Category Archives: News & Events

January Agenda
12/15/16 Draft Minutes
December Treasurer Report
Council Awards Information
Membership Report
Training Survey

Outreach Donation Ask for Council meeting:   Flour and sugar. Thank you!

Council Award Nominations are being accepted now through February 15th: http://www.issaquahptsa.org/council-awards

Do not leave today’s meeting without your school’s Reflections artwork!

Reminder that if your PTA paid any subcontractors more than $600 in 2016 that you must issue them a 1099 by 1/31.  Subcontractors include after school program providers, accountants, etc.  Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Also, your Financial Review Committee should convene this month to do your mid year financial review (for July – December).  Results should be shared with your membership and included in your meeting minutes.  More information (including the review checklist) can be found on the WSPTA website in the Money Matters handbook.

In case you have not attended Focus Day in the past, we want you to have lots of information so you will know what to to expect! Focus Day draws WSPTA members to Olympia with the intent of giving them an in-person view of how the legislative process works, and how they can engage in it to advocate for their children. It also provides an opportunity for you to meet your local legislators and personally convey your priorities for your children. There will be focus on the “Top 5” WSPTA legislative priorities, which were decided by vote at the 2016 WSPTA Legislative Assembly. You can view details on each priority, as well as other supported issues and long-term resolutions at http://www.wastatepta.org/advocacy/index.html.

Best Practices Checklist

Family partnership and Cultural Bridges are going to support the Kindergarten registration event at Apollo, Issaquah Valley Elementary School and Clark.  We will provide volunteers to translate flyers, help ELL families fill out the Kindergarten registration forms, answer questions.  We will make robo-calls to remind the families about the event and anything else the schools need to welcome the new families.     

We are also going to provide the same help for Issaquah Middle School at the transition event on March 6th.

State of Mind Conferences. Flyers: JPG | PDF

• Saturday, February 4, Mary Queen of Peace Church in Sammamish PROGRAM
• Saturday, March 11, Liberty High School in Renton
• Saturday, April 29, Issaquah High School in Issaquah

All Events will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Influence the Choice Video Contest is up and running. Deadline to submit is March 10th at 5pm.

High School Flyer: JPG | PDF
Middle School Flyer: JPG | PDF

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Washington State PTA Membership Leadership Guide

January Membership Report Details

Outreach Notes – This page is kept current as needs or programs change.

This month’s Outreach Ask for Council meeting:  The Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank is asking for Flour & Sugar this month.  Thank you!

A ParentWiser representative will be attending your January or February General Membership Meeting in January or early February  to increase awareness of our new lecture series, and specifically engage parents in the Community Book Read for upcoming national keynote speaker, Jessica Lahey, author of “Gift of Failure – How the best parents learn to let go so their children can succeed” in Issaquah on April 25^th.

Meantime, please post our monthly Enews blurbs (see 2 options below):

1)      Check out our new parent ed lecture series at http://ParentWiser.org.  Registrations open for Jan-April!
OR,
2)      Coming soon – ParentWiser presents…

Jan 12^th  Birds & Bees Talks for the 21st Century: Raising Kids in the Age of Technology, by Amy Lang at 7-8:30pm at Cascade Ridge Elementary on how and when to talk about the birds and the bees and simple tips for handling all the yucky stuff tech can bring into kids’ lives.   For parents of grades K-5.  FLYERS:  DOC | PDF

Jan 17^th Teen Kindness Advocate, Houston Kraft speaks to parents 6:30-7:30pm at Issaquah Middle School on what young people today NEED to be successful and kind.  For parents of grades 6-12.  FLYERS:  DOC | PDF

Feb 28^th Changing the Game, by John O’Sullivan, author and keynote at 6:30pm at Issaquah High Theater on what athletics teaches us about life lessons, how to give our kids a competitive edge while allowing them to learn and grow through enjoyable, rewarding experiences.  FLYERS: DOC | PDF

Register for these and future events at http://ParentWiser.org.  Walk-ins are also welcome!

ParentWiser Logo.

