October 2018 by seattleschild

R OMP

Fall farm fun

C H OM P

African cuisine

SHOP

Math for Love games

Seattle’sChild F RE E

O CTOB E R 201 8

OUR

EDUCATION REPORT

THE STATE OF SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

MAKING A CASE FOR CURSIVE WRITING PLUS

THE T S BIGGE

O C K C I R B

YET!

R S E AT T L E S C H I L D.C O M

A PROMISE OF PRESCHOOL FOR ALL

YOUR GUIDE TO A KID-FRIENDLY CIT Y

Learning through play, Tala Niobe Williams creates with Duplo blocks at Wunderkind in Seattle’s Bryant neighborhood

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Everett (425) 257-8600

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>>Contents Seattle’sChild

October 2018 // Issue 467

WHAT PARENTS ARE TALKING ABOUT......... 5 DAD NEXT DOOR.................. 7 ROMP.............................................9 CHOMP.........................................11 SHOP............................................13 FEATURE THE STATE OF SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS................15 MAKING HOME......................23 CALENDAR..............................25

PHOTO COURTESY OF XXXXXX XXXXXXXXX

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Seattle’sChild ANN BERGMAN Publisher, Founder abergman@seattleschild.com BOO DAVIS Art Director bdavis@seattleschild.com SARAH RIVERA Managing Editor srivera@seattleschild.com JULIE HANSON Website Editor jhanson@seattleschild.com JENNIFER MORTENSEN Calendar Editor calendar@seattleschild.com MIKE MAHONEY Copy Editor JEFF LEE, MD Columnist JO EIKE, ANDIE POWERS Contributing Editors ERIKA LEE BIGELOW, FIONA COHEN, REBEKAH DENN, JILLIAN O’CONNOR, SYDNEY PARKER Contributing Writers ISSY BELZIL Marketing and Sales Coordinator AMY CADWELL Publisher’s Assistant ADVERTISING KIM LOVE Ad Production Manager klove@seattleschild.com MELIA WILKINSON Senior Sales Account Manager mwilkinson@seattleschild.com 774-253-2219 STEPHANIE KONAT Sales Account Manager skonat@seattleschild.com 425-770-4768

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„ Find more education and health news on seattleschild.com

GO OUT! Find October outings for your family with our complete online calendar of events. It’s mobile-friendly, constantly updated, and searchable by location, age and cost » seattleschild.com E D U C AT I O N , H E A LT H , D E V E L O P M E N T & M O R E

BY JILLIAN O’CONNOR

»What Parents

Are Talking About

With cursive writing, kids “can go to their ideas,” says cursive writing instructor Joan Lite Miller.

A case for cursive P H OTO BY JOS H UA H U STO N

IF YOUR KID’S HANDWRITING THROWS YOU FOR A LOOP, A RETURN TO PENMANSHIP MAY BE ON THE HORIZON Cursive writing, once the anticipated instruction of third-grade penmanship that signaled upper-grade work, has been on the wane as schools move toward keyboard communication. In a tech town

like Seattle, where some schools teach with laptops, without textbooks, using online assignments, does cursive writing instruction still have a place? In Washington, cursive is taught at the

discretion of individual teachers or districts, often just once a week during third grade for part of the year. At Catholic schools and Waldorf schools, as well as some Montessori programs, cursive is ingrained in the traditional program and is taught much more widely. State senator Pam Roach sponsored a cursive bill in 2016, but to little effect. (In Alabama, Arizona and North Carolina, cursive instruction recently became law.) At Bryant Elementary in Ravenna, there was talk of starting an afterschool cursive writing through Uplift Tutoring. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >

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What Parents Are Talking About

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“What I see in a lot in young people, parents will say, ‘They’re really struggling with writing. Oh, they have lots of ideas, they can tell you a story, but they can’t write it.’ And one of my first questions is, ‘How is their handwriting?’” says Uplift’s co-owner, Julianna Batho. In her own experience, some kids just can’t succeed in getting words on paper until cursive is taught. She recalls what she saw with her own son, who was struggling to write: “We taught him cursive and off he went! It broke down this barrier for him, and I did some more research on that and there are a lot of children … they actually think differently, and their brain operates differently, where the cursive made a huge difference.” Joan Lite Miller, a calligrapher who has also studied various methods of cursive instruction, agrees. “If they’re trained in it, there’s that automaticity in forming the letters, there’s a smoothness in terms of knowing how to write letters, connecting them,” she says. “They can go to their ideas.” Cursive is seen so seldom in schoolwork that Seattle parents are left wondering if it has been introduced at all. “I don’t think they’ve learned cursive,” says Suman Jayadev, a Northeast Seattle mom of two kids in public school. “I’d be happy if they did.” “I fear that just using a keyboard influences the way their brains think and

develop,” she says. Without practice writing cursive, kids can’t read it either. Ravenna mom Becky Mackle worked with her boys, ages 12 and 14, to make sure they could write their own signatures. “Both boys can make out some cur-

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sive, but not all words, when reading,” says Mackle. Their public school cursive instruction was limited to learning how to form the letters and “almost no time practicing writing words and sentences.” She points out that her kids’ printing isn’t great, either, likely due to a lack of practice in the classroom, and that instruction in typing has been insufficient as well: “I feel very let down by the system, that they let handwriting slip through the cracks in early elementary school.” Vicki Nelson of The Write Grip, an occupational therapist based in Edmonds who specializes in handwriting, believes the decline in cursive instruction is related to earlier academic study for young kids instead of some of the traditional, hand-strengthening play kids used to do, such as mashing clay and playing with tiles and blocks. “Pushing kids to write earlier and earlier in preschool, and even in kindergarten, as the American school system is now, the hand development that kids need is not happening,” says Nelson. But won’t all kids eventually be taking notes on laptops and tablets by the time they’re in high school or college? In a New York Times opinion piece last year, Pace University law school professor Darren Rosenblum proclaimed that he was banning laptops in the classroom, not just because of the distraction level, but because some research has shown that humans process information better when they write. A move to cursive classes isn’t just happening at Bryant Elementary. The Washington Post reports that kids in Connecticut are doing it for fun, and had a blast scribbling away at a summertime cursive camp this year. It seems that cursive fans are speaking out. Perhaps camps for avid spellers and sentence diagrammers can’t be far behind.

DadNextDoor by Jeff Lee, MD

Piper and Friends Learn to Search the Snow! A little encouragement from across the fence

P H OTO BY JOS H UA H U STON

Shark tank My first parent-teacher conference was more than 20 years ago, with my daughter’s preschool teacher. “Maddie’s doing fine,” she said. “Her language is right on track. She’s very focused and creative. She mostly keeps to herself, though.” Those last few words gave me a twinge of anxiety. Oh no, my daughter isn’t playing with other kids. She isn’t fitting in. She isn’t… popular. My own childhood flashed before my eyes. I was a chubby, shy, Chinese kid with bad home-cut hair and oversized, handme-down clothes. My parents couldn’t have cared less if I was popular. They wanted me to get good grades, stay out of trouble and do my chores. My place in the grade school pecking order was for me to sort out on my own. When I reached middle school, a kid from Southern California moved in a couple of blocks away, and we became good friends. Back then, in my little New England town, being from California was like being from Narnia or Middle Earth. He was confident and charming, and he knew about Bob Dylan and Dostoyevsky. For a while, I basked in his reflected coolness. Unfortunately, when we reached ninth grade, he found a group of friends who were much cooler than I was. Not only did he jettison me from his inner circle, but he convinced his new entourage to shun me as well. For most of that year, they made it their goal to systematically snub and mock me, and my profound uncoolness became the defining fact of my existence. Eventually, they lost interest in me, and I spent the rest of high school trying to recover some small degree of cool. I was modestly successful. I played sports — not the right sports, but enough to acquire a bit of status. And I was smart, which carried some cachet in our college town full of academic families. Once I had clawed my

way up from the bottom of the shark tank, I set about the work of any socially anxious teenager: maintaining my elevation by pushing others down. I remember sitting in the back of my calculus class making fun of the eager beavers in the front row. I used to mock their high-water pants and their misshapen heads, but deep down I knew I needed them. They were the only thing between me and the muddy bottom. Their uncool-

I remember sitting in the back of my calculus class making fun of the eager beavers in the front row. I used to mock their high-water pants and their misshapen heads, but deep down I knew I needed them. They were the only thing between me and the muddy bottom. Their uncoolness was my personal flotation device.

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ness was my personal flotation device. This summer, I went to my 40th high school reunion. I hadn’t gone back for any of the others, so I had no idea what to expect. It was an amazing experience. Some of my classmates hadn’t changed at all: Dave was still handsome and charismatic, Joy was effervescent and kind, and Brian was as effusive and unselfconscious as ever. Others had seen their lives take unCONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >

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DadNextDoor CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

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expected turns. Some of the popular kids had aged poorly, weighed down by pot bellies, unmet potential and unrealized dreams. But most surprising of all were the uncool kids who grew up to be cool. There were quite a few of them: successful, personable, and remarkably comfortable in their own skins. Somehow, by clinging to the bottom, they had avoided the open-water shark fights of the high school food chain, and had managed to grow and forage and „ Read all of Jeff feed their Lee’s columns on souls. Many seattleschild.com had done extraordinary things. At one point, we honored two classmates who had died untimely deaths, but who had devoted their lives to social justice. We gave them a standing ovation. Once, they’d been misshapen heads in the front row. Now, posthumously, they were at the head of our class for real. The Southern California guy was at the reunion, too. All weekend, I struggled with whether or not to talk to him about ninth grade. Finally, at the end of the last evening, I pulled him aside. I didn’t need an apology — I just wanted to know why. To my astonishment, he didn’t remember any of it: not the taunting, not the bullying, not even the simple rejection. He remembered us as friends. For him, my personal hell hadn’t been personal at all. The point wasn’t to kick me down, it was to propel himself upward. I was only collateral damage. The other day, Pippa came home and announced: “I’m one of the most popular girls at school.” She’d only been back at school for a week, and she’s in second grade, so whatever. Still, it gave me a little shudder. All those baby sharks, swimming around in that tiny second-grade tank. Not old enough to bite yet, but still eyeing each other — sizing each other up. No, I wanted to say. Stay on the bottom. Be a coral reef. Grow slowly and steadily into your most beautiful, exuberant, intricate self. But I know there’s only so much I can do for her. Someday, there’ll be blood in the water, and she’ll sink or swim on her own. And after that, who knows? Jeff Lee works, writes, and lives in blissful uncoolness in Seattle.

