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Important Dates:
November 14:
Superintendent Traits Meeting
Roosevelt HS, Seattle
November 15:
Superintendent Traits Meeting
Denny International MS, Seattle
November 15:
Federal tax returns due for 2010-11 fiscal year
November 15:
Resolutions deadline for consideration at convention
November 16:
Seattle Public School
Annual State
November 17:
Superintendent Traits Meeting
SouthShore K-8, Seattle
November 19:
See it. Be it.
Seattle Center
November 28:
Capacity Meeting
Denny International MS Library
November 29:
Capacity Meeting
Eckstein MS Library
November 30:
Recommendations due for Region 6 Director for 2012-14
December 1:
Capacity Meeting
Washington MS Library
December 1:
Reflections entries due to SCPTSA
December 10 and 11:
Reflections Art Exhibit
The Center School, Seattle
More Information
(206) 364-7430
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Dear PTA and PTSA Leaders,
Please share information in this newsletter with members of your community.
Sincerely,
Lauren McGuire
President, Seattle Council PTSA |
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Let Your Voice Be Heard - Opportunities to Give Your Input on the Permanent Superintendent of Seattle Public Schools
The Seattle School Board will decide this winter whether to conduct a national search for a Superintendent or whether to appoint Interim Superintendent Dr. Susan Enfield. Before the School Board decides, they will seek input on the traits that members of the public would like to see in a Superintendent. The School Board has partnered with the Seattle Council PTSA to help gather this information from Seattle Public School families. As a part of this we are hosting three community meetings in November where families can share their thoughts with members of the School Board. There will also be a survey seeking the same input available in mid-November.
Families of all students in Seattle Public Schools are encouraged to attend and share their comments in these free and welcoming community meetings hosted by the Seattle Council PTSA..
Monday, November 14, at Roosevelt High School, 7:00-8:30pm
Tuesday, November 15, at Denny International Middle School, 7:00-8:30pm
Thursday, November 17, at South Shore K-8, 7:00-8:30pm
Childcare and light snacks will be available starting at 6:30pm at all locations. For interpretation services please email barbara@seattlecouncilptsa.org or call (206) 364-7430.
Announcement Translations |
Seattle Public Schools to Host Three Public Engagement Meetings on Short-Term Capacity Management Planning
-From SPS
To gather as much feedback as possible, Seattle Public Schools will hold three additional community engagement meetings regarding the proposed capacity management plan:
Monday, November 28, 6-7:30pm at Denny International Middle School Library, 2601 S.W. Kenyon St
Tuesday, November 29, 6-7:30pm at Eckstein Middle School Library, 3003 N.E. 75th St
Thursday, December 1, 6-7:30pm at Washington Middle School Library, 2101 S. Jackson St
The meetings will include presentations by Seattle Public School Capital Projects and Planning staff members, followed by a question and answer period. Comments from the community will be collected, recorded, considered and included in the District's Short Term Capacity Management planning process. For information on the District's capacity management process, please click here.
For further information, please contact Tom Redman, Capital Communications, at tlredman@seattleschools.org. Phone: 206-252-0655 |
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WSPTA Resolution Deadline: November 15 for Consideration at Convention
Resolutions outline the opinion and will of the association to address statewide problems. They are long-term positions that have been submitted to the resolutions committee by members, units, committees or councils. Once accepted by the resolutions committee and approved by the Washington State PTA Board of Directors, they are voted on by delegates at either the legislative assembly or the state convention. Resolutions are reviewed annually, when they can be combined, amended or recommended for retirement.
Current Resolutions
Instruction Form
Proposals should be emailed, faxed or mailed to the attention of Ramona Hattendorf, rhattendorf@wastatepta.org |
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Budget Reduction Alternatives
The governor has identified $4 billion in possible budget reductions. Some suggested items include eliminating school bus transportation ($220M), increasing class size by two students in grades 4-12 ($137M), and reducing the school year from 180 to 175 days ($125M). For a list of the reductions please click here.
We encourage all members to contact the governor. Please tell her what strategy you prefer - all cuts, raise revenue, or balance cuts and new revenue - and your top 3 funding priorities.
