News from your North Beach PTA
September 27, 2019
Dates to Remember
- Monday, September 30: Principal Coffee, 8:15 a.m. NB Library
- Thursday, October 3: Parent Social at Blue Ridge Clubhouse, 6:30 p.m.
- Friday, October 4: Comfort Kits due (more information below)
- Sunday, October 6: Sounders Game
- Friday, October 11: NO SCHOOL
- Tuesday, October 15: PTA Meeting, 6:30 p.m. NB Library, ALL are welcome to attend
- Thursday, October 17: School Board Candidate Forum, 6:30-8 p.m., NB Lunchroom
A Note from Our Principal
Dear North Beach Families and Community,
I hope you can join me for the first Coffee with the Principal on Monday morning at 8:15 a.m. We will be meeting in the library. Please come hear updates about future capital projects at North Beach, the first month of school and discuss other upcoming events and issues.
I’d like to highlight some important safety issues. We have pointed out multiple times in the Beachcomber the importance of having students use designated crosswalks to get to school. The school continues to receive multiple reports from parents and community members who have near misses with children who are darting across the street, often being told by their parents to run across the street. It’s very upsetting to drivers to be put into this position when there are close calls due to poor visibility and high traffic levels. PLEASE, for the safety of all our kids, have your student use the crosswalks so we can avoid having a child be hit by a car.
We have unfortunately had reports of people using drugs on campus at night. Our community can support us in maintaining a safe environment for our kids by doing the following:
Away from school hours, please follow these steps for trespassers, or those using school property as a place to hang out and do drugs.
1) Call the Safety and Security Office at 206-252-0707, which is staffed 24/7/365. If possible, security staff will respond and direct the persons to leave and/or clear dangerous items. Staffing level and other issues in the district will influence whether security staff can respond and how quickly.
2) Call the Seattle Police Department at 911. This would only be if Security is not able to respond promptly or if there is other immediately dangerous behavior occurring. (In the case of the latter, SPS security may contact SPD, themselves.) SPD would likely prefer that SPS Security first attempt to address things on our own properties, before they become involved.
3) Notify the school, later, for general awareness.
The safety and security of our students is of utmost importance to us. Thank you for support.
Kristine McLane, kemclane@seattleschools.org
Principal, North Beach Elementary
206-252-1510
From the office
When sending in checks for field trips, please write your students first and last name on the check.
Thank you so much,
Sarah
Counselor’s Corner
At North Beach, we use the RULER Approach to Social and Emotional Learning. RULER is an evidence-based approach for integrating social and emotional learning into schools, developed at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. RULER applies “hard science” to the teaching of what have historically been called “soft skills.”
At this point in the year, classes have created their Class Charters, integrated use of the Mood Meter into daily classroom life and will be focusing on the Meta-Moment tool during October.
The following are known as RULER Anchors:
Classroom Charter- we establish agreed-upon norms and guidelines (as opposed to rules) for an emotionally safe and productive learning environment. The Charter is amended throughout the year and is referred to regularly in order to cultivate a caring classroom community.
Mood Meter- a tool that provides students a way to identify and label their feelings.
Meta-Moment- a process for effectively managing the space in time between an emotional trigger and a response.
Blueprint - a tool that helps students solve problems, make good decisions, and resolve conflict or other challenges.
RULER stands for:
Learn About the School Board Candidates at Our Candidate Forum
On Thursday, October 17, 6:30-8pm, the PTA is hosting an educational forum for the school board candidates in November’s election. Their term lasts four years so this election will greatly impact your child’s educational future at Seattle Public Schools. Each candidate will introduce themselves, followed by a discussion on topics that may include but are not limited to: funding, educational equity, school conditions, enrollment, and school safety. Arik Korman, communications director of the League of Education Voters and a North Beach parent, will moderate the forum. Candidates who have thus far confirmed their attendance include Eric Blumhagen and Liza Rankin for District 1, Chandra Hampson and Rebecca Muniz for District 3, and Leslie Harris and Molly Mitchell for District 6. We are currently creating a survey for parents to identify their top concerns. We’ll send it out via Konstella once it’s ready. If you would like to make any suggestions of topics before then, please feel free to email me (Suzanne Hurley) at president@northbeachpta.org.
