Schedule For NE 45th Street School Zone Flashing Lights

School zone flashing lights were finally installed on NE 45th Street going east and west to warn cars to slow down during Laurelhurst Elementary school hours.  The yellow flashing lights are mounted along with 20 mph school speed zone signs.

The school zone flashing lights are active Monday through Friday mornings from 7:15 to 8:05am and weekday afternoons, except Wednesday, from 2:15 to 2:55pm. On Wednesdays, when the school ends at 1:20pm, the lights flash from 1to 1:40pm.

Parents have been working on this safety issue for many years. In 2014, SDOT set up two temporary radar speed signs, in response to an application submitted by two Laurelhurst Elementary parents, at the time, in conjunction with the City's School Traffic Management Program. 

The parents also submitted an application for the Neighborhood Park and Street Fund for either radar signs and/or flashing yellow lights.The parents cited in their application that there was "excessive speed and lack of awareness of pedestrians around Laurelhurst Elementary during school hours" and that the program would address safety needs "by reducing vehicle speeds and awareness of the presence of children during school hours."

At that time, SDOT clocked the average speed over 24 hours at 23.9mph and maximum speed showed 0.1% of 7,686 cars going 65.2mph.

The Northeast District Council (NEDC) also tried to get safety improvements near the school, however was not successful as there were three other requested traffic safety and park projects, all based on stack ranking and available City budgets against cost for each project.

Former Laurelhurst Elementary School Head Teacher Involved in "Disturbing Discipline" According to News Report

 

Edward Roos

(courtesy of SPS)

Edward Roos, former Principal at View Ridge Elementary School, is in the news for alleged mistreatment of a student at that school. According to the KUOW article, he resigned last month, after a lengthy investigation.

Here is the full article titled: "Locked in ‘the cage.’ Report finds disturbing discipline measures at Seattle school."

Roos was Head Teacher at Laurelhurst Elementary School for the 2014 and 2015 school years.  He was not a teacher, but reportedly acted in a vice principle role. Roos worked under the Principal at the time, Sarah Talbot, who also started the same year, after Principal Jolly resigned.

In 2016 a petition was posted to remove Talbot from Laurelhurst Elementary School due to many serious parent concerns.

An article was written about her here titled: "Why Does the District Let Good Schools Go Bad?"

In 2015, Talbot was responsible for having a portable delivered without going through the proper City approval process. 

Roos shows as receiving, while at Laurelhurst, in 2014 $59,183 and $61,340 in 2015. The following year he received $109,675 during his first year as Principal at View Ridge Elementary and the last 2 years he received $125,963 and $135,425.

It has been reported that Roos also received many complaints from parents as did Talbot during his 2 years at Laurelhurst Elementary School.

The Laurelhurst Blog received multiple emails following the news report:

Mr. Roos seemed to single out mostly 3rd-5th grade boys and was demeaning and humiliating to them. He was known for forcing them to put their heads on the lunch table if they talked too loudly or did anything Roos did not like. He was shaming and his style of discipline was offensive and damaging to many boys he singled out for no valid reason.  

My son was in 5th grade when Roos was at Laurelhurst Elementary School. He was never in trouble during his other 5 years at the school. When Roos arrived he was treated with disdain with no explanation whatsoever. He was made to feel ashamed in front of his friends, mostly at lunch, and on the playground. It had a huge negative impact on my son for years after he graduated from the school. 

It is with great happiness and relief to read that Mr. Roos is no longer employed by Seattle Public Schools. Reading the information in the article is greatly disturbing, but comes as no surprise, seeing how Mr. Roos treated students, especially the older boys, with no respect, using his power in a very negative manner that had damaging effects on students. Unfortunately, it seemed that Talbot gave him great power to do as he wanted, though he was only "Head Teacher" and he appeared to take full advantage of that.

I had 2 boys at Laurelhurst Elementary School that were both treated extremely poorly by Mr. Roos. It was heartbreaking to see my boys come home with little confidence and very little joy or passion for school anymore.

