News from your North Beach PTA
September 24, 2021
Dates to Remember
- Thursday, September 30: 7:00pm Virtual Curriculum Night
- Friday, October 8: No school, State In-Service day
- Tuesday, October 12: 6:30pm PTA meeting
- Monday, October 18: 7:00pm Principal Q&A
A Note From our Principal
Hello North Beach Seals,
Thanks to those of you who attended the Principal Q&A Monday night. There were a lot of great questions and concerns covered. We’ll be sending out a summary of topics covered during our conversation soon. For parents who have sent emails since the Q&A on Monday night: in order for us to cover everything, please look in the meeting summary for information related to your questions.
At the Principal Q&A one hot topic that came up was eating outside. We’ll be sending out a survey via classroom teachers to gather input from parents. The survey will be sent in classroom bulletins for you to complete next week. Teachers will also be sending out information on Curriculum Night, which is next Thursday, September 30th. Meetings will be held via Microsoft Teams and will be recorded for families unable to attend.
Finally, we have been receiving lots of questions from parents about how they can help make the school year run as smoothly as possible. We are still looking for support with school lunch. Receiving additional parent help to facilitate lunch would be a huge help to the school. If this is something you are interested in, make sure you’ve completed the volunteer application process within the last two years and then complete this form: https://forms.office.com/r/txQ0eCTCTU. If you have any questions, please contact Carolyn Hostetler at cmhostetler@seattleschools.org.
Thank you for your partnership and support as we work together to provide a safe and healthy environment for all students to learn!
Kristine McLane
Principal
Counselor's Corner
Social Emotional Focus for September: Building Community, Learning Expectations and Routines
As we’ve welcomed all our students back into the building this month, our focus has been on creating a safe and welcoming environment for all our students and staff. We’ve spent time building community through regular class meetings and by creating Classroom Charters. Classroom Charters are an anchor tool from the RULER program. The Charter is a promise that teachers and students create together for how they want to feel in the classroom, what actions will promote those feelings, and agreed upon actions for how to prevent and manage conflict. Students have also been using another anchor tool, the Mood Meter, which helps them to identify and manage feelings throughout the school day. We begin each day with a school-wide Mindful Moment during which students and staff breathe together as a community and think about where we are on the Mood Meter. We also think about whether this is a helpful place to be or whether we’d like to use a strategy to help ourselves move to another quadrant on the Mood Meter.
We’re also focusing this month on learning school routines and expectations, and, of course, there are many new routines to master with all our safety measures! The goal of our PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support) based system is to create a positive school culture that is predictable, positive, safe and consistent. We explicitly teach, practice and positively reinforce expected behaviors laid out in our North Beach Way. Our emphasis is on being safe, kind, and respectful, and students learn what this looks and sounds like across all school settings. PBIS is for staff, too, with a set of expectations for the adults in the building and the goal of all adults teaching, reinforcing and reteaching behavior expectations in the same way. Your child may come home with a “Caught Ya” ticket – a physical acknowledgement that they were “caught” following the North Beach Way. Please celebrate with them!
Finally, I am visiting all classrooms this month to meet new students, learn names, read a book or do an activity and explain the counselor’s role to students and let them know how they can request to see me. As always, if you have any questions about the counseling program or concerns about your student, please contact me, Alysa Reid, at arreid@seattleschools.org or (206) 252-1535. I am here at North Beach on Tuesdays, Thursdays and on Wednesday mornings and look forward to connecting with you.
From the office
Remember to pay your student device fees
https://www.seattleschools.org/departments/dots/support-training-forms/schoolpay/
PTA News
Question: Do you have ideas to improve the student lunchtime experience?
The rain is coming, and some parents/caregivers have expressed concern about eating outdoors on potentially wet ground. We're considering ideas such as additional tarps/tents, padding for the kids to sit on, etc. We'd love your input! Email president@northbeachpta.org if you'd be willing to join a brainstorming session or if you have a good idea you'd like to share.
Here are four ways you can get involved:
1) Please complete your PTA Membership and sign up for your yearbook and school supplies on Konstella now.
2) Sign up for a volunteer committee!
There are positions that are highly involved as well as volunteer opportunities you can do from your couch. We're putting committees together right now, so please complete the yellow volunteer form that came home in kid mail or sign up online!
3) Find your community: Join a family affinity groups.
A few such groups will be Families of Color, LGBTQIA families, Military families, Families with single parents, Families New to North Beach, Multi-lingual families, White-identifying families looking to be better anti-racist allies and more!
