituting Community Walks to help our larger community connect and get to know each other better. Stephanie approaches situations and challenges with an open mind and a sense of curiosity to gain a deeper understanding of any situation. Stephanie has helped me develop a wider perspective on ways to approach broader solutions in our community. She truly makes Cascade View a better place to teach and learn.

- Kristy Johnson

Stephanie is an incredible 5th grade teacher, Race & Equity leader, advocate for students, and friend to all. She is always going the extra mile to ensure their success in and out of the classroom. I frequently see her around our school meeting with parents, gathering people together to go on community walks for R&E, taking science lessons to the outdoors to be hands-on, and more. She inspires me every day to be a kinder, more patient and more engaged educator!

- Estelle Kim

Teacher Aragon always goes above and beyond to educate her students and is always thoughtful and inclusive. She will always advocate on behalf of the students and willing to collaborate however is needed to ensure their needs are met both in and out of the classroom. It has been amazing to witness the impact she has on her students and the connections made each year. Not only does she show up for the students but as staff, we can always count on her greeting us with a big smile in the hallways or for an occasional stop by with words of encouragement to help us through the week.

- Tyrell Laury

Stephanie attended Tukwila Elementary School and graduated from Foster High School and remains involved in the Tukwila community. She leads the CV Race & Equity Team and is a member of the Leadership Team at Cascade View. Stephanie has organized several field trips for our 5th grade classes including the Sea Mar Museum of Chicano/a & Latino/a Culture and the Northwest African American Museum. Stephanie is an advocate for social justice in our school and the Tukwila Community. She is a collaborative colleague and strives to learn and grow as an educator.

- Stephanie Motsch

Stephanie is what TSD is all about. She joined us at Cascade View 2 years ago eager and ready. As a graduate of Tukwila Elementary, Showalter Middle School, and Foster High School, Teacher Aragon has given back to the community that raised her in so many ways. She has revamped our CV Race and Equity team by ensuring that families and members of the community have a place at the table. Teacher Aragon is a fierce advocate for her students, ensuring that all of them are welcome. I have been so fortunate to learn from Teacher Aragon myself, and I am a better teacher because of it.

- Natalie Reeder

Stephanie Aragon goes out of her way to support her students and collaborate with colleagues. She greets every students, and embraces their cultural and linguistic diversity through translanguaging, teaching to their unique identities, and sharing diverse literature and perspectives. She has the brightest and most welcoming room in our building. When you walk through her ivy-decked door, you can see a space that's full of student work and voice, as well as fun places to read and work. She has brought in community members to share about their unique careers and how they got there. She is always coming up with creative new ways to deliver and integrate instruction, including and especially science and social studies. Her effective science teaching contributed to SBA science scores that were higher than the state average. She was the Race and Equity Lead this year and organized monthly community walks to bring our school into the community and all the places our students love and spend time. She focuses on positive behavior interventions. For example, she will validate a student's strong emotions and give them space to calm down, but she holds them accountable for their actions as well by holding restorative talks. She loves her community that she grew up in so much that she wanted to give back to it by teaching here, and she loves our students and she loves our school. She has so much earnest and genuine enthusiasm for teaching and her students and I am so grateful I get to call her my colleague. She inspires me to do more and be more both as a teacher and as an advocate for students.

- Carlin Salisbury

Stephanie is an outstanding teacher who goes above and to reach each individual student to meet their individual academic and social emotional needs. She has been an excellent advocate/leader on the Race and Equity team, thoughtfully including families and scheduling "Community Walks" so we can learn more about our surrounding Tukwila community. Students and families have also joined on these walks. Stephanie really listens to her students and shows them respect, and in turn they respect her and think very highly of her. When some of her students have shown behavior issues, she does everything she can to help problem advocate and support their needs. Stephanie is a great co-worker, always a team player, friendly and equally thoughtful to co-workers.

- Tammy Tauiliili

I cannot say enough about Stephanie Aragon. She is one of my 5th grade teacher colleagues at Cascade View. She has been a wonderful asset to our 5th grade team. Last year was her first year and when I first stepped into her classroom it looked like I was in a beautiful clearing in the middle of a forest ecosystem. There were “grass” covered areas with vines on some of the walls giving the appearance of trees. There were lights all around giving the appearance of stars on the ceiling. Everything she put into the classroom was put there with intention and purpose and provided an engaging environment that was also calming to her students and anyone who comes into the room.

Stephanie also has an air purifier in the classroom and when we had the forest fires last year and I was having trouble breathing due to the smoke in the air, I was invited into her room to get a moment to literally breathe in some refreshing air.

This year Stephanie has brought many engaging activities to our whole 5th grade team to share. She had several field trip ideas that would enhance our social studies topics for the year and engage our students in learning about the cultures we are studying.

Stephanie is a Social Justice Advocate who has been an important influence on my learning and teaching through a social justice lens. She has taken on being the Race and Equity team lead for our school and through this has been providing Community Walks for anyone in our school and community to join one Wednesday each month. She also advocates for her students and shows the utmost kindness to their individual needs which includes our LGBTQ+ students and their families.

Stephanie grew up in Tukwila attending our schools starting at Tukwila Elementary and graduating from Foster High School. She has shown me how invested she is in our district and community. I truly appreciate all that she does and who she is as a person. I am a better person because of Stephanie and the values she emulates. Thank you, Stephanie.

- Jennifer Tison

The City of Tukwila invites you to the End of Year Party on Friday, June 16 from 12:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. at the Foster High School stadium. There will be food, games, and fun activities for all students and their families. We hope to see you there!

Congratulations to Tukwila Elementary students who grew 100 or more points in iReady! They celebrated with breakfast, medals, and photos with Plory. We're so proud of them!

Showalter teacher Minh Royer worked with MLL students to create a quilt square that shows their family, culture, hobbies, and who they are and where they come from. The students were excited to share their stories through artwork.

Ms. Royer then took these beautiful pieces of art and connected their stories to display as a community within Showalter. This idea came from Ms. Royer, who then spent her time and energy crafting this amazing piece of work. She is so talented. We are so lucky to have her on the Showalter team!

Please join us for a vaccine and routine immunization clinic on Tuesday, June 6 from 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. at Cascade View Elementary. No appointment needed!

The Foster High School STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) Fair on Wednesday, May 24 was a huge success! Thank you to the CTE Department and Foster High School students and teachers for showing off all the amazing projects they're doing.

Join Foster High School environmental science students as they share their experiences from internships they completed during the 22/23 school year. The second annual Environmental Internship Symposium will be held on Wednesday May 31 from 6:30 - 7:30pm at the Tukwila Community Center. Students will also lead a panel discussion about the FHS + Elementary school 5th grade field trip collaboration. Food is provided to all attendees. Please RSVP using the link below. The total number of hours completed and stipends received for all students will be revealed at the end of the night- you do not want to miss this!

RSVP here

Please join us for our final Band concert of the year on Thursday, June 8 at 7:00 p.m. in the Foster High School Performing Arts Center! Admission is free - we hope to see you there!

Congratulations to Thorndyke students who grew over 100 points in their iReady assessments! They received medals and certificates this morning and then were treated to breakfast and a visit from Plory. We're so proud of them!

Gabe Gutierrez, our Athletic Director, was chosen as the WSCCA (Washington State Cheer Coaches Association) Scholastic Athletic Director of the Year! Gabe is an alumnus of Foster High School and we're so proud of him for everything he does for our community. Go Gabe!

