News from your North Beach PTA
January 17, 2020
Dates to Remember
- Monday, January 20: PTA Advocacy Day
- Monday, January 20: No School
- Friday, January 24: We Are Family school dance, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
- Monday, January 27: New Family/Kindergarten Tour, 9:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, January 29: SNOW MAKE-UP DAY
- Tuesday, February 4: First Special Education Resource Fair, 6:30 p.m.
- Saturday, February 8: We Are Family Auction (purchase tickets here)
- Tuesday, February 11: PTA Meeting + RESCHEDULED Beyond the Birds and Bees talk
A Note from Our Principal
Dear North Beach Families and Community,
On January 13, we held our first ever school National Geographic GeoBee Championship. Thank you to our ELL teacher Annabel Bailey for facilitating the competition! Over 80 4th and 5th graders participated. The school competition is the first round in the annual National Geographic GeoBee, a geography competition designed to inspire and reward students’ curiosity about the world. Natalie Baker, 4th grade, won first place, Lila Fu, 5th grade, won second place, and Oskar Somm, 4th grade, finished in third place. Natalie Baker is moving on to take an online qualifying test; up to 100 of the top test scorers in each state become eligible to compete in their State GeoBee. Learn more at www.natgeobee.org.
Congratulations Natalie!
I’d like to thank the 5th grade leadership team for coordinating our 2020 food drive to benefit the Ballard Food Bank, and to everyone who contributed to it. Our lobby has been filled with donations all week long. Your generosity will make such a difference in our community.
On Monday, January 20th , we honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and reflect on his messages of freedom, equality, peace, and justice. Recently I have been considering the connection between the lessons to be learned from Dr. King considering our role as stewards of the environment. At North Beach, we have ongoing problems using the correct bins at lunchtime. Most of the waste we produce at lunchtime should be composted or recycled. However, our students haven’t been depositing items in the proper bins when they are done with their lunch. We don’t currently have a student green team, and don’t have enough staff to monitor students as they bring their waste to recycle, compost, or throw away. We would appreciate parent support in helping us with this at each lunch. If you are interested, simply come to school and eat lunch with your child, and then find Mrs. Dixon or me in the lunchroom, and we will show you what to do. No need to sign up beforehand; just show up.
It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated. We are all caught in an inescapable
network of mutuality, tied into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects
all indirectly.
- Martin Luther King, Jr. 1967
Have a wonderful weekend!
Kristine McLane, kemclane@seattleschools.org
Principal, North Beach Elementary
206-252-1510
From the Office
Tell your friends or anyone you know that is starting North Beach next year:
New family tours!
Monday, January 27th 9:00am and 6:30 pm
Special Education Resource Fair Tuesday, Feb. 4
The Special Education Department will hold a Resource Fair for all families of students receiving special education services. Special Education directors and staff, representatives from other Seattle Public Schools departments, and community groups will be onsite during this open-house style event. This is a great opportunity for families to learn, gather resources, and ask general questions regarding their student’s services, district programs, or to better understand the work of different organizations in the community. Childcare will be provided.
Tuesday, February 4, 2020, 6:30 –8:00pm
Robert Eagle Staff Middle School
1330 N 90th St Seattle, WA 98103
For more details, contact SpEdCommunications@seattleschools.org
Book-It Theatre Performance - January 28th - Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut
Book-It Theatre is coming to North Beach on Tuesday, January 28. The theater group will bring the book, Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut to life for all K-5 students. Performance will begin at 1:25 in the cafeteria and end around 2:10. This time will include a Q&A session with performers.
Click on the following link for more information about the performance: https://book-it.org/events/crown/
For questions, feel free to contact your school librarian, Luci Bakker at labakker@seattleschools.org
AUCTION COUNTDOWN: Only Three Weeks Away!
Tickets are selling fast and we’re currently working on table seating arrangements. If you
are planning to join us at this year’s auction on Saturday, February 8th, now is the time
to purchase your tickets. Don’t miss the fun … and the many terrific items available for
bidding on.
Our auction committee has been procured dozens of items that fall into the following
categories: experiences & travel, health & wellness, home & garden, just for kids,
recreation & travel, sports & outdoors, and wine & spirits. Just a small sampling of the packages that will be available at this year’s auction include:
A trip to Disneyland!
