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Important Dates
August 28:
Filming of Families and Education Levy Commercial,
Garfield HS
August 30:
SPS Back-to-School Celebration
August 31:
SPS Teachers Furlough Day
September 10:
WSPTA Region 6 Training, JSCEE, Seattle
September 13:
Regional Planning meeting for IWALK
September 13:
Townhall with Senator, Scott White
Nathan Hale HS,
Seattle
September 21:
Legislative Assembly Training Session
First Place Book Commons, Shoreline
October 6:
Region 6: PTA and the Law Class
Kellogg Middle School, Shoreline
October 14-15:
Legislative Assembly
SeaTac, WA.
October 15:
SPS Family Symposium
Garfield HS, Seattle
October 17:
SCPTSA General Meeting
JSC Auditorium
More Information
http://www.seattlecouncilptsa.org/
(206) 364-7430
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Dear PTA and PTSA Leaders,
The start of school is just around the corner. I'd like to thank all of the PTA Presidents and other parent leaders who were able to attend the Parent Leader and Principal Breakfast last week. Dr. Susan Enfield talked to parents about SPS's plan for the upcoming school year, AGREE -- Attacking Gaps and Raising Expectations Everywhere. We had a great turn out and it was good to see so many of you there to celebrate the start of the school year.
This past weekend, I attended the Family Summit sponsored by the Seattle Association of Black School Educators (SABSE), SPS and the U.S. Department of Education. I learned quite a bit about advocacy, Title I funding, and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, also known as No Child Left Behind. Ina Howell, the organizer, reminded the audience of the importance of family engagement in our students' education. She told us that when families are engaged with their children's school, attendance increases, discipline problems go down, and graduation rates go up. That's a powerful reminder of families' influence on our schools and of the importance of the work of PTAs.
Thank you for all you do for the children of Seattle.
Sincerely,
Lauren McGuire
President, Seattle Council PTSA |
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| SPS Back-to-School Celebration: On Tuesday, August 30
4:00-6:00pm at the Fisher Pavilion in Seattle Center
-- From SPS
On Tuesday, August 30, Seattle Public Schools invites students, families, teachers and staff to kick off the school year with a community-wide Celebration of Learning at the Seattle Center's Fisher Pavilion. The program includes remarks by Interim Superintendent, Dr. Susan Enfield and Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn. Music will be provided by the All-City Band. Representatives from Transportation, Nutrition Services and Enrollment will be there to answer questions from families.
In addition, there will be drawings for prizes. All those attending will receive a ticket as they enter and winning numbers will be drawn at the end of the event for items that include dinner for two at the Space Needle, gift certificate to Dukes Chowder House and Seattle Mariners memorabilia.
Community Groups can set up a resource table for families or staff at the celebration. Please contact Richard Lee at rjlee@seattleschools.org for more information. |
| Seattle Public Schools Urges Families to Enroll Students by Tuesday, August 30
--From SPS
The enrollment team at Seattle Public Schools wants to make sure all students have a school assignment by the first day of school, which is Wednesday, September 7. To accomplish this task, the District is asking families to enroll their students by Tuesday, August 30.
Families new to Seattle Public Schools who want to change schools or who have not yet enrolled should visit us at the John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence (JSCEE) at 2445 3rd Ave. S. You can find a map, driving directions and bus routes to reach the John Stanford Center here. Enrollment hours are 8:30am-4pm Monday-Friday.
Families of students who are continuing enrollment at their assigned school DO NOT need to visit the John Stanford Center. Instead, they can submit their enrollment applications via email, by mail or by using our 24-hour drop box located at the JSCEE south entrance, facing Lander Street.
Information on how and where to enroll students is located on the SPS Enrollment page. The web address is www.seattleschools.org/enrollment
For other questions, call Customer Service at (206) 252-0010. |
| Seattle Public Schools Teachers to Take First-Ever Furlough Days
--From SPS
Seattle Public Schools teachers, classified staff and non-represented employees will be taking a series of furlough days without pay during the next two school years, designed to offset the State Legislature's recent $4-million reduction in funding for SPS salaries.