Congratulations to Cascade View students who grew over 100 points in their iReady assessments! They received medals and certificates this morning and then were treated to breakfast and a visit from Plory. We're so proud of them!

You are invited to visit the Foster High School STEAM Fair on May 24th, from 4pm to 7pm, hosted by the Robotics Club and Key Club, where we will celebrate and showcase our students' innovative projects and exciting research in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM). The fair will take place in the Commons and will be open to all members of our school community, including students, staff, families, and members of the wider community. It will feature exhibits from a wide range of classes and clubs, with lots of fun and interactive activities. You can attend for as long as you like and leave any time.

We hope you can join us to witness the hard work and dedication of our students throughout the school year and participate in exciting STEAM activities. Food will be provided and cooked in front of you by the culinary class, making it an event that's not to be missed! This event is hosted by the CTE Department.

Please RSVP to confirm your attendance! We look forward to seeing you there!

Ms. Cruz's preschool class joined FHS environmental science students on a field trip to the Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands. High school students taught preschoolers how to use their senses to explore the garden. One preschool student said, "I'm eating veggies!" A big thank you to Mr. Camacho and Ms. Cruz for providing this opportunity!

Please join us for our Spring Choir Concert on Thursday, May 18 at 7:00 p.m. in the Foster High School Performing Arts Center!

Join us for a special Board meeting to review the interim superintendent survey data that we've received and to listen to feedback from the community about our next leader. Food will be provided. If you'd like to attend virtually, please use this link: https://tukwila-wednet-edu.zoom.us/j/85472909574

Saturday, May 13, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | TSD Administration Building, 4640 S. 144th Street

You're invited to an elementary Math Family Night on Wednesday, May 10 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. in the TSD Administration Building.

Agenda:

• Introduce math pilots
• Talk about shifts in math education
• Do some math
• Share resources to help students with math
• Asking for Family Feedback

Join us for District College & Career Fair on Saturday, May 13 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Foster High School. Students of all ages are welcome and there will be resources available for the whole family.

Please congratulate our March TSD Superstar Winners!

Dr. Tenesha Fremstad, Principal of Cascade View Elementary

 “Dr. Fremstad is a champion for her students, parents, staff and community. She is always smiling with an amazing attitude. Her passion for learning and leading is evident in the smiling children I see.” -  Veronica Birdsong

“Since day the first day she started as Principal at Cascade View, Dr. Fremstad let the staff know she was all about five F’s: Faith, Family, Football, Food and Fun which she clearly demonstrates each day. In the context of Faith, Dr. Fremstad expresses her faith in our students, staff and community. She lets our students know she believes in them, she loves working for them and has confidence that they will be the best that they can be. When it comes to family, Dr. Fremstad always encourages us to take care of ourselves and our families. Over and over, when a family emergency occurs, she is the first to inquire about how we are, what can she do and reminds us to take care of our family needs. If it is a Monday morning quarterback conversation you want, Dr. Fremstad will gladly talk about any football game that occurred over the weekend--just make sure you know you will walk away with nothing but accolades when it comes to the Huskies and Seahawks! If you should happen to be at Cascade View on a day Dr. Fremstad arranges for food to be in the staff room, come in hungry. Fruit bowls, salads, bread, sandwiches abound with Chick Fil-A and Panera Bread Company being the most popular menu items. This year the coffee table at Cascade View has become a full-fledged coffee bar with a continuous variety of K-cups, creamers, syrups and even a frother! Fun comes in a variety of forms, this month it take the form of a rubber duck. All staff were given a rubber duck with a number on the bottom. Numbers are drawn each week with prizes for the staff that range from taking over a recess duty, gift cards, snacks etc… For all these reasons, Dr. Fremstad should be one of Tukwila’s shining stars for the month of April.” - Cindy Golston

“Dr. Fremstad is not just an amazing principal but a truly phenomenal person. She truly cares for the students, staff and families at Cascade View and is a strong advocate for our learning community. From keeping our campus safe to making sure the teachers have everything they need to ensure student success, she works everyday to make sure that Cascade View is truly the Home of Joyful Teaching and Learning. Each decision she makes is always for the benefit of the students, because they are the reason we are here. On any given day, you can walk into Cascade View and find us laughing and having fun with students, staff and families. The care and compassion that Dr. Fremstad has for our entire learning community is what makes Cascade View a very special place for everyone. Dr. Fremstad is the heart and soul of the school and I feel very honored to work with her.” - Angela Meyer

Hsian-Yu Kuo, Director of Information Technology and Theren Hayes, Instructional Technology Specialist

 “Hsian-Yu works tirelessly all year long to keep our network running. He may be "behind the scenes", but as soon as the internet goes down, he is the one who gets called. Hsian-Yu is responsive to staff needs and questions. Hsian-Yu is patient and has to wear "many hats" in terms of how he supports student and staff technology needs. I appreciate his diligence and responsiveness so much! I don't know what we would do without him.” - Erica Cieslikowski

“Theren is such a valuable and knowledgeable resource to us all. Possessing experience as a previous classroom teacher gives him an even keener eye as to what is beneficial for staff and students alike. Theren is always helpful with providing needed training in a way that I can always understand. He is encouraging and always so enthusiastic which is always contagious. Thank you Theren for all that do in front and behind the scenes!” - Jill Quy

“Tech has an overabundance of surplus much of the time. Theren pushed to get it out of the way, and with cooperation from Scottie, Lenny, and Hsian Yu, got it all out of the Service Centre. It involved a lot of heavy lifting and a lot of work moving it all, and they did it before I was even aware it had been cleared out. Thanks for your magnificent efforts!” - Jason Wilke-Nguyen

Please join us for Foster High School's production of "Night of the Living Dead," May 11 - May 13 in the FHS Performing Arts Center.

Come and get vaccinated at our next Vaccine Clinic on Tuesday, April 18 from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. at Foster High School. No appointment needed!

Please join us for a spring craft and book fair on Saturday, April 22 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Cascade View Elementary gym. Questions? Contact Sreymom Serey at sereys@tukwila.wednet.edu, 206-901-7711.

We appreciate our wonderful Social Workers! They do so much for our students and families and we really couldn't function without them.

Veronica Chea, Social Worker at Tukwila Elementary

Kimberly Goodman, Social Worker at Thorndyke Elementary

Iris Guzman, Social Worker at Showalter Middle School

Lori Sanchez, Social Worker at Foster High School 

Tammy Tauiliili, Social Worker at Cascade View Elementary

Please join us for a Parent Engagement Class on Thursday, March 16 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at Showalter Middle School!

RSVP Here!

Please join us for our Spring Concert, "With One Voice" on Thursday, March 23 at 7:00 p.m. in the Foster High School Performing Arts Center.

Please join us for a night of community, food, resources, and fun! Please RSVP to abbie.carr@as-as.org.

Wednesday, March 22, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. in the Showalter Commons.

Congratulations to Jorge Torres, Counselor at Foster High School, who was chosen as  School Counselor of Year by the Washington School Counselor Association! We’re so glad his work with students and families is being recognized and we’re lucky to have him in Tukwila.

Join us for our spring concert on Thursday, March 9 at 7:00 p.m. in the Foster High School Performing Arts Center.

Please join us for a childhood vaccine and immunization clinic on Thursday, March 9 from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. at Thorndyke Elementary (4415 S. 150th Street). No appointment needed!

