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E-News: May 3

Upcoming Events

May 4: Pizazz

May 7: Learning Resources Coffee for Middle School Families

May 8: Parents of Students of Color Dinner

May 9: Head of School Coffee for Upper School Parents/Guardians

May 10: Senior Prom

May 11: PreACT

May 15: Forefront Suicide Prevention Training

May 16: Head of School Coffee for Middle School Parents/Guardians

May 16: Family Ed Forum - Tech Panel

May 16-17: 11th Grade Trip

May 17-18: Rock Climbing in Leavenworth

Learning Resources Coffee for Middle School Families, May 7

The Learning Resources staff would like to invite Middle School families for a cup of coffee on May 7, 6:00-7:00 pm, in the Commons. The purpose of the time is to create an informal space to share updates and receive feedback on the Learning Resources Program in the Middle School. Hillary French, director of learning resources, and Rae Page, learning resources coordinator, will both be present.

Decaf coffee, tea, and snacks will be served. If you have any questions, please contact Rae Page.

Remember: Place Your 2018-19 Yearbook Order!

Please use the Yearbook Order Form to pre-order your book(s) by May 10, 2019. Please note: the order form has been emailed to both parents and students, so we ask that you coordinate with your students to avoid duplicate orders.

There will be a limited number of yearbooks available for sale during pick-up, so we highly encourage you to pre-order. Families currently receiving financial aid are eligible for a yearbook for each student at no cost, but we ask that you still complete the order form. Please contact Nathalie Hall with any questions.

Monday/Wednesday Schedule Swap, May 6 and 8

In order to accommodate a special performance by Mariachi Flor de Toloache (an all-female mariachi band), we have made the following schedule changes for Monday, May 6, and Wednesday, May 8:

Monday, May 6

  • Block G: 8:10-9:30
  • Community Meeting: 9:35-10:35
  • Block F: 10:40-11:45
  • Block H1: 11:50-1:00 (Lunch A: 11:50-12:40)
  • Block H2: 12:45-1:55 (Lunch B: 1:05-1:55)
  • Environment: 2:00-2:10
  • Block E: 2:15-3:30

Wednesday, May 8

  • Block E: 8:10-9:15
  • Flex: 9:20-9:50
  • Block H: 9:55-11:00
  • Block F1: 11:05-12:10 (Lunch A: 11:05-12:10)
  • Block F2: 12:15-1:20 (Lunch B: 12:15-1:20)
  • Environment: 1:25-1:35
  • Block G: 1:40-2:40
  • Office Hours: 2:40-3:30

Parents of Students of Color Dinner, May 8

We would like to invite all parents of students of color at Northwest to join us for dinner in the Dining Hall, on Wednesday, May 8, 6:00-8:00 pm. Dinner will be provided.

This is a parent-only event. A study room, supervised by an adult, will be provided for families who are unable to arrange childcare. Please note: the study room will not have activities for younger children.


Invitamos a todos los padres de estudiantes de color de Northwest a que nos acompañen a una cena en el comedor de 401, el miércoles 8 de mayo. Se ofrecerá la cena.

Tenga en cuenta que este es un evento exclusivo para padres. Se proporcionará una sala de estudio, supervisada por un adulto, para las familias que no puedan programar el cuidado de los niños.


我们邀请西北中学所有有色人种学生的家长参加于5月8日(周三)在401餐厅举行的晚宴下午6点到晚上8点。

敬请注意,这是一个仅限家长参加的活动。我们将为无法安排儿童托儿照顾的家长提供一个由成人监督的教室为托儿室。

Senior Prom Information

Senior Prom is on Friday, May 10. Several dedicated parent volunteers are putting together a fantastic evening of dinner and dancing for the senior class and their guests. Payment and RSVP for the evening is required and can be found on the forms section of My BackPack. Senior parents should have received an email with details about how they can help contribute to the evening.

  • 4:30-6:00 pm: Pictures at Volunteer Park, by the Noguchi Black Sun sculpture
  • 6:00-7:30 pm: Dinner and dessert at 401, hosted by parents of senior class
  • 8:00-midnight: Prom at Fremont Abby Arts Center

Please contact Cecilia Tung or Chris Talone if you have any questions.

Parent/Guardian Coffees with the Head of School

You are invited to join me for a division-level parent coffee each trimester. These coffees, attended by myself, the division director, and other school leaders, will offer an informal opportunity for us to answer your questions about all things Northwest: mission, philosophy, culture, pedagogy, academics, and co-curriculars—just about anything, really. Both coffees begin at 8:15 am, in the Dining Room.

  • May 9: Upper School Parents and Guardians
  • May 16: Middle School Parents and Guardians

Forefront in the Schools, Suicide Prevention Parent Training

In partnership with the University of Washington Forefront Suicide Prevention Program, we will be offering our annual parent training on Wednesday, May 15, 6:30-8:00 pm, in the Main School Building. This training is geared to support and empower the role parents play in keeping our children safe and supported. Northwest School Parent Trainers will guide you through the warning signs, possible interventions, and resources for students and families in distress. We welcome all Northwest School parents and guardians and ask that you RSVP here to help ensure we have an appropriately sized space.