It was in Mr. Roos' demeanor to be insulting, humiliating and unkind to students, especially those in the latter grades at Laurelhurst Elementary school. He often lectured students during the entire lunch period, told them to put their heads down on the table for 10-15 minutes taking up their lunch time and carried out other disciplinary actions that were disrespectful and disparaging. So many parents were concerned during those 2 years he was at Laurelhurst Elementary School but Talbot covered for him, herself disliked by many parents as well.

Hopefully View Ridge will get a better Principal and will move forward in a positive way. It took Laurelhurst Elementary years to move forward after the damage done by Talbot and Roos to the school community.  

Tonight Laurelhurst Elementary Halloween Carnival

Laurelhurst Elementary is having its annual Kids Carnival today from 5- 8pm. Tickets can be purchased at the event.

The School PTA told the Laurelhurst Blog:

The carnival features a variety of Halloween-themed crafts, games, and activities such as guess the candy corn and a spooky hair salon. Kids can also enjoy a crafts table as well as an inflatable. A pizza dinner will be available for purchase for $7 per person. 

This fun community-wide fundraiser benefits the Laurelhurst PTA and is open to the public. It's a great opportunity to meet your neighbors and support your local public school! Join the whole community for a great night for kids of all ages.

Also a parking reminder, that parking is not allowed on the west side of 46th Avenue NE or north of the parking sign in front of Seattle Community Church. 

Many years ago residents along the street worked with the City to have parking allowed only on one side (the east side) due to the narrowness of the street. When cars are parked on both sides, it is very hard for fire trucks, large vehicles and even cars to safely move up and down the street, as well as residents to back out of their driveways.

Items Thrown Off Of Elementary School Roof

The Laurelhurst Blog received this information:

Last weekend, a number of items were thrown from the roof of Laurelhurst Elementary School, above the gymnasium doors on the 4500 block of 47th Avenue NE, out into traffic and our yard.  A passing car’s windshield and one of our windows were broken.  

Last night, May 30, a Razor scooter was thrown into traffic and a rock nearly hit my daughter who was sitting outside. My daughter had heard talking before the items were thrown and said it sounded like two boys.  

There has also been damage done to the roof of the school as a number of the drain guards were pulled off and thrown out into the playground.  

If anyone sees kids on the roof of the school, please notify the police immediately.

Two weeks ago, there was a similar report of boys throwing a baseball off a window damaging a passing car's windshield:

We were driving down 46th Avenue NE, in front of the entrance to Laurelhurst gym when our windshield was hit by a baseball thrown from the roof of the entrance.  

It scared us to death and I almost lost control of my vehicle. The kid who did this does not know how dangerous it was.  

My windshield has to be replaced. The scary part was that our sun roof was open and the ball could have struck my husband in the head.  

If anyone has any information about this count your please contact Jamie or Diana at 206-524-5680.  

We will offer a reward for information that leads to the guilty person.  I have reported this information to the police.

If you have information on either of these incidents, contact the Police and Seattle Public Schools Security at 206-252-0707.

Boy Throws Baseball From Laurelhurst Elementary Roof Damaging Windshield

The Laurelhurst Blog received this information:

We were driving down 46th Avenue NE, in front of the entrance to Laurelhurst gym when our windshield was hit by a baseball thrown from the roof of the entrance.  

It scared us to death and I almost lost control of my vehicle. The kid who did this does not know how dangerous it was.  

My windshield has to be replaced. The scary part was that our sun roof was open and the ball could have struck my husband in the head.  

If anyone has any information about this count your please contact Jamie or Diana at 206-524-5680.  

We will offer a reward for information that leads to the guilty person.  I have reported this information to the police.

Laurelhurst Elementary School From 1900-Present

Laurelhurst School, Seattle, 1930

Courtesy MOHAI (Image No. MOHAI 83.10.4190)



History Link published an interesting history of Laurelhurst Elementary School, which was built in 1930.