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Presidents – Directories were distributed last month. If you missed that meeting, please pick up your copy before leaving.

SURVEYS – Surveys are great for many things, including collecting nominations for awards! Contact Cindy to set yours up.

Mid-Winter Conference Webinar Trainings:

Nominating Committee – Feb 7^th: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/region-2-nominating-committee-training-webinar-tickets-30891911539

Money Matters – Feb 11^th: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/region-2-money-matters-webinar-tickets-30891767107

*There is a 100 participant limit statewide for each of the webinars.

Gibson Ek Student Showcase – Friday, January 13th, 6 -8 pm at Gibson Ek High School.

December Agenda
11/10/16 Draft Minutes
November Treasurer Report
Making Gifts to the Issaquah School District

Outreach Donation Ask for Council meeting:   New or gently used books to be distributed with the Lunch for the Break boxes. Thank you!

Running a Successful After School Enrichment Program Training Handout

Once you receive your new Certificate of Insurance, please a copy to Laila.
REMINDER: Without a current insurance certificate on file with ISD, you are unable to hold PTA activities in ISD buildings.

Register here for FOCUS DAY: http://www.wastatepta.org/meetings/focus_day/index.html

Download and print POSTCARDS!  

Find your district: http://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/

Plan ahead to attend FOCUS DAY on January 16th, 9:00am-1:00pm in Olympia! This WSPTA event is an impactful day for advocates of education. You will be able to rally on the steps of the state capitol with other advocates, and will have a chance to greet your legislators face to face! Since January 16th is a “no school” day, it is also an opportunity to involve your children in speaking up for education. Our legislators love to hear from kids!

The Lake Washington school district will be chartering a bus to Focus Day, which will be open to all of Region 2. Information on registering to ride the bus will be emailed to Presidents and Advocacy Reps. when available, along with detailed information about what to expect on Focus Day.

• November updates
  • 90 attendees to the October Art Docent Conference
    • Wonderfully successful
    • Lots of positive feedback from docents about feeling more confident about teaching in the classroom after attending the event
    • Art lessons taught at the conference are showing up on the walls of the schools
  • 35 signups for monthly classes this fall
    • Need to do more marketing to get the word out
    • How to solve the sign up and don’t show up problem?
  • NEW One Drive link (latest version) Please update any links you may have to our One Drive with the Art Docent Lessons.  Microsoft changed it again.
    • http://1drv.ms/f/s!Amw-rk33n-vGghBZ0F8rEHaJiRPq

• Upcoming events & Works in progress
  • Trainings funded by Schools Foundation Fine Arts Fund
    • December 2^nd, 2016 – Fused Glass http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a49aea72ba13-glass2
    • December 9^nd, 2016 – Kiln Care http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a49aea72ba13-kiln2
    • January 20^th, 2017 – Printing with Leslie Nan Moon (11 – 1:30) www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C0A49AEA72BA13-printmaking2
    • February 10^th, 2017 – Shelly Vollstede
    • March 3^rd, 2017 – Drawing the Face for 3^rd – 5^th graders with Priyanka Misra www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C0A49AEA72BA13-drawing
    • March 24^th, 2017 – Felting with Elizabeth Jackson www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C0A49AEA72BA13-felting
    • April 28^th, 2017 – Colored Pencils with Ekta Gupta www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C0A49AEA72BA13-colored
    • May 12^th, 2017 – Docent Party & Makers space
  • Issaquah Schools Foundation Grant   
    • http://issaquahschoolsfoundation.org/grants/
    • January 8^th, 2017 Submission deadline 8pm
  • Art Docent Curriculum development project
    • Angie Warren, from Issaquah Valley Elementary is our project manager
      • She is finalizing the staff to write, edit, compile and reformat the lessons we are using
    • Liz St.Andre is our tech lead – she will be insuring that our lessons are formatted and saved in a way that will work with our Schools Foundation web site.  She and I met with Schools Foundation staff to make sure we are all on the same page.
    • Volunteers have met three times to sort through and assign lessons to their respective subjects & grades.  Those will be processed as we move forward.
    • Lessons that have been taught at our Docent Conference’s and/or paid for by Schools Foundation grants have been tagged. Most of those will find a home in our curriculum.
    • We will be asking for more lessons to fill holes we will have in the New Year.

