Seaton Families,
We’re excited to share the latest updates and celebrations happening at Seaton. As we move through October, our community continues to shine with vibrant events, meaningful learning experiences, and opportunities to connect.
Stingers are currently wrapping up Unit 1 and preparing to launch into Unit 2, showcasing their learning through explaining their thinking, thoughtful writing and answering Why and How questions! From honoring Latino Heritage Month to gearing up for Picture Day and engaging in important safety drills, there’s so much to look forward to.
Thank you for being an essential part of our school family. Your involvement and support make Seaton a truly special place to learn and grow!
Principal Torres
School News and Updates
PTO Meeting
Our next PTO Meeting is tomorrow, Wednesday October 15, from 5:30-6:30. We will have pizza and childcare. Come hear updates from Principal Torres, learn about modernization and swing space progress, and hear from our committees, who have been hard at work this year!
October School Safety Drills
We will have two drills during October. The two drill months are: Fire Drill and Earthquake Drill aka “The Great Shake Out Drill”.
The Earthquake Drill will be held on 10/16 at 10:16 a.m. across DCPS. Linked is a resource about the Earthquake Drill that families can preview ShakeOutDrillManualSchools_v2
Latino Heritage Month
During this Latino Heritage Month, we take the opportunity to honor and celebrate the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of the Latino community in the United States and beyond. This month invites us to recognize the diversity and resilience of Latino voices, past and present, that have helped shape our society in countless ways. At Seaton, we will be expanding the celebration with a Spirit Week taking place during the Week of October 20th (see flyer).
Classrooms will also take part in read-alouds and special activities to honor Latino voices and stories. Families are welcome to visit the breezeway to see our growing Threads of Connection Map and add to our Dias de Los Muertos altar beginning on October 1st.
Picture Day
Save the Date! Fall Student Portraits & Class Photos at Seaton Elementary School is coming up on Wednesday 10/29. Students do not have to wear their uniform on Picture Day. Students should not wear clothing that is considered political or offensive. If you do not want your email address shared with the photography company, FREED Photography, please email Ms. Hill by Friday, 10/17 to have your email address removed.
Modernization Update
Thank you so much for your engagement in the Seaton Modernization process. I truly appreciated hearing your feedback, comments, and questions about the three design options for the future Seaton building.
The School Improvement Team (SIT) met with the Design-Build Team to share the feedback we received from families about each option. We also lifted up your comments about the building and the outdoor spaces that make our community so special (our garden, playgrounds, and soccer field).
The next step in the process will be to engage the community around the Schematic Design (floor plans and interior spaces) of the building. This stage is expected to take place in early 2026.
Attendance Committee Updates
The Aspen Parent Portal to submit absence/tardy excuse notes is now live on the Seaton Website (Click attendance form on the Seaton website).
Please note that this is the same form used for late arrivals and that no documents can be uploaded onto the portal at this time. Physical notes can still be dropped off at the front office. Please reach out to Mr. Mercado if you have any questions at (abel.mercado@k12.dc.gov)
CAPE Assessment Student Reports
Student reports were sent home with students on October 8 for current Grade 4 and grade 5 students. If you did not receive a report, please contact Ms. Daisy at Gloria.Torrento@k12.dc.gov
Bee-Well Team – Mental Health Resources
October is Bullying Prevention Month
On Wednesday October 15, students and staff are encouraged to wear orange to show their support for bullying prevention and help promote a culture of kindness and inclusion. Families are also invited to stop by the BEE Well Team’s resource table during morning arrival that day, located outside at the front of the school. The team will be sharing resources on bullying prevention and ways to support children’s mental health.
BEE Well Family Resource Padlet:
The BEE Well team has created a Padlet to provide families with easy access to helpful information and supports. The Padlet includes details about the BEE Well team, mental health resources, community services, back-to-school tips for families, and additional helpful tools.
You can access here: https://padlet.com/mpatel158/seaton-bee-well-resources-for-families-bs9yq64mnibpq7ba
School Policies + Opportunities!
