President's Message
Hello to our PTA leaders, LWSD members, LWSD School Board, and community members. We have made it to the final school week of 2020! It has been a long, challenging year that I do not think any of us could have predicted. Thank you so much for all the time and energy each of you give to support our students, their families, and staff.
These last few weeks have been a whirlwind for our PTAs. Even as our schools and events are virtual, our PTAs are working hard to support our students and families: socially, emotionally, physically. Now is a great time for us to appreciate all the things we have managed to accomplish this year, even if some days that accomplishment is the endless task of managing to keep our children fed.
I sincerely hope that each of you is able to take some time over the next couple of weeks to unplug and do whatever it is that recharges you. My go-to for recharging, pretty much year-round, is to bake something and this time of year I bake cookies, a lot of cookies. Some recipes turn out better than others, some need a little more flour, a little more sugar, a little less salt, sometimes I need to pay a little more attention to the directions or make sure I’ve given the dough enough time to rest. Honestly, to me, PTA is a lot like baking cookies: Sometimes our ideas turn out better than other times, sometimes our events need a little more structure, a few more or a few less people to help them run, and sometimes we just need to stop, take some time, and let everything rest.
My wish for each of you is an amazing, restful end of 2020, with your family healthy and safe.
- Brandi Comstock, LWPTSA Council President
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Council Award Nominees Wanted
It’s been an extraordinary year. It’s time to recognize the extraordinary volunteers who have, even in unprecedented times, continually lent their time and support to benefit the students, staff, school district, and PTSAs in our communities. Nominate them for one of eight LWPTSA Council Awards:
- Community Service Award
- Community Outreach Award
- Certificate of Special Service
- Golden Acorn Award
- Outstanding Educator Award
- Outstanding Advocate Award
- Outstanding Service Award
- Honorary Life Membership Award
Nominations Are Due: Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Please take a moment to submit nominees actively involved in the school community. Note that the committee pays special attention to those nominees who contribute beyond the borders of a local school. Recipients will be recognized at the annual Founder's Day Celebration. Thank you for your help with this important endeavor!
Complete descriptions and more details are available on the Awards Nomination Form. Questions? Please email Awards Chair Tanya Scharpenberg at awards@lwptsa.net.
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Lunch & Learn: Stress, Trauma and Mental Health
Join Johnny Phu, LWSD Director of Student Services, for a conversation about Stress, Trauma & Mental Health. Bring your lunch and learn with us!
- Topic: Stress, Trauma and Mental Health
- When: Thursday, December 17 at noon
- Where: Join from your computer, tablet or smartphone via: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/822440245
You can also dial in: (312) 757-3121 with Access Code: 822-440-245
Did you miss the November Lunch & Learn on School Choice? Watch a video recording of the event, available now through December 17, 2020.
See the Lunch & Learn schedule on our website. If you have any questions, please contact Yumna Green, LWPTSA Council Executive Vice President.
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Council Scholarship Auction Thanks
The LWPTSA Council Scholarship Auction Committee humbly thanks the hardworking and generous members of our local PTAs. With your help we raised over $9,000 with $8,500 proceeds going towards scholarships! You all did a fantastic job rising to the challenge of taking the auction online this year by coming up with creative auction experiences. Thank you also to the LWEA, LWSF and the central leadership team from the LWSD. Every year they contribute one or more auction items and continue a beautiful partnership focused on providing an excellent education to LWSD students. Quite simply, our auction donors make this auction possible. Thank you, also, to the people that participated in the auction and the lucky people who won the items; we hope you enjoy your purchase. It's all for a great cause!
Thank you to all our generous donors!
Warm Regards, LWPTSA Auction Committee (Melissa Stone, Diane Devlyne-Thompson, Stacy Hatch, Christine Bergstein, Steph St. Jean)
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You Rock Award
Rosa Parks PTSA was awarded LWPTSA Council’s You Rock Award at the December 2020 membership meeting. They earned the award for their amazing transitions in "Going Remote" this fall. Read more about some of the things they did.
The You Rock! Award recognizes PTAs or individuals in the district who, through time, creativity, and community, help students build for the future by doing something worth sharing across our council. We look forward to celebrating some of the amazing work that goes on in our council. Don’t hesitate to nominate a person, committee or program from your PTA. To submit a You Rock nomination please email yourock@lwptsa.net
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Students share Reflections on the theme of "I Matter Because..."
