*News

Kindergarten & 5th Grade Families Student Hunger Service Project

Lily Chan

Have you heard about the Healthy HIP Pack Food Drive and Packing Party? The Bryant Student Hunger Service Project packing party for the Kindergarten and 5th graders and their families is Thursday, 3/27 from 6:30-7:30 pm. Hoping to see some cute 5th/K buddies working together at the event 🙂

We need your help! HIP continues to see a significant increase in demand for Healthy HIP Packs. They are now delivering 400-450 packs per week. The Bryant Student Hunger Service Project aims to provide a hands-on opportunity for our community to learn about and help students facing food insecurity every day in Seattle.

Our goal this year is to make 250 Healthy HIP Packs during the Kindergarten & 5th grade Packing Party. We can accomplish this goal if every Kindergarten and 5th grade family donates 20 food items (for example 2 boxes of tuna & cracker combo with 10 packets in each box). Of course, more would be great if you are able!

How can your family help?
Contribute to the food drive: Food Donation Sign-up Genius
(Drop off items in the bin in the main office or by your child’s classroom by 2pm on 3/24. All food donations need to be recorded on the sign-up so we can confirm we have the correct quantities of items.)

  1. Review food items that are needed. (This List of Suggested Healthy HIP Pack Food Donations has suggestions)
  2. Sign-up for the specific food items and the quantity you will donate in the Sign-up Genius link above.
  3. Drop off the food at Bryant by 2pm on Monday 3/24

Come to the packing party at Bryant on Thursday 3/27 from 6:30-7:30 pm
You can also sign up to help manage one of the stations during the event: Volunteer Station Sign-up Genius

If you aren’t able to purchase food in time but looking for another option to contribute, you can provide a monetary donation which will be used to purchase additional food items to complete the list on the Food Donation Sign-up Genius: Monetary Donation for Food Purchase 

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What is HIP?
A local non-profit, the mission of the Hunger Intervention Program (HIP) is to increase food security for underserved populations in North King County through nutritious meals, educational programs, and advocacy.

What is a Healthy HIP Pack?
The Healthy HIP Packs Program is a weekend food program that provides an important food resource for the children when school meals are not available. Healthy HIP Packs provide nutritious and kid-friendly foods, enough for six meals and two snacks.

What is a Packing Party?
Watch this fun video with your kids!

Save-the-Date for the 9th Annual Family Art Night on 4/3

Lily Chan


Family Art Night (FAN) is a beloved Bryant PTSA event which began in 2014. Our theme this year is JOURNEY ACROSS THE UNIVERSE. This free event will take place on Thursday, April 3rd, from 6-8 pm at the school. 

Our goal is to promote the arts in the Bryant’s community through the exhibition of students’ artwork in the halls, art activities in the gym and cafeteria, and a performance showcase. 

Stay tuned for more details, art submission info, and the volunteer sign-up in the coming weeks!

Bryant Open House Rescheduled for Prospective Families

Lily Chan

The Bryant PTSA and staff are excited to invite prospective families to our Informational Night! This event is designed for families considering Bryant as a potential school for their Kindergarten through 5th-grade student for the 2025-2026 school year.

Please help us spread the word to neighbors, preschool families, and other community members!

Event Details:

  • When: Thursday, February 27th, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  • Where: Bryant Library (main floor as you enter the building)
  • Who: Bryant PTSA members, school administrators, kindergarten teachers, and a LASER representative (for on-site after-school childcare)
  • What:
    • Learn about Bryant’s programs, kindergarten, PTSA, and LASER childcare
    • Tour classrooms (Kindergarten through 5th grade)
    • Meet our kindergarten teachers and more!

This event is primarily for adults, but children are welcome to attend. (Please note: we encourage families to attend the June open house for a more student-focused experience.)

We understand childcare can sometimes be challenging, so please don’t hesitate to bring your child if needed. You may want to bring something to keep them entertained during the event.

Thank you again for helping share this opportunity with your community!

Financial Review and Budget Committee help needed

Lily Chan

Consider joining the Budget or Financial Review committees this spring. These are a fantastic opportunity for those curious about how the PTSA is spending money and eager to contribute to financial planning. Both are time-bound, meet online and attendance at PTSA meetings is not required. Come join the fun!

Budget Committee: This committee reviews last year’s budget vs. spend, considers and prioritizes new requests, and makes the final recommendation to the PTSA membership. Work typically occurs in March/April, with approval of the budget at the June membership meeting. Last year there were two meetings held online, each about 60-90 minutes.

Financial Review Committee: As part of our commitment to good governance, the PTSA treasurers present our financial details for review by this committee. Typically done in one meeting held online. While a financial background is helpful, it is not necessary. Your participation ensures transparency and accountability in our financial practices.