Dinner for 10 in Your Home Cooked by Ashley Rodriguez
Day of Crab or Salmon Fishing on Puget Sound with Jen Osborn & Ed Kloth
Stunning artwork, handmade items, and photography by talented North Beach artisan
parents.
Seahawks 4 Lower Level Tickets + VIP Pregame Sideline Passes
Holland America Cruise
Barre3 Mom’s Night Out with Tara Nessan
Margarita Mamas hosted by Margaret Mitchell
OOLA Private Distillery Tour for 15 with Auction Table Service
Fun-filled experiences for our kids with North Beach staff superheroes:
o Miniature Golf Party at Flatstick Pub with Coach Willis, Ms. Varnado, Ms.
Mellen, and Ms. Hansen-Steele;
o A Day at Moonshadow Farm with Ms. Coutts, Ms. Gabrielson, Ms. Tramba,
Ms. Stikdijk, Ms. Varnado and Ms. Lee. Price;
o A Stuffy Sleepover, chaperoned and documented by Ms. Lannér, Ms. Bailey,
Ms. Hoffman, and Ms. Coutts;
o Movie Night in the Library with Ms. Bakker, Ms. McLane, Ms. Coutts, Ms.
May, Ms. Lanner, and Ms. Janzen;
o Arena Sports party with Coach Willis, Ms. Lacambra, and Mr. Allen;
o Seattle Gymnastics Birthday Party for Herbie with Ms. Wilder and Ms.
Hoffman;
o A morning hike with a trail mix snack with Ms. Flax, Ms. Ang, Ms. Butler,
Ms. Tramba, and Ms. Hostetler;
o A “crafternoon” art extravaganza with Ms. Tramba, Ms. Hallgarth, Ms.
Neimeyer, Ms. Knowles, Ms. Stokdijk, Ms. May, Ms. Janzen, and Ms. Ang.
Herbie the Seal donning a custom 70s outfit!
And much, much more!
As a reminder, it’s a 70s “We Are Family” theme and the auction takes place on
Saturday, February 8th at the Nordic Museum from 6:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. It’s so
close, you could probably walk home, even!
Get your tickets today:
https://northbeachelementary.ejoinme.org/auction2020-tickets
North Beach PTA presents…Family Fun Night -- Friday January 24th
North Beach PTA presents…Family Fun Night
We Are Family Dance!
Friday January 24th 6:30-8:30pm
What YOU want to know:
- Admission is free, includes DJ with dancing and games
- Snowflake scarf craft $4 while supplies last
- Back by popular demand- photo booth $2, includes 2-3 professionally taken photos available online after the event
- Herbie meals $6.50, includes pretzel bread slider sandwich, apple slices, chips, water, and a baby Herbie mini stuffy while supplies last
- Dress up in the sprit of this year’s winter dance- We Are Family...bring back the 70s by wearing tie dye or other bright funky colors, the options are unlimited
- Please volunteer to help make this FUN and SUCCESSFUL for our North Beach Seals, and we bet you’ll have some fun too- sign up via Konstella
- This is not a drop off event- make sure there is an adult on site responsible for your child(s)
- Save time and avoid lines at entry- a Pre-order form went home via kid mail this week, additional copies are available in the office. Pre-orders must be received by Tuesday, January 21st.
CAKE TIME ! 5th grade camp fundraising presents: The highly anticipated CAKE WALK!
All North Beach families are encouraged to make a cake for the CAKE WALK at the January 24th “We are Family” Dance!
ALL cake entries will receive one free ticket for the cake walk!
Cakes delivered to school between 7:35-8:00am Jan. 24th.
Prizes awarded for the following categories:
Best K-2nd KID-only made cake
Best K-2nd KID+parent made cake
Best 3rd-5th grade KID-only made cake
Best 3rd-5th grade KID+parent made cake
Cake walk tickets can be purchased for $1/ea at the event. Unlimited chances to enter the cake walk and winners of each round walk away with the cake of their choice until cakes run out. All proceeds benefit the 5th grade camp fund. Time to get your CAKE GAME ON !
PTA Spotlight on Volunteers
This week we thank all the volunteers who helped reschedule and reshuffle events as the snow came down! In a flurry of texts, emails, and phone calls, enrichment coordinator Rachel McDaniel, super volunteer Rebecca Peacock, communicator extraordinaire Rebecca Mongrain, PTA vice president Tara Nessan, and others made sure parents knew of the changes. They also worked with vendors to reschedule events and clubs. Thank you for taking some of your snow day to help all North Beach families!
