|
|
|
|
Hey Presidents...
Happy Tuesday!
Good to see a lot of you last night at the first Council meeting. And thanks to Stacey and Reiko, who came on their Presidents' behalf!
Lots of information below; good questions coming out of last night!!
Here's the link to yesterday's School Board meeting, which happened during our meeting. I sent it out to you already, but here it is again for reference.
A note to all of you Presidents:
please recognize that you are being overwhelmed and inundated with information. You are getting Leadership News from the State weekly, these emails from me weekly, Region 6 news quarterly, and quite a bit in between.
Please use these resources the way that works best for you and your board. If you prefer to forward all of the emails on to everybody, you can do that. If you want to choose pieces that you want them to focus on, do that. I am picking things out of the Leadership News for these emails that I think is relevant, and leaving the rest for you to discover on your own.
No one is great at every piece of this job, and delegation is your best friend. Lead your team, and pick up only the extra things that you truly love. Ask questions, and don't be afraid to not have the answer ready when YOU are asked. Cut yourself a lot of slack, because you said Yes to what sounds like a really intimidating job. And You Rock.
So. On to a lengthy (but hopefully informative) email...
Council Goals & Objectives
A recap... our goals are broken out into the sections of our Mission.
Advocate: We want every PTA to identify a Leg Chair. We also want to reach a participation level of 20% at Focus Day, Leg Assembly, School Board Meetings, and Convention.
Communicate: We added verbiage about Council Chairs communicating directly with Local PTA counterparts, in an effort to double-communicate about everything. That means that your chairs should hear directly from Family Services (The WORKS, Food Drive, Teen Gifts), Reflections, and Awards. You should hear from me. We also added the goal of quorum at every Council meeting.
Educate: We changed the measurable goal from the specific "participation in Standards of Excellence" to participation in a State-Level award. We believe that every PTA in our District would qualify for one of the State awards, whether that is Standards of Excellence (which will be really easy since you're doing the Standards of Affiliation anyway), the newsletter award, the Making a Significant Difference award, communications... So many. We want 75% of you to apply.
Collaborate: We are abandoning the local unit blog, which was a great idea that just never took off. We are adding the You Rock awards, so that everyone gets a chance to brag about the fantastic things you're doing. We are letting go of the Outreach calendar (Every Child in Focus) utilization, because it was hard to do on a Council level. And we changed our membership goal to an overall increase rather than a percentage.
Find the final document here.
Standing Rules
Not much changed with our Standing Rules. We changed VP of Advocacy back to VP of Legislation (Washington State PTA-driven), and changed Local Units to Local PTA (also Washington State PTA-driven). We also changed the mail handling from being the responsibility of the Secretary to a delegate coordinated by the Secretary. Sarah-Ann Woodfield is graciously handling that for us this year.
Find the final document here.
Budget
Important items to note:
- You will see "encumbered" funds in the income section of the budget, for both Family Service committees and for the Scholarship line. These are funds that cannot be spent on anything but what they were donated for, and we are showing them as income to be clear about the amount available to spend.
- You will see that we are bumping up the ticket price for the Recognition Dinner to $30. We are attempting to better cover costs, although you will see that this still runs at a loss. More on the Recognition Dinner/awards below.
- There is an unfunded line item in the budget for Special Needs/Accomodations & Support, which we hope to be able to fund to a degree. The intent of this item is to support local PTAs who are running enrichment programs and need help with any costs of accommodation support. While we are working on partnering with the Fire Department for training on EpiPens, First Aid etc, we recognize that this will not solve everything. And some schools have more programs than others, and some have higher financial need.
- Expenses for our Family Services items match the expected income. We will be counting on Local PTAs to help fund these! You and/or your treasurer will receive an "invoice" from Council as a reminder to write a check; those items are the expenses in 2A and 2B on the budget.
- The rest of the budget is pretty standard and self-explanatory; convention is high because it's in Yakima...
Find the final budget document here.
The WORKS
The conversation about the WORKS got a little complicated, and that's because there are a couple of pieces to it.
We approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) last night, which gives us the authorization to be a part of the consortium that participates in the Back to School Event. This is the event that gets backpacks, socks, underwear, school supplies, clothes and haircuts to Shoreline School students in August. The WORKS is one of the driving forces behind this effort, which serves about 10% of our overall student population. Sarah-Ann brought this chart to show the stats for the BTS event this year.
In addition to the Back to School event, the WORKS runs a year-round program for our families. This is the part that requires our local PTA family services folks to find people to volunteer in the "store" on Wednesday evenings (at North City) throughout the year.
The WORKS line item in the budget goes to fund both of these things. Encumbered funds (those that are specifically donated to the WORKS) are spent over the summer, when items needed for the BTS event go on sale.
There was a request for local PTAs to think about donating $500 over the year specifically to the WORKS, but not just as a cash donation. In addition to whatever you have budgeted to send to Council for the WORKS, consider filling needs by running drives for various items of need (soap, toothpaste, socks, underwear etc). You can also partner with local businesses to increase your impact.
Holiday Baskets: Food Drive & Teen Gifts
Our new team of Food Drive superstars put together a survey, which they administered to the attendees of the BTS event this summer. In it, they asked questions about what these families need the most. So, while they were initially inclined to let go of staples like flour and sugar, they found out that families really want those items. So you will see them again as items to drive for, along with newer requests like meals in a can and granola bars.
Teen gifts is looking at moving towards a strong focus on gift cards, with the stipulation that they are small amounts ($15, not $125).
Overall, they are talking about moving to a very firm registration deadline, which would likely end about the time that the drive starts.
Your family service chairs should be attending a training on all of these programs next Thursday. If they are not aware of this, please have them contact the Council chairs.
You Rock
One of the things we'd like to do this year is to focus on the fantastic things that you all are doing. We think this will do two things: one, help you a little with your elevator speech about why your PTA is so great. Two, network our PTAs who might be able to mentor each other on programs or systems that are going particularly well.
At the spring dessert, we did have some of you sign up for specific months. We assigned the rest, 2 per month.
October: Brookside, Parkwood
November: Shoreline Children's Center, Einstein
December: Kellogg, Special Needs
January: Echo Lake, Lake Forest Park
February: Syre, Briarcrest
March: Highland Terrace, Shorewood
April: Cascade K8, Shorecrest
May: Meridian Park, Ridgecrest
Training/Opportunities
Another goal this year was to keep meetings short, but to offer paired experiences that would respect your time and offer you value. We need your feedback!
Here are the items you voted on , in order of popularity:
Leading with Excellence
Best Practices
Volunteers
Fundraising
PTA Programs
Money/Budgeting
Education Funding
Community Partners Meet & Greet
ASB/PTA Finance
Family Services
Advocacy
Emergency Services Meet & Greet
We have also had a request (approved by the Superintendent) for an LGBTQ family welcoming potluck, which could be a joint effort between PTA and the District.
The first 5 of those topics (plus ASB/PTA finance) can be offered as official training. We can also do roundtables for a lot of those things (we probably all have something to offer about fundraising and volunteer retention!). Or we can blow some of them up into a bigger event - an Advocacy event, for example, could touch on: working with the School Board; utilizing public comment; advocating for an IEP; testifying in Olympia; working with your Principal...
Meet & Greets are useful only to the extent that we have good turnout and folks are interested in networking and partnering. We have some fantastic opportunities to engage our community if you are so inclined.
A reminder that Council meetings are open to anyone you want to bring.
PLEASE give us feedback on what you'd like to see offered and how you would like it presented (speaker, interactive training, multi-part event, panel...)
Recognition Dinner and Awards
The Recognition Dinner, which was mentioned above, is the evening event that honors our winners district-wide. Based on your budget and your committee's decisions, you can give these Washington State awards:
Outstanding Advocate
Recognizes and honors an individual for continued and dedicated service to ALL children, and a demonstrated commitment to helping create strong policies relating to the health, welfare, safety, and education of children and youth.
Outstanding Educator (Golden Apple)
The Outstanding Educator Award may be presented by local units, councils, and WSPTA to honor outstanding educators who have made significant contributions.
Honorary Life Membership
The purpose of the Honorary Life Membership is to honor an individual who has made significant contributions to the development and growth of PTA local unit or council.
