Oct 08 2019
Fresh from the Garden
Holy Moley! We’ve only been in school 3 weeks and so much has happened in the garden already! We started our year going over the usual safety expectations about tools (keep shovel blades below the belly button), harvesting (only pick what your invited to pick), and bugs (don’t squish them). Then we jumped straight into knife safety and skills, I was surprise to see some of our children already have mad knife skills.
Because our kids worked so hard in the garden last year, we had lot to harvest and enjoy! The Blue Herons, Elk, Seals, Deer, Crow, Frogs and Salmon all made fresh Tomatillo Salsa; recipe below. I’d say that over half the kids had never tried tomatillos and most of them loved them.
Tomatillo Salsa w/ Chips
10 tomatillos- cut into quarter inch chunks
Handful of Cilantro
Half a Lime
Salt to taste
You can add onions if you like the kids, chose not to have onions
We then made Sorrel and Red Russian Kale Smoothies, with the Eagles, Kestrel
s, and Coyotes, the kids did all the harvesting and chopping. Thank goodness for Denise Nelson’s supplemental Sorrel, the kids cleaned
us out of Sorrel before the all the smoothies had been made. There were a lot of kids surprised at how good Kale and Sorrel Smoothies were. I promised them I would include the recipe below.
Sorrel and Red Russian Kale Smoothies
5 strawberries
1 banana
1 cup of 50% diluted apple juice, any juice will do
Fill the rest of the blender up with Sorrel and Kale
The Octopus, Hummingbirds, Turtles, Bees, Owls, Otters and Lynx all harvested blueberry tomatoes that turn yellow when they are ripe, and last, but not least, ground cherries. We will be growing a lot more ground cherries next year, they are by far our kids favorite treat in the garden. Our ground cherry seed jar was overturned in the spring, but I managed to find a couple of seed packets, after some pretty serious seed shopping. I plan to treat them like gold next spring.
That’s all for now,
Karen Hogan-Li
Pathfinder Garden teacher
Volunteer Needs:
If you would like to volunteer to help during your child’s garden class time, please email me at kdhoganli@seattleschools.org
Important Dates:
Fall Clean Up – TBD -We will be getting ready for the Harvest Festival that’s outside in the garden this year!
Harvest Festival – Oct 15
Oct 07 2019
Direct Give – First Week Totals!
The annual PTSA Direct Give campaign took flight last week – come fly with us! We aren’t a school that does tons and tons of fundraisers. We’ll leave you alone after this until wreath season (which specifically funds outdoor education (camp!)) and then only the auction (which is a very fun event), so this is your chance to pitch in a no muss no fuss way!
We’ve made a great start – $6,000 donated so far – thank you early birds! But we still have quite a bit to go towards our goal of $30,000 and we need YOU to help us get there!
Flyers went home with kids last week and are available outside the office. It’s simple, just return the form with a check – or go online any time to donate at bit.ly/directgive. Thank you for your support!
Oct 07 2019
Dine Out at Ounces
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Due to an unfortunate oversight in scheduling, we have moved our first Dine Out for Pathfinder from 10/9 to Wednesday, November 13th.
We will meet at Ounces to enjoy a beverage and eats from Peasant Food Manifesto. Please save the date and invite friends and family to join! $1 of every pint purchased will go to Pathfinder!
Oct 03 2019
Direct Give Week 1
Direct Give has launched!
The Pathfinder PTSA Direct Give campaign launched yesterday and runs this year from October 2 – 18. We have a goal to raise $30,000 dollars, and we need YOU to help us get there!
Every dollar you donate through Direct Give is funneled directly back to Pathfinder. PTSA funds this year will finance:
- $75,000 dollars in academic and classroom support
- Amazing programs such as the garden and Roger Fernandez’ storytelling
- Popular events like the Harvest Potluck, the Science Fair, and Field Day
- Be on the lookout for some fun road signs and kids with piggy banks!
It’s simple to donate – just click the button below and you will be taken to our Paypal page to donate (you don’t have to be a Paypal member)
Every dollar makes a difference, and we appreciate whatever amount you can afford. On behalf of the Pathfinder PTSA, the school, the staff and the kids, we hope you’ll consider donating, or sharing with friends and family, and thank you for your support!
Sep 17 2019
Become a Pathfinder PTSA Member!
Join or Renew Your PTSA Membership Today!
Powerful Voice. Relevant Resource. Strong Advocate.
Your membership is a sign of support for the efforts made to provide opportunities for students, foster our sense of community, and partner with school staff to create a positive climate.
Please add your voice to over 1,000 Washington State PTA members as we advocate on behalf of your child, your child’s school, the district where you live, and for all children of all abilities and experiences across the state of Washington.
Added Perk — Discounts!
Did you know that by joining the PTSA, not only are you supporting our students, but you get discounts as well? Here are just SOME of the benefits associated with PTSA membership.
- Silverwood Theme Park – discount on admission tickets through September 29
- Great Wolf Lodge – receive up to 30% off
- LEGOBags.com – get a 40% discount on LEGO® Bag products at LEGOBags.com
- Tickets at Work -access to 20-70% off on movies, hotels, shows, concerts, sporting events, and more
- Office Depot – great discounts for school supplies
- Wild Waves – discount on admission tickets for Fright Fest – Family by Day/Fright by Night starting weekends September 27 through November 2
- Washington State Fair – save up to 36% on Washington State Fair admission and rides
- FedEx Office – special rates for printing
- Angel of the Winds Arena Everett – discounts on events
- and more
Sign up is easy and it’s all online here: https://www.