The Seattle nonprofit No More Under is offering free swimming lessons to children 4 - 18 years old at the Tukwila Pool between March 13 and March 17. All abilities are welcome!

Registration closes on Friday, February 24. Please click here to register.

In Career Choices, students work on identifying and evaluating their personal goals, priorities, aptitudes, and interests with the goal of helping them make informed decisions about their future work/career. 

In Digitools, students are learning about online safety and privacy, digital wallets, online banking, and Google Workspace. They also create a business card, learn to use PowerPoint, and use a template in Word to make their own resume. 

Business Law introduces the learner to the legal and ethical framework of business. The students also gain an understanding of law and discuss court cases.

Personal Money Management is about financial knowledge and skills they need to make sound decisions as consumers, workers, business owners, savers, and investors.

The environmental science classes are preparing for the annual Envirothon Competition. This year two teams from FHS will be competing to bring home the 1st place trophy! The first signs of spring are popping up in the garden with daffodils bringing a pop of color to the classroom. Students have landed internships with EarthGen, King County Department of Natural Resources, The Common Acre, Duwamish Valley Youth Corps, and one of our students, Ella Thorng has been chosen to serve as the student representative for the City of Tukwila's Parks Commission. In Environmental Science 1, Students are working hard in class discussing which bag type is best and we'll begin work in the Foster High School Learning garden in the next few weeks. The Garden Club also finished a months-long project of making a picnic table from scratch. With the help of Mr. Shaman and our garden volunteer Ms. Doellefeld (and her family), the garden club members measured and cut pieces of cedar and sanded and painted the picnic table to perfection. It will debut in the garden during CTE night!

Outside of FHS: Additionally there are some field trips on the horizon- this week students will be visiting a fish hatchery in Issaquah to learn more about the fish we will be raising in the aquaponics garden at Showalter Middle School. Students in Environmental Science 2 are working on hosting an Earth Day Celebration at FHS for all 5th grade students in addition to 3 off campus field trips to various locations around Puget Sound. The newly formed Environmental Science and Studies club successfully hosted the first of a three part learning series at the Tukwila Community Center in January. The first course focused all around trees in our neighborhoods. The next sessions will focus on water and wildlife. 

Guest Speakers Galore: Representatives from EarthCorps and IRC's Youth Roots program will be coming to our classes to talk with students about internship opportunities and work that they can do to better the community. Port Commissioner Hasegawa will be visiting FHS to talk more about what the Port of Seattle is doing to combat climate change later this May. 

Making Real Change: Three of our FHS students, Alex Vicuna Perez, Jada Nazarene, and Dennis Nguyen have served on King County's Climate Equity Community Task Force for almost a year and have completed some great projects including working with youth in Skyway to learn more about environmental justice, hosting a heat mitigation information session at FHS, and Jada will be interviewing candidates for the new Climate Director for King County. Jose Vaca Martinez is an 11th grader who is the first student to enroll in the independent study environmental science course. Jose has been granted approval to pilot a lunch time composting program at FHS. He has been diligently working on gathering student interest as well as meeting with stakeholders such as the Ms. Cardenas and Principal Blanton to make sure that this program has a genuine impact.

Visit the Environmental Science and Studies Club website for more information.

The dental team will see babies (first tooth) up through high school (age 21 and under), pregnant/postpartum people with Apple Health and no insurance.

Monday, February 27 - Friday, March 3

Thorndyke Elementary (4415 S. 150th St)

Call 888-286-9105 to make an appointment!

Thursday, February 23, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. at Foster High School

Come and tour our new CTE classrooms and meet the CTE teachers! Event is open to Tukwila students, parents, community and business leaders of Tukwila.

Manufacturing Fundamentals learned layout, drilling, and solid riveting techniques from the aerospace industry to make aluminum phone stands.

Computer Aided Design (CAD) class is working on designing children’s toys to 3D print for children of all sizes in their family.

The Mechatronics class is finishing up creating their first remote control robots and will race tomorrow.

Pre-apprenticeship skills is training in shop safety and preparing to cut out parts for folding benches for use in Environmental Science Classes.

The Robotics team is finished with a 1st draft CAD design of their robot for this year’s competition and has completed building most subsystems in real life. The programming team is learning how to program robots in Java to run the robot, and create code for vision processing and route planning. We are planning a Red Robin Family spirit night and a donation campaign to fund travel to the First Robotics Championships in Spokane in early April.

Thanks to Mr. Dalton Rockwell, Cascade View Elementary now has a partnership with Y.E.T.I. (Youth Experiential Training Institute)! This means that CV students will now have opportunities to go on outdoor field trips. Here's a picture of the group on their first hike of the year:

We're so glad this partnership has begun and look forward to many more great adventures! 

The Skills USA club at Foster High School held its first photo contest for Skills USA. The contest theme was saying Welcome/Goodbye to Foster High School. We focused on landscape photography. Students were asked to take photos, edit and then give a short presentation about their process. The regional winner for South Puget Sound was Senior Mary Hser. An extraordinary photographer who also happens to be the Co Editor-in-Chief of the yearbook this year.

The Yearbook and PhotoJournalism classes took field trips to the Museum of Pop Art and Culture at the Seattle Center this year. We went for an immersive learning experience and were able to tour an exhibit that featured the photography of 90's hip hop, specifically contact sheets that really exposed the fun and social justice awareness within the hip hop culture of the 90's. We also got to see the costumes from the movie Black Panther, play instruments in a recording booth and see the space needle. 

On February 1, the Leadership class at Foster High School hosted a successful CARE Night. This event is a TSD Tradition and it supports the community by providing free clothes, household supplies, and toiletries. Students had a great time and many families received much needed items.

Happy CTE Month! Our Culinary Arts program at Foster participated in the FCCLA (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America) Regional Competitive Event last weekend. We had seven students participate, and the following students received gold and silvers stars, with gold star winners advancing to state:

Category: Public Policy Advocate
Tackling Poverty in Tukwila - Arista Alejandro, Saleena Bista, Victoria Veth (Gold)

Category: Entrepreneurship
The Multicultural Cafe Business Proposal - Mahelat Alamerew, Thang Awi, Miranda Garcia Santos (Gold)

Category: Focus of the Child
One Small Act of Hope - Hailey Gurrero (Silver)

Congratulations to all our Culinary Arts students!

Gear Up is getting ready to host our first Parent Academy here at Foster High School for our 10th and 11th grade students and families! The purpose of this academy is to create community and learn how we can work together to support our scholars on their educational journey. 

The Parent Academy will be a six week long program where we will discuss the college application process, financial aid, high school success, and pathways to higher education. We will meet every Wednesday from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. in the FHS Library starting on February 22 and ending with a celebration on the March 29. Dinner will be provided during each session.

Please use this link to RSVP: https://bit.ly/FosterParentAcad. Please reach out to Glendal Tautua (correag@tukwila.wednet.edu) if you have any questions.

Please join us for our Kindergarten Open Houses at each of our elementary schools where you can learn more about our Kindergarten programs, meet teachers, and see the classrooms.

Cascade View - Wednesday, February 8, 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.

Tukwila Elementary - Thursday, February 9, 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. 

Thorndyke - Monday, February 13, 5:00 - 6:30 p.m.