Outstanding Service Award
The Outstanding Service Award is the highest volunteer award given to individuals by the PTA councils. It is awarded to someone who has gone beyond his or her own school community, job, or PTA in order to give dedicated volunteer service to children.
Golden Acorn
A Golden Acorn Award is presented, by a local PTA unit or council, to a volunteer in recognition of his/her dedication and service to children and youth. Since the beginning of this program, more than 44,000 Golden Acorns have been presented to volunteers throughout Washington State.
You can choose to recognize multiple winners in any of the categories. The reason to order the awards through the State is that not only do your recipients get a certificate and pin, but a large portion of the money goes into the scholarship fund that Washington State PTA gives out in May.
The Recognition Dinner is typically attended by your awardees, their Plus Ones, a President or two, and the Principal. That number will be partly budget-driven, as each ticket will be $30 this year.
We will talk about whether to lose the trifolds this year or not...
The Recognition Dinner is in April.
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly is on Saturday, October 24 this year, in Olympia. It is an "off" year, meaning that we will not be deciding a brand new platform, but will decide on a couple of issues and work on advocating for our current platform. There will be a large-room session (see Roberts Rules in action!) and smaller break-out sessions focusing on issue education or inspiration.
Each PTA gets 4 delegates for the first 200 members; if you have more than 200 members, you are allowed one delegate for every additional 100.
There will be a schedule out soon, so that you can see how the day goes.
This is an event like no other. This is the most passionate advocates for education in the State all in one place, brainstorming on how best to serve kids. And because we all have different opinions on what that means and how that looks, things can get interesting!
Advocacy FAQs
What does advocacy mean for the Washington State PTA?
The Oxford English Dictionary defines “advocacy” as “public support for or recommendation of a particular cause or policy.” The core of the PTA mission is to advocate for Washington’s children - with the vision that every child’s potential become a reality. The power of “every child.one voice.®” speaks to our legislative advocacy theme of “All Means All.” From the initial days of the legislative session to sine die, our legislative team works to ensure that all of Washington’s children have a voice in Olympia.
Who is our Legislative Team?
PTA Elections took place in April of this year. Your new PTA Legislative Director is Brooke Valentine who succeeded Sherry Krainick on June 1st of this year. The legislative director is directly elected by the membership for a two year term. Ms. Valentine’s term ends in May of 2017. Assisting Director Valentine are Region Legislative Chairs. These individuals are appointed by the Region Directors across 13 PTA regions. The legislative committee uses the vision, mission, PTA resolutions, legislative principles, and platform issues to determine which bills to track and push during the legislative session.
Washington State PTA Resolutions, Legislative Principles, and Platform Issues Calendar:
The Washington State PTA, like our state legislature, discusses issues and legislative proposals throughout the year. Our cycle starts in June with the deadlines for our members to submit grassroots proposals to be considered for Legislative Assembly. For those who wish to push for resolutions at convention, the due date for submittal is November 15th.
- May 18, 2015 – Deadline for submission of title and short descriptions for Resolutions, Platform Issues and Legislative Principles
- June 1st, 2015 – Deadline for submission of full proposals for Resolutions, Platform Issues and Legislative Principles
- October 24th, 2015 – Legislative Assembly in Olympia, Washington
- November 15th, 2015 – Deadlines for submission for Resolution Proposals for the State Convention
- January 11th 2016 – Opening Day of Washington State Legislative Session (60 day session)
- February 3rd, 2016 – Focus Day in Olympia
What is Legislative Assembly?
Glad you asked! The Washington State PTA will hold its Legislative Assembly in October of this year. Local unit and council PTA representatives from across the state meet to debate and discuss issues that the PTA hopes to advocate for during the next legislative biennium. During the weekend event, we discuss three different types of legislative proposals: Platform Issues, Legislative Principles, and Resolutions. Legislative Assembly will also offer training opportunities around grassroots advocacy.
What are Resolutions?
