6/7 General Membership Meeting Recap

Thank you to everyone that attended our fifth and final membership meeting of the school year!  This meeting was especially impactful as there were over 55 attendees from our local PTA’s and community partners in attendance. 

Council Business:
The meeting kicked off with an approval of minutes from our March general meeting, before moving on to hear the Treasurer’s Report for the month of May from the Council Treasurer, Liz Nord. May’s report reflected income from membership service fees, as well as expenses related to the Spring Recognition Event, Moneyminder software renewal, WSPTA scholarship funds, WSPTA convention registration fees and awards.

Next on the agenda was an update to the Northshore Council PTSA Standing Rules. Changes recommended were: 

1. Add Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) as a Standing Committee and to the Board of Directors.
2. Add the Mental Health Committee as an ad hoc committee.
3. Remove Presidents and Principals Lunch and Spring Recognition Breakfast from the ad hoc committees as these items now fall under the VP of Events responsibilities.

All items were approved by a unanimous voice vote.

Our VP of Communications, Rachel Fitzgerald, then shared with everyone the importance of updating the contact information for positions being filled for next year in your PTA. If you are an officer next year, please update your contact information before July 1st, 2021. This information will be used to contact you by council board members that want to support your PTA. It is also how you will be on the list to receive communications from council, including the council newsletter, that will keep you updated on events and happenings in our district. Remember to update officers into memberplanet as well!

2021-2022 PTA Officers - Click here to update Contact Information with Council

​District and Community Reports:
School Board Director David Cogan shared an update in regards to Northshore School District that included, but was not limited to:

• For the 2021-2022 school year, all Northshore students, K-12 will have two options for attending school:
  • In person, full time, 5 days a week – This will include mask wearing, social distancing, hand washing, increased ventilation, extra facility cleaning and Covid batch testing for those giving consent.
  • Northshore Virtual Program – daily 70% synchronous instruction from Northshore teachers with Northshore curriculum, 30% asynchronous learning.  The virtual program will not be offering IB classes. 
• NSD is improving inclusive education:
  • North Region schools received a 2019/2020 grant to increase the percentage of students educated in the least restrictive environment.
  • Ruby Bridges and Kokanee Elementary Schools were recognized as Washington State Inclusive Education Demonstration Sites and are consulting with the UW Haring Center for Inclusive Education.
  • This funding was extended for the next 2 years.
• Melissa Reily, NSD Director of Equity and Pedagogy, won the Gallagher Howard M. Coble Scholarship for under-represented educational leaders.
• NSD filed with OSPI their Academic and Student Well Being Recovery Plan
  • To address student needs resulting from school building closures and extended time in remote learning due to COVID-19 pandemic.
  • This is used to distribute the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund.
• Working on the framework for the next NSD 5 year Strategic Plan to begin around June 22.
• Meetings with State Legislators to discuss changes that COVID 19 has had for students, families and districts.
• Happy to report that approximately 1000 students have been vaccinated through vaccine clinics offered through NSD partnerships.

 
 Lauren Lewis, acting NSD Partnerships and Volunteer Coordinator, reported the following:

• Lauren Lewis will be filling in for Natalie Campbell until the Fall.
• Bothell High School vaccine clinic is happening on 6/12, looking for 12 more volunteers.
• Community Serve Day will be on 8/22 this year:
  • All elementary and middle schools are participating for outdoor work, not high schools.
  • Things may change with some opportunities to work within buildings at some point but for now just keep an eye out for any communications regarding updates from the district.
• Conversations with the Board was held earlier tonight. Those events are now starting to return in person so continue to watch for in person events.
• Currently working with the district with the calendar.
• Graduations are being held June 14, 15 and 16! As a district we are looking forward to supporting everyone in a safe way.

Carmin Dalziel, representing the Northshore Schools Foundation, gave an update that included but was not limited to:

• They have three main causes:
  • Inspire learning
  • Remove barriers
  • Build skills for life
• Working on starting a Facebook page for jobs for Northshore teens, for real companies to post opportunities for kids.
• Excited and hopeful that they will partner with the middle schools for career day again next year.
• There are classroom grants available for the Fall. 
• The Northshore Gives Platform has also been a great resource for Senior class projects and raising money for smaller projects at schools or classrooms within the district.
• Continuing to support ethnic studies.
• Removing barriers is what NSF is known for. This year they allocated a CARE team opportunity budget for each school. In total, $105,000 was given out to families in need this year. For more information, please reach out to Heather Erickson.
• Basic Needs Aid still goes on this year. This fund is designated for families facing a hardship or crisis that are in need.
• Still supporting Threads and Treads with a monetary donation.
• There will be a donation drive for school supplies again.
• Just had a fun gala and there will be a wine walk in October.

​After the updates were given by the community partners there was a reminder to the local PTA attendees to please remember to fill out the end of year survey from Council. This survey lets us know how we can better serve your PTA with your valuable feedback. We will be taking survey responses up until midnight on Friday, June 25th.

Our Council President, Jane Chiodo, then shared a personal message of thanks to the council as well as the local leaders and community partners. Click here to read that message.

Click Here to Complete the End of the Year Feedback Survey for Council

​Last, but certainly not least, the evening ended with our 2020-2021 Spring Recognition Event! This event was hosted by our Co-VP of Events, Mary Khouzam and Karrie Palis. The theme was "Thank You for Making Lemonade". This was such a fitting theme since all of our local PTA’s did exactly that this year, when handed lemons, they made some lemonade!

The event included performances from Skyview Middle School's symphonic band, orchestra, and choir as well as a performance from the Bothell High School Bel Canto Choir. 

The highlight of the event was celebrating all the achievements of our local PTAs/PTSAs as well as the recipients of their Recognition Awards. Council was also honored to present this year's Council Recognition Awards. Congratulations to:
   

    🌟 Outstanding Educator: Natalie Campbell
    🌟 Outstanding Advocate: Cathi Davis
    🌟 Outstanding Student Advocate: Diya Gupta   
    🌟 Outstanding Service: Melissa Kline
    🌟 Golden Acorn: Lauren Lewis
    🌟 Golden Acorn: Liz Nord
    🌟 Honorary Life Membership: Nancy Chamberlain

Click here to learn more about each of our 2020-2021 Council Award Recipients.

Thank you to our Council Awards Committee Members Diana Christiansen, Rachel Fitzgerald, and Karrie Palis for the beautiful awards presentation and speeches given during the event!

---

​Thank you to all that attended this fun evening!  It was a fun night with lots to celebrate for making it through this unprecedented school year!  Looking forward to our next membership meeting in the fall.  Have a wonderful summer and enjoy this much deserved time to relax with your families.