We are thankful for the volunteer chairpersons at 36 PTSAs in our Council who facilitated the student art program, Reflections, this fall. More than 400 students submitted entries to their local PTAs in six categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography and Visual Arts. More than 300 entries were forwarded to the LWPTSA Council in late November and are being judged again by a panel of 39 volunteer judges. We will announce the results of the Council competition in early January and expect about 60 entries to progress to the State-level competition. While we can't celebrate our students' artistic success in person this year, watch for opportunities to experience their entries on our website in January.
- Tanya Dimpsey & Mindy Lincicome, Council Reflections Co-Chairs
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Membership Spotlight
As a membership organization, our PTAs need members so we, as an association, can accomplish the work we do to advocate for the education, family engagement, safety, health, and well-being of children. During this unprecedented time, PTA is more important than ever!
LWPTSA Council congratulates all of our PTAs who have enrolled at least 50% of last year's membership: Peter Kirk PTSA (80%), Eastlake High School PTSA (70%), Redmond High School PTSA (60%), Redmond Middle School PTSA (60%), Albert Einstein PTSA (50%), Alcott PTSA (50%), Ella Baker PTSA (50%), Evergreen Middle PTSA (50%), Horace Mann PTA (50%), Inglewood MS PTSA (50%), Kirkland Middle PTSA (50%), LWHS PTSA (50%), Mark Twain PTSA (50%), Mead PTSA (50%), Redmond El PTSA (50%), Rose Hill El PTA (50%), and Tesla Stem PTSA (50%).
Membership belongs to each of us, so don’t hesitate to talk to everyone you can! Contact Council Membership Chair Jen O’Donnell at membership@lwptsa.net if you have any questions.
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December Membership Meeting Recap
Thanks to all who attended our December membership meeting last week.
- Thanks to Kristen Dorwin, Meredith Cain, and Chitra Ramalingam, who were elected as Council's Nominating Committee.
- Thanks to Cris Wegmann, Deb Robertson, and Yumna Amien Green for stepping up to serve on the Financial Review Committee.
Here are the minutes and documents shared at the meeting.
The next membership meeting will be Thursday, January 7, 2021 at 9:45AM. See the meeting schedule on our website. Any questions? Contact Brandi Comstock, LWPTSA Council President
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Parent Education Events
Understanding Youth Substance Use - November 19
Did you miss our November 19 parent education presentation on youth substance use and prevention? Parent Ed Co-chair Hae Sue Park has captured a summary of the event, websites and handouts.
LGBTQ+ Panel - December 2
On December 2, we hosted a LGBTQ+ Panel discussion that included parents, district representatives and non-profit partners. For a list of resources and summary, please visit our website. Feel free to share with your parent community! We are here to support ALL parents and students.
Got questions about parent education programs? Email Co-chairs Irene and Hae Sue at parent.ed@lwptsa.net
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WSPTA Awards of Excellence
Any PTA in good standing is eligible to apply for one of the many Washington State PTA's Awards of Excellence. The award application process has changed this year and is completely online. All award applications are due by March 15, 2021. Awards will be recognized at the 2020 convention in May. Details and applications are located on the WSPTA website.
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WSPTA Focus Day Reimagined
Washington State Legislature will convene in January 2021 however the campus is closed to the public. This means that WSPTA will not be able to host our annual Focus Day on the Capitol steps. However, advocacy is not a one-day event; it is an everyday action. And so, we are moving to an ongoing “Focus on Advocacy” program to keep members informed and engaged throughout the session, keeping our efforts focused on the mission. Learn more on the WSPTA website.
Save the dates for Advocacy Week: January 18 - 22, 2021. Subscribe to the WSPTA Action Network so you can participate from home or wherever you may be.
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Superintendent's Message
Dr. Jon Holmen, LWSD Superintendent As the year 2020 draws to a close, I want to take some time to thank our entire Lake Washington School District community for the way we have come together to support our students, staff, families and schools over the course of this unprecedented year.
We are grateful to partner with our families, PTSA members, community organizations and city leaders. We are grateful to our community members and voters for supporting our schools and students. And we are grateful to our students for the hard work they have done to be active participants, even in learning environments that are significantly different than typical.
2020 has been a year that no one could have anticipated for our schools, our community, our country, and our world. - Continue Reading
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2020: A Year of Collaboration
Cassandra Sage, LWSD School Board
Brandi Comstock, LWPTSA Council President
2020… Rather than speaking to the challenges of the past 12 months, we would like to close this calendar year with examples of the collaboration between LWPTSA and LWSD that supports the students and families of our community.