Washington State PTA resolutions outline the opinion and will of the association to address statewide problems. They require action to be taken by the WSPTA and are long-term positions. Once accepted by the resolutions committee and approved by the WSPTA Board of Directors, they are voted on by delegates at either the legislative assembly or the state convention. Resolutions are periodically reviewed, combined, amended, rescinded or retired. Retiring a position keeps it on the books for historical reference. Rescinding a position removes it from the books. If you would like to submit a Resolution or change an existing one, click here!
What are Legislative Principles?
Washington PTA Legislative Principles are foundational and lay out conceptual public policy objectives. They serve as the basis from which to evaluate short-term proposals and resolutions and are reviewed annually with members. They are organized into the following categories: Budget, Revenue & Funding; Parent and Family Involvement; Public Education Policies; Health & Well Being of Youth; and Safe & Nurturing Environments for Children & Youth. Changes may be proposed through the legislative committee. Committee recommendations are presented to the board of directors for review. Any changes to the document must be approved by delegates at the fall legislative assembly. If you think your issue is best introduced as a Legislative Principle – Click Here to begin!
What are Platform Issues?
Unlike Legislative Principles which are long term, Platform Issues are short term policy proposals which coincide with the Legislative Biennium. In even numbered years, the association sets an entirely new platform. In odd numbered years, amendments may be made to the platform and new issues may be added to the supported portion of the platform. These short term issues help determine which policies the WSPTA will monitor and attempt to influence through legislative and policy making bodies. They will also shape WSPTA’s collaborative work with other groups, coalitions, and organizations. In addition, at the close of legislative assembly, all platform issues will be voted on and ranked in order of attendee preference. The top five will be our legislative Priority – “The Top Five” for the legislative cycle. If you think your issue is a Platform Issue – Click Here to begin!
How can Council help you? Give us your ideas, your feedback, your needs, concerns, and triumphs.
|
|
|
|
UPCOMING EVENTS
|
Super Coffee, 10/15 |
Important to know:
FedEx discount code: 0520882103!
|
|
|
Mark Your Calendars
October
October 1: Deadline for National PTA School of Excellence Enrollment
Monday 10/12, 7 pm: School Board Meeting
October 14-16: Elementary Parent Conferences
Thursday 10/15, 9:30-11 Superintendent Coffee, Sherrick Room (D105)
Saturday 10/24 Legislative Assembly, Olympia WA (1 day)
Monday 10/26: No School
Monday 10/26, 7 pm: School Board Meeting
Monday 10-26, 7 pm: PTA Council Meeting, Alumni Room
Training Opportunities
Other training opportunities (you can attend in any Region, if there is a location and date that is more convenient for you):
Confirmed Region Conferences
Region Conferences TBD
|
PTA & the Law Training
(Region 6 will likely hold 3 more)
|
|
10/15 | Bremerton | 5:00pm - 9:00pm
10/8 | Vancouver | 6:00pm - 9:00pm
10/15 | Bethel area | 6:00pm - 9:00pm
10/8 | Lynnwood | 5:00pm - 9:00pm
|
|
|
10/1 | Bellevue | 6:00pm - 9:00pm | TBD
10/10 | Redmond | 9:00am - 12:00pm | TBD
10/29 | Issaquah | 9:30am - 12:30pm | TBD
11/5 | Mercer Island | 9:30pm - 12:30pm | TBD
10/20 | Moses Lake/Othello | TBD
11/5 | Walla Walla | TBD
|
|
|
Other Events
Shoreline Economic Development Update (North City Neighborhood meeting)
Tuesday, September 29, 7 pm
Anderson House Plaza, 17201 15th Ave NE
Meet Shoreline's Economic Development Program Manager, Dan Eernissee, as he shares the city's plans for future business development. Learn about Shoreline's 5-year development strategy. Get current status updates on projects like the Auora Square Community Renewal Area, the Fircrest property and other sites in Shoreline. Dan will also be sharing information about the "Promoting Shoreline" Initiative. See results of a recent survey of Shoreline's desirability among targeted future residents.
NUHSA Presents: Hunger in Shoreline - Local Needs and Our Response
Wednesday, September 30, 4:30-6 pm
Richmond Beach Library, 19601 21st Ave NW
Learn how hunger and our local response impacts families, seniors, and children in Shoreline. Share solutions and resources. Join a World Cafe conversation with others working to alleviate and end hunger right here at home.
