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

1. TPEP - The state is now entering a pilot phase to test three specific frameworks for the evaluation system, and Issaquah has agreed to be among several districts that will be part of the process. We must select one of the state frameworks to pilot in our local classrooms beginning next school year. As part of our decision-making process about which framework to select, we are soliciting community feedback. The school district has a Zoomerang survey for our input Here
2. Region 2 Conference- Want to have some input to future conference please follow this link to give feedback.  Save the date!  The Mid-year conference will be held on Saturday February 11^th at The Overlake School in Bellevue.
3. State Membership feedback- Request for feedback here
4. Region 2 newsletter - an electronic copy can be read here
5. Emerging Minority Conference - change of date but the place remains the same March 10^th in Renton at the Puget Sound Educational Service District.
6. World Language curriculum survey- World Language teachers will meet this year to develop the scope and sequence of Spanish, French, Japanese, French, and American Sign Language curriculum; they will use this the following year to review and select instructional materials. As with each curriculum adoption, we are soliciting feedback to guide the process. Middle and High school parents are encouraged to take the survey online before December 16^th
7. High School Common Schedule Committee-You can give input to the committee on this topic on the district website ISD.  There is also a load of information for you to peruse as well.
8. Advocacy- You can find all the current advocacy information on the Council website Advocacy » Issaquah PTSA Council 2.6.  Also, it’s not too soon to start thinking about issues for next year’s legislative platform.  Issue submittals are usually due in early June. Stay tuned for more information.  If you would like more information on our state budget woes before the special session starts, you can find it here:  Governor’s Budget Short List. Please contact Alison Meryweather or Ken Peatross Jr or your LU Leg chair with questions.
9. ISF Grants- Please let your communities know that ISF Classroom Enrichment Grants (up to $1,000) and Kateri Brow Big Idea/Biggest Need Grants (up to $10,000) applications are due January 12^th, 2012 at 8pm.  There is more information at Issaquah Schools Foundation – Grants.
10.  Parent Education- Please remind your members that all Parent Ed events are posted on the council website:  Parent Ed » Issaquah PTSA Council 2.6.  Also, make sure your Parent Ed rep lets Shelly Russell know about events so we can keep this up to date.
11. Zoomerang Surveys- Deborah Parsons would love to help your PTA create and administer a Zoomerang survey.  Please remember to give her plenty of notice, so your survey can be done in a timely manner.  You can contact her by emailing Webmaster.
12. VIS- Please email Betsy Cohen  your local meeting schedule so that the VIS Roadshow can come to you.  Also, if you have not recruited a VIS Rep, please do so, and then pass their contact information on to Betsy.
13. Special Needs- You can find information about the Special Needs group on their website Issaquah Special Needs.

New Information

• Reflections reception January 12^th at PCMS 6-7.30
• Suzie Kuflik contact info concerning outreach questions and food drive.
• Discovery ES food drive 16^th December also funky decked out fire engine for kids to jump around on !

Best Practice Moment

• Start to pull together and vote in your Nominating committee
• Golden Acorns Awardees should be starting to be found so we can nourish them into mighty oaks.
• Plan for a financial review in January as well as June/July

Yesterday our priorities for the upcoming special session were sent out to the Grassroots Connection subscribers. Hopefully you are all on that listserv. (If not, send a note to adminstaff@wastatepta.org and ask to be added.) A modified version of that Grassroots Connection sheet is being shared with the governor and legislators.

WSPTA is calling for a balanced approach – this means that while we understand more cuts are necessary, we will consider all revenue options as necessary to meet children’s needs. Legally, the state must prioritize basic education, but children’s health, safety and welfare needs must also be met and WSPTA will be an engaged partner in making that happen. If you are interested in working on either short-term revenue options or long-term tax reform, contact Shelley Kloba,ptalegdir@wastatepta.org

The Program of Basic Education is our top priority, followed by Apple Health for Kids, followed by programs that address children’s well-being (includes protecting children from domestic violence and ensuring they have food and shelter, as well as investments in early learning, K-12 reforms, juvenile justice and school nutrition.)

Our position on LEA is that it covers core costs needed to ensure children graduate ready for college and career. We prioritize it, but we do not do so at the expense of the program of  basic education. Continued reliance on levies and LEA to cover basic education costs is inequitable, unstable and legally questionable. Putting money into the Program of Basic Education is the way forward.

