News from your North Beach PTA
March 26, 2021
Dates to Remember
- Monday, March 29: Return to in-person schooling for Special Education Intensive Service pathways
- Thursday, April 1: Yearbook Photos Due!
- Monday, April 5: Return to in-person schooling for K-5
- Tuesday, April 6: PTA Meeting, 6 p.m. **ALL ARE WELCOME**
- April 12-16: Spring Break **NO SCHOOL**
A Note from Our Principal
Dear North Beach Families:
After more than a year, our staff is excited to welcome some of our students back into the building on Monday, March 29. The following week, on April 5, they will be joined by additional K-5 students. We know that change is difficult and there are many questions about the new instructional model students will be experiencing. There are also changes to the school day schedule. On Wednesday, the school board approved new spring 2021 bell times to increase access to yellow bus transportation. This change begins on March 29. Preschool and elementary students enrolled in Intensive Service Pathways will begin in-person learning with the new bell schedule.
In-Person and Remote Bell Schedule: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
M/Tu/Th/F (In-Person)
· Morning block: 8 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
· Afternoon block: 11:45 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
On Wednesdays all students will be remote, 8 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.
The district has provided illustrative schedules to help explain the upcoming changes: https://www.seattleschools.org/district/calendars/news/what_s_new/in-person_learning/illustrative_schedules
Kindergarten to 5th grade students will learn asynchronously March 29-31st. The district is providing all asynchronous activities for students M-W next week, as well as for Music, so that all staff are able to participate in required professional development. K-5 students will learn remotely beginning at 8 a.m. on April 1 and 2.
Please know we are doing what we can to ease the transition for our students. Teachers will be reaching out to families over the next week. Our Building Safety Team is meeting to finalize logistics for dropping off/picking up as well as scheduling recesses. We will be utilizing this re-entry plan extensively as we come back into the building; it has a lot of helpful information that answers many questions parents have been asking. Some of the links in the document are only accessible to staff but the information contained in the guide is still helpful for families. Please keep in mind that it is still in draft form, but I wanted to share as much information as possible with families that I could now.
We will be holding evening family events next week to provide information about returning to in-person instruction; please look for information from your child’s teacher and on Konstella for details.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Kristine McLane
Principal
North Beach Elementary
Counselor’s Corner
Supporting Children Through Change
Whether your family is opting to have your student/s return to school with a hybrid schedule or remain 100% remote, change is coming. Today I wanted to share some quick tips for how you can support your children through these changes.
Remember, too, that North Beach teachers and staff are intentionally preparing students for the changes through lessons, conversations and activities. We’ll do this together as a community.
Tips to Help:
· Give a heads up: let your child know that changes are coming and share what you know. If you have a younger child, you might want to wait until you have more details about what things will look like for your child. This will give kids time to mentally adjust to the idea of the changes.
· Answer questions: encourage your child to ask any questions they may have about the changes. It’s okay to say, “I don’t know the answer to that yet, but we’ll hopefully find out soon.” Giving as many details as possible will help your child know what to expect and calm their anxiety about a new situation.
· Allow kids to express feelings: do a Mood Meter check in about their feelings about the changes. Likely kids will have mixed feelings – excited to see friends again but worried that school will feel different or, if they’re staying remote – comfortable that they’ll still be at home or daycare but feeling left out that they won’t be going back to school yet and some of their friends may be. For less verbal kids, invite them to draw a picture of how they’re feeling. Validate their feelings – all feelings are okay. “This is a big change for all of us. I understand why you might be feeling that way.”
· Listen: take time to actively listen with undivided attention to your child’s feelings and questions about the changes.
· Keep to routines: some things will be changing, but kids will find comfort in the things that remain constant. Stick to household routines and rituals (such as bedtime, playtime, family time, mealtime) as much as possible. Let kids know which things will be staying constant.
· Maintain healthy habits as much as possible: sticking to healthy habits will allow children and families to better tolerate stress and change. (9-11 hours of sleep per night, exercise, limits on screen time, balanced meals, etc.)
· Encourage positive thinking and the use of healthy coping strategies: students have been learning about resiliency and perseverance this month and have been practicing positive self-talk. Focusing on the positives of these changes will help everyone adjust faster. Let your child know that you believe in them and that the changes may take some getting used to, but they can do it. Other coping strategies: taking deep breaths, talking to a caring adult, imagining your safe/comfy place, counting to ten, taking a break.
· Manage your own anxiety: we adults also have big feelings about the upcoming changes, and while it’s okay to let kids know that we’re having mixed feelings, too, it won’t help them to see us fall apart. If you need to vent, do that with another adult when kids aren’t around, and use your own healthy coping strategies to manage your own anxiety.