DCPS School Nurse
We currently have a rotating school nurse supporting Seaton. We will share more information about the school nurse once we confirm the days that she will be available to meet families. In the meantime, please share any health or dental forms with Ms. Daisy at gloria.torrento@k12.dc.gov or the Seaton Enroll email at SeatonESEnroll@k12.dc.gov
Field Trip Volunteers
For SY 25.26, family members interested in participating in school field trips need to complete the DCPS Volunteer Clearance Process before attending any field trip. We encourage all parents and family members to complete the DCPS Volunteer Clearance process! Families can begin their process here: Volunteer in Our Schools | dcps
PTO Updates
Our next PTO Meeting is tomorrow, Wednesday October 15, from 5:30-6:30. We will have pizza and childcare. Come hear updates from Principal Torres, learn about modernization and swing space progress, and hear from our committees, who have been hard at work this year! An agenda is below:
- Family Relations Introductory Exercise (5 min)
- Principal Updates from Principal Torres and Q&A (20 min)
- Modernization and Swing Space Updates (15 min)
- Committee Updates (15 min)
- Other Business (5 min)
Thank you so much to everyone who came out to our Fall Movie Night. It was so much fun to see our Stingers dancing and singing all night long, and we were thrilled to welcome so many families, including many new faces. And a special thanks to all of the volunteers who helped make this event possible!
Our Bike, Walk, and Roll to School Day was postponed due to rain, and will now be held this Friday, October 17 morning. The “Bike Bus” route will start at Seaton at 8:00 AM, and we’ll pick up families along the way, stopping on N St between 7th and 8th at 8:03 AM, 5th and O at 8:05 AM, 3rd and R at 8:08 AM, and then riding along R street to 11th and arriving back to Seaton at 8:15 AM for photos and fun. Bikes, scooters, and parents running to keep up are all welcome. The route map is attached!
Join us on Thursday, October 23 for a Family Happy Hour at Dacha, from 5-8 PM. A $10 donation to the PTO gets you a wristband for extended happy hour and a raffle ticket for some fun prizes. Feel free to invite friends and neighbors, this event is open to the broader community!
Our Stinger Talent Showcase is coming up on Wednesday, November 12th from 5:30-7:00pm. We know Stingers have lots of talents, and this is an opportunity to show them off! In past years, live performances have included singing, dancing, comedy, magic, piano, violin, and more. Videos will be accepted for talents that can’t be performed live due to equipment or space needs, such as drumming or skateboarding. Registration is open until October 24, and you can sign up here.
Looking ahead, we know that holiday calendars fill up, so if you’re the parent of a 2nd-5th grader, please save the date for our Winter Wonderland Dance on Friday December 12 from 7-9 PM. And it’s never too early for your Stinger to start designing their experiment for the Science Fair, which will be held on Friday January 30 at 9 AM.
Lulu’s Winegarden Wine Club
Thanks to parents Paul and Brittany Carlson, Lulu’s Winegarden is partnering with the PTO for a special offer for Seaton parents. Lulu’s Winegarden Wine Club offers 2 or 4 bottle monthly memberships, which also entitle you to other perks, including discounts on dining and access to wine-tasting events. For Seaton families who sign up, Lulu’s will donate 10% of the monthly membership back to the PTO. This is a great way to support a local Stinger business and the PTO at the same time, all while enjoying interesting and delicious wines. You can sign up here!
Swing Space Playground and Green Space Update
Last week, DCPS, DGS, and DPR held a community meeting to solicit feedback for the playground adjacent to Seaton’s swing space at 300 Bryant Street NW. The presentation can be viewed here. More detail on the meeting can be found on our modernization/swing space page, and any additional feedback you have can be sent directly to Christopher Dyer for DPR (christopher.dyer@dc.gov) and Brittany Hughes for DGS (brittany.hughes@dc.gov). We will discuss this update more at our PTO meeting tomorrow as well.