A long-time Laurelhurst resident who attended the Elementary School told the Blog staff that he sang this song around 1962:

“Hats off to LaurelhurstSchool that we loveWe’ll strive to win the fateThat she deservesFirst now and evermoreWe’ll show our loyaltyHats off to LaurelhurstFor we love thee”

Laurelhurst School (History Link)

In 1900, 50 wealthy men bought 54 acres on Webster Point in northeast Seattle and founded the Seattle Golf Club, between what is now NE 35th and NE 40th streets. Developers bought the golf course and adjacent land in 1906 and divided it into house lots for sale. 

To reach this neighborhood, known as Laurelhurst, from downtown Seattle, visitors took a streetcar to Madison Park and, from there, a steamer across the mouth of Union Bay to a dock on the west side of Webster Point (south of NE 35th).  

In 1912, a community dock and public boathouse had been built where the steamers landed. There were 18 houses in the neighborhood, with an additional four in Laurelhurst Heights, site of the former golf course. Local children attended Yesler School, which they reached by walking west across Yesler Creek and the Northern Pacific Railroad tracks. 

In August 1915, Laurelhurst residents urged the Seattle School Board to locate a portable in their neighborhood. The next spring, Laurelhurst Annex opened at 43rd Avenue NE and (N)E 34th Street as an annex to Yesler School, near the old steamer dock. The Yesler School janitor walked over every morning to build a fire in its large stove. This one-room portable held one class for grades 1-3 or 1-4. 

The first teacher, Alice Clayton Mooers, recounted this story of the heavy snowfall of 1916: "I walked all the way from North Broadway to school in spite of the knee-deep snow because I knew some of the children would be there. Two or three were waiting at the door and I sent them home. We kept a weather calendar at that time and there was snow on the ground for six weeks." 

In 1919, a new, larger portable was opened on top of the hill to the north. The former annex was leased to the Episcopal Church for Laurelhurst Mission and its successor, St. Stephen's Mission. In 1925, the district reclaimed the property. After World War I, it became part of the Union Bay Village veterans' housing complex, affiliated with the University of Washington. 

Laurelhurst School opened in October 1, 1919, as an annex to Bryant. It was located on 2.75 acres at (NE) 45th Street & 46th Avenue NE. At first, it had two rooms, one for grades 1-3 and the other for grades 4-6. A large wood stove heated the building and was used to heat soup at noontime, as well as for hot chocolate and coffee. Enrollment grew from 44 in 1920-21 to 117 in 1927-28. 

A permanent school opened on the same site in 1928. The next year Laurelhurst became independent, serving grades 1-8 for the first time. The school paper, the Laurel Leaf, got its start the same year. A lunchroom portable was added in 1930. In 1936-37, the year kindergarten was added, enrollment totaled 450, and portable classrooms were added. 

In 1940, a four-room addition replaced four portables. During World War II, U.S. Army troops occupied the park across the street to the south, living in tents and a permanent barrack. Children had to walk around the perimeter of the installation going to and from school. From the ballfield, anyone hitting a ball into the machine gun nest got an automatic double. 

By 1944, the auditorium was divided into two classrooms and three portables were in use.  

In support of an upcoming school levy, an October 1944 Seattle Times article proclaimed, "Laurelhurst Pupils Must Eat in 'Heats' or They Go Hungry." The 400 children who ate lunch at the school had to go in shifts because the lunchroom portable held only 130 at a time and had only one door for entry and exit. "In order to enable all the pupils to find shelter at noon time, lunch periods [were] staggered in a schedule so complicated it makes a railroad time table look like a primary reader … The time when one group is excused for lunch depend[ed] entirely on how long it [took] their predecessors … To cope with this variable problem, 'runners' or 'spotters' from the classrooms [went] to the lunchroom to carry the word back to the teachers -- like little Paul Reveres." 