„ Find more things to do with kids on seattleschild.com Right under your nose!

CATERPILLARS & CASSIUS CLAY Seattle Children’s Theatre, the nation’s second biggest theater for young audiences, has premiered more than 100 plays. This month, it offers two shows. For young children, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show with 75 puppets, brings to life this and other Eric Carle classics. For kids 9 and older, there’s And in This Corner: Cassius Clay, which explores themes of identity, civil rights and life in the Jim Crow era. 201 Thomas St., Seattle Center 3 sct.org

»Romp THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS

>> Romp > Chomp

qBY FIONA COHEN

> Shop

5 FALL EXPERIENCES IN LOCAL FARM COUNTRY These days, the fall farm experience goes well beyond a family visit to the pumpkin patch for just the right Halloween gourd:

Corn mazes

Craven Farm has two, a 15-acre one built on an “Alice in Pumpkinland” theme, and a smaller one geared for younger folks. 13817 Shorts School Rd., Snohomish 3 cravenfarm.com

Pumpkin trebuchet

Oh, to see the spectacle of a medieval siege weapon that catapults pumpkins through the air. Visit Jubilee Farm. 229 W. Snoqualmie River Rd. NE, Carnation 3 jubileefarm.org

Meet the animals

When you arrive at Fairbank Animal Farm, you get a cup of feed you can throw to the chickens and ducks. There are a variety of other animals, including baby animals. 15308 52nd Ave. W., Edmonds 3 fairbankfarm.com

Pick apples

Fill your fruit bowl as well as your doorstep. BelleWood Acres offers the chance to pick a variety of apples from its orchard. 6140 State Rt. 539, Lynden

This month’s BrickCon in Seattle is the nation’s biggest Lego convention in terms of attendance.

3 bellewoodfarms.com

Take a ride

BRICKCON : S HUT TE RSTOCK PHOTO COURT ESY OF STC.ORG

Going loco for Legos The creativity and humor of Lego lovers will be out in full force for BrickCon, Oct. 6 and 7 at Seattle Center Exhibition Hall, where thousands will come by to see the amazing things that people can build out of Legos — and many will stop at the build tables to conjure something of their own.

This year’s theme is Hidden Worlds. Among the displays: a Ninjago city, a StarCraft battle, a 16-foot winter village, and a World War I battle scene. “They’ve been working on the trenches and they are very realistic,” says Steve Walker, CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >

Remlinger Farms’ Family Fun Park has lots of choices, including a half-sided steam train, kid-sized roller coaster, Ferris wheel, miniature Model Ts, pedal cars and a carousel. 32610 NE 32nd St., Carnation 3 remlingerfarms.com

q For a complete list of local farms, visit seattleschild.com/ Things-To-Do

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BrickCon’s display and artistic director. One thing that makes a difference: a new kind of Lego tile that looks like wood paneling. Much-loved local builders, including Alice Finch (best known for elaborate, fantastical displays of places such as J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth Elven realm Rivendell and Harry Potter’s alma mater Hogwarts) and Iain Heath (best known for ingenious pop-culture sculptures) will be back with new creations on display.

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Escape from Seattle!

THE HAUNTING OF COUPEVILLE On the Whidbey Island town of Coupeville, Halloween is a busy season. Starting Oct. 3, the decorations go up, adding a spooky air to this seaside village’s old-fashioned charm. There’s a mock graveyard featuring deadly puns. (Names include Noah Pulse and Ima Stiph). Sherman Pioneer farm at the corner of Terry and Ebey roads opens a Haunted Barn, and from 6:30 to 10 pm Oct. 26 and 27, the abandoned gun emplacements at Fort Casey — eerie on any day — host a haunted fort tour with ghost stories, Trick or Treat and more. $8 per person or $30 for a family (up to six people). The cap on the season is the Great Pumpkin Race on Oct. 28, starting at 1 pm. Competitors put wheels on their pumpkins, then release them down the hill, derby-style, on Alexander Street toward Penn Cove. 3 facebook.com/HauntingofCoupeville

LEGOS: SHUTTER STOCK, HAUNTING OF COU P E V ILLE : FACE BOOK

BrickCon’s build tables are an essential stop for every kid.

There will be fighting Lego robots in the BattleBricks contests. “We’ll have a Lexan BattleBot cage to keep pieces from flying into the crowd,” Walker says. BrickCon Seattle is the nation’s biggest Lego convention in terms of attendance. Other places have it beat for size. The Seattle Center Exhibition Hall hasn’t gotten any bigger since the first BrickCon in 2002, but it has become a lot more tightly packed. Legos’ appeal comes from two elements: First, it’s an art medium giving people the power to create in three dimensions. Second, there’s a whimsical culture: A Lego Star Wars scene won’t be all melodrama, for example. “You may find a hidden room with the Star Wars stormtroopers sitting in a hot tub,” says Walker. The one essential stop for every kid: the build tables. Walker says he’s seen overstimulated kids transform when offered a chance to dip into the big pile of bricks: “When you turn them loose in the kid build area, they settle down.” Walker’s main advice: buy your tickets in advance, online. The event sold out last year, and likely will do so again. q brickcon.org

„ Find more ideas for eating with kids on seattleschild.com

RIGHTEOUS ROAST For healthy lunchbox treats or a protein-packed halftime snack, look no further than CB’s Nuts, located in the Kitsap County town of Kingston. Using non-GMO, American-grown ingredients, their nuts and seeds are slow-roasted in antique barrel roasters, making for

a rich, deep flavor. Up your PB&J game with their organic peanut butter, ground to a “creamunchy” texture, eliminating dreaded oil separation, priced at $8.99 for a 16-ounce jar. CB’s also offers roasted pumpkin seeds in a number of sweet and savory flavors, including kid-favorite cinnamon toast, $2.99

E AT I N G W I T H K I D S

COOKING WITH PCC

J E BE NA C AF E BY JOSH UA HUSTO N OT HE R I MAGES CO URTE SY O F P CC , CB ’S NUTS

Community-owned PCC markets have provided Seattleites with local, organic, sustainable fare, as well as hosting cooking classes for chefs aged 2 to adult, kids’ summer cooking camps, and more. Released last month, PCC’s Cooking From Scratch offers 120 healthy and delicious recipes, nutritional information, and storage and shopping tips. Their

summertime fritters are a canny way to get more vegetables onto the dinner table, the homemade energy bars will be your kids’ new favorite snack, and the apple, bok choy and carrot slaw is a family-favorite do-ahead that will wait patiently until dinnertime. Also included is the coveted recipe for PCC’s beloved Emerald City Salad, a dish so iconic in Seattle that it was included in MOHAI’s food history exhibit in 2016. Available from booksellers everywhere, including signed copies at Fremont’s Book Larder.

for a 2-ounce bag that provides 10 grams of protein. CB’s is also committed to our community, donating 1 percent of their Safeco Field and online sales to the Beecher’s Foundation, a nonprofit food education project. Available in stores around Seattle. 3 cbsnuts.com

qBY JO EIKE

»Chomp > Romp >> Chomp > Shop

Angel tears into some injera, an Ethiopian bread, at Jebena Cafe in Seattle’s Pinehurst neighborhood.

Give African cuisine a try Seattle’s melting-pot culture has given its cuisine scene an international flair where diners can try food from the world over, including an expanding menu from various regions of Africa. With exciting spices, healthy legumes and communal eating traditions, African cuisine is a fun night out meal for families. At Pinehurst’s Jebena Cafe, brother and

sister owners Mesfin Ayele and Martha Seyoum treat customers as if they are part of the family, often welcoming diners with smile and a hug. This cheery Ethiopian spot has a fun, casual vibe. The combination plates offer many different flavors and dishes at once. Opt for the less spicy version for kids. Don’t miss the doro wat, CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >

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Chomp a rich and warmly spiced stew of chicken and boiled eggs, or the vividly yellow tikel gomen: braised cabbage, carrots and potatoes with a hint of mild curry. Served in the traditional communal Ethiopian style, your meal is served on top of a large, spongy bread called injera. Made primarily from teff flour, a healthy whole grain high in iron, protein and calcium, injera is also mostly gluten-free. Simply tear off a piece of injera and use it to scoop up some of the filling; no forks necessary. q 1510 NE 117th St., Seattle, jebenacafe.com Mamadou Diakhate opened La Teranga in 2012 after recognizing the lack of Senegalese food in Seattle. This tiny Columbia City spot makes up for what it lacks in size with its warm, comforting cuisine. Venturesome eaters might try thiebou djeun, a tomato-based fish stew considered the national dish of Senegal. The chicken yassa showcases Senegal’s French influences with a zingy lemon and caramelized onion sauce. Mafe is a great option for kids: a vegetable or meat stew served in a creamy groundnut sauce (feel free to sell it as peanut butter), and the fried plantains and sweet potato fries are a hit for all. For beverages, try the bissap juice, flavored with hibiscus flower. q 4903½ Rainier Ave. S., Seattle 2018-2019 SAAS Seattle's Child Ad.pdf

CMY

Beating the cafeteria clock

cuisine CONTINUED

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WHAT CAN YOUR KIDS CHOW DOWN QUICKLY AT SCHOOL? BY REBEKAH DENN Oranges are peeled for a child’s lunchbox, even though she could do it herself. It’s a practical tactic, not an indulgence, and might make a difference on what food she actually eats from her packed lunch. A 2015 University of Washington study found elementary students had, on average, less than 13 minutes to eat lunch. Concerned, some Seattle parents started a “Lunch and Recess Matters” Facebook group (#LunchMatters) in 2014. Many kids opt to bring lunch rather than buy to avoid standing in a lunch line that could eat up a sizable part of their lunch and recess. For students who always get the hot lunch, such as those eligible for free or hot lunch, that’s not an

q Chomp changes

After more than three years exploring the local food scene for Seattle’s Child, Jo Eike is pursuing a new gig. We welcome Rebekah Denn, for-

8/9/18

2:47 PM

option. A few tips on making the most of cafeteria time:

• Teach kids to open a milk container. Many kids raise their hands and wait for a lunchroom monitor to help. The same goes for unscrewing a thermos lid. • Make it easy. Pre-open snacks. Snip the corner off a trail-mix pack. •Dense and meaningful calories: Cheese (cut into bite-size pieces!), nuts (if your school allows), slices of salami. • Prioritize. “Help them learn which foods are most nutrient-dense and eat those first. Then what things will hold for snacks,” says parenting coach Sarina Behar Natkin. “School is a waste of time if kids are not physically ready to learn.” „ Got more lunchroom tips? Send them to askchomp@seattleschild.com and we’ll print your tips in our Chomp newsletter.

mer Seattle P-I food writer, James Beard Award-winning author and mother of three. She’s re-launched our Chomp newsletter, a dense insider’s angle on food and family.

q StayWoke takes a rest

Last month’s article on StayWoke Coffee went to press as the pair decided to end normal business hours and transition to coffee pop-ups.

