Author: Kathy Austin

Updates from OSPI and SPS on Fall Re-entry

Kathy Austin

We’re starting to see more questions about what school may look like in the fall, and we’ll be providing resources and information as we have it.

OSPI is the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. They provide guidance for all the school districts across the state. Along with the Governor’s office, the OSPI has provided all guidance for school closures due to COVID-19.  OSPI has provided an update for the fall reopening of schools. 

School Districts then need to take this guidance and come up with a plan for their district that takes into account the specifics of their district. For us, that will be Seattle Public Schools and they have provided their plan for re-entry here. From there, each school building in Seattle Public Schools will need to take the district plan and apply it to their building, and each teacher will apply the building plan to their classroom.

When looking at information from OSPI, keep in mind that they are creating a framework for all districts, rural, suburban, and urban, across the state. There is tremendous variation in the districts. There are tiny school districts (Concrete School District served 524 students last year) and there are big school districts (Seattle Public Schools served 55,844 students last year). There are differences in terms of resources, the layout of school buildings, transportation needs, access to internet, and more, not to mention differences in how each area is being impacted by COVID19.

Please continue to check back to the OSPI and SPS for updates as summer progresses.

Bryant PTSA Anti-Racism Resolution and Call to Action

Kathy Austin
Dear Bryant Families and Community,
 
In our General Membership meeting this month, our PTSA passed a resolution on anti-racism which we encourage everyone to read.  Thank you to our PTSA Advocacy co-chairs for shaping this powerful statement in collaboration with our neighbor school PTSAs.
 
In the resolution, we commit to direct and substantive action and we’d like to elaborate with these immediate actions:
  • Building a lending library to promote anti-racist learning for Bryant families with a $500 grant from the PTSA budget
  • Forming a Families of Color Resource Group this summer, led by two PTSA board members and members of the Equity Committee (contact Equity@BryantSchool.org) 
  • Sharing an Anti-Racist Resource List here to support meaningful action in our community
With the strong leadership of our Advocacy and Equity committees, we’re redoubling our efforts to advocate for the eradication of structural racism, with a focus on educational justice. Our newly elected Bryant PTSA Board for the 2020-21 school year has more people of color represented. Going forward, our Board will work to bring a lens of equity and belonging to our decision-making and conversations. To hold ourselves accountable to these commitments, we will discuss our progress and additional actions in each PTSA Board meeting.  

We commit to this work as individuals, as an organization working to become anti-racist, and as a PTSA working toward an environment where our marginalized communities are centered and thriving.

Wishing you a safe and restorative summer,
-Bryant PTSA Board

References: 
Check out the resource list and the resolution on Anti-Racism. 
 
We also support these statements made by:

Passed: Bryant PTSA Resolution on Anti-Racism

Kathy Austin

Want to know why Minneapolis is burning?

Mama. He called Mama.

At least that’s why I want to burn, why I feel like I could scream until flames rip out of my throat. He has called up great power. I want all of us to turn, all of us who have heard Mama in a store and thought it meant us. It’s time to turn. White mamas, mamas with privilege, you have been summoned. And any of us who have ever cried out Mama, we hear it too, down in our bones. It’s a cry that can’t go unanswered anymore. So Minneapolis burns. And we need to gut all the spaces in our lives where systemic racism has quarter.

I think of the other mamas who turned a tide: Emmett Till’s, for one. We speak out of the deep mystery from whence all life springs. My white people: Nurture antiracism in your life like you would a child in your arms, even if you’ve only just heard it named. Learn what it means and how to foster it. Care about it, give it space in your life. Come to understand it, even if it’s difficult and challenges everything.

Mama is coming. And the men who make order in the world should be very afraid.

~Mary Helen Kennerly

PTSA Resolution on Anti-Racism

As PTSA leadership we are parents; many of us are Mama.  We have been summoned, and now is the time to answer, not simply with platitudes, but with action.  In PTSA that action takes the form of resolutions and policy.  It is time for us to acknowledge that we can be racist or anti-racist, but we cannot be neutral.  It is time for us to acknowledge our power, as well as the existence and pervasiveness of systemic racism.  It is time for us to fight for the education of our children in the hope that doing so will save the lives of our black and brown children and all children furthest from educational justice.