Please email volunteer@bryantschool.org if you are interested in one (or both) or have questions.

A Letter from the PTSA

Lily Chan

Dear Bryant Families,

On behalf of the Bryant PTSA, we want to reaffirm our unwavering support for every member of our community, especially those who may feel vulnerable in this moment. Bryant is — and always will be — a place where all families, regardless of identity, background, or immigration status, are valued, respected, and embraced.

Now, more than ever, we must continue to uplift one another, foster inclusive spaces, and ensure that Bryant remains a place where every child and family can thrive as their authentic selves.

In addition to the information provided by the District last week, we wanted to share helpful resources from the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, specifically the two “Know Your Rights Flyers” which you can find here: Know Your Rights | NWIRP.org.

Marika VanderSmith and Matt Hunt
Bryant PTSA Co-Presidents

Legislative Updates

Lily Chan

Take Action! Three important K-12 funding bills are being heard in the Ways and Means committee this week: Senate Bills 5187, 5192, and 5263. Please take a minute to go to the links below and sign- in PRO on each of these bills by February 11 at 3pm. 

Levies

  • Reminder: Levy votes must be in by February 11, 2025. We strongly encourage the Bryant community to educate themselves about these levies and vote! While the EP&O levy has not raised much controversy, we know that there are a lot of differing opinions on the BEX VI levy, including concern that it includes $150M to build a new school in NE Seattle. This op-ed and this op-ed demonstrate some of the wide-ranging perspectives on this levy. You can also go here to read SPS’s response to some FAQs and see the Bryant-specific workplans under the BEX VI levy. There is a lot of information out there so do the research and vote!

Lastly, the Washington PTA Focus on Advocacy Week will be from Feb 10-14 and the Advocacy Day in Olympia will be on February 17th.  Go here for more information and to get involved!

Advocacy Update

Lily Chan

Reminder: Levy votes must be in by February 11, 2025. We strongly encourage the Bryant community to educate themselves about these levies and vote! While the E&O levy has not raised much controversy, we know that there are a lot of differing opinions on the BEX VI levy, including concern that it includes $150M to build a new school in NE Seattle. This op-ed and this op-ed demonstrate some of the wide-ranging perspectives on this levy.  You can also go here to read SPS’s response to some FAQs and see the Bryant-specific workplans under the BEX VI levy. There is a lot of information out there so do the research and vote! 

Legislative updates:

There are many important bills that impact K-12 education being heard in the legislature this week. If you are interested in learning more or taking a minute to sign in “PRO” on any of these bills please visit this Seattle Council PTSA blog which summarizes the relevant bills. 

Also, three school fundings bill were voted out of  the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee last week ( SB 5263 (special education funding), SB 5192 (MSOC), and SB 5187 (student transportation funding))! All three bills are now heading to the Ways and Means Committee.

Lastly, the Washington PTA Focus on Advocacy Week will be from Feb 10-14 and the Advocacy Day in Olympia will be on February 17th.  Go here for more information and to get involved!

Bryant Online Auction: Donate an Experience, Game, or Show Today!

Lily Chan

The Bryant online auction will be held from March 28th-April 4th, 2025 and it impacts the learning experiences of our young students. The Bryant Online Auction financially supplements the work of our school’s outstanding teachers and support staff with experiences and events like our annual writer’s celebration, science fairs and math championship. It also helps give critical financial support for arts enrichment, math and reading tutors, field trips, computer instruction, and the purchase of musical equipment. We’re proud of our involvement in this fundraiser, and we’re asking for your help.

The Bryant Online Auction committee is looking for fun family or adults only experiences, tickets to sporting events and shows, rental/hotel stays, dinners, cooking classes or anything else you’re willing and able to donate. Your donation isn’t just to help our committee. Your donation is meant to directly impact our students and their experience at Bryant.

When you’re ready to make a donation, please fill out our Online Donation Form to let us know or send an email to Maureen Bhak at maureenb@bryantschool.org. Please complete the online donation form by March 14th, 2025. This is all in support of our favorite school…let’s show our Bryant teachers, staff and students how much they mean to us!

COME GET GROOVY AT THE BRYANT DANCE ON SATURDAY 2/8!

Lily Chan

All families are invited to the Bryant Disco Dance held in the school cafeteria. The dance is free! There will be pizza, snacks, candy, drinks, and light up wands for sale. There will also be a fun raffle. CASH ONLY. Kids need an adult to attend with them.
 
Date: Saturday, February 8th
Time: 4PM to 6PM
CASH ONLY

This is a fourth grade fundraiser raising money for our current fourth graders to attend Islandwood next school year!