SHUTTERSTOCK

< African

„ More shopping local on seattleschild.com

A SAFER TRAMPOLINE?

LITTLE HANDS LOVE EMI’S ACTIVITY BAGS

No springs or hard edges, a hidden frame that’s impossible to fall on and a flexible enclosure make Springfree Trampolines distinctive. Families can test one out at the new brick-and-mortar store in Issaquah, or at upcoming community events such as Issaquah Salmon Days or the Redmond Town Center Halloween Celebration. 3springfreetrampoline.com

Perfect for keeping little hands busy, Emi’s Stitch of Love Activity Bags come in 26 patterns, including spaceships, Minecraft, PAW Patrol and unicorns. Pasco-based designer Erin Kajikawa-Garcia turned her passion for sewing into an Etsy business. The bags can hold coloring books, crayons and whatever else your child desires. 3 etsy.com/shop/emisstitchoflove

»Shop L I V E LY A N D L O C A L LY M A D E

> Romp > Chomp

q BY SY D N E Y PA R K E R

>> Shop

FROM ALIENS TO ZOMBIES

Math for Love founders Katherine Cook and Dan Finkel transform numbers into fun.

Board book Monster ABC, created by PNW-based twin brothers Kyle and Derek Sullivan, is a hilarious take on the alphabet featuring Aliens, Zombies and everything in between. By telling stories through monsters, the Sullivans aim to promote inclusion. “Kids don’t have to worry about a monster being a different gender or skin color, they can just say, that’s me, I identify with this creature,” says Kyle. 3 hazydellpress.com

MAT H FO R LOV E BY J OS HUA HU STO N OT HE R IM AGES CO URTE SY O F M AK ER S

Making math merry Math and love have always gone hand in hand for Dan Finkel. As a child, he learned to love patterns, puzzles and problems while attending math camp in Massachusetts. While studying mathematics at University of Washington, he fell in love with Katherine Cook, the woman who would later become

his wife. When the couple founded a company with a mission of transforming how math is taught and learned, Math for Love seemed like the perfect name choice. Today, Math for Love is a Seattle-based math education consultancy and board game development company with a CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >

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www.universityprep.org

seat tle • 206.525.2714

extraordinary relationships

between students

Shop

and teachers are a given at university prep. ¶ uprep has grown to a campus of 580 students in grades 6 through 12, and 125 faculty and staff. ¶ We invite students on a path of critical inquiry, diverse perspectives, inclusivity, social justice, rigorous academics, arts, athletics, and joyfulness. for Love CONTINUED

worldwide reach. The Math for Love team strives to combine rigor and play to make math as fun for kids as it is challenging. “I think we can turn kids off of math by making it too high-stakes,” says Finkel. “They feel like how they perform proves whether they are smart or not.” After a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2014, Finkel and Cook created Prime Climb, a colorful 2-to4-player board game for kids ages 10 and up that highlights the power of prime numbers. The basic mechanics of Prime Climb are simple enough that kids enjoy the game, but the possible strategies are complex enough that even adults take pause. For kids ages 3 to 8, Finkel and Cook designed Tiny Polka Dot, a card deck that can be used to play 16 different games focused on counting, arithmetic and logic. “We wanted to give parents a fun way to make teaching math really playful and natural, instead of it being high-pressure and punishing,” says Finkel. When not inventing math board games, mentoring teachers, writing curricula or giving his “Five Principles of Extraordinary Math Teaching” TEDx Talk, Finkel and Cook contribute to the New York Times number blog, Numberplay. Math is an ingrained part of their work and leisure time; they truly model the rigor/play teaching philosophy that they espouse. The duo is driven by their conviction that math should be made accessible to everyone. “Nobody really knows what the careers of the future are going to be,” says Finkel. “But math is such a commonsense superpower that it’s going to help kids have a full life, no matter what.” q mathforlove.com

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COURTESY OF MATH FOR LOVE

< Math

Here's our up-close look at Seattle Public Schools, not just by the statistics, but through interviews with families at three very different schools to get their take. We also check into the Seattle Preschool Program, now with 1,500 kids and poised to double its enrollment if a levy is approved in November.

A SEAT AT THE FRONT

Ashraf Mohamed, with her two sons, saw a need for more parent involvement at Dearborn Park Elementary and started a PTA.

Problems & promise Welcome to Seattle Public Schools. It’s crowded, largely segregated, and despite decades of effort, there’s a big difference between the achievement of rich and poor students and black and white students. Oh, and they’re not quite sure where the budget is coming from next year. But still, there’s reason for optimism. BY FIONA COHEN

PHOTOS BY JOS H UA H U STO N

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A SEAT AT THE FRONT < The state CONTINUED

of Seattle Public Schools

New Seattle Public Schools superintendent Denise Juneau, speaking to a group of people at Broadview Public Library as a stop on her “listening tour” of Seattle, was upbeat: “People want Seattle Public Schools to be successful.” Academic achievement is up. Reading and math proficiency scores have increased a little almost every year. In 2009-10, reading and language arts scores for third-to-eighth-graders were 3 percent above the state average. By 2016-17, it was 10 percent. “People need to know that Seattle Public Schools is a high-performing district,” says Juneau. A study by Stanford University researchers found that between third and eighth grades, the average Seattle Public Schools student advanced 5.7 grade levels. Compared with the nation’s 200 biggest school districts, Seattle was in third place. But there’s a catch: While everyone improved, not everyone started in the same place. For third graders, the average grade levels of white and black kids were 3.7 years apart. White students were 2.2 years above grade level, while black students were 1.5 years below. How does this happen? Part of the problem is poverty. Across the country, the pattern plays out; higher-income kids have higher academic achievement than lower-income kids, starting in kindergarten and continuing through college. Groups who are affected by achievement gaps, which Seattle Public Schools calls the “historically underserved population,” all have a large proportion of low-income kids, who have less access to preschool and other educational opportunities. But that isn’t the whole story. For example, look at the percent meeting the standard on the Smarter Balanced math test for grades 3 to 8 in 2016-17, a typical year gapwise. Among white low-income students, 48 percent met the standard. When it came to low-income students from historically underserved populations, i.e. not white or Asian, the rate was 31 percent. Among students who were not low-income,

"People need to know that Seattle Public Schools is a high-performing district," says Juneau.

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New Superintendent Denise Juneau's first-dayof-school tour at John Rogers Elementary School in Lake City.

white students passed 79 percent of the time, while those from historically underserved populations passed 56 percent of the time. Seattle Public Schools seem to have an institutional racism problem. Black, Pacific Islander, Latino and Native American kids are not achieving as much as their are white peers. They are under-enrolled in advanced learning programs. They are more likely to be suspended or expelled. They are less likely to have a teacher with the same background as theirs. They are less likely to go to a school with a PTA that funds the arts. The district is working to address some of these problems. It is reforming its discipline policies, and working with the city and local arts organizations to expand arts instruction to all schools in the next few years. Perhaps the biggest hope is the city of Seattle’s public preschool program that launched in 2015. This year, more than 1,500 kids will attend a certified preschool that is affordable, or if parents qualify, free. That means almost a third of next year’s Seattle Public Schools kindergarteners will have benefited from the program, including hundreds who until recently would not have had the opportunity. But as some problems are addressed, others crop up. More and more Seattle students are living with homelessness. The most recent count, in 2016-17, indicated 4,280 Seattle Public School students without a fixed nighttime addresses. That’s about 8 percent of the total student population. And there’s the money. Seattle Public Schools

Seattle Public Schools by the numbers Number of students as of 2017: 53,380 Percentage increase over the past decade: 17 Number of schools: 103 Number of schools opened since 2008: 14 Number scheduled to open in the next two years: 3 Number of superintendents since 2007: 5 Percentage of African-American students eligible for the district’s advanced learning programs in 2016: 2 Percentage of white students signing up for those programs: 24 Suspension rate for African-American students in 2015: 8.6 For white students: 1.6 Number of languages the district employs interpreters for: 10

(Amharic, Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin, Oromo, Spanish, Somali, Tagalog, Tigrigna and Vietnamese)

Spending per student in 2018: $18,000 Increase in spending per student over the past decade: $5,000 SOURCES: seattleschools.org, k12.wa.us, SPS 2016-17 District Scorecard

— Fiona Cohen

A SEAT AT THE FRONT doesn’t know how it’s going to fund things next year. For many years, the state underfunded the public schools, and the district supplemented funding through local levies. That went on until a court case, McCleary v. Washington, led to a unanimous 2012 State Supreme Court decision that requires the state to fund K-12 education. But in requiring the state to better fund education, McCleary limited school levies to education enrichment activities. For Seattle, which has been funding its schools through levies, the state funding falls far short of what it will lose in levy dollars. Seattle Public Schools staff estimate the gap could grow to more than $50 million within two years, and unless the district got a break from the Legislature, they would have to cut staff and programs, even though the student population is rising. Dayna Dealy, mother of a second grader at West Woodland Elementary School, says the budget is the issue she is most concerned about. Along with her second grader, Dealy has a sixth grader, who went to West Woodland from grades 2 through 5, and is now in sixth grade in private school at a more intimate school with smaller classes. Her kids have been happy in the neighborhood school. Set on the west slope of Phinney Ridge, West Woodland is a “have” school. Only 5 percent of its students qualify for a free or a reduced-price lunch, 1 percent are English language learners, all the test scores are above average, and the PTA plans to raise $300,000 this year. Even so, its resources are stretched. For one thing: it’s packed. The school population

of about 550 does not fit in the main building. Dealy’s younger son’s classroom is in one of six classroom portables. Lunch happens in shifts, the earliest of which is at 10:10 a.m. Parents are a big part of helping things work, starting with providing money.