· Remind kids of the support they’ll have: they won’t have to do this alone. Our whole school community will be going through this transition together, and we’ll support one another through it. We can do this!
PTA Update
Join the Communication Committee!
This easy volunteer team helps communicate PTA messages and important school information via the Beachcomber, Konstella and Facebook. Members are needed to keep communications going next year!
If you are interested in joining or have questions email Rebecca Mongrain at communications@northbeachpta.org
Traveling Out of State for Spring Break?
Gov. Jay Inslee has issued a travel advisory for Washington, recommending a 7-day quarantine for interstate and international travel and asks residents to stay close to home. It has taken a long time to get schools reopened safely. PLEASE follow CDC guidelines if you are traveling. Sending kids straight back to classes increases risk for all, and increases the likelihood of Covid-related closures. Now that we are reopening, Let’s stay open. Thanks for doing your part.
More information available here.
Order Your North Beach Yearbook Now!
You can BUY YOUR YEARBOOK on Konstella for $15.33/yearbook.
Over 174 yearbooks have been pre-ordered so far. Can't remember if you ordered a yearbook? Email: the yearbook team at rhondae33@yahoo.com and we will let you know. You can order extra books for donation to NB families.
Submit your child's yearbook picture!
Over 240 individual student portraits have been received. We want to include all 360 students in the yearbook. SEND PHOTOS NOW TO THE YEARBOOK TEAM TO rhondae33@yahoo.com. PHOTOS ARE DUE 4/1/21.
Submit a candid photo of your child for the classroom yearbook page; candid photos should be kids from North Beach only, at home or outside, studying, on computer for school, playing at the park, Halloween costumes, Holiday celebrations, playing with pets, etc... Just showcase your student's personality! Send candid photos to rhondae33@yahoo.com.
You do not need to buy a yearbook in order to submit your child's portrait for the class yearbook page. Yearbook staff can come to your house or meet you and your child at an outdoor location, to get the photo taken, just email rhondae33@yahoo.com to set this up.
Here are the two ways to submit your child's yearbook photo:
1. Use the Lifetouch + Shutterfly app to submit a photo of your child (you can also purchase portrait packages here)
2. Email a photo of your child to rhondae33@yahoo.com. Use your smartphone or digital camera for photo.
Subject line: student name, classroom number, teacher name, and grade.
Photo Requirements:
- Photo should be at least 640 X 800 pixels for best image quality.
- Photo formats: JPEG, PNG, or SVG for image uploads.
· Portraits show the child from mid chest to top of head. No hats please.
By submitting this photo you are giving permission for it to be used in the 2020-21 North Beach yearbook. The yearbook will be hard copy only and photos will not be used in any electronic media.
Legislative Corner
As anticipated, the March 17 revenue forecast presented by state chief economist Steve Lerch was positive – for the 2019-21 biennium, the forecast was increased by $1.34 billion and for the 2021-23 biennium it increased by nearly $1.95 billion. This is a dramatic turnaround from the June 2020 forecast, which projected a $9 billion deficit for fiscal years 2021, 2022, and 2023. Read the full WSPTA report here.
Do you have thoughts about the capital gains tax? The bill was proposed and passed out of the Senate, and now is in the House Finance Committee - which is chaired by our representative, Noel Frame. You can read a summary of the bill and it is easy to make a comment all in one easy to access place.
Follow along and comment on bills in the state legislature with this handy guide from the WSPTA. The State Legislature affects our day to day lives, from bills on eliminating copay for school lunches of students who qualify for reduced lunch, or prohibiting use of Native American names, symbols, or images as public school mascots, logos, or team names, to reducing environmental and health disparities, and expanding suicide prevention services - work on the vast issues concerning families and children is happening.
Questions or comments? klabelle@gmail.com
Join the PTA!
Make your voice heard! The NBE PTA provides advocacy and funding for our students. By joining the PTA you say YES to counselors, tutors, art supplies, classroom technology, library books, and more. JOIN TODAY and while you’re at it donate to the school supplies fund!
Join the PTA 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!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Community News & Events (The programs below are not endorsed by either North Beach PTA or SPS, and are posted for informational purposes only.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ballard Basketball Spring Break Camps!
Ballard Basketball Spring Break Camps!
For 4th-8th boys and girls
Inside and outside options
Partial scholarships available for anyone who needs them
For more info and to register, visit www.ballardbasketball.org/camps
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/.
Beachcomber Email
Article submissions for this newsletter are due by 5:00pm Wednesdays. Please send articles to beachcomber@northbeachpta.org
About North Beach Elementary
PTA website: northbeachelementary.org
School website: northbeaches.seattleschools.org
Email: beachcomber@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