Meeting Recap: 
​
Council Business:
After reviewing and approving the meeting minutes from our September General Membership meeting, Council Treasurer Serena Xu presented the October 2022 financial report for review, as well as requesting volunteers for the Mid-Year Financial Review Committee. Please email Serena Xu if interested in serving on the committee.

Next on the agenda, Communications VP Jenn Snyder proposed changes to our social media policy by adding Instagram, as well as removing our inactive YouTube account, which were then approved by vote. 

Co-President Mary Khouzam asked for volunteers to serve on the Nominating Committee. If you would like to serve on the Nominating Committee, please email the Council Co-Presidents at before December 16th. The election of the Nominating Committee will take place at the January 19 General Membership meeting. 
​
Community Partners:

• Northshore School District - Community Partnerships and Volunteer Coordinator Marco Garcia announced that COVID vaccine requirements have been lifted for volunteering in NSD schools, and will no longer be required. He also shared that Parent Square (district communication tool) will launch for all staff in January 2023, and for all paraeducators in February 2023. The NSD Communications newsletter will now be sent out to families on Mondays, with submissions due the Wednesdays before. 

​

• NSD School Board - School Board member Amy Cast (shared via Council Co-President Rachel Fitzgerald, as Director Cast was unable to join us) let us know that the superintendent search has been awarded to GR Recruiting, who will now move forward with developing a profile of what staff and families are looking for in a superintendent. The search is to be completed by Spring 2023. 

Thank you community partners for joining us!​

​Council Committee Updates:

• Advocacy - Jennifer Drury let us know that Coffee Conversations with NSD families has been a success, as well as ongoing conversations with the NSD School Board. Focus Day will be held on February 20th, and we are encouraged to email our legislators rather than send postcards, since the cards are not read anymore due to a lack of storage space in the legislative offices. Jennifer also shared that we would like to have more conversations with NSD students to give them an opportunity to share their ideas and thoughts regarding advocacy work in our schools. Legislative Assembly took place in October, and the Top 5 Priorities to focus on this year were determined to be 1) Addressing the Student Mental Health Crisis, 2) Addressing critical gaps in Education Funding, 3) Preventing and reducing gun violence and suicides, 4) Addressing funding, inclusion, and supports in Special Education, and 5) Building and maintaining safer school facilities. 

 

• ​Membership - Kim Ortiz shared that we are now at 99.9% of last year’s membership numbers, with several schools above 100% of their last year’s membership numbers. Those schools are Cottage Lake Elementary, Frank Love Elementary, Sorenson Early Childhood Center, Shelton View Elementary, Westhill Elementary, Kenmore Middle School, Timbercrest Middle School, Bothell High School, and Woodinville High School. 

​

• Reflections - Jasmine Lee Fry (via Rachel Fitzgerald, as Jasmine was unable to join us) shared that the deadline for local submissions is on December 2nd. 

​​

• Speaker and Events Grants Program - Grace Jurado shared that Northshore Council is the only Council that has all members in good standing, and only one grant request has been received for this grants quarter. The deadline for the second round of grants was November 25th. More information about the Council's next round of Educational Speakers and Community Events grant requests can be found on our blog. 

Before adjourning the meeting, Co-President Mary Khouzam gave a thank you to those who planned and coordinated the Presidents and Principals Event, and reminded everyone to complete and submit the Presidents and Principals Event survey. Mary also shared that Council is looking for someone to volunteer as VP of Events, and another volunteer is needed to serve as Council’s Family and Community and Engagement (F.A.C.E.) Chair. If you are interested in volunteering, please email the Co-Presidents as soon as possible. 

After adjourning our meeting, attendees were given an opportunity to join two training sessions (“Volunteers and How to Find Them”, and “Roles and Responsibilities of the Board”). 

Please join us for our next General Membership Meeting on January 19th at 7pm via Zoom!

​The 100% Staff Membership Award is presented to local PTAs that enroll at least as many school staff members as there are full-time certificated employees at the school. This award recognizes the value of teachers and school staff as stakeholders advocating for all children through PTA membership.

PTAs must be in good standing and submit a completed application form by March 15 to be eligible for this award. Recipients of the 100% Staff Membership Award will be recognized at the WSPTA convention in the spring.

Learn more about the various growth membership awards on the WSPTA website. 

Do you have an idea for a community event or an educational speaker to bring to your school community? Partner with Council and apply for a grant to help offset the cost.

