A Word From Council
Brandi Comstock and Yumna Green,
LWPTSA Council Co-Presidents
This month our membership approved the adoption of a new Council program, to be implemented in 2022-23—a financial equity program. While all 44 of our PTAs have a mission of supporting and enriching the educational opportunities and experiences in their communities, we recognize that there are varying levels of financial and volunteer resources accessible within each community.
Therefore, as the larger community that encompasses all those individual PTA communities, LWPTSA Council hopes to facilitate the voluntary sharing of resources among local PTAs through our financial equity program. We plan to finalize the operational details of the program (including a grant application form) between now and June 2022, and we look forward to launching the program at the start of the 2022-23 school year.
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LWPTSA Council Board 2022-2023
The following officers were elected at the April 14, 2022 membership meeting to serve for the 2022-2023 PTA year. Thank you for your willingness to serve!
We will open the floor for nominations and hold elections for the open positions for the 2022-2023 term at the May membership meeting, which will be held virtually on May 5, 2002 at 9:45 am. If you are interested or have questions about these roles, please contact our Council Presidents.
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April Membership Meeting Recap
Thanks to all who attended our membership meeting on April 14. Here are the draft minutes and documents shared at the meeting:
The next membership meeting will be Thursday, May 5 at 9:45 am. See the meeting schedule on our website. Any questions? Please contact our LWPTSA Council Co-Presidents.
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TODAY
Join Us for a Walk in the Park
 PTA leaders are invited to join Council board members for a "walk & talk" at Marymoor Park today, April 18 at noon. Parking costs $1 per day, and we'll cover costs for the first 10 vehicles to arrive. We'll meet at the lot next to the tennis courts. Marymoor Park address: 6046 West Lake Sammamish Parkway NE, Redmond, WA 98052.
If you have any questions, please email president@lwptsa.net.
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TODAY
Parent Ed Event: Online Safety
 LWPTSA and LWSD are excited to host speaker Stefanie Hanley at a parent education event on Zoom next Monday evening. Stefanie has more than 11 years of experience working collaboratively with federal and local law enforcement agencies regarding crimes against children and other high-risk victims online. She now uses this experience to educate parents and children about internet safety.
This presentation will cover: cyberbullying, social networking, online gaming, sexting, mental health aspects of internet safety, teens as targets, screen addiction, and internet and cell phone safety tips. Information provided at this event is of value to all parents—whether your student has personal online access now, or you want to know how to keep them safe in the future.
When: Monday, April 18 at 7 pm
Where: Online via Zoom; register here
Please send questions to Council Parent Ed Chair Amy Bodie.
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Celebrate & Enjoy Our Reflections Artists!
 With over 350 entries submitted to LWPTSA Council this year, selecting the highest caliber entries to move onto the WSPTA level was quite the challenge. The 66 entries that earned recognition are now available to share with the community in our online Reflections art gallery.
Fifteen of these submissions also received recognition at the WSPTA level, with four of them earning Outstanding Interpretation and moving on to the National PTA competition. Thanks to Pallavi Garg for creating this gallery to celebrate our artists!
Also, keep reading below for exciting news from the National PTA about the 2022-2023 Reflections program!
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TOMORROW
 E-Prep Committee Meeting
E-Prep chairs and those interested in emergency preparedness are invited to join our next committee meeting:
When: Tuesday, April 19 from 10–11:30 am
Where: Online via Zoom
Please send questions to Council E-Prep Chairs Brooke Gialopsos and David Naughton.
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TOMORROW
Special Ed Group Meeting: Stress & Anxiety
 Are you anxious about your student being anxious? The LWPTSA Special Education Group (SEG) is excited to invite you to hear from Melanie Miller, an LWSD School Counselor and Positive Discipline Parent Educator with over 20 years of experience. Melanie will join us over Zoom at our meeting to discuss strategies for helping special needs students stay calm when they are stressed and overwhelmed. As a parent of two adult children, Melanie is passionate about supporting parents as they support their students in an increasingly stressful world, and we look forward to hearing her insights!
When: Tuesday, April 19 at 7 pm; family networking begins at 6:30 pm
Where: Online via Zoom
Please send any questions to Special Education Group Chairs Kaity Mason and Huma Zarif.
