Author Archives: Lauren Bartholomew
Parent Night Sessions Hosted By ISD & ISF
This training focuses on how to reframe and shift our thinking about kids and parenting by using key strategies and skills based in positive reinforcement and how to set firm, consistent, and kind limits; while understanding the stages of the developing brain.
Speakers:


September 2016 – Agenda Notes (PTD)
| REMINDERS |
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Outreach Donation Ask for Council meeting: In support of Month of Concern Campaign, we’re collecting donations from the Items Most Needed List. Thank you! http://eastsideforum.org/fooddrive/images/emoclist.pdf
Delegate forms need to be submitted to the council secretary no later than the October meeting.
| TREASURER |
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- Make sure your Council Fees (Dues, SurveyMonkey Fee, Parent Ed Fee, and ACT Donation) are sent to me by October 31, 2016. An invoice was sent out to all treasurers about this last week so they should know what needs to be done.
- 990/990EZ/990N tax returns are due to the IRS by 11/15/16 (for the period of 7/1/15-6/30/16). Please check with your treasurer to make sure this gets done. You can file an automatic 5 month extension if necessary. The state PTA website has great information on 990s if you need help.
| ADVOCACY |
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Please register to vote! The deadline to register to vote online or by mail is October 10th.
Register here: http://www.sos.wa.gov/
Washington State PTA Legislative Assembly will be on October 21st-22nd at the Red Lion Hotel in Olympia. This is your chance to vote for WSPTA’s “Top 5” two year legislative platform, and learn more about your local government and how to be an effective advocate for education. Bonus: Classes count as WSPTA approved training!
Click here for the agenda, class list, issue packet and other detailed information (registration link will work soon): http://www.wastatepta.
Don’t forget to submit the names your delegates for Leg. Assembly to WSPTA before the October 17th deadline. You will receive an email from WSPTA telling you the number of delegates your PTA can send. A delegate should be someone who is a PTA member, is knowledgeable about the current issues for consideration, and is prepared to vote on them. Their votes should reflect the opinions of your membership since they will be voting on their behalf.
During this election season, please remember that your PTA cannot endorse any political candidate. You can allow a candidate to speak at a PTA meeting ONLY IF you allow the opposing candidate equal time.
Superintendent of Public Instruction candidates Chris Reykdal and Erin Jones will be holding several public forums before election day. Click here to view the schedule and register to attend: http://
If you are unable to attend in person, TVW will be providing coverage. Check their website for details as dates approach: http://www.tvw.org/
| ART IN THE SCHOOLS |
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Save the Date: 3rd Annual Art Docent Conference October 22nd at Grand Ridge Elementary from9:00 – 3:30.
Monthly Classes to support Art Docents at Art East. This year our classes will be funded by the Foundation Fine Arts Fund. We are also able to increase our monthly trainings to 10 this year.
October 28th– Clay 101
November (TBD)- Glazing 101
December (TBD)- Fused Glass
Watch for more info and sign up genius soon!
Our Curriculum Review Committee met this summer. We are receiving about $20,000 from ISF to revamp our curriculum to align with the elements and principles of art. This will allow us to standardize, format. and develop at least 165 lessons to be used by all the elementary schools. All of the kilns in the schools will also be cleaned and serviced.
Be an Art Docent or assistant at Echo Glen Children’s Center – Echo Glen is a Washington State Juvenile Detention facility and a school operated by the Issaquah School District with boys and girls as young as 10 and up to about 18 years old; majority are 13 to 17. You would share art with a class of no more than 11 youth once a month from 12:21 to 1:32PM –day of month TBD by you and your teacher. Use your own favorite lessons and projects or choose from ones that current docents have used over the last 10 years. We have an amazing art room full of lots of supplies for you. More info here: http://www.smilepower.org/EG_A
| BEST PRACTICES |
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Best Practices Checklist has been updated for 2016-2017.
| FACE/Family And Community Engagement |
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Introduction to the American School System – English Flyer.
| HEALTHY YOUTH NETWORK |
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Walking Into Darkness: Understanding the Suicidal Youth. FLYER.
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| MEMBERSHIP |
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| OUTREACH |
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Current information: http://www.issaquahptsa.org/programs/outreach This page is kept current as needs or programs change.
| PARENTWISER (formerly Parent Education) |
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Parent Ed is becoming Parentwiser! We will be launching our new website soon. Meantime, we have some exciting speakers planned, and more on the way. Please note these dates in your school calendars, put into ENews, PTSA/School Facebook, etc.
