1. Advocacy- Save the date Focus Day January 24^th 2013
2. Parent Education- More exciting parent education opportunities are on the council website:  Parent Ed » Issaquah PTSA Council 2.6.
3. Student Satisfaction- If you are able to help with giving statements at school board meetings, please contact Betsy Cohen.  Available dates are April 25^th, May 9^th &23^rd, June 13^th & 20^th.
4. Emerging Minorities Leadership (EML) is now at Highline Community College May 19^th 9-3. It is one of your last chances to meet your training requirement this year.
5. MSN offer and fundraising for more details see the MSN website
6. End of year Zoomerang survey Please don’t leave it till the last moment please contact Deborah Parsons. She has past examples and will gladly help point you in the right direction with your survey.
7. InvestEd (formerly called the Saul Haas fund) please consider making your donation early so that it can be matched as money is quickly used up in grants. Website will give middle and high school presidents more details but I know these matching funds are exhausted early in the school year and so if a PTSA has a line item for InvestED and typically makes a donation, it would be in their best interest to do that as early in the school year as possible and then have the bookkeeper apply right away for the matching funds. I would recommend August or September at the latest.

Also contact Julie Davis, Executive Director
InvestED, formerly Saul and Dayee G. Haas Foundation
Immediate help for students in need
911 8th Ave N | Seattle WA 98109
c. 253.740.3143
www.InvestED.org

New Information

• ACT in ISD Support ACT ( Academy for Community Transition)  Here is their wish
  STUFF: Puzzles, Board games, Card games
  EXPERIENTIAL: Business internship, Visit to their workplace
  Monetary donations payable to ISF w/ ACT in memo line.

Diana Gay is director.Gayd@issaquah.wednet.edu

• Parent Education do you have a big idea for parent education next year think about and be ready to share early next year.
• “Toiletries for Tiger” if you have anything along the lines of shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste and brushes, deodorant/antiperspirant please hand over to Suzie Kuflik. We would also like to ask for gift cards for Fred Meyers/Target/Ross ~ if your local unit could donate that would be great. Suzie is again our contact for these precious items that will be handed out to needy students.
• Election Process please look at this month’s minutes for some handy dandy phrases to conduct you election perfectly.
• Luncheon news theme and question to introduce your principal.
• Facilities booking Contact Cindy Schwinden to book you facilities by June 1^st.
• State Science Fair contact www.wssef.org look to time your elementary science fair before early April so you can possibly advance to state with those fantastic projects.

Best Practice Moment

April to do list

• Enter your new officers on the State PTA website.
• Begin training of your new Board members.
• Continue cleaning of notebooks and files.
• Attend WSPTA Annual Convention.

Paul Revere earned his living as a silversmith. But what do we remember him for? His volunteer work. All activism is volunteering in that it’s done above and beyond earning a living and deals with what people care about passionately about.

To that end I would like link on from our advocacy piece of last month to this month as we celebrate our volunteers in PTSA.

Thanks to volunteers we have art programs and cultural evenings in our elementary schools.

Thanks to volunteers we have science fairs and book fairs in elementary schools.

Thanks to volunteers we have drug and alcohol programs and community service programs in middle schools.

Thanks to volunteers we have service fairs and fashion shows in high schools.

Thanks to volunteers we have programs to support drama and music in schools.

The list goes on……

Like school board members a PTA volunteer gives back to their community. They see a need to support their students and it often ends up helping many many more ~ such is the joy of volunteering~ just remember that volunteers are seldom paid not because they are worthless but because they are priceless!

With the changing economic times volunteers are stretch thinner and thinner and the need is becoming even more crucial. Being able to do a little to give back is an excellent boost in a busy stressed out life of a parent wanting to support their child in their education.

Volunteers in the Issaquah school district make it a great place to live, educate and develop our community and to that end we will be celebrating our Golden Acorn winners on the 27^th March at PCMS with the theme of “Celebrating our Master Builders” which goes with our yearlong theme of “Building for the Future”. I would like to invite the Board to join us at 6.30pm to celebrate those who go above and beyond in volunteering for our children, teachers and schools in the district.