We so appreciate our wonderful Board of Directors! Thank you for supporting our students, teachers, and community - Board Vice President Dave Larson, Student Representative Dennis Nguyen, Director Edna Morris, Board President Carlee Hoover, Director Jan Bolerjack (and Superintendent Flip Herndon).

Families, students, and community members, please come and support FHS basketball players at our Boys & Girls Basketball Senior Night! Special guests from Cascade View's Dance Crew will give a performance during halftime. 

Friday, January 27 at 5:20 p.m.
Foster High School Gym

Tukwila Schools’ inclusive community welcomes everyone with experienced educators and culturally responsive programs. We’re ready to engage and encourage every child! If your student will be 5 by August 31, we encourage you to enroll. For more information, please visit our enrollment page: https://www.tukwilaschools.org/about-our-district/enrollment

The class of 2023 graduation will be held on Friday, June 9 at 7:00 p.m. at Neudorf Stadium on the Foster High School campus. Each senior will have eight tickets available for family and friends to attend. More information about tickets will be sent closer to the event.

Please reach out with questions: 206-901-7900

Saturday, January 21 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. at the Tukwila Community Center (12424 42nd Ave S.)

Hosted by the Foster High School Environmental Science and Studies Club (ESSC) the Natural Learning Series is a multipart engagement and learning session to build connection between people and the natural world. The first session is about trees - learn about tree anatomy, types of trees, and our interactions with trees!

Join us for a CARE Night on Wednesday, February 1 from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. at Foster High School. Free clothes and free food will be provided.

Please join Foster High School's Theatre Program for a performance of Clue. Thursday, January 19 at 7:30 p.m., Friday, January 20 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, January 21 at 3:30 p.m. in the FHS Performing Arts Center.

On December 28th and 29th, free iHealth COVID tests will be available for pick up in the Administration Building. Families and staff are encouraged to access this resource. Please see Aracely Montufar at the front desk if you would like some.

Wednesday, December 28 and Thursday, December 29

9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Tukwila School District Administration Building (4640 S. 144th St)

Tukwila Parks & Rec is hosting basketball for K-8 students. See the flyers below for more information and register here: www.TukwilaWa.gov/signup

Questions? Contact sports@tukwilawa.gov

The Tukwila School District will be holding a Surplus Sale on Thursday, January 5 in the Showalter Middle School Commons (4628 S. 144th St).

This one-day sale is open to staff and students from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. and will be open to the general public from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

We will be selling books, technology items, furniture and more. Prices will vary and delivery is not available. All items are sold "AS IS" and all sales are final.

In Fall 2023 Tukwila School District will welcome Kindergarten students into our Dual Language Program at Cascade View Elementary. This is the result of a years’ long effort to support our students and families. To that end we will convene a Dual Language Advisory Team. During monthly meetings, the TSD Dual Language Advisory Team will provide feedback and input on the implementation of Dual Language programming using the Center for Applied Linguistics’ Guiding Principles for Dual Language Education. We are looking for staff, students, families, and community members to participate on this important team.

The Dual Language Advisory Team will meet at the district office from 5pm – 6:30pm on the following dates:

• January 12, 2023
• February 9, 2023
• March 9, 2023
• April 13, 2023
• May 11, 2023
• June 8, 2023

If you have questions or are interested in joining the advisory team please email Silvia Dicus Mora at dicusmoras@tukwila.wednet.edu or via phone by calling 206-901-8028.  

Our wonderful Quality Engagement Specialists, Maryan Abdow and Julie Herdt helped to plan and host our annual Spirit of Giving Event on Saturday, December 10 at the Tukwila Community Center. The Quality Engagement Specialists, TSD Elementary School Social Workers, TSD Somali Family Liaison and Tukwila Community Center staff were able to serve over 135 Families (300 students) needing assistance with basic need items, toys and grocery store cards for winter break.

We have wonderful creative programs that are serving all children from K-12. We have strengthened the Theatre program to reach more students in grades 6-12 and are boosting the technical aspects of the performing arts, which means students can help build sets and work on lighting and sound for productions. As you look around your home, please consider donating these items to the Fine Arts Program in Tukwila Schools!

Theatre Program Wish List

Drop off these items in the Foster High School front office (4242 S. 144th St)

• Bar clamp
• Bench brush
• C-clamp
• Carpenter square
• Claw hammers
• Combination square
• Cordless or electric drill
• Crescent wrenches
• Drill press
• Ear protectors
• Framing square
• Level
• Mat knife
• Metal yardstick
• Pliers (all types needed)
• Quick release clamps
• Safety goggles
• Sandpaper
• Screwdrivers
• Socket set (US gauge)
• Staple gun and staples
• Tape measures
• Vice grips

Elementary Visual Arts Wish List

Drop off these items in the Thorndyke Elementary front office (4415 S. 150th St)

• Tagboard
• Low fire glazes for ceramics
• Rolling carts to load with ceramics and move around items at schools
• Yarn
• Q-tips
• 12" x 18" drawing paper
• Beads, buttons, sequins, googly eyes, etc.

Teachers Sarah Ogden and Natalie Reeder have started a club at Cascade View called CV Dance Crew for K-3 students. 50 students are currently participating and having a great time! They meet twice a week after school and will perform at the Foster High School girls basketball game on January 27.

Join Green Tukwila to learn about urban amphibian (frog and salamander) diversity living around us in Western Washington, including the unique species that live alongside us in our cities and suburbs. We’ll discuss the threats these critters face and how we are helping them out.

Wednesday, December 7 from 5:45 - 7:00 p.m. at the Tukwila Community Center (12424 42nd Ave S.) and on Zoom. Registration is required: www.Tukwilawa.gov/greentukwila 

Join us for "A New Dawn," Foster High School's Band Concert on Thursday, December 15 from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. in the FHS Performing Arts Center (4242 S. 144th St)

Join us for a Choir Concert on Thursday, December 8 from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. in the Foster High School Performing Arts Center (4242 S. 144th St). Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Please join us for a childhood vaccine clinic provided by Stepping Stone Pediatrics and hosted by Tukwila School District. All childhood vaccines and immunizations will be offered as well as COVID-19 vaccines and boosters for parents and guardians. No appointment needed!

• Wednesday, December 7:  3:00 - 6:00 p.m., Tukwila Elementary (5939 S. 149th Street)

Join us for a Resource Fair on Monday, November 21 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at Showalter Middle School (4628 S. 144th St)!

The Tukwila School District is seeking to fill a vacancy for our Board of Directors. This position represents District Area 3 (three). Any citizen residing in District Area 3 who meets the following qualifications is eligible to apply:

• Must live in District 3 in Tukwila (link to District boundary map) **The District boundaries have been changed, so please look at the District boundary map to verify that you live in District 3**

• Must be a United States citizen

• Must be an Eligible Voter

Please visit the Board of Directors application page on the Tukwila School District website for more information and to fill out the application:

tukwilaschools.org/about-our-district/board-of-directors/board-of-directors-application

Please consider applying if you are interested in serving the students and families of Tukwila. We are a unique school district serving a vibrant community and we would love to hear from you if you are passionate about leading the District in providing high quality education for all students.

Please contact Deborah Kohr with questions at kohrd@tukwila.wednet.edu or 206-901-8006.