The Northshore Council PTSA’s Educational Speakers and Community Events Grant Program is designed to help support local PTAs in hosting relevant and timely speakers for our district families and to encourage them to create engaging events for our community.

ALL local PTAs, within the Northshore School District and in good standing, may apply for a grant through a simple application process. The deadline for this last round of grants is Friday, January 27, 2023!
 
Not sure what to apply for? Check out some of the programs supported through this grant program on our past recipients page.

Please note: You do not need to be a Northshore Council PTSA Officer to be on the Nominating Committee. We encourage any interested and qualified Northshore PTA/PTSA member to volunteer for this vital role that will help shape the future of Northshore Council PTSA!

If there are only three candidates, the election will be held at the January 19th General Membership Meeting via Zoom. If there are more than three candidates, the election will be conducted by electronic ballot and detailed information will be available within the January 9th eNews.

Learn more about serving on the Nominating Committee, eligibility requirements, and more information on what makes an effective NomCom Candidate on our blog. 

​Council meetings will build your PTA knowledge, give you the opportunity to network with other PTA, school district and community leaders, and they can be a lot of fun, too. Each PTA may send up to 4 voting representatives - but we encourage ALL who are interested to attend. We look forward to seeing you there!

*A meeting passcode is required to join. It will be sent to local leaders via email prior to the meeting. You can also request the passcode by emailing Council PTSA Communications VP, Jenn Snyder.

​Membership Growth Awards
Membership Growth Awards are calculated monthly (no application needed) and announced via the WSPTA website and social media outlets. PTAs that reach each level receive a digital publicity kit containing graphics and ideas for sharing their achievement.

• Bronze Award: recognizes local PTAs, in good standing, for enrolling at least one more member than their previous year’s total membership.
• Silver Award: recognizes local PTAs, in good standing, for enrolling PTA members equaling at least 105% of their previous year’s total membership.
• Gold Award: recognizes local PTAs, in good standing, for enrolling PTA members equaling at least 110% of their previous year’s total membership.
• ​Platinum Award: recognizes local PTAs, in good standing, for enrolling PTA members equaling at least 120% of their previous year’s total membership.

More Membership resources can be found on WSPTA's website.

Questions? Contact Council's Co-VP of Membership, Kim Ortiz.
Northshore Council Membership Page ​

Last Monday, PTSA advocates, Claudine Miller, Calin Garcia, and Jennifer Drury met with Director Cast and Interim Superintendent Tolley to share their experiences and your input. They described the Top Five Legislative Priorities for Washington State PTA which line up closely with the top priorities for Northshore families. As we go forward, Jennifer would like to hear more from our students and also focus on how we can partner with the district to more effectively address some of the issues and ideas that have come to the forefront. Jennifer looks forward to collaborating with Directors Cast and Hayes when we advocate for students and hopefully with students in Olympia for Focus Week starting on Monday, February 20, 2023. Mark your calendars! 

Thank You
Jennifer would like to thank all the PTA Presidents, Advocacy Chairs, and other community members who took the Legislative Assembly Poll, attended Legislative Assembly, or attended one of the Advocacy Coffees. We at Council appreciate your feedback and telling your stories to help us gather ideas and address the concerns of Northshore families and students.  ​

For more information about E-Prep or to request meeting access, please contact Council's Emergency Preparedness & Safety​ (E-Prep) Chair, Robin McKenzie.

More information is available on our E-Prep Program page. ​

Effective candidates for nominating committee:
• Are familiar with the needs and goals of Northshore Council PTSA.
• Are enthusiastic about Northshore Council PTSA's mission, vision, and goals.
• Are willing to work and devote considerable time to furthering the purposes and programs of Northshore Council PTSA.
• Possess tact, integrity, discretion, and the ability to hold their own counsel.
• Have the courage to express their ideas and defend their convictions
• Demonstrate sound judgment and skill in evaluating potential nominees.
• Are capable of understanding and maintaining complete confidentiality.
• Represent the diversity that is present in the community and student population.
• Should be elected on merit and ability – never on popularity.

Members of the nominating committee are eligible to become nominees for elected office. No person may serve on this committee for more than two consecutive one-year terms. A candidate for a council nominating committee must be a member of a local PTA/PTSA in the council for at least 15 days preceding their election.

The election of the nominating committee will take place at our January 19th membership meeting. 

Please note: You do not need to be a Northshore Council PTSA Officer to be on the Nominating Committee. We encourage any interested and qualified Northshore PTA/PTSA member to volunteer for this vital role that will help shape the future of Northshore Council PTSA!