Whereas “the most fundamental right is the right to live” 1 and that right is being denied to black people across this country and in Seattle;

whereas systemic racism is embedded in every aspect of this country, including public schools;

whereas systemic racism in our school system is a major factor in the opportunity gap between white and black students;

whereas  we must choose whether to be a racist or anti-racist organization as there is no neutral space;

whereas PTA moves toward “every child. One voice,” but the voices and needs of black children continue to be left out and unheard;

Resolved, that Bryant PTSA commits to being an anti-racist organization.

Educates our PTSA members on issues related to anti-racism through hosting parent education events, providing anti-racism books and resources for families, and by including information on anti-racism in every PTSA Board Meeting.

Actively works to center the voices of our families furthest from educational justice by engaging with families.

Actively works with our school, Seattle Public Schools, the City of Seattle, and the State of Washington to provide opportunities and funding for professional development for anti-racism work.

 1Ibram X. Kendi https://www.facebook.com/ibramxkendi/

2019-2020 End of Year Letter from the PTSA Board

Kathy Austin

Dear Bryant Community, 

As the school year comes to a close, we wanted to express our immense gratitude to each individual in our Bryant community for supporting one another in this extraordinary year. We miss seeing you in person and look forward to reuniting in the future. We’d like to recognize our many leaders and volunteers for their great contributions and accomplishments in Bryant’s 2019-2020 year. 

First, we’d like to recognize our students who have been engaged all year in learning, helping and growing both at school and at home. We want to thank the parents, grandparents, siblings and other extended family who are supporting our students’ learning from home. Your commitment is an awesome inspiration.

Thank you to the Bryant Administration and Staff for creating memorable experiences for our community, including Multi-Cultural Night, the Bryant Misses You video, Bryant Parade, Fifth Grade graduation. We recognize all the ways that you’ve engaged our students and families and shown such resilience in difficult times.

Thank you to the many donors who have supported our successful fundraising programs, including the Annual campaign, Supplies campaign, silent Auction, and the Hunger Intervention and Hunger Prevention programs. We’re especially appreciative of your generous support of local schools in need via the September supplies campaign and the spring Hunger Prevention program. The Hunger Intervention Program (HIP) continued throughout the year with monthly grade-level food drives, and virtual fundraising after the building closure. And the Families in Need (FIN) program at Bryant continued to receive generous support from the annual PTSA budget. Thank you to the leaders of each of these vital fundraising and support programs.

Bryant has a long tradition of amazing volunteerism and community leadership. We want to recognize our PTSA board, committee chairs and leaders, and especially our individual volunteers. You create the rich community that we cherish. This year saw the formation of an Equity and Inclusion Committee in the Bryant PTSA to further inclusion and belonging for all families at Bryant by recognizing and celebrating our community’s diversity and addressing the needs of those furthest from educational justice. The PTSA was proud to pass an Equity resolution to declare the aspiration of equity to be core to its values, purpose and action and to put equity at the center of our endeavors, partnerships and collaborations. Our Advocacy chairs hosted a Meet Your Politicians event, including an unprecedented seven state, city and district political representatives at Bryant. There was a renewed commitment to Community Service this year, with families participating in multiple events, including the MLK Day of Service hygiene kit event. We also saw the introduction of new community building events and the continuation of the community speaker series. All of this wouldn’t be possible without our communications platform and team, including Facebook, the Weekly and BryantSchool.org. Thank you to the leaders and volunteers in these Equity, Advocacy, Community Service, Community Engagement and Communications roles.

We’ve been so inspired by the entire community’s continued commitment to our students and our school. As we look forward to next year, we will be working with the Administration toward a smooth transition in the fall. We wish you all a safe and healthy summer.

2019-2020 Bryant PTSA Board

Join us for the last PTSA General Meeting of the 2019-2020 School Year

Kathy Austin

All are welcome to attend our Last PTSA General Meeting of the 2019-2020 School Year on Tuesday, June 9th at 7:00 pm!

