News from your North Beach PTA
May 6, 2022
Dates to Remember
- Tuesday, May 10: 6:30pm PTA Meeting
Zoom Meeting ID: 925 4329 3181 | Passcode: 157555
To VOTE on next year's budget and board (Beth Carman, Rebecca Mongrain, Jennifer Markovitz & Vanessa Petersen). - Tuesday, May 10: 7pm PTSA webinar Dyslexia 101
- Monday, May 13: LAST DAY TO PURCHASE YEARBOOKS
- Tuesday, May 17 & Friday May 20: Talent Show Auditions (during school). Check kid mail for registration
- Monday, May 30: Memorial Day (no school)
- Monday, June 13: Talent Show (8am at school and 6:30pm for parents/families)
Volunteer to help with the Talent Show - Tuesday, June 14: Field Day
Volunteer to help with Field Day
North Beach Multicultural calendar - May
During May the North Beach community celebrates the following multicultural groups. We will highlight resources and opportunities to learn more about these groups during the month.
Asian Pacific-American Heritage Month
Jewish American Heritage Month
May 2-4: Eid al-Fitr
May 30: Memorial Day
A Note From our Principal
May 6, 2022
Dear North Beach Families:
Everyone on staff at North Beach feels so much gratitude for the appreciation shown this week. Thank you for the flowers, coffee, gifts, thank yous, and cards delivered this week. We are all so thankful to work with your children and to be a part of this community.
Since the decrease in distancing guidelines was implemented, it has been exciting for teachers to return to instructional activities that enhance students’ learning experiences. Cross-grade level reading buddies have returned. Teachers can enhance science and social studies activities with student groups that weren’t possible with the distance rules in place previously.
We have heard growing enthusiasm for the possible return of year-end activities such as off campus field trips, schoolwide assemblies, the talent show, and field day. We are optimistic these events can occur, and teachers are moving forward with planning field trips and other events. However, I want to reiterate how important it is to remember what still needs to be done to limit the spread of COVID. The district sent a message to families yesterday with information about current levels of community spread and things we can do as part of our school community to help ensure a strong finish to the school year. We have experienced a relatively high percentage of student absences due to illness in the weeks just prior to spring break and since we returned to school April 18.
At North Beach, we continue to make student health and safety our top priority. We continue to highly encourage masking while students are indoors, especially during periods like we are experiencing now with higher transmission levels. Students may pick up a mask at school if they would like one.
In the coming weeks, there will be much to celebrate about the 2021-22 school year. We hope we will be able to hold events in person, and that the PTA may be able to host at least one after school event. Thank you for helping our community stay healthy!
Have a wonderful weekend,
Kristine McLane, Principal
North Beach Appreciation
It has been so lovely to see our school community celebrate the hard work and dedication of the North Beach teachers and staff. The beautiful flowers and heartfelt cards have radiated positivity and support for our amazing school. A HUGE thank you to our teachers and staff for their daily commitment to our students and families. It is because of their tireless efforts that North Beach Elementary is the wonderful school it is! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Join us for the May PTA Meeting - we need your vote!
- Vote on 2022/23 PTA Board Members
- Vote on 2022/23 PTA Budget
- Proposed Bell Change discussion
- Plan spring events - Walk-a-Jog-a-Move-a-thon, & Field Day, and more
Spring Volunteer Opportunities
- Walk-A-Jog-A-Move-A-Thon (Late May / Early June) -- a school day outdoor event where kids walk/jog the playfield to raise funds for the school.
- 5th Grade last week celebrations (field trip & graduation)
- Field Day
Interested in volunteering or just learning more, sign up here.
It's almost Yearbook time!
Attention 5th Grade Families! Save the Dates
Please save the following dates:
Grad Party @ Blue Ridge Beach Park - June 8th - 1:10pm
Pool Party @ Blue Ridge Pool - June 17th - 4pm
Promotion Ceremony@ NB Elementary -date/time TBD
More details will follow in the next couple weeks. We will need parent volunteers to help make these events happen so please look out for a volunteer sign up as well.
Proposed Bell Time changes - additional time to give feedback
SPS Superintendent listening tour
The Seattle Council PTSA is hosting a series of community engagements with Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Brent Jones. To register, please use the following links. All listening sessions are 5:30PM to 7:30PM on the dates listed.
May 9: Special Education families
May 16: General public
Eid al-Fitr - The end of Ramadan
Eid al-Fitr, or “the festival of breaking the fast”, begins with the first sighting of the new moon, and it often varies from country to country. Celebrations begin with a special early morning prayer in mosques and open-air spaces and later move on to feasts and festivals.
What are some of the practices of Eid?
Many Muslims will attend Eid prayers at their mosque early on Monday 2 May. It's a tradition to wear new clothes and on the way to the mosque, to eat something sweet, such as a date, and recite a short prayer, called a takbeer. Before Eid prayers, every Muslim is obliged to make a donation to charity called Zakat al-Fitr to help feed the poor.
In many countries, Eid al-Fitr is a public holiday - many people enjoy large meals with friends and family. It's also common for elder believers to give money to children and younger members of the family.
If you want to wish someone well at Eid, the greeting is "Eid Mubarak".
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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
- May 10: Dyslexia 101: Why can I read this? Please join the Seattle Special Education PTSA for a presentation about understanding Dyslexia, hosted by Laura Rogan, author and creator of Wired for Reading.
Ballard High to stage A Midsummer Night's Dream
Come enjoy this play about love, marriage, transformation, and the importance of accepting people for who they are! The cast features 22 BHS students and is directed by Shawn Riley.
Performance Details
Performances will be on May 12, 13, 14, 19, 20 and 21 at the Earl Kelly Center for Performing Arts at Ballard High School, 1418 NW 65th Street, Seattle. The show begins at 7:30 pm.
Tickets
Tickets are on sale at https://showtix4u.com. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for students and $15 for seniors. Patrons must wear masks. COVID safety guidelines are subject to change.
Ballard High School Girls Basketball Camp
Code Ninja Summer Camps
UW Youth Summer Programs - There's still time to register
The online and in-person classes below are still open for registration. This is a great opportunity for 4-5th graders looking for unique summer learning opportunities.
- Debate for Kids (Online)
- Intro to Drag-and-Drop Coding with Skylark (Online)
- Mixed Media Art and Mosaics (On Campus)
Visit www.youth-teen.uw.edu for registration information.
Camp Meadowood Springs
EMPOWERING KIDS THROUGH COMMUNICATION
A summer camp program for children with speech, hearing, and other communication related disorders, ages 7 - 14.
Session 1 - July 10 - 16, Session 2 - July 17 - 23
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.
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