Northshore Council PTSA 6.10
  • Home
  • Council Blog
  • About Us
    • Officers & Contacts
    • Standing Rules & Policies
    • Mission Statement
    • Goals & Objectives
    • Northshore PTAs/PTSAs
    • Contact Us
    • Guest Seat Policy
  • Calendar
    • Council Meetings
    • Training Opportunities
    • Parent Education Opportunities
  • Advocacy
  • Membership
  • Council Programs
    • Council Awards >
      • Award Recipients
    • Educational Speakers and Community Events Grants >
      • Grant Recipients
    • Emergency Preparedness >
      • EP FAMILY
      • EP Chair Info
    • Presidents & Principals Workshop
    • Reflections >
      • 2021-2022 Reflections Art Showcase
    • Spring Recognition Event
    • Volunteering >
      • Thank You
  • Community Resources
    • Mental Health Awareness
    • Parent Education
  • Council eNews
  • Forms, Documents, & Procedures
  • Local PTA Awards
  • Northshore School District
  • Region, State, & National PTA Info
    • Region 6
    • WSPTA
    • National PTA

Special Education: Student & Family Support (6/7)

5/11/2022

 
Picture
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, June 7th
Time: 
6:00PM
​Focus Topic: Caregiver Self-Care
Registration*: https://www.tfaforms.com/4970917

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.

This fourth (and final for this school year) webinar in the series will take place on June 7th and be focusing on Caregiver Self-Care. This webinar will discuss mindfulness to support resilience, why a checklist can calm your brain, and access to a video library with more self-care content. Check out the flyer below for more information.

*Deadline to register is 6pm on Monday, June 6th.

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!

June 7th SpEd Webinar: Caregiver Self-Care
June 7th - Special Education: Student & Family Support Flyer
File Size: 483 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Be SMART Presentation Opportunity

5/10/2022

 
Be SMART
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 
kinbergj@yahoo.com.

How to Manage Stress & Anxiety and Develop a Growth Mindset

5/4/2022

 

​Northshore Council PTSA in partnership with Leota Middle School PTSA and Skyview Middle School PTSA is offering a FREE education event on stress & anxiety presented by ZGIRLS. 

Join us for "How to Manage Stress & Anxiety and Develop a Growth Mindset"
​Date: May 25th, 2022
Time: 7:00pm
Click Here to Register
Picture
Parents and students from all communities are invited to join this ZGiRLS workshop, hosted by professional athletes, as they talk about how they learned to navigate stress & anxiety while also maintaining a growth mindset. You will learn a results-driven approach to stress management and concrete steps everyone can take to develop a growth mindset. Help your student step into their confidence and regulate their stress levels in order to prevent feeling overwhelmed and anxious all the time.

Leota PTSA, Skyview PTSA and Northshore Council PTSA are pleased to be partnering with ZGiRLS to bring you this educational event. ZGiRLS, which was founded by Olympic and NCAA female athletes, supports the mental development of girls ages 11-16 years old. All parents and students regardless of gender are welcome to this event.
 
Speakers: Prior to becoming the co-founder and executive director of ZGiRLS, Jilyne Jarvis, spent a year traveling the world with the US Ski & Snowboard team. Jilyne graduated from the University of Vermont with a bachelors in public communications.  Helena Scott was on the US Sailing Team for 5 years in which the US team placed 9th at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Helena went on to earn a bachelors in biomechanical engineering and a masters in mechanical engineering from Stanford University. She is now working as a mechanical engineer.

Questions? Email contact@leotaptsa.com.

3/21/22 General Membership Meeting Recap

4/25/2022

 

​​Last month Council held their 4th General Meeting of the 2021-2022 school year.

We appreciate all the local leaders from across the district as well as community and school partners who took the time to attend!


Continue reading below for a recap of this meeting.
Recap: 3/21/22 General Membership Meeting
Guest Presentation by Northshore School District Ethnic Studies Framework:  NSD Assistant Director of Equity and Pedagogy, Melissa Riley, and Northshore students shared a presentation on ethnic studies in the Northshore School District. This presentation answered the questions "What is ethnic studies, why is it important, and what will it look like for kids?" The curriculum will be for grades Pre K-12 and more information can be found here: https://bit.ly/pesbccdei.

Council Business: 
Approval of the January 20th, 2022 Meeting Minutes which were accepted with minor changes. Approval of the preliminary budget for the 2022-2023 school year.

Election of our 2022-2023 officers:
Thank you to our hardworking Nominating Committee, Diana Christiansen, Cherry Holmes, and Jasmine Lee Fry, for putting together the slate of candidates! Diana Christiansen read the Nominating Report. The self-nomination period was held in accordance with our e-voting policy 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 approved by a voice vote.

Congratulations to our incoming 2022-2023 officers!!
  • For the Office of Co President: Rachel Fitzgerald and Mary Khouzam
  • For the Office of First Vice President: Grace Jurado
  • For the Office of Secretary: Open*
  • For the Office of Treasurer: Serena Xu
  • For the Office of VP of Events: Open*
  • For the Office of VP of Advocacy: Jennifer Drury
  • For the Office of VP of Communications: Jennifer Snyder
  • For the Office of VP of Elementary Support: Diana Christiansen
  • For the Office of VP of Secondary Support: Brenae Brix

*Please be advised that by the time the self-nomination period closed, no candidate had come forth for either Secretary or VP of Events. Council will continue to seek volunteers for these positions with the goal of holding elections for them at a future General Membership Meeting. If interested in serving in either of these roles on an interim basis, please contact us at president@northshorecouncilptsa.org.

