Celebrating the Heart of Soundview: Our Teachers!
Soundview is excited to celebrate the dedication and impact of our incredible teachers! To learn how you can contribute or volunteer during Teacher Appreciation Week, please visit HERE, we’d love your support in making the week extra special.
Dear Soundview family,
I wanted to take a moment to recognize that today is May Day, International Workers’ Day, a day rooted in the labor struggles of working people and one that continues to honor the value of collective action. For many, May Day is both a celebration of workers and a reminder of the ongoing efforts to support fair treatment, strong communities, and social responsibility. Today, workers, students, and families across the country are gathering in support of one another, their communities, and services that sustain us. At Soundview, we want to reaffirm our commitment to being a community where all are welcomed, respected, and valued, and where a diversity of perspectives can be held with care and respect.
On campus yesterday, we enjoyed the annual Spring Concert featuring the Grades 5-8 bands and the orchestra. The concert was a celebration of their hard work and passion, with several inspiring duets and courageous solo performances. Congratulations to the students and Mrs. Higgins for putting on a wonderful concert for all of us to see.
You can see photos from the week of activities by viewing them below.
Yesterday’s Spring Bands and Orchestra Concert was outstanding, an evening filled with beautiful performances and student talent. Bravo to Mrs. Higgins for her exceptional leadership in bringing it all together!
It was a truly special week at Soundview! Our students enjoyed a variety of fun, hands-on activities with their amazing specialists, making the week both engaging and enriching.
It’s always a joy to see our students connecting and interacting across campus, especially during Learning Buddies time. The beautiful weather this week made those moments even more special!
Last week, we said a heartfelt goodbye to our Kindergarten Associate Teacher, Laura Simplicio, as she began an exciting new chapter. Laura is expecting her first child any day now and will be stepping away from the classroom to take on her new role as a full-time, primary caregiver at home. While we are so happy for her and this next season of life, she will be deeply missed at Soundview. Laura brought warmth, positivity, and genuine care to her students each day, and her presence in the classroom made a lasting impact on both children and colleagues. We are incredibly grateful for all she contributed to our community.
Coming up, students may notice a special visitor on campus for the remainder of the school year and through the summer. From time to time, our intern (and Soundview alum!) River will be bringing her Bernedoodle, Juniper, to campus. Juniper is a hypoallergenic working service dog and an important support companion, and we’re excited to welcome her as part of our community. Students may have opportunities to pet Juniper, but please remember to always have them ask River for permission first before approaching or interacting with her. Thank you for helping us create a respectful and supportive environment for both River and Juniper. Please reach out if you have any questions.
NWAIS Accreditation
The Northwest Association of Independent Schools accreditation process continues, and we look forward to welcoming the chairs of our visiting team for their preliminary visit on May 6. We’re excited to share Soundview and gather feedback as part of our ongoing growth. Families can support this work by completing the anonymous Soundview Parent and Guardian Survey, which helps us reflect on strengths, better understand your experience, and identify areas for improvement.
Dress & Appearance
With warmer weather here, it’s a good time to revisit our dress and appearance guidelines to help keep students comfortable, safe, and ready for the school day. Clothing should fit appropriately and support classroom, art, and physical activities, and younger students should wear clothing they can manage independently.
For safety reasons, open-toed shoes, sandals, clogs, flip-flops, platform shoes, high heels, and shoes with wheels are not permitted, except on specially designated days or for performances. All students in Grades K–8 should also wear sneakers on their designated PHE days. Thank you for helping support a safe and active learning environment.
Need a refresher on last week’s updates? You can find recent announcements on our website.
A few key dates, events, and opportunities for May:
Teacher Appreciation Week: Celebrating the Heart of Soundview
Teacher Appreciation Week is May 4–8! We’re looking forward to celebrating the incredible educators who bring care, dedication, and passion to Soundview each day. Their commitment to students is truly at the heart of our community. If you are interested in volunteering to help support the week of festivities, please sign up HERE. Below is a sneak peek of what’s planned:
Monday: Coffee and tea to kick off the week
Tuesday: Stock the teacher lounge with snacks and treats
Wednesday: Ways to Get Involved Wednesday
Thursday: Special pizza lunch for teachers
Friday: Gratitude Day, share a note or card of appreciation
We’re excited to come together as a community to celebrate and thank our amazing teachers!
