Kids slowly expel the remains of summer vivacity and are finding their sense of balance with homework and earlier bedtimes. School changes the pace of our community.
As we grow into this new school year, the families of McGilvra Elementary School (1617 38th Ave. E.) have enjoyed a number of events that have cultivated a strong sense of community. One of the more vibrant of these activities was the Multicultural Picnic to welcome students and families back to school. The fare representing the ethnic heritage and diversity of McGilvra families was a culinary carnival of delight, covering five continents and dozens of countries. Families traditionally look forward to this event, which lived up to its reputation.
There was a large attendance of parents at the well-organized Curriculum Night, which gave parents an opportunity to understand the goals and processes of the upcoming year. Second-year principal Maria Breuder and the entire staff are fully vested in the enrichment and academic success of the students. Even among those who have been teaching well into their second decade and beyond, there’s a youthful enthusiasm that imprints upon the parents and children. It’s easy to see why parents are so involved at McGilvra.
Recently, a number of McGilvra students and parents participated in a Bicycle Rodeo to mark the opening of our first neighborhood Greenway. As a parent, it’s amazing to see kids involved in the community having such a keen awareness of ecology and neighborhood preservation and safety. It comes as no surprise that students have already logged scores of hours in the school garden with parent volunteers.
If you’ve seen the red-and-white Paw Prints on the cars, windows and doors of the neighborhoods and local businesses, it’s an indication of McGilvra Wildcats pride. In coming weeks, the community will be abuzz with upcoming events:
•McGilvra Run-a-thon — The annual McGilvra Run-a-thon is scheduled for Oct. 17. This is a really fun event, in addition to being incredibly important for McGilvra, as it is one of our largest fundraisers of the year. Money that our students raise from the Run-a-thon helps the McGilvra PTA pay for enrichment programs that are not funded by the Seattle School District. These include art, music, technology, learning specialists and more.
Madison Park has a well-established history of supporting the school and the children as they engage their friends and neighbors in this much-anticipated event.
•McGilvra Harvest Dance — This annual Harvest Dance is scheduled for Oct. 24, and the third-grade parents are already bubbling with energy to create a great evening of dancing, games, a haunted garden tour and costume fun for the children. It’s one of their favorite events of the school year.
The school and McGilvra PTA wish to thank all of the parents, alumni families and the community who participated in the Centennial Commemorative Bricks project to mark McGilvra’s 100th anniversary. It’s through the continued support and engagement of the community that McGilvra continues to thrive.
HUNTER ROBBINS is the communications chair for the McGilvra PTA.