Relationships aren’t forged in a week nor a month. Trusting, meaningful partnerships are built over years of collaboration. Collectively, Lake Washington PTSA Council and LWSD School Board have nurtured the PTSA/LWSD relationship for nearly 40 years and we have no doubt that 2020 yielded the highest benefit of this collaboration. Here are some examples of the mutual respect and importance of this relationship - Continue Reading
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Lake Washington Schools Foundation News
Happy Holidays from LWSF
As we approach the close of another year, we look back on all that we’ve accomplished with you by our side. With your support, we have:
- Made sure students have food over the weekend through Pantry Packs.
- Helped ease the anxiety of students and parents navigating a new world of college applications under COVID-19 through Find Your Fit.
- Brought awareness to and addressed pressing mental health issues experienced by LWSD families through Balance in Mind.
This is only to name a few ways your support has made a difference. To make a year-end gift, please visit lwsf.org. Wishing all PTSA and LWSD families a loving, warm and joyous holiday season from all of us at LWSF!
LWSF to bring Youth Mental Health First Aid Training to LWSD Staff
YMHFA is a formal education program that introduces adults to the distinct risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and teaches individuals how to help youth who are in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge. We have set a lofty goal of training over 150 LWSD staff this year! To learn more about this program, visit www.lwsf.org/youthmentalwellness
Last Week of Pantry Packs Food Drive
We are amazed by the support we have received! Due to the pandemic and supply chain issues, Pantry Packs is having difficulty obtaining canned protein meals and shelf stable milk. Pantry Packs is hosting a food drive on Wednesdays and Saturdays through December 19. Sign up for the food drive. For more details about Pantry Packs visit: www.lwsf.org/pantrypacks
Balance in Mind – Support for Parents and Teens
- Parent Chats – Talk with mental health experts and other parents in a safe and supportive environment.
Next Chat is December 16 – Creating Space for Joy. Join us at 7:30PM. For more details and registration, visit: tinyurl.com/BIMFallSession.
- Real Talk and Mindful Moments for Teens - Does your teen need some extra support this school year? Join Balance in Mind on Instagram @balance.in.mind for inspiration, self-care tips, “Mindful Moments”, “Real Talk” to hear from young adults who share their own life stories and much more!
LINKS Lunch Buddies Update
LINKS continues to support students by operating remotely. Thanks to extra efforts of district staff, students and their mentors are staying in touch through handwritten letters and virtual calls. We know that these students need the support of their mentors more now than ever. To learn more about the LINKS program, visit: www.lwsd.org/get-involved/volunteering-in-lwsd/links-volunteer-program.
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Wednesday Virtual College & Career Events
LWSD's College and Career Readiness team has been extremely busy this fall. Four LWSD high schools have joined forces this year to bring live college events every Wednesday including workshops covering important topics to help students and families navigate through the process. All of the sessions are recorded and can be watched at any time. Live Wednesday Events that are coming up in 2021 include
Visit the Live Wednesday website.
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Making Sense of Vaccines During COVID-19
Join Washington State Department of Health for a live conversation that will go beyond the headlines to give you the vaccine answers you need, straight from the experts. This live conversation will dig into how vaccines work, how they’re usually developed, and what is the same or different about the proposed COVID-19 vaccine. Researchers from Fred Hutch will talk about their participation in Phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trials, while leading physicians will answer the “most-asked” vaccine questions they hear every day.
When: Tuesday, December 15, 2020 from 5-6PM
RSVP: register via eventbrite
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- Dec 16: LWPTSA Council Award nominations due
- Dec 17, 9:45AM: Council Board Meeting
- Dec 17, Noon: Lunch and Learn on Stress, Trauma and Mental Health [GoToMeeting]
- Dec 21 - Jan 1: LWSD Winter Break
- Jan 7, 9:45AM: Council Membership Meeting
- Jan 14, 2PM: Advocacy Roundtable
- Jan 14, 7PM: Sustainability Committee Meeting
- Jan 18 - 22: WSPTA Advocacy Week
- Jan 19, 6:30PM: Special Education Group Meeting
- Jan 21, 9:45AM: Council Board Meeting
- Jan 21, Noon: Lunch and Learn on College and Career Pathways
See more dates on the Lake Washington PTSA Council Calendar
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About Us
The Lake Washington PTSA Council 2.8 (LWPTSA) serves local PTAs in the Lake Washington School District.
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