Tag Archives: kids

High kindergarten vaccination opt-out rates on Capitol Hill part of wider trend

Posted on by

We’re not quite done with spooky stuff, apparently. As sniffles and snuffles from various viruses take hold, KUOW is reporting on the number of unvaccinated school children in the city:

According to state data obtained by KUOW, many people in this well-educated, wealthier part of the city omit some vaccines and introduce others more slowly than health officials recommend.

It’s a trend reflected nationwide, said Paul Throne of the state Office of Immunization and Child Profile.

“They have confidence interpreting data for themselves,” Throne said of these higher income, better educated parents. “A physician’s recommendation may carry no greater weight than their friend’s recommendation.”

In 2012-2013, about 58% of Seattle schools had an opt-out rate higher than the state’s average of 4.6%, KUOW reports. One of Capitol Hill’s two public elementary schools came in at a whopping 7.9% opt-out rate.

Here are the numbers for the 12/13 Capitol Hill kindergartners:

Source: KUOW

From the KUOW dataset, 26.3% of the kindergartners at 18th Ave E’s Stevens were either under-vaccinated or listed as opted out according to the state. Lowell numbers are less extreme. KUOW also reports that the numbers don’t get much better for the area’s private schools with Bright Water School, Bertschi School, and the Seattle Hebrew Academy all weighing in among the city’s “top 5” for highest opt-out rates in the city.

Seattle parents ask why school kids have to rush lunch, recess — UPDATE

Posted on by
This is the 938th time we've used this image of these Lowell Elementary kids. They are now grown and sporting amazing mustaches (Image: CHS)

This is the 938th time we’ve used this image of these Lowell Elementary kids. They are now grown and sporting amazing mustaches (Image: CHS)

Seattle Public School students, you better eat fast. 15 minutes into your 30-minute lunch period, a bell is going to ring. And the Seattle School Board has one question for your — do you want to play or finish eating?

Concerned parents have formed a Lunch and Recess Matters group to push for fair lunch and recess periods for Seattle kids.

“It really has become a choice between eating lunches or talking to friends because that is the only time they get to socialize,” Deb Escher, one of the group’s members said.

Continue reading →

Sorting out the opposing pre-K measures on the November ballot

Posted on by
"Children at Broadway Playfield, 1918" (Image: Seattle Municipal Archives via Flickr)

“Children at Broadway Playfield, 1918” (Image: Seattle Municipal Archives via Flickr)

Two competing preschool measures will be up for a vote come November 4th. Both Prop 1A and Prop 1B support a using some tax dollars to support and expand private pre-K programs with the aim of eventually putting all Seattle’s kids through voluntary preschool, but the measures differ on several key points. And only one has the mayor’s backing.

You’ll have to answer two questions that will look like this on your ballot:

1. Should either of these measures be enacted into law?

– Yes
– No

2. Regardless of whether you voted yes or no above, if one of these measures is enacted, which one should it be?

– Proposition 1A
– Proposition 1B

If “no” wins on the first question, nothing happens. If “yes” wins, then either 1A or 1B will be enacted depending on which one garnered the most votes. Got it? OK, here’s what they do… Continue reading →

Big changes for Capitol Hill campus as Group Health babies making First Hill move

Posted on by
Little Lucas Douglas was Baby New Year to start 2014 at the Group Health Family Beginnings Birthing Center at 15th and Thomas (Image: Courtesy of Group Health)

Little Lucas Douglas was Baby New Year to start 2014 at the Group Health Family Beginnings Birthing Center at 15th and Thomas (Image: Courtesy of Group Health)

Nearly 2,000 residents landed just off 15th Ave E on Capitol Hill in 2013 — and none of them work at Amazon… yet. Part of the news in an announcement last week that Group Health was ending its affiliation with Virginia Mason and planning to partner up with Swedish is the end of an era at the Group Health Capitol Hill campus. Sometime in spring 2015, the last momma will give birth at Group Health’s 15th at Thomas campus.

Starting in 2016, Group Health patients will go to Swedish First Hill and Cherry Hill hospitals where they will be treated by Group Health. As part of the planned change, maternity services will transition to Swedish’s busy First Hill Birth Center.

Group Health officials say “patients’ access to services, including voluntary termination of pregnancy, ‘death with dignity’ services and access for gays and lesbians, will not be compromised by Swedish’s connection to Providence Health & Services, a Catholic health-care system,” the Seattle Times reports.

A Group Health spokesperson told CHS the Capitol Hill maternity facility welcomed more than 1,700 babies to the world in 2013 with a complimentary first breath of Capitol Hill air. Let’s hope a future dominated by First Hill babies is a good one.

Cal Anderson playground alert: Safety grass installation underway

Posted on by

IMG_1269Cal Anderson’s water mountain fountain flows again — but the playground has spent June out of commission.

Capitol Hill moms, dads, etc. take note — the park’s playground is closed through the week while Seattle Parks replaces the old foam-y surface with a new layer of sport turf. We’re told it’ll be better for wear and tear in the heavily-used play area.

The playground should be reopened by Friday, June 13th — just in time for Saturday, June 14th’s Capitol Hill Garage Sale Day community lot in Cal Anderson Park.IMG_1268

New $1.7 million day care center (and playground) coming to backside of Pike/Pine

Posted on by

Pike/Pine is changing. The backside of Pike/Pine is changing. Capitol Hill is changing. The Gayborhood is changing. Seattle is changing. And in the midst of it all, there will be nearly 200 little kids and a playground on E Seneca right across the street from IHOP.