The virtual event will begin with Volunteer Awards then followed by the General Meeting. The agenda includes voting in our 2020-2021 Board and Reviewing and Approving the 2020-2021 Budget.

Join Microsoft Teams Meeting
+1 206-800-4787 United States, Seattle (Toll)
Conference ID: 424 096 594#

Bryant Blast – Save the Date!

Kathy Austin

The Bryant Blast is planned for Saturday, May 2nd from 12 pm – 4 pm.  Save the date for pony rides, fun games and activities, sno-cones, tasty food and much, much more! 

Wanna help plan the Blast?  We’ll be sending a sign-up for volunteer shifts right after Spring Break.  If you have a favorite job at the Blast, you can sign up early!  Contact the Blast Committee if you’re interested in helping.

Thank you to these Local Businesses for Contributing to our 2020 Online Auction

Kathy Austin

Business Name Website
8 Limbs Yoga https://8limbsyoga.com/
Acorn Street Shop www.acornstreet.com
Alexis Landry https://www.32auctions.com/organizations/19857/auctions/75207/auction_items/2102860
All Together Skate Park https://www.alltogetherskatepark.com/
Alpha Martial Arts www.alphamartialarts.com
Andrew Franklin, DDS www.andrewfranklindds.com
AR Workshop Seattle https://www.arworkshop.com/seattle
Ba Bar University Village babarseattle.com
Bagel Oasis seattlebageloasis.com
barre3 Seattle https://barre3.com/
Bischofberger Violins http://www.bviolinsltd.com/
Body & Brain Yoga Tai Chi – Wedgwood www.bodynbrain.com/wedgwood
Bryant Corner Cafe http://www.thebryantcornercafe.com/
Burke Gilman Brewing http://www.burkegilmanbrewing.com/
Cafe Lladro https://www.caffeladro.com/locations/ravenna-caffe-ladro/
Calluna www.callunaseattle.com
Carol Calbom Tutoring  
Cascade Bicycle Studio http://www.cascadebicyclestudio.com/
Celtic Soccer https://www.seattleceltic.com/
City Eyeworks https://cityeyeworks.com/
City People’s Mercantile citypeoples.com
Community Fitness www.communityfitness.com
Conservation Catalyst www.conservationcatalyst.org
Creative Dance Center https://www.creativedance.org/
da Pino Restaurant https://www.32auctions.com/organizations/19857/auctions/75207/auction_items/2107350
DaisySkyStudio daisysky.com
Dance Fremont dancefremont.com
Duchess Tavern https://www.32auctions.com/organizations/19857/auctions/75207/auction_items/2114591
Duke’s Seafood https://www.dukesseafood.com/
Ebb & Company www.ebbandcompany.com
Elements Massage Green Lake https://elementsmassage.com/green-lake
Elliot Bay Brewery https://www.elliottbaybrewing.com/
Eric’s Garage https://ericsgarage.com/
Erin Schedler Photography https://www.erinschedlerphoto.com/
Essence https://www.essenceseattle.com
Eureka! restauarant Eurekaresataurantgroup.com
Eyes On You www.EyesOnYouSeattle.com
Fran’s Chocolates https://frans.com/
GPT Physical Therapy www.greenwoodpt.com
Gracious House to Home gracioush2h.com
Grand Central Bakery www.grandcentralbakery.com
Grateful Bread GratefulBreadBaking.com
Guardian Cellars/Jennifer Sullivan https://www.guardiancellars.com/
Hailey Machado Photo www.haileymachado.com
Hawthorne Hills Veterinary Hospital www.hhvh.net
Hokkaido Ramen Santouka https://santouka-usa.com/
Homegrown eathomegrown.com
Jack Jerome https://jackjerome.com/
Jet City Pizza http://www.jetcitypizza.com/
Joey Kitchen https://joeyrestaurants.com/
John Howie Restaurants https://chefjohnhowie.com/restaurants/
Junebaby www.junebabyseattle.com
Keepsake Frames https://keepsakeframes.com/
Kettlebility, LLC kettlebility.com
Kid’s Club https://www.salonkidsclub.com/
Kidd Valley https://www.kiddvalley.com/locations-university
L’Ecole No 41 www.lecole.com
LASER childcare https://www.laserchildcare.org/