Best Practices Checklist

December 2016 Top Checklist Items

• Start promoting the WSPTA’s Men Making A Difference” student essay contest. This is a great opportunity for students to write essays about an important male role model. 2016-17 Essay Entry must be postmarked by 3/1/17. For SoE app: Print example of how you promoted the contest to your members(e.g., eNews/FB/website/etc.).  A great activity for students to do during Winter Break!

• Continue asking for volunteers to serve on your PTSA/ PTA’s Nominating Committee.  If slated, consider electing your Nominating Committee during your December GM Meeting.

• Share an article or information from Council, Region 2, WSTPA and/or National PTA with members (at GM meeting, in eNews, on Facebook, etc.). Print examples for each using two different communication methods you regularly use to communicate with members. For Facebook, you will need to provide multiple posts from varying months to demonstrate regular communications. Information shared can be from a Council or Region training or meeting, WSPTA or National PTA websites.

Here are a few quick links to articles to copy and paste: 

Why Bad Moms Need PTA

Why I Volunteer

Tips To Keep Kids Safe Online

Webinar-  Safe Drinking Water in Schools

On the Radar for January 2017:

o   Hold a mid-year retreat or meeting with your Board to discuss and evaluate your PTA’s achievements thus far and review what you need to do for the balance of the year to meet the goals and needs of your PTA. What is your PTA’s process to evaluate current year’s goals, programs and activities? (Surveys, suggestion box, post event evaluations, GM open forum, etc.).

o   Promote Focus Day (scheduled for Monday, Jan. 16, 2017) and encourage Board/members to attend. For SoE app: Print copy of all attendees’ registrations – up to 3 people for maximum SoE app points). For SoE Platinum Level: Print example of how you shared Focus Day info with members (e.g., minutes, newsletter, website, etc.)  Register Here for 2017 Focus Day

o   Consider electing your Nominating Committee at your January GM Meeting. Review Article 5, Section 5 of the WSPTA 2016-17 Uniform Bylaws regarding election procedures. For SoE app: Make copy of GM minutes showing election of Nominating Committee.

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No Report.

Washington State PTA Membership Leadership Guide

No Report. 

Outreach Notes – This page is kept current as needs or programs change.

A lot of new, fantastic parent ed events are coming to Issaquah schools!

In January,

Many of your PTSA websites are still posting OLD past events/info.  PLEASE update monthly with our proposed communications below.  If you can’t keep up, just send parents  to http://ParentWiser.org.  Contact parentwiser@issaquahptsa.org  if you need another logo/button.

(Our surveys show that attending parents are aware of our events mostly through PTSA, Facebook.  We have to PUSH the information in multiple channels, multiple times. How will you reach your non-PTSA parents? We ask for registrations, but we always have room for walk-ins!  Please advertise widely throughout your school communities, especially:

Send in school ENews

Send in PTA/PTSA ENews/Website/Email to membership

Post dates on school and/or PTSA calendars (even though it may be held at a different school location!)

Post on school and/or PTSA Facebook/Twitter

Post flyers (attached!) on school/PTSA bulletin boards

If your school is hosting an event, add it to your reader board out front!

For printing & services  use Fedex WA State PTA discount code:  052 088 2103 . 

Announce these events with a flyer at PTSA Board & General Membership Meetings!

For ENews (cut/paste for your school population below):

————————————————————————————

ParentWiser presents…

Jan 12^th  Birds & Bees Talks for the 21st Century: Raising Kids in the Age of Technology, by Amy Lang at 7-8:30pm at Cascade Ridge Elementary on how and when talk about the birds and the bees and simple tips for handling all the yucky stuff tech can bring into kids’ lives.   For parents of grades K-5.   FLYER DOC | FLYER PDF

Jan 17^th Teen Kindness Advocate, Houston Kraft speaks to parents 6:30-7:30pm at Issaquah Middle School on what young people today NEED to be successful and kind.  For parents of grades 6-12.  FLYER DOC | FLYER PDF

Register for these and future events at http://ParentWiser.org.  Walk-in are also welcome!

