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SPIN Girls Monthly Newsletter | August 2021
Big Changes Coming to SPIN Girls!
SPIN Girls funding is up for renewal on the ballot tomorrow, so vote YES on Prop. 1! You can learn more about Best Starts for Kids in the resources section below.
In case you missed the email, this will be my last week at SPIN. It has been an absolute pleasure working with you all and I'm excited to see what you all do next!
In this month's newsletter, you'll find a recap of our activities in July. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. - Nell
MONTHLY RECAP
Summer Retreat The students solved the case of Jurassic Bark during summer retreat in July. They learned how to analyze handwriting, fingerprints and hair and how to apply deductive reasoning to a set of information.
RESOURCES
Learn more about KC Prop 1 - Best Starts for Kids! Every kid deserves a strong start in life. We can help by renewing Best Starts for Kids– maintaining and expanding programs that support kids as they grow, with high quality childcare, homelessness prevention, and social and emotional youth development programs. We know that prevention and early engagement is the most effective, and least expensive way, to ensure positive outcomes for our kids and community. We also must support children and youth of color to overcome racial injustice and have the best opportunity to thrive. That’s why voters adopted the Best Starts for Kids Levy in 2015, to invest in healthy pregnancies, positive development for children and youth, assistance for at-risk youth, and school and community-based programs to support kids as they grow into adulthood. Now it’s time to renew these proven investments in King County’s kids. Vote YES on KC Prop. 1 to renew the Best Starts for Kids Levy and promote happy, healthy, safe, and thriving kids, families, and communities.
How should funding support Black youth in Seattle? Youth ages 10 to 21 are invited to fill out this quick and easy survey to inform future programs benefitting Black girls, young women, and Black queer and transgender youth. Youth who complete the survey will get free pizza! This survey closes on August 5th at 10:00pm.
DEEL's Youth Survey for Future Projects on Social Justice: Youth ages 12 to 24 are invited to fill out a survey to help develop a mini-grant that funds youth-led projects - by youth, for youth - that speak out against racism and other forms of bias and hate. Up to $8K will be available for each project funded! This survey closes on Friday, August 6 at 6:00pm.
COVID Masking Guidance for King County: Given the CDC’s recent recommendations, King County recommends everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear a mask when indoors. Please stay safe!
LOOKING FORWARD
Enjoy your month off in August. We look forward to seeing you in September!
SPIN Girls Monthly Newsletter | July 2021
Summer is here!
If last weekend's heat wave did anything other than melt the PNW, it reminded us that summer is truly here. And as COVID restrictions are lifting, I hope you all are able to get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather!
In this month's newsletter, you'll find a recap of our activities in June and what your students can look forward to in July, plus the schedule for next year. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. - Nell
MONTHLY RECAP
Capstone Presentation: We celebrated the year with a virtual Capstone filled with many heartfelt speeches and lots of amazing presentations! Thank you to everyone who attended. We hope you enjoyed it! If you'd like to re-watch any of the speeches or presentations, click one of the links below:
RESOURCES
College of the Environment Virtual Visit Days: The College of the Environment is hosting a series of virtual (Zoom) events in July and August for prospective undergrad students, and anyone interested in our programs. Each event will feature 2 faculty, academic advisers and current students and a live Q&A session.
Making Connections STEM Summer Bridge Program: Making Connections Summer Bridge is designed to introduce high school freshmen and sophomores to STEM careers and encourage them to pursue post-secondary education. APPLY HERE..
Tools for Teens: Stress management and Emotional Resilience: Based on the evidenced-based curriculum of Mindful Self Compassion, the Mindful Schools curriculum, and principles of positive psychology; this 8-week experiential program for teens provides practices and tools to manage stress, increase feelings of happiness and well-being, and promote emotional resilience. This program is offered by The Center for Child & Family Well-being and scholarships are available.