“I don’t know how the teacher could do all the things they need to do and still focus on the kids. It makes you think about the other schools that don’t have as much parent involvement.” “We support the students quite a bit, extra counselors we’ve paid for, art teacher, extra lunch assistants we paid for,” Dealy says. They also donate a lot of time. Dealy says without parents picking up clerical tasks, and doing things like sitting with kids learning reading, kids’ education would suffer. “I don’t know how the teacher could do all the things they need to do and still focus on the kids,” she says. “It makes you think about the other schools that don’t have as much parent involvement.” Ashraf Mohamed knows what that looks like. It looks like the day last year when she dropped

her older son off for Mandarin immersion kindergarten at Dearborn Park International Elementary School on Beacon Hill. “I was like ‘Oh, my god, there’s so many kids in one classroom,” she says. There were 27 kindergartners, and one teacher. She was scared for her son. It got better quickly. Teaching assistants and parent volunteers appeared in the classroom. Dearborn Park is not a “have” school; 74 percent of its students are eligible for free and reduced lunch, and a third are learning English. Most of their test score proficiency rates are below the district average. Because of the challenges that Dearborn students face, the district and federal government fund more staff. So although it has 200 fewer students than West Woodland, it has only five fewer teachers, and far more support workers. Mohamed got parents more involved. “We have a lot of Somali kids at Dearborn, and I noticed that most of the Somali parents weren’t involved,” she says. She decided to start a PTA. This spring, she enlisted the help of interpreters and the principal and called the meeting. The parents came, filling up the room. “It turned out to be horrible. It was just so many complaints,” Mohamed says. Parents felt the school was out of touch with the needs of their families and kids, and they let the principal know. But Mohamed says communication between parents and the school improved after that. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >

What made her a TEAM PLAYER? A team of inspiring teachers, a classroom of good friends, and a nurturing and supportive environment where the voices of middle school girls are not just present, not just included, but valued. At LWGMS, girls are empowered to see themselves as people who belong, who can lead, who can be strong, who can make change. LWGMS makes her Life Ready.

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of Seattle Public Schools

Mohamed now has two kids in the school. Her youngest just started kindergarten. She is planning a PTA meeting this fall. For her, the most important issue facing Seattle Public Schools is the need for higher quality instruction. Her son is bright, learns math rapidly, and is eager to learn more. She would like to see kids like him get more individual attention. “I think that it should be challenging for the kids,” she says.

Dream big. Plan ahead. Washington College Savings Plans can help you start saving towards a brighter future. Learn more at wastate529.wa.gov

GET and DreamAhead are qualified tuition programs sponsored and distributed by the State of Washington. The Committee on Advanced Tuition Payment and College Savings administers and the Washington Student Achievement Council supports the plans. DreamAhead investment returns are not guaranteed and you could lose money by investing in the plan. If in-state tuition decreases in the future, GET tuition units may lose value.

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At Eryn Geokezas’ neighborhood school, John Rogers Elementary in Lake City, kids from lakefront mansions sit in classrooms (or possibly portables) next to kids from lowincome housing. It is one of only a few Seattle schools with demographics that roughly match the average for the district as a whole. Of the school’s 370 students, 38 percent qualify for free or reduced-price lunches, and 17 percent are English language learners, a bit higher than the district average. The rates of passing standardized tests are a little lower than the district average. Geokezas’ kids have thrived there. Her son started at Thornton Creek, in the Wedgwood neighborhood, but after finishing first grade unable to read, he switched to John Rogers. The teacher sorted him out immediately. Within three weeks he was working with a reading specialist. “By the end of second grade he was reading at a fourth- or fifth-grade level, and he hasn’t put down a book since,” Geokezas says. Now in seventh grade at Jane Addams Middle School, he’s in the Highly Capable Cohort program, taking advanced classes. His sister is in the fifth grade at John Rogers. Geokezas, a former schoolteacher who now teaches spin classes, says that for her, the most important issue facing the school district is equity. While the John Rogers PTA works hard (anticipated budget this year: $125,000), they can’t provide as much as she sees in other Northeast Seattle schools, where parents can raise more. “It’s completely inequitable. One kiddo at one school is not going to get what another kiddo at another school gets,” she says. Superintendent Juneau says that many people she has talked to want more equity in Seattle Public Schools, and want to make progress in eradicating the achievement gaps. “We are not going to shy away from confronting those challenges,” says Juneau. Take the high school graduation rates. They’re on an upward trend, and the gaps between more advantaged and less advantaged populations are narrowing. While the five-year graduation rate for white students rose 5 percent from 2013 to 2017, the rate for black students rose 13 percent, from 59 percent to 72 percent. If the district can keep up those improvement rates, it might be that when this year’s sixth graders graduate, that particular gap will be gone. “You’ve got to keep trying and you’ve got to be nimble in your approach,” says Juneau.

A SEAT AT THE FRONT

An early leg up

For many Seattle kids, the promise of preschool hangs on November's levy vote BY SYDNEY PARKER

Decades of empirical research have demonstrated that enriching early learning experiences build a solid foundation for school readiness and later success. Despite widespread public agreement that quality childcare is an essential basic need for most working families, the market remains prohibitively expensive. The estimated median cost of center-based preschool in King County is $1,079 per month, according to Child Care Aware of Washington. By comparison, the cost of home-based childcare for a preschooler is $776 per month. Children from families who can’t afford high-quality learning environments miss out on the opportunities available to their affluent peers, which can contribute to

Tamisha Bash teaches the Seeds Of Life preschool class at Rainier Beach Community Center.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 21 >

BE CURIOUS. ZOOM IN.

Curiosity emerges at PacSci’s Tropical Butterfly House. New butterflies taking flight every week. pacsci.org/butterflies

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MONTESSORI SCHOOLS WOODINVILLE MONTESSORI SCHOOL

in Bothell & Woodinville Accredited Montessori for Toddler through High School

Enrolling for the 2019 school year! OPEN HOUSE Saturday, October 27th from 10-11 PLEASE RSVP

hello@eastsidemontessorischool.com

In Redmond

Montessori & contemporary methods college prep academics inclusive community OPEN HOUSES Oct. 27, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Jan. 10, 5:30 p.m. Ask about tuition assistance www.woodinvillemontessori.org 425-482-3184 Learn.

Grow.

MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF SEATTLE

Nurturing a child’s love of learning since 1979 Educating Children 2.5 - 6

Open House

January 27, 2019 10:00 - 12:00

720 18th Ave. E. 98112 montessorischoolofseattle.com S E AT T L E ’S C H I L D

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in g N o w E n r o ll

Call 425-883-3271 for a tour. • Child-centered, joyful atmosphere with strong academic focus • Experienced, Montessori-certified teachers • Preschool, kindergarten and STEAM Enrichment • Family owned and operated since 1977 • Summer, before & after school programs • Prep Program, (starting ages 2 1/2-3)

Become.

Woodinville Montessori School

The Sammamish Montessori School

www.sammamishmontessori.com 425-883-3271

A SEAT AT THE FRONT This November, taxpayers will be asked to vote on the Families, Education, Preschool and Promise Levy proposed by Mayor Jenny Durkan. The $636 million, seven-year levy would fund things such as health centers at schools, non-school-hour programs such as aftercare and mentorships, community college tuition for city high school students, and grow the Seattle Preschool Program (SPP), a network of high-quality, affordable preschools open to all of Seattle’s 3- and 4-year-olds with programs

Seeds Of Life preschoolers get out their paint.

< Seattle

Preschool Program

CONTINUED

greater social inequality and dramatically different outcomes for adults. Some studies have shown that kids who attended preschool saw long-term gains, such as increases in college enrollment, and decreases in incarceration rates and teen pregnancy.

“A society in which your ability to grow and develop as a person depends exclusively on what learning opportunities your parents can afford to buy between birth to 5 is not the way we are going to create the culture that we want,” says Ajay Chaudry, co-author of Cradle to Kindergarten: A New Plan to Combat Inequality. “It’s going to make the inequality much worse for the next generation than it already is.”

“We have seen steady improvements in quality over a short time, even while expanding at a quick pace. This points to the support of coaches, the commitment of teachers and the dedication of leaders.” such as dual language instruction and inclusion classrooms for kids with special needs. “It’s not a cookie-cutter model by any means,” says Monica Liang-Aguirre, Director of Early Learning for the city of Seattle. “The positive side is that there’s something for every family. The flip side is that it’s not a one-sizefits-all, where we can just stick you anywhere CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >

We’re for uncovering each child’s one-of-a-kind gift.

11/12 Visit Day

COME TO OUR HALLOWEEN HAUL | OCT. 31, 3-5PM SPIRIT HALLOWEEN — NOW OPEN! FOR ALL YOUR HALLOWEEN COSTUMES AND DECORATIONS O U T L E TCO L L E C TI O N S E AT T L E .CO M |

cwa.is/seattleschild (253) 620-8373 Girls & Boys // Jr. K - Grade 12 South King County Bus Service

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< Seattle Preschool CONTINUED

FREE ADMISSION AND PARKING!

October 6th & 7th

Acres of Fun For Everyone!

