Kirkland Preschool



Kirkland Preschool firmly believes that Black Lives Matter. We also recognize that just believing in things is not enough to dismantle white supremacy.

In August, we supported Redistribution Rummage, a redistribution event benefitting Real Rent Duwamish and Africatown's COVID-19 Fund that raised $2,110 in two days. This event was coordinated by KP alum and staff member, Kaylin Wirkman.

In October, we utilized our staff in-service day as a day to explore the new Burke Museum and the history of the Duwamish Tribe.

As we move through the school year, we are continuously working to grow and strengthen our curriculum along with our book, story, and toy collections, as well as our educators' anti-racism toolbox. 

Here is our school-wide email sent out in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday:

"Hello, TBBC & LF-MWF Families, and also to KP-ThF & LF-ThF Families.

I hope you are having an enjoyable weekend. Remember, for us at Kirkland Preschool, it’s an extended weekend since we are closed on Mon 1/18 in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s life and contributions.

I am old enough to remember very well his work, speeches, and his increasing concern that most Americans at the time weren’t understanding the depth of our culture’s “this is the way it’s always been” mindset.  Most of us admired his words, imagined that we could be marching – except that there was always some extraneous circumstance that got in the way.  But we didn’t see that we had choices available when others had none.  Dr. King became impatient with this and increasingly frank with his words, and it took courage for him to continue as many started criticizing him.

I didn’t really get it until much later. It was in my adult Girl Scout world, when a Black volunteer, who was my age and also from Seattle, related how her childhood Sunday afternoons were spent with her family at protests. I had to reflect that my Sunday afternoons in Seattle were a cycle of family visits to the Art Museum one week, the Frye Museum the next, various relatives the next, and the Museum of History and Industry the next. Protests? That had been in the South, not here. Bad schools? My school, 10 miles away from hers, had been a great school. Inability to get a mortgage? We didn’t have much money, but we lived in a nice little house is a nice little neighborhood. Doesn’t that encapsulate privilege for you!

So for our day off on Monday, I hope there are some moments for reflection on all our parts. As parents, we can lavish our children with hugs and with encouraging hearts that value all people and have the courage to speak up when needed. It does take courage to look inward, to realize what has made our own lives and at what expense this has been to others’ lives.  May we have courage to recognize and name the wrongs. May we have courage to dismantle the obstacles in front of others. And may we include our children on this journey.



For a better world, Carolyn"

Here is our first comunication to families in regards to Black Lives Matter:

"Hello, Kirkland Preschool Community,

For me, these past weeks have been heavy with shock, reflections, questions, and memories.  As an older adult, I wonder why I am feeling and questioning the same things I did as a Seattle child hearing about police dogs and water cannons in the South during the 1950’s.  Throughout the years, crises have hit, protests have launched, but not much has changed.  2020 seems different, however.  Across our country and indeed, the world, people are coalescing to make clear that we must change now.  I need to change.  Now.   More and more are recognizing the important precept that silence is no longer an option.  So please let me share thoughts concerning this and Kirkland Preschool:

Early childhood education strives to validate and empower each child and their families.  For children, we want them to grow knowing that their feelings and voices are heard;  that they can ask for help;  that each one is important and loved, just as they are.  For families, we want them to feel ownership in their child’s whole educational process, to feel empowered to be involved in education, to speak up, and to be part of responsibly helping the next generation grow and learn.

Throughout Kirkland Preschool’s 50 years,  we have emphasized our connections to our communities and to the broader world.  We start with the children and families who are with us in the room.  Listening, looking at each other for social clues, growing respect for each other are daily elements.  We try to represent the wider world, since Kirkland, like all places, is a unique slice of humanity.  We help children realize all humans share basic needs, and hopes and dreams, even though we all look and sound different.

We reach out to all families who value our philosophy and approach to learning.  As a non-profit, private school, we try to keep our tuitions within reach of young families.  We have an accessible work-scholarship program to assure every family feels welcome regardless of financial circumstances.  We have a robustly worded non-discrimination policy to assure everyone that they are welcome and respected and valued.  We also, as individual staff members, try to further our own learning and awareness.  As with all members of our society, we have much to do to help ourselves, communities, and world work together to make new structures and philosophies that are based on respect, dignity, and equity, especially for those for whom this has been denied.

We need to assert that discrimination and oppression have no place in our world.  We need to realize that we must stand against systemic racism.  We need to recognize that those of us who have enjoyed privileges in our lives have skewed perspectives which can be harmful to others.  We need to listen to and amplify the voices of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.  As members of the early childhood education community, we lay the foundations for these individual perspectives and critical interactions in the world.

With children and their development, the trails can be round-about, maybe messy, and certainly very individually travelled.  But we know we can persevere, encourage, and provide concrete help.  We hold hopeful visions for their futures.  We also realize that this job of ours continues almost beyond the grave.  So it is, as we—a society—grow toward a changed and inclusive world.  “Keep your eyes on the prize” is a well-known encouragement.  Let’s keep our continuous energies on that prize, a just and truly equal world for each member of humanity.

With respect and hope,

Carolyn Wirkman

Director, Kirkland Preschool"

Notice of Non-Discrimination Policy:

Kirkland Preschool (including Little Friends’, Treasure Box Book Club, Summer Adventures, Lunch Plus) admits students and welcomes individuals without discrimination concerning race, national or ethnic origin, religion, color, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, or family structure to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school, and in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, hiring policies, or other school administered programs.

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Donate Books to KP!

We have recently recieved a handful of donated books based around BLM, Black stories + topics, and books by Black authors and illustrators.  If you are interested in donating relevant books, we suggest looking for a Black-owned bookstore. Hella Black Books, owned and operated by Joy (@hellablackbooks), is based in the Seattle area and has numerous kid-friendly options! Another local bookstore is Estelita's Library, specializing in social justice, their curated selection is typically available through their store or lending library.

Non-Exhaustive List of Resources for Parents/Children:

https://www.theconsciouskid.org/, @theconsciouskid

“The Conscious Kid is an education, research and policy organization dedicated to reducing bias and promoting positive identity development in youth.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBUFcv0y0yk

Sesame Street explains Black Lives Matter

https://www.embracerace.org/resources, @embracerace

“At EmbraceRace, we identify, organize – and, as needed, create – the tools, resources, discussion spaces, and networks we need…”

http://www.childrenscommunityschool.org/social-justice-resources/

“The Children’s Community School is working to promote the values of economic and racial justice.” 

https://www.parents.com/kids/responsibility/racism/the-many-ways-white-parents-benefit-from-privilege-and-how-that-can-change/

“The Many Ways White Parents Benefit From White Privilege—and How That Can Change”

http://weac.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/kid-friendly-language.pdf

“How to talk to young children about the Black Lives Matter Guiding Principles by Laleña Garcia”

https://www.lsumoa.org/inside-lsu-moa/beginning-the-conversation 

Resources and books to help start open conversations about race, privilege, and injustice with children.

http://www.raceconscious.org/

“The primary purpose of Raising Race Conscious Children is to support parents and teachers who are trying to talk about race and diversity with young children.”

https://www.dcareaeducators4socialjustice.org/black-lives-matter/resources/early-childhood-elementary#13

“D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice is a network of educators who seek to strengthen and deepen social justice teaching.”

https://www.zinnedproject.org/materials/?cond[0]=levels_str:Grades+Pre-K-2, @zinneducationproject

“The Zinn Education Project promotes and supports the teaching of people’s history in classrooms across the country.”