News from your North Beach PTA
June 11, 2021
Dates to Remember
- Friday, June 18: Last Day of School
- Tuesday, July 13th: Kinder playdate 4:30-6pm, Soundview Playfield
Tuesday, July 27th: Kinder playdate 4:30-6pm, Soundview Playfield
Thursday, August 12th, 7:30pm: Caregiver zoom Q&A with the Kindergarten Ambassador Team. Send questions in advance to catmpowell@gmail.com
- Wednesday, August 18th: Popsicle playdate 1pm, Soundview Playfield
August 16th - 20th: Jump Start, TBD
Thursday, August 5th: Kinder playdate 3:30-5pm, Blue Ridge Park
A Note from Our Principal
Dear North Beach Families:
Principal Q&A Monday, June 14 7:00-8:00 – SPS Math Progressions in Middle and High School
I am teaming up with Principal Clark from Whittier Elementary School to invite parents to an information session with Elissa Farmer, SPS Math Program Manager. She will be providing an overview of the district’s plan for Math Course Progressions as students transition from elementary school into 6th grade. I hope to see you there.
Microsoft Teams meeting
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+1 206-800-4125,,7791409# United States, Seattle
Phone Conference ID: 779 140 9#
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Class Placements for Next Year
Our grade level teams are currently working on preliminary classroom placements for 2021-22. We take a great deal of time and thought creating balanced classrooms. We want to make certain each child’s academic and social emotional needs are met. Class lists fluctuate due to student enrollment changes during the summer and are finalized in August before school starts. At North Beach we do not accept parent requests for next year's teachers.
Device Returns
Your child’s teacher has sent information home about returning their iPad/laptop to school. Thank you for your assistance in helping us prepare for the end of the school year, which coincides with construction work beginning 6/21 on our HVAC system.
Summer Learning Opportunities
The district is providing the following options:
- An interactive calendar for all students to work independently on literacy, math, and Social-Emotional Learning activities.
- A K-8 virtual program that will focus on the goals in the SPS Strategic Plan.
- A limited number of students will be attending summer school in-person.
Classes will run from July 6 to July 30, Monday through Friday (except the first week, which starts on Tuesday due to the 4th of July holiday). https://www.seattleschools.org/academics/summer_school
Summer Meal Sites
A reminder that the last day for meal distribution at North Beach will be on June 18. Meals will continue to be available at Broadview-Thomson K-8 and B.F. Day Elementary during the summer. For more information on student meal support, go to https://www.seattleschools.org/resources/student_meals .
We’ve persevered through a unique and challenging school year. To the families of our fifth graders, we are so proud to be sending this group of students on to middle school. Collectively they are very impressive. When asked, here are some words used by staff to describe them: empathetic, persistent, hard-working, welcoming, energetic, creative, spirited, playful, collaborative, and supportive. These qualities will serve our graduating 2021 Seals well!
While I don’t have all the specific details of the 2021-22 school year, I do know we will be in school full time every day. This was mandated by the state. I will have further information as we get closer to the opening of the school year and will share what I know with families. The district will be working closely with the Health Department to follow up to date guidance to ensure a safe learning environment for students and staff.
In the meantime, I recommend making sure you have communication preferences set so we can provide information to you in the format you would like, and you don’t miss any announcements. https://www.seattleschools.org/district/calendars/communication_preferences
Have a relaxing, safe and healthy summer. Thank you again for your support and partnership.
Have a safe and healthy weekend!
Kristine McLane
Principal
North Beach Elementary
From the Office
Please enroll your students. If you have an incoming kindergartner (or older), and you haven’t enrolled them, please contact enrollment (enrollmentspecialist@seattleschools.org) ASAP or go online to https://www.seattleschools.org/admissions/registration and enroll your student. We need accurate numbers in order to complete our staffing for next year. Please, please, please.
Thank you,
Sarah & Carolyn
Counselor's Corner
The last month of school is a busy time. There is excitement in the air about the coming of summer and special year-end activities. It’s also a time when adults and students may be experiencing increased anxiety with the upcoming transition to summer. Classrooms – whether in person or virtual - have become comfortable, familiar, safe spaces for students. Students have formed bonds with teachers and other adults in their school lives. Given the approaching transition, anxiety is a natural response. Some students hold this anxiety in and may seem quiet or worried. Others may act out and test boundaries. Others may seem to have a lower tolerance for frustration. Below are some tips for supporting kids during the end-of-year period. An additional way to support your child, especially when it stays light so late and gets light so early, is to make sure your child is getting plenty of sleep. If you’re out late for a special activity one night, try to make sure bed time is on the early side the next night, and if you don’t have blackout shades, consider covering windows with blankets at night to keep the room darker.
I hope you and your families have a safe and happy summer together. Best of luck to our families who are moving on to new schools. We will miss you! To those who will return to North Beach in the fall, I’ll look forward to welcoming your students back then! Take care!
The following are tips to help prepare your child for the inevitable end-of-the-school-year:
1. Let your child know that it is OKAY that he/she feels this way, and that you understand. Normalizing and validating their feelings about the uncertain time ahead will hopefully take away any additional unpleasant emotions they are feeling, such as embarrassed or ashamed of themselves for being sad when the school year is over, when other kids may seem excited.
2. If possible, relate to your child. Tell them about a time where you experienced some fear, sadness, or discomfort during a time where a similar change was about to occur. Hearing that their parent/caregiver has experienced the same, or similar, situation, and has turned out just fine, will be comforting to them. They will not feel so alone.
3. Invite your child to discuss or journal about moments that stuck out from the school year they are about to complete. If they have a difficult time coming up with these moments, help with reminders such as “remember when you had pajama day during remote learning?” and encourage them to share about their feelings about the moment.
