WACA Conference 2025!

 The annual Washington Activity Coordinators Association (WACA) Conference always comes in mid-March which is when I really appreciate *and need* a dose or positive energy, new ideas, and a reminder that what we do in the activities world is vital for creating an inclusive school community that helps kids feel like they belong, they are seen, and they matter. The highlight of this conference was having Drew Dudley as the keynote speaker - he has a genius for weaving ideas around values and character with action and empowerment, all while being witty and humorous. I show his "Lollipop Moments" Ted Talk at the beginning of every year to my leadership classes - if you haven't watched it yet, now is the time! It was fun to fangirl Drew! I was also super excited to have Scott Backovich in the house leading the Idea Share and sharing his enthusiasm and systems with us.

I was able to attend WACA with a couple super fun Shorecrest colleagues: Heidi and Mario. I learned so much, saw friends like Brett and made new ones, had a ton of fun, put myself out of my comfort zone, and presented a session on systems to organize a leadership class. Why do we have this conference? Because the activity coordinators who came before us somehow created this and we've kept it going - it is an incredible gift they have given to us and it makes our student leadership and activities programs in this state so much stronger for it. I feel so much gratitude to be part of this organization and conference. Shout out to everyone on the WACA Board who made this possible and to everyone who presented and shared their wisdom and ideas. Until next year, WACA!

MARCH - Skiing with Jess and the Shoreline SEED Conference

This was my last Elementary Conference Week ever! Reed and his buddies went to a friend's house every day this week and had a ton of fun on this circuit. The Boys Swim Team had their end of season banquet and Edison earned another varsity letter.

 I had a rejuvenating weekend with Jessica Katsilometes doing a few things we love the most: cabin time, skiing, hot tubbing, delicious food, and cozying up by the fire. We also got to start talking about our big summer trip! Sunday we threw it down - 20,000' vertical in less than three hours - thanks to good grooming and no lift lines Stevens Pass!

This time felt restorative and I was able to come back from the weekend feeling so much more ready to support kids at school and function as a parent and teacher. As John Eklof shared at the Shoreline School District's SEED Social Justice Conference last week, "Don't forget to hold onto little pockets of heaven when everything else feels really hard."

At the end of our day at the SEED Conference, a student shared a wonderful sketch she had made of the three opening keynote speakers: Christian Paige, John Eklof, and Marcus Harden. Shout out to Kim Hasegawa Darcy and the Shoreline Equity Department for organizing this incredible experience for our students! I should have taken more pictures!

The Passing of Herbert McClees

My father, Herbert McClees, passed away peacefully Feb. 24, 2025 after a decades-long struggle with Parkinson's Disease and more recently, Parkinson's-associated dementia. He was 83 years old. I was there with him during this time. He was brought to the Emergency Room at Northwest Hospital on Sunday morning with symptoms from an infection. Labs showed that his organs were failing, in particular his lungs. He was unresponsive at this time, though he did open his eyes for a couple minutes when I arrived. I’m happy to believe that he knew I’d be there with him for everything that would come next.

His grandchildren: Edison, Charlotte, and Reed, were able to come visit, see him, and say their goodbyes. The nurses eventually removed the oxygen mask that had been keeping him alive. I was able to be in the room with him as his labored breathing came to a stop early in the morning. He will be interred next to his wife, my Step Mom, Arvelle, at the columbarium at his long-time church, St. John’s Episcopal, in Kirkland.

Herb was known for his wit and spirit. He will be remembered for all of the things he taught his daughter and grandchildren: how to whistle, how to play chess, how to select the best automobile, how to make cinnamon toast, how to do math in one’s head, how to take a long stride, how to appropriately appreciate artwork in a museum, etc. He enjoyed riddles and thought challenges. He loved listening to Car Talk on NPR. He showed interest in people and was constantly striking up conversations with every person he met. Until Parkinson’s and dementia really got a grip on him, he was an avid walker and dancer. He was most happy planning and giving a poetry reading or talking about his poetry. He dived into creative pursuits such as composing music and hymns, researching family history, and writing screenplays. He loved fiddling with computers and learning about the latest technology. He was often reflective on how to live best in the world, especially in relation to others. This moved him to volunteer for things like the City of Mill Creek’s “Music in the Parks” program and serve on the vestry of Saint John’s church. His faith and church were important to him.

I would appreciate hearing any stories or memories of Herb that bring you joy.

The last time I visited my dad, he recited from memory the poem, “Breathes There the Man,” by Sir Walter Scott. Herb was always a proud Scotsman.

To remember Herbert, find a favorite poem and speak it out into the world. He believed in the power of poetry and language for connection.

I am doing okay and not okay. Lots of compartmentalization happening. I'm an only child and feel like it is just a lot to be shouldering the grief of this and the checklist of affairs to get done and in order. Thank you to my family, my mother, and James for being such steadfast supporters through this.

Records Up, Charlotte: Flags and DECA, Friends at the Cabin, Date Night at the Fairmont

Charlotte made the Shorecrest Flag Team!!! She practiced for many, many hours in the cold and rain to nail her routines. This will mean halftime shows at football games, assembly routines, marching band parades, basketball halftimes, etc.... Charlotte will be dialed into a lot of what makes Shorecrest great!

Charlotte competed at the DECA State Conference for business and marketing. She learned a ton throughout this process not only in relation to the business world and working with a partner, but also life skills including how to use an iron. Her long paper was on the topic of using AI to help a local mall. She is already planning for next year. 

Records from last summer are now posted at Aqua Club. My kids are on four of them which kind of blows my mind. Two of those are relays and it was fun to remember them working so hard together last summer to pull off those great swims. 

The kids and I spent the past weekend at the cabin. We each brought a friend which was really great - I brought Heidi. We spent Saturday in the sunshine hiking around a glittering Lake Wenatchee State Park with trax on our hiking boots. We had the best conversations and it was really good to have a big catch up session. Meanwhile Reed and his friend Adrian played on the sledding hill there. Edison added three more days of skiing to his count this year. Sitting in front of the woodstove doing an impromptu singalong to the Hamilton musical after dinner on Saturday was a highlight. We skied Stevens on Sunday morning and met with the Kurcinkas. It was spring skiing conditions - so everything was great except the snow, LOL! The three boys really had a blast a ski posse and wrapped up the day with a giant snowball fight.

James and I had a fun date night Sunday - we got dressed up and headed to the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in downtown Seattle which was a super fun change of pace. We had the best time and laughed a ton. Insert sigh of joy here.