Information on Current Budgets
Ramona Hattendorf
Government Relations Coordinator, Washington State PTA |
OSPI Invites You to a Public Forum on the Common Core State Standards
Tuesday, November 15
5-8pm at Tyee High School, SeaTac
OSPI will host a Public Forum on November 15 from 5-8pm at Tyee High School in SeaTac. The forum will provide high level information about the standards and provide an opportunity for attendees to make recommendations about whether they should be enhanced, under what process and timeline. These events, as directed by the Legislature, will be open to the public.
If you cannot attend the forum, you are invited to complete an online survey available through November 23rd.
Please feel free to contact the OSPI Teaching and Learning office if you have any questions about these opportunities. (360) 725-6417 |
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Webinar on Family, School, Community Engagement
Wednesday, November 16 from 1:00-2:30pm (EST)
The U.S. Department of Education, in partnership with United Way Worldwide, National PTA, SEDL, and Harvard Family Research Project, invites you to participate in the ninth and final installment of the Achieving Excellence and Innovation in Family, School, and Community Engagement webinar series. Attached is the invitation for this webinar. Please share this with your units and ask them to participate. For more details and to register to attend, click here. |
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See it. Be it. Career Exploration
Saturday, November 19
10am-12pm at Seattle Center North West Rooms
-From SPS and the Alliance for Education
Please join us on Saturday, November 19 at the Seattle Center to learn more about interesting and fun career options for your student. At this Career Exploration event students and families will have the opportunity to meet people who can help students get there. This event is hosted by the Seattle College Access Network (SCAN):
For more information click here or contact Marilena at intern@alliance4ed.org.
It's never too early to begin discovering your career path!
Parent volunteer's are needed as bus chaperones. Buses are coming from each region of the district and two chaperones are needed on each bus. The buses will depart from Washington Middle School, Aki Kurose Middle School, Chief Sealth High School, Denny International Middle School, Ballard High School and Nathan Hale High School. If you'd like to help, contact Karen Tollenaar Demorest at karen@alliance4ed.org. |
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Office of the Education Ombudsman Open House
Monday, November 21
Drop-in from noon to 4pm
Columbia Room, Legislative Building, Olympia
The Office of the Education Ombudsman (OEO) resolves complaints, disputes, and problems between families and elementary and secondary public schools in all areas that affect student learning.
We function independently from the public school system and provide an alternative to costly lawsuits and administrative hearings. Our services are available to students from Kindergarten to 12th grade, and are free and confidential.
On Monday, November 21, the OEO is having an open house from noon to 4pm. Take this opportunity to find out more about the OEO.
OEO Director, Adie Simmons, discusses at 12:30pm and 2:30 pm: "What role should parents play in public education?"
Beverages and good food provided. We hope to see you there!
For more information go to www.waparentslearn.org. |
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'11-'12 REFLECTIONS "Diversity Means..."
The due date for all Seattle Area Reflections Entries is Thursday, December 1, not to be confused with the January deadline for WA State. Individual Seattle PTSA/PTA's submit through Seattle city wide PTSA on December 1, from 10am-1:00pm at the John Stanford Center, 2445 3rd Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98134.
If you are involved with or work in the arts (film, dance, photography, visual arts, music or literature) and might be available to lend your expertise and artistic eye to evaluate student art for an hour or two, please contact enrichment@settleschoolsptsa.org.
SAVE THE DATES: Seattle Council PTSA Reflections Art Exhibit
Saturday, December 10 and Sunday, December 11 at The Center School, 3rd Floor Center House at Seattle Center, 305 Harrison St. Open to all Seattle Public School Families. Reflections Chairperson's please remind your students and families to come and view Reflections art from across the district. |
Seattle Council PTSA Grants Doing Great Things in Our Schools!
Arbor Heights received a Family Engagement Grant for a PTSA General Meeting that also introduced their new principal. The meeting kicked off the school year with light food, a PTSA membership drive, and an invitation to all families to meet with the principal, other families, and PTSA members in an open school effort.
Orca K-8 received a Family Engagement Grant to engage more middle school families and families of color. They created a Community Resource Center at their school where parents and students can go for information on community events.
Chief Sealth received a Family Engagement Grant and Arts Grant. The Family Engagement Grant helped them provide translation at several PTSA general meetings to engage Somali and Spanish speaking families, as well as recruiting new PTSA members and potential leaders.
The SCPTSA Arts Grant supported Chief Sealth's participation in the national PTA Reflections Arts Competition. |
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