Thanks to Faith Lowe and Mary Person for organizing the food drive for Ballard Food Bank, and thanks to 5th grade leadership sponsors, Mary Person, Tara Nessan, and Phillipa Dugaw for delivering all the donations.
Legislative Corner
Funding for counselors, nurses, librarians! The state funds education - contact your state legislator!
● Attend focus day! Bring the kids to meet their legislators and
see our beautiful state capitol. THIS MONDAY!
● Read the top legislative priorities and contact the 36th district representatives
on topics that matter to you. Amplify your voice by mentioning you are a PTA member.
During each year’s legislative session, Washington State PTA holds its annual Focus Day to bring members together at the state capitol to advocate for the association’s legislative platform. This year’s roster includes speakers such as Chris Reykdal the Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction and a meet & greet with the representatives of the 36th legislative district (the district North Beach is in).
Interested in joining or have questions? Contact: klabelle@gmail.com
Beyond the Birds and Bees Rescheduled for February 11 PTA Meeting
NEW DATE: Tuesday, February 11th
6:30-7:00 PTA General Meeting
7:00-8:30 Parent Education Evening
Childcare for K-5 students is available! Kids will be in the Library and watch the movie Tale of Despereaux, have story time, and enjoy light snacks (please feed your child dinner before coming)- send a water bottle with your child. A limited number of childcare spots are available, signing up in advance is highly recommended. Sign up will display under your name, please sign up the number of times for children you need child care for (ex: if you have two kids coming sign up twice) and put their name and grade in the comment section. Check in will begin at 6:20 and childcare will end at the conclusion of the Birds and Bees presentation.
Sign up at: https://www.konstella.com/app/school/59bc8f8ce4b0996f734081bb/signups/5e140ac5e4b0131706441354
Beyond Birds and Bees: Bringing Home a New Message
to Our Kids about Sex, Love, and Equality
Now that the #MeToo movement and current events have parents and educators asking how best to raise young people with healthy, positive, shame-free and egalitarian attitudes about bodies, gender, sex, and relationships, Bonnie J. Rough, author of Beyond Birds and Bees: Bringing Home a New Message to Our Kids About Sex, Love, and Equality, will share the practical lessons she learned as a parent and journalist when she took a close look at the world-famous Dutch approach to sex education, instrumental in producing one of the most sexually healthy and gender-equal societies on the globe. With immediate takeaways for PreK-6 parents/caregivers and time for sharing and questions, this event will show how we can make the most of—and enjoy—life’s many opportunities to change the conversation with our kids as we empower them to build a more equitable and inclusive future.
About Bonnie J. Rough and Beyond Birds & Bees
Bonnie J. Rough is an American author, journalist, and speaker focusing on families, health, education, parenting and sexuality. Her latest book is Beyond Birds & Bees: Bringing Home a New Message to Our Kids about Sex, Love, and Equality, described as “a groundbreaking inquiry into how we teach our children about bodies, sex, relationships, and equality—with revelatory, practical takeaways from the world-famous Dutch approach.” Since its August 2018 release, Beyond Birds and Bees has seen coverage in many national, international, and regional outlets including The New York Times, Washington Post, Salon, Huffington Post, The Establishment, Chicago Tribune, Good Morning Washington, New York Public Radio, Wisconsin Public Radio, North Texas Public Radio, KUOW Seattle, King 5 TV News, New Day Northwest, and many other podcasts and media outlets. Bonnie has written recently for the New York Times on teaching young children about boundaries and consent as well as the value of childhood crushes, for The Atlantic on both the link between sex ed and gender equality and the case for comprehensive sex ed, for The Cut on raising kids without sexual shame, and for the Washington Post on gender and sex ed and how straight parents can raise kids to be allies with the LGBTQ+ community. Her previous books are The Girls, Alone and Carrier, winner of a 2011 Minnesota Book Award. Learn more at www.bonniejrough.com.
The school musical starts soon!
Questions or interested in joining? Nbschoolmusical@gmail.com
New Car Seat Law - Effective January 1, 2020
A new car seat law goes into effect in WA on Jan 1,2020. Here is a link to a good breakdown of the new law:
https://wereparents.com/washington-state-car-seat-laws-2019/
The biggest change is that any child under 4'9" will need to be in a booster seat effective 1/1/20. Please check your child's total height as this may mean some kids going back into booster seats.
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!