- Oct 17, 2016 – SCREENAGERS – Growing Up in the the Digital Age. Film documentary and panel Q&A. 7:00pm at Issaquah High Theater. For parents AND students K-12.
- Feb, 2017 – speaker John O’Sullivan, author of “Changing the Game”, about how parent’s can best support kids today in the competitive world of sports. Date/time/place TBD. For parents of K-12.
- Apr 25, 2017 – speaker Jessica Lahey, author of “Gift of Failure” – How the best parents learn to let go so their children can succeed. 7:00pm at Issaquah High Theater. This keynote will be preceded by a community book read about a month in advance. Details coming soon. For parents of K-12.
Other speakers, topics and dates coming soon.
| REFLECTIONS |
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| STAR/SPECIAL EDUCATION |
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| VICE PRESIDENTS |
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| VOLUNTEERS FOR ISSAQUAH SCHOOLS (VIS) |
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| WEBMASTER/DIRECTORY |
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- Directory: Please get your PTA/PTSA directory information in BY OCTOBER 1st.
- Surveys can be created any time.
- Calendar: updated as dates are sent. Please include date, time, location, and a contact name with email or phone. Meetings, events, trainings, etc.
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June 2016 – Agenda Notes (PTD)
| REMINDERS |
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Donation Ask (Outreach): Tools 4 Schools at your school!
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| ART IN THE SCHOOLS |
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| BEST PRACTICES |
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| HEALTHY YOUTH NETWORK |
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| ISF |
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| MEMBERSHIP |
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We are at 14,683 members 80% coverage of our student population!
How to enter your officers for next year: http://bit.ly/1rXGnuu

| OUTREACH / F.A.C.E. |
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Current information: http://www.issaquahptsa.org/programs/outreach
Highlights:
How You Can Help:
- Tools 4 School supplies drive is May 15-June 13 ! Visit http://isfdn.org/programs/tools-4-school/ for more information.
- Eastside Baby Corner’s 7th annual Pants Party Poster Contest, May 16th to July 15th. More information here, or by calling 425-372-7534.
- Pickering Garden – Volunteers take part in growing fresh produce for the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank.
- March & April: Tuesdays: 10-1pm, and 1st & 3rd Wednesdays: 3pm-6pm;
- May – Sept: Tuesdays, 10-1pm; 1st and 3rd Wednesdays 3-7pm; 2ndand 4th Saturdays 10-1pm.
- Children ages 9 and older are welcome without adult, but must have hold-harmless agreement. Children ages 8 and younger are welcome with adult.
- Questions & registering groups: Check with the Resource Conservation Office for details at 425-837-3400 or sustainability@issaquahwa.gov.
- Tools & gloves provided. Bring water and snacks, and dress for the weather.
- The Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank (IFCB) needs approximately 50 Gleaners (2-3 per team)…
- When: Jun 2, 2016 01:06 PM to Oct 20, 2016 04:10
- Contact: Marissa Woerner Marissa@IssaquahFoodBank.org (425)392-4123 ext10
Current Programs
- Registration for Tools 4 School is now open. Register online http://isfdn.org/programs/tools-4-school/
- The Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank Summer Lunch program. Registration will start in early June at www.issaquahfoodbank.org Summer Lunch Flier
- King County Library Summer Reading Program, June 1 – Aug 31. Register online at www.kcls.org/kids/summer or www.kcls.org/browse_program/teen-summer-reading
- OSLC Safe Parking information.
- Child Care resources: http://childcare.org/family-services/
- Homeless Youth Services: Friends of Youth
- Ages 15-22 in need of housing, referrals, food, case management, or shelter can go to 16225 NE 87th St, Ste A-1 Redmond, WA 98052. Drop-In Center call for hours at 425.298.4846
- Short Term Shelter, guys & girls ages 11-17 – call 24-hours 206.236.437
- Overnight Shelter with food, showers, laundry, ages 18-24, open 7 days/week Line up: 8:30-8:45pm 16225 NE 87th St., Ste, A-1 Redmond. Bus Routes Metro 542 and 545
- For the nearest SAFE PLACE location, text the word SAFE and your current location to 69866 or call 800-422-TEEN
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Thank you all for contributing to a successful and resourceful parent ed experience across Issaquah School District this past year. We increased parent ed attendance at most schools, and offered more frequent speakers and topics than previously. Parents are showing interest in attending other schools to hear a worthwhile topic or speaker; in 2015-16 these were mostly around social lives (digital media, dating, playground behavior), and anxiety/mindfulness.
