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PTA President Notes

September 20, 2015

Hey Presidents... 

Happy Sunday! 


Thanks to everyone who came out to the Superintendent Coffee on Thursday! See below for a recap.

Reminder that we have our first Council meeting on Monday, September 28 at 7 pm in the Alumni Room at the Shoreline Center. We need Presidents or their delegates for quorum; this meeting is open to anyone who wants to join us.


 
Super Coffee
At the first Superintendent Coffee, we got to know each other a little bit, and headed right into business. This is an intentionally small group, and the point is for PTA leaders to hear right from District personnel about what's happening in the District. We can ask questions and get clarification on things, which is not possible at School Board meetings.

This Thursday, we heard from Brian Schultz, who went over building capacity (yes, our elementaries are pretty darned full) and first day slides. He mentioned that on 9/28 at 5:30 there will be a Board study session on Future Shoreline, where they will talk about development in Shoreline, our land bank, building capacity, and any capital projects needs. Study Sessions are public meetings, but they have no public comment element.

We met new Public Information Officer Curtis Campbell, who joins us from Sunnyside School District. He is very interested in video and tech, and has big plans for the District website and communication plan. Sunnyside's whole website is translated into Spanish at the click of a button, and he was involved in the process of bringing the graduation rate from 41% to 98% (I think I have those numbers right...)

Rebecca Miner went over some of the details of the new teacher contract (3 years), which includes teacher mentors, counselors in the elementary schools (in addition to the family advocates), compensation packages, and more.

The schedule for the remaining Coffees is:
10/15
11/19
none in December
1/14
2/25
3/17
4/14 (appreciation luncheon)
5/19

If you have any ideas for topics (there was some brainstorming on Thursday), please let me know.

Reflections

New Date!!
Please mark your calendars for Friday, November 13 as the date that your entries need to be in Council hands. Tell your Reflections Chairs!!!

Questions? Contact our Council Reflections Chair, Adrian Bourne: bourne.adrian@gmail.com

Legislative Assembly
 
Push this out...

2015 Legislative Issues Survey
Help Washington State PTA Speak Up For Kids
Our vision is to make every child's potential a reality. PTA works in classrooms and communities across the state, but we also advocate in Olympia for the well-being and education of all children. Every fall, the association selects its legislative priorities, and hearing form you is a valuable step in the process. Your responses will assist voting delegates who attend Legislative Assembly in Olympia October 24, 2015 in setting the 2015-2016 Legislative Platform. The survey closes October 1, 2015.  Complete the issues survey. Learn about WSPTA's top five priority issues.
 
Book your hotel room before October 9 to receive the WSPTA room discount.

If you do not have a Leg Chair identified, please try to find one. Let us know if you need help. If you really have nobody, please consider attending yourself. Every PTA gets 4 delegates to Leg Assembly; if you have more than 200 members, you get an extra one for every 100 members above 200.

PT Avenue

Anybody having trouble with this? Please let me know!

This program seems to be pretty self-explanatory, but if your membership chairs are having any trouble, we have help! Cindy Jensen, cindyj@outlook.com, is our Region 6 PT Avenue expert and is happy to answer any questions you have!  Here is the WSPTA PT Avenue Guide (36 pages) that you might want to make sure is in the hands of your membership chair!

PTAs with the Full Version: Do not mark members paid until after you receive the "go live" email Tuesday evening. 

Another reminder that although you will be invoiced monthly for memberships, the October 25, January 25, May 25 dates still hold their traditional importance related to registration awards, voting delegate qualification, and good standing. 
Standards of Affiliation
 
You should have gotten this email from the State on 9/16.


Washington State PTA Leaders,
 
Our brand new Standards of Affiliation (SOA) is now ready to go. At the 2015 Washington State PTA convention we adopted a completely new set of uniform bylaws, including the new SOA. Washington State PTA has a similar SOA requirement with National PTA.
 
The SOA requirements are in place to ensure local PTAs and councils align with Washington State PTA's ethics, policies, and principles; maintain good business practices; and comply with applicable federal and state laws. Effective, well-run PTAs and councils are vital to fulfilling PTA's purpose and mission.
 
The SOA information is being sent to local PTA and council presidents and includes the following:
 
How does the SOA benefit you?
  • Clarifies what is required for "in good standing"
  • No need to cross reference different documents – everything is in one place!
  • Consistent expectations for all local PTAs and councils around the state
  • Helps you stay on track with the IRS, State of Washington, insurance, and WSPTA
  • Self monitoring system allows our region directors to focus their time on assisting their local PTAs and councils. This means better service!
 
