News from your North Beach PTA
Dates to Remember
- Friday, December 15: Early dismissal (1 hour)
- December 18-Jan 1: Winter Break, no school
- Tuesday, January 2: Back to school
- Monday, January 15: MLK Day, no school
- Wednesday, January 31: 6:30pm Open House for parents of incoming kindergarteners
- Wednesday, February 7: 6:30pm Open House for parents of incoming kindergarteners
A message from the PTA - December 15, 2023
Happy Friday Seals,
We 💜 our Volunteers!
Volunteer Highlights
This week we want to highlight the work of Brittany McFarlane, 3rd grade Board Representative and head of the Tree of Good Cheer. Partnering with the North Beach community’s generosity Brittany was able to extend kindness and cheer to over 20 North Beach families. Thank you Brittany!
PTA News & Events
NB Auction - Save the Date - March 23
What: NB Auction
When: Saturday, March 23, 2024
Where: Sunset Bay Lodge at the Ballard Elks
We are seeking auction donations!! Have vacation homes, tickets to events & experiences, offer local services? Contact auction@northbeachpta.org!
PTA Enrichment Clubs Winter Session
- Sign your student up for fun, social, and engaging after school clubs sponsored by the PTA! They are offered directly after school, at school, making it super easy for kids to participate.
- Scholarships are available.
- Registration is January 16th at 3pm - January 19th
- Available clubs offered this winter are up on 6crickets.com. View clubs and register.
- Winter Clubs - January 22nd-March 29th. No clubs the week of February 19th-23rd
- Contact Amy Wathey at enrichment@northbeachpta.org for any questions
Volunteer sign up sheet will be on Konstella. PTA Volunteers make after school clubs possible! New to the 2023-2024 school year: if you sign your child up for an after school club, you are required to volunteer at least once during the course of the 2 months that the club is in session.
Rising Middle Schoolers Informal Parent Panel
Attention families of rising 6th graders! North Beach is considering hosting an informal parent panel about middle school. This informative evening will focus more on the ins and outs of middle school, not the physical, social, and emotional changes our students will undergo. Please take this 3 question survey to determine if we should host this evening.
PTA Funding in Action
On Tuesday’s PTA meeting the general membership approved two Mini-Grants:
A new filter for the salmon tank, ensuring our future salmon can start their lives out with the best possible care. We are looking forward to watching them grow!
A new rug for a 1st grade classroom. In partnership with Room 7 families we were able to replace a very much battered gathering rug. During the discussion for this item it has been revealed that many, many rugs in the school need attention; the PTA is exploring funding options.
December Meeting Recap- Mid-Year Budget Review
On Tuesday the general membership voted unanimously to approve the mid-year budget review as submitted. The adjustments included additional funding to classroom Min-Grants, teacher and staff professional development, and PTA events reflecting the survey results from last weeks funding survey. Thank you to the over 120 community members who let their voices be heard!
PTA Board Happenings
Our teachers and staff seem to be able to operate on the magical pixie dust of their passion for our students, however this week the PTA was able to offer additional support in the way of an iced coffee and tea bar Thursday morning. Teachers and staff were greeted with cold brew with all the fixin’s as a small gesture of appreciation for all they do for our students and school.
School News & Events
Spread the word, North Beach Open House
Jan 31st and Feb 7th from 6:30 - 7:30 pm
Incoming kindergarten grown ups are invited to attend North Beach’s open house. Caregivers will have the opportunity to view the school, speak with teachers, and hear about our wonderful community from the PTA.
MIssed the School Musical info meeting? No problem!
Dates & Times
Rehearsals on Tuesday and Thursdays from 6-7:30 PM at North Beach. Late March rehearsals at Whitman Middle School.
- January - sign up forms go out
- January 10th - first rehearsal
- January 12th - auditions
- March 29th - dry run
- March 30 - two shows
Cost
Scholarships available. Contact the office or email us for a quick process.
Participation cost pays for the director, music director, rights to the show, & scripts..
Uncertain you want to join?
You can come to the first rehearsal with no obligation.
Auditions
- The first rehearsal will be a chance to get to know everybody, learn a song from the show, and build the confidence for their auditions.
- Auditions will be low key and will support the kids to find the best role for them.
- There is absolutely no parent involvement in the audition and casting process.
Questions? Want to be added to the email list? musical@northbeachpta.org
Girls on the Run at North Beach 👟🏃♀️
Girls on the Run (GOTR) is a fun, evidence based empowerment program that helps build 3rd-5th graders with confidence and develop both movement and social/emotional life skills.
