School’s on it’s way, and September’s featured readers are ready to march back into Bryant and our lovely Library. Even though Elise is just starting Kindergarten, she deserves a big “Welcome Back” along with her sister Emily.

View their poster in the Library this month, and watch for your opportunity to feature your favorite reader at the online auction later this year.

You may want to consider referring your child for Advanced Learning opportunities (click through for some academic characteristics to look for). Eligibility criteria and forms are available beginning on Sept 1st to determine eligibility for school year 2017-2018.

All applications are due October 6th, 2016. Read more →

Calling ALL Bryant Elementary Incoming Kindergarteners! Would you like to get together before school starts this September and make some new friends? We have three playdates scheduled for the summer:

• Sunday, July 10th, 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
• Monday, August 15th, 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, September 6th, 2 p.m. after Kindergarten Open Classroom which goes 1-2 p.m.

All of the playdates will be at Bryant Elementary’s playground so the children can explore their new stomping grounds. Feel free to bring siblings, the more the merrier! Please bring provisions such as a drink and snacks to keep your kiddos hydrated and energized.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us:
Laura Lauzen, Andrea Reyer Cooney, Kim Bernier and Kristin Zwiers

Look forward to meeting new friends. Here’s to the beginning of a wonderful summer!

Starting in September the District is implementing the following programs for Kindergarteners:

• Full-day Kindergarten will be free for families at all SPS schools
• The first day of school will be delayed for K families until Monday, Sept 12 to allow K teachers to meet with each family individually on Sept. 7, 8 or 9. Students in grades 1-12 will start on Wednesday, Sept. 7.

Please refer to the SPS website for more information about these District-wide changes.

Do you shop at PCC? Raise money for Bryant while you shop – use a Scrip card! Bryant earns 5 percent of the amount you spend on your groceries! Better yet, recharge your Scrip card with your rewards credit card and both you and Bryant benefit.

For $10, cash or check, get a preloaded $10 card before the end of the school year. You can get a PCC Scrip card from Michelle Ireton by sending a check for $10 (made out to Bryant PTSA) to Bryant Scrip through KidMail. Include your child’s name and teacher and you’ll receive the card through KidMail. Or get one in person from Michelle at the  June 14 PTSA meeting and picking up your card then. Bryant also has $25 gift cards for other retailers, including: Michael’s, TJ Maxx/Marshalls/Ross, L.L. Bean and Land’s End — email Michelle if you would like one of the $25 gift cards.

Other ways to support Bryant: use the eScrip link. Go to the PTSA webpage and click the eScrip button on the right of the page near the Facebook icon. Signing up for eScrip takes less than a minute. Once in the system, you will see the list of retailers and the percentage of your purchase that each individual retailer credits back to the Bryant PTSA. The list of participating retailers is extensive, including the Best Buy, Nordstrom, Home Depot and Target. And if you are shopping from Amazon, please use this link and designate Bryant P T S A as your non-profit of choice. You can bookmark it or use the button on the PTSA webpage.

In 2013, the Seattle School Board approved new neighborhood boundaries for Seattle schools. The new boundaries have been slowly implemented throughout Seattle annually since their approval. Beginning in 2017, the new boundaries for Northeast Seattle schools will come into effect. Bryant Elementary will be affected by these new boundaries. Changes include moving the southern boundary from Hwy SR 513 (NE 45 th Street, which becomes Sand Point Way) north to NE 50 th street. Read more →

Do you remember your first days at Bryant? You probably had questions over the summer, and more once the school year started. Perhaps you had a Bryant Buddy who answered your questions and provided peace of mind. Now you can be that person for a new family.

Our incoming families will undoubtedly benefit from your wisdom and experience. We especially need a large number of volunteers from families with current kindergarteners, but new Bryant families come in all grades, so we need families of older students too.

If you are interested in being a Bryant Buddy, please email Bryant Buddy Chair, Michelle Ireton. Buddies will start being assigned in July.

The Garden Committee invited Kindergarten classes out to the garden to make chamomile tea. Thank you to Mr. Gallagher, Ms. Kereluck, and Mr. Jones for bringing out your students and letting them get a taste of the Hands On Garden.

Plants are sprouting and flowering and fruiting all over the Hands On Garden. We’d like to remind everyone that this is an outdoor classroom. Please visit often, but do not pick unless invited to do so. The students who have planted plants are excited to see them grow, and to harvest.

Some things you may notice in the garden when you come through:

• Ms. Bernard and Ms. Bodine’s classes’ radishes, carrots, and lettuce are growing! These students are excited for when it will be time for them to be invited to pick their radishes. It won’t be too much longer!
• Ms. Spata’s class’s pea plants are growing well!
• Thursday morning before the bell student garden buddies planted scarlet runner beans! They’ll be climbing up that trellis in no time!
• Ms. Fahselt and Ms. Eeds’ classes have planted nasturtiums, potatoes, and beans. They also have started seeds under grow lights and are eagerly awaiting the right time to put their zucchini, bell peppers, and tomatoes into the garden.

Join us! Garden volunteers are needed on Thursday mornings! We offer gardening activities for any students who want to participate from 9-the bell. After the kids go in,adults continue working to maintain the learning landscape until 10:30. NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED. We have tools and gloves. Young children are welcome!

WANTED: watering cans. All of our watering cans have been broken. Many students enjoy watering using the rainwater we collect. Contact Samantha Fogg or just leave a watering can in the Hands On Garden by the rain barrel.