Blog Archives

Request 2023-2024 Directory

10/31/2023

Each year, Northshore Council PTSA requests a list of district families that have opted-in to receive communications from the Northshore School District. Council is happy to share this information with the local PTA’s that request it from us for the purposes of PTA/PTSA communications.

Request Directory Here

Requests for the Directory can be made by completing the Directory Request Form and must come from the local PTA president only.

Once the directory is made availabe to Council, we will forward it to the PTA Presidents who have requested it via our Directory Request Form. Along with your directory list, we will send a copy of our 2023-2024 Communications Guidelines for Student Directory regarding the responsible use of this information.

*Please allow for up to 2 weeks to process your request.

Questions? Please contact Council's Secretary, Christine Roehnelt

Host a Be SMART Presentation!

10/21/2023

Is your PTA looking for a parent education presentation to provide for your community? Consider hosting a Be SMART presentation!

Developed by Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action, The Be SMART educational program is designed to help parents and adults normalize conversations about gun safety and take responsible actions that can prevent child gun deaths and injuries. It asks parents and caretakers, gun owners and non-gun owners alike, to 'Be SMART' and take 5 simple steps to help keep our schools and communities safe.

Recognized by the National Parent Teacher Association, the Be SMART program has allowed volunteers to carry the lifesaving message within school districts across the country.

If you are interested in hosting a Be SMART presentation at your school, or to learn more about the program, please reach out to Jaclyn Condra by emailing [email protected].

Council Student Entry Form & Instructions for Local Reflections Chairs

10/21/2023

Council Student Entry Form for Local Reflections Chairs Available

The Student Entry Form for local Reflections Chairs to submit their school's entries to Council is now open.

Entries must be submitted by December 4 at 9:00 p.m.

How to Submit Student Reflections Entries to Council

Each PTA can submit 20 pieces and up to 6 Special Artists Pieces.
Turn pieces in by December 4, 2023, at 9:00 p.m.

Council & WSPTA will only accept online submissions for 2023-24.
Council is requesting each Reflections chair to accept actual visual art, 3D art, Photography, and literature entry. They must hold on to the entries after submitting them online until asked for by the Council for Reflections in-person celebration event. More details to follow soon!
Click here for entry guidelines
Try to submit high-quality scans or digital photos as all artworks will be judged digitally at Council and State levels. Please check the details in the entry guidelines for file format and file size.
You do not need to submit or upload a picture of the paper form.
Use this form to submit all your entries and use the separate student entry sections in the same form for each student entry you submit. Hence one form /school.
When uploading to Council, please use the following file name format so we can attribute the artwork to the correct student: Student First Name and Last Name - Arts Category

Questions? Contact Council Reflections Co-Chairs Jasmine Lee Fry and Foram Shah
[email protected]

Resources:
Northshore Council PTSA Reflections Co-Chairs: Jasmine Lee Fry and Foram Shah

Facebook Groups
- Northshore Council PTSA Reflections and Art Docent Chairs
- WSPTA Reflections - Leaders & Friends
Webpages

Subscribe to Council's "Almost Weekly" PTA Reflections Communications with everything you need to know:

Subscribe to our Reflections Newsletter and Read Past Issues HERE

Become a Member of Council's 2023-2024 Nominating Committee

10/19/2023

Northshore Council PTSA is seeking three (3) volunteers to serve on its
2023-2024 Nominating Committee.
The Nominating Committee is a special committee that holds the key to a successful PTSA. It is responsible for presenting the best-qualified candidates to serve as the elected officers who will lead Northshore Council PTSA in 2024-2025.

If you are interested in serving on Northshore Council PTSA’s 2023-2024 Nominating Committee, please complete Self Nomination Form by Wednesday, November 01.

Click to Complete Self-Nomination Form

Effective candidates for the 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 November 14th 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!

Questions? Contact Council President Rachel Fitzgerald.

WSPTA Free Training: Nominating Committee
November 8 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Join WSPTA for this presentation to understand the importance of the nominating committee, how to elect them, and methods of organization so they have the tools to help them recruit the best-qualified candidates for the position. Come learn the basics and why this is such an important committee it’s part of the WSPTA Uniform Bylaws and Standards of Affiliation!

Register here: https://www.wastatepta.org/event/nominating-committee-4/

Nominating Committee Resources:
Training Video: https://www.wastatepta.org/pta-leaders/leader-resources/training-videos/
Handbook: https://www.wastatepta.org/pta-leaders/leader-resources/

* Username and Password can be found in your WSPTA Leadership News or email [email protected] with your the name of your PTA and your role.

Apply for a Council Grant Today!

10/8/2023

No Previous Grant Writing Experience Necessary!

Questions? Email [email protected].

Apply for the Educational Speakers and Community Events Grant Program.

Is there a speaker your PTA would like to bring in to talk to your membership about a hot parenting topic, but you don't have enough budget for it? Does your PTA have a great community event you would like to host, but need help getting the word out and covering some of the cost? Apply for a partnership grant through Northshore PTSA's Educational Speakers & Community Events Grant Program!

There will be a few grant opportunities throughout the school year with the next grant application deadline being Friday, October 27, 2023!

Click here for Grant Application and more information.

PTA Checklist 2023-2024

10/8/2023

Click to download

This is a busy time of year for PTA Leaders with so many things to get done in order to run your PTA, plan programming for students, and provide support to your school community. Here at Council, we want to make sure a few key "to-do" items don't get overlooked so we've created the checklist below. We've included links and resources for these items, but remember, Council is always here to help and support our local Northshore PTA Leaders! Visit our Contact Page to connect with a Council officer.

