Cougar Connection — 🍀🌈Move-A-Thon Is Coming!

Get your sneakers ready, Kimball! We are so excited to announce that our annual Move-A-Thon (MaT) is happening on April 1st from 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM. We are planning a high-energy field day similar to last year, where students can move, set goals, and have a blast with their classmates!

What is the Move-A-Thon?
The MaT is our largest annual fundraiser, coordinated by SESSFA (the Southeast Seattle Schools Fundraising Alliance). SESSFA is a cooperative of Southeast Seattle public schools that share resources to promote equity across our region. Fundraising will run from March 23rd through April 4th.

The dollars we raise together stay at Kimball to fund essential resources for every student, regardless of a family's ability to pay. These funds support:

• 100% of basic school supplies for all students
• Recess supervision and student snacks
• Field trips and library books
• Academic tutoring and support programs
• Translation and interpretation services for our multilingual families
• Emergency financial assistance and community events

How to Participate: Students can ask family, friends, and neighbors for donations. You can even create your own student fundraising page via the link below to share with your network!

Volunteer with us: We need your help to make this field day a success! If you are interested in volunteering, please email Claire at clairedouglas1@gmail.com. (Note: New volunteers will need to complete the district's digital volunteer invite form.)

Our biggest fundraiser of the year, the Move-A-Thon (MaT), is just around the corner! This event is a vital part of how we fund school supplies and essential programs for every student at Kimball. Through our partnership with SESSFA (Southeast Seattle Schools Fundraising Alliance), we work together to ensure equitable funding across our neighborhood schools.

We need your help to reach our goals! You can start today by setting up a personal fundraising page for your student. It is a wonderful way for kids to reach out to family, friends, and neighbors to share their Kimball pride and support their school.

• Join the Kimball Team: Visit our team page to get started.
• Create Your Own Page: From the main team page, you can easily create a personalized fundraising page.
• Every Bit Helps: Donations of any amount are deeply appreciated! Whether it is $5 or $50, it all goes toward supporting our Cougar community.

We will share more information soon about how to submit cash or check donations. Thank you for your incredible support—Go Cougars!

Kimball is excited to partner with Ridwell this April to host a plastic film recycling drive! Ridwell helps our community recycle materials that can’t be handled curbside, keeping waste out of landfills and helping our students become more mindful about our planet.

During the drive, students can bring plastic film to Kimball for collection. This includes items like:

• Grocery bags
• Zip-top bags
• Amazon shipping envelopes (plastic)
• Bubble wrap and more!

Remember, these items cannot be placed in your home recycling bins. Thanks to the 10 Kimball families who signed up for home pickup last year, our school has secured ongoing plastic film pickups for the entire 2025-2026 school year! We are so proud of this community effort.

Stay tuned for more details in upcoming Cougar Connections. If you would like to help with this project, please email Ms. Trudeau at nctrudeau@seattleschools.org.

THANKS TO YOUR ADVOCACY, bridge funding has been secured and our Kimball staff who are supported by the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) Levy will be returning next year! This is a huge win for our community, but the work isn't over yet.

Long-term decisions about how future FEPP Levy funds will support Southeast Seattle schools are still being made. This is our opportunity to help shape those priorities and ensure our students have what they need to thrive. Join us for a community teach-in to learn more about the levy, discuss what is working, and align on goals for the next round of funding.

• When: Wednesday, March 18 | 5:30–7:00 PM
• Where: Smilow Rainier Vista Boys & Girls Club (4520 MLK Jr Way S)

We are better together, and your voice matters in these district-level conversations. Let’s make sure Kimball is represented!

Looking for a way to keep your student moving? We still have a few spots available for the KidFit after-school club! This is a fantastic opportunity for Kimball students to build fitness skills, play games, and connect with peers in a fun, energetic environment.

Our after-school enrichment programs are a great way to build community and stay active. If you haven't signed up yet, now is the perfect time to grab one of the remaining spots before they are gone!

• What: KidFit After-School Enrichment
• Where: Right here at Kimball Elementary
• When: Registration is open now!

We want to ensure every student has the chance to participate in our programs. If you have questions about registration or need more information, please reach out to the PTSA communications team at kimballptsacomm@gmail.com.