The Eagle – Week of February 23
The Eagle
Letter from Principal Bean
Dear Families,
New Superintendent-I am super excited about our new Superintendent Ben Shuldiner. He met with building leaders last week, and I was extremely impressed with his energy, focus, and commitment. In case you missed his introductory letter, here are his three top mission statements
- I will always put the students first. My role is first and foremost to serve the 50,000 children that wake up every day and attend our schools. It is they whom I work for.
- I will be present. As superintendent, I will show up. I will be with you whenever and wherever you need. I am of service and that means being alongside each and every one of you.
- I will disappoint you. There will be times when I make decisions that some of you won’t like. Sometimes we must act when not everyone is in favor, but you will always have a rationale from me. Nothing I do will be without explanation.
Superintendent Coming to OV! I am excited to host our new Superintendent on Friday, February 27! He will be coming first thing in the morning!
Community Engagement Meeting Schedule with Superintendent
- Thursday, Feb. 26, 7:30–8:30 p.m., Bailey Gatzert Elementary, 1301 E Yesler Way
- Tuesday, March 3, 7:30–8:30 p.m., South Shore K–8, 4800 S Henderson St.
- Tuesday, March 10, 7:30–8:30 p.m., Salmon Bay K–8, 1810 NW 65th St.
- Tuesday, March 17, 7:30–8:30 p.m., Eckstein Middle School, 3003 NE 75th St.
- Tuesday, March 24, 6:30–7:30 p.m., McClure Middle School, 1915 1st Ave W.
- Thursday, March 26, 6:30–7:30 p.m., James Baldwin Elementary, 11725 1st Ave NE
- Tuesday, March 31, 6:30–7:30 p.m., West Seattle Elementary, 6760 34th Ave SW
- Thursday, April 2, 6–7:30 p.m., Virtual, online; link forthcoming
Highly Capable Eligibility Updates:
- February 5: Families should have received official eligibility notifications
- February 12: Eligible families will receive additional information about service options for the 2026-27 school year.
- February 28: Deadline for HC families to submit school choice decisions
- March 31: Late applications accepted
Budget Staffing Update: Normally, I get enrollment projections in late January, but because of the school choice window being moved up, we did not get those projections. I will be getting our official enrollment projections and school budget/staffing numbers this week.
ICE Resources for Families: Families and community members can find resources and supports on our website. These include links to know your rights materials, the City’s rapid response program, legal resources, and family preparedness planning.
In partnership,
Mr. Bean (he/him)
Principal, Olympic View
ajbean@seattleschools.org
206-252-5500
Important Dates
Every Wednesday is 1:10 p.m. early release
- Tuesday, February 24 Ukulele Club 2:30-3:30 p.m. P2
- Thursday, February 26 Winter Session After-School Enrichment 6 2:40-3:40 p.m.
- Monday, March 2 Dental Clinic
- Wednesday, March 4 Wonderful Wednesday lunchtime art project – during lunch recess – outside blacktop OR main lobby hallway for rainy day recess
- Monday, March 9 Changemaker Attribute Assembly: Kindness
- Monday, March 9 Art Committee monthly meeting 2:45-3:30 PM Art Room (212) Virtual Meeting Link
- Tuesday, March 10 Art Docent Training
- Wednesday, March 11 Spirit Day: Sports Day
- Wednesday, March 11 Science Night 5-7 p.m. Cafeteria
This Week’s News
Last Chance for Auction Items:
There are a few auction items that are still available to buy until the end of the month! Help us get to our auction goal!
Details for each event are at their link. Questions? Email fundraising@ovpta.org
Science Night is Coming! March 11
Join us for Science Night
Wednesday, March 11 | 5–7 p.m.
Olympic View Elementary Cafeteria
Families are invited to explore, experiment, and discover together! This hands-on evening will feature:
- Interactive exhibits from Pacific Science Center
- Robotics & engineering activities
- A fun ice cream–making experiment
- Creative science art projects
- A museum admission raffle
- Pizza and more!
We need your help to make it happen!
We’re looking for parent volunteers to help run stations, guide activities, and keep things moving smoothly. Even a short shift makes a big difference. Science Night Volunteer Sign-Up
Special call for VR helpers!
Do you have a standalone VR headset (no computer needed—examples include Meta Quest 2 or 3)? We’re hoping to run a VR Science Station where kids can explore space, the ocean, Earth, the human body, dinosaurs, and more! Volunteers would bring the headset and help students take turns and use it during the event. If this sounds fun to you, we’d love to hear from you.
Questions or VR offers? Reach out to Mariia projectdeskmk@gmail.com
Let’s make this a night to remember!
A Big Mahalo to All the Biking Volunteers
Thank you to all the parents who came and supported the bikie unit. I really appreciate it. The students accomplished so much in 3 days. Many students who started the unit thinking they were not bikers, ended the unit as a biker who can now peddle and balance. Parents if your child has a bike, please keep the momentum going.
Mrs. Bruecher
Seattle Torrent (Women’s Hockey) Tickets
This is the first ever season for The Seattle Torrent and you can see them live at Climate Pledge Arena! Use this link to get the group ticket rate for select Seattle Torrent games this season, with some tickets as low as $37 per person.
- February 27, Friday 7 p.m. versus Toronto
- March 29, Sunday 4 p.m. versus Ottawa
- April 18, Saturday 7 p.m. versus Vancouver
Used Book Sale Is Back!