Leave the Kids Behind and Join Other Parents at the North Beach Social!
The PTA is hosting an adults-only parent social on Thursday, October 3, 6:30-9pm, at the Blue Ridge Clubhouse. Get a sitter or take turns and come in shifts to enjoy a chance to meet other parents. The PTA will provide light snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. Please feel free to bring a snack to share and an adult beverage, to share or not.
Support Our Teachers & Classrooms: Room Parents Still Needed
The following classes still need room parents:
- Ms. Holton
- Ms. Hallgarth
- Ms. Butler
- Ms. Ang
- Ms. Lanner
- Ms. Wilder
- The teacher taking over for Ms. Zwieback
The principal duties of the room parent are:
- Coordinate class Halloween party and Valentine’s Day party
- Organize classroom based Auction contribution
- Teacher appreciation and/or year end gift for the teacher
- Welcome families new to North Beach throughout the year
- Classroom point person for the online directory Konstella (and utilize it for communication, signups, etc.)
Never done it before or not sure? Contact Tara Nessan at tara.nessan@me.com.
Sign up at https://www.konstella.com/app/school/59bc8f8ce4b0996f734081bb/signups/5d709ba4e4b08b25c3f8389e
Join the North Beach PTA
Make your voice heard! The NBE PTA provides advocacy and funding for our students. Joining the PTA means YES to counselors, tutors, art supplies, classroom technology, library books, and more. JOIN TODAY
PTA Spotlight on Volunteers
Thank you this week to Tim Dugaw and Ryan Greenland for organizing the Watch Dog program orientation and for launching parent volunteers into the school. Thanks also to all those volunteers meeting to organize the fundraising campaigns that allow the PTA to provide supplies and staff to our school that the district does not provide. Mary Balmaceda, Beth Carman, and their team are working hard. You’ll be hearing more soon—I don’t want to spoil any of their surprises just yet. The auction committee, headed by Sara Easterly and Peggi Fu, also met this week to launch their work. A lot of volunteer hours go into these fundraisers, and we’re lucky at this school to have parents who can do this. Thank you!
Show Your North Beach Pride on the Outside! FINAL WEEK, SALES END 9/30!!
FINAL WEEK, SALES END 9/30!!
Beautiful North Beach clothing and accessories are available for online via Uplifters Ranch ORDER HERE.
Order at https://upliftersranch.com/collections/northbeach by September 30th! 15% goes back to the PTA!
North Beach at the Sounders, Sunday, October 6th at 1pm.
Join fellow North Beach kids, parents and friends to cheer on the Sounders in the final match of the season. Tickets are $32 each. Order forms went home this week in kidmail and are available in the foyer at school. All forms must be returned to school by the due date --Friday, September 27th. If you'd like to sit in a group, please turn in your order together.
Questions? jodisomm@mac.com
Flu Shots are coming to North Beach School!
Protect yourself, your child, and your community from the flu. The best protection from influenza illness is by having a flu shot. Flu is a leading cause of work and school absence, as well as, hospital visits in the winter. School Nurses are leading the effort to get a large percentage of our total student population vaccinated against the flu.
Seattle Visiting Nurse Association nurses return this year to administer annual flu shots at school on Tuesday, October 22nd from 1:00-3:00 PM. Students (ages 4 and older), staff and community members can sign up to get the flu shot. All SPS insurance is accepted and most forms of insurance (including Apple Health and Medicaid) and cash or check ($40) are accepted. Families who have no insurance can write “No Insurance” and the student can still get a flu shot.
A thimerosal-free vaccine is available for pregnant women. The double dose version recommended for adults over age 65 is not available.