Tukwila School District (District) is seeking qualified proposals with the intent to apply for funding under the Universal Service Administrative Company Schools and Libraries E­-Rate Program (E­Rate) for Funding Year 2023 (FY2023). The E­Rate Funding Year 2023 will commence July 1, 2023 and end June 30 , 2024.  Approved contracts resulting from valid responses to the Request for Proposal (RFP) will be in effect from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024. Should an extension be permitted by E­Rate, the subsequent contract may be extended accordingly.  Successful provider(s) must agree to cooperate fully and in a timely manner with any and all requests for information that Tukwila School District needs to secure the E-rate discounts.

Project Title: TSD WiFi-6 Updates 2023-2024

Proposal Due Date: December 22, 2022

Sealed Proposals Must Be Delivered To:

Tukwila School District Technology Services
RE: TSD WiFi-6 Updates 2023-2024
4640 S. 144th Street
Tukwila, WA 98168

Faxed proposals will not be accepted.

RFP for WiFi 6 Updates 2023-2024 Full Document

The Tukwila School District, 4640 S. 144th St., Tukwila, WA 98168, is calling for Bids for its K-12 Extended Learning Opportunities for tutoring and developing the whole child through social and emotional development.

Project Title: Extended Learning Opportunities

Proposal Due Date: November 30, 2022

Estimated Contract Period: January 4, 2023 - August 1, 2023

Vendors Eligibility: This procurement is open to those Vendors that satisfy the minimum qualifications stated herein and that are available for work in Washington State.

Submit Proposal To:

Dr. Millicent Borishade
Chief Academic Officer
4640 S. 144th Street
Tukwila, WA 98168
borishadem@tukwila.wednet.edu

Faxed proposals will not be accepted.

RFP for Extended Learning Opportunities Full Document

RFP Score Card

Please join us for two childhood vaccine clinics provided by Stepping Stone Pediatrics and hosted by Tukwila School District. All childhood vaccines and immunizations will be offered as well as COVID-19 vaccines and boosters for parents and guardians. No appointment needed!

• Wednesday, November 9: 3:00 - 6:00 p.m., Tukwila Elementary (5939 S. 149th Street)
• Wednesday, December 7:  3:00 - 6:00 p.m., Tukwila Elementary (5939 S. 149th Street)

Please congratulate Foster seniors Abbie Jallow and Cing Sung who were each awarded a $5000 scholarship from Toys for Kids! They were chosen for this prestigious scholarship on the strength of their essays and we're so proud of them!

Because of population changes reflected on the 2020 census, Tukwila Schools are proposing changes to the geographic boundaries of our director districts.

The Tukwila School District is divided into five geographic districts, one for each board seat. Candidates for the school board must run for the seat of the district they live in. By creating five equal director districts, geographic diversity is ensured on the school board. 

These boundaries are completely unrelated to school attendance boundaries; this process will not change any neighborhood school boundaries.

In October 2022, the District contracted with Sammamish Data Systems to develop a proposal for new director district boundaries based on the latest census data. The proposed new director district boundaries would balance the populations in all districts so that each would have roughly the same number of residents.

A public hearing on this proposal will be held on Monday, November 7 from 5:30 - 6:00 p.m. virtually and in-person | Tukwila School District Administration Building, 4640 S. 144th St | Zoom link

Current Director District Map

Current Director District Boundaries Legal Description

Proposed Director District Map

Proposed Director District Boundaries Legal Description

Foster High School's 12th grade AVID class visited Western Washington University last week. Thanks to Jennifer Fichamba and Eric Hall for making this trip possible!

Tukwila Families and Community,

Please join us for a Strategic Plan Feedback Meeting on Wednesday, October 26 from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. at Showalter Middle School. We need to hear your feedback about our upcoming Strategic Plan. Food will be provided and interpreters will be available.

Please RSVP here: https://www.tukwilaschools.org/surveys/strategic-plan-feedback-meeting-rsvp

Tukwila students, families, community members, and staff are invited to apply to join the Safety and Inclusion Task Force! The goal of this group is to understand the current practices in our schools around safety and inclusion, the effectiveness of those practices related to current Tukwila School District policies, and to ensure the district has comprehensive and accessible programs in the following areas:

1. A procedure and protocol to effectively respond to reported incidents of alleged​ ​sexual harassment, including sexual assault/violence and sexual misconduct,​ ​that complies with state, and federal regulations, which also considers​ ​developmentally appropriate supports and due process rights for all parties​ ​involved​.​
2. A developmentally appropriate and responsive educational and outreach​ ​component for the​ ​awareness and prevention of gender based discrimination and​ ​harassment​.​

​If you're interested in being a part of this group, please fill out this application before Friday, October 7: 

Link to Task Force Application

If selected, you will receive an email notification no later than October 21.

Questions? Please contact Tukwila School Board President Carlee Hoover (hooverc@tukwila.wednet.edu)​

Runta News Channel did a feature about Tukwila Elementary Principal Hani Nur, the first Somali principal in Washington State! Please enjoy the video they created:

Please join us in congratulating Choral Director Joseph To who was named the Outstanding Emerging Choral Director by the Washington American Choral Directors Association! We're proud of his achievement and excited to see where he takes the program.

In partnership with Tukwila Parks & Recreation, sports opportunities are available at our elementary schools for 4th and 5th graders.

Space is limited, register soon! https://tukwila-wa.finalforms.com/

The Tukwila School District is partnering with Stepping Stone Pediatrics to provide free athletics physicals to Tukwila students! If you'd like to schedule a physical, please contact Gabe Gutierrez, Athletics Director: 206-901-7992, gutierrezg@tukwila.wednet.edu.

The Tukwila School District is hosting two vaccine clinics for students, families, and community members at Tukwila Elementary (5939 S. 149th St) on Thursday, September 22 from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. and Thursday, October 13 from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m.

The following vaccines will be offered:

• COVID-19
• Flu
• Other childhood vaccines

Please register for an appointment here: https://form.jotform.com/222486485288975

All first meals are free for students during the 2022-2023 school year! There will be a charge if a student chooses to have a second breakfast or lunch. We do ask that families fill out the Family Income Survey and return it to your student’s school: https://www.tukwilaschools.org/services/food-services

Welcome to the 2022-23 School Year. I know there is a lot of excitement, optimism, anxiety and concern as we enter into this school year. We recognize this and staff in all positions share many of these same emotions and are (mostly) ready for the year to begin and welcome our students to Day 1 on September 1! The last few years have been incredibly challenging and difficult, but I am extremely hopeful that the health emergencies we have been faced with are subsiding even though they are not entirely gone. While we may still have some of those concerns, we know we have students who are eager to learn and experience a welcoming and positive environment. This will look different to students, families and staff and I am hopeful that we will continue to find ways to make meaningful connections within our community and with our staff.

In the coming weeks, we continue to work on the Tukwila School District Strategic Plan and will be inviting people to comment and participate in establishing some of the SMART goals that will demonstrate our progress in becoming an even more effective learning organization. Our main areas of focus are around High expectations for all our students. Equity and empathy in how we interact with our students, families and colleagues. Relationships that continue to foster trust and collaboration on a daily basis. Engaged learners who can see themselves in their education and have opportunities for input and feedback. There are many ways that we can accomplish this together and we look forward to hearing from our various stakeholders.

Finally, I’d like to make just a few virtual introductions. We have a few new people and people in new positions that will help us continue to be better at meeting the needs of our students, families, and staff. Dr. Borishade is our new Chief Academic Officer who will be leading our teaching and learning efforts. Ms. Hani Nur is the new Principal at Tukwila Elementary and Mr. Michael Croyle is the new Principal at Thorndyke Elementary. We also have new staff in all of our buildings who are either coming back to Tukwila from other places or are new to Tukwila. Please welcome them as we all work together in this new school year.

