December 2015 – Agenda Notes (PTD)

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REMINDERS

Donation Ask (Outreach): Lunch for the Break donations: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4eafab22a4fc1-lunch2

AIM Insurance (Outreach): Be sure to bring these to Laila:  Cascade Ridge, Challenger, Discovery, Grand Ridge, Maple Hills, Newcastle, Sunset, Issaquah Middle, Maywood, PCMS, PLMS, and Liberty.

2015-16 WSPTA Deadline Dates can be found HERE in one handy document!

ADVOCACY

 

ART IN THE SCHOOLS
  • ISF will accept grant request one more year
    • Started writing grant for ISF
      • Better fit because grant monies come to our account and we pay out, one less step in process
    • Retracted grant request to IAC
      • Grant is reimbursement type – meaning we had to foot the bill first then they would reimburse us for expenses
  • Set up Monthly trainings for Winter/Spring
    • January 22nd Sumi E painting
    • February 26th Acrylic painting
    • March 25th Mono printing
    • April 22nd Glass fusing
    • May 27th TBD
  • Trainings
    • November glazing training was full and we had a good turn out
  • Started a conversation with ISF about long term funding for district trainings
  • Long Term Funding Plan – topic for next month?
    • Devise a plan
    • Grants?
    • More from schools?
    • Charge for certain events?
    • Sell products?
    • Others?

BEST PRACTICES MOMENT

PTA Monthly Checklist –  Full Year

Two articles to utilize for your dispersement of National PTA News:
http://ptaourchildren.org/2015/11/13/why-your-kid-needs-to-play/
http://www.pta.org/newsevents/newsdetail.cfm?ItemNumber=4680

HEALTHY YOUTH / INFLUENCE THE CHOICE
  1. Paid Contract Opportunity – ITC (Influence the Choice Drug Prevention Alliance for Youth) is currently seeking someone to fill a short-term contract to assist with the planning and implementation of their 4th Annual ITC Video Contest. 

Request: The potential contract would be between 5-10 hours per week from now until April 2016 (and could be beyond depending on funding).  Duties would include promoting the contest, working with student and teachers submitting videos, planning and overseeing a judging of the video submissions, and coordinating with the staff and students planning an Awards Ceremony.   There would be some evening meetings for the planning team involved however most work should be done through emails, phone calls, etc.  Contact Project Coordinator Pat Castillo at pat@isdfn.org  if you are interested in applying for the contract.

  1. “The Incredible Intensity of Just Being Human”– a partnership with artEast, BEST (Building Emotional Strength Together) with funding through the Issaquah Schools Foundation, and other community partners will be bringing this exhibition to the Eastside from April 18th to July 11, 2106.  The art and social exchange will examine through art the stigma and silence surrounding mental illness.  A planning team is beginning to work on the planning and implementation of the exhibit.

Request:  A representative from the PTA Council, Board or any PTA member  interested in helping in the planning and implementation of this event can contact Barb de Michele at barb@isfdn.org 

  1. Teen Café Exploratory Group – under BEST, a group of interested leaders are beginning to explore the possibility of opening a Teen Café in Issaquah.

Request:  A representative from the PTA Council, Board or any interested PTA member interested in participating in this exploratory group or to receive the State of Need document can contact Barb de Michele at barb@isfdn.org.  The next meeting date is Thursday January 14th, 2015 – location and time to be provided.

ISSAQUAH SCHOOLS FOUNDATION (ISF)

 

MEMBERSHIP
Regarding issues with Dual/Family Memberships, please read this: http://bit.ly/1IBbeo5

OUTREACH / F.A.C.E.
Holiday Gift Barn – This program serves 1,200 children in the Issaquah School District each year. We turn Pickering Barn into a huge toy store where parents can choose 3-4 gifts for each of their children, plus stocking stuffers. We also have a wrapping station and child care so the gifts can stay a surprise until Christmas morning.
The Holiday Gift Barn is still in need of volunteers and donors, openings throughout the week, Dec 7-10.
Please check out the website for more details. https://issaquahfoodbank.org/holiday-gift-barn
The Lunch For The Break program is working to make sure students have enough food even when school is not in session. Lunch for the Break provides a free box of grocery items for each student in the family that can be used to make breakfast, lunch and snacks. Schools being sponsored for Winter Break are Apollo, Briarwood, Clark, IVE, IMS, Maple Hills and Sunset.
Lunch For the Break is currently in need of more donors. With this morning’s updated registration information, there are about 40 more children registered than boxes of food. These numbers will be changing over the next week as we approach Donation Day on Dec. 16, and with your help, we hope to see that gap close.
Please visit the website for information on how to donate ! www.LunchForTheBreak.com

PARENT EDUCATION

Below are the events to publicize for January!  Some are early in the month, so start NOW before the break.  Please put in every ENews now until the event(s), and post on your PTSA and school calendars, social media, and print the flyers for your school bulletin boards.

