​We're fresh out of Legislative Assembly and gearing up for Focus Week which will take place January 17 - 21, 2022!

Let us know how we can support advocacy efforts at your school! Please complete Council's short Advocacy Efforts Survey to help us serve you better.

Additionally, Council's Co-VPs of Advocacy, Diana Christiansen and Jennifer Drury, are happy to speak at one of your PTA's board or general meetings or talk with folks one-on-one about questions they have about getting involved in advocacy at all levels. Please reach out to us at advocacy@northshorecouncilptsa.org.

As this school year comes to an end, Council President, Jane Chiodo, would like to leave our local PTA leaders with this end of year message:

This year forced our PTAs to rethink how we serve our communities and, I have to say, that our PTAs met that challenge head on. From pivoting to hold cherished events virtually, holding meetings over Zoom, appreciating our school staff members from afar, and gathering members when you couldn’t even reach out a hand to shake and say hi…. We’ve seen so many incredible things come out of this challenge to our PTA norms! There has been renewed work on supporting our community through the creation of services such as new food banks as well as highlighting the importance of mental health while helping to give our families tools and tips to help them through the anxiety and weather the changes brought about this year. Many advocacy issues took a center stage with major strides made in making sure that everyone is heard and seen. We saw more PTAs than ever before partner together to bring education events and fun to their communities. We also saw PTAs buckle down and weather the storm. Everyone knows how important PTA is – you did what you had to do. You’ll come out on the other side of this ready to rock. I am so proud to be part of the Northshore School District family of PTAs!

Thank you to our hardworking local PTAs for everything they have done for their schools, their families, their students and their communities at large. Thank you to the PTA officers who held the ship together, the PTA board members who continued to push the mission and hold to the goals, and to all of the PTA volunteers who found ways to help when we couldn’t physically be together. You are all amazing and what you do is amazing.

I also want to take a moment to thank the Northshore Council PTSA team. Through the personal ups and downs, your work at your local PTAs, your 9-5 jobs, taking care of your families, and everything in between you were able to continue to work to support our local PTAs through your selfless dedication and incredible work ethic. I am humbled and constantly amazed by this team and their ingenuity in the face of adversity and their unwavering care for their community.

As a council, we worked hard to figure out how to support our local PTAs as best we could. We’re hoping that we did a good job. But, in order to know if we did, we need YOU to let us know! Please take a minute to fill out our survey and let us know how we can support you better as we move into the next school year. We will be taking survey responses up until midnight on Friday, June 25th.

Please take time this summer to rest, relax, and rejuvenate – and, don’t forget the sunscreen! Thank you and have a great summer!!

Thank you to everyone that attended our fifth and final membership meeting of the school year!  This meeting was especially impactful as there were over 55 attendees from our local PTA’s and community partners in attendance. 

Council Business:
The meeting kicked off with an approval of minutes from our March general meeting, before moving on to hear the Treasurer’s Report for the month of May from the Council Treasurer, Liz Nord. May’s report reflected income from membership service fees, as well as expenses related to the Spring Recognition Event, Moneyminder software renewal, WSPTA scholarship funds, WSPTA convention registration fees and awards.

Next on the agenda was an update to the Northshore Council PTSA Standing Rules. Changes recommended were: 

1. Add Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) as a Standing Committee and to the Board of Directors.
2. Add the Mental Health Committee as an ad hoc committee.
3. Remove Presidents and Principals Lunch and Spring Recognition Breakfast from the ad hoc committees as these items now fall under the VP of Events responsibilities.

All items were approved by a unanimous voice vote.

Our VP of Communications, Rachel Fitzgerald, then shared with everyone the importance of updating the contact information for positions being filled for next year in your PTA. If you are an officer next year, please update your contact information before July 1st, 2021. This information will be used to contact you by council board members that want to support your PTA. It is also how you will be on the list to receive communications from council, including the council newsletter, that will keep you updated on events and happenings in our district. Remember to update officers into memberplanet as well!

​District and Community Reports:
School Board Director David Cogan shared an update in regards to Northshore School District that included, but was not limited to:

• For the 2021-2022 school year, all Northshore students, K-12 will have two options for attending school:
  • In person, full time, 5 days a week – This will include mask wearing, social distancing, hand washing, increased ventilation, extra facility cleaning and Covid batch testing for those giving consent.
  • Northshore Virtual Program – daily 70% synchronous instruction from Northshore teachers with Northshore curriculum, 30% asynchronous learning.  The virtual program will not be offering IB classes. 
• NSD is improving inclusive education:
  • North Region schools received a 2019/2020 grant to increase the percentage of students educated in the least restrictive environment.
  • Ruby Bridges and Kokanee Elementary Schools were recognized as Washington State Inclusive Education Demonstration Sites and are consulting with the UW Haring Center for Inclusive Education.
  • This funding was extended for the next 2 years.
• Melissa Reily, NSD Director of Equity and Pedagogy, won the Gallagher Howard M. Coble Scholarship for under-represented educational leaders.
• NSD filed with OSPI their Academic and Student Well Being Recovery Plan
  • To address student needs resulting from school building closures and extended time in remote learning due to COVID-19 pandemic.
  • This is used to distribute the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund.
• Working on the framework for the next NSD 5 year Strategic Plan to begin around June 22.
• Meetings with State Legislators to discuss changes that COVID 19 has had for students, families and districts.
• Happy to report that approximately 1000 students have been vaccinated through vaccine clinics offered through NSD partnerships.

