News from your North Beach PTA
October 8, 2021
Dates to Remember
- October 1- 31: Disability History and Awareness Month
- Friday, October 8: No school, State In-Service day
Monday, October 11: National Indigenous Peoples’ Day
- Tuesday, October 12: 6:30pm PTA meeting
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84919978387?pwd=NS9odGthdDViZzc0QUJBdUJ0Z3pqQT09
Meeting ID: 849 1997 8387
Passcode: 934616
- Monday, October 18: 7:00pm Principal Q&A
- Sunday, October 31: 2-3:30pm NB Costume Parade and Food Drive @ Soundview Park
A Note From our Principal
Dear North Beach Families:
The district recently sent information to families about the fall SBA assessment window. State assessments are typically done in the spring, but this year Washington State was allowed to delay its 2020-21 testing window to the fall due to COVID-19 related issues. Our 4th and 5th grade students will be the only grades taking the state assessments, which will be shorter than usual and based on standards of the grade the student previously completed. At the district level, Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade students will be taking the MAP math standardized assessment in mid-November, and 3rd grade students will be taking the reading and math MAP. Your child’s teacher will send information regarding specific testing dates in class newsletters.
Public Health – Seattle & King County provides updated information on COVID-19. The cases among all age groups have been trending downward, but they are not going down as much for children ages 5-11 as they are for other groups. K-5 age students have a 48% higher COVID rate than children age 0-4. These statistics reinforce the need for us all to do everything we can to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect students who don’t have access to vaccines. https://publichealthinsider.com/2021/10/04/covid-19-and-youth-in-kc/
Last week I let you know I’ve been informed that in the event there is a positive COVID case involving students or staff at North Beach, only families of students in classrooms that have been impacted will be informed, so I wanted to provide this information again for families who may have missed it last week. Moving forward, I will work on alternative methods of keeping you updated. One way you can stay up to date is by viewing the SPS COVID-19 dashboard.
Thank you to those who participated in our lunch feedback survey. We received responses from families representing approximately half our students. 65% of respondents wish to maintain outdoor lunch. We are working with the PTA to get seating so students will be more comfortable and won’t get wet. We’ve also designed a plan to bring students inside in the event the weather is extreme; students normally eating under the tent will instead be eating in the cafeteria. We’ll share information with families at October’s Q&A.
Finally, next week Seattle celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Day in honor of Native peoples and communities past and present. The city has provided a variety of resources to celebrate and learn about Indigenous cultures in our area: https://visitseattle.org/press/press-releases/indigenous-peoples-day-in-seattle-honoring-celebrating/ .
Have a wonderful weekend,
Kristine McLane
Principal
From the Office
To take your student out of school early:
Please email the teacher as well as the office (Sarah sbbradley@seattleschools.org and Carolyn cmhostetler@seattleschools.org) the morning of or day before. Come to the front door and ring the security bell. We will bring a sheet out for you to sign your student out. We will call your student out of class at that time. Please let us know if they are coming back so the teacher will know if they need to pack up completely. Please also allow extra time as it can be very busy in the office and sometimes we don’t know what class the kids are in on campus.
2nd annual North Beach Fall Food Drive and Costume Parade
North Beach 2nd annual Fall Food Drive and Costume Parade**!
October 31st, 2-3:30pm (find your class slot below!) @ Soundview Park
Donate non perishable food to the Ballard Food Bank! Last year we collected 767 lbs!!
Parade around the park and marvel at the costumes of your friends and classmates. Connect with our North Beach Community! Play a few games
Parade times*
Preschool - 2nd grade
2-2:20 pm = drop off donations, gather for parade.
2:20- 2:40 = Parade around Soundview.
3rd - 5th grade
2:50 -3:10 pm = drop off donations, gather for parade.
3:10- 3:30 = Parade around Soundview.
* Multiple kids that span both segments? Pick the cohort that works best for you!
** Not feeling like dressing in costume? No problem! Costumes are optional!
Food Drive: Donations will go to the Ballard Food Bank! Drop off food at the Soundview Parking lot along 90th St. Look for a tent and/or a decorated pickup! Food items currently most in need include soups, chili, cereal boxes, juice boxes, shelf stable milks, mac'n'cheese, and granola bars. For more details see their website: Donation Details | Ballard Food Bank
Parade: We will gather and walk around the lower park starting from the playground, very similar to what we did last year! Please make sure that your entire family is wearing medically effective masks.
If you don't have time to parade, but still would like to donate items from your pantry, feel free to drive through the parking lot and drop off your donations on the fly anytime between 2-3:30 pm!
Questions? Email Communications@northbeachpta.org
Thank you Mr. Ray and Mr. Rick!!
