Northshore Council PTSA 6.10
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Practicing Self-Care for Your Mental Health

4/4/2022

 
Practicing Self-Care - An Article from Council's Mental Health Committee
It's April, and with only 2½ months of school left this year, it may be surreal to think that we are nearing the end of our 3rd school year affected by the pandemic. We may have lost things and we may gave gained things, but life is starting to emerge as something somewhat familiar. Some of us may feel abuzz with possibility. Some of us may feel trepidatious or overwhelmed.

How do we slow down, collect ourselves, and progress with more purpose and less stress after such a wild ride?

By practicing self-care.


By definition, self-care means doing what is best for us, like increasing our emotional and physical stamina, improving our self-esteem, and building resilience towards stressors that we can’t eliminate. Basically, the term describes a conscious act we take in order to promote our own physical, mental, and emotional health in order to be better equipped to live our best
lives.

Self-care isn't just about finding ways to relax. It's about taking care of yourself:
  • Mentally - keeping your mind sharp, practicing self-compassion
  • Physically - sleeping well, eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, taking your medications
  • Emotionally - taking time to daydream, being introspective and mindful, and processing emotions safely & effectively
  • Socially - cultivating and maintaining friendships
  • Spiritually - finding deeper sense of meaning in the world

Self Care isn't Selfish quote from Michelle Maldonado

​Carve out time each day to deliberately focus on self-care.

At first, this may seem like a luxury or selfish. However, proper self-care is something we all need AND deserve.

It is never selfish to make your mental health and well-being a priority.

​Remember, you have to be okay before you can help others be okay!


Additional Resources for Self-Care
  • Taking Care of Yourself - from NAMI
  • The 4 Most Effective Self-Care Moves for Your Mental Health - Article from NAMI Southwest Washington
  • Caring for Self and Community: How Do You Practice Self-Care? - Article and resources from Youth Engaged 4 Change
  • Just Breathe - Managing Stress in Extraordinary Times
Resources

This article was brought to you by Northshore Council's Mental Health Committee. 

Special Education: Student & Family Support (4/20)

3/23/2022

 
Special Education: Student & Family Support
Northshore Council PTSA is offering a FREE Parent Education Webinar Series in partnership with PAVE (Partnerships for Action, Voices for Empowerment). 

Special Education: Student & Family Support
Date: 
Wednesday, April 20th
Time: 
6:00PM
​Focus Topic: Early Learning (Birth-3 and transition to IEP at age 3)
Registration*: https://www.tfaforms.com/4970013

This webinar series will be presented by Jerri Clark, Parent Resources Coordinator of Partnerships in Action/Voices of Empowerment (PAVE). Each webinar in the series will have a different focus topic and a separate registration link.

The second webinar in the series will take place on April 20th and be focusing on Early Learning: Birth-3 services and transition into preschool for children with disabilities. Check out the flyer below for more information.

​Future webinars will include:
  • May 10th: IEP Transition Planning for Life after High School
  • June 7th: Caregiver Self-Care

*Deadline to register is 6pm on Tuesday, April 19th.

Questions? Email Council's Special Education Representative, Laura Staneff. 
For more information about PAVE, visit their website at https://wapave.org.

We look forward to seeing you at this and future Special Education: Student & Family Support events!

April 20th - Special Education: Student & Family Support Flyer
April 20th - Special Education: Student & Family Support Flyer.pdf
File Size: 478 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Angst Virtual Screening - April 2-8, 2022

3/11/2022

 
Angst - Brought to you by Kenmore Middle School PTSA & Northshore Council PTSA
​We are pleased to present a FREE virtual screening of the film Angst.
This film can be viewed at your leisure any time between April 2-8, 2022.


Angst removes the stigma and opens up the conversation around anxiety, helping viewers understand and manage their symptoms and know when (and that it’s OK) to reach out for help. Through the perspectives of teenagers, their families, and experts who explain the symptoms – as well as a sentimental interview with Michael Phelps, Angst shows people that they are not alone, that anxiety is common, and that it is 100% treatable.
Following the film will be a pre-recorded panel session addressing frequently asked questions and common discussion topics from the film.

Register for a viewing link here: https://forms.gle/QPTrFZbXaf6FcnKY9
Deadline to register is Friday, April 1st.

This event is co-sponsored by Kenmore Middle School PTSA and Northshore Council PTSA.
For questions, email Abby Polasko at [email protected].

Bullying: What It Is and How to Support Your Student

3/2/2022

 
Resources for Anti-Bullying Support
​Almost all of our kids will be bullied, or be a witness to bullying, to some degree in their schooling years. The studies vary on how often, how many kids, and who gets bullied, but the fact is that too many kids are victims of this phenomenon.