We will also be attending your January or February General Membership Meetings to help build awareness for our February and April keynote authors/speakers:

1. John O’Sullivan on 2/28th on “Changing the Game”
2. Jessica Lahey on 4/25th on “Gift of Failure – How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed”

Please contact parentwiser@issaquahptsa.org if you are interested in joining our parent ed committee to provide ideas for topics, speakers, venues, or can volunteer for Social Media Manager of Facebook/Twitter pages.  Also contact us if your PTSA is looking for recommended local/lower cost speakers/topics to attract parents to your PTSA General Membership Meetings.

Thank you!

Heidi Fuhs & Debbie Steinberg Kuntz

ParentWiser

Issaquah PTSA Council

parentwiser@issaquahptsa.org

http://ParentWiser.org

We received a total of 264 entries from 23 schools. Gibson Ek did not send in any entries.

We are currently judging the entries. We are able to send a total of 53 to State plus the one Special Artist entry we received.

The Reflections Chairs from each school were given invitations to the Reception, when they dropped off their submissions on November 21st.

The District Reception is on TUESDAY January 10th 2017 at IHS from 6.30-8.00pm.

The finalists moving on to State will only be notified on January 10th.

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Highlights from the ParentWiser Run, Hide, Fight presentation.
       – Kimberly Nocco

The following suggestions are mostly for adults and are relevant in many settings: office, theater, public gathering. The message that has been given to most younger students in the district is simply “Listen to your teacher/an adult in charge.”

If possible, RUN. Make sure your hands are EMPTY and held where police can see them. As a demonstration, one officer held a black phone while swinging her arms running – it really looked like it could be a firearm. If you take your phone or car keys, put them in your pocket or bra (seriously, he said that) and DON’T reach for them unexpectedly, you’ll get yourself shot.

If you can’t run, HIDE. Take cover – the spots recommended were behind large electrical boxes (contain copper, can stop bullets), behind a large concrete pillar, behind the FRONT end of a car near the tire (bullets go through the trunk area). If indoors, lock/barricade the door, turn off phones/vibration (your family will call you and give away your hiding spot! And this goes the other way, don’t keep calling loved ones if they might be hiding).

Finally, if no other option, FIGHT. Work together. Be committed to incapacitate the attacker. Look for resources, even if unconventional – fire extinguishers, hot coffee, belt, chair…

Always FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS of first responders/SWAT, even if they seem unusual. They have a tactical reason for every request and don’t have time to be polite. As an example, the officer pushed a victim towards the center of the room to prevent injury from stray bullets bouncing off walls. The first responders are there to neutralize the threat, not help you, stay out of their way. When they arrive on the scene, they have a lot of information to take in quickly and decide who is the threat – don’t give them any reason to suspect you.

Attached is one of the best summaries of Run, Hide, Fight that I’ve seen. https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/national/activeshooter/

And this is the official video shown in the presentation: https://youtu.be/5VcSwejU2D0

Outreach Donation Ask for Council meeting:   Progresso type Soups (not condensed) and dried fruits. Thank you!

District Bell Times Information & CDC Infographic

• Don’t forget to file your 990/990EZ/990N by 11/15/16 or file for an extension.
• Don’t forget to renew your AIM insurance in November.
• Once you receive your new Certificate of Insurance, please email me a copy so I can provide it to Cindy Schwinden (ISD Facilities Use Scheduler).  Without a current insurance certificate on file with ISD, you are unable to hold PTA activities in ISD buildings.

2016 Washington State PTA Legislative Assembly Report

Three members of your Council Board attended Legislative Assembly in October. We educated ourselves on all of the proposed issues and resolutions, and voted to support those we thought would be most important and relevant to our students.

