There are lots of activities that the Community Club supports throughout the year. If you'd like to help with any of the events, e-mail swansoncommunityclub@gmail.com, the parents mentioned below who will be coordinating the event for the 2025-2026 school year, or let us know at one of our monthly Community Club meetings. All are welcome to join our small but mighty group of parents who help plan and organize activities for the Swanson students, staff, and families throughout the year. Check the calendar or school newsletter for upcoming dates. The meetings are very informal and a good chance to get to know each other. Don't let the word "club" fool you... we truly welcome anyone!
For the Staff
Conference Dinners - At conference time each semester, the Community Club provides meals for our hard-working teachers. Amanda Blumkin will be coordinating meals this year. Volunteers are always needed to donate towards the purchase of the meals and volunteer to donate items, setup, or cleanup.
Staff Appreciation Week - The Community Club provides staff with treats, tokens, and activities during staff appreciation week to show our gratitude for the work that they do for the Swanson students. Amanda Blumkin will coordinate this effort this year.
Thankful Thursdays - Another way we thank the great teachers and staff at Swanson is through meals on Thankful Thursdays. Shannon Sharkey will arrange these meals this year.
Classroom supplies - Each fall the Community Club provides funds to teachers and staff to help buy things for their classrooms.
Holiday gift - Each December, the Community Club works with Principal Harr to identify a gift to purchase that will benefit all the staff at Swanson.
School Events
Book Fair - We have two Scholastic Book Fairs each year, which coincide with the fall and spring parent-teacher conferences. Melissa England and Katie Sakala will be coordinating the book fairs this school year. Reach out to them or watch for calls for volunteers if you are interested in helping to setup the fair, keep books stocked, assist students, and work shifts during the event.
Field Day - The Community Club leads a Field Day each year, which will be headed up by Jess Corcoran and Angela Aliano this year. This events requires MANY parent volunteers, so watch for calls for volunteers. The Community Club also supports this event financially, including through rental of an inflatable obstacle course.
Fun Run - Each year Swanson students get a chance to run a course through the streets surrounding Swanson, with police motorcycle escorts leading the way. Bethany Levy will be coordinating the Community Club's contributions to the event this year, so watch for calls to support students at the event.
Halloween Parade - Each year Swanson has a Halloween costume parade, with Community Club volunteers donating candy, decorating tables, and handing out candy. This is an easy event to coordinate, so if you'd like to take on leading a Swanson event, please e-mail swansoncommunityclub@gmail.com.
Valentine's parties - Swanson's classroom Valentine's parties are hosted by parents each year. Watch for a volunteer sign-up to come out in January, when we'll be looking for one parent to coordinate each party and two additional parents to volunteer at the party.
Evening Community Building Events
Movie in the Park - Grab your family and a blanket and meet us on the grassy hill on the backside of Swanson for a kid-friendly movie and concessions. Community Club donations help fund this event, including rental of the inflatable movie screen. Juliet Sommers and Emilie Wells will be coordinating this event this school year.
Bingo Night - Join us for a night of fun playing bingo and eating at Westside Middle School with other Swanson families. Angie Johnson will coordinate the event this year. The event needs lots of support from parents, including to donate prizes for the kids to enjoy and to help the evening of the event by monitoring the prize table, writing bingo numbers, serving, setting up, and cleaning up.
Variety Show - The annual Variety Show is a great chance for Swanson students to show off their talents! Jenna Gallagher will lead the event this year, which includes an audition, rehearsal, and the performance, with our 6th graders serving as the MCs. It's a not-to-miss event.
End of Year Block Party - To celebrate the spring semester coming to a close, we have an annual block party at Countryside Village. The Community Club pays for a block party permit and a musician, so we can shut down the street for some fun. Join us for great food and all the offerings from the Countryside Village stores. Jacque Torson will be planning this event this school year.
Other Activities
Apparel - The Community Club offers apparel, yard signs, and other items for purchase. Students love wearing the apparel for the monthly Swanson Spirit Days and the yard signs are a great way to show your support for Swanson. Katie Weisenburger will coordinate this effort this school year.
Directory - Do you want to arrange a play date with a classmate? Swanson Community Club is proud to compile and share family contact information in the all-school directory for families who have opted-in to sharing. The directory is provided free to all Swanson families via this website. Make sure your information is up to date!
Sixth Grade Activities - Our sixth graders are busy. At the start of the fall semester they'll be leading the efforts for Swanson's float at the homecoming parade and at the end of the school year they'll be celebrating with a big party. In between you'll find them fundraising for their party, as well as the class gift they give at the end of the year. Their fundraising efforts include selling candy and glow gear at the Movie in the Park and treats at Bingo night. Kim Pape and a committee of parents will coordinate these efforts this year.
Scholarship - Each year the Community Club offers a $1,000 scholarship to a senior graduating from Westside High School who attended Swanson for elementary school. Christy Havens and a committee of parents will be responsible for awarding this scholarship this year.
Fundraising
There are other other ways the Community Club supports Swanson as well, including paying for a treat for students at the Open House in August, providing mini-grants for specific teacher needs, providing drinks and treats for veterans at the Veteran's day program (organized by Carie Griffen this year), and more. As you can imagine, all these efforts require funding from the Community Club. Our primary fundraiser each year is the "No Fuss Fundraiser" - watch for information about the Fundraiser in September and please consider donating. Additionally, this year Angie Johnson will set up opportunities to purchase dinner at restaurants that will give part of the proceeds back to the Community Club. Watch for information about those in newsletters. Additionally, Christy Havens will work with 1st Day School Supplies again to offer a way to save time buying school supplies, which also serves as a fundraiser for the Community Club. We'll also have one night each semester where Swanson students can have fun skating together at Skate City in Bellevue, with part of the proceeds going back to the Community Club.