Thanks to your input and contributions, in 2016-17 Issaquah PTSA Council Parent Ed is moving in a new direction to support even more access to parenting information. After meetings and input from Parent Ed Reps and PTA Presidents, we pleased to announce the new parent ed program for 2016-17:
- New name: Issaquah PTSA Council parent ed is becoming Parentwiser, and will link to a separate webpage parentwiser.org next fall.
- Speakers, film documentaries, webinars for the 2016-17 school year will target the following topics:
- Achievement
- Technology (use and abuse)
- Parenting in competitive activities/sports
- Calendar of events – by popular demand, we will be hosting 3 showings of Screenagersfor parents and teens this fall; watch for details and updates in September!
- Sep 29th at Liberty High
- Oct 11th at Issaquah High
- Oct 19th at Skyline High
Other speakers and dates are in progress, to be confirmed soon.
- The Parentwiser committee seeks volunteers, please let us know if any of these openingsfit your talents/interests:
o Content/Relationship Booking – Debbie Steinberg-Kuntz, Lauren Hutchinson
o Treasurer/Statistics – OPEN
o Marketing communications/advertising – OPEN
o Facebook/Twitter management – Arissa Peterson
o Email/database communications – Tara Moe
o Facilities Coordinator – OPEN
o Issaquah PTSA Council and ISF partner – Heidi Fuhs
o Members at large (content contributors) – Dea Barnett, Carla Geraci, Margarita
- Please keep a parent ed rep on your PTSA! You will be key for advertising Parentwiserevents to your school population. (And, while each school is contributing a recommended $250 in council fees for large scale speakers, film documentaries and webinars, you may still hire local speakers to increase attendance at membership meetings. You can keep these in-school, or advertise through Parentwiser for district-wide attendance. You can charge non-PTA members to attend (eg $5-10). You may want to retain a small budget and a parent ed rep for these purposes.)
- Send us your PTA/PTSA Communications contact – We are collecting names for each school parent ed rep and communication chair for 2016-17 to get Parentwiser dates in ENews quickly. Please let us know your contacts for next year!
Thanks again for supporting parent education and striving to keep Issaquah parents informed.
Debbie Steinberg-Kuntz
Heidi Fuhs
Parentwiser™
parent-ed@issaquahptsa.org
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| SPECIAL NEEDS |
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| VICE PRESIDENTS |
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| VOLUNTEERS FOR ISSAQUAH SCHOOLS (VIS) |
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| WEBMASTER/DIRECTORY |
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- Next year’s directory: the sooner I get information from everyone, the sooner it can be completed, printed, and distributed.
- Surveys can be created any time.
- Calendar: updated as dates are sent. Please include date, time, location, and a contact name with email or phone. Meetings, events, trainings, etc.
| WSPTA Convention |
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Caroline Brown and Dawn Peschek will share a recap of the Washington State PTA Convention held May 20-22, 2016 in Yakima, WA. This will include Guest Speakers, Elections and State Award Winners.
VIS – Please return signs!
Reminder: Please bring any signs left over from Honk & Waves (save only the ones without the April 26 date) to the council meeting and the stakes too please. We will use these again for future campaigns.
Thank you!
May 2016 – Agenda Notes (PTD)
| REMINDERS |
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Donation Ask (Outreach):
2015-16 WSPTA Deadline Dates can be found HERE in one handy document!
| ADVOCACY |
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| ART IN THE SCHOOLS |
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- Briarwood Elementary school visit 5/4/2016
- Coordinator: Erin Thacker
- Lots of Picasso and ceramics today
- Endeavor elementary 5/9/2016 visit
- Coordinator: Kathy Mileski
- Well attended art walk last week
- Lots of great art on the walls
- Challenger, Cougar Ridge, Creekside & Discovery coming up
- Trainings Winter/Spring
- Went really well this year.
- Ave. attendance 15 out of 20 spaces
- Classes full (20/20) until after spring break
- Perhaps load more classes in earlier in the year
- No trainings after break?
- Coordinator tips:
- Check the Facebook page for more photos and information www.facebook.com/IssaquahPTSAArtDocents/
- Now is the time to get your last orders in for the year. Check your budgets, if you have left over order for next year now. Your PTA treasurer will close the books at the end of the school year and you start fresh next year. Budgets don’t roll over from year to year.