Following are talking points for your convenience. Please share with your communities. Kids need loud, powerful voices speaking up on their behalf.

-

-

TALKING POINTS – PRIORITIES FOR FALL 2011 SPECIAL SESSION 

Basic Education:

Amply funding education for all children is the state’s PARAMOUNT duty. Neither fiscal crisis nor financial burden relieves the state of its legal duty to fund its Program of Basic Education. Once it is defined, it must be funded.

Levy equalization:

Levy equalization is tax relief for property-poor districts. Along with local levies, it funds core services, including the instructional time students need to prepare for college or career. LEA helps the state meet its legal obligation to “amply” fund education.  Washington state PTA prioritizes it, but not at the expense of providing for the state’s Program of Basic Education. Relying on levies and LEA to pay for basic education is inequitable, unstable and legally questionable. Putting money into the Program of Basic Education is the way forward.

Apple Health for Kids:

Apple Health for Kids is an essential source of affordable, comprehensive coverage for all children. Thousands of families who have lost employer-based coverage have turned to Apple Health for Kids so that common childhood illnesses don’t develop into chronic and costly health problems.

Children’s safety and well-being:

Children must always be fed, housed and protected from domestic violence. Children also deserve the opportunity to thrive. Investments in early learning, K-12 reforms, juvenile justice and school nutrition not only keep other costs in check, they help all children reach their potential.

Revenue:

Washington State PTA supports tax policies that are fair and equitable and that provide stable, adequate revenues for public education and programs that benefit youth.

Since 2008, Washington State lawmakers have cut billions in state spending, including retroactive cuts to classrooms last year. Schools have lost more than $1 billion dollars in funds that paid for classroom teachers and programs that kept children on track academically. Since 2009, schools have absorbed hundreds of millions of dollars in cuts to pay, professional development, math, science and literacy programs.

This fall, programs that keep children and families safe, housed and fed are on the line. Cuts to levy equalization to property-poor districts have been proposed, as have been cuts to the Program of Basic Education — primarily to transportation, all-day kindergarten, class sizes and a week of student’s instructional time.

Washington State PTA advocates for a balanced approach to the budget that includes cuts where possible, targeted investments that will bring about cost savings, and additional revenue where necessary. Education is the state’s paramount duty and legally must be the state’s funding priority. But children are our future, and their health, safety and well-being must be seen to. Washington State PTA will carefully review all revenue options as necessary to meet children’s needs.

Families depend on lawmakers to give children the opportunity to be healthy and get a basic education that prepares them for college or career. A balanced approach to the budget will help parents protect their children. Options for job growth and recovery

Ramona Hattendorf
Government relations coordinator
Washington State PTA
www.wastatepta.org
rhatttendorf@wastatepta.org
2003 65^th Ave. West, Tacoma, WA 98466
(office) 253-565-2153