Laurelhurst became a K-6 school in 1946-47. An addition to the building was finally built in 1950, with six classrooms, a lunchroom, and an auditorium. At the same time, a gymnasium (the Laurelhurst Fieldhouse) was added, with 67 percent of its funding coming from the Seattle Parks Department, which operated a public playfield in Laurelhurst Park to the south. 

By 1955-56, the 19 classrooms were supplemented by 10 portables on the playground in order to hold the peak enrollment of almost 1,100 pupils. The opening of Sand Point School in 1958 helped relieve enrollment pressure not only at Laurelhurst but at View Ridge and Bryant as well. 

In 1960-61, Laurelhurst served 850 students and required only seven portables. An overpass across NE 45th Street was completed in 1960, linking the school and playfield, as originally proposed by the Laurelhurst Community Club in 1927. 

An Individually Guided Education Program began in September 1970. The same year, Laurelhurst 6th graders moved on to middle school as part of the district's K-5-3-4 program. Teachers received specialized training and organized into teams with an emphasis on individualized instruction. 

In 1993, Laurelhurst became the only school in the district to be accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges. To receive accreditation, the school had to complete a two-year self-study process. Recently, student and adult volunteers created a Peace Garden in honor of Aki Kurose, who taught at Laurelhurst for 25 years (see Kurose). 

Seattle Public Schools, 1862-2000: Laurelhurst School

This People's History of Laurelhurst School is taken from Building for Learning: Seattle Public School Histories, 1862-2000 by Nile Thompson and Carolyn J. Marr. The book, published in 2002 by Seattle Public Schools, compiled profiles of all the public school buildings that had been used by the school district since its formation around 1862. The profiles from the book are being made available as People's Histories on HistoryLink.org courtesy of Seattle Public Schools. It should be noted that these essays are from 2000. Some of the buildings profiled are historic, some of recent vintage, and many no longer exist (new names and buildings not included in these profiles from 2000 have been added), but each plays or has played an important role in the education of Seattle's youth.

Aerial view, Laurelhurst School, Seattle, 1960
Courtesy Seattle Public Schools (Image No. 242-1)

Aerial view, Laurelhurst School, Seattle, 1970
Courtesy Seattle Public Schools (Image No. 242-5)

No Blocking Driveways Especially Around Schools

Sign facing south on 

4500 block of 46th Avenue NE

The Laurelhurst Community Club recently published information in a recent newsletter about blocking driveways especially around Laurelhurst Elementary School.

Cars often block resident's driveways so that they cannot pull of out of their driveways and are unable to find the driver.

The City corresponding code states: 11.72.025 - Alley—Driveway.                                         

No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle within an alley in such a position as to block the driveway entrance to any abutting property. (RCW 46.90.433(2)) 

Parking on the 4500 block of 46th Avenue NE is only permitted on the east side of the street, not on the west side where the homes are. Despite "No Parking" signs on the west side of 46th Avenue NE, it is reported that drivers say they are just running in to the school for a minute. However, parking on that side is still not allowed regardless of how long the driver is in the school.

Many years ago, residents worked with the City to have parking allowed only on one side of 46th Avenue NE due to the narrowness of the street. With cars parked on both sides, it is very hard for fire trucks, large vehicles and even cars to safely move up and down the street when both sides have parked cars.

Most of the vehicles usually park north, facing the opposite direction of the traffic going south, as the City calls  "Wrong side parking" which is a $47 infraction.

The City Municipal code says:
11.72.470 - Wrong side parking. 
No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle on that portion of any street or alley lawfully set aside for the parking of vehicles or movement of traffic in the direction opposite to that which the parked vehicle faces               

11.72.330 - Posted signs.    
No person shall:

A.Stop, stand or park a vehicle at any place or time where official signs prohibit stopping;

B.Stand or park a vehicle at any place or time where official signs prohibit standing; or

C.Park a vehicle at any place or time where official signs prohibit parking.

11.72.185 - Fire Lane states "No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle within any fire lane" and this infraction is also $47.