Website
Using their Power for Good: How Geektivists, Geek Grrls and Gaymers Are Creating More Inclusive Communities
Thursday, October 1, 7 pm
Richmond Beach Library
19601 21st Avenue NW
Jennifer K. Stuller, Co-Founder of GeekGirlCon, explores the people and organizations that are using community-building to create alternative spaces, crowd-sourcing to circumvent traditional modes of production, media criticism to challenge and raise awareness and performance to subvert gender norms.
Sponsored by Humanities Washington and the Friends of the Richmond Beach Library
ProShoreline Community Meeting
Tuesday, Oct. 6, 6:30 p.m.
Richmond Beach Library
19601 21st Avenue NW
Special guest speaker – Debbie Tarry, Shoreline City Manager. Join us for an update on the current happenings in our city, which include:
Westminster area
Light Rail
Point Wells
Aurora Corridor
Sponsored by ProShoreline
Bringing Out Their Best: Providing Guidance While Avoiding Parenting Pitfalls
Saturday, Oct. 10, 10:00 a.m. to Noon
Richmond Beach Library
19601 21st Avenue NW
Your parenting approach can help bring out the best in your children . . . or the worst! Look at different parenting styles along with benefits and drawbacks. When you match your parenting style to your children’s growing needs, it’s better for everyone. We’ll be considering questions like: What factors encourage young children to grow into responsible, respectful teens rather than rebellious, defiant teens? How do you know if you’re doing too much for your children? How do you allow your children to learn from their mistakes?
Sponsored by Friends of the Richmond Beach Library
Educators will seek ways to build crucial links between parents, community organizations and schools. The goal is higher student achievement.
Adie Simmons repeats these words like a mantra: “Engaged parents produce engaged students.”
On October 10, she will gather with like-minded educators along with parents and community members to encourage all of them to work together to improve student performance.
Simmons, the executive director of the Washington Family and Community Engagement Trust, has lined up educators from Washington and beyond to speak at the conference, called “United for Student Success.”
Among them is Anne T. Henderson of the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University, co-author of the best-selling book “Beyond the Bake Sale: The Essential Guide to Family/School Partnerships.”
“This will be the very first conference in our state that will focus on this issue of parent and community engagement,” Simmons said. “We want parents and community institutions to be equal partners in education.”
Schools that help develop and nurture such networks reap rewards in terms of student achievement, she said.
The conference will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Evergreen Middle School in Everett. The cost is $125 per person, and scholarships are available for parents who wish to attend. (For information, contact the Trust at info@wafamilyengagement.org) Registration materials can be found here.
Other speakers on the agenda include:
- Ann Ishimaru, an assistant professor at the University of Washington College of Education. She will present findings of research she conducted in south King County schools on ways of engaging parents from diverse communities.
- Erin Jones, an administrator in the Tacoma Public Schools whose career has focused on equity in education. She has served as the assistant state superintendent for student achievement, with a focus on working with educators and legislators to better serve traditionally disenfranchised students.
- Dr. Gary Cohn, superintendent of the Everett Public Schools.
- State Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self of the 21st legislative district.
The conference will feature sessions sessions on a wide variety of topics, including how to become a parent leader; understanding educational equity; working with interpreters and translators; promoting children’s language development; and engaging pre-school families.
Richmond Beach Community Meeting: Candidates Forum
Tuesday, Oct. 13, 7:00 p.m. (note earlier start time for this meeting only)
Richmond Beach Congregational Church
1512 NW 195th Street
The stage is set and the candidates are lined up to compete for three Shoreline City Council seats during the upcoming November election process. At our October meeting, each of the candidates will make opening statements, and then we will take questions from the community residents. Here is an opportunity for you to interact, up close and personal, with the candidates who want to represent your interests on the Shoreline City Council.
Sponsored by Richmond Beach Community Association
More info: RBCA Vice President Jerry Patterson at VicePresident@RichmondBeachWA.org
Exploring Your Atypical Learner (Parent Map)
Resource Fair & Master the Power of ADHD Lecture with Dr. Ned Hallowell
University of Washinton Husky Union Building (Seattle)
Atypical Learners Resource Fair
Wednesday, October 14, 5-7 p.m.
