News from your North Beach PTA
October 18, 2019
Dates to Remember
- Tuesday, Oct. 22: Flu Shots (consent form required)
- Friday, Oct. 25: Harvest Carnival, 6:00 p.m.
- Friday, Nov. 4: The Big Give starts
- Tuesday, Nov. 5: Election Day: PLEASE VOTE!
- Thursday, Nov. 7: Veterans’ Day Assembly 8:15 a.m.
- Tuesday, Nov. 12: 6-8pm PTA General Meeting & Literacy Night
A Note from Our Principal
Dear North Beach Families and Community,
Yesterday we held our annual earthquake preparedness drill. Teachers trained students to drop, cover and hold in the event of an earthquake. We have also reviewed our building safety plan so that staff are informed about how to respond to a variety of situations. This will help immensely in the event we experience a real emergency. For resources on earthquakes, go to https://www.shakeout.org/washington/ .
We’ve begun to experience an uptick in student illness. Please keep your child home if they are ill. The district provides a guide for parents to determine whether their child should be kept home. Absences due to illness are excused absences. Last week we had our first three day weekend for students. This week, we noticed that although we had more students who were home sick on Tuesday, there was a 60% drop in the overall number of students who were absent between Monday and Tuesday. As we approach November and another three day weekend, please be mindful of the district’s attendance policy and the impact that unexcused absences can have on your child as well as on your child’s class.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Kristine McLane, kemclane@seattleschools.org
Principal, North Beach Elementary
206-252-1510
From the Office
This form was left out of the 1st day packets. Please fill out and return immediately. We will also be sending a copy home in kid mail. You can print the one out below, or fill it out and email it to us, or use the one that comes home to return.
Emergency Information and Student Release
Sarah & Carolyn
School Board Forum Recap
Last night’s forum was incredible! Six of the seven candidates participated, answering questions about equity, HCC/Advanced Learning, school conditions, overcrowded buses, school safety, funding for counselors and nurses, special education, school lunches, and more. The candidates said it was one of the best attended forums so far, and that it was one of the best moderated. For the latter we thank Arik Korman, communications director for League of Education Voters and parent of fifth grader Zan Korman. It was an educational experience for voters from across the city (and the future voters in attendance). Now it’s up to you to vote! Ballots have gone out; please check your mail. If you’re aren’t registered to vote, you still can. You will be electing a majority of school board members who will serve for four years.
Counselor’s Corner
We are in our fifth year of a grant-supported program called North Beach Book of the Month. Each month, we use an aligned piece of literature to focus on a particular skill, character trait or issue. The majority of these books highlight diverse and under-represented characters, cultures and/or authors and illustrators. At the beginning of each month, all teachers, K-5, read the book to their classes and lead a focus lesson. During the month, classes participate in supplemental activities and discussions highlighting the focus of the month. Our goal is to encourage positive student behavior while introducing students to diverse characters and cultures. The program also builds our school-wide sense of community while modeling a passion for reading. You can support your student by asking about each Book of the Month.
North Beach Book of the Month 2019-20
September: Kindness Snippet Jar by Diane Alber (Kindness)
October: Steps and Stones: An Anh’s Anger Story by Gail Silver; (Meta Moment)
November: The Zax by Dr. Seuss (Blueprint)
December: District Gender Identity Awareness Kit books (Respect – for self and others)
- K: Introducing Teddy by Jessica Walton
- 1 st : My Princess Boy by Cheryl Kilodavis
- 2 nd : Jacob’s New Dress by Sarah and Ian Hoffman
- 3 rd : Is that for a Boy or a Girl? by S. Bear Bergman
- 4 th : I am Jazz by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings
- 5 th : Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall
January: Wilma Unlimited by Kathleen Krull (Grit, Perseverance)
February: Pies from Nowhere: How Georgia Gilmore Sustained the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Dee Romito (Cooperation/Unity)
March: First Day in Grapes by L. King Perez (Assertiveness, Bravery)
April: Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson (Compassion, Empathy, Be an Upstander)
May: Ricky the Rock that Couldn’t Roll by Jay Miletsky (Inclusion, Friendship)
June: Malala’s Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzai (Strength, Empowerment; One Person Can Change the World!)