The consequences of bullying can be disastrous. It can lead to physical injury, social and emotional scarring, lower academic achievements, self-harm, mental health struggles, and even death. Kids who bully others and are bullied themselves are at the greatest risk for mental health and behavioral problems.

What is bullying?
According to Psychology Today, bullying is a distinctive pattern of repeatedly and deliberately harming and humiliating others, specifically those who are smaller, weaker, younger or in any way more vulnerable than the bully. The deliberate targeting of those of lesser power is what distinguishes bullying from garden-variety aggression.
There are 3 types of bullying:
1) Verbal bullying is saying or writing mean things. This can include:
  • Teasing
  • Name-calling
  • Taunting
  • Threatening harm
  • Inappropriate sexual comments
2) Social bullying, also called relational bullying, involves hurting someone’s reputation or relationships. This can include:
  • Telling others not to be friends with someone
  • Spreading rumors
  • Embarrassing someone in public
  • Leaving someone out on purpose
3) Physical bullying involves hurting someone’s body or possessions. This can include:
  • Hitting/kicking/pinching
  • Spitting
  • Tripping/pushing
  • Taking or breaking someone’s things
  • Making mean or rude hand gestures
NO Bullying
It is not simply a part of growing up.
It is not “kids being kids”.
Bullying is never okay.
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Who Gets Bullied and What to Look For
The statistics are all over the place with bullying. Some things we do know are that a higher percentage of males than females report being physically bullied, whereas a higher percentage of girls report being the subjects of rumors and exclusion. As far as cyberbullying, it is reported the most among middle schoolers. Those that are cyberbullied are likely to be bullied offline as well. Students with specific learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, emotional and behavior disorders, and speech or language impairments are more often victims of bullying than their peers without disabilities. Also, students of color, and those who identify or are perceived as LGBTQ are at a higher risk.

Not all kids who are bullied ask for help. It is estimated that less than half of bullied students notify an adult at school. There are some signs to look for but understand that not all kids show signs. Another thing to note is that simply observing bullying can lead to a negative impact on mental health.

When school-age kids are victims of bullying, they are much more likely to have headaches and stomachaches, depression, anxiety, and behavioral problems. They might even experience sleep issues and nightmares, dropping grades, and may even drop out of school. They may come home from school with unexplained injuries, destroyed or lost personal belongings, and may also start showing discipline problems, as well as becoming increasingly more aggressive. Not surprisingly, there is also a strong association between bullying and suicide-related behaviors.

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Who Bullies and What to Look For
Children who feel secure and supported at home, school, and among their peers are less likely to bully. There are several factors that may contribute to youth that bully, but every individual is unique. Those who bully chronically tend to have strained relationships with parents and peers, and may also have school factors and emotional factors to consider. Due to these struggles, bullying can be a way of establishing social dominance. This can lead to a downward spiral if not addressed properly. Some of these behaviors may actually be cries for help.

Research shows that long-term bullies lack prosocial behavior, are not troubled by anxiety, do not understand others’ feelings, and often do not accept responsibility for their actions. They often misread the intentions of others and tend to have a kind of paranoia. As with kids who get bullied, kids who are the bullies have a higher risk of suicide-related behaviors.

What Can Be Done
The good news is that bullying is a behavior that can be changed. Those that bully or are bullied can benefit from support from school, the community, and trusted adults. These adults can teach new social and emotional skills, as well as healthy peer connections.

At the onset, the best defense against bullying is teaching kids social skills and helping them develop confidence in their own abilities. The second-best defense against bullying is to walk away and not fight back. As parents, we can regularly inquire about challenges our kids are having, and maybe even role-play some solutions. It's also beneficial to understand safety while using technology. Cyberbullying is a real thing. It's important to teach kids to use social media responsibly, respectfully, and safely and to keep their passwords private. If you are the victim or a witness in cyberbullying, don’t engage in any conversation online where bullying is occurring.

Bullying should never be ignored. For issues that are severe, persistent, or unresolved, the individual(s) who has(have) been the target of bullying or who has observed bullying should report the incident in writing or verbally to a staff member at
that school. Northshore School District is committed to a safe environment for its students where everyone is treated with respect, and no one is physically or emotionally harmed. NSD makes it easy to report tips on bullying, harassment, or any safety issue through SafeSchools Alert. Reporting can be done online, through an app, or by calling, texting, or emailing. NSD's SafeSchools Alert can be used by students, families, or staff to report the incident and can also be done anonymously.
Resources for Students & Families
  • March 14th Parent Education Webinar - Digital Safety 101: The 3 Big Bads (Sexting, Cyberbullying, and Porn)
  • Northshore School District SafeSchools Alert for reporting safety concerns
  • Bullying Resources for Parents, Teachers, and Students
  • FREE Anti-Bullying App from SAMHSA.gov
  • NAMI Stop Bullying Challenge
  • www.stopbullying.gov - Learn how to identify bullying and stand up to it safely
  • CDC information on Preventing Bullying
  • PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center
  • Psychology Today article on Bullies
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This article was brought to you by Northshore Council's Mental Health Committee. Visit our Mental Health Awareness Resources page to learn more about this committee and the other resources they have provided.