Hayrides, animal petting, tastings, kids activities and much more!

CHECK OUT THE MAP OF FARMS

www.farmtour.com

It’s not just what you learn but how. The Northwest School offers a vibrant, intellectual home, a warm inclusive community, and a dynamic liberal arts education for grades 6-12 that prepares students to think critically, act compassionately, and believe they can have a positive impact on the world.

Come visit us! Upper School Open House

Sunday, Oct 21, 2018, Noon- 2:30pm

Middle School Open House

Sunday, Nov 4, 2018, Noon- 2:30pm

1415 Summit Avenue • Seattle, WA 98122 206.682.7309

www.northwestschool.org

S E AT T L E ’S C H I L D

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Program

and you’ll have the same experience.” The program has grown from 15 classrooms serving fewer than 300 children in 2014 to an estimated 82 classrooms serving 1,500 children across Seattle this year. Students engage in a full-time, research-based curriculum taught by certificated staff. Tuition for SPP is on a sliding scale, based on household income. “Because there are income requirements for subsidies, there might be the misconception that other families can’t apply,” says Liang-Aguirre. “But we encourage mixed-income classrooms and really having a diverse setting.” The Seattle Preschool Program's quality and efficiency has improved every year, per a recent evaluation by a joint team from the University of Washington and Rutgers University. The 2017 report found that minority children in the program made the greatest progress compared to white, non-Hispanic children. Children speaking two languages had more significant improvement in vocabulary, literacy and math, and there was a trend toward greater gains for children living in poverty. If passed, the Families, Education, Preschool and Promise Levy will build on the pre-existing Families and Education Levy and Seattle Preschool Levy, with plans to expand preschool classrooms to 2,500 students. These enhancements, along with continued K-12 and school-based health investments, would cost the median homeowner about $20 per month. “Every day, more than 1,500 kids come to preschool ready to learn and get prepared for kindergarten,” says Mayor Durkan. “With the cost of preschool out of reach for many Seattle families, 80 percent of our Seattle Preschool Program families are able to enroll in full-day preschool free of charge. I’m incredibly proud of the work our teachers and providers are doing in the Seattle Preschool Program — not only making Seattle more affordable for families — to set our littlest learners up for success in school and life.” Some Seattle homeowners, burdened by tax fatigue, aren't sure if they can take on another property tax. To soften the blow, the city will offer an exemption to people on fixed incomes, such as lowincome seniors, people with disabilities and veterans. Others are concerned that the levy will pit early education against K-12 wraparound services. Gail Joseph, Associate Professor of Educational Psychology and the Director of the Early Childhood and Family Studies program at the University of Washington, is undeterred by critics of the program. “We have seen steady improvements in quality over a short time, even while expanding at a quick pace. This points to the support of coaches, the commitment of teachers and the dedication of leaders,” says Joseph. “If my children were preschoolers again, I’d send them to SPP.”

„ Find more nest-making ideas on seattleschild.com

LOCAL RESOURCES FOR BUSY PARENTS: Find classes, plan birthday parties and more with our constantly updated online directory of family-friendly businesses » seattleschild.com/directories L I V I N G L A R G E I N S M A L L A N D U N I Q U E S PAC E S

q BY A N D I E P OW E R S

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>>MakingHome

Yasmin Ravard-Andresen with Kavinder, left, and Anjali, have created a backyard “urban food forest” for learning.

Their own way P H OTO BY JOS H UA H U STON

THIS HILLMAN CITY FAMILY TRANSFORMED THEIR LIVING SPACE INTO A “SCHOOL WITHOUT WALLS” The well-trod traditional path isn’t always the best for every family. So when Yasmin Ravard-Andresen and her husband Dave, who works in digital marketing, were

considering schooling options for their children, they decided to make the bold leap into homeschooling. According to Yasmin, they were interested in an “alternative

learning environment and a very different education diet,” with a delayed academic schedule to focus on art, movement, nature and more. After finding public preschool too traditional and tied down, and private options too privileged, costly, and with fewer faces of color, they chose to create their own educational pathway for their son Kavinder, 7, and daughter Anjali, 5. Re-creating the traditional classroom was never their intention, and with their current layout, the learning experiences extend well beyond their physical house. To CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >

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MakingHome own way

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carve out the 350 square feet in their home in the South Seattle neighborhood of Hillman City, one they designated for educational use, they knocked down some walls to open up the floor plan, and replaced the back door with a full window door, allowing for more natural light. They keep things as natural as possible, filling the space with plants, wood, wool, rocks and shells. They invest in long-lasting wood toys that won’t break quickly. There are an assortment of musical instruments, including an upright piano. A fun addition is the indoor swing, encouraging movement for the kids during inclement weather. Or any weather. Yasmin describes their educating philosophy as “school without walls.” They’ve spent hours gardening, planting trees, constructing a playhouse and welcoming chickens, bees and composting worms into their “little urban food forest.” Their nature-oriented curriculum is supplemented with martial arts, music education, weekly wilderness school on Vashon Island, dance classes, and participation in their faith community, Valley and Mountain, along with lots of free art and play. Yasmin loves being able to witness her children’s learning milestones, and have fun right alongside them, but she and Dave admit they are open to change.

Ravard-Andresen has created a space for her kids to pursue their own educational pathways.

“If they are interested in pursuing something within conventional society, going to a high school building and getting ready for college might be a shrewd choice,” she says. “If they are going to make music and run a pedal-powered music festival or be a poet or a dancer or a mystic healer, they might not choose to go to college.”

Regardless of what path will be just right for Kavinder and Anjali, the family will be flexible. “We’ll know when we know,” says Yasmin. „ Is your family living in a unique space? We want to hear about it! Email us at makinghome@seattleschild.com

It ’s so much more than a gift Washington State Heirloom Birth Certificate

Challenging K-12 students in an intellectual community through early entrance, online, and outreach programs

A portion of the proceeds from each birth certificate helps children grow, thrive and learn in safe and loving environments. This official birth certificate is personally signed by the Governor and State Registrar.

Transition School • UW Academy Saturday Enrichment • Summer Programs Online Program • Professional Development

Certificate is 8 1/2 x 11 and includes the name, date and place of birth, as well as the name and birthplace of the parent(s). Framable keepsake For each $40 purchase of an Heirloom Birth Certificate, $25 is tax deductible.

To find out more information on Children’s Trust and child abuse prevention in Washington State visit https://www.dcyf.wa.gov/about/ government-community/communityengagement or visit Department of Health to order your own Heirloom Birth Certificate. 24

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APPLY NOW

www.robinsoncenter.uw.edu 206-543-4160 • rcys@uw.edu

P HOTO BY JOSHUA HUSTON

< Their

„ For our mobile-friendly, totally searchable, constantly updated calendar go to seattleschild.com

Erika’s picks for October 1

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Rocktoberfest This popular, annual show is back, bigger than ever. Head to Totem Middle School in Marysville for the Marysville Rock and Gem Club show featuring amazing exhibits, knowledgeable dealers and fun demonstrations.

Family Nature Class: Spiders are Special Bring the whole family and practice using all five of your senses at the UW Botanic Gardens. Learning stations will help kids practice fine motor skills, sensory investigation, and pre-math and literacy skills.

Night Hike at Lewis Creek Park Who inhabits the park after the sun sets and the dark creeps in? Join a park ranger at Bellevue’s Lewis Creek Park and learn about the different nocturnal and crepuscular species that call the park home.

Bushwick Book Club: After the Fall Come hear original songs about Humpty Dumpty after his famous tumble. Part of the Town Hall Seattle family-friendly series, Bushwick is a lively concert inspired this month by Dan Santat’s After the Fall.

Run Scared Think of it like a dress rehearsal before trick-or-treating. Don your costume and take part in a 4K, 5K or 10K race on Seward Park, followed by a Halloween-themed finish-line party at this fundraiser.

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»Calendar 10/18

Monday, October 1 S E AT T L E A R E A

Pajamarama! Evening Family Story Time. Enjoy rhymes, songs and surprises, especially for preschoolers. Jammies and teddy bears welcome. Ages 3 to 6 with adult. 6:45 to 7:30 pm. FREE. Shoreline Library. www.kcls.org

Wednesday, October 3 S E AT T L E A R E A

COURT ESY OF SWAN SON S NURS ERY

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show. See popular stories by Eric Carle brought to life with 75 colorful puppets of all sizes. Recommended ages 3 and older. 3:30 to 4:45 pm today; various times through Oct. 21. $$$. Seattle Children’s Theatre, Seattle Center. www.sct.org Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery. Sherlock Holmes is back and searching for clues to explain a mysterious death on a haunted moor. For ages 12 and older. 7:30 to 9:30 pm tonight; various dates and times through Oct. 20. $$$. Taproot Theater Company, Seattle (Greenwood). www.taproottheatre.org

It’s tulip time! Read our Swansons tips for taking the best Nursery family photos on page 34. Fall Festival

EASTSIDE

walk and look for salmon spawning in the creek. Learn about trees and plants native to the area. 3:30 to 4:30 pm. $. Keep It Simple Farm, Redmond. www.kisfarm.com

Salmon Tour and Creek Exploration. Enjoy a guided trail

Cirque Du Soleil VOLTA. Inspired by the adventurous

spirit that fuels the culture of street sports, this show weaves acrobatics into a visually striking world. For ages 6 and older. 8 to 10 pm tonight; various dates and times through Nov. 4. $$$. Marymoor Park, Redmond. www.cirquedusoleil.com/volta

SOUTH SOUND

Cinderella. A fairy godmother wields her magic to get Cinderella to the ball. This play is part of Olympia Family Theater’s “Let’s Play” series; 25-to-30-minute interactive shows adapted for

E V E NT S AR E SUB JE CT TO C H ANG E Please call ahead or check the venue’s website before you go. E V E NT P R IC ING $: Under $10 / $$: $10–$20 / $$$: $20 and over

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Calendar toddlers and preschoolers. 10 am today through Oct. 7. $. Olympia Family Theater, Olympia. www.olyft.org