Thank you Tukwila students, families, and community for your continuing support of our school district and staff! I’m looking forward to a great 2022-2023 school year!

Thursday, September 1 is the first day of school! We're so excited to see your students. Please see below for important information about the beginning of the year:

• Foster and Showalter begin at 8:00 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m.
• All elementary schools begin at 8:50 a.m. and end at 3:10 p.m.
• Kindergarten will be released at 12:40 p.m.
• Please see our Transportation Department page for information about bus routes.
• The Tukwila School District is providing free school supplies to all students. They will be distributed during the first week of school. Please see our supplies page for supply lists.
• All first meals will be free for students! There will be a charge if a student chooses to have a second meal.
• Please visit our COVID-19 page for updated information about safety procedures in our schools.

Please read our most recent Family Newsletter for information about upcoming events and programs:

TSD Family Newsletter (8/31 - 9/15)

Champions is looking forward to bringing their accredited Before and After School program to your child's school this year. Our team of leaders and teachers are truly excited to meet you and learn more about you and your children.

In the Champions Program the children will benefit from a daily curriculum developed to help them become problem solvers and lifelong learners. Our teachers will create a rich classroom environment; providing hands-on activities to support your child’s academic, social, emotional, and physical development. The children will also have opportunities to create, play, pretend, express themselves, and make new friends!

This program is District funded and is provided at no cost to you, however registration is required to participate (registration fees are waived as well.) Space is limited.

This program is being offered at all three elementary schools; 7:00 - 8:50 a.m. and after school until 6:00 p.m. Space is limited so apply now!

Provided below are the steps to successfully complete your enrollment:

1. Visit www.discoverchampions.com
2. Click “Create an Account”
3. After you enter the required information, a system-generated email will be sent from ChampionsHelp@KC-Education.com to your email account with your temporary password
4. Log into your Champions account using the temporary password sent to you
5. Select “Enroll Now”
6. Add the name of your child/ren and click “continue”
7. Complete the multi-step enrollment process
8. Contact Family Support 1-800-246-2154 if you have questions or challenges
9. You will receive a system-generated email to confirm your registration
10. Print and sign your enrollment forms- you will need to bring them to your Champions location on your child’s first day

Thank you in advance for completing your child’s registration promptly. We look forward to connecting with you over the next several weeks to share additional information and to prepare you and your child for a successful start in Champions!

Kind regards,

Your Champions at Tukwila School District Team

Trish Frazier, Area Manager (tfrazier@discoverchampions.com)

Incoming 6th graders, join us for Orientation at Showalter Middle School! Wednesday, August 31 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Meet other 6th graders, get a tour of the school, get your schedule, and more!

Tukwila Elementary Kindergarten Families, you are invited to meet Kindergarten teachers on Tuesday, August 30 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at Tukwila Elementary. This will be a time to ask questions and hear what Kindergarten will be like for your child. We will also learn about bus safety and get a tour of the school. Please plan on attending. We are excited to met out Kindergarten families!

Please join us for a Multilingual Family Event on Saturday, August 27 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at the Sullivan Center in the Tukwila Village (14350 Tukwila International Blvd.) We'll be serving food and drinks and this will be a great opportunity to meet our teachers, District leaders, and learn about services that are available to our community.

Guests will include:

• King County Library System
• City of Tukwila
• Page Ahead
• Spice Bridge
• Champions Before/After School Program

The office staff of Mariners Baseball was kind enough to volunteer for the Tukwila School District on Wednesday, August 17. They worked on the grounds of Showalter and their energy and joy were evident. Thank you Mariners Baseball office staff - we appreciate you!

Please be aware that there is road work happening on S. 144th Street, in between Foster and Showalter. Construction is in progress between 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. Please plan accordingly as there will be alternating one way traffic, heavily impacting the Foster student parking entrance, entrance to Showalter Middle School, and Administration Building. Foster and Showalter families are highly encouraged to have their students ride the school buses. For more information on this project visit: https://www.tukwilawa.gov/departments/public-works/construction-projects-and-transportation-impacts/annual-overlay-and-repair-program/

In addition, there is construction taking place south of the Cascade View playfields, so please use the designated walking trail.

We hope you had a wonderful summer and we're so excited for school to start! Here's some important information for the beginning of the school year:

• The first day of school for K-12 is Thursday, September 1. 
• Showalter and Foster hours are 8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
• Elementary hours are 8:50 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.
• All students will be getting free school supplies during the first week of school. Please see our school supplies page for more information.
• All first meals will be free again this year! There will be a charge if a student chooses to have a second breakfast or lunch.
• Please reach out to your student's school with questions:
  • Cascade View Elementary: 206-901-7700
  • Thorndyke Elementary: 206-901-7600
  • Tukwila Elementary: 206-901-7500
  • Showalter Middle School: 206-901-7800
  • Foster High School: 206-901-7900

FHS students, we hope to see you at Foster Bulldog Day! Tuesday, August 30th, 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. in the Foster High School Commons. This is an opportunity to take school pictures, get your ASB card, complete paperwork, and more!

Incoming 9th Graders: 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

10th - 12th Graders: 12:00 - 12:30 p.m.

Join us in welcoming Dennis Nguyen as our new Junior Representative to the Tukwila School District Board of Directors! Dennis has been a student in Tukwila since fifth grade and says, "I really wanted to become a Student Representative because I felt like there needed to be more communication between the School Board at the students of our schools. I have a lot of friends and acquaintances here at Foster that have told me some of their opinions about how their experience and education at the school can be improved, so I wanted to be the bridge and help make that possible." 

Dennis' favorite thing about Tukwila is the sense of community and how many people know each other. Dennis is very interested in helping TSD offer more educational and recreational opportunities to its students.

We're so excited to have such wonderful Student Representatives!

August 21, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. at Liberty Park in Renton (1101 Bronson Way N.) hosted by Communities in Schools, Renton-Tukwila

If you would like to enroll your 6-12 grade student in the Tukwila Schools, please join us for an enrollment event on Tuesday, August 23 from 8 a.m. -12 p.m. and 1-3 p.m. at Foster High School (4242 S. 144th St. 98168).

Current students in the Tukwila School District do not need to re-enroll. 

Registration packet is available at https://www.tukwilaschools.org/about-our-district/enrollment

Completed forms can also be emailed to:
schenckb@tukwila.wednet.edu or dicusmoras@tukwila.wednet.edu

• Students must be registered by their parent or legal guardian (documentation required if not parent); parent/guardian ID required.
• Birth certificate or other government issued proof of birth, immunization records, and address verification* must accompany a complete registration packet.
• Out of district families must also provide: 2021/22 attendance, discipline, and transcript (or report card for 9th grade), as well as immunization records for screening purposes.
• Out of district families need to complete a Choice Transfer form online at https://eds.ospi.k12.wa.us/ChoiceTransferRequest. Completing this online form does not mean you have been approved. Administrators will review all out of district registration packet.

*Acceptable proof of address in parent/guardian’s name (only one required):

• Mortgage Statement
• Apartment Rental or Lease Agreement
• Puget Sound Energy
• Seattle City Light
• Waste Management
• Republic Services/Allied Waste
• Recology Cleanscapes
• City of Tukwila Utilities Water or other Water District

Out of District Registrations:

Please do not withdraw your student from the home district until enrollment at Foster is confirmed.