Because remember…..100 years from now it will not matter what kind of house you lived in what kind of car you drove…what your bank balance was but what will matter is that you were important in the life of a child.

Transformations in Education

A Discussion About How Changes in Olympia are Impacting Issaquah

Thursday, March 29th 7:00p

Home of Jody Mull
6061 167th Avenue SE Bellevue, WA 98006
Washington State is experiencing lots of changes, challenges and opportunities. New teacher and principal evaluations are being piloted, the State Supreme Court has weighed in on funding and public charter schools are a hot topic once again.
Senator Steve Litzow will be there to talk about the session and answer questions. And Michaela Miller from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction will be on hand to explain just what work has happened on the new evaluations and what we can expect next.

Food, Wine & Great Company Included!

RSVP to jodymull@comcast.net or (425) 644-5895

1. ISD Website Focus Groups-To be held on March 20^th and March 22^nd.  Please let Janine know who will be attending from your school by Wednesday March 14^th.
2. WA State PTA Convention Scholarship Raffle-Please bring an item from your PTA to the April General Membership meeting.  Our theme this year is “Building Strong Families”.
3. PTA Men’s Essay Contest- You can find more information on the Washington State PTA Program here:  PTA Men.
4. Council Discipline Committee– If you are interested in helping this committee to research discipline policies and you are not from Issaquah High, please email Betsy Cohen .
5. Advocacy- Stand for Children is having an event that includes information from OSPI regarding TPEP and other topics on Thursday March 29^th.  Please see the attached flier for more information.
6. Parent Education- More exciting parent education opportunities are on the council website:  Parent Ed » Issaquah PTSA Council 2.6.
7. Reflections/Art-
8. Student Satisfaction- If you are able to help with giving statements at school board meetings, please contact Betsy Cohen.
9. Awards Reception- Please make sure your Awards chair contacts  Judy or Becky with the names of your recipients or any questions they may have.
10. VIS-

March

Begin Spring Cleaning of notebooks and files.

Verify the contents of your Legal Documents notebook.

Check for records that are due for destruction.

Label records with destruction date.

1. Grants for further education from Washington State PTA are available for 2 and 4 year courses.
2. Council Discipline Committee– If you are interested in helping this committee to research discipline policies and you are not from Issaquah High, please email Janine and Caroline.
3. Advocacy- The forum on charter schools– has now been rescheduled for February 29th, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Washington Middle School, 2101 S. Jackson St, Seattle.
4. Don’t Forget to send a Valentine to you legislator
5. Awards from Council – Know someone ideal for a council award please nominate them before 27^th Febuary
6. Focus Day 20th February please contact Alison if you are going.
7. Parent Education- Please remind your members that all Parent Ed events are posted on the council website:  Parent Ed » Issaquah PTSA Council 2.6.  It is also a suggestion that counselors might be a useful source to advertise our offerings.
8. ISF Time to sign-up for a table at the Nourish Every Mind lunch
9. Reflections/Art- All our artists are featured on line at the ISD website please congratulate again all our winners.
10. Approved Vendor- If you have a form or process for creating a list of “Approved Vendors”, please email Janine and Caroline and we will share the information with all.
11. VIS- Please contact Betsy with 10 names of likely donors to VIS.  “like” the VIS page if you have a Facebook page we are looking to blow thru’ the 1000 likes this time J  Next month will be handing out postcards and firming up details for lit drops and honk and waves but you can start recruiting parents and students to join in the fun. Don’t forget the IVE “Bond Girls “are available for bookings.
12. Special Needs – Get ready for summer by visiting the fair on March 30^th at Grand Ridge being put on by our group and Lake Washington details here.