1)    Understanding the Grade, by author Thomas Guskey

Wed., Jan 6th, 2016

6:30-8:00pm

Skyline HS, Theater

(for parents of grades K-12)

Parents of Issaquah School District students are invited to an evening presentation with author and internationally known expert on grading practices, Dr. Thomas Guskey, who will share research, describe new directions in grading policies, and offer suggestions for enhancing communication between parents and teachers for both elementary and secondary levels.

This title and description changed; please use new flyer attached.

 

2)    Child Safety Workshop, by Kim Estes of Savvy Parent Safe Kids

Thurs, Jan 14th, 2016

7:00-8:30pm

Grand Ridge Elementary, Library

(for parents of grades K-5)

This workshop is about child safety topics: sleepovers & playdates, teaching body safety, smartphone safety, what apps should kids avoid, online safety, Super 10 rules, red flags and warning signs.  We all want to keep our kids safe…            See flyer attached.

 

3)    Safe Dating – Talking to Your Teen, by Robin Wright of Wright Conversations

Tues., Jan 19th, 2016

7:00-8:30pm

Skyline HS, Library

(for parents of grades 6-12)

Safe Dating – Talking to Your Teen helps parents learn more about teen dating abuse and gives parents the tools they need to discuss it with their teens.  Talking to your teen early is the most important step a parent can take to ensure that when they start dating, they clearly understand what a healthy relationship involves.

See flyer attached.

That’s it for January.  Let Heidi know of any additional events you are planning so we can spread the word.

REFLECTIONS

All School Hand-in date was November 20th.

Out of 24 schools in the district, only one school (Liberty ) did not submit any entries. They did have a chair, Sally Smith, but she said they unfortunately did not receive any entries this year.

We received a total of 266 entries plus 9 special artist entries.

Literature: 40 Music Composition: 18 Dance Choreography: 8 Film Production: 8 Photography: 28 Visual Arts: 155

According to the new rules, we are able to submit 20% of our entries. So, 53 plus 8 special artists can go through to the State Level.

All schools received invitations to the Reception on January 12th, when they dropped off their entries. These were to be given to their finalists, PTSA Presidents and Principal. I have extras if anyone would like me to send them one.

Regarding the Reception, Issaquah High School, was booked back in September and I have confirmation in writing.

The judging is currently underway, the ribbons have been ordered, I am working on inputting the names into the Reception Program. In summary, everything seems to be moving ahead smoothly.

SPECIAL NEEDS

Special Education Parent Night Thursday, January 14, 2016 in the Beaver Lake Middle School Library from 6:30 – 8 pm. The Special Education Parent Nights offers parents a chance to hold a public conversation with Melissa Madsen, Susan Wolever, and Tara Slinn the School District’s Special Services Administrators

The Special Education Parent’s Night scheduled for last week at Maywood Middle School will be rescheduled after the first WInter Break.

 

VOLUNTEERS FOR ISSAQUAH SCHOOLS (VIS)
Volunteers for Issaquah Schools (VIS)
School Bond Kickoff Event
DATE CHANGE:  Tues., January 19, 2016 *
 7-8:30PM at the KCLS Service Center, Issaquah
This event is open to all in the community who would like to hear information about the upcoming April 26, 2016 School Bond. However, this event is particularly important for school/PTA VIS reps and those that will be helping to distribute materials or Honk & Waves, etc for the campaign. This will also be a great opportunity to pick up the window clings and other VIS support items and to sign up for speakers to attend any community or PTA events.
If at any time you have questions, please contact Dawn or Alicia or check the website:http://www.visvote.org/
*(this date was changed to accommodate the District’s parent ed speaker Dr. Thomas Guskey, on Wed. 1/6/15)
Contacts:
Dawn Peschek dawn@visvote.org  or Alicia Veevaert  alicia@visvote.org
Website: http://www.visvote.org/

WEBSITE & DIRECTORY

Directories – Directories were distributed.

Surveys – It’s important to survey your membership periodically. It’s also a component of awards and Best Practices.  When you are ready to do your survey, let Cindy know.

 

TRAININGS