The consent form needs to be completely filled out and returned to the school office as soon as possible. Consent forms were sent home in KidMail and can be found on Konstella.
Questions?? https://www.seattleschools.org/cms/One.aspx?pageId=53774927&portalId=627#fluschool or contact your School Nurse, Julie Kaloper, RN jkaloper@seattleschools.org or 206-252-1517.
Help to protect yourself, your loved ones and our entire school community—get your flu shot!!
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!
After School Enrichment Opportunities Available
Welcome back! By now we have all begun to get back into our school routines. As you are planning your Fall schedule, take a look at the options below for some additional enrichment for your kids. Here is a link to our current enrichment clubs:
Comfort Kits Needed by Oct. 4th
At North Beach, we like to be prepared in the event of an emergency. Part of our plan includes creating a Comfort Kit (student emergency kits) for each student in the building. We will store these in bins in each classroom. They will be used for emergencies only. At the end of the year, we’ll send them home with your child. Please follow the directions closely.
Place your child’s supplies (more information below) in a 1 Gal Ziplock Bag and label the front using a sharpie with the following information:
Child’s Name: _______
Room #: ________
Emergency Contact Name _________
Phone #__________
Supplies should include one days worth of non-perishable food (no nuts please) with a family picture and note from parents along with a stocking cap and a pair of mittens. THE PTA WILL PROVIDE A SPACE BLANKET AND WATER. Everything, except for the water, must fit in the ziplock bag.Please let your teacher or Rebecca Mongrain (communications@northbeachpta.org know if you are unable to provide the items for your bag. Label the bag and return to your child’s room, we will do the rest.
- Community News & Events- These programs are not endorsed by either North Beach PTA or SPS. This information is posted for informational purposes only.
Seattle's Children's Festival
Attention Families! The Seattle Children’s Festival is taking place on Saturday, September 28 from 11-3pm. It is a fantastic opportunity to meet some favorite author’s/illustrator’s and purchase great books signed by the author/illustrator! Below is link providing more details about this exciting event:
https://www.seattlechildrensbookfestival.com/2019authorsillustrators
Ballard High School Playmakers
The Ballard High School Playmakers will present three dynamic theatrical productions this year. We appreciate you sharing this news with students and families.
Radium Girls | October 17, 18, 19, 24, 25 and 26, 201
A hundred years ago, radium was a miracle cure used to fight cancer. It was quickly commercialized and used in products for consumers, including luminous watches that glowed in the dark. Radium Girls tells the story of the New Jersey factory girls who hand-painted the dials until they mysteriously became ill, started dying, and ultimately fought back.
Musical Theater production:
Xanadu | March 18, 19, 20, 26, 27 and 28, 2019
This comedy musical is based on the film which starred Olivia Newton-John. It’s 1980, and Venice Beach chalk-artist Sonny is frustrated by his mural of the Greek muses. A Greek muse named Kira dispatches to L.A., disguised as a human to encourage him in his art. Together they dream of opening a roller disco club named Xanadu. Xanadu is a love story with legwarmers and campy music.
Rumors | May 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, and 16, 2019
Set in the 1980s at a large home just north of Manhattan, the deputy mayor of New York has accidentally shot himself. As four couples gather for a 10th anniversary wedding party, the mayor’s lawyer must quickly concoct a story to avoid a scandal. Speculation quickly piles up, leading to laughable, ludicrous moments. Rumors is written by Neil Simon.
Tickets
$15 for adults and $10 for students/seniors. Advance tickets are now available at https://showtix4u.com; (search for “Ballard High School.”) To request discounted season or group tickets, please contact Shawn Riley at smriley@seattleschools.org.
View the full press release at:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fhHSRRI9svVzsDsP9Y-HwHw8MV_mQxdZkAimqtSdFTg/edit?usp=sharing
If you'd like more details, please contact me at 206-465-9532, rhenda@rhendameiser.com.
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