News from your North Beach PTA
April 22, 2022
Dates to Remember
- Saturday, April 23: 10:00am NB Earth Day Garden Party (Still accepting volunteers!)
- Saturday, April 23: Volunteer to help move desks and furniture
- May 2-6: Staff Appreciation Week
- Tuesday, May 10: 6:30pm PTA Meeting
- Tuesday, May 10: 7pm PTSA webinar Dyslexia 101
- Monday, May 30: Memorial Day (no school)
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 22: Earth Day
April 28: Holocaust Memorial Day
A Note From our Principal
April 22, 2022
Dear North Beach Families:
The big news of the week is there are changes coming on Monday with physical distancing guidelines. In order for relaxed guidelines to fully happen at North Beach, we need support with configuring our classrooms to pre-COVID setups. At the PTA meeting Tuesday night I let those in attendance know that I’m hoping to have volunteers attending the Earth Day garden party who are willing to help move furniture so that we are able to support a shift back to classrooms that are better suited for our instructional needs. The district is understaffed with movers and we’ve been given permission to set up classrooms on our own. I hope to see some of you tomorrow! Along with the changes in classrooms, we’re excited that all students will be able to eat together in the cafeteria starting on Monday. This will not have an impact on our current schedule.
With the changes in physical distancing, the district has made some changes in how it is addressing testing and positive COVID cases. Full information can be found on the SPS COVID testing page: https://www.seattleschools.org/news/students-and-staff-covid-testing/.
Families were also informed this week of a major shift in school start times proposed for the 2022-23 school year. The proposed changes are due to an ongoing shortage of bus drivers. With the proposed changes, there will be three start times in the district. North Beach would be in Tier 1, with a proposed 7:30 AM start time, getting out at 2:00 p.m.; 12:45 p.m. on Wednesdays. The district has encouraged parents to use the Let’s Talk form on the SPS website to provide feedback during the April 21-May 18 comment period.
https://www.seattleschools.org/resources/bell-schedules/bell-time-changes/.
Today is Earth Day. Tomorrow the North Beach Earth Day Garden Party is happening from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM. We hope to revive the Sensory Garden and beautify the surrounding grounds (as well as move some furniture!). I hope to see you there!
Have a wonderful weekend,
Kristine McLane, Principal
From the Office
This week we have had a few students not making it to the gates on time before school starts. When the bell rings at 7:55am, the gates are locked, classes are led inside, and attendance taken. If your student is late, please make sure if the gate is locked that they come to the front door and ring the doorbell. We will then let them in. We need to be prompt as we do not have adequate staffing to linger outside. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.
NB Earth Day Garden Party
Herbie will SEED you
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!
Attention 5th Grade Families! Save the Dates
Please save the following dates:
Grad Party
Wednesday, June 8 @ 1:10-3:30 pm
Blue Ridge Beach Park
Pool Party
Friday June 17 @ 4:00pm
Blue Ridge Pool
Promotion Ceremony
TBD (last week of school during school hours)
North Beach Elementary
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.
Special Education Updates:
Want to know more? Email: nominatingcommittee2022@gmail.com
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.
Spring Volunteer Opportunities
- Teacher Appreciation Week (May 2-May 5)
- 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.
Possible 7:30am school start for 2022/2023 school year
In the proposed bell schedule change, North Beach is slated for a 7:30am start.
What are your thoughts on this proposed change?
Send your comments/thoughts to SPS by using SPS Let's Talk.
It's almost yearbook time!
North Beach ON-DEMAND Spirit Apparel Available NOW!
Scan the QR code to the left or go to spirithero.com
Select North Beach Elementary On-Demand
Select your items
NB Playground open for families!
Boys & Girls Club uses the south end of the playground (Towers) for the first hour following the end of school. The north end (Arches) is available for play during this time and the entire playground is available after the first hour following school.
See you on the playground!
17th of May Parade is back!
Duties include registering our group, promotion of the event on
Konstella/kidmail and making sure kids participating have signed
waivers.
Please reach out to Debbie Wayne (debbiewayne@gmail.com) or
Jen Osborn (jenosborn0@gmail.com) if you are interested.
Celebrate Moms & Support Seattle Public Schools!
Order a Mother's Day Bouquet (by April 30th!) and our local Hmong farmers will hand craft a spectacular mixed floral arrangement for you to pickup at one of 18 schools across Seattle (including Whitman Middle). You designate a school of your choice to receive a $10 donation and Friendly Hmong Farms will match that donation to the South East Schools Educational Coalition to support of Title I schools across the district.
At check out, in the Pick-Up Order section, please select “SPS Fundraiser." Items will be available for pick up on Saturday, May 7th. Order here
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.
April 25: Black families:(Interpretation in Oromo and Tigrinya available)
May 2: Students with IEPs/504s
May 5: Students
May 9: Special Education families
May 16: General public
It's Public School Volunteer Week!
Thank you to all North Beach volunteers!!
We appreciate all you do for our school!
Hello fifth grade parents! The Whitman PTSA needs you next year!
Happy Earth Day!
Senator Gaylord Nelson, the junior senator from Wisconsin, announced the idea for a teach-in on college campuses to the national media, and persuaded Pete McCloskey, a conservation-minded Republican Congressman, to serve as his co-chair. They recruited Denis Hayes, a young activist, to organize the campus teach-ins and they choose April 22, a weekday falling between Spring Break and Final Exams, to maximize the greatest student participation. Recognizing its potential to inspire all Americans, Hayes built a national staff of 85 to promote events across the land and they changed the name to Earth Day, which immediately sparked national media attention, and caught on across the country. The 1970 Earth Day inspired 20 million Americans — at the time, 10% of the total population of the United States — to take to the streets, parks and auditoriums to demonstrate against the impacts of 150 years of industrial development which had left a growing legacy of serious human health impacts.
By the end of 1970, the first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of other first of their kind environmental laws, including the National Environmental Education Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and the Clean Air Act. Two years later Congress passed the Clean Water Act. A year after that, Congress passed the Endangered Species Act and soon after the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. These laws have protected millions of men, women and children from disease and death and have protected hundreds of species from extinction.
Ways to celebrate and get involved with Earth Day programs
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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 23: Cops for Inclusion Lynnwood Police Department
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.
“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.
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