If you need to read the Digest in another language, use the language menu at the top.
Si necesita leer el resumen en otro idioma, use el menú de idiomas en la parte superior.
Haddii aad u baahan tahay inaad ku akhrido Digest luqad kale, isticmaal liiska luqadda xagga sare.

Mar 21 - General meeting and Q&A with Dr. Luster (7pm; see zoom link below)
April 4 - Salmon Release Day (to Seward Park)
April 8 - 12 - Spring Break (No School)
April 15 - Orca Plus Session 3
April 16 - Executive Board Meeting
April 18th - Environmental Science Night (5-630pm)
April 22- May 3 - SESSFA Move-a-thon
April 22- 26 National Volunteer Week 
May 4 - Garden Clean Up Work Party (10-1pm)
May 18 Plant Sale Fundraiser (10-2) and Online Auction Kick-off

Orca Spotlight

A special thanks to school assistant Ian Reid. You may see Mr. Reid outside the school helping families and buses safely enter our school in the mornings. You might also see Mr. Reid inside the school office or around the halls doing a million different things that need doing around the school. He comes everyday with energy and care for our community and we truly appreciate him.

News & Updates

Culinary Club
Mr. Worthy, the paraprofessional in multi-lingual studies at Orca K-8 is doing a final push with his GoFundMe campaign. The club's purpose is to empower those in positive decision making and confidence building. Please contact Mr. Worthy at (olworthy@seattle.schools.org) if you have any questions about the club!
https://gofund.me/17e890fc

Reading Partner Program – Volunteers Still Needed!
This year, Orca will be partnering with Reading Partners to provide one-on-one tutoring to Orca students during the school day and after school.  If you are interested in tutoring in person, sign up at https://readingpartners.org/volunteer/ or contact Sara Orme the Orca Program Coordinator at sara.orme@readingpartners.org today!

Hanging Baskets are available for pre-order NOW!
Do you like plants? Do you like baskets? Do you like hanging things? Well, you are in luck and should pre-order your hanging basket today with pick-up being the Plant Sale on May 18th. This is a perfect gift for family or friends and a wonderful way to support the Orca PTSA. Please use the QR code below or jump on the PTSA website for more plant sale information (https://orcak8-ptsa.memberplanet.com/OrcaGarden.html).

Upcoming Events

PTSA General Board Meeting
March 21 @ 7:00pm

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94772044083?pwd=RVZsVU43bGNEZVhmaWFWeUJ1ZHJJZz09
Meeting ID: 947 7204 4083
Passcode: 727365

Agenda for the next meeting: Join us for updates from the PTSA, conversation around the recent incident at Orca K8, Q&A with Dr. Luster, and hear from a guest speaker from PFLAG to learn about resources available to the community.

The executive board meetings tend to involve logistical discussions amongst board and school committee members while the general board meetings are more focused on a public review of all PTSA activities for the community. However, all Orca k-8 community members are invited to attend all PTSA meetings and are encouraged to share concerns or questions they may have about the PTSA or our school. If you can’t make one of the meetings but you want to review what was discussed, don’t hesitate to contact the PTSA secretary for the minutes from our last meeting (secretary@orca-k8-ptsa.org).


Salmon Release Day
April 4 (ask your classroom teacher for precise timing)

Students have been raising baby salmon since January and they are ready to be released into Lake Washington! Times vary by grade, as classes will begin walking after each lunch period. Please note that family members are VERY welcome to walk down to the park with their kid’s class but they need to reach out to their classroom teacher for the precise time. Particularly for the K-3 grade classrooms, extra volunteers are very helpful to help with road crossings and tired legs coming back up the big hill! :)

Environmental Science Night
April 18th from 5-6:30pm

Get ready for an exciting night of environmental science! On Thursday, April 18th from 5-6:30pm we will gather in the Orca lunch room to celebrate and share science projects and units that classes have developed this year. You may learn about salmon! Oooh! You may learn about erosion! Wow! You may enter to win raffle prizes sponsored by local businesses! Yay! Come experience an Orca tradition make its triumphant post-pandemic return. Be there or be MC squared!


Orca Spring Online Auction 
May 18th- May 25th

It’s a Whale of an Auction & we’re fin-ancing our future!

We took a look at how we as a community can best support our school and teachers. This year that means an online-only auction. We will get together for food and festivities later in June, but for May 18th-25th we’ll be raising money on the Interweb.

We need your help. Do you have a cool item or activity you’d like to donate? Know any friends that do? How about Alumni and Orca K-8 fans who would be interested in bidding on items? Spread the word and spread the love!

The beginning of the school year we launched the Garden Campaign, as that is where the majority of PTSA funds are spent. The auction is the other key annual fundraiser we have. Beyond the fabulous garden, the PTSA also supports important Orca enrichment programs like Orca Plus & Speak With Purpose. We give stipends to all teachers, as well as additional funding for Art, Physical Education, and Library.


Donate an item, gift card, events tickets to the auction HERE