 
 Lauren Lewis, acting NSD Partnerships and Volunteer Coordinator, reported the following:

• Lauren Lewis will be filling in for Natalie Campbell until the Fall.
• Bothell High School vaccine clinic is happening on 6/12, looking for 12 more volunteers.
• Community Serve Day will be on 8/22 this year:
  • All elementary and middle schools are participating for outdoor work, not high schools.
  • Things may change with some opportunities to work within buildings at some point but for now just keep an eye out for any communications regarding updates from the district.
• Conversations with the Board was held earlier tonight. Those events are now starting to return in person so continue to watch for in person events.
• Currently working with the district with the calendar.
• Graduations are being held June 14, 15 and 16! As a district we are looking forward to supporting everyone in a safe way.

Carmin Dalziel, representing the Northshore Schools Foundation, gave an update that included but was not limited to:

• They have three main causes:
  • Inspire learning
  • Remove barriers
  • Build skills for life
• Working on starting a Facebook page for jobs for Northshore teens, for real companies to post opportunities for kids.
• Excited and hopeful that they will partner with the middle schools for career day again next year.
• There are classroom grants available for the Fall. 
• The Northshore Gives Platform has also been a great resource for Senior class projects and raising money for smaller projects at schools or classrooms within the district.
• Continuing to support ethnic studies.
• Removing barriers is what NSF is known for. This year they allocated a CARE team opportunity budget for each school. In total, $105,000 was given out to families in need this year. For more information, please reach out to Heather Erickson.
• Basic Needs Aid still goes on this year. This fund is designated for families facing a hardship or crisis that are in need.
• Still supporting Threads and Treads with a monetary donation.
• There will be a donation drive for school supplies again.
• Just had a fun gala and there will be a wine walk in October.

​After the updates were given by the community partners there was a reminder to the local PTA attendees to please remember to fill out the end of year survey from Council. This survey lets us know how we can better serve your PTA with your valuable feedback. We will be taking survey responses up until midnight on Friday, June 25th.

Our Council President, Jane Chiodo, then shared a personal message of thanks to the council as well as the local leaders and community partners. Click here to read that message.

​Last, but certainly not least, the evening ended with our 2020-2021 Spring Recognition Event! This event was hosted by our Co-VP of Events, Mary Khouzam and Karrie Palis. The theme was "Thank You for Making Lemonade". This was such a fitting theme since all of our local PTA’s did exactly that this year, when handed lemons, they made some lemonade!

The event included performances from Skyview Middle School's symphonic band, orchestra, and choir as well as a performance from the Bothell High School Bel Canto Choir. 

The highlight of the event was celebrating all the achievements of our local PTAs/PTSAs as well as the recipients of their Recognition Awards. Council was also honored to present this year's Council Recognition Awards. Congratulations to:
   

    🌟 Outstanding Educator: Natalie Campbell
    🌟 Outstanding Advocate: Cathi Davis
    🌟 Outstanding Student Advocate: Diya Gupta   
    🌟 Outstanding Service: Melissa Kline
    🌟 Golden Acorn: Lauren Lewis
    🌟 Golden Acorn: Liz Nord
    🌟 Honorary Life Membership: Nancy Chamberlain

Click here to learn more about each of our 2020-2021 Council Award Recipients.

Thank you to our Council Awards Committee Members Diana Christiansen, Rachel Fitzgerald, and Karrie Palis for the beautiful awards presentation and speeches given during the event!

​Thank you to all that attended this fun evening!  It was a fun night with lots to celebrate for making it through this unprecedented school year!  Looking forward to our next membership meeting in the fall.  Have a wonderful summer and enjoy this much deserved time to relax with your families.

As a Council, one of our main jobs is to support our local PTAs/PTSAs. We can do this in many ways, such as informing of best practices, giving advice, answering questions, providing leadership training, building connections, and encouraging local leaders.

Please let us know what we can do to help YOU & YOUR PTA! Is there something that your PTA is struggling with? Do you have any burning questions or concerns? Answer the questions in this survey to let us know.

As always, remember that Council is here to help. You can always reach out to Council members at any time.
Click here for Council Contact Information.

Deadline to complete the survey is Friday, March 19, 2021.

Find out what is important to your members before your delegates vote at the 2020 Legislative Assembly!

WA State PTA has made it easy for PTA leaders to survey your members with this e-survey. Just send the link out to your members and WSPTA will send you the results for your school before legislative assembly starts to see your members’ responses. Your delegates can use these results to guide their votes along with the education and caucusing sessions available for all topics. This survey will provide great input to help your delegates represent your PTA.