Thursday, October 4 S E AT T L E A R E A

Maple Festival. See the magnificent fall colors at the Seattle Japanese Garden. Make fall a family event with nature-inspired craft making, a maple tree scavenger hunt and live performances. 10 am to 5 pm today through Oct. 14 (noon to 5 pm on Mondays). $. Seattle Japanese Garden, Washington Park Arboretum. www.seattlejapanesegarden.org NORTH SOUND

Tales from Latin America, The Armadillo’s Song and The Half Chicken. Children ages 2 to 6 and their families can enjoy a celebration of story through music. Part of the Theater for Young Audiences series. Noon today and Oct. 18. FREE. Northgate Community Center, Northgate. www.seattle.gov

Friday, October 5 S E AT T L E A R E A

Tiny Tots Concert. The Strings: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star is a musical experience for children 5 and younger. Arrive 30 minutes prior to the concert for an instrument zoo, a percussion play area and fun crafts. Today, 10:30 am, Saturday, 9:30, 10: 30 and 11:30 am. $$. Benaroya Hall, Downtown Seattle. www.seattlesymphony.org SOUTH SOUND

Fright Fest. Enjoy rides, haunted houses and the scare-free Booville for younger children. Costumes welcomed (see rules online). Fridays, 6 to 11 pm; Saturdays, 5 to 11 pm; Sundays, 5 to 10 pm through Oct. 28. $$ to $$$. Wild Waves Theme Park, Federal Way. www.wildwaves.com Fort Nisqually Candlelight Tour. Costumed re-enactors will let you eavesdrop on the life of the men, women and children of the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1857. Friday and Saturday, 6 to 9 pm. $ to $$. Fort Nisqually Living History Museum, Tacoma. www.fortnisqually.org Oktoberfest Northwest. Authentic German entertainment, food and beer garden. Wiener dog races, kids’ activities and more. Today, noon to midnight (free admission noon to 3 pm), Saturday, 11 am to midnight (ages 21 and older after 6 pm today and Sat.); Sunday, 11 am to 6 pm. $ to $$, free ages 12 and younger. Washington State Fair and Events Center, Puyallup. oktoberfestnw.com Disney’s Newsies. Set in turn-of-the century New York City, Newsies is a musical tale about a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged “newsies.” 7:30 pm tonight; various times through Sun. $$. Tacoma Musical Playhouse. www.tmp.org

Saturday, October 6 S E AT T L E A R E A

Seattle Fire Day. Kids can try on gear, learn fire safety tips and climb aboard a fire engine. 10 am to 2 pm. FREE. MOHAI, Seattle (South Lake Union). www.mohai.org BrickCon. View hundreds of Lego models, build your own creations and shop. Today and Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm. $$, free ages 4 and younger and active duty military with ID. Advance purchase recommended. No strollers. Seattle Center Exhibition Hall (Lower Queen Anne). www.brickcon.org Scarecrow Festival. Music, scavenger hunt, nature art, live music and games. Plus carnival rides and scarecrow making. 11 am to 2 pm. FREE; fee for some activities. Magnuson Park Community Garden, Seattle (Sand Point). www.magnusonnatureprograms.com Monster Mash Dash 5K Run/Walk. Run or walk along Shoreline’s Interurban Trail. Costumes are encouraged and prizes will be awarded for best costumes. 8 am. $ to $$. Interurban Trail, Shoreline. www.shorelinewa.gov

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Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Thistle Theatre brings to life this classic tale with bunraku (ancient Japanese puppetry). 1 and 3 pm. today and Sunday; various dates and locations through Oct. 21. $$. Magnuson Park Theater Building, Seattle (Sandpoint). www.thistletheatre.org EASTSIDE

Kelsey Creek Farm Fair. Entertainment, heritage demonstrations, crafts, inflatables, petting zoo, tractor-pulled hayrides and more. No pets. 11 am to 4 pm. FREE, small fee for some activities (bring cash). Kelsey Creek Farm Park, Bellevue. www.parks.bellevuewa.gov Issaquah Salmon Days Festival. Celebrate the yearly return of salmon to Issaquah’s waterways. Hatchery tours, carnival, grand parade and hands-on activities for kids. No pets. Today and Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm. FREE. Downtown Issaquah. www.salmondays.org NORTH SOUND

Crazy Costume 5k Run/Walk. Celebrate the Edmonds School District with a fun run. Try out your Halloween costumes. Dogs are welcome. 7 to 10 am. $ to $$. Alderwood Mall, Lynnwood. www.foundationesd.org Monster Bash. Get up close to a collection of mythical and marvelous machines. Touch fire trucks, tanks and tractors. Take a ride in the monster truck! 10 am to 2 pm. $$, FREE. Ages 12 and younger in costume. Flying Heritage Collection, Everett. www.flyingheritage.com Rocktoberfest. Marysville Rock and Gem Club’s annual show features exhibits, dealers, demonstrations, kids’ activities, food, prizes and more. Today and Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm. FREE. Totem Middle School, Marysville. www.snohomish.org SOUTH SOUND

Scarecrow Festival. Scarecrow contest and display, carnival games, hayrides, pony or camel rides, farm animals and entertainment. 10 am to 4 pm. FREE (small fee for some activities). Sehmel Homestead Park, Gig Harbor. www.penmetparks.org S’More Than You Imagined. S’mores, live music and storytelling by a bonfire. 6 to 8 pm. FREE. Game Farm Wilderness Park, Auburn. www.auburnwa.gov FA R T H E R A F I E L D

Kinetic Sculpture Race. Wacky, imaginative parade featuring human-powered, artistically enhanced vehicles that must go through sand and mud, float on water, and transverse hilly neighborhoods. See schedule online. 10 am today through 6 pm Sun. FREE. Downtown Port Townsend. www.ptkineticrace.org Vashon CiderFest. Sweet or hard cider tasting, apple-pressing demonstrations, Vashon Fire and Rescue open house, orchard tours, food, crafts, kids’ activities and more. See schedule online. FREE. Vashon Island Village Green, Vashon Island. www.vashonciderfest.com

Sunday, October 7 S E AT T L E A R E A

CroatiaFest. Music and dance performances, food, art, activities, demonstrations and workshops. Noon to 6 pm. FREE. Seattle Center Armory (Lower Queen Anne). www.croatiafest.org Public Sail at the Center for Wooden Boats. Take a 45-minute sail on a beautiful, classic boat. Sign up for a slot in person; several trips throughout the day. Space is limited. 10 am to 4 pm. FREE. The Center for Wooden Boats, Seattle (Lake Union). www.cwb.org SOUTH SOUND

Lattin’s Apple Festival. Pick your own pumpkins and enjoy a day in the country amid the sweet aroma of apples. Bluegrass music, farm animals, face painting, animal train, pony rides and more. 10 am to 4 pm today; every Saturday and Sunday in Oct. $. Lattin’s Country Cider Mill and Farm, Olympia. www.lattinscider.com

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Indoor Pumpkin Patch. Indoor cornstalks, straw bales, fancy gourds and tons of pumpkins. 11 am to 5 pm today through Oct. 31 (opens Oct. 6). FREE; $ to $$ pumpkins. Country Village, Bothell. www.countryvillagebothell.com

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Open Play at the PlayGarden. Drop by this beautiful, inclusive park for a fun afternoon of play with kids of all abilities. Expert staff is on site to lead activities and offer support as needed. 3 to 6 pm today; Saturdays 10 am to 2 pm. FREE. PlayGarden, Judkins Park area. www.childrensplaygarden.org

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Family Nature Class: Spiders are Special. Experience the UW Botanic Gardens using all five senses. Learning stations help children practice fine motor skills, sensory investigation, creativity, and pre-math and literacy skills. Hiking, games and stories. 9:30 to 11:30 am. $ to $$. Washington Park Arboretum. www.botanicgardens.uw.edu

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S E AT T L E A R E A

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And in This Corner: Cassius Clay. Long before he was Muhammad Ali, 12-year-old Cassius Clay knew he would be a hero. Watch the live theatrical performance about the boy who fought his way onto the gold-medal stand and into history books. Best for ages 9 and older. 7 to 8 pm tonight; various dates and times through Nov. 25. $$$. Seattle Children’s Theatre, Seattle Center. www.stc.org

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Friday, October 12 S E AT T L E A R E A

Hear Me Roar. The Seattle Women’s Chorus sings throwback favorites and pop extravaganzas by artists including Katy Perry, Melissa Etheridge and Alicia Keys. The performance features stories of strength, survival and hope. 8 pm tonight; various times through Oct. 20. $$$. Seattle First Baptist Church, Burien. www.seattlechoruses.org Family Skate Night. Skate along to music and play fun games. Bring your own skates or blades or borrow a pair. 6:30 to 8:15 pm. $. Bitter Lake Community Center Annex, Greenwood. www.seattle.gov EASTSIDE

Nightmare at Beaver Lake. Indoor/outdoor “haunted” attraction. 7 to 7:45 pm is the family scare recommended for ages 10 and younger. Various times Oct. 12-31. See website for schedule. $$. Beaver Lake Park, Sammamish. www.nightmareatbeaverlake.com Night Hike at Lewis Creek Park. When the sun sets and the dark of night creeps in, Lewis Creek Park comes alive. Learn about the different nocturnal and crepuscular species that call the park home, and join a park ranger on a hike through the woods after dark. Bring a flashlight. Ages 5 and older. 6-7:30 pm. FREE. Lewis Creek Park Visitors Center, Bellevue. www.parks.bellevuewa.gov SOUTH SOUND

Harvest Fest and Haunted Hall. Another good reason to wear a Halloween costume. Arts and crafts, games and prizes. Festival: 5:30 to 7 pm. FREE. Haunted Hall: 6 to 8 pm tonight and Saturday. $. Center at Norpoint, Tacoma. www.metroparkstacoma.org FA R T H E R A F I E L D

Bainbridge Gardens Pumpkin Walk. Walk a nature trail lit with nearly 300 glowing, carved pumpkins. Enjoy games, food, face painting, hay maze, music and more. Today and Saturday, 6 to 8 pm. FREE, suggested

