PTAs Need YOU! PTAs all across Northshore School District are in need of volunteers. Volunteers for your school's PTA/PTSA are the ones responsible for all the amazing things PTAs accomplish throughout the year including things like:
Currently, NSD PTAs are in the process of electing officers for next school year. Without elected officers, PTAs are not able to fund programs and are even at risk of closing. Contact your school's PTA/PTSA to find out how you can help & encourage others to do the same! No experience necessary to become a volunteer. In fact, Northshore Council PTSA & WA State PTA provide support and training for PTA leaders all throughout the year. Click on images to download and share on your PTA's social media or newsletter.
Myth: Volunteering for PTA is only for stay-at-home moms. Fact: Anyone can be a PTA Volunteer! A parent with a full time job who is only available in the evenings or weekends, a grandpa who wants to stay active during retirement, an auntie who wants to teach a fun hip-hop class after school, a neighbor from down the street who wants to give back to their community - all of these people and so many more make great volunteers! Myth: PTAs only need volunteers in elementary school. Fact: PTAs in our Middle Schools & High Schools need volunteers as well, but it may look a bit different than it did in elementary. Many of the volunteers at the secondary level are "behind the scenes" helping to coordinate teacher grants, planning end of the year grad celebrations, or working with the ASB to increase resources. And, of course, all levels of PTAs need volunteers to fill the role of their executive board which includes positions such as President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Myth: The same people volunteer every year; I'm not needed. Fact: While it's great to have dedicated volunteers return each year, PTAs welcome and need new volunteers each year! There are term limits for elected volunteers, events that are growing in attendance, and new program ideas being suggested - all of which benefit from an increase in new volunteers.
What to Plan for Your Summer Retreat
![]() What goes on the Retreat Agenda? Create your calendar as best you can. Get down your meetings and some of your bigger events. Review the Budget and Standing Rules. Discuss your team’s communication norms and individual expectations. Brainstorm new ideas for Membership, Advocacy, Diversity, and Engagement. There are more resources available. Check out PTA Year-End Board Transition: Nuts and Bolts and Summer Board Retreat - Northshore Council PTSA 6.10 for previous year’s ideas from Council.
Does your PTA give out a Golden Acorn award? Maybe an Outstanding Educator, or an Outstanding Advocate award? Or more? Please let us know by completing this form.
We would like to create a list of all of our local PTA award winners to share with the community. These volunteers deserve to be celebrated!!! If possible, please let us know your award winners by Thursday, June 1st so they can be celebrated in our last eNews for this school year! Learn more about local PTA/PTSA awards. Questions? Email Jenn Snyder at communicationsvp@northshorecouncilptsa.org.
Sponsored by: Maywood Hills PTA Northshore Council PTSA Crystal Springs PTA Kokanee PTA On Presidents Day, about 25 Northshore PTA parents and students travelled to Olympia and met in person with three lawmakers that represent our district, Representatives Berg, Donaghy, and Kloba. Joining them was Interim Superintendent Mike Tolley and School Board Director Sandy Hayes. Leading up to and during Focus Day, members of Northshore PTSA Council met with all nine Senators and Representatives that cover the large territory of Northshore School District. These advocates shared the Top Washington State PTA Legislative Priorities including Special Education Funding, Addressing Student Mental Health, Gun Safety and Suicide Prevention, School Safety, and Addressing Critical Gaps in Funding. Specifically, students and their families shared how educational policies and gaps in funding directly impact them. They also advocated for specific laws like raising the cap on Special Education Funding and Universal Highly Capable Screening. Here is a complete description of Washington State PTA's Platform. More on Advocacy:
On November 17th, 2022 Northshore Council PTSA held its second General Membership meeting of the school year.
We would like to say thank you to all of the local leaders from across the district, as well as community and school partners for taking the time to join us! Continue reading below for a recap of the meeting. 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:
Thank you community partners for joining us! Council Committee Updates:
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!
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.
![]() At the 44th Annual Legislative Assembly members from across the state came together to learn, debate, and vote on the new legislative priorities WSPTA will focus on for the next two years. In addition to the issues the delegates ranked as the top five, an additional eight issues were added to the "also supported" list. Jennifer Drury, Cherry Holmes, and Kim Ortiz represented Council as voting delegates. In addition to Council delegates, there were PTA leaders from across Northshore schools that attended either in-person or remotely as delegates for their PTAs.
In addition to voting on the legislative priority issues, delegates approved one new resolution "4.16 Equitable and Impactful Family Engagement in Education" and amendments to resolutions 2.23, 18.36, and 18.40 that encompass issues on gun violence, highly capable, and students with disabilities. Learn more about the resolutions. Thank you all for advocating for our students! More on Advocacy:
WSPTA Leadership Training Information: Immediately following our General Meeting, we will be offering two Leadership trainings; Volunteers - Find Them and Keep Them and Roles and Responsibilities of the Board. Training is free and will satisfy the WSPTA annual training requirement. Training Descriptions Volunteers - Find Them and Keep Them How can your PTA build the community of volunteers it needs to run a thriving association? How do you attract volunteers and keep them involved? How do you create a balance between your volunteer resources and your needs? Get more volunteers and keep them! We’ll show you how. Roles and Responsibilities of the Board This presentation will help all board members understand the basic responsibilities of their positions – and everyone else’s! It will also cover items such as advocacy, fiduciary responsibility, membership and outreach. Additional Meeting Information:
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. You can also request the passcode by emailing Council PTSA Communications VP, Jenn Snyder. |
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