4. Create a list, or visual of some sort with your child as a place for them to write or draw out some of their hopes for the next school year. Encourage them to think about academic, social, or personal goals and hopes they can look forward to working towards.
5. Discuss and prepare him/her for summer plans. Whether your child is going to daycare, staying home, camp, summer school, vacation, etc., make sure that your child knows what is coming up for the summer, and any special plans that the family may have. If feasible, make one or two special plans that your child can look forward to. It doesn’t have to be a big deal – it could just be a picnic in a nearby park or a movie night at home – just something that changes the routine and seems fun.
Rethinking the North Beach Way
The North Beach Way teaches that North Beach Seals are safe, kind and respectful and guides our behavioral expectations at school. But we're also working towards many other attributes. North Beach is a PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support) school. One aspect of this is establishing appropriate behavioral expectations for students and staff that are positively reinforced. The goal is to create an environment that is predictable, consistent and safe across all school settings and, thus, more welcoming to all and conducive to learning. We are rethinking the North Beach Way and want your ideas. (Students will get a chance to provide their input at school.) Please take a minute or two to share your ideas in the survey below. Thanks for your input!
Nurse's Note
HI There SEALS!!
This is your friendly school nurse Saga with a few reminders for our families, students, and any
community members. I want to remind everyone that even though Seattle has done exceptionally well at vaccinating adults and has begun to do super at vaccinating our 12-year old’s and older WE ARE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS!!
I want to remind everyone that this is NOT flu season. In fact, with our exceptional compliance with social distancing and mask wearing our flu numbers this year dropped by huge numbers in WA State. https://www.doh.wa.gov/portals/1/documents/5100/420-100-fluupdate.pdf
Covid-19 in children can look very different than in teens and adults. I am reminding all of us to stay vigilant and if your child is vomiting or has diarrhea, please have your child seen by a medical professional as soon as possible, and please remember that covid testing is FREE and much easier and not as painful as it was even several months ago.
Many young children may be asymptomatic at the time they have Covid-19, not showing any signs and symptoms of the illness. What can occur weeks after are signs and symptoms that the disease is still doing harm to a child. These include vomiting, diarrhea, rash on hands and feet, and pain in the stomach area or in the legs. If your child is experiencing any of these, please call your medical provider as soon as possible to have your child looked at.
If you have any questions please feel free to give me an email or call.
206-252-1510
Thank you for allowing me to be your school nurse this year. Be safe, be smart, Have a GREAT and Fun SUMMER BREAK!!
NURSE SAGA
End-of Year Library Newsletter
Library Book Information:
This week marks the last week for library checkout. All library books should be returned on or before the last day of school. Students may return their books to the black library cart located inside their classrooms. If your student is fully remote, there is a library return basket outside the main entrance of school during school hours. If you would like to return books after school hours, there is a small slot between the two main doors that you make drop your books through.
Tech Equipment Return Information
- All students are encouraged to return their technology devices/equipment on or
- before June 18, beginning the week of Monday, June 14. (More information
- about this will be provided by your classroom teacher).
- All returned technology must be accompanied by a completed Technology
- Equipment Return Form
Attention Future Whitman Middle School Wildcats:
On Monday, June 7, Ms. Macer, the librarian at Whitman Middle School, visited with
our 5th graders to Talk about Wildcats Read program, share the reading book list,
answered student’s questions then provided a book talk for some of the books on the
reading list.
Summer Reading Kick-Off
Seattle Arts and Lecture has partnered with the Seattle Public Library to create a
Summer Book Bingo card as part of a free summer reading program. Adults and
kids may play along from May – September to be entered in a chance to win
fabulous prizes. If you are interested in participating, click on the link below for more details: https://lectures.org/community/book-bingo/
If you are looking for some reading suggestions by grade level, here is a link to a list of
books compiled by SPS and SPL librarians. The books suggestions may be found
through the Seattle Public Library. https://www.spl.org/books-and-media/books-and-ebooks/staff-picks-for-kids
Students are welcome to use their Library Link account login to access these
books. Login is: 990000+student’s SPS ID #. Their password is the mmdd of
their birthday. For more detailed instructions, visit SPL.org
Kindergarten Playdates
Have or know an incoming Kindergartener for the 2021- 2022 year? Join the Kindergarten Ambassador Team for summer meet ups!
Playdates subject to change; information about events will be available via facebook and the PTA website. All playdates are outdoors and masked.
Tuesday, July 13th: Kinder playdate 4:30-6pm, Soundview Playfield 1590 NW 90th St
Tuesday, July 27th: Kinder playdate 4:30-6pm, Soundview Playfield 1590 NW 90th St
Thursday, August 5th: Kinder playdate 3:30-5pm, Blue Ridge Park 2498 NW Blue Ridge Dr
Thursday, August 12th, 7:30pm: Caregiver zoom Q&A with the Kindergarten Ambassador Team.
Send questions in advance to catmpowell@gmail.com
August 16th - 20th: Jump Start, TBD
Wednesday, August 18th: Popsicle playdate 1pm, Soundview Playfield 1590 NW 90th St
Join the PTA!
Make your voice heard! The NBE 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. JOIN TODAY and while you’re at it donate to the school supplies fund!
Join the PTA here!
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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Ballard Basketball, Volleyball and Cross Country- Summer Programs!
Join us for camps, in house leagues and training all summer long. Safe, active and fun sports for boys and girls entering 1st-9th grades.
For more information and to register, visit: http://www.ballardbasketball.org
Keep movin'!
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.
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/.
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