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February 2020

February may be the shortest month but it packed full of PTA activity. Here are some of the events happening in our council this month:
  • We are hosting a Brown Bag on College and Career Readiness;
  • Our Special Education Group is hosting a Community Resource Fair;
  • Washington State PTA Region 2's Winter Conference will be held here;
  • and at the end of the month we'll gather for our Founders' Day Luncheon.
We hope to see you soon at any or all of these events. Please contact any LWPTSA Council Board member with questions.

Brown Bag on College & Career Readiness


Brown Bag Lunches are short presentations and discussions on topics of interest to all community members, from noon – 1 pm on select Thursdays at the LWSD Resource Center (Redmond Town Center). Bring your lunch and learn with us!

When: Thursday, February 20 from Noon to 1PM
Where: LWSD Resource Center at Redmond Town Center
Questions: Brandi Comstock, LWPTSA Council EVP

Special Education Resource Fair


LWPTSA Council’s Special Education Group invites all families to attend a Community Resource Fair on Tuesday, February 25, 2020 from 7-8:30PM at the LWSD Resource Center in Redmond Town Center.

Come learn about and talk to vendors offering after-school, summer and other recreational activities and other services to students on IEPs, 504s and IHPs. Children are welcome at this fair!

Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations, those who need an interpreter or anyone with questions should email specialeducation@lwptsa.net in advance of the meeting.

When: Tuesday, February 25, 2020 from 7PM - 8:30PM
Where: LWSD Resource Center at Redmond Town Center
Details: Download a flyer

Superintendent's Message

Dr. Jane Stavem, LWSD SuperintendentDr. Jane Stavem LWSD Superintendent

To escape the rain and gray skies, my husband and I recently attended the Seattle Boat Show. We are not in the market for a boat, but we thought it would maybe create the illusion of being somewhere warm and sunny. 

I know very little about boats and my main objective has always been to secure the front seat, so I won’t get sick. I do know that every boat has a wake once it is in motion and it is different from boat to boat, with the design and purpose of the boat dictating how the water flows as it moves forward. Continue Reading

It is Real.

Cassandra Sage, LWSD School BoardCassandra Sage, LWSD School Board

It is real. It is occurring. It is transpiring nationwide. It is happening here.  Our youth are experiencing levels of stress, anxiety and depression that have never been seen before. 
  • Suicide is currently the 2nd leading cause of death in young people age 10 – 24 years. (CDC report 2017
  • Over the past decade, there has been a 56% increase in teenage suicides. (CDC decade report 2017)
  • Of LWSD 8th graders, 39% have been in a continuous state of worry over the past two weeks. (Healthy Youth Survey 2018)
  • 18% of LWSD seniors have considered suicide. (Healthy Youth Survey 2018)
What if there was something you could do about it? Enter Balance in Mind, a grassroots organization founded by a group of concerned LWSD moms.
Continue Reading

February Membership Meeting Recap

Many thanks to those that attended the LWPTSA Council General Membership meeting on February 6, 2020. Here are the documents from the meeting:

Mark your calendars for our next meeting on March 5, 2020. See the full 2019-2020 meeting schedule. Any questions? Contact Mindy Lincicome, LWPTSA Council President

WSPTA Region 2 Winter Conference

Save the date! This mini-conference will include a Listening and Feedback Session with Washington State PTA's Executive Director, Andrew Estep and WSPTA Board Members, as well as training and classes for PTA leaders.  

This conference is great for:
  • Anyone wanting to have their voice heard by WSPTA to help inform their Strategic Plan
  • Nominating Committee members or potential members
  • Council officers or those interested in possibly joining their council
  • PTA members stepping into a leadership role for next year
  • Anyone that has not yet met their training requirement for the year
When: Tuesday, February 25 with sessions at 9AM, 10:30AM and/or 12:30PM
Where: LWSD Resource Center, Redmond, WA
Register online for free! Lunch is included with registration.
Got questions? Email ptareg2@wastatepta.org

Washington State PTA Advocacy Week

February 24 – 28, 2020
Take action from home or anywhere via your phone, tablet or laptop throughout the week of February 24-28, 2020.  To participate, subscribe to the WSPTA Action Network to stay informed. Further details of this 2020 event will be available on the Washington State PTA website.

