eNews: Reminder SCPTSA General Meeting-Family Involvement in Decision Making at Schools

The Seattle Council PTSA will host its first General Meeting of the year on Monday, October 17. How are decisions made at individual schools and what role do parents have? School Board Vice President, Michael DeBell, and Interim Superintendent, Susan Enfield, along with members of her leadership team will discuss and answer questions about the School Board's policy on School Governance.

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First Annual Physical Education Community Forum Showcase

Tuesday, October 18

6-8pm at the John Stanford Center, 2445 Third Ave. S., Seattle

-From SPS

Join us for a night of fun at the First Annual Physical Education Community Forum Showcase on October 18. The event is open for all students, parents, staff and community members. The Community Forum Showcase will highlight "Quality Physical Education" in the Seattle Public Schools. Come ready to learn what is happening in individual schools. The evening will be self-guided. Please come for a little or the entire time! If you have questions, please contact Lori Dunn at lsdunn@seattleschools.org. Light Refreshments will be served.

Community Conversations with ELL and Special Education Directors

Tuesday, October 18

6:00-7:30pm at the Filipino Community Center, 5740 Martin Luther King Junior Way, Seattle, 98118 Tel. (206) 722-9372

-From SPS

Please join Veronica Gallardo, Director of ELL and International Programs, and Becky Clifford Interim Executive Director for Special Education at one of their upcoming Community Conversation hours. During October and November, Ms. Gallardo and Ms. Clifford will be holding a series of informal community meetings to provide families and community members with an opportunity to discuss the issues that matter to you and your family. They look forward to hearing your questions, input, and points of view.

Interpretation services will be provided at this meeting in Spanish, Vietnamese, Somali, Tagalog, Chinese, Oromo, Amharic and Tigrigna.

Dates for future meetings

Seattle School Board Candidate Forum

Tuesday, October 18, 6:30-9:00pm, Madison Middle School

Madison Middle School PTSA and Alki Elementary PTA will host a forum in West Seattle on Tuesday, October 18 from 6:30-9:00 at Madison Middle School, 3429 45th Ave. SW, Seattle, 98116.

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PTA Grant Opportunities

October 28: National PTA offers grants to support "Take Your Family to School" Week. Take Your Family To School Week will be February 12-18, 2012, and National PTA is offering local units the opportunity to apply for one of 45 grants of $1,000 each to support your program. This $1,000 can be used to implement programs that engage families in the school community. If you want more information, please visit the webpage and if you have any questions call Sherri Wilson of the National PTA staff at 800-307-4PTA (4782) or 703-518-1200, extension 3456.

November 1: Deadline for applications for Applegate Grants

'11-'12 REFLECTIONS "Diversity Means..."
Reflections User's Guides have finally arrived and been delivered to local PTA presidents. Reflections chairs/co-chairs, please obtain this guide and read through it. If your school is thinking about participating in Reflections, this very useful guide explains what schools need to know about running a successful Reflections program. It is not too late to start. Reflections artwork is due December 1, 2011 for all Seattle PTSA's. More Information

Results of the WSPTA Survey

eSurvey data online: Searchable database

2011-12 WSPTA Bylaws Amendment Suggestions

Requested Deadline is Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Please take a few minutes to carefully read through the Uniform Bylaws. The most current version is dated April 29, 2011 and can be accessed on the WSPTA website. If you have a proposed amendment to the Bylaws that would enhance the work of the WSPTA, its Board of Directors, committees, regions, councils or local units and make us a better Association, please submit it using the bylaws amendment form. The Bylaws Submission form can be found on the WSPTA website. The final deadline for the submission of proposed bylaws amendments is Tuesday, November 1, 2011. Late submissions will not be accepted. You may print the form, complete it, and mail it to:

Karen Madsen, Bylaws Committee Chair

2911 88th Street SE

Everett, Washington 98208

SPS Capacity Management Information

Over the last two weeks, SPS hosted community meetings to talk about capacity management. A copy of the presentation is located at the link below. SPS is proposing re-opening schools for the 2012-13 school year (Van Asselt in SE Seattle and Boren in West Seattle) and adding portables to accommodate increasing enrollment. The presentation also includes enrollment projections for the next several years.

Presentation Information

LGBT Families Dinner

Thursday, November 3

6-8pm at NOVA/SBOC, 300 20th Ave. E., Seattle, 98112

-From SPS

Seattle Public Schools' Health Intervention Office, Office of School Family Partnerships, and Interim Superintendent Susan Enfield, invite you to join lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) families and friends, for dinner and conversation at NOVA/SBOC-World School the evening of Thursday, November 3. All District families and staff are welcome to attend. Dinner and entertainment will be provided through community donations. To reserve space at this popular event, please RSVP by November 1, with the number of people in your party, to Lisa Love in the Health Intervention Office at (206) 252-0982 or LLove@seattleschools.org.

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Families and Education Levy

Election Day is Tuesday, November 8

The Seattle Council PTSA voted to endorse a VOTE YES on the Families and Education Levy that will be on the ballot this November. The Levy funds programs that support early learning, school-based health centers, family support and out-of-school programs.

Please consider having your PTSA/PTA learn more about the levy. Contact SCPTSA Board member Naheed Nizam at nanizam@gmail.com, if you would like the names of speakers who would be willing to come to your school and discuss the levy with your community. Find out more at Families and Education Levy.

Support the Phone Bank for the Levy