New Information

• Town Hall Meetings

41^st LD  Saturday, Feb 18^th

Morning: 10a – 11:30am Hazelwood Elementary – 7100 116^th Ave SE

Afternoon: 1:30p – 3pm Mercer Island High School – 9100 SE 42^nd Street

Send Questions Ahead of Time: townhall41@leg.wa.gov

48th LD  Saturday, Feb 18^th  10am– 12pm Redmond City Hall Council Chamber – 15670 NE 85^th Street

So at the national level“…PTA reminds our country of its obligations to children and provides parents and families with a powerful voice to speak on behalf of every child while providing the best tools for parents to help their children be successful students….National PTA was created to meet a profound challenge: to better the lives of children. And today, it continues to flourish because PTA has never lost sight of its goal: to change the lives of children across our great nation for the better.”   (National PTA Website)

“PTA helps those closest to children speak up strongly on their behalf, and PTA gives members the tools they need to deliver services.”  (Washington State PTA)  For me, this quote was a really great reminder of why there is a “P” and a “T” in PTA.  We are those who are closest to children and both have a (sometimes different) perspective and ability to support and speak on their behalf.  With everything that we do in PTA, whether we are parents or teachers, we have to always remember to make decisions from the perspective of what is best for children.

So now let’s bring it down to the council and local level.  Is what we do at the local level PTA really advocacy?  Absolutely!  There are so many things that our PTAs do, so obviously we can’t talk about all of them.  But just a few examples.  When we do something like fundraising to purchase science curriculum we are being advocates.  We are saying that this is something that our kids need and we are willing to find a way to get it for them.   When we give out golden acorn or outstanding educator awards we saying how important our teachers and volunteers are to our students.  When we meet with our principals to give input on whether we should have recess before or after lunch we are advocating for our kids.  When we plan a culture night or art appreciation night-we are advocating for the celebration of differences and including all.

And yes, we continue at all levels to advocate for big changes.  Some issues like education funding and reform have been with us for a long time, some have already been checked off the list, and some we haven’t even thought of yet.  All of them start with the idea of someone wanting to help or to make a change.  All of them are in their hearts, for kids.

PTA Public Charter School Forum

Rescheduled to Wed 2/29/12

You are invited to attend the WA State PTA Forum on Public Charter Schools hosted by Region 6 PTA. The event includes a review of the PTA Charter Issue that was passed this fall, National PTA policies on charter schools, WA State PTA resolutions/issues on public Charter Schools.

The format includes pro and con presentations and questions from the audience. Presenters include:

• Ramona Hattendorf: Government Relations Coordinator, Washington State PTA
• Olga Addae:  President, Seattle Education Association, (Teacher’s Union)

Con Speaker

• Rosalund Jenkins: Director, Black Education Strategy Roundtable (League of Education Voters project), Pro Speaker
• Dr. Wayne Au:  Assistant Professor, Education Program, UW- Bothell,  Editor, Rethinking Schools, Con Speaker
• Robin Lake: Associate Director, Center for Reinventing Education, UW Bothell,  Pro Speaker
• Moderated by C.R. Douglas, Political Analyst, Q13 Fox News

Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012, from 6:30 – 8:30pm

Washington Middle School Cafeteria

2101 S. Jackson St, Seattle 98144

From S. Jackson Street go south on 20^th Ave South, take first left onto S. Weller St, (going around the Franz Bakery). At  20^th Place South, parking lot is on your right, school entrance is to the left.

Questions: contact Heidi Bennett, WA State PTA Region 6 Legislative Chair

heidi@bennettdirect.net

REGION 6: Seattle, Shoreline, Northshore & Vashon Island

Here is a link to our Total Service Program Video:

http://www.signaturefundraising.com/Signature_Website_2011/info/total_service.html

Prize Program Link:

http://www.signaturefundraising.com/Signature_Website_2011/appreciation_gifts/appreciation_flyers.html

Dollar Candy Bar Link:        100% Peanut Free & 1/3 fewer Calories

http://www.signaturefundraising.com/Signature_Website_2011/programs/dollar_bar_sale.html

You could also visit our website at www.sigfund.com

We are currently running some incredible promotions for our spring fundraiser. Please call me so I can discuss this with you at your earliest convenience at (800)645-3863 x-120 or e-mail sherry@sigfund.com with any questions.

