Welcome to our monthly newsletter, a vibrant reflection of the happenings and achievements within the Hazelwood community. This edition brings you a roundup of news, events, and updates, keeping you connected and informed about our collective journey in education.
In Partnership,
Principal Gasaway
In this issue:
Hazelwood Highlights: Celebrating a Busy and Joyful Few Weeks!
It has been a busy and exciting few weeks at Hazelwood, filled with celebration, creativity, school spirit, and community connection!
We began with an amazing Educator Appreciation Week. A very special shoutout to Ms. Leila, who truly outdid herself by helping organize such a thoughtful week of events, treats, and appreciation for our staff. To every volunteer who gave their time, energy, and care to make the week special, please know how much it meant. Your kindness helped boost staff energy and excitement as we continue working together to end the year strong.
We have also had some wonderful celebrations across our school community. Our 5th grade students took on staff in our annual kickball game, and the 5th grade team won again! Staff definitely tried, but our students were just too good and had such great teamwork and spirit.
Our school theater team also put on a wonderful performance. The show was filled with talent, confidence, creativity, and so much love for the arts. We are so proud of our students for sharing their gifts with us.
Another special moment was welcoming back our Hazelwood Mustangs who are now graduating seniors from Hazen High School. It was such a joy to see former students return to where part of their journey began. A fun personal connection for me was having my own son, who attended Hazelwood and is graduating from Hazen this year, join us for the visit. Here he is with Ms. Davidson and Ms. Ingalls, two of his teachers when he attended Hazelwood.
We also enjoyed a fantastic family potluck and game night, along with the incredible creativity displayed during our Cardboard Challenge. Students and families created amazing pieces, and it was so inspiring to see imagination, problem-solving, and teamwork come to life.
We are looking forward to ending the year strong with Field Day this Friday, 5th Grade Promotion on Monday, and a fun End-of-Year Assembly on the last day of school, June 17.
Thank you, Hazelwood families, for continuing to show up, celebrate, volunteer, and partner with us. These moments remind us what makes our community so special.
June is Pride Month
June is Pride Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and to affirm the importance of belonging, acceptance, and inclusion for all.
At Hazelwood, we believe every student, staff member, and family should feel safe, valued, and seen. Pride Month is one meaningful opportunity to reflect on how we continue to build a school community where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We remain committed to elevating inclusivity through the way we lead, listen, and care for one another each day.
As Mustangs, we know that belonging is not just something we talk about; it is something we practice. We will continue working together to create a welcoming environment where all students and families know they are an important part of our Hazelwood community. This community is so important and they are part of what make our school so great!
Hazelwood Staffing Updates
As we close the school year, we want to share a few staffing updates with our community.
Three of our wonderful staff members will be retiring after this year. It has been such an honor to work alongside each of them, and they will be deeply missed by our Hazelwood community. Please feel free to share your gratitude and well wishes with them as you see them. Mr. Jones,-School Counselor, Ms. Corsi-3rd Grade Teacher and Ms. Niles-PE Teacher.
We are also excited to share that Ms. Jorgensen is having a baby! She will be caring for her new baby this fall and will return later in the school year. We are in the process of hiring a long-term substitute to support our 5th graders and join our amazing 5th grade team.
Ms. Illescas, our multilingual facilitator, and Mr. Garcia, kindergarten teacher, will also be departing Hazelwood for new opportunities. They have been such an important part of our community, and we are forever grateful for their dedication to our students and families.
Field Day June 12th
🎉 FIELD DAY FUN IS THIS FRIDAY🎉
Get ready for a day packed with games, music, prizes & school spirit! Volunteers are needed to help make this afternoon of fun go smoothly and safe for the students! Grab a friend and sign up to run a field day station.
Date: Friday, June 12th 1:45-2:40 pm
Where: Hazelwood Elementary
Wear your Hazelwood gear to show your spirit!
No white shirts/shorts or swimsuits
Bring a towel—just in case you get wet!
Families welcome!
We’d love your help before, during, and after Field Day!
Sign up to volunteer
Additional parking available at Risdon - Only park in LINED PARKING SPOTS, not along the curbs (must be parked by 2PM)
Planning to take your child home early? Be sure to sign them out by 2:15 PM or they'll follow their normal dismissal plan.
5th Grade Promotion
We are excited to celebrate our 5th Grade Promotion on Monday, June 15th, 4:00 pm at Hazelwood Elementary!
This special event is open to friends and family of our 5th graders as we honor and celebrate their accomplishments and growth. We are so proud of the kind, curious, and capable individuals they are becoming and can’t wait to see all they will achieve in middle school and beyond. Be sure to mark your calendars!
End of Year Assembly
Wednesday, June 17th – Half Day of School
As we wrap up a fantastic school year, we warmly invite all families to join us for our End-of-Year Assembly on the last day of school.
Date: Wednesday June 17th
Time: 10:15 AM – 11:15 AM
Location: School Assembly Hall
We’ll take this time to reflect on the highlights of the year and celebrate each student as they are promoted to the next grade. After the assembly, families are welcome to take their students home.
Let’s end the school year on a joyful note—we can’t wait to celebrate with you!
Kindergarten Registration
Register your child now for kindergarten classes starting this fall. Children must be 5-years-old by Aug. 31, 2026.
Kindergarten program. Learn more here.
Registered students & families will be able to attend Kindergarten readiness events at each elementary school, with tours of schools and meetings with teachers, in May .
We offer free full‐day Kindergarten programs in all our elementary schools. Kindergartners attend school on the same schedule as students in grades 1-5:
Core curriculum of reading, writing, mathematics, science, social studies, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and additional experiences in art, music, PE
Transportation is provided to students on an established bus route.
Find your neighborhood school by entering your home address into the "Find Your School" below, then complete the online registration process.
To register, you'll need:
Child's birth certificate
Proof of residence (rental agreement, mortgage statement, utility bill, etc.)
Emergency contacts
Child's health & immunization records
Ready Kindergarten Interest Open
Families can now complete an interest form for our Ready Kindergarten (Ready K) program for next school year. Ready K is a full-day transitional kindergarten program that runs Monday-Friday and follows the school schedule.
The Ready K interest form for the 2026-2027 school year is available now. NOTE: in the 2026/27 school year, Ready K may not be offered at all elementary schools based on funding from the state.
Ready K is a full-day transitional kindergarten program that runs Monday-Friday and follows the full district calendar. The program serves children who:
turn 4 years-old on or before August 31, 2026,
live within Renton School District boundaries, and
have had no access to quality early learning experiences.
Students qualify through a screening process. Eligibility is based on financial, academic, and/or social or emotional needs. Ready K focuses on essential academics, social emotional skills, and learning habits to support children’s kindergarten success.
Learn more about program for the coming school year at our Ready K webpage.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Families can stay up to date on upcoming school events by viewing our Hazelwood Calendar of Events. You can click the link to see which events are open to our community and which are student-only. The calendar will be updated throughout the year, so please check it regularly or visit our school website for the most current information.