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THIS WEEK
 April Lunch & Learn
Join us! Our April Lunch and Learn will be a legislative wrap-up roundtable discussion with legislators highlighting the education-related bills that were considered during the recent state legislative session. Representatives from the 1st, 45th and 48th legislative districts have been invited to attend.
When: Thursday, April 21 at noon
Where: Online via Zoom
If you have any questions, please email evp@lwptsa.net.
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NEXT WEEK
Come Learn About ALICE Protocols in LWSD
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NEXT WEEK
Adulting 101 Workshop
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Register Now for WSPTA Convention
May 20-22 in Lynnwood, WA, and Online
 Register now for the 109th WSPTA Convention, happening in person at the Lynnwood Convention Center, with a remote option as well, from May 20–22. Whether you attend in-person or remotely, you'll have access to classes, presentations, inspirational exhibits, social events and much more.
The business portion of the annual meeting will include voting for proposed WSPTA Uniform Bylaws amendments and the election of the 2022-2024 WSPTA Nominating Committee. Information about these items can be found on the business session page of the WSPTA website. Find complete convention details on the WSPTA website.
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WSPTA Reflections News
2021-22 Student Recognition Event
 Join a virtual celebration this Friday, April 22 in recognition of our WSPTA-level Reflections winners. Our award-winning students’ artwork will be shown with live hosts guiding attendees through activities, and guests can congratulate students on the live chat as their artwork is displayed. [View the complete list of state-level honorees.]
When: Friday, April 22, from 6:30–7:30 pm
Where: Online via Zoom; register here
Take a Survey to Help Plan Next Year's Program
The WSPTA Reflections committee has developed a survey to help in planning for the 2022-2023 program. This survey should only take a few minutes and is geared toward Reflections program chairs or coordinators on a local level. Please help us out by making sure that they receive the survey link. The survey closes on April 30.
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More WSPTA News & Events
2022 State Legislative Session Debrief
Register to join online on April 26 to hear from WSPTA Legislative Consultant Marie Sullivan, as she  recaps the 2022 legislative session. She will also provide a look at bills that didn’t pass that might make good positions for our Fall Legislative Assembly. The evening will end with a Q&A.
When: Tuesday, April 26, from 7–8:30 pm
Where: Online via Zoom; register here
Essay, Game Development & Scholarship Awards Celebration
Register here to attend this virtual program celebrating our essay and game development contest winners and scholarship recipients. We will hear authors' winning essays, and view game programs. Share your congratulations with these inspiring students through the live chat feature.
When: Thursday, April 28, from 6:30–7:30 pm
Where: Online via Zoom; register here
Follow WSPTA on Instagram!
 In March WSPTA launched a new social media communications platform: Follow us on Instagram @washingtonstatepta. #WSPTAproud
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NPTA News
2022-2023 Reflections Theme: Show Your Voice!
 Each year, more than 300,000 pre-K through grade 12 students participate in the National PTA Reflections program, creating original works of art in response to a student-selected theme. We are excited to announce the theme for the next school year: Show Your Voice! The theme was submitted by Jason Yevin from the Salk/Macarthur PTSA in New York. Registration is now open! Let NPTA know if your PTA will be participating.
 National PTA 125th Anniversary Convention
June 14–19 in National Harbor, MD
Attendees will hear from engaging keynote speakers, advocate for public policy priorities during a Hill Day Experience, and participate in interactive workshop sessions. (A virtual-only option is also available.) For more info, visit the National PTA website.
Share How You PTA
 How does your PTA promote its value? NPTA is seeking examples of annual reports (video, print or web-based), one-pagers and/or videos created by PTAs to tell your community what you've done during the year and how your PTA provides value. Examples may be from current or past years. Send us your examples by May 1. National PTA may share your examples to train others.
New Webisode of 10 Minutes to PTA the Transformative Way
 Tune into the season finale of NPTA's YouTube series to learn how to better engage multilingual families in your schools. Presenter Kristina Robertson, Roseville Area Schools (MN) District Administrator on EL Programming, shares how you can engage with multilingual families in a meaningful, culturally responsive way.
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Superintendent's Message
 Dr. Jon Holmen, LWSD Superintendent
Welcome to spring in the Northwest! It’s hard to believe that we are just two months away from the end of the 2021-22 school year. On April 28, the Lake Washington Schools Foundation (LWSF) will be holding their annual Spring Benefit event. I wanted to take a moment to share how one of their grants is impacting our students in LWSD.
