PTA Support is Essential to Successfully Renew Seattle Public School Levy Funding.  Get Involved Today!

The phrase "It takes a village" is never more relevant than when it comes to renewing our public school levies. Continuing our levies will ensure that the basic educational needs of Seattle Public Schools' nearly 50,000 students are met, especially as the school population is set to grow.

The campaign and our students need every PTA to help get out the vote by endorsing, donating and signing-up for a phone bank TODAY.  Ballots arrive in voter mailboxes on January 23! 

Phone calls are one of most effective ways to remind voters to support our schools and students!  Contact Kerry Cooley-Stroum for more information or to sign-up for a phone bank. You can endorse our levies and contribute at www.schoolsfirstseattle.org.

As a reminder, these levies are not new taxes, but renewals of two critically important funding sources.  

OPERATIONS LEVY: Accounts for more than 25% of operating funds including day-to-day basic needs such as ELL and Special Ed programs, as well as teaching, and 6^th period for high schools.

CAPITAL LEVY (BEX IV):  Provides essential funding to maintain and improve our existing schools, such as earthquake safety upgrades at 37 schools, wireless in every school and other technology improvements, plus renovating and expanding schools to meet Seattle Public Schools' growing student population.

Questions, contact Heidi Bennett, School's First Board Member and PTA Region 6 Legislative Chair, or contact Kerry Cooley-Stroum to help get out the vote for our school levies today!  

Join Hundreds of PTA Members in Olympia on Thursday, January 24 for FOCUS DAY 2013

Every year, WA State PTA Members rally on the steps of the Capital to make our voices heard in the campaign to fully fund and support K-12 education. Get your children off to school and then come down to Olympia to help support our campaign. This is a great way to meet your legislators and learn more about the legislative process. Washington State is in the bottom 10% for state funding; our legislators are accountable, so let's rally for schools and students!

When:  Thursday, January 24, from 10:30am to 2:00pm

Where: State Capital Building, Olympia

What:

Pre-rally meeting at 11:00am

Rally in the rotunda at noon

Programming and meeting with legislators 12:30-2:00pm

REGISTER TODAY at WA STATE PTA. This event is free but please register so that organizers know who's attending for legislator meetings, and to help arrange carpools. You can also buy lunch but that option ends on January 18.

Questions, contact Heidi Bennett, Region 6 Legislative Chair or Linnea Fichter, SCPTSA Legislative Chair.

More information 

Region 6 PTA Training

-From Region 6

We have a Mid-winter conference coming up on Thursday, January 31 at Ingraham High School (North Seattle). Remember that all officers must attend PTA approved training during the year. This is your opportunity to network, receive training, and have some fun. Please let me know if you have any questions.

More information

Sarah DuCette  

Region 6 Director  

ptareg6@wastatepta.org  

Seattle Memorial for Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson on January 10, 2013

-From SPS

A memorial to remember Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson, who passed away on December 5, will be held on Thursday, January 10 at Mt. Zion, 19th and East Madison, Seattle.

The memorial will start at 4:30pm.

Dr. Goodloe-Johnson, who served as Seattle's Superintendent from 2007-2010, passed away after a long battle with cancer.

If anyone would like to speak at the memorial, or would like to help with flowers, the reception or printing of the program, please call Elma Horton at 206-325-6941. 

Rally to Ban Assault Weapons - Seattle Event on Eve of New State Legislative Session

-From WSPTA

Gun control advocates will be hosting a rally and march on Sunday, January 13, in downtown Seattle. StandUp Washington will commemorate Sandy Hook Elementary shooting victims and demand a state ban of semi-automatic weapons. Washington State PTA is not a sponsor of this event, but nationally the association works to prevent gun violence and we wanted to let members know about this opportunity.

• March and rally: Gather at Westlake Park in downtown Seattle and march to the Seattle Center Mural Amphitheater
• When: Sunday, January 13, at 1:30pm
• Sponsor: Washington CeaseFire
• Event information 

Nationally, PTA has a rich history of advocating on behalf of children, particularly as it relates to their safety and well-being. At the federal level, PTA advocates for re-enactment and expansion of the federal ban on the sale and possession of military-style assault weapons, as well as a federal ban on non-sporting ammunition. For more information on PTA's positions on measures to prevent gun violence and how PTAs can be advocates, please see our online resources.

Blanket and Coat Drive at Schools

-Sponsored by Seattle Education Association

With the cold winter weather upon us, many of our families struggle just to keep warm. Staff and families can bring donations of warm blankets and coats to schools through Monday, January 14.

If you would like to volunteer to get more involved with families in transition, please email Phyllis Campano, Vice President of SEA, at pcampano@washingtonea.org

College Goal Sunday

-From SPS

College Goal Sunday is a series of statewide events that provide free information and assistance to students and families who are applying for financial aid for post secondary education by helping them complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).  The FAFSA is an essential first step in accessing college financial aid.

Seattle Public Schools will be hosting six College Goal Sunday events across the district.  We would really like to see our students and families benefit from the incredible services available at these events.  Trained volunteers will be on hand at each site to walk students through the FAFSA process. Our goal is to have all SPS seniors complete the FAFSA.  College Bound Scholarship seniors must complete their FAFSA by January 31, 2012 in order to meet the deadline for priority funding.

College Goal Sunday dates and locations are listed below:

January 9 (3-7pm) at Cleveland HS

January 10 (6-8pm) at Franklin HS

January 16 (6-8pm) at Roosevelt HS

January 16 (4:30-7:30pm) at Rainier Beach HS

January 23 (6-8pm) at Ingraham HS

January 24 (6:30-8:30pm) at West Seattle HS

The Seattle Public Libraries will also be hosting two College Goal Sunday events at the Central Library (1000 4^th Avenue) on Saturday, January 12 from 11am-5pm and Sunday, January 13 from 1-5pm.  Students are encouraged to attend these events as well.

Additional information about College Goal Sunday can be found at www.collegegoalsundaywa.org or klrillo@seattleschools.org.

City Departments to Host Workshop on Community Grant Opportunities

Thursday, January 17

-From the City of Seattle

The public is invited to a January 17 workshop on upcoming matching fund opportunities for community-initiated neighborhood or technology projects. Hosted by Seattle Department of Neighborhoods and Department of Information Technology, it will be held from 6:00-7:30pm at the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW.

The workshop will present information on the criteria and application guidelines for the Technology Matching Fund and the Small and Simple Projects Fund which award matching funds to neighborhood groups.

More Information

Preparing for Legal Marijuana

- From Prevention WINS Coalition & Community

Since initiative 1- 502 was approved last month, parents have been asking what they should be saying to their children about the law and about marijuana.  In response Nathan Hale High School's Raiders Against Destructive Decisions (RADD) and the Roosevelt High School PTSA will host parent education nights in January.  Both will feature Kevin Haggerty from the University of Washington Social Development Research Group. 

Tuesday, January 15

7pm at Nathan Hale High School

Thursday, January 17

7pm at Roosevelt High School

Elementary Parent Education -

Coalition members Christine Milton and Carolyn Bernhard have developed a 30-minute presentation for 5th grade parents about how to talk to their children about drugs and alcohol as they transition into middle school.  For more information please contact Inga Manskopf, Prevention WINS Coordinator | Adolescent Medicine

Seattle Children's, Tel. 206-987-7612