Laurelhurst Museum Quality Framing www.mqf.com
Lessons In Your Home www.lessonsinyourhome.net
Lynwood Bowl & Skate http://www.bowlandskate.com/
Macrina Bakery & Cafe www.macrinabakery.com
Maple Leaf Ace Hardware http://mapleleaface.com/
Mat Chess Mixed Martial Arts MatChessMMA.com
Mathnasium of Northeast Seattle www.mathnasium.com/northeastseattle
Matthew Steele Salon and Spa https://www.matthewsteelesalonspa.com/
Mercer / Karen Bonomo https://mercerstore.com/
MFG Cyclocross http://www.mfgcyclocross.com/
Mighty-O Donuts mightyo.com
Mioposto Pizzerias miopostopizza.com
Mr. West Cafe Bar mrwestcafebar.com
Muddy Waters https://www.facebook.com/Muddy-Waters-Coffee-Company-75588958006/
My Nail Bar mynailsbar.com
New Roots Organics newrootsorganics.com
Northwest Outdoor Center www.nwoc.com
OOLA Distillery https://www.ooladistillery.com/
Orangetheory Fitness U-District orangetheoryfitness.com
Orlov Chess Academy www.chessplayer.com
Paint the Town https://uvillage.com/paint-the-town/
Paper Source University Village https://store-locator.papersource.com/locations/store/wa_seattle?quoteId=11132152
Party Display & Costume http://www.displaycostume.com/
Piano Playground www.pianoplayground.org
Piatti https://seattle.piatti.com/
Portage Bay Cafe www.portagebaycafe.com
Radiant Path Yoga www.radiantpathyoga.com
Rainglow Airbrush Tanning & Lashes www.rainglowseattle.com
Ravenna Brewing www.ravennabrewing.com
Ravenna Gardens http://www.ravennagardens.com/
Red Ochre Art Studio www.redochreartstudio.com
Remlinger Farms https://remlingerfarms.com/
Ridge Pizza www.ridgepizza.com
Riverbend Golf Complex https://www.riverbendgolfcomplex.com/
Roaring Mouse Creative Arts Studio https://www.roaringmouse.org/
Roosevelt Dental Center www.rooseveltdental.com
Sail Sand Point www.sailsandpoint.org
Salon Jolie https://www.salonjolie.love/
Salty’s Restaurant https://www.saltys.com/seattle/
Seattle Athletic Club (Northgate) sacng.com
Seattle Bouldering Project https://seattleboulderingproject.com/
Seattle Chamber Music Society www.seattlechambermusic.org
Seattle Drum School of Music seattledrumschool.com
Seattle Gymnastics Academy https://seattlegymnastics.com/
Seattle Piano Academy www.seattlepianoacademy.com
Seattle Sunshine Coffee SeattleSunshineCoffee.com
Seattle’s Performers www.seattlesperformers.com
Skin Spirit skinspirit.com
Slug City Cycles www.slugcitycycles.com
Squirrelly Workshop www.squirrellyworkshop.com
Studio 45 www.studio45seattle.com
Sunshine Cleaners https://www.32auctions.com/organizations/19857/auctions/75207/auction_items/2102845
Super Jock N Jill https://www.superjocknjill.com/
Tennis Center Sand Point www.tenniscentersandpoint.com
Tenzan Aikido https://tenzanaikido.com/index.shtml
TGA of Greater Seattle https://greaterseattle.playtga.com/
The Mountaineers mountaineers.org
The Seattle Drum School seattledrumschool.com
Third Place Books thirdplacebooks.com
Thistle Theater https://thistletheatre.org/
Thriving Garden Design thriving-garden.com
Tonic Salon https://www.32auctions.com/organizations/19857/auctions/75207/auction_items/2107408
University Book Store ubookstore.com
University Tutoring universitytutoring.com
Unversity Village www.uvillage.com
Uplift Writing and Communication www.upliftwriting.com
Van Gogh Coffeehouse http://vangoghcoffeehouse.com/
Veraci Pizza http://www.veracipizza.com/
Vertical World www.verticalworld.com
Vitality Pilates http://www.vitalitypilates.com/
Watershed Pub & Kitchen www.watershedpub.com
Wedgwood Broiler https://www.wedgwoodbroiler.com/index.html
Wedgwood Drama Studio https://wedgwooddrama.com/
Wunderkind / Some Fun Parents http://wunderkindseattle.com/

