 Thank you to all that attended our fourth membership meeting of the school year! Each general meeting provides us with an opportunity to connect with our wonderful local PTA leaders and community partners and learn more about the great things happening across our district.
A little bit of fun: We started off our meeting with a 30 minute “social” time. We invited all to join us to chat with Council and other local PTA leaders. We had great conversations and learned that “Flight” was the most desired superhero power in our fun poll! Guest Speaker: Our guest speaker this month was Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid who graciously answered questions regarding the upcoming shift to hybrid learning in NSD. A great range of questions were asked including but not limited to: how PTAs can support the return to classrooms, the thinking behind the hybrid model, vaccination progress for teachers, when the learning model will be decided for Fall, what hybrid will look like for those 100% remote, and the latest updates on SBAC testing. We thank Dr. Reid for taking the time to join us during such a busy and stressful time. Council Business: After approving our minutes from our January general meeting, we moved on to hearing the Treasurer Report for the month of February. We then moved on to learning about our 2021-2022 preliminary budget. Our budget committee worked along with our Treasurer, Liz Nord, to evaluate what our needs would be for next year taking into consideration the decrease in memberships that we had experienced in 2020-2021 possibly continuing next year. A few changes were recommended, such as lowering our income expectations and cutting costs where we could (obtaining a smaller PO Box, lowering line items such as hospitality, grants, office supplies, etc.). We also added line items for our new DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) position and our new Mental Health committee. The preliminary 2021-2022 budget was approved by a unanimous voice vote. Next up on the agenda was electing our 2021-2022 officers! Thank you to our hardworking Nominating Committee, Grace Jurado and Liz Nord, for putting together a rocking slate for next year! Liz Nord read the Nominating Report. The self-nomination period was held with no others submitting their names for nomination. The election script was followed with a reading from the WSPTA bylaws. A motion was cast to accept the slate as presented, seconded, and unanimously approved by a voice vote. Congratulations to our incoming 2021-2022 officers!!
Council Reports: Tracy Jokisch, our Emergency Prep and Safety Co-Chair, gave us an update regarding the bulk purchase of Stop the Bleed kits for district schools. There will most likely be over 500 kits ordered in total, which will include 2 kits per school contributed by Council. In conjunction with the Stop the Bleed effort, Clark Combs, district Eprep specialist on the district Safety and Security team, has been offering virtual ACT training to staff. Diana Christiansen, our Council Vice President of Advocacy, gave us an update regarding the exceptional attendance by WA State PTA members at this years National PTA Legislative Conference. It was great to see big representation especially at “Hill Day” when attendees met directly with legislators and their staffers. Check out our NPTA LegCon recap here! We got an update on the Reflections program. 55 pieces were forwarded to the state competition and we were waiting to hear results. (Results now in - check them out here!) The Council Reflections Celebration website was a big hit allowing many families – as well as family and friends around the country! - to experience all the works of art from artists all over the district. Next year’s theme was announced as, “I Will Change the World By…”. Diana Christiansen and Karrie Palis announced that our Council Recognition Awards Nominations were open. They are looking for nominations for the following awards: Outstanding Educator, Outstanding Advocate, Outstanding Student Advocate, Outstanding Service, Golden Acorn, Honorary Life Membership. They are also looking for members to join their committee to review nominations and select winners. Melissa Kline gave an update regarding membership. Three (3) PTAs had reached 100% staff membership and, in total, we have reached 4,826 members which is 62% of last year’s number. Melissa also gave an update about the newly formed Mental Health Committee. The committee had their first meeting recently, at which they discussed goals and things they would like to work on which included communicating about mental health awareness programs. Lauren Lewis, our Council F.A.C.E. (Family and Community Engagement) Chair, talked about the Equity Inventory Committee, which was established to assess where our Council stood in regards to equity and diversity. The goal of the committee was to look at all facets of our operation through a DEI lens and then to make suggestions on areas that we could improve on. Lauren was also working on finding a presentation about how to navigate the US high school system that could be offered to families in our district that speak other languages or who have moved here from other countries. Natalie Campbell, the District Partnerships and Volunteer Coordinator, said that we could partner with her and Elizabeth Meza to bring something like this to the district. It was also noted that through the Council Educational Speaker and Community Events Grants program, Woodin Elementary was offering "Guide to Helping Your Children Succeed in Elementary and Beyond", presented by Sistema Escolar, USA, to district parents. District and Community Reports: School Board Director David Cogan presented an update in regards to Northshore School District that included, but was not limited to:
Natalie Campbell, NSD Partnerships and Volunteer Coordinator, reported the following:
Carmin Dalziel of the Northshore Schools Foundation gave updates regarding her organization and their work to support NSD:
Our last guest was Patsy Treece of the Citizens for Northshore Schools group to talk about Bond and Levy support. Her group’s purpose is to give citizens information about the bond and levies on the ballot and to urge them to vote. Bond and levy votes only happen every four years. Bonds need 60% to pass and levies need 50%. She was looking for volunteers to serve the group and was particularly interested in adding diversity so that all voices could be heard. She also asked if PTAs could add a line item to their budgets to help support the Citizens group. Learn more about Citizens for Northshore School here. Our next membership meeting will be held on Monday, June 7th. We hope to see you there!  Sistema Escolar USA presenta "Guía para ayudar a sus hijos a tener exito en la primaria y más allá". Abril 6, 6:30 PM en español a través de Zoom ¡Pulse aquí para registrarse! Los invitamos a una charla para aprender cómo puede ayudar mejor a sus hijos desde la primaria y las oportunidades que existen en el distrito escolar, para obtener lo mejor que la educación pública tiene a su servicio. En esta charla también conocerá un poco del sistema escolar y sabrá a quien recurrir cuando tenga preguntas o necesite ayuda académica, tecnológica o emocional para su hijo o hija. La escuela tiene muchos recursos y queremos que usted conozca cuales son y lo mas importante, que usted sepa que es parte esencial de nuestra comunidad escolar. Este evento es copatrocinado por Northshore Council PTSA y Woodin Elementary PTA. Habrá interpretación al inglés disponible para quienes lo soliciten. "Guide to Helping Your Children Succeed in Elementary and Beyond" presented by Escuela Sistema USA.
April 6, 6:30 PM in Spanish via Zoom Click here to register! We invite you to a talk to learn how you can better help your children from elementary school and the opportunities that exist in the school district, to get the best that public education has at your service. In this talk you will also learn a little about the school system and know who to turn to when you have questions or need academic, technological or emotional help for your son or daughter. The school has many resources and we want you to know what they are and most importantly, that you know that you are an essential part of our school community. This event is co-sponsored by Northshore Council PTSA and Woodin Elementary PTA. English interpretation will be available for those who request it.  Northshore Council PTSA is excited to offer this Parent Education Event on the conversation of screens & teens. This event is FREE for all Northshore parents and guardians.
Join us for a virtual movie* presentation of the film "Screenagers NEXT CHAPTER: Uncovering Skills for Stress Resilience". Filmmaker and physician Dr. Delaney Ruston takes the conversation around screens and teens to the next level with a film that examines the science behind teen’s emotional challenges, the interplay of social media, and most importantly, what can be done in our schools and homes to help them build crucial skills to navigate stress, anxiety, and depression in our digital age. Click here to register and view a trailer for the film! *Once registered, you will be given access to view the film virtually from home. This can be done "On Demand" anytime between the viewing period of March 8th-23rd.  Join us virtually on March 4th at 7:00PM for this upcoming Parent Education event: A Solution for (Almost) Every Struggle: Parenting Outside the B.O.C.S.! Have you ever felt defeated by your child's behavior? Do you recall a time when you were at a loss for how to manage your child's big feelings or felt your own pulse rise over the latest annoyance or transgression? Then join us for this webinar where you will learn real, practical parenting tools to help you parent with heart! This “Live” Workshop is presented by Parent Coach® Christy Keating, J.D. who will explore a new framework for addressing (almost) any conflict or challenge that arises with children, whether they are toddlers, teens, or in-betweens, and helps parents when that “I don’t know what to do or say” feeling happens. Topics during the workshop will include: • How our brains hijack our best intentions while parenting; • How to respond rather than react; • What our children’s challenging behaviors may actually be telling us and how to decode the messages; • Why time-outs, rewards, punishments, and bribes don’t work and what to do instead; • How to problem-solve with our children; and • How to ensure our solutions help our families THRIVE. Drawing on principles of positive discipline, research and writings by Dr. Daniel Siegel, Jane Nelsen, Lynn Lott, Rudolph Driekurs, and her own experience as both a parent and parent coach, Christy teaches parents a new framework for interacting with their children and solving problems. Attendees will walk away with clear strategies they can use to parent in a way builds love, joy, connection, along with important social emotional skills. Register to attend at: https://heartfulparentacademy.mykajabi.com/northshore. **Space is limited** Questions? Contact us! This event is co-sponsored by Northshore Council PTSA, Cottage Lake Elementary PTA, and Hollywood Hill Elementary PTA. Check out the flyer below or download it by clicking here.  Northshore Council PTSA is proud to announce the recipient of our third round of Educational Speakers & Community Events Grants for 2020-2021!