Learn more about the WSPTA legislative priorities:

Founders' Day Luncheon

Founders' Day Luncheon will be held Friday, February 28, 2020 at Sahalee Country Club. This Founders' Day is also LWPTSA Council's 40th anniversary celebration.  Please note Sahalee's dress code does not permit demin. If you have a question please email Luncheon Co-Chairs, Elena Sellers and Andrea Stoppani at founders.day@lwptsa.net 

LWPTSA Council Board Nominations Wanted

If you or someone you know has a passion for kids and the programs that help them succeed, please consider submitting a nomination for the 2020-21 Lake Washington PTSA Council Board of Directors. If you would like to be a part of this team or know of someone who might want to join us, please send an email to our Nominating Committee at nominations@lwptsa.net .
- LWPTSA Council 2019-2020 Nominating Committee: Diane Devlyne-Thompson, Tracey Gauthier, Cris Wegmann

Lake Washington Schools Foundation News

LWSF SPRING LUNCHEON - SAVE THE DATE!
March 26, 2020 at the Redmond Marriott
LWSF is honored to welcome Susie Kroll as keynote speaker for our Be the Bridge spring luncheon. Ms. Kroll is the founding Mental Health Professional for King County Sheriff’s offices and police departments across King County. Alison Grande, LWSD alum, parent and Kiro 7 News Reporter, will be our Emcee for the event. Register at www.lwsf.org 

Our Table Captains are an essential piece to the success of our luncheon! If you or someone in your community is interested in serving as a Table Captain or a Co-Captain, contact katy@lwsf.org.

LWPTSA Scholarships Available

The Lake Washington PTSA Council is pleased to roll out its 2020 Scholarship Program! Each year in the spring, Council offers several student scholarships and two $500 staff scholarships. This year’s Student Scholarship Program will include 13 scholarships of $1,250 each.

Applications for both staff and student scholarships are due by NOON on April 2, 2020. The Scholarship Program is funded by money raised at the Council’s annual Scholarship Basket Auction, by annual donations from the 44 PTSAs in the LWSD and LWEA, and by donations from the greater community. For more information, contact Scholarships Co-Chairs Andrea Stoppani and Reva Racmachandran at scholarships@lwptsa.net.

2020 Washington State PTA Convention

Save the date for the 2020 WSPTA Convention and training event at the Lynnwood Convention Center, May 15-17, 2020. Watch the WSPTA website for further details.

LegCon 2020

Join National PTA on March 10-12 for the 2020 National PTA Legislative Conference (LegCon) to network with fellow PTA advocates, meet with policymakers, hear PTA advocacy success stories and learn how to shape public policy on Capitol Hill and at home. Register online. For registration, travel or hotel accommodations, please email NPTAMeetings@PTA.org.

Upcoming PTA Events

  • Feb 20, 10AM: Sustainability Committee Meeting, LWSD Resource Center
  • Feb 20, 12PM: Brown Bag, LWSD Resource Center -College and Career Readiness 
  • Feb 24-28: WSPTA Advocacy Week
  • Feb 25, 9AM: WSPTA Region 2 Conference, LWSD Resource Center
  • Feb 25, 7PM: Special Education Fair, LWSD Resource Center
  • Feb 28: Founders' Day Luncheon, Sahalee Country Club
  • Mar 1: WSPTA Award Applications Due
  • Mar 5, 9:45AM: March Membership Meeting, LWSD Resource Center

About LWPTSA Council

The LWPTSA Council 2.8 serves local PTAs in the Lake Washington School District which draws students from Kirkland, Redmond, Sammamish, Bellevue, Bothell and Woodinville. 

Our Partners

Currents is edited by:
LWPTSA Council Communications Co-Chairs: Sarah Rock & Hae Sue Park
LWPTSA Council President: Melinda Lincicome
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Copyright © 2020 LWPTSA Council 2.8, All rights reserved.


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