PTA Spotlight on Volunteers
A huge thanks to Arik Korman, Karin LaBelle, Molly Schmidt, Beth Carman, Bryce Carman, Mary Balmaceda, Rebecca Mongrain, Craig Lewis, and Jess Bjorklund for making last night’s school board candidate forum such a success! From moderating to checking people’s voter registration to setting up the stage and AV to offering tours of our school to the candidates to packing up tables and chairs to child wrangling, these volunteers were invaluable to the forum’s success. And a special thanks to some future voters who provided questions and reminded the candidates of why their position is so important—Benny Schwalbe LaBelle, Maggie and Molly Mongrain, and Jack Lewis.
Harvest Carnival Friday, October 25th 6:00-8:30 p.m.
The North Beach Elementary PTA’s Harvest Carnival is right around the corner! Enjoy fun for the whole family with carnival games, a scavenger hunt, fun filled crafts, delicious food, a community service project, and more!
SKIP THE LINE! Pre-order punch cards are via Konstella.
PLACE YOUR PUNCH CARD ORDER HERE
We need VOLUNTEERS the night of the event! SIGN UP HERE!
Older siblings (middle and high school) are also welcome; volunteer hours are available.
- COSTUME CONTEST: Wear your costume for the Harvest Carnival, no weapons please. PreK-2nd grade contest will begin at 6:45pm in the cafeteria; 3rd-5th grade will be at 8pm.
- CRAFT ROOM: Make your own spooktacular craft. One craft per punch card. Craft room opens at 6:30pm.
- TREAT WALK: Have your chance to win a sweet treat. A limited number of treats will be for sale. One entry to the Treat Walk per punch card.
- GO FISHING: Land the big one with Herbie’s Fishing game. One cast per punch card.
- GAMES: Play a game, get a punch. A completed punch card claims a prize!
- SERVICE PROJECT: Donate pull ups (3T-4T), diapers (sizes 3-6), or wipes to West Side Baby. Every donation is entered into a raffle for a giant jar of candy!
- FOOD: PLEASE NOTE all food is first come first served. Cash requested. Pizza (cheese and pepperoni) and tamales will be available. Gluten free, dairy free, and vegan tamale options are available.
Questions? Contact Beth Carman at bb.carman@greentab.net
Flu Shots are coming to North Beach School!
Protect yourself, your child, and your community from the flu. The best protection from influenza illness is by having a flu shot. Flu is a leading cause of work and school absence, as well as, hospital visits in the winter. School Nurses are leading the effort to get a large percentage of our total student population vaccinated against the flu.
Seattle Visiting Nurse Association nurses return this year to administer annual flu shots at school on Tuesday, October 22nd from 1:00-3:00 PM. Students (ages 4 and older), staff and community members can sign up to get the flu shot. All SPS insurance is accepted and most forms of insurance (including Apple Health and Medicaid) and cash or check ($40) are accepted. Families who have no insurance can write “No Insurance” and the student can still get a flu shot.
A thimerosal-free vaccine is available for pregnant women. The double dose version recommended for adults over age 65 is not available.
The consent form needs to be completely filled out and returned to the school office as soon as possible. Consent forms were sent home in KidMail and can be found on Konstella.
Questions?? https://www.seattleschools.org/cms/One.aspx?pageId=53774927&portalId=627#fluschool or contact your School Nurse, Julie Kaloper, RN jkaloper@seattleschools.org or 206-252-1517.
Help to protect yourself, your loved ones and our entire school community—get your flu shot!!
Honoring All Who Served. Do you know a veteran?