CHS has learned that Bright Horizons, the nation’s “largest provider of employer-sponsored child care,” is planning to open a new Capitol Hill facility on E Seneca between Madison and Union early in 2015. The project is slated to replace longtime community health services organization Lifelong AIDS Alliance in the office building it has called home for a decade.

We have calls out to both organizations to learn more but it appears Lifelong will not be leaving the Pike/Pine neighborhood. According to the organization it is opening a new “Client Services Center in Capitol Hill” — Continue reading →

Capitol Hill parents and parents to be, Seattle’s universal preschool is coming

Posted on by
There *are* babies on Capitol Hill. And not all of them look like Mack (Image: Tim Durkan with permission to CHS)

There *are* babies on Capitol Hill. And not all of them look like Mack (Image: Tim Durkan with permission to CHS)

By next year, the roughly 30 preschool and child care programs around greater Capitol Hill could start benefiting from a bold city plan to extend affordable, high quality preschool to every three and four year old in the city.

Calling it “the most important thing I’ll ever do as mayor,” Mayor Ed Murray unveiled his universal pre-k plan earlier this month. Friday, the City Council’s preschool committee — yup, we have one of those — will pick up the cause. Out of the roughly 12,300 preschool-aged kids in the city, between a quarter and a third are not enrolled in any type of formal preschool program. A “gap analysis” study released by the city in January showed poor children and children of color are vastly underserved. There is also a need for child care in neighborhoods like Capitol Hill where some residential enclaves are chock full of youngsters but offer only a limited number of child care slots. Continue reading →

Bang hair salon expands Capitol Hill roots with E Pike addition, E Pine kid-friendly makeover

Posted on by

389861_413427638711414_1646176299_nA new option in E Pike hair styling is opening April 1 as Capitol Hill’s Bang hair salon expands with the unveiling of a second location in the neighborhood. Meanwhile, it’s giving its E Pine location a new, youthful spin.

Bang is taking over the former Chemistry Salon home and hoping to play on the success enjoyed at the original location on Pine, said owner Casey Nickole, as well as taking up a partial revamp of the original salon with plans for appealing to local kids.

“Bang Pine will have a gated kid play area with games, toys and coloring books,” Nickole writes. “The kid station has a mounted I-pad. The powers of distraction are so helpful when cutting a kids hair.” Kids also get a free scoop of gelato from neighboring D’Ambrosio after haircuts. Nickole, a parent herself, was inspired to provide a fun and secure place for kids in a community that leans more adult with the prevalence of bars and restaurants. Continue reading →

Queer Youth Space closing doors on E Pike

Posted on by
An October "deconstructing ableism training" at QYS (Image: Queer Youth Space)

An October “deconstructing ableism training” at QYS (Image: Queer Youth Space)

Queer Youth Space — “a youth-led and youth-run nonprofit” — is leaving E Pike and searching for a new home. The news was posted by the group to Facebook earlier this week following months of attempted fundraising to keep the 900 block E Pike location open.

The group got a big boost in 2010 when it was selected for a $100,000 City of Seattle grant to help it create a cultural space and headquarters. After an epic search, QYS opened its Threewings community center in late 2012. A year later the group was organizing benefits and looking for funds to help pay the rent for its heart of Pike/Pine location. Continue reading →

9th annual Children’s Film Festival Seattle returns to Capitol Hill’s Northwest Film Forum

Posted on by
A scene from Horizon Beautiful

A scene from Horizon Beautiful

Capitol Hill moms, dads and friends of little ones know that mid-January means it’s time to get your tickets for the annual Children’s Film Festival Seattle at 12th Ave’s Northwest Film Forum. So, consider this an invitation to Capitol Hill families. You’ll want to get your pancake breakfast tickets early.

Small People. Big Characters.
CHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL SEATTLE
January 23 – February 2, 2014We’re just a week away from the ninth year of our international film festival for kids and families, the largest on the West Coast! Visit the official festival website >

Starting next Thursday, you can watch new films for kids ages 3 – 14, from more than 32 countries around the globe — not to mention live music, visiting international artists, filmmaking workshops and plenty of pancakes.

* * *

SPECIAL EVENTS

DO THE DOKTOR DOOLITTLE
January 23, Thursday at 7pm

Gorgeous hand-cut silhouette animation from the silent film era tells the (first feature film) story of talking animals and the benevolent doctor who understands what they say. Paired with a world-premiere live musical score from Seattle duo Miles & Karina! Read more >

PAJAMA PARTY WITH RECESS MONKEY
January 24, Friday at 7pm

Sponsored by Cupcake Royale and Honest Kids
Boogie down to “kindie” rock, eat cupcakes, and bring favorite stuffed animals along to watch beautiful animated films. Read more >

PANCAKE BREAKFAST AND SHORT FILM SMORGASBORD
February 1, Saturday at 9:30am

Sponsored by Whole Foods Market and Bill the Butcher
An all-you can eat breakfast (with coffee and bacon) is paired with a dazzling short film selection. Plus, free parking as part of your ticket! Read more >