Looking for help on how to communicate this e-survey with your members? Check out the wording from WSPTA's Communication Kit for local PTAs below that includes longer messaging for articles and shorter messaging for social media posts. The e-survey closes on October 9th, so make sure to start sharing it today!

Short Messaging to Promote the E-Survey
What issues are most important to you? Hurry - the e-survey closes on 10/9!

​Your  voice matters -- please take a few minutes and complete our  [insert your PTA or council name) PTA e-survey.
​There’s a wide range of topics and we need your input when we vote at the upcoming Washington State PTA Legislative Assembly.  The survey is just titles only, so take a few moments to review the WSPTA Voters’ Guide. But don’t delay, the e-survey closes on 10/9.

​Longer Messaging to Promote the E-Survey (Option A)

What issues are most important to you? Hurry - the e-survey closes on 10/9!
 
​Your voice matters -- please take a few minutes and complete our [insert your PTA or council name) PTA e-survey.
​There’s a wide range of advocacy issues and we need your voice to help our PTA delegates vote on the Top 5 issues that are most important to us. The survey also includes other proposed positions that delegates will vote on to develop the WSPTA platform.  
 
The issues all support the health, education, and welfare of children and youth --  from increasing access to mental health to preventing gun violence and suicide to closing the digital divide. Resolutions range from access to recess and unstructured play to improving outcomes in special education to dismantling institutional and systemic racism. Plus, one new principle against racism, discrimination, and oppression. 
 
The survey is just titles only, so take a few moments to review the WSPTA Voters’ Guide. But don’t delay, the e-survey closes on October 10/9.

​Longer Messaging to Promote the E-Survey (Option B)

​What issues are most important to you? Hurry - the e-survey closes on 10/9!

Member voice matters — please take a few minutes and complete our  [insert your PTA name) PTA e-survey. There’s a wide range of advocacy issues and we need your voice to help our PTA delegates vote on the Top 5 issues that are most important to us. The survey also includes other proposed positions that delegates will vote on to develop the WSPTA platform.  The issues all support the health, education, and welfare of children and youth but the proposed platform covers a wide spectrum of advocacy positions and legislative policies from increasing access to mental health to preventing gun violence and suicide to closing the digital divide. There are also eight resolutions with topics ranging from access to recess and unstructured play to improving outcomes in special education to dismantling institutional and systemic racism. Plus one new principle against racism, discrimination, and oppression. Take the e-survey and let us know what’s important to you.

There’s also a WSPTA Voters’ Guide to give you more information on all the issues as the survey just has the titles. Take a few moments to review that information as you take the e-survey.

Your replies will help guide our PTA’s delegates when they vote at the upcoming WSPTA Legislative Assembly in late October where the new 2020-2021 Platform will be set.

Take a few moments to learn more about the proposed positions and share your priorities with us with the e-survey But don’t delay the e-survey closes on October 9.

As we move into a new school year with continued distance learning and public health concerns limiting in-person meetings, Northshore Council is hoping to promote collaboration between our local PTAs/PTSAs in developing opportunities for Parent Education and Community Connection to our members.

Please let us know what activities your PTA/PTSA is interested in planning to help parents learn, connect, and successfully support students in 2020-21 by filling out this form: https://forms.gle/HhvohMFnif1mZFGh7
Deadline to complete this form is September 23, 2020.

If you have any questions, please contact Lauren Lewis, Northshore Council's F.A.C.E. Chair.
​

Click here to take our Family and Community Engagement Survey

Our Family and Community Engagement (F.A.C.E.) team is committed to increasing awareness of the importance of

• Family Engagement
• Diversity
• Inclusion

​
In order to determine how we can best serve our PTA/PTSAs, we have developed a short survey. We encourage you to take this important survey and also share it with your Board and General Members. Our goal is to learn more about community engagement and inclusive practices in Northshore PTA/PTSAs and use this information to explore how Northshore Council PTSA can provide stronger service in these areas.

This short survey should only take 5 - 10 minutes. Please complete the survey by Monday, August 24th. We will monitor this year's progress with another survey in late Spring 2021.

Special Thanks to Northshore HiCap Parents Council for use of the survey tool!

On behalf of our team, our sincere thanks!

Lauren Lewis - Council PTSA Family & Community Engagement (F.A.C.E.) Chair
Michele Holowachuk - Northshore Council PTSA Special Education Representative
Mary Khouzam - Northshore Council PTSA Co-Vice President of Events 

The Northshore Council PTSA has been asked by Northshore School District Superintendent Dr. Reid to gather feedback on pick up and drop off issues at our schools. The survey may be taken more than once to give feedback for more than one school.

Council will present the anonymous results to the school district as they seek solutions that make our transportation system more efficient. Please share this survey with your school community - and take the survey too!

Click the link below to take the survey:

Survey Deadline is Friday, October 18, 2019.

The survey will close on Friday, May 17, 2019.