The first furlough day will be on Wednesday, August 31. On that day, all employees represented by the Seattle Education Association (SEA) and the Principals Association of Seattle Schools (PASS) - as well as all non-represented staff - will be furloughed and prohibited from working. All extra-curricular activities, including athletic practices, will be cancelled on August 31. While district business will essentially be halted that day, there will be employees working in some buildings since not all of the district's collective bargaining partners agreed to accept furloughs.
Families should note that the John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence will be closed for enrollment on Wednesday, August 31. |
| Your Child Can Be A Star!
Sunday, August 28
12pm-1pm at Garfield High School, 400 23rd Avenue, Seattle, 98122
The Families and Education Levy Campaign will be filming a commercial on the steps of Garfield High School on Sunday, August 28, and is seeking the participation of 100 kids, ages 8 to 18. The commercial will be in support of renewing and enhancing the expiring Families and Education Levy which will be voted on in November.
For more information contact, Steven Jones, Campaign Manager at FamiliesAndEd@gmail.com or (206) 552-9148. |
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WSPTA Region 6 Training
Saturday, September 10
8:30am-1:15pm at the John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence, 2445 3rd Ave S, Seattle, WA 98134
Region 6 will be offering its Fall Leadership Conference on Saturday, September 10. Classes include Money Matters for Board Members, Making PTA More Inclusive, Legislative Basics, Energizing Your Secondary PTSA, Membership Basics and President and the Team.
Registration is $40 per local PTA if you register before September 8. After September 8, the fee goes up to $65 per PTA. For this one fee, all board members may attend! Click here to find the registration form and a complete list of classes. |
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Increase in PTA Membership Dues for 2011-2012 School Year
The total amount of dues per member for 2011/2012 will be $9.50. In addition, please remember there is a $5 one-time annual fee per local unit as well. This $5 fee helps send the Outstanding Local Unit to NPTA Convention.
The dues breakdown is as follows:
National PTA dues per member: $2.25
Washington State PTA dues per member: $5.75
Seattle Council PTSA dues per member: $1.50
Several PTAs leaders have contacted us with questions about how to pass on this increase in dues to their members and if they need to have the increase in their dues voted approved in their Standing Rules prior to sending out membership forms. According to the WSPTSA, local PTAs are obligated to collect the fees imposed by State and National PTA, as well as Council, if applicable. The local PTA members don't have a vote in those increases, except when they are voting delegates at a Council meeting, State Convention, or National Convention when such increases are part of the agenda. |
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WSPTA Outstanding Advocate Award
The WSPTA Outstanding Advocate Award Committee is seeking nominations for deserving individuals who demonstrate continued and dedicated service to ALL children and demonstrate commitment to helping create strong policies relating to the health, welfare, safety, and education of children and youth.
This award will be presented at the Legislative Assembly October 14-15, 2011. The submission deadline for nominations is September 15, 2011.
Please go to www.wastatepta.org/advocacy for an application form.
Thank you,
Angela Falcone, Region 15 Director
Washington State PTA |
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Regional Planning Meeting for International Walk (IWALK) Month
Tuesday, September 13
10:30am-12:00 noon at the John Stanford Center, 2445 3rd Avenue South, Seattle, 98134
International Walk to School (IWALK) Month is October 2011. 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. |
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Closing the Digital Divide: Comcast offers reduced rate broadband service to families whose students qualify for Free or Reduced Lunches
We are living in the information age, and the internet and email are important tools for students and families. Many district, school and academic resources are available online. Comcast is offering broadband internet service for $9.95 per month to families whose students qualify for free lunches under the National School Lunch Program. They are also offering a computer for $149.99 (plus tax) to these families as well, in addition to training on how to use a computer. This program is available to families who live in the Comcast service area and who are not currently Comcast Internet customers. For more information on the program and to see if you qualify, call 1-855-8-INTERNET or visit InternetEssentials.com.
Please pass this information on to the families at your school. |
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