eNews: Principal and Parent Leader Breakfast and 2011 Parent Summit

I'd like to welcome in our new PTA leaders for 2011-12. Welcome to the eNews of the Seattle Council PTSA. During the school year, we send out weekly electronic newsletters to keep you informed on what's happening in and around the district. I'd like to introduce Jo Cross-Whiter, our new eNews editor. Thanks Jo for taking this on!

On an administrative note, please make sure a list of 2011-12 PTA Board members is sent to Melissa Anderson at the Washington State PTA. Her email address is manderson@wastatepta.org. The Washington State PTA keeps a master list of all PTA officers. The WSPTA sends important information and reminders about keeping in compliance with non-profit laws and the like.

I hope you are having a great summer.

Sincerely,

Lauren McGuire

President, Seattle Council PTSA

Principal and Parent Leader Breakfast

Tuesday, August 16

7:30am at Ballard High School, 1418 NW 65th Street, Seattle, 98117

The Seattle Council PTSA will be hosting its annual Principal-Parent Leader Breakfast for Principals, senior district staff and incoming PTA and PTSA Presidents on Tuesday, August 16 at 7:30am. Please note the venue has been changed from the John Stanford Center to Ballard High School. If your PTA/PTSA President is not available, they should send another parent member of their Board to attend. Schools without a PTA or PTSA are also invited to send a parent leader. This is a great opportunity for principals and parent leaders to get to know each other better.

For more information please contact, Lauren McGuire, Seattle Council PTSA President at laurenscptsa@gmail.com

2011 Parent Summit

Saturday, August 20

7:30am to 1:30pm at Cleveland High School, 5511 15^th Avenue South, Seattle, 98108

The Seattle Alliance of Black School Educators and the U.S. Department of Education, in Partnership with Seattle Public Schools, invite you to attend the 2011 Parent Summit. Topics to be covered include: School Reform, Parent and Family Engagement and Seattle Public Schools Initiatives. All parents are invited to attend this free event.

For more information and an application form please click here.

Regional Planning Meeting for International Walk (IWALK) Month

Tuesday, September 13

10:30am-12:00 noon at the John Stanford Center, 2445 3^rd Avenue South, Seattle, 98134

International Walk to School (IWALK) Month is October 2011. Every year, thousands of schools around the world get their students walking with IWALK celebrations. As of July 15, only FOUR Washington State schools have registered events on the IWALK website. Compare that to Oregon (17), California (50), Idaho (10), and Montana (19). This year, Feet First challenges schools across the state to increase our IWALK participation 5-fold and get to 20 by October! What can you do to access free assistance from Feet First?

- Contact Jen Cole to get on our Safe Routes to School email list. You will receive information and links for the remainder of the summer to put you in good planning position for the fall.

- Register your school's intent to hold an event by going to walktoschool.org. When they ask how you heard about IWALK, please tell them Feet First sent you.

- Come to the regional planning meeting on September 13 to network and share ideas with other IWALK schools. Feet First will give away free lollipop signs, walking maps, incentives and other surplus items to anyone in attendance.

For more information, go to the Feet First website: feetfirst.org.

Change to SPS School Start/End Times

In order to streamline school bus transportation routes, Seattle Public Schools will be adjusting their start/end times. For a complete list of the new times please click here .

For more information on the SPS 2011/2012 Transportation Plan please click here.