Cooling Centers in Seattle: I hope everyone managed okay this past weekend with our record heat! In case it happens again this summer, you can find a map of cooling centers in Seattle if you follow the link above. If you need support finding cooling centers in other cities, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
LOOKING FORWARD
Summer Retreat, July 12-16, 10am-12pm each day. If you signed up for retreat, you should have received an email from me with more information earlier this week. If you plan on attending retreat and have not yet filled out our questionnaire, please do so ASAP.
Here's the schedule for the 2021-22 program year. Add these dates to your calendar so you don't miss any!
September 25th - Orientation / Welcome Back
October 16th - Lab Day #1
November 6th - Field Day #1
December 4th - Field Day #2
January 8th - Lab Day #2
January 29th - Field Day #3
February 12th - Lab Day #3
March 5th - Field Day #4
March 26th - Lab Day #4
April 23rd - Field Day #5
May 14th - Lab Day #5
June 4th - Capstone Presentation
July 11th - 15th - Summer Retreat
FEATURED YDEKC MEMBER - STEM Paths Innovation Network
Check out our feature in the YDEKC newsletter this month!
This month we’re eager to feature STEM Paths Innovation Network (SPIN), who have been members of YDEKC over the last year. They have been stewards in closing the opportunity gap in STEM education to support youth by offering STEM+Arts classes and programs to students in King County. SPIN exposes students to STEM fields and careers they may never have learned otherwise and envisions a world in which every student, family, and community can pursue science, technology, engineering, math, and arts fields.
SPIN offers after-school enrichment programs and will soon be offering a summer program in direct partnership with community organizations and school districts at no cost to families. To learn more or to sign up youth for SPIN programs, use the SPIN Student Interest Form. Since its founding in 2015, SPIN has served over 800 students, has over twenty community and school partners in the county, and is committed to serving students of color. Their work begins in elementary school with enrichment that introduces students to STEM. Through collaboration, mentorship, and capacity building in middle and high school, they add opportunities for youth leadership. Check out their blog and follow them on Instagram and Facebook to see their work in action.
They are currently hiring for several positions including two Program Manager roles — apply today to join their team. If you’re interested in volunteering to support students’ interests in STEM, fill out their Volunteer Interest Form at any time.
And don't forget to join STEM Paths Innovation Network, YDEKC, and SOWA tomorrow for Partnership Quick Connections: Out-of-School-Time, Place-Based Partnership Highlight!
Additionally, watch Shana Beckwith, SPIN’s Director of Curriculum & Instruction, chat with YDEKC and Monica Haugen in their Partnership Quick Connections episode, Out-of-School-Time Place-based Partnership Highlight below!
SPIN Girls Monthly Newsletter | June 2021
Happy Summer!
June is Pride Month! Check out our resources section for some activities for LGBTQ+ youth. June 19th is Juneteenth! Find programming to celebrate with in our resources section below.
In this month's newsletter, you'll find a recap of our activities in May and what your students can look forward to in June. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. - Nell
MONTHLY RECAP
Lab Day: All cohorts finished up the projects that they've been working on throughout the year and prepared their Capstone Presentations! Students recorded video presentations since the Capstone will be a virtual event. We're excited for you to see their work at the Capstone!
RESOURCES
NAAM — Juneteenth Week 2021: Celebrate Juneteenth with free programming from the Northwest African American Museum.
Youth Events Calendar — Lambert House: Lambert House offers free and virtual activities and resources for LGBTQ+ youth including resources on parenting and supporting youth.
Children and Youth Summer Food Service Program: From June 21 through August 25, 2021, City of Seattle will run its annual Summer Meals Program for youth 18 and younger. Meals from identified partner sites can be picked up by parents for youth who are not present. Some sites might also follow a waiver guideline that lets them hand out more than one day's meals at a time to minimize the number of visits a family must make to the site.
LOOKING FORWARD
Capstone Presentation on June 5th from 10:30AM-12PM. Families are invited and encouraged to come!
Summer Retreat will be held the week of July 12-16