Thank You,
Sherry
(800)645-3863 x-120
sherry@sigfund.com

1. Region 2 Midyear Conference-Register your unit online for the mid-year conference.  This is a great opportunity to continue training your officers with some really good classes!  Register at Region 2 Conference.  Please contact your Council Presidents Janine and Caroline or Region Director Heather if you are having difficulty meeting the training by-law.
2. High School Common Schedule Committee-Stay tuned for more information to come on the ISD website.  You can check out all of the committee work as well.
3. PTA Men’s Essay Contest- You can find more information on the Washington State PTA Program here:  PTA Men.
4. Council Discipline Committee– If you are interested in helping this committee to research discipline policies and you are not from Issaquah High, please email Janine and Caroline.
5. Advocacy- There will be a Charter Schools Forum held on Tuesday January 17^th from 6:30 – 8:30pm at the Washington Middle School Cafeteria, 2101 S. Jackson St, Seattle 98144.
6. Membership-Please remind your treasurers that the second membership payment is due to Council on January 25^th.  Remember that January is a great time to do a membership campaign and increase your numbers!
7. Insurance- If you haven’t done so already, please make sure you get a copy of your AIM insurance to Anne Moore.
8. Parent Education- Please remind your members that all Parent Ed events are posted on the council website:  Parent Ed » Issaquah PTSA Council 2.6.
• Finding Kind-In addition to the January 31^st and February 1^st showings of Finding Kind, which are only for ISD secondary students and parents, there will be a showing on January 30^th at 5:30pm at Beaver Lake Middle for ISD fifth graders and their parents.  There will be discussion following, but the Finding Kind facilitators will not be there.  If you know of an elementary counselor who would be willing to help facilitate, please contact Page Meyer, BLMS Assistant Principal.
9. Reflections/Art- You can find the list of finalists who are moving on to State and view the slideshow here:  (coming soon to ISD and Council websites)
10. Approved Vendor- If you have a form or process for creating a list of “Approved Vendors”, please email Janine and Caroline and we will share the information with all.
11. VIS- Save the date for the VIS Kickoff which will be February 2^nd at 7:00pm at the King County Library Services building.  VIS Reps and Presidents should both plan to attend.  VIS would like to create a list of potential donors and would like your help.  Please email Betsy Cohen  with ten or more people you think are likely to donate.    If you have not recruited a VIS Rep, it’s not too late!  Please pass their contact information on to Betsy as soon as you can.  If you have not done your VIS donation yet, they would love to have your check as soon as possible.  If you can increase the amount of your donation that would be welcome.

New Information

1. Awards Reception- The Council awards reception on March 27^th will be held at Pacific Cascade Middle, not Issaquah High as reported in Thursday’s meeting.

Best Practice Moment

• Be sure you are communicating in a variety of ways with your membership.  Don’t count on just your newsletter to get the word out; use flyers, reader board, posters, email messages, etc.
• Get your awards committee going so they can be on the look out for possible candidates for Golden Acorn, Outstanding Advocate and Outstanding Educator.  Refer to the Council provided Awards Guideline on the Council website for detailed information.
• All Local Unit award applications are due to the state on March 1. Including: Communications, Newsletter, Standards of Excellence, Honor Unit, Outstanding Local Unit of the Year, and PTAs Taking Significant Action, 100% Membership and 100% Teacher Membership.
• Be sure you are continuously recognizing volunteers.
• Where are you on your 100% membership?  How about 100% teacher membership?  How about staff membership?
• Is your treasurer providing monthly budget reports at your meetings, on your website, and posted at the school?
• Are you passing on information from the State and National PTA to your membership? 
• January Collection List (add to your folder)
• minutes from meeting where Nominating Committee was elected