Please go to WSPTA Grassroots Connection Blogspot for more detailed information and a Post Legislative Assembly Summary: http://wsptagrassroots.blogspot.com/ . You can also visit this page to sign up for Grassroots Updates, and to find links to other Advocacy Resources.

2016-2018 Legislative Platform (Top Five)

1. Social Emotional Learning*
2. Amply Fund Basic Education*
3. Closing the Opportunity Gap*
4. Standards for Paraeducators*
5. Breakfast after the Bell*

Issues Also Supported (listed alphabetically)

• Improving Educational Outcomes for Foster Children*
• Engaging Families in Student Success
• Post-Secondary Higher Education*
• Removing Barriers to Implementing ECEAP (Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program)
• Restorative Justice and School Safety

*2015-16 legislative issues

New Long Term Resolutions

Child Sex Trafficking
Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, and Dyspraxia (sensory disorders) and their Educational Impact
Mitigating Environmental Hazards and Contaminants in Schools

Expanded Learning Parent/Guardian Survey

Link to survey: http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/2682246/ELOC-Parent-Guardian-Survey?platform=hootsuite

This survey is being conducted by the Expanded Learning Opportunities Council (ELOC). The ELOC was created in 2014 to advise the Governor, Legislature, and Superintendent of Public Instruction regarding expanded learning opportunities for students. Your input as a parent or guardian will be used to help guide the ELOC’s recommendations about:

Best Practices Checklist

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Issaquah Schools Foundation Agenda Notes

Membership Notes

Washington State PTA Membership Leadership Guide

Outreach Notes – This page is kept current as needs or programs change.

1. ParentWiser held it’s first quarterly committee meeting on 10/19^th  inviting all Parent Ed Reps from each school to provide input, feedback, and lend skills to improve our offerings and events.  We are lacking involvement from ALL schools!  We rely on your parent ed reps voice to help deliver what your school communities want. Currently we seek a Social Media volunteer to create/manage a Facebook account. Questions & comments to parentwiser@issaquahptsa.org.
2. ParentWiser would like to speak 2-3 minutes at your Fall/Winter General Membership Meeting to create awareness for several events around our main keynote speaker, Jessica Lahey, author of Gift of Failure.  Please send us your GMM date for Nov/Dec/Jan for 2-3 mins on your agenda.
3. The November events are below: these went out last Friday to Parent Ed Reps and Communications Chairs.  Please make sure your school advertises these district-wide events!

ParentWiser presents…

Nov 21^st  Run, Hide, Fight  at 7pm at Issaquah High School, Black Box Theater by School Resource Officer and Active Shooter Trainer, Diego Zanella of Issaquah Police Dept.   FLYER.
Increasingly we’re hearing about shooters in schools, offices, churches and around town. Whether present in a public space, or waiting to hear from loved ones at a scene, do you know what to do?  For parents of K-12.

Nov 29^th SCREENAGERS – Growing Up in the Digital Age at 7-9pm at Liberty High School, Theater. FLYER.
Another chance to see this film documentary, with expert panel Q&A, exploring struggles over social media, video games, academics and internet addiction. With insights from psychologists, brain scientists, and families, SCREENAGERS reveals how tech time impacts kids’ development and how parents can best navigate the digital world and find balance.  Watch the trailer at:  http://www.screenagersmovie.com    For parents & students of K-12.

Register for these events at http://ParentWiser.org These ParentWiser events are FREE for Issaquah school district PTSA members, $5 donation requested for non-members at the door; sponsored by Issaquah PTSA Council, Issaquah Schools Foundation and Swedish Medical of Issaquah.

Parentwiser Logo.

Check out http://parentwiser.org for a current listing of parent education events, registrations, and resources across the Issaquah school district.

District Turn In: Monday, November 21, 10-Noon in the Issaquah Library Meeting Room (Sunset/Front St). Contact Yvette at reflections@issaquahptsa.org or Leah redleah@mindspring.com 425-281-6464 if you have any difficulty.

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Synopsis of Issaquah School District Presentation by Pam Ridenour – Director of  Counseling Services