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Saturday, October 13 S E AT T L E A R E A

Water Lantern Festival. Experience the magic of floating lanterns as they light up the water. Food trucks, music, lantern making and a lantern launch. $$$. 2 to 7:30 pm. The Bathhouse Theatre, Green Lake. www. waterlanternfestival.com Swansons Fall Festival. Hay maze, tractor rides, veggie car racing, crafts, games and activities. Today and Sunday, 10 am to 3 pm. FREE, small fee for some activities to raise funds for a local nonprofit. Swansons Nursery, Seattle (Ballard). www.swansonsnursery.com Star Wars Reads Day. Join in thousands of Star Wars Reads Day celebrations around our planet. Activities include family crafts and storytelling in an Ewok village. Wear your favorite intergalactic outfits and meet other Star Wars characters roaming the halls. 10 am to 5 pm. $$ to $$$. Museum of Flight, Seattle. www.museumofflight.org

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Harvest Festival. Hayrides, pumpkin patch, food, crafts, animals and more. 10 am to 4 pm today, Sun. and Oct. 21-22. FREE, fee for some activities. Carnation Farms, Carnation. www.carnationfarms.org SOUTH SOUND

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Turkfest. Experience Turkish culture with music and dance performances, hands-on activities, food and a marketplace. 11 am to 5 pm through Sun. FREE. Seattle Center Armory (Lower Queen Anne). www.tacawa.org

Seattle Parrot Expo. Learn all about parrots with interactive exhibits, hands-on actives, face painting, photo booths and games. See parrots talk, fly and skate. No pets. Today, 10 am to 5 pm; Sunday, 11 am to 4 pm. FREE. Auburn Community & Event Center, Auburn. www.seattle-parrot-expo.com Lakewood Truck and Tractor Day. Kids can climb aboard a variety of trucks and tractors, plus enjoy free hayrides, pumpkin chucking and carving, games, crafts and more. Noon to 3 pm. FREE. Fort Steilacoom Park, Lakewood. www.cityoflakewood.us Orting Pumpkin Fest. Pumpkin-flavored food and beverages, entertainment, kids’ activities, farmers market, farm tour by bus, car show and a parade of pumpkin-costumed kids. 10 am to 5 pm. FREE. Orting City Park, Orting. www.tacomaevents.com Zoo Boo. Dress in your costume and watch as animals receive pumpkins as enrichment. Today and Sunday, 9:30 am to 4 pm. Included with admission, wear a costume for $2 discount. $ to $$. Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Tacoma. www.pdza.org FA R T H E R A F I E L D

Peanuts: The Great Pumpkin Patch Express. Meet Charlie Brown and Snoopy as you ride the train to a pumpkin patch and enjoy Peanuts-themed activities. 10 am, 1 and 4 pm. today; various dates and times through Oct. 21. $$$. Pre-register. Mt. Rainer Railroad and Logging Museum, Elbe. www.mtrainierrailroad.com

Sunday, October 14 S E AT T L E A R E A

SANCAFEST. School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts' annual fall open house and fundraiser. Circus activities, flying trapeze show, carnival games, performances and food trucks. 1 to 5:30 pm through Oct. 20. FREE, donations welcomed. School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts, Seattle (Georgetown). www.sancaseattle.org Puget Sound Buddy Walk. Family-centered event to promote awareness and acceptance of people with Down syndrome. One-mile walk, music and dancing, face painting, prizes, food trucks and more. 1 to 4 pm. FREE, fundraising encouraged. Founder’s Court at Seattle Center. www.downsyndromecommunity.org Dawg Dash. Family-friendly event with a 10K run or 5K run/walk and kids’ dash (ages 10 and younger). Leashed dogs welcome. 7:30 am registration, 9 am 5K, 9:20 am 10K, 10:30 am kids’ dash. $$$, kids’ dash free. Red Square at University of Washington, Seattle (U District). www.dawgdash.com Fall Family Forest Adventure. Explore the forests, learn about native plants and enjoy the autumn colors. Best for children 4 and older. 2 to 4 pm. $. Camp Long, West Seattle. www.seattle.gov EASTSIDE

Freckleface Strawberry the Musical. Based on the New York Times best-selling book by actress Julianne Moore, step inside the book’s pages with Freckleface and friends as they learn to “love the skin they’re in.” Families with young children are encouraged to attend the all-ages show on Sundays. 1 pm today; various times on Sat. and Sun. through Nov. 3. $$. SecondStory Repertory, Redmond. www.secondstoryrep.org

Friday, October 19 S E AT T L E A R E A

Bushwick Book Club: After the Fall. A family-friendly concert series presented by Town Hall Seattle. Bushwick shows offer a special interaction between audiences and musicians by presenting their own original songs. Inspired by After the Fall by Dan Santat. 11 am to noon. $; free for children 12 and younger. The Royal Room, Columbia City. www.townhallseattle.org Monster Bash. Music, carnival games, face painting, costume contest and lots of treats. Recommended for ages 6 to 12. 6:30 to 8 pm. FREE, donations welcome. Garfield Community Center, Seattle. www.seattle.gov

Diwali: Lights of India. Celebrate the arts and culture of India during this festival adapted from Diwali. Dancing, henna and saree booths, puppet shows, face painting, Indian food and more. FREE; $ for some activities. Seattle Center, Queen Anne. www.seattlecenter.com EASTSIDE

Halloween Storytelling Train. Take a special train excursion that includes a stop for cider pressing, hands-on activities and Halloween train stories. 11 am to 4 pm today, Sunday and Oct. 27-28. $$ to $$$. Northwest Railway Museum, Snoqualmie. www.trainmuseum.org NORTH SOUND

Harvest Festival and Haunted BOOathouse. Enjoy an afternoon on the beach with pumpkin carving, veggie car races, crafts, treats, games and more. 11 am to 3 pm. FREE, Discover Pass required for parking. Cama Beach State Park, Camano Island. www.camabeachfoundation.org SOUTH SOUND

Fall Foliage Festival. Take in the beautiful fall colors at the Rhododendron Species Garden. Peruse plant and pumpkin sales, enjoy tasty fall treats and view pop-up artist demos. Gardening workshops and garden tours, too. 10 am to 4 pm through Sun. FREE. Rhododendron Species Garden, Federal Way. www.rhodygarden.org

S E AT T L E A R E A

Halloween Pet Parade. Get out your costume and one for your dog, too. Food trucks, prizes and booths with all things pet-related. 11 am to 1:30 pm. FREE. Volunteer Park, Seattle. www.volunteerparktrust.org FA R T H E R A F I E L D

Howl-O-Ween. Scary and not-so scary stories, mad scientist activities, fortune tellers, bats and a pumpkin patch. Costumes encouraged. No pets. FREE, $ for some activities, donations suggested. 1 to 4 pm. IslandWood, Bainbridge Island. www.islandwood.org

Friday, October 26

Saturday, October 20 S E AT T L E A R E A

Caspar Babypants Concert. Enjoy a concert from the local kindie favorite. 10:30 am. FREE. Top Pot Donuts, Ballard. www.babypantsmusic.com Bird Tour. Walk with experienced leaders while searching for migratory birds and yearround residents. Bring binoculars if you have them. Recommended for children 8 and older. 8 to 10 am. $. Discovery Park, Seattle. www.seattle.gov

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Hoot ’n’ Howl. Wear your costume to trick-ortreat, plus enjoy games, crafts and a nighttime tram tour. Today and Saturday, 5 to 9 pm. $ to $$, free ages 2 and younger. Pre-purchase recommended. Northwest Trek, Eatonville. www.nwtrek.org

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Monday, October 22

Hamlin Halloween Haunt. Dress for the weather, bring a flashlight and enjoy spooky songs, stories and toasted marshmallows around a bonfire. 6 to 8:30 pm. FREE. Hamlin Park, Shoreline. www.shorelinewa.gov

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Sunday, October 21

Haunted Hayride. Ride through the “haunted” pumpkin-lined trails of Battle Point Park, where ghosts, zombies, mummies and even historic figures emerge from the shadows. Make crafts and play games before your hayride, and warm up afterward with cider and cookies. 6 pm tonight through Wed. $, free ages 2 and younger. Pre-register. www.biparks.org

Goblin Splash. Calling all princesses, pirates and other costumed friends! Games, prizes, refreshments and swim time. Ages 3 to 15. 7 to 8:30 pm. FREE swim with generous canned food or monetary donation. Forest Park Swim Center, Everett. www.everettwa.gov

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High Point Fall Festival. Costumes, games, face painting, snacks. 5:30 to 7:30 pm. FREE. High Point Community Center, West Seattle. www.seattle.gov Hiawatha Halloween Carnival. Costumes, crafts games and more. 6 to 8 pm. $. Hiawatha Community Center, West Seattle. www.seattle.gov Halloween Carnival and Open House. Costumes encouraged. 6 to 7:30 pm. $. Jefferson Community Center, Seattle (Beacon Hill). www.seattle.gov EAST SIDE

Snow White. This delightful retelling of the classic fairy tale is a performance for the whole family to enjoy. Tonight, 7 pm; various dates and times through Nov. 4. $$. Bellevue Youth Theatre, Crossroads Bellevue. www.parks.bellevuewa.gov NORTH SOUND

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Haunted Fort. Stroll through haunted Fort Casey for scares, ages 10 and older. All ages can enjoy trick-or-treating, games, ghost stories,

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S E AT T L E ’ S C H I L D

Calendar inflatables and food vendors. Today and Saturday, 6:30 to 10 pm. $ to $$$. Discover Pass required ($$). Fort Casey Historical State Park, Camano Island. Lake City’s Fright Night. Trick-or-treat at local Lake City businesses, then enjoy an all-ages Halloween party and haunted house. Food, crafts, games, costume contest, prizes and more. 6:30 to 8:30 pm. FREE. Lake City Community College. www.seattle.gov

