News from your North Beach PTA
March 6, 2020
Dates to Remember
- Sunday, March 8: Spring Forward! Daylight Savings Time at 2 a.m.
Wed, March 11: PTA Board Meeting, 6:30pm in the Library **NOTE DATE CHANGE**
March 13: 5th Grade fundraiser spaghetti dinner at the Blue Ridge Clubhouse, 6pm-9pm
Sat, March 14: 3-5 pm, Meet with School Board Director Liza Rankin, Seattle Public Library, Lake City Branch
- Sunday, March 29: North Beach at the Mariners’ game
A Note from Our Principal
Hello North Beach community,
I think we can all agree we are traveling through unchartered territory. This is a very stressful time, especially for our students. Please consider keeping them away from news reports, which can be very alarming. And if they are hearing things, take some time to sit and explain what is going on and remind them what is important –washing hands with soap and water frequently, coughing into a tissue or elbow, and avoiding touching eyes, nose, or mouth.
Every day we receive informational updates from the district. SPS is getting their information from King County Public Health. We are following their guidelines with regards to frequent hand-washing, sanitizing desks, sending kids home, as well as canceling any community events.
Keeping kids home: if your student has a fever and/or ongoing cough, please keep them home. Thank you to those who have already been doing this. If you have any doubt as to whether you should be sending your student, we recommend you err on the side of caution. You are more than welcome to call the office if you are undecided. We are happy to help in any way possible. 206-252-1510.
A big thank you to Ray, custodian extraordinaire, for keeping us supplied with paper towels and soap, for cleaning up messes, for unclogging toilets clogged by students, and for working endless hours to keep our building running smoothly. He has handled this crisis amazingly well. We’ve been receiving requests from parents who would like to help keep North Beach clean. This additional support is very much appreciated. Please contact your child’s teacher to find out what you can do in their classroom to help out.
Thank you for all of your help and support as we go through this together. If you have any questions, please reach out.
Kristine McLane, kemclane@seattleschools.org
Principal, North Beach Elementary
206-252-1510
From the Office
Writing checks to the school: if your last name is different than your students, please write your students first and last name in the memo area on the check. The depositing system requires a students name and with 400 students in this school, it is very helpful to know what check goes with what student. Thank you.
Daylight savings time: Sunday, March 8th at 2 a.m.
Thank you to those who have kept your sick little ones home. Every little bit helps.
Sarah & Carolyn
Counselor’s Corner
Like everyone else, I have Coronavirus on my mind this week. I have been meeting with a number of students who are worried or scared about the virus.
Please see the two attached resources to guide you in helping your children at this stressful time. The first is a comic the District already shared which is great for explaining the virus and, hopefully, reassuring kids. The second offers adults tips for helping kids through. The biggest takeaways are to help your kids keep this in perspective; give developmentally appropriate facts; turn off the news and filter the information you share with children; take reasonable measures to protect yourself and your family but stay calm and reassure your children. Kids take their clues from us. If we panic, they will too and have fewer tools for managing stress. If your child seems unusually anxious, I’d be happy to check in with them at school. E-mail me at arreid@seattleschools.org.
https://childmind.org/article/talking-to-kids-about-the-coronavirus/
PTA Volunteer Spotlight
We have a HUGE thank you for all the hard work the North Beach Staff and especially Mr. Ray have been doing in light of the Coronavirus Outbreak. Please know everyone at our school is working hard to keep our building clean and our students healthy.
PTA Survey Now Open!
As we start planning for next year’s PTA budget and calendar, we’d like your input on PTA priorities. This survey should take about 3 minutes to complete and will help us decide where to allocate financial resources as well as devote volunteer time.
Who Wants to Be a PTA Officer Next Year?
Feel free to nominate yourself or a loved one! The PTA provides important support to our school and community, and as a registered 501c3 nonprofit, we need officers to function. If you’d like to make a huge contribution to your child’s school, please consider volunteering to be an officer. You can submit nominations to the nominating committee (Karin LaBelle, Rachel McDaniel, and Rebecca Mongrain) at nominations@northbeachpta.org. If you’d like more information on a specific position, please reach out to the current officers: Suzanne Hurley at president@northbeachpta.org, Tara Nessan at vp@northbeachpta.org, Jessica Bjorklund at treasurer@northbeachpta.org, and Beth Carman at secretary@northbeachpta.org. Each position is a one-year term with the possibility of a second term. Elections will take place at our April 7th meeting.
Rescheduled PTA Board Meeting, Wednesday, March 11, 6:30pm, North Beach Library
The PTA meeting originally scheduled for March 18 will now be on March 11. Among other things, we will be discussing what financial contributions the PTA will be making for school staffing next year. Once again we will not be receiving a district-funded counselor so if the school is to have one, the PTA will have to pay for one. All are welcome to attend.