Look for the happy little yellow book collection bin outside the flagpole entrance after Mid-Winter Break! It will be accepting your donations of gently-used books of all kinds! Books will be sold during the OV Plant Sale: Blooms and Books event, April 24 and 25, all proceeds benefiting the OVPTA. If you’ve been hoarding books all year for us, (thanks!!) reach out for additional ways to drop them off, or we’ll come pick them up. Email Andrea at amchaddock@gmail.com
Olympic View Plant Sale is April 24 and 25!
This year, we’re back with OV’s favorite community event! As always, we’ll have plants and flowers, opportunities to learn and nurture your creativity, delicious treats to enjoy together, and a charming used book sale—all rooted in the spirit of bringing our community together to support OV students! If you’d like to help us bring this dream to life, we’d love to hear from you! Reach out to Andrea at amchaddock@gmail.com with questions and keep an eye out for the SignupGenius in April.
Volunteer Opportunities
Move-A-Thon Volunteer Needed
Are you looking for a fun and meaningful volunteer opportunity at Olympic View? For those who may not be familiar, the Move-a-Thon is a longstanding and beloved fundraiser that takes place in the spring (this year it’s April 10). Students collect pledges from friends and family and walk or run around the OV blacktop. We are hoping to find a parent who is interested in shadowing the current volunteer this year, then take the lead with her support in 2026-2027. This is a great role for someone who is looking for a project that is already well-organized, student-facing and requires attention only during a portion of the year.
Please reach out to president@OVPTA.org and/or fundraising@OVPTA.org if you are interested in learning more!
Wonderful Wednesday Helpers
Once a month the Art Committee hosts a lunch recess art activity that is absolutely beloved by the students. From 11:05 a.m.-11:55 p.m. we offer a small project supporting seasonal themes and exploring a variety of materials. Contact Cara Mattera at enrichment@ovpta.org for more Art Committee information.
Library Help
Thank you for considering volunteering in the OV Library. If this is your first time volunteering in the library, please reach out to Ms. Leland klleland@seattleschools.org to receive an SPS Volunteer Invitation. Send any questions my way.
Kristi Leland
Eagle Pack Volunteers Needed (and bags too)
The Eagle Pack program provides weekend food bags for any family that requests it. The University Food Bank provides the food items, and volunteers pack the bags and distribute them to classrooms every week. We need volunteers to help with picking up from the Food Bank on Thursday afternoons and packing on Friday mornings from about 8-9 a.m. If you are able to help during this timeframe, please sign up.
We would love to have some consistent volunteers, so if you can commit to one or more Fridays a month, that would be helpful. Approved volunteers can feel free to drop into the lunchroom any Friday, after drop off to lend a hand as well if you find yourself with some time.
We can always use plastic and paper shopping bags (the thicker, handled ones like from Target or a grocery store). If you have extras you can donate, please drop them off in the office.
Questions? Contact k.linnes@gmail.com
Subscribe to the PTA Newsletter!
Want to hear directly from the PTA on upcoming events and opportunities? Subscribe to the PTA newsletter!
General Information
Late Arrivals to School
If your student is late (the bell rings at 7:55 a.m.), please drop them off at the NE 95th Street entrance near the flagpole or blacktop. We now have a call box at the 95th Street entrance. After the bell rings at 7:55 a.m., all students must be signed in with office staff. The 8th Ave call box entrance will be used for staff only.
Absences
If your student will not be at school, please email the attendance email olympicview.attendance@seattleschools.org or call 202-252-5504 to let office staff know.
Early Pick Up
Parents/Guardians should come to the 95th Street security call box entrance. We are unable to call students down to the office until you arrive for pick up.
Pick Up Changes
If your student will have an alternate plan for pick up, please contact the office via email olympicview@seattleschools.org, phone 206-252-5500, Talking Points message, or a signed note with your student.
Our breakfast and lunch menus are now up on the SPS website!
Individual milk purchase (with home lunch) costs $.75
Want to know what to do if there is bad weather? Learn more about preparing for winter weather.
Please reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator, Sabrina O’Brien, for more information on volunteering: snobrien@seattleschools.org
Want to support your student’s classroom teacher?
Spirit Gear: The Olympic View Spirit Wear online store is now open!
Choose from Kids, Women, and Men’s sizes. We have t-shirts, long sleeved, crewnecks and hoodies all available in many colors.
Membership strengthens the voice of our community, helps support the WA State and National PTAs, and allows you to vote on OV PTA matters, including how to spend the money we fundraise. Scholarships are available, if you need one.
For all illnesses, including COVID, please keep students home if:
- They have uncontrollable secretions from their eyes or nose
- They cannot control their cough
- Their symptoms are improving
- They are fever, diarrhea, vomit free for at least 24 hours, without the use of medication
COVID testing is no longer required.
Resources
Food Bank and Pantries
As SNAP benefits are coming to an end and with the current government shutdown, I want to share some valuable resources for those in need of food and meals. Below is a link to a list of resources for free meals that are available without any requirements or registration.
SPS website: Support for Families in Need
Looking for additional resources? Please go to our Family Resource Page:
Contact Us
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Main Office: 206-252-5500 olympicview@seattleschools.org
Main Fax: 206-252-5501
Attendance: 206-252-5504 olympicview.attendance@seattleschools.org
Principal – Andrew Bean ajbean@seattleschools.org
Administrative Secretary – Crystal Parry cnparry@seattleschools.org
Office Assistant – Open
School Nurse – Angie Sterwald (Mon/Thurs) amsterwald@seattleschools.org
Nurse Fax: 206-743-3157
Counselor – Joyce Rho jecho@seattleschools.org
All Staff Directory
Olympic View PTA
To submit a school-related news item or announcement, please email Crystal Parry at cnparry@seattleschools.org. Submissions are due Wednesday of each week for Sunday publication and should have “For the Eagle” in the subject line.