The Tukwila School District is providing free school supplies for all students! To see the list of supplies that will be provided at your student's school, please click on their school below:

Cascade View Elementary

Thorndyke Elementary

Tukwila Elementary

Showalter Middle School

Foster High School

If you have a student going into preschool - 8th grade that you'd like to enroll in Tukwila Schools, please join us for an enrollment event on Wednesday, August 17 from 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. in the Tukwila School District Administration Building (4640 S. 144th St).

Interpreters will be available (Spanish, Somali, Vietnamese, Burmese, Nepali, and Hindi) as well as members of our Health Team, Transportation and Food Service.

Please bring proof of residency and proof of student's age.

Whether you live in Tukwila or in the surrounding area, your student is welcome here!

Please reach out with questions: communications@tukwila.wednet.edu, 206-901-8000.

Please join our Chief Financial Officer, Veronica Birdsong, for Community Budget Forums scheduled in August. These meetings are an opportunity for staff, families, and community members to get information about Tukwila Schools' budget process and to give input and feedback on our budget.

• Thursday, August 11, 7:00 - 7:45 p.m. (Zoom link)
• Wednesday, August 17, 6:30 - 7:15 p.m. (Zoom link)

Please reach out to Veronica Birdsong (birdsongv@tukwila.wednet.edu) with questions.

The Tukwila School District is hosting a vaccine and routine immunization clinic on Wednesday, August 17 from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. in the Showalter Middle School library (4628 S. 144th St).

The following vaccines will be offered:

• DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis) for children 6 years and younger -- also offered in a combination with Polio as (DTaP-Polio)
• Polio 
• Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis for sixth graders and older) -- for children 6 years and older
• HPV 
• Meningococcal ACWY 
• Meningococcal B
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• MMR -- also offered in a combination with Varicella as MMR-Varicella
• Varicella -- also offered in a combination with MMR as MMR-Varicella
• COVID-19 vaccines for all ages

Please register for an appointment here: https://form.jotform.com/222180617694964

Please reach out to our Health Team with questions: healthteam@tukwila.wednet.edu

Join King County's Reconnect to Opportunity Program for a drive-thru style resource fair as the pass out backpacks, school supplies, food, and resource to families in our King County communities. Please contact Greg Brooks at (206) 321-2680 or grbrooks@kingcounty.gov with any questions.

The Tukwila School District is hosting a COVID-19 vaccine clinic on July 27. We'll be offering Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for ages 6 months and older.

Appointments are recommended, so please reserve a time using the registration links below.

Wednesday, July 27, 2022 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Thorndyke Elementary School (4415 S. 150th Street)

Appointment registration link for 7/27/2022 for ages 6 months - 4 years

Appointment registration link for 7/27/2022 for ages 5 and up

Champions is accepting enrollment applications for the second session of their elementary summer camp! Please scan the QR codes below to enroll your student.

Dates: August 1, 2022 - August 12, 2022

Time: 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Location: Tukwila Elementary

Ages: Elementary students

Consent to Release and Exchange Information Form

Emergency Contact List Form

Terms and Conditions

Hello Tukwila Families,

I am emailing in regards to the increase in COVID cases throughout King County. The DOH currently lists King County in the "medium" community level. The level is determined by several factors: total cases per 100,000 individuals in the past seven days, total hospital admissions per 100,000 in the past seven days, and percentage of inpatient hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 patients. However, the CDC has listed King County in the "high" community level, as their criteria includes patients who test positive for COVID while being hospitalized due to unrelated conditions. Neither numbers are reflective of cases that are unreported due to the widespread availability of rapid tests.

During a media briefing last week, officials from the King County Department of Health expressed that they are actively considering reinstating the indoor mask mandate. With that being said, while there is no current masking requirement, the Tukwila School District continues to strongly encourage mask usage when indoors, regardless of vaccination status. Our district continues to offer both children- and adult-sized disposable face masks, as well as adult KN95 and N95 masks. As a reminder, I am attaching the CDC's guidelines outlining proper mask usage, as well as the different types of masks and respirators.

Respectfully,
Hannah Maestro, RN, BSN

District Nurse | Tukwila School District

FHS Students, please consider becoming a reading tutor, working with students at our elementary schools. It's very fulfilling work and great experience. The application deadline has been extended to September 6th, so reach out to Team Read if interested!

We're excited to announce that the Tukwila School District will be providing free school supplies for all students for the 2022-2023 school year! More details will be coming in August, including the supply lists and how students will receive their school supplies.

Please reach out to your student's school with questions.

Happy Summer, Bulldogs! You can pick up your diplomas on Monday, July 18 from 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. and Tuesday, July 19 from 7:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at Foster High School. Please reach out to Silva Dicus Mora, Registrar, with questions (dicusmoras@tukwila.wednet.edu).

Join us for a hybrid Budget Adoption Public Hearing on Tuesday, July 12 at 5:00 p.m.

Tukwila School District Administration Building (4640 S. 144th St Tukwila 98168) | Zoom link

The hearing is called for the purpose of fixing and adopting the budget of the District for the ensuing 2022-2023 fiscal year. Prior to adoption of the 2022-2023 budget, the Board will hold a virtual hearing on July 12, 2022, commencing at 5:00 p.m. for the purpose of receiving written comments from the public on the 2022-2023 budget. Any person may attend the virtual hearing and be heard for or against any part of the 2022-2023 budget, the four-year budget plan, or any proposed changes to the uses of enrichment funding under RCW 28A.505.240.

To submit a written comment on the 2022-2023 Budget, the four-year budget plan or any proposed changes to the uses of enrichment funding under RCW 28A505.240, please follow these guidelines:

• Prepare a written statement that will be attached to the Public Comments Agenda Item. 
• Please identify yourself and the subject matter (a title) for your statement. Please include your name, phone number, and address. 
• Submit your written statement via email to public_comments@tukwila.wednet.edu no later than noon on the day of the Board Meeting/Public Hearing. Statements submitted after the deadline will not be considered at this session.
• You may read your public comment during a meeting.  If attending virtually, please raise your virtual hand and type your name in chat during the public comment period. If you are attending in person, please write your name on the Public Comment sheet.
• Statements should be no more than 300-500 words or up to 2 pages double spaced. Please limit your written statement to this guideline.
• Submitted statements will be read out loud during the public comment period.

At the August 23, 2022 regular Board Meeting, the Board shall fix and determine the appropriation from each fund contained in the 2022-2023 budget and shall, by resolution, adopt the 2022-2023 budget, the four-year budget plan summary, and the four-year enrollment projection.

Click here to view the 2022-2023 Draft Budget

SRO Program Survey

Please consider giving general feedback about the SRO program in Tukwila Schools, if you haven't already.

Link to survey

Learning Lab Program

We appreciate all the feedback from Tukwila Families to help us examine our SRO program, which is a partnership between the City of Tukwila, Tukwila Police Department and Tukwila School District. We have received a good amount of feedback, but in our last session we were presented with an opportunity to conduct a learning lab with our facilitators, University of Washington/Harbor View.

This will entail:

• Looking at the feedback received
• Language in the current agreement
• Other school district comparisons
• Alternative approaches mentioned in the feedback.