Updated Play Performance Schedule

Kathy Austin

2020 COVID Challenges – Final Decision for Suessical Performances

Thank you for your swift and candid feedback on the modified performance schedule due to the emerging COVID pandemic. This situation is of course less than ideal. After careful consideration, we have decided to move forward with this modified performance schedule. Please note, some times are slightly different than originally proposed. 

Friday, March 13

HATS – cast/crew call time 4:15, house opens 4:30, show starts at 5P

 

Saturday, March 14

CATS – cast/crew call time 4:15, house opens 4:30, show starts at 5P

 

Sunday, March 15

HATS – cast/crew call time 4:15, house opens 4:30, show starts at 5P

CATS – cast/crew call time 5:45, house opens 6:00, show starts at 6:30P

If you cannot make the performances for your performer because of the schedule change (we understand this sucks! one of us co-producers is missing the final performance for her kiddo), you can come to a dress rehearsal.

Tuesday, March 10 – 4P-6P Cats

Thursday, March 12 – 4P-6P Hats

How we arrived here

After weighing a myriad of options in the very short amount of time we had to make a decision, we think this is our best option to ensure that the kids get to perform while minimizing the risk of disease as much as possible. It’s not possible for us to wait and resume rehearsals and schedule new performances because the Bryant school calendar is filled with other events. We will be competing for space with existing scheduled events as well as everyone else trying to reschedule. Additionally, Seattle Performers will likely not be available as they have more shows coming up, and we cannot run the shows without them. What this means is that we were having to decide between allowing the kids to perform now or cancelling all together. 

The vast majority of you shared little to no concern about moving forward with these performances. A few of you shared some concerns about gathering more than 100 people together for this event, and we share some of your concerns. As of yesterday, King County Public Health recommendations are as follows: 

Public Health is aware that events are being postponed, employers are encouraging that employees work from home and many schools have chosen to temporarily close. Public Health supports these decisions. While evidence currently available is that the vast majority of children and most adults are not at risk for severe illness, we do know that some members of our community are at higher risk. These include:

  • People 60 and older
  • People with underlying health conditions including heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes
  • People who have weakened immune systems
  • People who are pregnant

People at higher risk should stay home and away from large groups of people as much as possible, including public places with lots of people and large gatherings where there will be close contact with others. More detail on these measures is available at www.kingcounty.gov/covid 

King County is not mandating that events be cancelled. They support the decisions of those who are, but there is no directive to do so from them. 

Jet City Improv is a very small theater and will accommodate fewer people than the Bryant lunchroom. This means that we will be restricting ticket sales to parents and siblings (six tickets per family total) in order to make sure that we all see our own kids perform. This also reduces the number of others from the community who could potentially bring in a germ. These kids are at school together all day and they bring their germs home. The vast majority of us in that theater together will already be exposed to whatever is going around Bryant, even if we were to cancel performances. Because of this, we feel the risk is lower than other community events that invite a wider range of the general public. That said, if you, your child, or a family member is in one of the high risk categories, we understand if you cannot participate. Theaters around Seattle are following protocol of refunding tickets to those who are sick, and doing a deeper clean between performances. Seattle Performers use this theater regularly for their student performances and have been sanitizing after each show. We will also be asking for volunteers to join us ahead of each rehearsal and performance to sanitize seats and door handles. 

We are not promoting this event to the larger Bryant community or doing broad ticket sales. Students at Bryant may get to see a review of the show during school hours. 

Stay tuned for more info about volunteer opportunities, rehearsals, costumes, tickets, and performances. Please let us know if you have questions or if your student won’t be able to participate. Thank you for your patience and kindness as we figure this out. See you at tech rehearsal tomorrow!

Traci & Liza