We only need 5 more volunteers to work at our partner school auctions!
Our auction was a huge success and we could not have done it without the volunteers from partner schools who were working nonstop behind the scenes. We want to return the favor and help them at their auction events coming up later this month.
We need 4 volunteers for the John Rogers Elementary auction, which will be held on Friday, 3/27 from 5-10pm at the Mountaineers Program Center in Magnuson Park.
We need 1 volunteer for the Shorewood High School auction, which will be held on Saturday, 3/21 from 4:30-9:30pm at Shorewood High School.
By signing up to staff another school's auction, you are keeping this volunteer partnership alive! No experience required! The evenings are fun and community building (go with a friend!) and a great way to support North Beach and other local schools.
Sign up on Konstella!
https://www.konstella.com/app/school/59bc8f8ce4b0996f734081bb/signups/5e2df795e4b0fd79e3300819
Community Meeting with School Board Director Liza Rankin, Saturday, March 14, 3-5pm, at Lake City Branch, Seattle Public Library
Liza Rankin, our district director, will be holding a a community meeting in two weeks. This could be a good opportunity to ask her any questions you might have about SPS, such as why North Beach isn’t getting a district-provided counselor, what’s happening with HCC, and other issues important to you!
Join North Beach families in a wonderful spring tradition--watching the Mariners play ball!
Join North Beach families in a wonderful spring tradition--watching the Mariners play ball! We have group view tickets available for the Seattle Mariners vs. Minnesota Twins game on Sunday, March 29, at 1:10 pm. Tickets are $11 (plus fee if using Konstella). Forms will also be sent home in KidMail if you'd like to pay by check. Order deadline is Friday, March 13th!
If you'd like to sit with another family, please order your tickets together. Tickets are available on a first come, first serve basis, depending upon availability.
Questions? Please email Raj Mathew at rajeshgm@outlook.com
Looking forward to seeing you there, and Go Mariners!! #TrueToTheBlue
Mixed Race Seattle Conference – March 28, 2020
Join Seattle JACL for the Mixed Race Seattle conference, a day of storytelling, art, and creative expression meant to grow community among multiracial teens, young adults, and their families. This event is free and open for all to attend. Mixed race youth are among the fastest-growing population in the United States. Event details: Morning activities include an opening welcome address, a workshop for parents of Mixed kids, and a youth-led workshop for teens and college-age students. The afternoon will feature a panel discussion of Mixed Race young adults. The day will conclude with a panel discussion of multiracial and multicultural artists, and performances will be offered throughout the day.
Join Seattle Special Education PTSA!
If you have been considering joining the Seattle Special Education PTSA, now is the time! As in, by the end of the day tomorrow. WPTA has a little contest going through this first half of February and if our PTA meets the goal of 8 new members by TOMORROW, we get a prize (a small prize, but a prize nonetheless). So, if you have been meaning to join, please hop on over to our website and do it now. www.seattlespecialeducationptsa.org Our next general meeting is on March 10th from 7-9pm, we in the process of accepting nominations for new Executive Board Members for next year, we have a spring survery in the works, and our FACE team is working on a plan for a fun social event for all families to close out the year. It has been a big year, and the current board is looking forward to planning for even bigger things next school year. Join us!
March 13th Blue Ridge Clubhouse spaghetti dinner social 6pm-9pm
March 13th Blue Ridge Clubhouse spaghetti dinner social 6pm-9pm (open house style). Come enjoy a fun social with friends and school community while helping us raise money for camp!
- $45 per FAMILY (1-6ppl) includes all pastas (veg options available), sides, salads, dessert, WINE and n/a beverages. Music, casual fun times, 5th graders bussing your table! and support for our upcoming camp fund - it's a great deal. All North Beach families are welcome (not just 5th grade:) Register via Jen Osborn:
- PayPal: jenosborn0@gmail.com (please indicate estimated guests, ok if it changes:)
- Venmo: @Jen-Osborn (please indicate estimated guests, ok if it changes:)
- Check: To: (either) Jen Osborn or "NB PTA" [memo line: 5th grade camp fund] place in Manila envelope in office PTA box labeled "5th Grade Camp Fundraiser" (please note in memo line this is for the March 13th event)
5th Grade Car Wash Fundraiser
Brown Bear Car Wash tickets ($10/ea) to support fundraising for 5th grade camp are still available! Contact Jen Osborn for info or tickets which can be delivered via kidmail: jenosborn0@gmail.com.
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. Do not exit your car in this line. Your child needs to be able to get out of the car on their own accord.