District Updates:
  • NSD Partnerships & Volunteer Coordinator Marco Garcia informed us that everything related to becoming a Northshore volunteer or being a campus visitor can now be completed on the Safe Visitor website for volunteers. He also let us know that the vaccine requirement has not been lifted. Finally, Community Serve Day will be August 21st 2022 with more information to come. Learn more about becoming a NSD volunteer.
 
  • NSD School Board Updates: Director Amy Cast reviewed the technology parameters with us, reviewed strategic goals and indicators of progress as it has been five years, and reviewed the use of the Levy money including safety grants, work towards more school mental health professionals, nurses, as well as fewer portables etc. Learn more about NSD's School Board.
 
  • Northshore School's Foundation: Hanisha Bakshani/NSF Ambassador North Creek High School let us know that the NSF All in For Kids event is March 31st, 2022 at 4pm at the Evergreen Church. Learn more about the Northshore School's Foundation.

Council Reports: 
  • Staff Appreciation: Rachel Fitzgerald informed us that we will have a virtual staff appreciation for district staff. Currently collecting thank you notes from the community to put together for the staff. There will be a different piece for the council to do as well. The deadline to collect notes  and gather all the information is April 22nd. Learn more...
 
  • Council Recognition Awards: Mary Khouzam updated us on Council recognition awards. This year we have an online form for nominations again which can be found here. If you would like to help with the awards recognition, please contact Mary at awards@northshorecouncilptsa.org.
 
  • Speaker and Events Grants Program: Mary Khouzam let us know that grant program has closed for this year. Click here for Round 3 Recipients.
 
  • Reflections: Jasmine Lee Fry updated us that we had 267 entries that were submitted to the council. 59 submissions were forwarded to the state. 4 entries won awards at the state level. Click here for judging results from both Council & WSPTA as well as a link to our Virtual Art Showcase. 
 
  • Special Education: Laura Staneff let us know that Council will hold a series of 4 webinars scheduled for free through PAVE. The first one was about IEPS and took place on March 22nd. There will be three other webinars in April, May and June. Learn more...
 
  • Mental Health Committee: Melissa Kline & Pauline Wray updated that the Mental Health Committee's Digital Safety Event with Jo Langford happened on March 14th and was well attended. Currently the committee is working on getting Mental Health resource posters up in secondary schools. Finally, an anti-bullying article is currently up on our website and ask that you please share it with your communities. 
 
  • Membership: Hanisha Bakshani & Melissa Kline updated us that 21 PTAs are over their membership numbers from last year and we have a total of 5,337 members to date.   

We hope you will join us for our next General Membership Meeting on May 16th, 2022 @ 7pm. This meeting will also include our annual Spring Recognition Event!

​For a full list of our upcoming meetings and events, check out our Calendar.

Special Education: Student & Family Support (5/10)

4/21/2022

 
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, May 10th
Time: 
6:00PM
​Focus Topic: IEP Transition (Planning for Life after High School)
Registration*: https://www.tfaforms.com/4970890

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.

This third webinar in the series will take place on May 10th and be focusing on IEP Transition. This webinar will discuss planning for life after high school including information on tools to help students with disabilities prepare for adult life. Check out the flyer below for more information.

Save the Date for Our Next Special Education Webinar:
  • June 7th: Caregiver Self-Care

*Deadline to register is 6pm on Monday, May 9th.

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!

May 10th - Special Education: Student & Family Support Webinar Flyer
May 10th - Special Education: Student & Family Support Flyer
File Size: 512 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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 treasurer@kenmoreptsa.org.

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.
Picture
Picture
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.

Picture
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
Picture
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.
<<Previous

    Archives

    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018

    Categories

    All
    Accessibility
    Advocacy
    Art Docent
    Awards
    Awareness
    Bonds & Levies
    Candidates Forum
    Coffee With Council
    Community
    Convention
    Council Committee
    Council Office Hours
    Council Programs
    DEI
    Elections
    E Prep
    Events
    F.A.C.E.
    Family Engagement
    Financial
    Focus Day
    Focus Week
    Governance
    Grants
    Issues
    Leadership
    Legislative
    Legislative Assembly
    Local PTAs
    Meetings
    Membership
    Mental Health
    Nominating Committee
    Northshore PTAs
    Northshore School District
    NPTA
    Online
    Parent Education
    Principles
    #PTAProud
    PTA Training
    Public Comment
    Reflections
    Region 6
    Resolutions
    Resources
    Roundtable
    SOA
    Spanish
    Special Education
    Spring Recognition
    Spring Recognition Breakfast
    Staff Appreciation
    Standards Of Excellence
    Survey
    Volunteer
    Vote
    WSPTA

    RSS Feed

  • Home
  • Council Blog
  • About Us
    • Officers & Contacts
    • Standing Rules & Policies
    • Mission Statement
    • Goals & Objectives
    • Northshore PTAs/PTSAs
    • Contact Us
    • Guest Seat Policy
  • Calendar
    • Council Meetings
    • Training Opportunities
    • Parent Education Opportunities
  • Advocacy
  • Membership
  • Council Programs
    • Council Awards >
      • Award Recipients
    • Educational Speakers and Community Events Grants >
      • Grant Recipients
    • Emergency Preparedness >
      • EP FAMILY
      • EP Chair Info
    • Presidents & Principals Workshop
    • Reflections >
      • 2021-2022 Reflections Art Showcase
    • Spring Recognition Event
    • Volunteering >
      • Thank You
  • Community Resources
    • Mental Health Awareness
    • Parent Education
  • Council eNews
  • Forms, Documents, & Procedures
  • Local PTA Awards
  • Northshore School District
  • Region, State, & National PTA Info
    • Region 6
    • WSPTA
    • National PTA