Come learn from experts who focus on the many categories of atypical learners: ADD, ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia, processing disorders, developmental delays, autism, Asperger’s and other spectrum learning differences.
FREE to attend, Please RSVP.
M aster the Power of ADHD Lecture with
Dr. Ned Hallowell (Parent Map)
Wednesday, October 14, 7-9 p.m.
New York Times bestselling author Dr. Ned Hallowell will explore the brain science behind ADHD/ADD and share his strength-based approach to identify, develop, and celebrate the talents embedded in ADHD, dyslexia, and other syndromes.
$25 presale
$30 at the door
The Spiritual Child: New Science On Parenting To Thrive (Parent Map)
Lecture with Lisa Miller, Ph.D.
Lisa Miller, Ph.D., researcher and clinical psychologist, presents the next big idea in psychology: the science and the power of spirituality. Gain practical advice and concrete ways to develop and encourage your child’s well-being.
Based on her New York Times bestselling book, The Spiritual Child, Miller presents the clear, scientific link between spirituality and health and shows that children who have a positive, active relationship to spirituality:
- Are 40% less likely to use and abuse substances
- Are 60% less likely to be depressed as teenagers
- Are 80% less likely to have dangerous or unprotected sex
- Have significantly more positive markers for thriving including an increased sense of meaning and purpose, and high levels of academic success.
Combining cutting-edge research with broad anecdotal evidence from her work as a clinical psychologist to illustrate just how invaluable spirituality is to a child's mental and physical health, Miller translates these findings into practical advice for parents, giving them concrete ways to develop and encourage their children's-as well as their own-well-being. In this provocative, conversation-starting book, Miller presents us with a pioneering new way to think about parenting our modern youth.
For more about Lisa Miller, Ph.D., please click here.
Monday, October 19, 7–9 p.m., Temple De Hirsch Sinai (Seattle)
$25 presale lecture ticket
$40 presale lecture ticket + book
$30 at the door lecture ticket
Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces: Courageous Conversations
Thursday, Oct. 22, 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.
Shoreline City Hall
17500 Midvale Avenue North
Talking about topics like gender, race, sexual orientation and class can raise anxiety for many people, and yet we must have the conversation in our schools, workplaces, organizations and our personal lives in order to be more inclusive and to change the world for the better. What are the fears and common pitfalls that keep us from broaching courageous conversations? Gain practical skills for responding to hurtful experiences and facilitating courageous conversations. Presented by Diversity Speaker and Trainer Rosetta Lee. This event is free of charge, but space is limited. Email your reservation tonsslnetwork@shorelineschools.org
Sponsored by the Northshore/Shoreline Community Network and the CARE Team (Cultural Awareness, Resources and Education)
The Wild, Wild Web: Keeping Your Kids Safe in the Digital World
Saturday, Oct. 24, 10:00 a.m. to Noon
Richmond Beach Library
19601 21st Avenue NW
Digital media gives our kids access to an amazing wealth of possibilities. It also allows them to get into serious trouble with the click of a button. If you have questions and concerns about your children’s use of technology, this presentation is for you!
Sponsored by the Friends of the Richmond Beach Library
Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
Hello Friend of the Family Support Department at Center for Human Services,
As a leader in your neighborhood, I wanted to share with you an opportunity for adults who live or work in the City of Shoreline.
The City of Shoreline is sponsoring 2 free trainings in Youth Mental Health First Aid.
Youth Mental Health First Aid is a public education program which introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health challenges in adolescents, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and most importantly – teaches individuals how to help a youth in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge.
There are two dates to choose from, November 7th or December 7th.
Please help me spread the word about this free training opportunity. It is a great training for anyone who cares for or works with youth: parents, teachers, youth group leaders, coaches, aunts, uncles & grandparents!
To register, contact Tanya at 206-631-8836 or tanya@chs-nw.org
Tanya Laskelle
Family Support Program Director
Center for Human Services
(206) 631-8836 office
(206) 402-2470 cell
Tanya@chs-nw.org | www.chs-nw.org
CHS - "Building a stronger community...one family at a time" - NOW CARF Accredited!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