- Getting information about Green Schools compliance from district
- New lessons from Newcastle added to One Drive http://1drv.ms/1Cf5X0R
(See images of the artwork here.)
| HEALTHY YOUTH NETWORK |
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| ISF |
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| MEMBERSHIP |
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How to enter your officers for next year: http://bit.ly/1rXGnuu
| OUTREACH / F.A.C.E. |
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Current information: http://www.issaquahptsa.org/programs/outreach
Highlights:
- Tools 4 School supplies drive is coming May 15 to your school !
- Stamp Out Hunger coming this Saturday, May 14 ! .
- Pickering Garden – Volunteers take part in growing fresh produce for the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank.
- The Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank (IFCB) needs approximately 50 Gleaners
- City of Issaquah will be hosting a viewing of the winning video for the “No Waste” contest, along with a presentation of The Clean Bin Project. Event will be held May 24
- For Issaquah residents who are 55 and older – survey
Current Programs
- ENGLISH FOR WORK – AN ESL PROGRAM through Hopelink.
- Registration for Tools 4 School is now open.
- Issaquah Jobs Fair – for teenagers through adults. May 17, 2016
- OSLC Safe Parking
- Child Care resources
- Homeless Youth Services: Friends of Youth
- Study Zone at our libraries
- Life After High School Programs offered through KCLS
- Find out if you qualify for a computers and/or free internet access
- Issaquah School District students with financial hardship may be eligible for a free computer.
| PARENT ED |
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1) Positive Behavior and Social Emotional Support (PBSES) Information Night
Tues, May 3rd 2016
6:30-8:00pm
at Issaquah Middle School
(for parents of Clark, Cougar Ridge, IVE and IMS)
Wed, May 4th 2016
6:00-7:30pm
at Beaver Lake Middle School
(for parents of Endeavour, Cascade Ridge, Challenger and BLMS)
Student Support Coaches, staff in our Issaquah School District, are hosting parent information nights about what PBSES is and what your child’s school is doing to support the behavioral and social/emotional needs of students. Student Support Coaches will also provide information on Growth vs Fixed Mindset and how what we say can empower our students to build resiliency. Parents will also learn how to support their students at home with evidence-based strategies used at each school. Q&A sessions will follow each presentation.
2) Screenagers (film documentary), privately sponsored*
Was shown on Thursday, May 5th 2016 in the Issaquah High School Theater
(for parents & teens)
In SCREENAGERS, as with her award-winning documentaries on mental health, filmmaker and physician Delaney Ruston takes a deeply personal approach as she probes into the vulnerable corners of family life, including her own, to explore struggles over social media, video games, academics and internet addiction. Through poignant, and unexpectedly funny stories, along with surprising insights from authors, psychologists, and brain scientists, SCREENAGERS reveals how tech time impacts kids’ development and offers solutions on how adults can empower kids to best navigate the digital world and find balance. Watch the trailer at: http://www.screenagersmovie.com/
*This showing was privately sponsored by: Reisha Holton, One on One College Essays; Dr. Maria Elena Lara, Ph.D,Clinical Psychologist; Kara Neary, Educated Choices College and Career Counseling; Kirsten O’Malley, Pacific Learning Academy; Dr. Bizzy Riley, Naturopathic Physician. In partnership with IHS PTSA
3) Parenting with Love and Logic, speaker Tori Berntsen, hosted by Newcastle Elementary
Tues, May 10th 2016
10:00AM-11:30AM (Presentation starts at 10:30AM)
YMCA on Coal Creek Pkwy
(for parents of grades K-5)
Love and Logic is an approach to raising kids that provides loving support from parents while at the same time expecting kids to be respectful and responsible. Build and refine the skills necessary to parent children of all ages. These sessions will provide you the opportunity to learn with other parents and problem solve with a trained professional in a fun and welcoming environment.
4) Skills for Emotional Competence, speaker Dr. Janice Driver, sponsored by Grand Ridge PTSA
Thurs, May 12th 2016
7:00-8:30pm
Grand Ridge Elementary, Library
(for parents of grades K-5)
Emotional struggles children endure during elementary school can be confusing. Every child is different. With guidance and support from Dr. Janice Driver, you will learn simple emotional coaching skills to help your child gain emotional intelligence.
5) Paper Tigers (film documentary & panel discussion), co-sponsored by Issaquah Schools Foundation & Issaquah PTSA Council
Mon, May 16th 2016
6:30-9:00pm
Issaquah High School, Black Box Theater
(for parents of grades K-12)
“Exposure to chronic and adverse stress (and the altered brain function that results) leaves a child in a fruitless search for comfort and escape from a brain and body that is permanently stuck in flight or fight. That comfort comes in the form of drugs, cigarettes, alcohol, sex, food and more.” This documentary takes a look at how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) affect teenage behavior, and how parents, school staff and community members can use positive behavior and social emotional support (PBSES) to reinforce societal norms and expectations. Watch the trailer at:http://www.papertigersmovie.com/ . Before and after the film, Issaquah School District personnel will discuss real statistics in Issaquah schools, how common experiences and even divorce of parents affect our kids behavior, and our own community efforts to positively influence classroom learning for all students.