Renewing your PTA membership is the fastest and easiest way you personally can help all children succeed!
Scholarship funds are available!
Please contact Gail Joblin, our membership chair, if you have any questions or concerns at: membership@pathfinderk8ptsa.org
Sep 17 2019
PTSA General Meeting Sept 19th
You are invited – this Thursday, September 19th at 6:30pm in the Pathfinder library – to the first PTSA general meeting of the year. Hear directly from the administrative team about the areas they plan to focus on in the coming school year, the performance goals they want students to achieve, and how the school plans to collaboratively meet these goals. It should be an informative evening!
Blazing trails will provide childcare for kids 5 and up.
Sep 16 2019
Direct Give 2019
This year we have a tall order: we need to raise more than $150,000 to support our school. In order to start the year off strong, we aim to raise $30,000 by October 18 through our annual Direct Give.
Direct Give Kick-off Campaign
We need your help! Let’s start this year off with a record-breaking fundraiser to support our Pathfinder community!
At Pathfinder our children receive not just a great education, but an opportunity to connect with the greater Pathfinder community. From camping excursions and the Science Fair, to developing new passions in the classroom, art, or P.E., our children receive the gift of an education that highlights not only academics, but their emotional health, and cultural learnings. But this cannot be done without your help.
This year we have a goal to raise $30,000 dollars by October 18th, and we ask for your support. Please donate today and know that every dollar helps!
How You Can Help
Every dollar you donate today to the Direct Give will go directly to the school. All donations are tax deductible, and many may be eligible to be matched by your family’s workplace. It takes a village to raise a child: share broadly with people you know who might be able to help — grandparents, aunts and uncles, close friends and more.
or…
Make checks out to Pathfinder PTSA with forms found in your child’s backpack or at the front office. You can drop your check in the PTSA mailbox in the office or mail to: Pathinder PTSA,
1901 SW Genesee St, Seattle, WA 98106.
Thank you so much for supporting Pathfinder!!
Sep 10 2019
Join Us for Pathfinder 101 on September 12th
Are you new or newish to Pathfinder? Would you like to learn more about the school and community?
If so, please join us on Thursday, September 12 from 6:30 – 8:00pm at the Pathfinder Library. We will have a presentation that covers the history of Pathfinder and the ways that our school is unique. Our intent is to describe and demystify many of the events, quirks and opportunities that will come your way during the school year so you feel more informed and confident as parents and caregivers.
Following the presentation, we will have an excellent panel of parents who cover all of the age ranges and experience levels to answer your burning questions.
Blazing Trails will be providing childcare for kids 5 & up in their space just inside the front doors of the school. We wish they could do younger kids, but their licensing doesn’t allow it.
We hope to see you there!
Sep 01 2019
Welcome Back to School!
Hello and Welcome from your Pathfinder PTSA!
It is with enthusiasm that we welcome you to a new school year and invite you to get involved with the Pathfinder PTSA. This year we are planning new family-oriented events, more parent education, and better communication with you. We hope you’ll like the changes! Three events start off our year:
New & Improved Back to School Social (Tuesday, September 3 from 5-7pm)
We are trying something new this year! Instead of BBQ with hot dogs, we are having an Ice Cream Social with a Venezuelan food truck (or BYO picnic)! Join us the evening before school starts for a picnic, popsicles for all, and great company. Learn more.
Pathfinder 101 for New Families (Thursday, September 12 from 6:30 – 8:00pm)
If you’re new or newish to Pathfinder, we encourage you to join us for Pathfinder 101, where you will be able to learn about Pathfinder from other parents, ask your burning questions and meet other new families. Blazing Trails will provide childcare for kids 5 & up.
PTSA General Meeting: The State of the School (Thursday, September 19 from 6:30 – 8:00pm)
A week later, the PTSA will host its first general meeting of the year. We will hand over the microphone to David Dockendorf and the staff who will share their thoughts about the State of the School for 2019-2020. It’s an excellent opportunity to learn what the school has planned for the year. Blazing Trails will also provide childcare this evening.
How You Can Get Involved this Year
Contribute to Our Community by Volunteering
By baking goodies for an event, making and selling wreaths, decorating for the auction, maintaining our garden, judging the Science Fair, making a donation and much more, you make Pathfinder a special place to learn and grow. We appreciate each and every one of you and have a need — big or small — to fit your time and interests. Please contact our Hospitality Chair, Lily Evans, with your interests, and she will match you up with a need: hospitality.volunter at pathfinderk8ptsa.org.
Become a Member of Pathfinder PTSA
When you join Pathfinder PTSA, you add your voice in support of local, state and national efforts to improve the lives of all students and their families. Combined with other PTA members at Pathfinder and around the state, these annual dues amplify your voice locally and in Olympia. Learn more and join/renew today!
Donate to Pathfinder PTSA
Not to be confused with membership, donations directly to Pathfinder PTSA stay within our school, funding tutors and the garden program, providing a fund for classroom teachers, purchasing library books, supporting expeditionary learning and camping, staging kid-friendly events like the Back-to-School Ice Cream Social and Field Day, and much more.
This year, the PTSA needs to raise more than $150,000, which we do primarily through a Direct Give in October, a Wreath Fundraiser in December, fun group events and an annual Auction in March. You can get us off to a good start by making your Direct Give donation early right here. And don’t forget that many employers will match your charitable gifts to Pathfinder PTSA.