Saturday, October 27

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S E AT T L E A R E A

Caspar Babypants Halloween Party. Join our local favorite kindie artist for a costumed Halloween Party. 10:30 am. $. The Neptune Theater, Seattle. www.stgpresents.org GeekGirlCon. Convention celebrates and brings together women and girls interested in gaming, science, technology, role-playing, comics and other “geeky” endeavors. All ages and genders are welcome. 9 am Saturday to 6 pm Sunday. $$ to $$$, free ages 5 and younger. Washington State Convention Center, Downtown Seattle. www.geekgirlcon.com Family Concerts: The Planets. From the moon to the solar system, this concert will transport children’s imaginations to a galaxy far, far away. Costumes are encouraged. Best for ages 6 to 12. Arrive 1 hour before the performance for an instrument zoo and crafts. Stay after the concert for the annual Fall Carnival. 11 am. $$. Benaroya Hall, Downtown Seattle. www.seattlesymphony.org Hilloween. Capitol Hill’s family-friendly Halloween event includes a carnival (noon to 3 pm), costume parade and trick-or-treating along Broadway (3 to 6 pm). FREE. Mitchell Activity Center at Seattle Central College (Capitol Hill). www.caphilloween.com Hunger Goblin’ Trick-or-Treat. Costumed kids can trick-or-treat for a cause at participating business along Greenwood Avenue North in the Phinney Ridge/Greenwood neighborhood. Kids are encouraged to get (and wear) a special Goblin’ Hunger sticker by donating canned food or $2 to the Greenwood Food Bank at participating locations. Noon to 3 pm. FREE, donations encouraged. www.phinneycenter.org Día de Muertos. Experience the Mexican traditions of this day honoring departed loved ones with crafts, food, performances, displays and more. 11 am to 7 pm today, 11 am to 6 pm Sun. FREE. Seattle Center Armory (Lower Queen Anne). www.seattlecenter.com Zoo Pumpkin Bash and Trick-orTreating. Kids can enjoy trick-or-treating and other fun activities, and watch as the animals enjoy chomping, smashing and playing with pumpkins. 9:30 am to 3 pm through Sun. $ to $$, one child 12 years and younger in costume admitted FREE with a paid adult. Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle (Phinney Ridge). www.zoo.org Aquarium Halloween. Wear your costume and enjoy treats, face painting, games, activities, and pumpkin carving on land and underwater. 9:30 am to 5 pm through Sun. Included with admission. $$ to $$$. Seattle Aquarium, Downtown Seattle. www.seattleaquarium.org West Seattle Monster Dash. 5K fun run and kids dash (ages 7 and younger), plus a costume party and prizes. Benefits South Seattle College Cooperative Preschools. 9:30 am 5K, 10:30 am kids dash. $$ to $$$. Lincoln Park, West Seattle. www.westseattlemonsterdash.com Boo in Burien. Annual safe trick-or-treat event for families includes crafts, a haunted house, wiener dog races and more. Noon to 4 pm. FREE. Town Square Park, Burien. www.discoverburien.org

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Issaquah Zombie Walk. Watch people of all ages in zombie costumes shuffle and lurch down Front Street, ending with a “Thriller” dance performance. 1:30 to 5:30 pm. FREE. Downtown Issaquah. www.downtownissaquah.com Bellevue Rock and Gem Show. Annual show with vendors, demonstrations and kids’ activities. 10 am to 6 pm today, 10 am to 5 pm Sun. FREE. Vasa Park, Bellevue. www.bellevuerockclub.org The Great SBCC Pumpkin Race. Bring your decorated pumpkin, complete with wheels, to race other wheeled pumpkins. 10 am to 2 pm. FREE. South Bellevue Community Center, Bellevue. www.bellevuewa.gov/sbcc Thrill the World. Hundreds of people dressed as zombies will invade Redmond Town Center for costume contests and other fun, followed by a 2 pm performance of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” dance. Noon to 4 pm. $ to $$$ to participate, FREE to watch. Redmond Town Center, Redmond. www.thrilltheworld.org/Redmond Fall Farm Fun: Pigs and Pumpkins. Make pumpkin treats, go on a scavenger hunt and learn all about pigs. 10 to 11:30 am. $$. Kelsey Creek Farm, Bellevue. www.parks.bellevuewa.gov NORTH SOUND

Wild Mushroom Show. Experts with the Snohomish County Mycological Society will teach how to identify more than 100 types of fungi. Today, noon to 6 pm; Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm. $, free for children 12 and younger. North Seattle Community College, Everett. www.psms.org Nile Halloween Family Funfest. Familyfriendly Halloween activities, including inflatablesface painting, vendor booths and trunk-ortreating. Noon to 4 pm. $$. Nile Shrine Golf Center, Mountlake Terrace. www.nilenightmares.com SOUTH SOUND

Black Cat Fun Run. Dress in costume and bring a flashlight, glow stick or headlamp for this 2.5 or 5-mile run/walk and kids’ dash. 4:30 pm check-in, 6:15 pm costume contest, 7 pm start. $$ to $$$. Pre-register. Point Defiance Park, Tacoma. www.metroparkstacoma.org Spooktacular Sprint. Costumes are encouraged at this Halloween-themed 5K. 8 am registration, 8:50 am kids’ dash, 9 am start. $$$, free kids’ dash. Priest Point Park, Olympia. www. spooktacularsprint.com Pumpkin Chomp & Stomp. Watch animals interact with pumpkin treats. Come in costume for a discount on admission. 9:30 am to 3 pm. Included with admission. $$ to $$$. Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Eatonville. www.nwtrek.org Pumpkin Train. Ride a vintage logging train to choose a pumpkin, plus enjoy treats and a costume contest. 11 am, 1 and 3 pm today, 11 am and 1 pm Sun. $$. Pre-register. Chehalis-Centralia Railroad, Chehalis. www.steamtrainride.com Boo Bash. Dress in costume and enjoy games, art and science activities, treats and prizes. Today and Sunday, 11 am to 5 pm. $ to $$. Hands On Children’s Museum, Olympia. www.hocm.org Halloween Harvest Festival. Come in costume for games, crafts, trunk-or-treating (children ages 2 to 10) and more. 2 to 5 pm. FREE, bring canned food donation. Les Gove Park, Auburn. www.auburnwa.gov Tricks & Treats Funfest. Halloween carnival games, costume contests, haunted hallway, treats and prizes. For children ages 2 to 12. 3 to 6 pm. $, free for adults and kids younger than age 2. Federal Way Community Center, Federal Way. www.itallhappenshere.org FA R T H E R A F I E L D

A Spooky Walk. Take a guided walk through the reserve and meet ambassador animals along the way, such as raptors, a raccoon and a possum. Walks are 40 minutes long and leave every 10 minutes. Benefits West Sound Wildlife Shelter.

3:30 to 8:30 pm. $ to $$, free ages 4 and younger. Pre-register. Bloedel Reserve, Bainbridge Island. www.westsoundwildlife.org

Sunday, October 28 S E AT T L E A R E A

West Seattle Harvest Festival. The streets in the Junction neighborhood will be closed to traffic while visitors enjoy a farmers market, crafts, a kids’ costume parade and trick-or-treating. 10 am to 2 pm. FREE. California Avenue Southwest, between Southwest Alaska Street and Southwest Oregon Street, West Seattle. www.wsjunction.org Museum of Fright. Halloween games, activities, crafts and more. Costumes encouraged. 10 am to 3 pm. Included with admission. $ to $$, free ages 18 and younger in costume. Museum of Flight, Seattle (Boeing Field). www.museumofflight.org

Pacific Crest School

Run Scared. Dress in costume for a Halloweenthemed finish line party at this fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Pre-race treasure hunt. 7:30 am registration, 8 am treasure hunt, 9 am kids’ dash, 9:15 am costume contest, 9:45 am 10K, 10 am 5K and 4K. $$ to $$$. Seward Park, Seattle (Seward Park). www.runscared5k.com Toddler Halloween Fest. Costumes, prizes, cookie decorating, crafts and a toddler gym. 10 am to noon. FREE. Rainier Community Center, Seattle (Columbia City). www.seattle.gov EASTSIDE

Halloween Spooktacular. Create glow-inthe-dark gak, decorate a hauntingly delicious sweet treat and explore ghastly dry-ice bubbles. $$. Pre-registration recommended. 10 am to 5 pm. KidsQuest Children’s Museum, Bellevue. www.kidsquestmuseum.org

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Storybook Theater: 3 Pigs. A musical performance perfect for children ages 3 to 10. Shows feature catchy songs, clever stories and life lessons with happy endings. 11 am to noon today; various times and locations through Nov. 3. $$. Kirkland Performance Center. www.kpcenter.org

Tuesday, October 30 S E AT T L E A R E A

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Toddler Pumpkin Palooza. Halloween games, face painting, arts and crafts, snacks and more. 10 am to noon. $. High Point Community Center, West Seattle. www.seattle.gov

Wednesday, October 31 S E AT T L E A R E A

Indoor Halloween Playground. Kids ages 1 to 5 are invited to play games and participate in hands-on activities. Costumes encouraged. 9:30 am to noon. FREE. Spartan Recreation Center, Seattle (Shoreline). www.shorelinewa.gov EASTSIDE

Tricks & Treats. Dress in costume and enjoy trick-or-treating at participating stores, music, prizes and more. 4 to 7 pm. FREE, canned food donations encouraged. Redmond Town Center, Redmond. www.redmondtowncenter.com NORTH SOUND

Safe Halloween. Kids in costume can trick-or-treat at participating shops. FREE. 4 to 6 pm. Country Village, Bothell. www.countryvillagebothell.com SOUTH SOUND

Boo-allup in Puyallup. Costumed kids can trick-or-treat at businesses in downtown Puyallup. 3 to 6 pm. FREE. Downtown and Pioneer Park Pavilion, Puyallup. www.puyallupmainstreet.com Trick-or-Treat Path and Halloween Carnival. Ages 12 and younger can trick-ortreat along Marine View Drive and 7th Avenue South. 3 to 6 pm. (FREE). Then enjoy games at the carnival at Des Moines Field House, 5 to 8 pm. ($). Nonperishable food donations welcomed. Des Moines. www.destinationdesmoines.org

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October 2018

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