SOA "highlights":
  • SOA requirements are nothing new...you have been doing these things for years.
  • Annual training requirement is exactly the same as it was in past years (refer to the training flyer for more information). Be sure all elected officers maintain proof they have attended a WSPTA approved training!
  • SOA must be signed by two elected officers and submitted no later than October 31st.  No other documentation is required (unless your local PTA or council is selected for periodic review).
  • SOA contracts are subject to periodic review based on Washington State PTA policy.
  • Review the SOA with your board of directors and membership and record in your meeting minutes.
  • Add the SOA to your standing rules (suggested wording provided).
 
Should you have questions after reviewing the SOA materials, please contact your region director.
 
Thank you for all that you do every day on behalf of the children of our state!
 
Grassroots Effort in Motion
 
McCleary is our #1 Priority. Basic Education Funding, fully funding basic education, is suddenly on everyone's radar...

Starting from Seattle there is a grassroots movement to push that exploded in the past 24 hours on the FB group Washington’s Paramount Duty.  Eden Mack from Seattle Council is on the Steering committee, as is Linda Hanson of NEWS.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1642839539315325/

If you are on Facebook, please consider joining this (closed) group. This is how we get momentum to get stuff done.
 
Council Needs
 
Reflections Co-Chair/Volunteer Coordinator. Adrian did a fantastic job with the poster and program, and his heart is definitely with Reflections. But he needs help with organization, deadlines and volunteer recruitment (for the reception, for instance). This is relatively short-term, but the impact will be huge.
Membership Chair. We didn't have one last year, but it would be a nice thing to fill. 
 

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

UPCOMING EVENTS




Council Meeting, 9/28



Important to know:
FedEx discount code: 0520882103!



 

 
 
Mark Your Calendars

September
Monday 9/28 School Board Meeting, 7:00 p.m. 
Monday 9/28, 7 pm: PTA Council Meeting, Alumni Room


October 1: Deadline for National PTA School of Excellence Enrollment
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 11*: 9/24 | Wenatchee | 5:00pm - 9:00pm | Register Amanda Shipman, Region Director 

Region 11: 10/3 | Yakima | 9:00am - 2:00pm | Register Amanda Shipman, Region Director  
 
 
Region Conferences TBD
Region 8 Lily Salas, Region Director 
Region 12 Connie Andrews, Region Director 
 
PTA & the Law Training
(Region 6 will likely hold 3 more)
Region 1: Monika Scotti, Region Director
10/15 | Bremerton | 5:00pm - 9:00pm
 
Region 3: Kimberli Swenson, Region Director
10/8 | Vancouver | 6:00pm - 9:00pm
 
Region 5: Kristi Shafer, Region Director
10/15 | Bethel area | 6:00pm - 9:00pm
 
Region 7: Mary Levesque, Region Director
10/8 | Lynnwood | 5:00pm - 9:00pm   
Region 2:  Jane Dulski , Region Director
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
 
Region 12: Connie Andrews, Region Director
10/20 | Moses Lake/Othello | TBD
11/5 | Walla Walla | TBD

Other Events

 
 
 
 

WAFCET and Everett Public Schools are proud to announce the:
 

United for Student Success
Family and Community Engagement Conference.


Saturday, October 10th, 2015   9 am to 3 pm
Evergreen Middle School  7621 Beverly Lane,  Everett, WA 98203

 

We welcome keynote speaker: Anne T. Henderson
Anne T. Henderson is a senior consultant with the Annenberg Institute for School Reform and a founder of the National Association for Family, School and Community Engagement (NAFSCE).  S
he has tracked and written about  family engagement research for over 25 years. She is the co-author of the best-sellers: Beyond the Bake Sale and A New Wave of Evidence, and has written extensively about the connection between family engagement and diverse student achievement. 

Conference registration begins: May 2015.  Questions: info@wafamilyengagement.org 

CALL FOR PRESENTERS is now open please click on the link to submit your proposal:


https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Unitedforstudentsuccess
 


 

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.

 

 

 

Master 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 ChildMiller 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

 

 



 

Mental Health First Aid training

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2015

 

A young person you know could be experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis. You can help then. 
 
Youth Mental Health First Aid teaches a 5-step action plan to offer initial help to a young person showing signs of a mental health challenge or illness. 
 
Two free trainings, sponsored by the City of Shoreline are available to people who live or work in Shoreline. 
 
Saturday, November 7th 2015 9:00am-5:30pm
Monday, December 7th, 2015 9:00am-5:30pm 
 
Pre-registration Required. Contact Tanya Laskelle 206-631-8836 at the Center for Human Services.







 

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