1. TPEP-You can find information regarding the Teacher Principal Evaluation Pilot on their website at www.tpep-wa.org.   You can also follow the link on that page to more information from OSPI.  You can read our statement to the school board on the council website Issaquah Council News.
2. High School Common Schedule Committee-You can give input to the committee on this topic on the district website ISD.  There is also a load of information for you to peruse as well.
3. 2012 Bond- The final language for the bond can be viewed on the district website ISD Bond.
4. Gates Millennium Scholarships – Please pass this information on to your membership.  Bill Gates’ 2012
   Millennium Scholars Program, which is for low-income and students of color. This is a unique scholarship that provides financial support not just for an undergraduate degree, but will financial support a student all the way through a Doctorate degree at any college/university of their choice.  For more information/instructions to apply, please visit GMSP.org  http://GMSP.org  Applications are due January 11th, 2012.
5. Advocacy- You can find all the current advocacy information on the Council website Advocacy » Issaquah PTSA Council 2.6.  Also, it’s not too soon to start thinking about issues for next year’s legislative platform.  Issue submittals are usually due in early June. Stay tuned for more information.  If you would like more information on our state budget woes before the special session starts, you can find it here:  Governor’s Budget Short List. Please contact Alison Meryweather or Ken Peatross Jr or your LU Leg chair with questions.
6. ISF-Now is the time to donate to the “All in for Kids” campaign.  If your PTA plans to donate this year, ISF would love to have that donation as soon as possible.  Calling nights are November 16^th, 17^th and 19^th.  You can make your personal donation online at Issaquah Schools Foundation.
7. ISF Grants- Please let your communities know that ISF Classroom Enrichment Grants (up to $1,000) and Kateri Brow Big Idea/Biggest Need Grants (up to $10,000) applications are due January 12^th, 2012 at 8pm.  There is more information at Issaquah Schools Foundation – Grants.
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.  Also, make sure your Parent Ed rep lets Shelly Russell know about events so we can keep this up to date.
9. Reflections/Art- The turn-in date for District Reflections is Wednesday November 16^th at Vicki Hoffman’s home.  Please note this is a correction from the calendar items listed on the agenda.  Contact Vicki Hoffman with questions.
10. Zoomerang Surveys- Deborah Parsons would love to help your PTA create and administer a Zoomerang survey.  Please remember to give her plenty of notice, so your survey can be done in a timely manner.  You can contact her by emailing Webmaster.
11. VIS- Please email Betsy Cohen  your local meeting schedule so that the VIS Roadshow can come to you.  Also, if you have not recruited a VIS Rep, please do so, and then pass their contact information on to Betsy.

New Information

1. Excellent Schools Now- information regarding the “non-alignment” with certain issues will be passed on as soon as we have it.
2. Common Core State Standards-OSPI invites you to a public forum on the Common Core State Standards
   November 15 from 5-8pm at Tyee High School in SeaTac.  If you can’t attend you can fill out the online survey here OSPI CCSS Survey which is available through November 23^rd.  For more information go to Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Best Practice Moment

November 

• Consider doing either a written survey or a Zoomerang survey of your membership. You might want to do this in early spring to get feedback on the year to date and to plan for the next year.
• Begin work on putting together your Nominating Committee that will be elected by the end of January. A Council led Nominating Committee training will be held in late January (date to be determined).
• Please bring a copy of your insurance to the December Council Meeting and give it to our treasurer.
• If you do not already have a system to pass on materials and information, start one now. Notebooks, evaluation forms, copies of flyers, disks of materials, etc. need to be included.

• Collection List for November (add to folder you started in September)
  • copy of volunteer appreciation flyer or article in newsletter
  • list of Board meeting dates
  • copy of budget with line item for State Convention highlighted

The topic I would like to address tonight is the Teacher Principal Evaluation Pilot.  Specifically, we are interested in parent input into the selection of the evaluation model.  OSPI was required to collaborate with parents in the improvement of the evaluation system, which led to TPEP.  Other districts in the initial pilot groups used parent input in their selection process.  We would like our district and school board to follow suit and collaborate with parents as you work to make the decision regarding which model will be best for the students in our district.

It is not my intention to talk about each of the specific models tonight.  However, I do want to talk a little about a couple of aspect of the models.  Because “Communicating and collaborating with parents and school community” is one element of the new teacher evaluation criteria, and “Partnering with the school community to promote student learning” is an element to the new principal evaluation criteria, we feel it is vital that the model chosen includes parent and student input.  I just don’t know how you can possibly evaluate the quality and effectiveness of a partnership without input from all of the partners.

We are also excited about the possibilities for student (and possibly parent) input in the areas of such things as:

• Recognizing individual student learning needs
• Using multiple student data elements to modify instruction and improve student learning
• Exhibiting collaborative and collegial practices focused on improving instructional practice and student learning

It is absolutely key that we are seeing a shift in thinking- to educator effectiveness and its impact on student learning.

Again, we look forward to working with you on this very important project.

Hello,

My name is Paula Frederick and I’m the Director of Youth and Family service programs for Friends of youth based in Issaquah. We provide mental health counseling and substance abuse outpatient treatment for children and youth and their families. And for many years we have provided these services in designated schools throughout Issaquah school District. I would like to speak with someone about providing information, possibly writing some on-going articles regarding issues related to mental health and substance abuse for your newsletters– would you be interested?

Please feel free to call or e-mail me at your earliest convenience.
My office phone number is: 425-392-6367, ext.106

Thank you so much
Paula