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. 2020-2021 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 20-21 school year, but this program will return in the fall of 2021. For more information about the grants program, visit our Educational Speakers and Community Events Grant Program page.  Northshore Council PTSA is excited to share information about two upcoming Parent Education Events; one on mental health awareness and the other around the conversation of screens & teens. These events are FREE for all Northshore parents and guardians. Check out the details for each of these events below!
 Northshore Council PTSA is proud to announce the recipients of our second round of Educational Speakers & Community Events Grants for 2020-2021!
Local PTAs/PTSAs interested in partnering with Northshore Council PTSA to host speakers or events may apply for a Northshore Council PTSA Educational Speakers and Community Events Grant. 2020-2021 grants are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis and applications will be reviewed by the Northshore Council PTSA until the Council Programs budget is used in its entirety. The submission deadline for the next round of Educational Speakers & Community Events Grants is January 22, 2021. For more information about the program and to download the application, visit our Educational Speakers and Community Events Grant Program page. *All events that are open to the Northshore community will have an RSVP link posted as soon as available.  Northshore Council PTSA is proud to announce the recipient in our first round of Educational Speakers & Community Events Grants for 2020-2021!
Local PTAs/PTSAs interested in partnering with Northshore Council PTSA to host speakers or events may apply for a Northshore Council PTSA Educational Speakers and Community Events Grant. 2020-2021 grants are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis and applications will be reviewed by the Northshore Council PTSA until the Council Programs budget is used in its entirety. The submission deadline for the next round of Educational Speakers & Community Events Grants is November 27th, 2020. For more information about the program and to download the application, visit our Educational Speakers and Community Events Grant Program page.  Join us virtually on October 21st at 6:30PM for this upcoming Parent Education event: Parenting on the Same Page! Guest Speakers, Kira Dorrian and Deana Thayer, co-founders of Future Focused Parenting, aim to support parents and caregivers doing the best they can to create a safe loving environment for their children, where everyone works together as a team. This presentation is for any parent or caregiver that wants to thrive rather than just survive throughout their parenting journey. This session helps families get on the same page with their parenting partner or other adults in their children’s lives. Learn strategies for communication, preparing for parenting curveballs, and how to parent with unity even when you disagree. Presentation includes a Q&A for attendees. Talking points of this presentation include:
Register to attend at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/parenting-on-the-same-page-registration-123364748283 Zoom link will be emailed to those who have registered before the event. Note: A Spanish translator will be available during the presentation. Email mayna@closetfly.com if you would like to utilize this service so we can connect you with the translator before the presentation begins, or if you would like to request translation in another language. Acompañenos por Zoom para nuestro primer evento de KEPTA Parent Education, organizado junto con Northshore Council PTSA! Nuestros oradores invitados desean apoyar a padres y guardianes que quieren crear un ambiente seguro y cariñoso para sus hijos, en el cual todos trabajan como un equipo unido. Parenting on the Same Page (Criando Niños Juntos) Miercoles, el 21 de Octubre de 6:30pm a 8:00pm (incluyendo preguntas y respuestas) https://www.eventbrite.com/x/parenting-on-the-same-page-tickets-123364748283?utm_term=eventname_text Antes del evento, conozcan a nuestros oradores: Kira Dorrian, CHt, HBCE y Deana Thayer, M.Ed. https://futurefocusedparenting.com/ El enlace de Zoom se enviará antes del evento. Un traductor de español estará presente durante el evento. Por favor envíe un correo electronico antes del evento si le gustaría estar asignado al traductor para el evento. Si su PTA está interesada en compartir con su comunidad la grabación de esta presentación, por favor comuníquese con este correo electrónico para obtener una licencia. This event is co-sponsored by Northshore Council PTSA and Kenmore Elementary PTA.  
 Mental health issues related to our lockdown and pandemic are difficult for everyone but especially hard for people with depression or who suffer from drug or alcohol abuse. According to an article by the American Medical Association, there has been an increase in drug overdoses during this period. The CDC reported that symptoms of anxiety disorder and depressive disorder increased considerably in the United States during April–June of 2020, compared with the same period in 2019. Below you will find articles with additional information and resources to help if you or someone you know are struggling. Article from HCP Live: Covid-10 Lockdown Having an Impact on Adolescent Mental Health
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): Covid-19 Information & Resources (including NAMI Crisis Helpline) Mental Health Coping Strategies during Coronavirus Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Article on Coping During Community Unrest 24/7 Online Chat & Phone Numbers Crisis Text Line Be #HealthyAtHome with Tips from the World Health Organization (WHO) Resources from Northshore School District including Mental Health Providers in both King & Snohomish counties. |
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