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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Whitman Middle School Open House - January 21
Open House, January 21st:
6:00-6:30 special education information session in library
6:30-6:55 information tables in foyer
7:00 Presentation in Auditorium
7:30 Tours led by WEB and/or visit information tables
Information Tables:
- department/class information
- Athletics
- WEB (Where everyone belongs)
- Activities/ ASB
- PTSA
- counseling
- nurse
- registration and general info
- attendance
- family services
Back for another year - Ballard High School Gymnastics Kids Camps!!
Greetings gymnastics enthusiasts and community members!
Back for another year - Ballard High School Gymnastics Kids Camps!!
The Ballard High School gymnastics team - 4th place winners at the 2019 Washington State Gymnastics Championships - welcomes your child to join our 2020 kids camps! BHS gymnasts will teach campers on bars, beam, vault, and floor for hours of fun and instruction.
Tickets are $45 per date, per camper (additional campers from the same family are $40) per date. No gymnastics experience is needed!
Registration for Camp 2: Sat. January 25, 2020 (9AM to noon)
Calling on girls grades 3-5th grades, Girls on the Run 2020 is here!
What is Girls on the Run?
At Girls on the Run we inspire girls to recognize their inner strength and celebrate what makes them one of a kind. Trained coaches lead small teams through our research-based curricula which includes dynamic discussions, fun activities and running games. Over the course of the ten-week program, girls in 3rd-5th grade develop essential skills to help them navigate their worlds and establish a lifetime appreciation for health and fitness. The program culminates with girls positively impacting their communities through a service project and being physically and emotionally prepared to complete a celebratory 5K event. Seeing hundreds of girls streaming across the finish line is beautiful!
Start Date: March 3rd, Tuesday and Thursdays right after school. Registration closes March 9th.
The 5k: May 17th at Memorial Stadium in Renton.
Check out this link to program details and registration resources:
https://www.gotrpugetsound.org/Program-Registration
https://www.gotrpugetsound.org/our-programs
If you have questions contact North Beach liaison:
Jeannette Kane
206-604-4121
Free seminar - Mental Health and Our Kids
Monday, January 27, 2020 at 7:00 PM
Phinney Neighborhood Center Lower Building
Doors open at 6:30 for a social half hour
Join PNW Parent Education for a critical conversation on mental health and our kids. Jason Reid, CEO, author, and parent will share his story of heartbreak and hope. We’ll also have a mental health expert to provide practical and relevant information on how parents can help promote mental health in their children at an early age. Lastly, a local youth will share their personal experience and the tools that they use to help fight the stigma and symptoms associated with anxiety and depression.
In this important talk, you’ll learn:
- The right questions to ask and the best conversation starters to use with kids about mental health.
- How to identify early signs and symptoms of mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.
Register in advance to secure your free seat.
Loyal Heights Martin Luther King Jr Teen March 2020
It is almost time for our 16th Annual Martin Luther King Jr Teen March. Can you please help us promote this event to your students and their families. School administrators can you mention the activity calendar and MLK march in your bulletin. Parents and Guardians can you please encourage your teens, per-teen, children and the whole family to attend this event. We will be offering rides from your community center to this event. Contact the recreation leader at the nearest community center to your home. High school students can earn service credits for volunteering and attending this event.
Need a ride to the march? The Loyal Heights Teen Program will be meeting at Loyal Heights Community Center (2101 NW 77th Street, Seattle, WA 98117) at 8 a.m. Saturday, January 18, 2020 to attend the march. Contact Ron Brown to sign up for the march and to reserve your seat in our van because space is limited. (206)684-4052 or ronald.brown@seattle.gov
Ballard High School Performing Arts presents: 61st Annual Spaghetti Dinner
Feb 1st, 2020 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Ballard High School Commons
This fundraiser is your one chance this year to hear every Ballard Performing Arts group perform! Yes, all 15 of them. This year's theme is music from the '90s. Plus, catch a sneak preview of the upcoming musical, Xanadu.
Tickets available online NOW. https://www.ballardperformingartsboosters.org/spaghetti-dinner-2020-1 or purchased at the door. $15 adults, $10 students, $22.50 for all you can eat.
Enjoy a spaghetti dinner with options of homemade meat or vegetarian sauce, regular or gluten-free noodles, salad, bread, drink, and dessert. Extra desserts are available at the bake sale. And don't miss our raffle with tickets pulled 3 times during the evening.
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