Seattle Schools Community Forum

Big news - Mayor Katie Wilson has signed "a New Approach to Reducing Gun Violence." This from the  Office of the Mayor . I'm highlighting the efforts that will help students.  I don't see in either the press release or plan any formal interaction with SPS but I would assume that to be the case.  Here are key points for SPS and its students: - The big item that is something of a surprise to me, given it's just one school.  New afterschool support: Invests over $600,000 in Rainier Beach High School to pilot a new  afterschool program for students and expand peer mentorships for teens at Rainier Beach  Community Center.  The 2027—2028 budget will fund two staff to support the afterschool program, increase funding for contracts with community-based organizations that offer services  to teens, and provide staffing and training to Seattle Parks and Recreation staff who work with  our teens. Maybe since it's a pilot, if it works, the City will expa...

Update 2:  From KUOW, info that may be of interest to parents of teens.  Every year, the Library’s citywide book club  Seattle Reads  encourages all of Seattle to read and discuss the same book. The program has been replicated around the world. This year’s selection is  “True Biz”  by Sara Nović, a highly engaging novel about a deaf high school student, Charlie, who enrolls at a residential school for the deaf when her cochlear implants begin failing her. It’s a quick read, and no spoilers, but a lot happens. Nović will speak at four Library events around the city on Sept. 25 and 26, presenting in ASL, with voice interpreters and live captioning at each event. Seattle Public Library has unlimited copies of the e-book available via the Libby app as well, so you’ve got plenty of time to read it before the event! REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED -  Event Calendar | The Seattle Public Library end of update Update: The biggest news is that former head of SPS Human ...

The screener being used is an SBIRT one (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) called Check Yourself.  It is being used in most middle schools and some high schools.   (All bold mine)  It is not truly peer-reviewed, the protection of the student data has been questionable, and it does NOT require an accredited and trained mental health professional talk to your child. It also doesn't require a parent to be notified if your child is referred for additional services if they are 13 and over unless it's a top-tier issue like self-harm or harming others. Washington state law supports this.  However in the interest of saving you time, here's the bottom line: - Seattle Schools is using a mental health program for teens that is NOT truly peer-reviewed.  - I note that students CAN opt out but may feel peer pressure to take the screener. Your child will take the screener with other students in the class sitting right there, and there are reports of stu...