National Custodian Day was October 2, 2021 and we want to give Mr. Ray and Mr. Rick a big ‘Thank You’ for all the hard work they do to keep our school in tip top shape. Mr. Ray not only manages the facilities but offers our students their daily Mindful Moments. We are so fortunate to have this great team at North Beach.
Return Extra Art Supplies
There will be an art supply return box in front of school beginning Monday, Oct 11th and you can leave any extra supplies there at your convenience. This is an optional return program. Questions? Email communications@northbeachpta.org.
Help Set the WSPTA Priorities!
JOIN Seattle Special Education PTSA!
Join us and make a difference!
- Partner with other parents and educators to advocate for improvements in the special education system
- Get valuable resources and information
- Gain insights and understanding of how to navigate your child's education
We are the Seattle Special Education Parent Teacher and Student Association (SSEPTSA) established in 2007. We are a Seattle PTA of members and volunteers made up of parents, students, and community in Seattle, Washington coming together under the Washington State Parent Teacher Association (WSPTA) to support and advocate for every child and all students who are served by IEPs and 504s.
October is Disability Awareness Month: Let's Talk about Inclusion
You are invited to joing a free online event presented by the PTSA.
A Community Conversation About Inclusion Tickets, Tue, Oct 26, 2021 at 7:00 PM | Eventbrite
Eventbrite - Seattle Special Education PTSA presents A Community Conversation About Inclusion - Tuesday, October 26, 2021 - Find event and ticket information.
SPS flu vaccine clinics are here!
Getting the flu shot in the next few weeks is optimal for getting through the winter flu season. SPS has partnered with the Seattle Visiting Nurse Association to provide flu shot clinics for the public at schools across the city.
Saturday, October 9, 2021
Ballard High School 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 10, 2021
Whitman Middle School 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
The complete list of times and locations can be found here:
School Board Meetings are online!
Attending School Board Meetings no longer requires driving and parking downtown! The board meets for regular meetings twice a month, and special meetings throughout the month. Reopening plans, construction projects, curriculum - decisions are discussed and made. Email klabelle@gmail.com to learn more about attending a meeting to help us track what is happening. You can find out more here.
Support North Beach Elementary When You Shop!
Amazon Smile: 0.5% of eligible purchases back to North Beach!
https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1320831
Shutterfly: 8% of Purchases come back to North Beach!
Shop for cards and photos at www.NorthBeach.ShutterflyStoreFront.com and help contribute 8% to the North Beach PTA!
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Community News & Events (The programs below are not endorsed by either North Beach PTA or SPS, and are posted for informational purposes only.)
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Ballard’s Oldest Cub Scout Pack Now Recruiting
Cub Scout Pack 100, operating since 1938 and chartered by Ballard’s Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, is now recruiting boys, girls, and parents for 2021-2022. Become a new Scout now!
Boys and Girls from first through fifth grade are invited to join Pack 100 and begin their quest to build the world’s fastest Pinewood Derby car, to have fun outside, to participate in service opportunities, and to earn special recognitions and awards.
Cub Scouting means "doing." Everything in Cub Scouting is designed to have the Cub Scouts participating in fun activities used to achieve the aims of Scouting—character development, leadership development, citizenship training, and personal fitness. When asked what she enjoys about scouting, one of our 1st grade Cub Scouts said “I love to go on adventures and be in nature!”
For more information, visit http://www.pack100ballard.com/, or send an email to join@pack100ballard.com.
School Programs
Boys & Girls Club
Questions? 206-582-3512 or choover@positiveplace.org.
Registration Information and enrollment paperwork is available at: http://positiveplace.org/locations/childcare/Pages/northbeachchildcare.aspx
Small Faces
The school-aged program at Small Faces serves kindergarten through fifth grade children. At the end of the school day, a school bus takes kids to Small Faces Center where they are greeted by teachers and offered a snack before the program activities begin. Doors close at 6pm. Contact Kathy Brockman with questions and to enroll: kbrockman@smallfaces.org
Washington Karate After School Program
Transportation is available up to five days per week from select Seattle Schools and the dojo is located conveniently near the Greenwood Fred Meyer. Students have snack and homework time and a one hour karate class, where they learn skills and discipline. For more details visit www.washingtonkarate.com or call (206)784-3171.
“The Washington Karate program is an excellent way for children to develop physical, mental, and emotional well-being.” ~Dr. Thomas Staiger, Medical Director, UW Medical Center.
Beachcomber Email
Article submissions for this newsletter are due by 5:00pm Wednesdays. Please send articles to communications@northbeachpta.org.
About North Beach Elementary
PTA website: northbeachelementary.org
School website: northbeaches.seattleschools.org
Email: communications@northbeachpta.org
Website: northbeachelementary.org
Location: 9018 24th Avenue NW Seattle, WA 98117
Phone: (206) 252-1510
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northbeachpta/
Twitter: @sealsnorthbeach