Laurelhurst Elementary School says in their newsletter:

• Do not stop or park on the west side of 46th Ave NE across from the school (except where legal parking down by the church), so traffic can flow northward, around vehicles loading.
• Do not block neighbors’ driveways (either loading or parking)

The Laurelhurst Community Club newsletter said:

Parking Near Driveways

Please do not block neighbors’ driveways. This is a particular problem for neighbors when parents drop off children at Laurelhurst Elementary. City code requires leaving five feet of space on each side of a driveway for adequate visibility. Backing out of drives can be very dangerous when oncoming vehicles are blocked from view by parked cars.

Friday Laurelhurst Elementary Halloween Carnival

 

Laurelhurst Elementary is having its annual Kids Carnival on Friday from 5- 8pm. Tickets can be purchased at the event.

The School PTA told the Laurelhurst Blog:

The carnival features a variety of Halloween-themed crafts, games, and activities such as guess the candy corn and a spooky hair salon. Kids can also enjoy a crafts table as well as an inflatable. A pizza dinner will be available for purchase for $7 per person.  

This fun community-wide fundraiser benefits the Laurelhurst PTA and is open to the public. It's a great opportunity to meet your neighbors and support your local public school! Join the whole community for a great night for kids of all ages.

Also a parking reminder, that parking is not allowed on the west side of 46th Avenue NE or north of the parking sign in front of Seattle Community Church.  

Many years ago residents along the street worked with the City to have parking allowed only on one side (the east side) due to the narrowness of the street. When cars are parked on both sides, it is very hard for fire trucks, large vehicles and even cars to safely move up and down the street, as well as residents to back out of their driveways.

 

Laurelhurst Elementary School From 1900-Present

Laurelhurst School, Seattle, 1930

Courtesy MOHAI (Image No. MOHAI 83.10.4190)



History Link published an interesting history of Laurelhurst Elementary School, which was built in 1930.

A long-time Laurelhurst resident who attended the Elementary School told the Blog staff that he sang this song around 1962:

“Hats off to LaurelhurstSchool that we loveWe’ll strive to win the fateThat she deservesFirst now and evermoreWe’ll show our loyaltyHats off to LaurelhurstFor we love thee”

Laurelhurst School (History Link)

In 1900, 50 wealthy men bought 54 acres on Webster Point in northeast Seattle and founded the Seattle Golf Club, between what is now NE 35th and NE 40th streets. Developers bought the golf course and adjacent land in 1906 and divided it into house lots for sale. 

To reach this neighborhood, known as Laurelhurst, from downtown Seattle, visitors took a streetcar to Madison Park and, from there, a steamer across the mouth of Union Bay to a dock on the west side of Webster Point (south of NE 35th).  

In 1912, a community dock and public boathouse had been built where the steamers landed. There were 18 houses in the neighborhood, with an additional four in Laurelhurst Heights, site of the former golf course. Local children attended Yesler School, which they reached by walking west across Yesler Creek and the Northern Pacific Railroad tracks. 

In August 1915, Laurelhurst residents urged the Seattle School Board to locate a portable in their neighborhood. The next spring, Laurelhurst Annex opened at 43rd Avenue NE and (N)E 34th Street as an annex to Yesler School, near the old steamer dock. The Yesler School janitor walked over every morning to build a fire in its large stove. This one-room portable held one class for grades 1-3 or 1-4. 

The first teacher, Alice Clayton Mooers, recounted this story of the heavy snowfall of 1916: "I walked all the way from North Broadway to school in spite of the knee-deep snow because I knew some of the children would be there. Two or three were waiting at the door and I sent them home. We kept a weather calendar at that time and there was snow on the ground for six weeks." 

In 1919, a new, larger portable was opened on top of the hill to the north. The former annex was leased to the Episcopal Church for Laurelhurst Mission and its successor, St. Stephen's Mission. In 1925, the district reclaimed the property. After World War I, it became part of the Union Bay Village veterans' housing complex, affiliated with the University of Washington. 