The mission of the North Beach PTA is to:
- Provide and sponsor programs which enrich and expand the educational experiences as well as the physical, emotional, and mental health of all North Beach students
- Advocate for the well-being of children at North Beach Elementary and across the district and state
- Encourage family & caregiver participation in our children's education
- Support the North Beach faculty and staff
- Link families to important school and community information and resources and facilitate open communication and idea sharing among families and staff
- Foster an inclusive school community, where all are welcomed, equity is centered and diversity is celebrated
* Programming * Fundraising * Volunteering * Parent Ed *Community * Advocacy * Fun*
Help North Beach Get a New School!
There is a gap between what the state funds for K-12 education and what Seattle students need. Every three years, Seattle Public Schools asks voters to renew the Educational Programs and Operations Levy (EP&O), which is a local education property tax. The vote happens in February, but the decisions about what to include in the levy are HAPPENING NOW!
Join the coordinated comment writing on Monday! For talking points and information on who to send your comments to, email: klabelle@gmail.com
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.
Here are a few that are happening soon and in our neighborhood.
Saturday, September 25, 2021
Whitman Middle School 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Ingraham High School 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 3, 2021
Ingraham High School 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 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:
Family Connectors University
Seattle Public Schools (SPS) families are invited to join North Seattle College’s Family Connectors University (FCU) class, a family-focused online course designed to help parents support their child’s learning and growth.
In partnership with North Seattle College and SPS Family Partnerships Department, topics include:
· Helping your child with learning
· Social Emotional Learning ideas for home
· Becoming a supportive partner at your school
· Helping your child with ‘big emotions’
· Supporting your child with reading and math
· Talking to kids about race, racism, and antiracist actions
Take this course in real-time or attend offline at a time that works for you. Check out video here and course details here.
Participants report that this year's pandemic-informed curriculum has been immensely helpful to families during remote learning:
“The Family Connectors University class was a wealth of practical ideas, and definitely worth the time investment!”
“…the conversations about self-care, supporting our kids' social emotional growth, dealing with "big feelings" and recommendations on supporting reading and math were fantastic.”
The class takes place online via Zoom for 10 weeks beginning Tuesday, September 28th at 6-7 pm. Parents can participate synchronously or asynchronously, as sessions will be recorded.
Course is facilitated by NSC Parent Education Instructor Lea Evans, Principal Janine Roy, SPS Family Partnerships Coordinator Asosa Sailiai, and special guest speakers.
The cost for the 2-unit class is $39.42 and some scholarships are available. Email Asosa Sailiai to enroll or find out more information: amsailiai@seattleschools.org.
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!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Community News & Events (The programs below are not endorsed by either North Beach PTA or SPS, and are posted for informational purposes only.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ready Set Scout - Pack 827
Come Join Us!!
The Ballard Elks Lodge Cub Scout program is open to Boys and Girls in grades K-5th. Cub Scout Pack 827 holds meengs on Monday evenings at the Ballard Elks Lodge throughout the school year. Meeting and activities are led by trained parents and adult leaders. Cub Scouts is a family-based program focused on guiding and teaching the fundamental tenants of the scout oath and law (Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, Reverent) while having fun and making friends!
PACK 827 – OPEN HOUSE AND JOINING MEETING
Games, Activities, and Information
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 27TH 6PM TO 7PM
Ballard Elks Lodge located at 6411 Seaview Ave.
Reading Tutor available
My name is Emily, I am an Orton-Gillingham trained reading tutor living in the Ballard area. I offer one-to-one tutoring sessions for students of all ages (either in-person or on Zoom depending on client preference). I use the Orton-Gillingham approach in every session to directly target the literacy skills each student needs to become a fluent reader. I completed my O-G training and also have my Master's in Special Education. My website has more information about me, Orton-Gillingham, and structured literacy: https://www.emilyewarner.com/
My email is: warnere91@gmail.com if anyone would like to get in touch with questions or to schedule a session.
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
Illumination Learning Studio
Illumination Learning Studio provides After School Programs for children K-5. We provide transportation after school each day. This is an arts-focused educational program. Please visit our website for more information https://www.illuminationlearningstudio.com/.
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: www.northbeachelementary.org
Location: 9018 24th Avenue NW Seattle, WA 98117
Phone: (206) 252-1510
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northbeachpta/
Twitter: @sealsnorthbeach