We would like to acknowledge the special people in our children’s lives who have served their country. We need photos of veterans from our school community, no matter what branch of service, conflict, or country served. These pictures will be on display at North Beach throughout November, beginning with Veterans’ Day school assembly on Thursday, November 7th. Include information on where the veteran served (e.g. US Army, WWII), your child’s name, and their relationship to the veteran.
Please email photos of your veteran to Sara Easterly at saraweasterly@gmail.com by Friday, Nov. 1st. If you submitted a photo or photos last year, you do not need to submit them again this year unless you have additions or changes.
Veterans’ Day Assembly | November 7th in the lunch room starting at 8:15 am. Please join us and bring your veteran family members, friends, or neighbors, too!
Attention 5th Grade Families
We are looking for 2-3 more parents who are interesting in helping out with fundraising for the annual Islandwood camping trip.
The fundraising effort helps lower the cost for all students, so it is a great way to get involved and help out in a tangible way. Also, most things can be done outside of regular business hours, so this is a good option for working parents as well! Duties may include the following:
decide on which fundraisers to do
print and distribute forms as needed
facilitate the Cake Walk at the winter dance
coordinate, and communicate, fundraiser details
keep track of funds raised
If you are interested in helping out, I am looking forward to hearing from you!
Chantel (Savi's mom), email: chantelfrizzell@gmail.com, call or text: 207-518-3528
Looking for Authors and Illustrators!
We are looking for North Beach family members that are published authors and illustrators to highlight at our upcoming literacy night. Please contact Tara Nessan tara.nessan@me.com to be included.
Board Games Needed
Do you have board games (with all their game pieces) that your kids have out grown or you want to upgrade? Ms. Gabrielson, our wonderful Art Teacher, would like to take them off your hands. To donate please leave in her classroom (room 15) or in the office. These games are going to be put to good use.
Morning Drop Off and Afternoon Pick Up
Mornings can be quite hectic around the school so please observe the following guidelines to keep our children safe:
- Do not park in the drop off lane in front of the school. This lane is for children exiting the car quickly. Have your child ready to go before you get in the line.
If you would like to walk your child to the front door or to their classroom, please park in a legal parking spot in the neighborhood. Do not park in the drop off lane.
Cross only at crosswalks. Do not cross in the middle of the street.
Speed limit in front of the school is 15 mph.
Parking around the school is limited. Do not park within 30 feet of a stop sign or within 20 feet of a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
No U-turns on 24th Avenue, or using 91st Street to make a U-turn.
No parking in the bus zone (even when no busses are present)
Parallel parking only in front of the house at the NW corner of 24th and 91st. Let's also be good neighbors and not block their mailbox.
No parking facing the wrong direction.
Do not leave your car running, if unattended.
Do not leave your child unattended in a running car.
Seattle Police regularly patrol the area and will issue tickets!
Community News & Events (These programs are not endorsed by either North Beach PTA or SPS. This information is posted for informational purposes only.)
"How to Talk to Kids about Death" - Town Hall discussion Saturday, November 9, 2019, 7:30PM
How do you talk to kids about death? Author Caroline Wright wondered the same thing when she was diagnosed with an aggressive, terminal brain cancer as a mother to her young sons. She has written a children’s book to help children know the undying love of a parent, and she joins the Town Hall with a mission to help other parents find hope and agency with similar diagnoses. A panel of leading experts in the fields of children’s bereavement and cancer will join her to discuss the complicated issue of what to say to our kids to comfort them when facing loss. For more information visit, https://townhallseattle.org/event/caroline-wright/ and
https://www.konstella.com/app/school/59bc8f8ce4b0996f734081bb/announcements/5d9e50efe4b0f50c8b6ec0ad
Auditions for Fall Enrollment: Northwest Boychoir
The Northwest Boychoir is now scheduling tryouts for boys who like to sing! Boys who are ages 6-9 years old are invited to audition and no previous music training is needed. Classes for new members begin in January and are held at the University Heights Center in Seattle. Auditions are free of charge.