Announcing Round 3 Grant Recipients

2/28/2022

 
Round 3 Recipients - Speaker & Community Grants
​Northshore Council PTSA is proud to announce the recipients of our third round of Educational Speakers & Community Events Grants for 2021-2022!
  • Northshore Council PTSA's Mental Health Committee - "Digital Safety 101: The 3 Big Bads (Sexting, Cyberbullying, and Porn)" presented by Jo Langford - March 14, 2022 (Open to the Northshore community - Registration here.)
  • Kenmore Middle School PTSA - "Angst Virtual Screening" - April 2-8, 2022 (Open to the Northshore community - Registration here.)
  • Leota Middle School PTSA - “Helping Your Student Manage Stress" presented by zGirls - Spring 2022 (Open to the Northshore community - Registration Link Coming Soon!)

Local PTAs/PTSAs interested in partnering with Northshore Council PTSA to host speakers or events were able to apply for a Northshore Council PTSA Educational Speakers and Community Events Grant. 2021-2022 grants were offered on a first-come, first-serve basis and applications were reviewed by the Northshore Council PTSA. Submissions are no longer being accepted for the 2021-2022 school year, but this program will return in the Fall of 2022. 

For more information about the grants program, visit our Educational Speakers and Community Events Grant Program page.

Special Education: Student & Family Support (3/22)

2/18/2022

 
Special Education: Student & Family Support
Northshore Council PTSA is offering a FREE Parent Education Webinar Series in partnership with PAVE (Partnerships for Action, Voices for Empowerment). 

Special Education: Student & Family Support
Date:
Tuesday, March 22nd
Time: 
6:00PM
​Focus Topic: Student Rights - IEP, Section 504, and more!
Registration*:
https://www.tfaforms.com/4969578

This webinar series will be presented by Jerri Clark, Parent Resources Coordinator of Partnerships in Action/Voices of Empowerment (PAVE). Each webinar in the series will have a different focus topic and a separate registration link.

The first webinar in the series will take place on March 22nd and be focusing on Student Rights: IEP, Section 504, and more! Check out the flyer below for more information.

​Future webinars will include:
  • April 20th: Early Learning (Birth-3 and transition to IEP at age 3)
  • May 10th: IEP Transition Planning for Life after High School
  • June 7th: Caregiver Self-Care

**Deadline to register is 6pm on Monday, March 21st.

Questions? Email Council's Special Education Representative, Laura Staneff. 
For more information about PAVE, visit their website at https://wapave.org.

We look forward to seeing you at this and future Special Education: Student & Family Support events!

March 22nd - Special Education: Student & Family Support Flyer
March 22nd - Special Education: Student & Family Support Flyer
File Size: 467 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Journey to College: A Timeline for Students & Parents

2/17/2022

 
Journey to College: A Timeline for Students & Parents
Attend this FREE parent education event from PathLight Counseling in partnership with your Northshore Council PTSA.

Journey to College: A Timeline for Students & Parents
Date: Wednesday, March 16th
Time: 7:00PM
Registration*: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUrc-6prTooG9BTBlTrMtMvuTas66t9OjbC 

This event will provide grade specific timelines to help students prepare for the college admissions process.  A short Q&A session focused on the timeline will follow the presentation.

*Deadline to register is 4pm on Wednesday, March 16th.
​

Council hopes to offer a series of informational college prep sessions, each focusing on a different topic. Please keep your eye out for future communications with more details and dates. Future sessions will be posted to our Parent Education Opportunities page and shared on our social media pages (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram).

Questions? Email Council's VP of Secondary Support, Brenae Brix.

We look forward to seeing you at this and future Journey to College events!

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Digital Safety 101: The 3 Big Bads (Sexting, Cyberbullying, and Porn)

2/16/2022

 
Digital Safety 101
Northshore Council PTSA is offering a FREE parent education event on Digital Safety presented by Jo Langford. 

Join us as Jo Langford discusses the "3 Big Bads: Sexting, Cyberbullying, and Porn."

Date:
Monday, March 14th
Time: 7:00PM
Registration*: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUtduyrpzMjG9CIxqket_v4YFo1KeTlDHXC 


This presentation will include:
  • Discussion on how to balance your child/ren's digital lives with boundaries, etiquette and good judgment!
  • An overview of t/ween behavior in a digital age — the risks (and benefits) of online life.
  • A breakdown of over a dozen of the most popular social networking sites you need to know about (and at least 3 you wish you hadn't!); The Good, The Bad & The Ugly, explained!
  • A healthy dose of Q&A!