It is estimated that the learning lab commitment would be 8-10 hours (1-1.5hr/session) over the next two months. All participants would be compensated at $50/hr. The group helping us has a grant to assist in this endeavor. This lab will include students, parents, staff and administrators. Total group size would be around 15. We would like to begin the learning lab in the last week of June and be done by the middle of August. If you have an interest in participating, please email me at herndonf@tukwila.wednet.edu.

Please congratulate our three winners of the new Tukwila Superstar Award! These staff members were nominated by their colleagues for their outstanding service and the talents they bring to their school communities.

Each winner received an Amazon gift card donated by Gesa Credit Union and a Tukwila Pool pass. Thank you to our Community Partners!

Megan Brusnighan - Literacy Intervention Teacher at Cascade View Elementary

 “Megan is Cascade View's literacy interventionist and assessment coordinator. She also coordinates our before and after school reading groups. She's extremely organized, focused, and energetic, working tirelessly to help both kids and teachers. She's always willing to squeeze in an extra session with new ELL students or help a teacher with a question. She trains and collaborates with the literacy ESPs to ensure everyone can work successfully with their small groups. She's a great support before and during iReady and SBA testing, doing practice sessions in classrooms, giving teachers practice materials and strategies, helping with technology issues, and making everyone want to do their best. When she takes on a task or project, you can be confident it will be done well. Her work is a huge factor in the growth made by my struggling readers. She's always advocating for our students on school committees and teams. In short, her strong positive leadership, dedication to student learning, and willingness to support her colleagues are terrific assets to our school culture. I'm so grateful to work with her.”

-Anne Huckins

“Megan goes above and beyond for all students and staff at Cascade View. She has taken on the heavy role of iReady and SBAC test coordinator. She has made sure that all the staff has adequate training, made brain break packets for the students, created schedules, and thought of every scenario with a solution. Megan has been there for my students with every step of their education and they are SUCH stronger readers because of her. Cascade View would not be the same without her hard work.”

-Natalie Reeder

“Megan is a dynamo. Her title is Literacy Interventionist, but she is the epitome of going above and beyond her job description. If you are ever in a common area around CV and it's not her instructional time you are bound to see Megan striding purposefully past you. And if you are there for more than a couple minutes you might see her multiple times. She helps coordinate I don't know how many different required tests at the school as well as 2 different after school reading programs. I doubt the reading programs would be running without her, which have been super impactful for the participating students. On top of that her communication about all these programs and logistics down to the smallest details to teachers, students, and parents is without fail. Somewhere in between she tracks more data than I think most of us know what to do with. And after all that she is constantly asking how she can help YOU? There are probably multiple things I'm missing because you will never hear her complaining about all she does or tooting her own horn. Who is she? Are there more than 1 of her? And if not, somebody get this woman a cape, because she is a superhero!”

-Anonymous Colleague

Katrice Cyphers - Graduation Specialist at Foster High School

 “Katrice has been a force in getting students and staff to think about their mental health and understand it as a key facet of their identity. Through the lens of RULER, Katrice has helped people be more self-aware, kind to others, and kind to themselves. Thank you, Katrice!”

-Sean Riley

Yasir Magsoosi - Office Manager at Showalter Middle School

 “Mr. Magsoosi has jumped into the job of Showalter office manager with both feet! He brings his own style & talents to the position, and he brings them with everything he's got!

Some examples of how he goes above and beyond the job requirements:

• Patiently listening to students with personal issues (when he has other work to get done).

• Patiently working to understand a student who is new to speaking English.

• Working through the entire school day. On most days he takes his lunch break after students go home.

• Walking  students to class.

• Helping teach staff processes that he's just learned himself

• Finding answers to questions he cannot answer and then communicating them clearly to those who need to know.

What makes Mr. M so spectacular is that he does all that (and more) with such a humble and totally positive attitude! He truly is making Showalter a better place through his hard work and fantastic demeanor.”

-John Forsyth

A big thank you to our staff and community partners for making our Staff Appreciation Event a success!

Foster High School Class of 2022 Graduation will be held on Friday, June 10 at 7:00 p.m. at the Foster High School Stadium.

Tickets have been distributed to students and each guest needs a ticket to enter the stadium. The gates will open at 6:00 p.m. and guests will not be seated once the ceremony has begun.

We're so proud of the class of 2022!

The Tukwila School District will be providing meals to students during the summer! 

Summer Meal Service Times:

Breakfast will be offered between 8:00 - 8:30 a.m.

Lunch will be offered between 12:00 - 12:30 p.m.

Summer Meal Locations & Dates:

• Thorndyke Elementary - 6/27/2022 - 7/28/2022 (M-Th)

• Tukwila Elementary - 8/1/2022 - 8/11/2022 (M-Th)

• Foster High School - 6/27/2022 - 7/28/2022 (M-Th)

Please see the Food Services page for more information.

Come see a showing of FHS student art! Tuesday, June 7, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the Community Corner Cafe.

Showalter Middle School will be hosting a virtual open house for all current 5th graders that will be attending Showalter Middle School in the fall. We will talk about the middle school transition, middle school classes as well as our after school program. The virtual open house will be on Wednesday June 8th at 6:00.

Please click the link below to join the webinar:

https://tukwila-wednet-edu.zoom.us/j/86966955966

 Join by Phone: 253 215 8782 

Webinar ID: 869 6695 5966

Please join us in extending an enthusiastic welcome to Ms. Hani Nur as she has accepted the position of Principal of Tukwila Elementary School! Pending approval by the Board of Directors on June 14, 2022 Ms. Nur’s first day will be July 1, 2022.

Ms. Nur has been an educator in the Tukwila School District for the last seven years, working as a kindergarten teacher, first grade teacher, and literacy interventionist at Thorndyke Elementary. She then moved into a leadership role as a teacher mentor and administrative intern.  

Ms. Nur writes, “I spent my entire teaching career in diverse school districts. This was intentional because I desire to serve the population that was representative of me. I also wanted to give back to my community and ensure that the students and parents I met had a different perspective of who is considered an educator and an administrator.” 

Tukwila Elementary chose Ms. Nur as their new principal because she understands our District and our students, is passionate about literacy and the importance of social-emotional learning, and is motivated to “bring opportunities for all of our families, but especially our families of color.”

Once again, please warmly welcome Ms. Nur in her new role in the Tukwila School District!

Order your photos today! To order online, go to www.leosphotography.com and use school code GRA220694

Join us for the SRO Wrap-Up Summit! Tuesday, June 7 at 6:00. Zoom link: https://tukwila-wednet-edu.zoom.us/j/82379838035

The purpose of the meeting is to convene Tukwila students, parents, staff, police, and community members to (a) review findings from the Tukwila school community listening sessions about SRO programs that were held by Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center during the Winter and Spring and (b) hear from the Tukwila School Community about their thoughts surrounding school resource officers in Tukwila. Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center will host the session.

Tukwila Police Chief Eric Drever, and Superintendent Flip Herndon will be in attendance to take questions and hear from community members.

On Wednesday June 1, 2022 from 6:30 - 7:30pm Foster High School will be hosting the first ever Environmental Internship Symposium in the FHS Commons. During the symposium, students will tell stories about internships they participated in during the 21/22 school year. Guests will hear about the highlights and the lessons they learned. Additionally, students will host a panel discussion about their efforts designing, planning, and implementing three environmental education day field trips for fifth graders at Cascade View and Thorndyke Elementary. Refreshments will be provided for guests.