6) Guiding Your Teen on the Bumpy Road to Independence, speaker Kathy Slattengren, M.Ed., sponsored by Skyline HS PTSA
Tues, May 17th 2016
7:00-8:30pm
Skyline HS Library
(for parents of grades 6-12)
How do you balance trying to keep teens safe while also allowing them increasing freedom? How do you let your teens learn from their mistakes? Please join us for an engaging discussion on helping your teens grow into adults who can thrive on their own.
7) School Start and End Times – Information Nights, by Isssaquah School District Administration
Wed, May 18th 6:30-8:30pm at Briarwood Elementary
Mon, May 23rd 6:30-8:30pm at Beaver Lake Middle School
Wed, June 1st 6:30-8:30pm at Issaquah High School
6:30-8:30pm for all dates/locations
(for ALL parents/community members across Issaquah School District
Following up on the feedback and input received from our parents, staff, students, and community, the Issaquah School District is continuing to consider new school start and end times for the 2017-2018 school year. Superintendent Ron Thiele has committed to a decision on new start and end times by December of 2016. To begin this next phase of the process, the community is invited to attend informational meetings to learn and dialogue with district staff about the issues around changing our start and end times, including sleep science studies, transportations, before/after school care, and potential effect on athletics and activities.
8) Cybercrime: Keeping Your Child Safe Online, speaker Officer Diego Zanella, sponsored by IMS PTSA
Mon, May 23rd 2016
7:00-8:00pm
Issaquah Middle School, Commons
(for parents of grades 6-12)
Join us for a discussion with our school Resource Officer Diego Zanella in the Issaquah Middle School Commons on May 23rd at 7pm. We’ll discuss how to avoid potential dangers as our kids navigate social media and the online world. Kids don’t mean to run into trouble online, but their developing brains are curious and want to explore. A large portion of middle schoolers already have internet-enabled devices and potential dangers include cyberstalking, cyberbullying, sexting, access to pornography, harassment, and assaults. Learn how to keep your child safe and your family’s information private. This is an adults-only event. Childcare will be provided in the IMS library.
| REFLECTIONS |
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| SPECIAL NEEDS |
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| VICE PRESIDENTS |
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| VOLUNTEERS FOR ISSAQUAH SCHOOLS (VIS) |
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| WEBMASTER/DIRECTORY |
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- Consider and end of the year survey.
- Send in your calendar items, such as GMMs and events, for inclusion on the Council calendar.
| (other) |
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VIS – WE DID IT!
Hellooooooo Everyone! And a Good Morning it is!
April 26 Special Election
Issaquah School District No. 411 Proposition No. 1
VIS – Honk & Wave: SAVE THE SIGNS!
VIS Representatives,
Thank you everyone for your support of the bond and Honk and Wave.
Tomorrow we have the last push of reminding voters to vote!
Thank you for all who have rallied the troops to get out and participate in Honk and Wave
Please save the signs that don’t have the date to vote on them!
We will reuse them in our next campaign!
We will be collecting them at our next our PTSA Council meeting which is May 12th from 9:15-12:30pm at Pickering Barn in Issaquah.
If you can’t drop them off, then please give them to your PTA President who can bring them to the PTSA Council meeting.
Let me know if you have any questions or I can be of help!
Thank you again!
Jody Mull
Honk and Wave Chair
VIS – 2 Days Left to Vote!
Hi PTA Presidents, VIS Reps, Communication Directors and VIS Supporters,
Phone Bank Canceled
There will be no phone bank tonight at the KCLS service center. After much discussion and in consideration of our volunteers we decided to record a new robocall targeted for people who have not returned their ballots (as of Friday). We recorded it Friday night (with 4 students) and that robocall will go out this afternoon.
Please save your energy and rest up for our final Honk & Waves tomorrow – Woo Hoo! Thank you for your support!
We will be sending out the final .jpg graphic and messaging tonight or early tomorrow on a separate email for a final push to get the ballots in.
Thank you again for ALL of your help to reach our community and get those YES VOTES!
-Dawn Peschek & Alicia Veevaert
Volunteers for Issaquah Schools