Laurelhurst School opened in October 1, 1919, as an annex to Bryant. It was located on 2.75 acres at (NE) 45th Street & 46th Avenue NE. At first, it had two rooms, one for grades 1-3 and the other for grades 4-6. A large wood stove heated the building and was used to heat soup at noontime, as well as for hot chocolate and coffee. Enrollment grew from 44 in 1920-21 to 117 in 1927-28. 

A permanent school opened on the same site in 1928. The next year Laurelhurst became independent, serving grades 1-8 for the first time. The school paper, the Laurel Leaf, got its start the same year. A lunchroom portable was added in 1930. In 1936-37, the year kindergarten was added, enrollment totaled 450, and portable classrooms were added. 

In 1940, a four-room addition replaced four portables. During World War II, U.S. Army troops occupied the park across the street to the south, living in tents and a permanent barrack. Children had to walk around the perimeter of the installation going to and from school. From the ballfield, anyone hitting a ball into the machine gun nest got an automatic double. 

By 1944, the auditorium was divided into two classrooms and three portables were in use.  

In support of an upcoming school levy, an October 1944 Seattle Times article proclaimed, "Laurelhurst Pupils Must Eat in 'Heats' or They Go Hungry." The 400 children who ate lunch at the school had to go in shifts because the lunchroom portable held only 130 at a time and had only one door for entry and exit. "In order to enable all the pupils to find shelter at noon time, lunch periods [were] staggered in a schedule so complicated it makes a railroad time table look like a primary reader … The time when one group is excused for lunch depend[ed] entirely on how long it [took] their predecessors … To cope with this variable problem, 'runners' or 'spotters' from the classrooms [went] to the lunchroom to carry the word back to the teachers -- like little Paul Reveres." 

Laurelhurst became a K-6 school in 1946-47. An addition to the building was finally built in 1950, with six classrooms, a lunchroom, and an auditorium. At the same time, a gymnasium (the Laurelhurst Fieldhouse) was added, with 67 percent of its funding coming from the Seattle Parks Department, which operated a public playfield in Laurelhurst Park to the south. 

By 1955-56, the 19 classrooms were supplemented by 10 portables on the playground in order to hold the peak enrollment of almost 1,100 pupils. The opening of Sand Point School in 1958 helped relieve enrollment pressure not only at Laurelhurst but at View Ridge and Bryant as well. 

In 1960-61, Laurelhurst served 850 students and required only seven portables. An overpass across NE 45th Street was completed in 1960, linking the school and playfield, as originally proposed by the Laurelhurst Community Club in 1927. 

An Individually Guided Education Program began in September 1970. The same year, Laurelhurst 6th graders moved on to middle school as part of the district's K-5-3-4 program. Teachers received specialized training and organized into teams with an emphasis on individualized instruction. 

In 1993, Laurelhurst became the only school in the district to be accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges. To receive accreditation, the school had to complete a two-year self-study process. Recently, student and adult volunteers created a Peace Garden in honor of Aki Kurose, who taught at Laurelhurst for 25 years (see Kurose). 

Seattle Public Schools, 1862-2000: Laurelhurst School

This People's History of Laurelhurst School is taken from Building for Learning: Seattle Public School Histories, 1862-2000 by Nile Thompson and Carolyn J. Marr. The book, published in 2002 by Seattle Public Schools, compiled profiles of all the public school buildings that had been used by the school district since its formation around 1862. The profiles from the book are being made available as People's Histories on HistoryLink.org courtesy of Seattle Public Schools. It should be noted that these essays are from 2000. Some of the buildings profiled are historic, some of recent vintage, and many no longer exist (new names and buildings not included in these profiles from 2000 have been added), but each plays or has played an important role in the education of Seattle's youth.

Aerial view, Laurelhurst School, Seattle, 1960
Courtesy Seattle Public Schools (Image No. 242-1)

Aerial view, Laurelhurst School, Seattle, 1970
Courtesy Seattle Public Schools (Image No. 242-5)