Through the generosity of the LWSF, library collections in the district are about to become much more representative of the broad diversity in our schools and community at large.
The LWSF recently awarded the Lake Washington School District library program a 5-year grant that provides training for district librarians to perform diversity audits of the fiction collections in our school libraries. [continue reading]
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Help Honor Our School Lunch Heroes
 Between preparing healthful food, adhering to strict nutrition standards, navigating food allergies, and offering service with a smile, LWSD's Nutrition Services team members have a lot on their plates. To recognize School Lunch Hero Day on Friday, May 6, take a moment to show our LWSD lunch heroes how much they're appreciated! [more about School Lunch Hero Day]
Some ideas to help make this day special for the lunch heroes at your schools:
- Promote School Lunch Hero Day on signs in front of your school. Feature this day in your PTA's newsletters and social media. Scroll to the bottom of this page for shareable images.
- Round up volunteers and/or students to make signs, banners or posters to decorate the cafeteria. Feature photos of your school's lunch heroes and describe why they are special.
- Use these downloadable, printable thank you cards. [English | Spanish]
- Encourage families to donate books to your school library in honor of a lunch hero. [printable bookplate]
- Recognize your school's lunch heroes during morning announcements or during lunch period. [sample proclamation]
- If possible, arrange for volunteers to lend a hand in the serving line while Nutrition Services team members are treated to a "sit-down" lunch with student leaders serving them.
- Include School Lunch Hero Day in your PTA's Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week. Consider providing your school's lunch heroes with a special perk or treat for the day.
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Lake Washington Schools Foundation News
Witness Our Programs at Work in the LWSD
 Be the Bridge Spring Benefit—April 28 at Noon
Are you a parent or relative of a student in the Lake Washington School District? Are you an LWSD staff member? Do you care about the success and well-being of students in our community? If so, you'll want to go behind the scenes with us to see our programs at work, hear stories of resilience and kindness, and witness how we are making a difference for students in the Lake Washington School District!
Hurry! Grab your FREE TICKET to watch our livestream spring benefit!
 Executive Functioning Skills: A Webinar for
Middle & High School Students and Parents
Thursday, May 5 from 7—8 pm
The past two years have not been easy for students. Many have come out of remote learning with a loss of their executive functioning skills. These include how to organize, plan, prioritize, manage time, maintain focus, self-assess, and study efficiently. Join Mary Pat O'Neil, independent college counselor, and Nancy Colburn, certified ADHD coach, as they discuss symptoms of executive function loss, and strategies to improve skills, along with answering audience questions. Register here for our May 5 webinar.
Register Your Child for a Kids Coming Together Event
Kids Coming Together is a program that provides opportunities for local youth in grades 3–8 to make new friends and connect with their community through service events led by high school students. Register for upcoming events:
Parent Chat Webinar: Anxiety in Elementary-Aged Children
Wednesday, April 27 at 7 pm
Anxiety in young people continues to be on the rise, sometimes starting at a very early age. At our next Parent Chat, learn to recognize the signs of anxiety and to use strategies to support your elementary-aged child. Register here for our spring Parent Chat series.
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- April 18, Noon: Walk & Talk at Marymoor Park
- April 18, 7 pm: Online Safety Parent Ed Event
- April 19, 10 am: Emergency Prep Committee Meeting
- April 19, 7 pm: Special Education Group Meeting (Family Networking 6:30 pm)
- April 21, Noon: Lunch & Learn—Legislative Session Wrap-Up
- April 26, 7 pm: Active Assailant Protocols (ALICE) in LWSD
- April 28, 9:45 am: Council Board Meeting
- April 28, Noon: LWSF "Be the Bridge" Spring Benefit
- April 30, 11 am: Adulting 101 Interactive Workshop
- May 2–6: National Teacher Appreciation Week
- May 5, 9:45 am: Council Membership Meeting
- May 11, 6 pm: DEI Committee Meeting
- May 19, 9:45 am: Council Board Meeting
- May 20–22: WSPTA Convention 2022
LWPTSA Council Meeting Dates | Full LWPTSA Calendar | LWSD Calendar
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The Lake Washington PTSA Council 2.8 (LWPTSA) serves
local PTAs in the Lake Washington School District.
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