May News: Principal Search, Potluck, Jog-a-thon, and lots more!
- rootwiley
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
Update from the Principal Search Team
Join us TONIGHT, May 12 at 6pm at Roxhill for the Friends of Roxhill Elementary monthly community meaning. We'll be joined by representatives from the interview team to provide information and answer questions.
Roxhill Community, the Roxhill Principal Interview Team has been formed. The team is composed of 12 people; classroom teachers, instructional assistants, 2 Roxhill parents of children in multiple grades and school programs, office administration, custodial staff, student mentors and district representatives. We are starting to get to work on this very important process. Most importantly, we would like to thank all families that filled out the survey. Your feedback is vital and is driving the interview process.
This is an exciting and valuable process that we are beginning. In the past, the Roxhill community has not had the opportunity to participate in seeking our school leader. Throughout this process the valuable feedback that was shared through the survey will be used to shape interview questions and have let the team know what our Roxhill community wants in their new school leader.
We have begun the process by going through interview training and reading survey responses. Next, the team will use survey feedback to form questions for potential candidates. After questions are finalized, the team will conduct interviews of candidates that the district finds to fit the needs of our school community.
This process is moving fast, the team will write interview questions on May12 and 15th, then will be conducting interviews on May 19th. We will share any new updates as they come along.
Auction Success!
To everyone in the Roxhill community, West Seattle, and beyond, a huge THANK YOU for marking our 2025 auction a success! Read the full letter
Help refill the School Snack Stash
Many classrooms and clubs at Roxhill provide snacks for students. In an effort to ensure all staff have snacks to draw from, we are starting a centralized snack collection. You can order snacks from the Amazon list to be sent directly to school or purchase snacks locally and drop off in the office for the collection. Please do not donate any snacks with nuts.
Coffee Chat: Kindergarten parents, meet your 1st grade teachers!
May 23, 8-9am, at Roxhill
Can you believe it is almost the end of Kindergarten! Come meet the 1st grade teachers Ms. Kyoko and Ms. Gamache on Friday May 23, 2025 at 8am.
Bring any questions you might have about this transition and what 1st grade is like.
Seeking Reading Volunteers
We are continuing to recruit volunteers who can spare just 15 minutes to read with our students during the school day.
The goal is to encourage a love for reading and literacy among our students. By having parents, or community members come in to read with them, we hope to foster a positive reading environment and enhance their reading skills.
Books and student lists will be provided, so all you need to bring is your enthusiasm for reading! Your presence and participation will make a difference.
If you are interested in volunteering for this program, please sign up for shifts AND email Roxhill Intervention Teacher Katarina Ferguson at kmferguson@seattleschools.org.
Volunteer Opportunities
We are currently looking for volunteers to help with:
Lunchroom Helpers (Daily - sign up for a shift below)
Reading Volunteers (Daily - sign up for a shift below)
Multicultural Night June 5 at 6pm -7:30pm
Jogathon June 13 during the school day
Field Day June 17 during the school day
Childcare during FORE Meetings (May 12, June 9)
All volunteer opportunities that take place on school grounds or field trips will require you to fill out a volunteer application through SPS. Apply here or check your status as a returning volunteer.
News from Nurse Ann
Recently, Tracey Thompson (school social worker at West Seattle Elementary) shared an article written about the celebration she hosted to honor her mom and other members of ‘The High Point Mommas’.
A group of moms who were powerful community voices and activists, joined together to care for their children and community, fighting racism, classism and sexism in the 1960s and 70s. I was particularly struck by the ‘open door policy' among their kids – the heartfelt sense of knowing that their kids were welcome in one another’s home at any moment, cared for in community, with moms who were confident that they always had one another’s back.
Recently, some people, like Jonathan Haldt, author of The Anxious Generation, note the dissolution of this type of community network, where adults with shared values provide a safety net for one another and neighborhood kids has hurt both kids and adults. He goes on to notice that decreasing opportunities for kids to play and navigate their own social situations in person (instead of on screens or mitigated by hovering adults) in multi-age groups has disrupted social skill development and increased anxiety and loneliness.
At a recent park playdate, watching groups of kids build connections and play across ages (sometimes even declaring a ‘no-adult zone’) while parents had a chance to connect with each other, I remembered a mom reflecting on what a gift it was to have a similar experience at multicultural night last year. Building community is integral to our children’s health. Please let me, or anyone at Roxhill, know your ideas for continuing to strengthen our community connections.
Library News
Our Paper Boat Book Fair on April 3 & 4 was a success! Thanks to the generosity of Roxhill families, every student either bought a book or was gifted a book during our Book Fair. Proceeds from sales gave us almost $1,100 that will be used to purchase new books for our library from Paper Boat Booksellers. THANK YOU SO MUCH for supporting the library and our students!
Here is the final library song of the year for May/June sung by 14 of the Roxhill staff members!
Multicultural Night Potluck
Thursday, June 5
6pm-7:30pm
Roxhill School
Join us for a multicultural potluck celebrating the different cultures at Roxhill and the end of the school year! We need volunteers to help the event run smoothly. Sign up to help with set up, clean up, or for a 1 hour shift during the event. You do not have to be an SPS approved volunteer to help at after school events.
Optional: Bring a favorite dish that represents your culture. Please sign up for the type of dish you will bring (Main dish, Side dish, Dessert or Drink) so we know how much food to expect.
West Seattle Public School Equity Fund Fun Fair
Thursday, June 5
5-7pm
West Seattle Elementary
Join the West Seattle Public School Equity Fund for an end of year celebration. This event is open to all and happening just next door at West Seattle Elementary School. Join us on June 5 from 5-7pm games, pizza, cotton candy, and prizes!
4th & 5th Spring Music concerts
Friday, June 6
1pm
Spring time is time for music! Mr. Chance has scheduled a concert for 4th and 5th graders and their families to attend. Join us to hear the musical learning here at Roxhill. Please note the concert is limited for families of participants due to lack of space.
Coffee Chat: Meet the Multilingual Team
Friday, June 6, 8-9am, at Roxhill
You are invited to a coffee hour at Roxhill Elementary on Friday 6/6/2025 at 8am. Come meet with the Multilingual Team at Roxhill: Mr. Miller, Ms. Rojas and Mr. Berihu. We will discuss the ML program, the WIDA exam and your students’ progress toward English proficiency.
Jog-a-thon: Friday, June 13
The annual Roxhill Jog‐A‐Thon is Friday June 13, 2025 during the school day. Students who participate will raise money to support the 5th grade outdoor learning field trip to Nature Bridge. Nature Bridge is an outdoor learning center located in the Olympic National Park near Port Angeles. Funds raised may also help support other school field trips. More details to come home via kid mail.
Volunteers will be needed for the Jog-A-Thon! Sign up for a shift
Jog-a-thon Schedule:
7:50 – 8:35 set up
8:40 – 9: 15 Turner and Mac
9:20 – 9:55 Green and McCaffery
10:00 – 10:30 Distinct
11:15 – 11:50 Kyoko and Gamache
12:05 – 12:40 Popelka and Ms. Amy
12:45 – 1:30 Prynne and Gnoinsky
1:40 – 2:25 Ms. Anna and Martin
Carpool Connections
We receive frequent requests for transportation help and try to coordinate carpools and walking buses by introducing families to each other. Please email friendsofroxhill@gmail.com if you can help with any of the following.
Please fill out the form if:
You need help getting your child to or from school.
You would like to volunteer to drive or walk another student to or from school.
Your contact information will not be shared without your permission. Please contact friendsofroxhill@gmail.com with questions.