School staff and parents throughout Seattle are organizing several events this month to mark the loss of school buildings and programs that are being closed or discontinued by district officials.
COOPER ELEMENTARY – SUNDAY, JUNE 7
Cooper Elementary invites students, families, staff and the community to share memories and visit with old friends and staff. Activities scheduled for the day include: an open house, display of archived items, garden tours, activities for children, and cake and refreshments. Visitors will also have an opportunity to contribute to the creation of a memory scrapbook.
The Cooper program will be discontinued next school year and students reassigned to other schools in West Seattle. The Genesee Hill building that houses Pathfinder K-8 will be closed and students relocated to the Cooper building. Cooper's two autism self-contained and one inclusion program will remain at Cooper to become part of Pathfinder K-8.
Cooper Closing Celebration
Sunday, June 7
2-4 p.m.
Cooper School
1901 S.W. Genesee St.
Contact: Collette Swensen at 252-8170, or cswenson@seattleschools.org;
or Laura Payton at 252-8215 or lspayton@seattleschools.org.
VAN ASSELT ELEMENTARY – FRIDAY, JUNE 12
Van Asselt Elementary School, which opened as a four-room schoolhouse in 1909, will celebrate its 100th year as preparations also begin to close the building. Events for Van Asselt's June 12 event include an open house, tours, performances, a reception, and displays of historical costumes and the school's history. Click on this link for more information.
The Van Asselt building will be closed next school year and the program will be relocated to the African American Academy building at the start of the new school year.
Van Asselt's 100 Years Celebration
The End of an Era, the Beginning of a New Era
Friday, June 12
4:30-7:30 p.m.
Van Asselt Elementary
7201 Beacon Ave. S.
Contact: Lissa Munger at 252-7500 or ecmunger@seattleschools.org
PATHFINDER K-8 – SATURDAY, JUNE 13
Pathfinder K-8 will hold its closing celebration on June 13 for the Genesee Hill building. Staff, students, alumni, current and former families and members of the surrounding community are invited. The school will celebrate 15 years in the Genesee Hill building with events and activities to include: opening of a time capsule, displays of past school years, a family picnic, Native storytelling and a closing Friendship Circle song and dance. The school will be holding its grand opening celebration in its new facility on September 8 at 6 p.m.
The Pathfinder K-8 program will be relocated to the Cooper building next school year. The Genesee Hill building which housed Pathfinder K-8 will close.
Pathfinder Closing Celebration
Saturday, June 13
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Genesee Hill building
5012 S.W. Genesee St.
Contact: Linda Thomson at 252-9710 or lmthomson@seattleschools.org
AFRICAN AMERICAN ACADEMY – FRIDAY, JUNE 19
The African American Academy K-8 (AAA) will hold a Juneteenth celebration on June 19 focusing on the life, purpose, and accomplishments of the Academy. The AAA program has been discontinued and the Van Asselt Elementary program will be housed in the AAA building next school year.
Celebrating the Life of the Academy
Friday, June 19
4-7 p.m.
African American Academy
8311 Beacon Ave. S.
Contact: Danielle Jackson at 252-6650 or dajackson1@seattleschools.org
T.T. Minor, the Secondary BOC and Summit K-12 also hosted celebrations.
