President notes 2/14/16

Syre PTA started the year with our annual Back to School Barbeque. This occurs right before the beginning of school and coincides with our “meet your teacher” event. It is free and open to all our students and their families and it is always a fun event that gets everyone excited for the start of a new school year.

In the fall we held our annual fundraiser where we raised approximately $35,000. This money goes to fund all our PTA programs, including $12,000 that is set aside for our annual grant giving. This year we were able to provide grants for everything from a new cd player for a classroom to in-school performances by Book-It Repertory Theater. We also funded a new “Buddy Bench” to kick off our new “Playground Pals” program during recess.

This month we also held our first Syre School Family Dance. We were fortunate to have all goods and services needed for this event donated, and our 6^th grade students even sold snacks at the dance as a fundraiser for camp.

Syre PTA continues to reach out to our community by providing “parent education” nights for our families. Most recently we had Dr. Chris McCurry from ABCD in Seattle speak on managing childhood anxiety, and later this month we will have Rosetta Lee from the Seattle Girls’ School present on “What Girls and Boys Are Made Of: Gender and Sexuality Diversity.”

We continue to search for ways to engage more of our community and find ways to make sure Syre PTA is meaningful, relevant, and inclusive of all our constituents.

Thanks to Heather Stroh for this fantastic writeup on what Syre is up to!!

Awards

These are all due March 1!!!

Advocacy Award of Excellence *NEW*
The purpose of this new award is to promote advocacy at local PTAs, community PTAs, and councils by recognizing programs, projects, and activities/events that increase awareness of and participation in advocacy issues at the school, local community, council, region, state, and national level. What does advocacy mean to your local PTA or council?
Advocacy Award of Excellence application

Family & Community Engagement (FACE) Award of Excellence *NEW*
The purpose of this award is to promote family and community engagement at local PTAs, community PTAs, and councils by recognizing programs, projects, and activities/events that increase family and community engagement and involvement. What does family and community engagement look like at your local PTA or council?
Family & Community Engagement Award of Excellence application

Standards of Excellence *New Platinum Level*
Recognizes and encourages the use of the best practices of PTA management. This award is a great place for all local PTAs and councils to start!
Local & Community PTA application
Council application
Training Tracking Spreadsheet

Mentor-A-PTA Award
Recognizes local PTAs, councils, and service delivery teams for mentoring other local PTAs, councils, or service delivery teams by providing assistance to their adopted PTA entity.
Mentor-A-PTA Award application

Outstanding Communication Strategy
Recognizes local PTA and council use of all forms of communication. Use of multiple forms of communication is important in reaching all of the membership and/or community served.
Outstanding Communication Strategy application

Outstanding Newsletter & E-blast Award
Recognizes local PTA and council newsletters and e-blasts, as both are important and effective forms of communication.
Outstanding Newsletter & E-blast application

Outstanding PTA of the Year
Recognizes and honors those local PTAs and councils that, when compared to all others in their unique environment and within their own special circumstances, are the most representative examples that exemplify the purposes and mission of PTA.
Outstanding PTA of the Year application

Outstanding Website
Recognizes local PTA and council websites, as they are an important and effective form of communication.
Outstanding Website - Local & Community PTA application
Outstanding Website - Council application

PTAs Taking Significant Action
Recognizes the accomplishments of local PTAs and councils that present programs, projects, and activities showing originality, involvement, potential, usefulness, and results.
PTAs Taking Significant Action application

Volunteer Recognition Award
The WSPTA is a volunteer organization. The differences made in the lives of children are because of volunteers who are committed to being a voice for every child. In gratitude for many hours of service and training, the WSPTA Board of Directors created the Leadership Academy Awards Program. The purpose of this program is to recognize and acknowledge leadership skills attained by PTA leaders throughout all levels of the association. PTA leaders are encouraged to join the Leadership Academy program and submit their activity annually to create a record of their leadership in the association.

The program awards leadership points for leadership positions held in both PTA and other educational committees, classes presented, conference attendance, and other WSPTA nd National PTA events. The award recognizes four leadership levels from bronze to crystal. All levels are recognized with a certificate and a pin. Crystal awardees are recognized on state at the WSPTA annual convention each spring.

Details about the prorgram levels and instructions are found on the application form. Membership Application and updates are due March 1st.

Word version | PDF version

This program is free to join. It is a great way to create a record of your leadership development that can be included on your professional resumé, as you gain the skills to become a leader in your community.

New for 2015-16
Points will only be accepted for up to two years: the current PTA year (2015-16) and the previous PTA year (2014-15).

Council Needs Your Help

We have an Awards Committee.

We need a Nominating Committee.
AND... we need your help in identifying people who would be great for Council.

Please promote PTA Council to your Boards and/or invite us to your next meeting to give a 5-minute introduction to what Council does and needs.

How can Council help you? Give us your ideas, your feedback, your needs, concerns, and triumphs.

Training Opportunities

MID-WINTER CONFERENCE

Region 2 Director: Jane Dulski

2/23 | Bellevue | 5:30pm - 8:30pm | Registration

Region 11 Director: Amanda Shipman

*2/18 | Yakima | 5pm - 9pm | Registration

*2/24 | Wenatchee | 5pm - 9pm | Registration *NEW*

*Includes PTA & the Law

PTA & THE LAW

Region 4 Director: Esperanza Badillo-Di lorio

2/25 | 5:30pm - 9pm | McCleary | Registration

Region 6 Director: Janice Kutzera

3/12 | Shoreline| 8:30 am - 1pm |

Region 9 Director: Tania Skinner

2/11 | Kent | 6pm - 9:30pm | Registration

Region 6 Leadership conference at Shoreline Center on 3/12

ELL Family Engagement Boot Camp

The ELL Family Engagement Boot Camp is a professional  development seminar for pre-school and K-12th educators, counselors, school staff, Family Engagement Coordinators, community partners and other professionals working with immigrant and refugee students and families.

When:  Friday, February 26th 9:00 am to 3:30 pm
Location: Shoreline Center, Shoreline - Highlander Room
Cost: $ 115 Breakfast and lunch included
Instructors - Adie Simmons and WAFCET staff

What you will learn: Equity and cultural competence, how to form relationships with immigrant and refugee families, how families view the American school system, how to work effectively with interpreters and translators, the culturally-relevant ways to partner with families, and more.

Register: http://www.eventzilla.net/web/event/family-engagement-boot-camp-2138837602

Screening of The Mask You Live In
Sunday, March 6, 5 pm
Shoreline Auditorium
Explores how our culture's narrow definition of masculinity is harming our boys, men and society at large and unveils what we can do about it.
Details to come. We'll need your help advertising this event!

LGBT Family Welcome Dinner
April 7
Shoreline Center
Details TBA

PTA President Notes

February 14, 2016

UPCOMING EVENTS