School Beat: January 8, 2025

In SPS, Dual Language Immersion programs are transforming education by allowing students to spend half their day learning in a different language. Language immersion programs not only boost academic performance but also foster cultural awareness and problem-solving abilities.

Cleveland STEM and Lincoln high schools' volleyball teams earned WIAA Academic State Champ honors. The teams are the first-ever at Seattle Public Schools to receive recognition for their outstanding academic performance.

SPS students and staff finished 2024 strong as the awards and recognitions poured in around the district. We shouting out Seattle Seahawks’ Community Award winners, National Board Certified Teachers, a national award nominee and a Distinguished School Social Worker Award recipient.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream is alive and well. In remembrance, there will be no school on Monday, Jan. 20. The district office will also be closed.

January is School Board Recognition Month.

Jan. 16: Temperance and Good Citizenship Day

Jan. 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Jan 28: End of Quarter 2

Jan. 29: Semester 2 begins

Please join us at one of five community meetings this month to learn more about the two expiring levies in the Feb. 11 election. These levies provide continued funding for building safety, school programs, student services and building improvements, ensuring students have safe and supportive learning environments. These in-person meetings offer a chance to ask questions, hear details, and learn how the levies fund our schools.

Seattle Public Schools is hosting a Black College Expo at Rainier Beach High School on Saturday, Jan. 18, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Seniors, juniors, and college transfer students can meet one-on-one with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), other colleges, universities and educational programs. The expo is open to students of ALL ages. Everyone is welcome!

Students with documented disabilities may be eligible for accommodations on AP Exams. The request for accommodations must be submitted by Friday, Jan. 24, to the College Board. Students must be approved for accommodations by the College Board Services for Students with Disabilities office.

Registration for the 2025-26 school year is now open! Join us for our Admissions Fair on Saturday, Feb. 1, to ask questions about the upcoming school year, learn more about Open Enrollment for School Choice, and hear about the many outstanding programs in Seattle Public Schools! Explore your possibilities in SPS!

You can also visit SDOT’s winter weather website for snow route maps and more tips on how to prepare for winter.

All SPS families are invited to join Family Connectors University, a family-focused online course to help parents and caregivers support their child’s learning and growth.

There are plenty of ways for seniors to earn money for college. You just need to know where to look. Thousands of scholarships are available to seniors and go unclaimed every year! Check out these available scholarship opportunities for SPS students. 11th and 12th grade students and families can explore national, local, and college-based scholarship opportunities on Naviance and WashBoard.

To learn more about the School Board and its work, public meetings, and upcoming policy initiatives, visit the School Board webpage.