Spirit Week
Spirit Week is just around the corner, May 11–15, and it will be a fun-filled week of creativity, connection, and school spirit. Students are invited to participate in whatever way feels joyful and comfortable, whether going all out or keeping it simple. There’s no need to purchase anything new; the focus is on imagination, community, and having fun together. Be sure to review the daily Spirit Week themes so your student(s) can plan, and as always, please ensure outfits are appropriate for all age groups.
SPGA Clothing Drive
Our Soundview Parent and Guardian Association (SPGA) is once again partnering with Clothes For Kids to support local families in need. This year, there is a special need for summer essentials such as hats, shorts, and shirts. Collection bins will be available in the front entrance hallway from May 11–15, making it easy to donate throughout the week. The drive will also include the donation of unclaimed lost and found items at week’s end. In addition, SPGA volunteers will host a convenient drive-through collection during drop-off and pick-up on Friday, May 15, so participating can be as easy as staying in your car. We invite you to learn more about the Clothes For Kids mission and consider supporting this meaningful effort.
ParentMap ParentEd Talk
Our final ParentEd Talk of the school year features educator and Better Screen Time founder Andrea Davis. In The Family Tech Reset: Hope and Help for Rebuilding Connection, Andrea will share practical guidance for strengthening family relationships and raising confident, well-adjusted kids in a world shaped by screens and technology. Register to join us on Tuesday, May 12, at 12:00 pm with the password SOUNDVSCH. We will continue the conversation at our final Community Coffee on Friday, May 15.
MYP Spring Fling
The Middle School Spring Fling is coming up on Friday, May 15! Details about the theme, attire, and festivities will be shared soon via Toddle. Students are already looking forward to a fun and memorable evening together!
Community Coffee
Please join us for our final Community Coffee of the year on Friday, May 15, from 8:40 am - 9:20 am in the Language Lab, just before the all-school assembly led by our Early Childhood students with support from Grade 8. It’s a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the year and enjoy conversation as a community. All are welcome, and parking will be available in the gravel lot beginning at 8:30 am.
Spring Showcase
Join us for the Early Childhood through Grade 4 Spring Showcase on Thursday, May 21, from 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm. Come explore classrooms and hallways across campus as our youngest students proudly guide parents and guardians through their spring projects and classwork. This self-guided event is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate their learning, creativity, and growth.
To begin your visit, please enter through the Performing Arts Center. Students will be supervised from 3:30 pm - 4:00 pm, and upon arrival, families may head directly to their child’s classroom to begin the showcase experience. Older siblings are welcome to remain on campus until the event begins.
Upcoming Non-School Days for Students
Please remember the following dates when school will not be in session for students:
Monday, May 25: Memorial Day
Tuesday, May 26: Faculty & Staff Work Day / Report Card Writing
June Volunteer Opportunities
We’re looking for SPGA volunteers to help with set-up for both Graduation and Exhibition, and we’d love your support! If you have availability to lend a hand, please sign up for Graduation HERE and Exhibition HERE. Thank you for helping make these special student events possible.
Fun at Funko Field in July!
Join the Soundview community for an afternoon of summer fun at the ballpark on Sunday, July 26, as the 2025 Northwest League Champion AquaSox take on the Eugene Emeralds. It’s the perfect chance to connect with friends, enjoy a great game, and kick off summer together! Tickets are $13 each. Be sure to RSVP by June 2! Physical tickets will be available for pickup in the main office the week of June 8. We hope you’ll join us for this exciting community outing, and a big thank you to our Director of Enrollment, Jill Schaller, for organizing this fun-filled day at the ballpark!
Dates for the remainder of the school year can be found on the Community Calendar or in the printable schedule.
Around the world and in different communities, May is a month of recognition and awareness:
Curious about this week’s recognition and awareness days? You can explore the full list on our website.
Looking forward to celebrating our wonderful faculty and staff together next week!
Warmly,
Chrissy Sinclair
Head of School
One more thing…
Born on May 1, 1939, Max Robinson made history in 1983 when he became the first Black man to anchor a nightly network newscast as co-anchor of ABC World News Tonight. A pioneering journalist known for his integrity and powerful presence, Robinson broke longstanding racial barriers in broadcast news at a time when representation in national media was limited.
His achievement marked a transformative moment in journalism, opening doors for greater diversity in newsrooms and on television screens across the country. Robinson’s work helped challenge stereotypes, expand who could be seen as a trusted national voice, and paved the way for future generations of journalists. His legacy endures as a powerful example of courage, excellence, and progress. Read about Max Robinson.