For more than 40 years, the Northwest Boychoir has helped young people discover the joy of singing, self-discipline and teamwork. We are proud to be an inclusive and equitable organization and are firmly committed to assisting families with financial aid. The Northwest Boychoir offers the perfect blend of music training and Serious Fun!
At the Northwest Boychoir, you can…
- Be part of a program nationally recognized for musical excellence!
- Make great friends in an upbeat team setting!
- Develop confidence by doing amazing things!
To schedule an audition appointment or for more information: 206-524-3234 or nwboychoir.org. Northwest Boychoir Audition Flyer: Download Click for more info and be sure to share the new Boychoir Audition Video!
Fall Festival Dance Workshop
Students in grades K-8 are invited to join the Ballard High School Dancers for an afternoon of dancing. All participants will learn choreography (taught by the BHS Dance Team members) and receive a BHS Dance T-Shirt. We'll have arts & crafts, face painting, and other fun activities. Costumes are encouraged! A small snack will be provided (gluten, dairy, and nut free). Join us on Sunday October 27 from 2:00 - 4:00pm in the Ballard High School Gym. Click HERE to register or email us at bhsdanceteam@gmail.com for more information.
Whitman Shoe Drive to Help Whitman Athletics
Old shoes taking up space? (these can be any type of shoe). The Whitman Basketball Teams can take them off your hands as they raise funds for athletic uniforms for underfunded schools. The team will earn funds based on the total weight of the pairs of gently worn, used and new shoes collected, as Funds2Orgs will issue a check for the collected shoes.
All donated shoes will be redistributed throughout the Funds2Orgs network of micro-enterprise (small business) partners. Funds2Orgs works with micro-entrepreneurs in helping them create, maintain and grow small businesses in developing countries where economic opportunity and jobs are limited. Proceeds from the sales of the shoes collected in shoe drive fundraisers are used to feed, clothe and house their families. One budding entrepreneur in Haiti even earned enough to send her son to law school!
There will be a box in the North Beach lobby starting next week and it will be there until the end of November.
Ballard High School Playmakers
The Ballard High School Playmakers will present three dynamic theatrical productions this year. We appreciate you sharing this news with students and families.
Radium Girls | October 17, 18, 19, 24, 25 and 26, 201
A hundred years ago, radium was a miracle cure used to fight cancer. It was quickly commercialized and used in products for consumers, including luminous watches that glowed in the dark. Radium Girls tells the story of the New Jersey factory girls who hand-painted the dials until they mysteriously became ill, started dying, and ultimately fought back.
Musical Theater production:
Xanadu | March 18, 19, 20, 26, 27 and 28, 2019
This comedy musical is based on the film which starred Olivia Newton-John. It’s 1980, and Venice Beach chalk-artist Sonny is frustrated by his mural of the Greek muses. A Greek muse named Kira dispatches to L.A., disguised as a human to encourage him in his art. Together they dream of opening a roller disco club named Xanadu. Xanadu is a love story with legwarmers and campy music.
Rumors | May 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, and 16, 2019
Set in the 1980s at a large home just north of Manhattan, the deputy mayor of New York has accidentally shot himself. As four couples gather for a 10th anniversary wedding party, the mayor’s lawyer must quickly concoct a story to avoid a scandal. Speculation quickly piles up, leading to laughable, ludicrous moments. Rumors is written by Neil Simon.
Tickets
$15 for adults and $10 for students/seniors. Advance tickets are now available at https://showtix4u.com; (search for “Ballard High School.”) To request discounted season or group tickets, please contact Shawn Riley at smriley@seattleschools.org.
View the full press release at:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fhHSRRI9svVzsDsP9Y-HwHw8MV_mQxdZkAimqtSdFTg/edit?usp=sharing
If you'd like more details, please contact me at 206-465-9532, rhenda@rhendameiser.com.
Before/After School Programs
Boys & Girls Club
Hours: 7:00 - 7:50 am and 2:25 am - 6:00 pm M-F
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