PTA Back-to-School Checklist for 2023-2024

Complete Council’s Contact Form

Each member of your PTA/PTSA should complete this including positions such as the executive committee (aka: elected positions), board members, committee chairs, etc.

Update Leaders in memberplanet

Requirement of the WSPTA Standards of Affiliation
Resources and a How to Guide

Enter 25 Members into memberplanet by October 31, 2023

Any membership received must be entered into memberplanet no more than 30 days after the person joins.
Membership Updates & Tips to help with your campaign

Update your PTA’s Website

This is often the first place new families, current members, and those in your school community go to learn about your PTA. Make sure that contact information is up-to-date as well as your calendar and that your front page highlights membership. Learn about the importance of having an online join link.

Hold a General Membership Meeting

The first Membership Meeting of the year includes important items of business. Check out Council’s blog post with more tips & resources to help plan yours.

Connect with Council

Council is here to support you! Bookmark our calendar page so you always know when our meetings, meet ups, and office hours are being held. Need support now? Send us an email anytime.

Membership Spotlight: Important Deadline & Update

10/8/2023

Important Deadline:
Your PTA officers and 25+ members must be entered into memberplanet by October 31 to remain in good standing.

WSPTA Membership Contest:
Theme, Goal, and Online Join Link
Share your 2023-2024 membership theme, goals, and online join link with us by October 31 and be featured in the PTA Spotlight in the Membership Made Easy Newsletter. Submit here.

We have reached 3,111 PTA members from across Northshore PTA/PTSAs as of Sept 29, 2023!

Keep up the great work on your membership campaigns and continue to add members into memberplanet.

Additional Membership Resources:

Council's Membership page - Find more tips and links to past articles.
WSPTA Membership page - Membership resources and leadership guides available.

Questions?
Contact Council's Membership Co-Chairs, Kimberly Ortiz and Allison Torgesen.

October 2023: Council Office Hours

10/8/2023

Connect with Council and other PTA leaders during the next virtual Office Hours.

This time is designed to support our local PTA/PTSA leaders as you navigate membership, programs, and managing your organization. We hope you will join us!

Council will be holding virtual Office Hours on:
Thursday, October 12, 2023
12:30PM to 1:30PM.
and
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
6:30pm - 7:30pm

Register for Zoom link: https://bit.ly/FallOfficeHours2023
The Zoom link you receive will be unique to your registration. Please have each person attending register for a Zoom link. Thank you.
This is the perfect time to connect with Council, ask questions, or even just stop in to say hello! Come to one or both sessions. There is no formal agenda. Stay as long or as little as your schedule permits.

If you have questions and need to connect with Council before this, please visit our Contact Page for a list of Council Officers and their emails.

*Please see calendar for future Office Hours dates and times.

You're Invited! General Membership Meeting 11/14

10/7/2023

Northshore Council PTSA General Meeting
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
6:30 PM Meet & Greet
7 PM Meeting Begins

Register for Zoom Meeting Link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUtduqorjgrGdVXE-PHC18F7bvkuHv8VUuK
The Zoom link you receive will be unique to your registration. Please have each person attending register for a Zoom link. Thank you.

Meet & Greet:
Join us before the meeting, at 6:30PM, to chat with Council and other local PTA Leaders! Come say hi, ask questions, or just hang out for social time before the meeting.

Please join us at our next General Membership Meeting on Tuesday, November 14.

Meeting Agenda:
In addition to our regular business, we will hold an election for this year's Nominating Committee (Nom Com). Self-nominations opened on Oct. 19, 2023. Learn more about Nominating Committee and self nominate.

Nom Com Update: Nominations closed on November 1 for Nominating Committee. View slate and election information here.

Want to learn more about the Nominating Committee? WSPTA is offering two leadership trainings. Visit our training opportunities page for registration information.

Agenda Update: Presentation by the ILHS's Climate Action Club
Northshore Council PTSA has invited members of Innovation Lab High School's Climate Action Club to present their proposal on "Washington State Declaring the Climate Emergency''. After hearing their presentation, our membership will be able to ask questions and have the opportunity to motion to vote on whether or not we would like to endorse this proposal.

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!

Questions? Email Council President, Rachel Fitzgerald at [email protected].

Save the Date - View calendar of future meeting dates.

Be SMART - FREE Parent Education Webinar

10/7/2023

Be SMART
Monday, October 16, 2023
7PM
30 minute presentation followed by Q&A.

Click to Register for Free Webinar

Upon completion of registration, you will be given a unique zoom link. Each person logging in with a device must register for their own link.

The presentation outlines simple steps that all adults—whether they own guns or not—can take to keep our children and communities safer.

About Webinar:
Northshore parent and PTA member, Jaclyn Condra, will be presenting the 'Be SMART' educational program. The Be SMART framework is designed to help parents and adults normalize conversations about gun safety and take responsible actions that can prevent child gun deaths and injuries. The presentation outlines simple steps that all adults—whether they own guns or not—can take to keep our children and communities safer.

Register for Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEqduGpqj0uH9ztyx-p8u0x9gZwjvRmDYZ3#

Questions? Please email Council President, Rachel Fitzgerald.

Originally published 09/06/23

Council Student Entry Form for Local Reflections Chairs AvailableThe Student Entry Form for local Reflections Chairs to submit their school's entries to Council is now open.Entries must be submitted by December 4 at 9:00 p.m.

Connect with Council and other PTA leaders during the next virtual Office Hours.

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Council Student Entry Form for Local Reflections Chairs Available

The Student Entry Form for local Reflections Chairs to submit their school's entries to Council is now open.

Entries must be submitted by December 4 at 9:00 p.m.