For more information on the event, please contact School Counselor Erin North. For more information on Forefront in the Schools, click here.

Announcing Family Education Event: Pathways to Tech, May 16

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." - Lao Tzu

Take a step towards your journey in tech on May 16, at 6:00 pm. Join us for a unique Family Ed event. All students and parents/guardians are invited to an evening of discussion, fun, and good food. You will hear authentic stories from people working in various roles in the tech industry and learn how they entered the field and about the challenges they’ve faced.

Our tech panelists are:

  • Michael Forzano - Software Engineer, Amazon Retail Accessibility Team
  • Aliya Marder - Co-founder and Product Design, Ridwell
  • Wei Gao - Vice President, Amazon Technical Advisor to CEO
  • Paul Kotas - Senior Vice President, Amazon Advertising
  • Jeremiah Wilton - Principal Engineer, Amazon Web Services

Come prepared to ask questions and participate in the conversation. Please RSVP by completing this online form. If you have questions, please contact Shie Benaderet.

Athletics Announcements

Congratulations to track and field athlete Amelia H. '19, who set a new school record in the girls' 100 hurdles, with a 15.55 time! You can view all of the school records here.

Come cheer on the Upper School track and field team and the JV boys' soccer team on May 9 and 10. We'll have Fan Meet t-shirts at the track meet and BBQ at the soccer game.

The fan bus will depart for West Seattle Stadium on May 9, at 3:40 pm, returning around 7:00 pm. RSVP to Britt for a seat on the bus.

The JV soccer game is against University Prep, on May 10, at 4:00 pm, at Bobby Morris.

Rock Climbing in Leavenworth, May 17-18

Join the Outdoor Program on one of the two final trips of the school year. We will camp near Leavenworth and then enjoy a full day of climbing in that beautiful area. Students coming on this trip will have the opportunity to climb on some excellent granite routes on cliffs alongside Icicle Creek. The climbing will be supervised by Northwest School faculty.

Seventh Grade Spring Olympics, May 13

On Monday, May 13, 3:30-5:00 pm, in the gym, we will be holding our annual 7th Grade Spring Olympics event. Students are grouped into teams and compete against each other by playing fun, and often, silly games. This event is for 7th graders only. We will provide snacks.

Please pick up students at 5:00 pm in the gym. If students will be finding alternative ways home, parents and guardians need to inform Maria Moses. Please RSVP here.

NWS Black Student Union Hosting Black Girl Magic Retreat

Beginning on May 31, at 6:00 pm, and running until June 1, at 3:00 pm, The Northwest School's Black Student Union (BSU) is hosting a citywide BSU Black Girl Magic Retreat. The retreat will bring black high school girls together from across the city for lessons on black girl essentials and to hear how black women in our community navigate their lives in the business world. This is an important event because black girls seldom have opportunities to focus on empowering themselves and one another.

If you have questions about the event, please contact Amina Loftin and Sy'Naeh S. '20.

Students Supporting College Scholarships for South African Peers

For over ten years now, Northwest students have been collaborating with students from other Seattle-area schools as part of the Seattle South African Scholarship Foundation (SSASF). This student-founded and student-driven group emerged after Seattle students hosted a visiting group from the Hector Peterson Senior Secondary School (in the Wallacedene Township near Cape Town, South Africa). The students from the two countries found that they had a great deal in common, including shared dreams for attending college and university. When the South African students described their challenges with affording tuition, the Seattle students decided to contribute what they could by putting on a fund-raising dinner. Ever since that first year, SSASF has been offering full scholarships to accomplished Hector Peterson graduates.

The 11th Annual SSASF Dinner will be on May 18, and all members of the Northwest community are invited. Details can be found on the SSASF website, and questions can be directed to Isobel M. '19 or to Jeff Blair.

Announcing Our Summer Basketball and Soccer Camps

We are excited to announce two sports camps for students this summer.

Basketball Camp for Rising 4th-9th Graders
July 1-3, 9:00 am-3:00 pm
Cost: $140 before June 1, $170 after
Register here.

Soccer Camp for Rising 4th-6th Graders
Aug. 19-22, 9:00 am-12:00 pm
Cost: $200 before Aug. 1, $240 after
Register here.

Hosting Opportunity for Exchange Student and Faculty

There is an exciting opportunity available for those who would like the enriching experience of making new friends from Ethiopia! On May 15-30, we will be hosting an exchange student and a faculty member (both male) from our partner school in Ethiopia, and we are seeking families to host our guests.

If you are interested or have any questions, please contact Dmitry Sherbakov.

Do We Have Your Grandparent or Special Friend's Information?

Invitations have been mailed for this year's rescheduled Grandparents & Special Friends Day, May 30, 9:00-11:30 am. Guests enjoy a special breakfast, followed by a visit to a class with their student. Want to add someone to the invitation list, or update your family's information? Fill out the online form here. If you're interested in volunteering for the event, please contact Maria Mazcorro.

College Counseling Programs and Updates

Please click here to view college counseling announcements, upcoming visits and events, and admissions updates.

About E-News: The weekly E-News covers a two-week period of upcoming events, parent reminders, and campus news. For a complete listing of events and important dates, please visit the all school calendar.