To learn more about Jo Langford, visit his website.​

*Deadline to register is 4pm on Monday, March 14th.

This event is brought to you by Council's Mental Health Committee through a grant from Council's Educational Speakers & Community Events Grants program.

Questions? Email Council's Mental Health Committee!

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Final Grants Deadline Extended

1/20/2022

 
The Final Deadline has been Extended for
Council's Educational Speakers and Community Events Grant Program!
Educational Speakers & Community Events Grant Program - Final Deadline Extended to 2/1 - Apply Today!
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. EXTENDED Final deadline is February 1, 2022!
 
Not sure what to apply for? Check out some of the programs supported through this grant program on our past recipients page.

​Learn more about our grants program by clicking here. ​Download & Print the 2021-2022 Grants Application Form.
​Questions? Email us!

Upcoming Parent Education Event on Gender Diversity

1/5/2022

 
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You are invited to an upcoming FREE Parent Education event,
"Laying the Groundwork for a More Supportive and Aware Community Around Gender Diversity"
SESSION 1:
Informational Presentation
February 2nd, 2022, 6:00-8:00pm
Login opens at 5:45pm.
Session 1 will be recorded.
​SESSION 2:
Q&A Session
February 9th, 2022, 6:00-7:00pm
Login opens at 5:45pm.
Session 2 will NOT be recorded.
** Click Here to Register **
​These sessions are intended for families, caregivers, educators, and community members. Students are welcome to attend, however content (and terminology used) may be more suited for middle & high school students.

Registration is required to attend. Deadline to register is Wednesday, February 2nd at 4pm. There is NO requirement to attend both sessions, however only Session 1 will be recorded and shared.
Information Regarding Session 1:
Join gender education specialist Aidan Key with Gender Diversity in examining the topic of gender diversity in children and teens, the challenges faced by these children youth and their families, exploring current research and identifying the best approaches for creating inclusive, supportive environments for these children. 

In our TWO PART WEBINAR, Aidan Key will address several key objectives (as well as several more):
  • Increasing familiarity with terminology and concepts related to gender diversity, specifically transgender, gender diverse, and non-binary youth by establishing a framework of gender and core gender terminology.
  • A comprehensive delineation of gender identity and gender expression as it relates to, and is distinctive from, biological sex and sexual orientation.
  • Overview of gender diverse children in today’s society as well as past perspectives.
  • Barriers to understanding and myths associated with gender diverse populations.
  • Understanding the experiences of gender diverse youth and their families.
  • Increased confidence and tools for having age-appropriate conversations about gender diversity with children of all ages.
  • How to best support gender diverse students and their families.
Information Regarding Session 2:
Kids have questions. Adults have questions. We can get them answered in Session 2! NOW IS THE TIME to get clarity from a reliable source.

Questions may arise like these:
  • How can a child be transgender or gender diverse?
  • Aren’t they too young to know? 
  • Shouldn't they wait until puberty? 
  • What if this is a phase? They seem pretty confused. Are they just trying to get attention?
  • Is it alright to talk with children about this and what is age-appropriate? 
  • How is this different from being gay?  
  • I hardly know what it means to be transgender, what do they mean by genderqueer, pansexual, asexual, non-binary, and gender fluid? 
  • What about bathrooms, locker rooms, overnight trips, sports and other gender-segregated spaces?
  • How do I handle teasing or bullying?

If you already have questions, please include them in your registration so the presenters can prepare in advance.
This event is co-hosted by Arrowhead Elementary PTA, Canyon Creek Elementary PTA, Canyon Park Middle School PTSA, Cottage Lake Elementary PTA, Hollywood Hill Elementary PTA, Kenmore Elementary PTA, Lockwood Elementary PTA, Northshore Council PTSA, Northshore Middle School PTSA, PACE @ Lockwood Elementary, PACE @ Wellington Elementary, Ruby Bridges Elementary PTSA, Shelton View Elementary PTA, Skyview Middle School PTSA, Sunrise Elementary PTA, Wellington Elementary PTA, Westhill Elementary PTSA, and Woodin Elementary PTA.
Click here to download & print the flyer below.
File Size: 795 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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Northshore Council PTSA 6.10 
PO Box 1461
Bothell, WA 98041-1461
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ABOUT US
CONTACT US 
NORTHSHORE COUNCIL PTAS/PTSAS
​
COUNCIL ENEWS

Northshore Council PTSA is a welcoming organization that works to support our Local PTAs and serve the children and youth of our community through advocacy, collaboration, education, engagement, leadership, and mentorship.
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