Coaches are needed to bring this program to NB!!! Anyone can be a coach - running experience is not required. GOTR trains all volunteer coaches and supplies everything you need to be successful. Commitment includes:
- 1-2 90 minute practices per week (2:30pm-4pm)
- Availability on the weekend of May 18/19th for a final 5k event
SPS News & Events
Whitman Middle School Open House for Incoming 6th Graders
Thursday, 1/18 from 5:30-7:00 pm
5:30 - 6:00 Special Education presentation in the auditorium
5:30 - 6:30 families may browse the information tables outside of the auditorium
6:00 Principal and PTSA presentation in the auditorium
Student lead tours will follow presentation
Registration for New Students
Will your child be 5 by August 31?
New Student Registration begins Jan. 2, 2024 for the 2024-25 school year.
All registration is completed online.
Items you will need to register new students
- Parent or guardian photo ID
- Child’s passport or birth certificate
- Two (2) proofs of home address dated within past eight (8) weeks
- Child’s immunization (shots) record
City, State and National PTA News
City
Money Talks with Dr Kurt Buttleman
In this video, we're diving deeper into the key topics of compliance-based budgeting, weighted staffing standards, structural deficits, the state prototypical model, and binding conditions. As advocates for equitable and quality education in Seattle, let's set our intentions for the upcoming legislative session. Watch the recording here.
State
FOCUS DAY REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
Monday, January 15, 9am–2:30pm
Join Beth (NBPTA President) and Vanessa (NBPTA Treasurer) in person
at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia
WSPTA members and students are invited to put on their "PTA Blue" to advocate for children and schools with elected officials. Network, hear speakers, take a docent-led tours of the Capitol grounds. We are encouraging members to schedule meetings with their legislators on this day (even if you need to schedule remote meetings). It’s important to reach out to legislators as soon as possible. Register here.
National
Thursday, Dec. 14 marks the tragic 11-year anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting which claimed the lives of 20 children and six school staff in Newtown, Conn. And for the first time, firearms have become the leading cause of death for children under the age of 19 in the United States. Our nation's schools, communities and families cannot wait. Congressional inaction has resulted in countless entirely preventable tragedies; iIn each of these instances, a teenager legally purchased a military-style assault weapon to carry out these horrific acts of violence. In the case of Lewiston, Maine, an effective red flag law policy could have prevented that individual from purchasing the weapons he used, but a federal assault weapons ban would have assured it.
Urge the U.S. Senate to protect students and families by passing critical safety legislation like the Assault Weapons Ban of 2023 (S. 25) and the Background Check Expansion Act (S. 494).
Legislative Update
The Washington State PTA recently held its 2023 Legislative Assembly, the annual event where PTA representatives from schools around the state meet to discuss the year’s broad priorities for the WSPTA’s legislative platform.
At the end of the weekend, we passed eight recommendations covering multilingual education, gun violence, educator diversity, effective pre-3 learning, k-12 funding, traumatic brain injuries, social emotional learning and substance abuse disorder. You can read them here.
PTA Spotlight - SPED at North Beach
December Celebrations & Recognitions
- Dec 7 - 15: Hanukkah
- Dec 10: Human Rights Day
- Dec 16 - 24: Las Posadas
- Dec 25: Christmas
- Dec 26 - Jan 1: Kwanza
Get Social!
Join the PTA on Instagram & FB
Community News & Events
The programs below are not endorsed by either North Beach PTA or SPS, and are posted for informational purposes only.
Giving the Gift of Sensory-Regulation: Supporting a Happy Holiday Season for All
The holidays can be a joyous but chaotic time for the whole family. Planning ahead to ensure your personal sensory needs are met, as well as those of your loved one with a disability, can make the difference between experiencing a beloved tradition and struggling to fulfill holiday obligations. In this article, we will share time-honored tips and innovative ideas for managing sensory needs throughout the holiday season from family members, professionals, and self-advocates.
Attention all Baseball, Softball, and Tee-Ball players!
Northwest Seattle Little League ("NWSLL") opened for registration on December 1st !
A variety of divisions for baseball and softball as well as numerous volunteer opportunities available. NWSLL liberally grants scholarship requests to families in need of assistance. Our goal is to help every kid play ball who wants to enjoy the game with friends!
NWSLL’s boundaries extend from Puget Sound to I-5 and from 85th Street to 145th Street.
And our home fields are at Soundview (next to Whitman), Crown Hill (off Holman Road), and North Acres (near Haller Lake).
Please visit http://nwsll.org/ to learn more and register online.
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.
NB PTA 2023/24 Executive Board
President - Beth Carman
Vice President - Shannon Yuen
Treasurer - Vanessa Petersen
Secretary - Jennifer Markovitz
North Beach Elementary
9018 24th Ave NW; Seattle, WA
NB PTA website
The North Beach Comber
Jennie Skidmore, Editor