News from your North Beach PTA
September 17, 2021
Dates to Remember
- Monday, September 20: 7:00pm Principal Q&A
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+1 206-800-4125,,232160758# United States, Seattle
Phone Conference ID: 232 160 758#
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- Thursday, September 30: 7:00pm 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 families,
Today marks the end of our first full week with all students in the building. I’d say it’s been a very successful week considering all of the new things happening. We had a week of eating lunch outside under the new tent, and students did great! We have helping hands on deck thanks to a few volunteers. We should be seeing the rest of our volunteers over the next few weeks. Thanks for signing up to help out! Speaking of lunch, if your student is bringing their lunch from home, please know we are implementing the “pack it home” method of lunching. This means students will take back home anything they did not eat. This gives you an opportunity to see exactly what they are (or aren’t) eating.
While Covid is still with us, we continue to update our community (staff, students and families) with the latest information given to us by the district from the CDC/DOH. We consult a flow chart provided by Seattle/King County Public Health every single time we have a health situation with a staff member or a student. The flow chart has been updated 3 times just since we started school on 9/1, so guidelines are changing often. We ask for your patience and cooperation when we contact you regarding your student, as the most important thing is the health of every single member of our community and keeping the schools open. That is only going to happen with everyone pulling together for the greater good. A current summary of SPS guidelines: Keep your student home and get them tested for COVID-19 when they have one or more COVID-like symptoms for any duration. https://www.seattleschools.org/news/covid-19-symptoms/ This week the FDA has approved some at home antigen diagnostic tests: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-emergency-use-authorizations-medical-devices/in-vitro-diagnostics-euas-antigen-diagnostic-tests-sars-cov-2.
Many questions have come to us regarding contact tracing, communication, etc. Please follow this link https://www.seattleschools.org/news/contract-tracing-steps/ for more information.
Finally, the Seattle Visiting Nurse Association is hosting Flu/Covid vaccine clinics at SPS schools in the upcoming weeks. Whitman Middle School is one of the clinic sites. For more information, go to https://www.seattleschools.org/departments/health-services/flu-clinics/.
I will be hosting a Principal Q&A on Monday, September 20th at 7:00pm on Teams. I hope to see you there.
Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting
Or call in (audio only)
+1 206-800-4125,,232160758# United States, Seattle
Phone Conference ID: 232 160 758#
Find a local number | Reset PIN
Kristine McLane
Principal
North Beach Elementary
From the Office
Our #1 question from parents this week?
Question: “If I filled out the form online (Data Verification Form) do I still need to complete the paper forms that came home in the first day packet?”
Answer: Yes, please complete all the paper forms sent home. All the forms are unique and not duplicated by the district online form. For example, The Emergency Contact paper form has a release at the bottom and this form goes out with us if we ever have to evacuate the building.
We still need parent volunteers to help during outdoor lunch
Please complete this form if you are interested/available to commit to 2 hours (10:40-12:40) every other week (4 hours per month) to help out at lunch/recess.
Thank you!
https://forms.office.com/r/txQ0eCTCTU
Reminder - Breakfast and lunch are provided at no cost for all students this year. You can find the September menu here:
https://www.seattleschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Lunch-Menus-ADA.pdf
Counselor's Corner
Volunteers needed!
We are looking for volunteers to pick up food from the Ballard Food Bank on Thursdays and deliver it to school for families to use over the weekend.
If you are interested, contact communications@northbeachpta.org for details.
Online payment for student devices
https://www.seattleschools.org/departments/dots/support-training-forms/schoolpay/
Sign up for Konstella and stay informed!
Go to Konstella.com and click 'Find Your School'. Type North Beach Elementary and enter your information then click 'Submit'.
Join the PTA, purchase school supplies and pre-pay for yearbooks!
The North Beach Elementary 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. And we want to know your ideas, concerns and solutions for 2021/22 school year.
Check Kid Mail (folders that go back and forth to school with your kids) for our Welcome Letter next week which will also serve as our paper membership sign up form.
If you prefer, you can purchase your PTA membership, sponsor teacher PTA memberships, purchase school supplies and pre-pay for yearbooks through Konstella now.
Volunteer at North Beach
North Beach has a long tradition of incredible parent and community support. We'd love to have you join us. Even small commitments make a great impact on supporting our students and school. We’ll help you find something that meets your schedule and skills! You can do anything from event planning to student leadership, from food drives to facilities improvement, from legislative advocacy to social media, and from to fundraising to after school enrichment! We welcome parents, guardians, caregivers, grandparents and other community members to get involved.
Sign up to volunteer!
Family Affinity Groups
We've also created a way for families to meet one another and build additional community! This year, we're offering 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!
LAST CALL FOR ROOM PARENTS
Last call for Room Parents! We are still looking for 1-2 room parents for the following classrooms: Neimeyer, Varnado, Coutts, Liau, Griffin-Holton, Ang, Flax, May, Tyler, Meyer & Wilder.
Responsibilities include:
- working with your teacher to plan parties
- find volunteers for classroom needs
- coordinate teacher gifts
- help plan fun activities for your child's grade level
- welcome new families
Don't want to do it alone? Grab a buddy to help you. Ideally each classroom will have 2-3 room parents. This is a great opportunity to get to know your child's teacher, classmates and other families.
Sign up here:
Join The Big Give committee
Looking for a fun way to make a huge impact on our school? Join The Big Give Committee!
Quick Big Give Facts:
● The Big Give is a quick and fun two-week PTA fundraiser in November
● Committee meetings are held according to the scheduling needs of the group
● The committee is fun! We think of dynamic ways to encourage and include all families and students to make a difference in the classroom, school, and community.
● The Big Give Committee needs volunteers to help in every aspect of the campaign: be it stuffing envelopes, data entry, big picture thinking, planning amid the challenges of the pandemic, decorating, and general shenanigans!
Questions? Feel free to contact biggive@northbeachpta.org
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!
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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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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.
Northwest Boychoir- SING WITH US!
We are scheduling online auditions for fall enrollment. Boys 6-8 years old who enjoy music and singing are welcome to tryout! No prior musical training is required – just musical aptitude and obvious enjoyment of music.
We are located at the University Heights Center in Seattle but are currently holding our classes online over Zoom. Financial aid is available.
For more than 45 years we have helped young people discover the joy of singing, self-discipline and teamwork!
Watch the video below to see what the audition process is like.
Auditions - Northwest Boychoir & Vocalpoint! Seattle (nwchoirs.org)
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: northbeachelementary.org
Location: 9018 24th Avenue NW Seattle, WA 98117
Phone: (206) 252-1510
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northbeachpta/
Twitter: @sealsnorthbeach