Dear Bryant Community,

The start of a new school year certainly feels different this year. Our hearts are heavy
after the shocking loss of our beloved librarian, Anne Aliverti, who passed away on
August 14 after being struck by a car while crossing the street near her home.
Her loss will be felt deeply by students, staff, and families. We trust in the strength and
care of this community to support one another. We encourage you to check in with your
student(s) and offer them space to share their thoughts and feelings. Below are some
helpful resources you can use to help navigate these conversations.

Resources for Children:

Tip Sheets:
Tips for Supporting Children Who are Grieving
Developmental Responses to Grief
Ideas for Kids to Express Grief

Books:

• When Someone Very Special Dies, Marge Heegaard
• Invisible String, Patrice Karst
• When Dinosaurs Die, Laura Krasny Brown
• The Memory Tree, Britta Teckentrup

Resources for Parents:
What’s Your Grief Website
Taking Care of Yourself Tip Sheet

Books:

• Bearing the Unbearable: Love, Loss, and the Heartbreaking Path of
  Grief, Joanne Cacciotore
• How Do We Tell the Children?, Dan Schaeffer and Christine Lyons
• Lifetimes, Bryan Mellonie and Robert Ingpen

Anne’s family has created a tribute site, where you are invited to share memories and
stories: lovinganne.blog

Turning to the year ahead, we have a wonderful Board of new and returning members
with lots of momentum and ideas to make this year a success. As we kick things off, we
want to go over a few housekeeping items:

• A note about school supplies. As many of you know, the Bryant PTSA has a
  long-standing program of purchasing school supplies upfront for all students for
  the entire year. We buy items in bulk to help families save time and money, and
  supplies are ready and waiting for kids on the first day of school.
  We rely on reimbursement from Bryant families to keep the program running.
  Unfortunately, we were unable to fully recoup our costs last year. We appreciate
  your reimbursement so that we can continue to offer this program in the years
  ahead.
• Sign up for the Bryant Weekly newsletter. It’s the best way to get information
  and updates from the PTSA and to stay connected to what is happening at
  Bryant. You can sign up here.
• Join the Bryant PTSA! Membership in the PTSA lets you vote at our General
  meetings and helps our PTSA continue to thrive. There is no time commitment
  required to join. Click here to join!
• Want to volunteer? There are lots of ways to get involved at Bryant, and we
  have a wide range of opportunities for those really want to lean in or just dip their
  toes. Email volunteer@bryantschool.org for more information.
• Has your family fallen on tough financial times? Worried about school
  expenses? The PTSA has a discreet program that offers additional support for
  Bryant students and families experiencing financial need (regardless of whether
  or not they qualify for free or reduced lunch) If you are interested in learning
  more, please fill out the form here. Requests are strictly confidential. 
  If you have questions, please reach out to Bryant social worker Diego Nunez
  at dinunez@seattleschools.org.

Mark your calendars

• Back to Bryant is on September 2 from 3-4pm. Stop by to meet your new
  teacher, tour your new classroom, and reconnect with friends.
• Join us for Coffee & Doughnut Holes on Monday, September 8 th after drop-off.
  We’ll be in the school garden from 7:30–8:30 AM — swing by for a treat and to
  say hello. All are welcome!
• Ice Cream Social (4th grade fundraiser) on October 12 from 6:00-7:30pm on the
  Playground
• 2025-2026 PTSA Meeting Schedule:
  • Sept 9
  • Oct 14* General Meeting
  • Nov 18 (Adjusted for Veterans Day)
  • Dec 9
  • Jan 13
  • Feb 10
  • March 10* General Meeting 
  • April 7th (Adjusted for Spring Break) 
  • May 12
  • June 9* General Meeting

Thank you,
Marika VanderSmith & Matt Hunt
Bryant PTSA Co-Presidents