Important Dates:
September 17:
Superintendent Meeting, Mercer MS
September 18:
Superintendent Meeting, Rainier Beach HS
September 20:
BEX IV Meeting, Whitman MS
September 24:
BEX IV Meeting, Madison MS
September 27:
BEX IV Meeting, McClure MS
October 1:
Superintendent Meeting, Bryant Elementary
October 2:
Superintendent Meeting, Concord International Elementary
October 8:
Superintendent Meeting, Hamilton International MS
October 15:
SCPTSA General Meeting, JSCEE
More Information
(206) 364-7430
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Dear PTA and PTSA Leaders,
We hope this year is off to a good start for everyone! We'd love to hear what you're up to this fall at your school. Please submit you PTSA sponsored event details to Jo Cross-Whiter at enews@seattlecouncilptsa.org. It's a great way to connect with the other 79 local units in our district. We'd also welcome your questions. We're periodically going to include a Q & A in our news letter. Again, this is a great way to reach out to the rest of the district and help us all learn a little more! Thank you, Rita Sheckler Co-President, Seattle Council PTSA Here's a question we received this week: When does a PTSA need a business license? If we sell T-shirts, does that require us to get a business license? Answer: You don't need a city business license if you are a non-profit that occasionally sells T-shirts. You also don't need to collect state sales tax, as long as you only sell shirts occasionally- like at events, or once or twice a year through pre-orders. If you offer them all year, then the state considers you to have a 'store' and you would have to collect sales tax and turn it over to the state. You probably want to avoid doing this.
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BEX IV September 2012 Community Meetings Schedule
-From SPS
Seattle Public Schools will host three community meetings on September 20, 24 and 27 to share information and ask for comments about building construction projects to be included in the Building Excellence IV (BEX IV) Capital Levy package. Once approved by the School Board, the BEX IV Capital Levy resolution will be submitted to Seattle voters in February 2013.
The community meeting dates are:
Thursday, September 20, 6:30-8:00pm at Whitman Middle School
Monday, September 24, 6:30-8:00pm at Madison Middle School
Thursday, September 27, 6:30-8:00pm at McClure Middle School
For more information on BEX IV, please visit: www.bit.ly/SPSBEX
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Opportunities for Families, Community Members to Meet New Seattle Schools Superintendent
-From SPS and SCPTSA
Seattle Public Schools is partnering with the Seattle Council PTSA to sponsor five community meetings for SPS families and community members to meet Superintendent Jos� Banda in September and October.
During the meetings, the Superintendent will briefly talk about his vision for the school district, followed by informal conversations with those in attendance. Those meetings are scheduled from 6-7:30pm on the following dates:
Monday, September 17 - Mercer Middle School, 1600 S. Columbia Way
Tuesday, September 18 - Rainier Beach High School, 8815 Seward Park Ave. S
Monday, October 1 - Bryant Elementary School, 3311 N.E. 60th St
Tuesday, October 2 - Concord International Elementary School, 723 S. Concord St
Monday, October 8 - Hamilton International Middle School, 1610 N. 41st St
"Our schools serve as centers for learning community-wide, and it is critical that we engage families and community members in supporting them," Banda said. "I am firmly committed to developing strong school-community partnerships to enhance academic outcomes for all of our students."
In addition, Superintendent Banda will hold open office hours on the last Thursday of every month during the school year, starting September 27. Each appointment will last 15 minutes, and can be in person in the Superintendent's office at the John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence, or via telephone. To schedule an appointment, contact Venetia Wallace by phone at 206-252-0167 or via email at vhwallace@seattleschools.org.
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We Need You! SCPTSA is Currently Seeking Four New Board Members for the 2012-2013 School Year
The Seattle Council PTSA has the following Council positions open for the 2012-2013 year: Central Area Director, NW Area Director, SW Area Director and Reflections Chair.
If you know of any great candidates who are interested in issues that affect every child; who routinely attend meetings; is interested in city-wide issues and has a strong commitment to education, please submit their names to us. SCPTSA welcomes potential Board candidates who represent our Seattle communities; who have diverse viewpoints and backgrounds and have the time and energy to make positive changes for all children. Please submit your recommendations to Lauren McGuire and Rita Sheckler at president@seattlecouncilptsa.org.
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Represent Your PTA at Legislative Assembly - Sign up Today! -From Region 6
Delegates from across the state will gather October 19-20, 2012, at the SeaTac Marriott to decide WSPTA's 2013 legislative platform. Learn about the issues, network, and find your voice. All members are welcome but WA State positions are voted on by delegates from your local PTA/PTSA and council. If your PTA/PTSA doesn't participate in legislative assembly, your members won't be part of the vote. The number of voting delegates is determined by registered members and voting cards are mailed early October to your PTA President.