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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Digital Safety 101
Tuesday, April 21, 2020
Topic: Digital Safety 101
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Phinney Neighborhood Association: 6615 Dayton Avenue North
For parents in the digital age, one of the most ever-present concerns is safety. While the Internet could be a great resource for finding information, it’s important for parents to also be aware of the potential dangers.
Join PNW Parent Education to learn how to balance your child/ren's digital lives with boundaries, etiquette and good judgment! Jo Langford, a dad, Master’s-level therapist, and sex educator for tweens, teens, and parents, will discuss the following in this important talk on digital safety:
· An overview of kids’ behavior in a digital age — the risks and benefits of online life.
· A breakdown of over a dozen of the most popular social networking sites you need to know about and at least 3 sites you wish you hadn't! The good, the bad and, the ugly will be explained.
· A primer on “The 3 big bads -- sexting, cyberbullying and porn”.
There’s also plenty of time to answer your specific questions. We will start with a social half hour at 6:30 pm with drinks available for purchase. The presentation will begin promptly at 7:00 pm.
All of our events have been sold out so be sure to register today if you’d like to attend: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/digital-safety-101-tickets-91384671011?aff=efbeventtix&fbclid=IwAR29tjohM1fdoiFCd0UcqHC_T0kUnG0Maqnc1x7-aY23wzB_EYzilGhu7Wo.
About Jo Langford:
For the last 20 years, Jo Langford has worked in the intersection of adolescence, technology and sexuality. He speaks internationally using information, education and humor to help parents and professionals increase their knowledge and self-confidence as a proactive defense against the unfortunate consequences that sometimes accompany teen sexuality, screen behavior and development. Jo provides training for organizations and agencies as well as therapy to adolescents and families around a gambit of sexuality themes - with an emphasis on LGBTQ issues, Internet safety, digital citizenship and comprehensive sex education.
He is the author of the “Spare Me ‘The Talk’" series - guides to sex relationships and growing up for modern teens and their parents. His latest book, “The Pride Guide”, is an encompassing guide to sexual and social and development, safety and health for queer youth and their families. This book is the first puberty book written with queer (and specifically trans) youth in mind.
Ballard High School Playmakers break out their legwarmers for Xanadu
The Ballard High School Playmakers will stage the comedy musical Xanadu, which famously starred Olivia Newton-John in movie theatres back in 1980.
It’s 1980 in Venice Beach, Calif., and chalk-artist Sonny is frustrated by the mural he created of the Greek muses. From Mount Olympus, a muse named Kira dispatches to Los Angeles disguised as a human to encourage him in his art. There’s one caveat: a muse must not fall in love with a mortal.
Together Kira and Sonny dream of opening a roller disco named Xanadu, as Kira’s evil muse sisters work to curse the deal and banish Kira for good.
With its campy script and pop-music hits, Xanadu is a joyous love story against the backdrop of the disco music scene. The score features the classic Electric Light Orchestra songs “Strange Magic” and “Evil Woman,” plus “Magic,” “Suddenly,” and “Have You Never Been Mellow,” which Olivia Newton-John made famous.
The play features 30 BHS students and is directed by Theatre Director Shawn M. Riley.
Performance Details
Xanadu will be performed on March 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, and 28 at the Earl Kelly Center for Performing Arts at Ballard High School, 1418 NW 65th Street, Seattle, WA, 98117; 7:30 p.m. curtain time with one 15-minute intermission.
Tickets
Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students/seniors. Reserved seating tickets can be purchased at https://showtix4u.com.
Here is the full press release (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GsMUeWeD-kFXTHpmst8T6fgxX6btpgs9FoqfldMqflc/edit?usp=sharing) and the poster is attached. If you'd like more details or differently sized graphics, please contact me at 206-465-9532, rhenda@rhendameiser.com.
Julia Robinson Math Festival
The festival is open to 4th graders – 10th graders, with a cost of $15 per student (scholarships are available). Registration is available at https://mathforlove.com/events-festivals/
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
Summer Fun!
There are still spots open at Summer Fun!
A performing and visual arts integrated day camp for ages 7-12
Cascadia Elementary in North Seattle July 6th - 24th
For more information and registration visit: http://summerfunseattle.org/
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
Join North Beach families in a wonderful spring tradition--watching the Mariners play ball!
We have group view tickets available for the Seattle Mariners vs. Minnesota Twins game on Sunday, March 29, at 1:10 pm. Tickets are $11 (plus fee if using Konstella). Forms will also be sent home in KidMail if you'd like to pay by check. Order deadline is Friday, March 13th!
If you'd like to sit with another family, please order your tickets together. Tickets are available on a first come, first serve basis, depending upon availability.
Questions? Please email Raj Mathew at rajeshgm@outlook.com
Looking forward to seeing you there, and Go Mariners!! #TrueToTheBlue