News from your North Beach PTA
April 1, 2022
Dates to Remember
- Friday, April 8: Wear blue to honor & celebrate Autism Acceptance Month
- April 11-15: Spring Break - No School.
- Tuesday, April 19: 6:30pm PTA Meeting
- Saturday, April 23: 10:00am NB Earth Day Garden Party
North Beach Multicultural calendar - April
During April the North Beach community celebrates the following multicultural groups. We will highlight resources and opportunities to learn more about these groups during the month.
April: Autism Acceptance Month
April 2: Ramadan begins
April 15-23: Passover
April 17: Easter
April 22: Earth Day
April 28: Holocaust Memorial Day
A Note From our Principal
April 1, 2022
Dear North Beach Families:
We are enjoying the transition back to using our cafeteria tables! Iām hoping that shortly after we return from spring break, we will be able to have all students eating in the cafeteria. SPS continues to utilize guidance from health officials to guide COVID-19 mitigation efforts.
Earlier this week, the district sent a notification to families with information about how the district is preparing for possible surges of COVID-19. Next week, we will be sending home rapid antigen tests with every student, to be taken within 24 hours of returning to school on April 18. Upon returning to school after break, the district is encouraging families to opt in to in-school on-demand testing in order for the school to quickly respond to positive cases. Some of the guidelines have changed for isolating/quarantining and what to do if youāre identified as a close contact. This is a helpful flowchart I recommend keeping available for home use.
There are a lot of changes that will be communicated soon by SPS that will be implemented after Spring Break. Iāll send details about a Principal Q&A next week to be held after we return from break to help clarify the information about the changes that will be happening.
Finally, I wanted to clarify our morning procedures for families. Teachers take attendance right after the bell rings. Itās important that our front office staff knows which students are present in the building. In order to avoid phones calls that will concern parents, we need any students arriving late to enter through the main doors to the building. If classes are still filing into their classrooms, staff who are monitoring the north and south gates will tell students who arrive late to go through the gate to join their class. If classes are already inside the building, students will be directed to go to the main entry so that office staff will know that students are present and accounted for.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Kristine McLane, Principal
From the Office
Drivers in the morning:
Please use the section of road in front of the school (driving north on 24th) for student drop-off only. Do not park and do not exit your car when dropping off students while driving north on 24th. This will help prevent the backup issue we are currently experiencing. Itās a tight space and having cars stop in crosswalks to drop students is dangerous and slows down the flow cars.
If you would like to walk your student in or need to get out of your car to help your student, please park on 90th or park across the street from school (driving south on 24th) and walk across the crosswalk with your student.
North Beach Earth Day Garden Party
Saturday, April 23rd
10am - 1pm
Roll up your sleeves and join your fellow Seals for an Earth Day celebration! This family friendly event will restore our school's Sensory Garden, beautify the grounds, and has crafts, snacks, and fun for all ages!
What will happen at the Earth Day Garden Party?
North Beach families will work together to replant the pre pandemic Sensory Garden and improve a few areas of the grounds.
Are children welcome at the event?
Yes! Kiddos of all ages can help weed, plant, and have fun with crafts and playtime.
Iām excited, how can I help?
Volunteers are needed! Sign up here to help.
The event also needs to borrow tools. Sign up here to lend them to the cause.
Can I bring my own tools to the event?
Yes! There will also be a limited supply of tools to borrow. If you would like to lend your tools, click here.
Do I have to pre-register or pay to join the Earth Day Garden Party?
The Earth Day Garden Party is free for all to enjoy. When you arrive at the event you will be asked to sign in, no pre-registration is required.
I want to learn more about gardening, what can I do?
The North Beach PTA is excited to welcome Plant Amnesty to our event. They will be on-site gardening with us, offering free information, and hosting some fun for kids of all ages.
Questions? Email Beth Carman at bb.carman@greentab.net
April is Autism Acceptance Month
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can cause significant social, communication, and behavioral differences. There is often nothing about how people with ASD look that sets them apart from other people, however people with ASD may communicate, interact, behave, and learn in ways that are different. In 2021, the CDC reported that approximately 1 in 44 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In the month of April we seek to promote understanding and appreciation of those in our communities who have Autism.
We invite North Beach students to honor and celebrate Autism Acceptance month by wearing blue on Friday, April 8th!
Books for Children about Autism:
The Autism Acceptance Book: Being a Friend to Someone with Autism by Ellen Sabin
The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin by Julia Finley Mosca and Illustrated by Daniel Rieley
All My Stripes: A Story for Children with Autism by Daniel Royer and Shaina Rudolph
My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete
A Friend like Simon by Kate Gaynot
Resources to learn more about Autism:
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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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Parent Education Opportunities
- April: ABA Launch - UW clinic-based, short-term, comprehensive and intensive early intervention program for children up to six years of age with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
- April 1-4: Autism Parenting Summit
April 1-4: Asstivieware: Autism Acceptance Month Discount 2022
April 4-8: Bright & Quirky Summit
- April 5: Father's Network Webinar - Develop meaninful relationships
- April 23: Cops for Inclusion Lynnwood Police Department
Sensory Days at The Museum of Flight
Date: Saturday, April 2, 2022
Time: 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM
FREE Admission; pre-registration required.
Sensory Days are for families of children, teenagers and young adults with disabilities including intellectual disabilities, autism, sensory processing disorders and other cognitive disabilities. Families will get early access to the Museum, before it opens to the public, where they can explore and self-guide through the galleries with adjusted light and sound for the best possible experience.
Spring Break Activitites
April 15 Baseball skill workshop - scheduling@waypointpediatric.com
April 11-15 Leaps & Beeps Adaptive Dance Classes for adults and children age 5 & up - scheduling@waypointpediatric.com
Spring Break Camp
Location: Webster Park
Time: 9am-12pm
Cost: $150
For more info and registration, please email t.a.seattletraining@gmail.com
Ballard Basketball Summer Camps
Ballard Basketball has been locally owned and operated by Sara Wetstone for over 10 years. Coach Sara and her staff are thrilled to keep kids active and happy all summer long with five weeks of camp- come to one or come to all! Camps are designed to improve player skill, decision-making and mindset through drills, games and prizes.
- For all genders entering 4th-8th grade in Fall 2022
- Most weeks for beginner to intermediate players. Some weeks for intermediate to advanced players.
- Scholarships for any family in need.
For more information and to register, visit: http://www.ballardbasketball.org/camps
UW Youth & Teen Summer Programs
Registration is open for summer. We have several in-person and online enrichment courses for 4th and 5th grade students including:
>Debate
>Young Actors Workshop
>Mixed Media Art
>Coding
Please visit our website at youth-teen.uw.edu for course details and registration information.
After School Programs
Boys & Girls Club
Questions? 206-582-3512
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.
āThe Washington Karate program is an excellent way for children to develop physical, mental, and emotional well-being.ā ~Dr. Thomas Staiger, Medical Director, UW Medical Center.
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