Distribute the online survey to find out which of the 18 issues should make the top 5 but hurry the online survey is only up until 9/30/12. For more info or to register and for questions, contact Heidi Bennett, RCL6 at heidi@bennettdirect.net.
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K-12 Arts Plan Mid-Point Meeting
-From SPS
Thursday, September 27
6:30 to 8:30pm at City Hall's Bertha Knight Landes Room
The Seattle K-12 Arts Learning Collaborative will share a report on the progress of the development of a comprehensive K-12 arts plan to increase quality learning opportunities for all students in Seattle Public Schools.
The goal of the collaborative is to ensure all students in all Seattle Public Schools have opportunities to learn through the arts, helping them to be successful in school and in life. Last spring, many in the community shared their vision for a new Arts Plan in a series of community focus-group meetings. The school district released a report with findings from those meetings. Find out more about the progress of the plan and the important role the arts play in building 21st-century skills at the mid-point meeting.
Children are welcome. Free supervised arts activities for school-aged children will be provided. Space for children's arts workshop is limited. RSVP is required to Jenny Crooks, or (206) 684-7084. Download a flyer
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Changes Coming to Metro Bus Service Starting September 29
-From King County Metro
Thousands of riders will see changes to their routes starting September 29. Dozens of routes will have different bus stops, travel on different streets or have changed schedules. Some low-ridership routes will be eliminated and buses moved to serve more people.
Starting September 29, there will be no free rides in downtown Seattle and riders will pay when boarding the bus. Metro is transitioning to a pay-on-entry system on all buses. Eliminating the downtown Ride Free Area, which has been in place nearly 40 years, will raise needed revenue and preserve transit service. Riders should prepare for initial delays as lines form to pay fares when boarding. Riders can speed up boarding times and be ready for the pay-on-entry system by getting an ORCA card. For those who relied most on the Ride Free Area to reach services in downtown Seattle, a free circulator shuttle will be implemented in association with the city of Seattle to serve those who need to access downtown human services and health resources.
Metro also is launching two new RapidRide lines Sept. 29, with frequent service and special features. RapidRide C Line will travel between downtown Seattle and West Seattle, and RapidRide D Line will travel between downtown Seattle and Ballard via Uptown.
More Information
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Three Simple Ways to Keep Your Board and PTA Members Informed
-From Region 6
1. Keep your board members informed by registering them with the State PTA
Registering your Executive Board and key board members/chairs is important, as it is a means for them to receive support from their Regional and State Directors. This includes all your officers and chairs - Treasurer, Legislative, Membership, Outreach, Communications,
Reflections, etc. It will enable them to join list serves, get updates and access other important information.
2. Enter your PTA events, board and general meetings on the SPS Calendar
Seattle now has online calendars that communities can access from the SPS and school websites. This is a great tool so parents and members can know when your PTA events and meetings are. Even if your meetings are the same day as last year, new families don't know this information. The new SPS calendar makes it simple to see each school calendar. Take advantage of this new technology. To have your dates listed, speak to the administration at your school.
3. Collect postal addresses and email for all members
PTA Membership provides information from the State PTA, Seattle Council and your local unit in a variety of means - both to home postal addresses and email addresses. Please collect this info on your membership forms and enter it into the State Membership database so your members can stay informed, participate in events, offerings, activities and legislative issues.
Heidi Bennett, WA State Region 6 Legislative Chair
Heidi@Bennettdirect.net
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Help Your PTA Learn More about the School Levies and How to Support Them
-From Schools First
Two crucial levy renewals will be on the ballot this school year. The first, an Operations Levy, funds approximately 30% of the District's operating budget. Past operating levies partially paid for instructional programs; costs related to full-day kindergarten; a sixth period at high schools; student activities such as athletics, drama and music; bilingual and special education services; textbooks and classroom supplies; transportation and security. The second, a Capital Levy (BEX IV), funds building and infrastructure projects. It is expected that BEX IV will, in part, be used to address over capacity issues in the District by creating new or improved classroom space.
Historically, many PTAs have endorsed the levies, provided a PTA donation to the campaign and school parents have actively volunteered to support passage of the levies. Schools First, the non-profit, volunteer coalition that campaigns for renewal of the levies, has speakers available to come to one of your meetings to share information about the levies and discuss the endorsement/donation process. Please contact Kerry Cooley-Stroum, who will be on the Scholars at Garfield/PTA Academic Committee this year, at kcs@seanet.com for more information, and to schedule a brief presentation for your September board meeting. More information is available at www.schoolsfirstseattle.org.
Thank you,
Greg Wong, Schools First President |
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