WSPTA Membership Contest:
Theme, Goal, and Online Join Link Share your 2023-2024 membership theme, goals, and online join link with us by October 31 and be featured in the PTA Spotlight in the Membership Made Easy Newsletter. Submit here. We have reached 3,111 PTA members from across Northshore PTA/PTSAs as of Sept 29, 2023!
Keep up the great work on your membership campaigns and continue to add members into memberplanet.
On September 18, 2023, Northshore Council PTSA held a virtual General Membership Meeting. We would like to say thank you to all of the local leaders from across the Northshore School District, as well as community and school partners for taking the time to join us! Continue reading below for a recap of the meeting. We had our first general meeting on September 18, 2023. It started out with a land acknowledgement and general information on how to find out more about this important topic.
Council Business We reviewed the purpose of Council and the benefits of contacting Council for help. Some of the advantages of Council is that we can help answer questions you may have in your local PTSA, communicate training, resolve conflict, or help you find answers on the Washington State PTA website. As a reminder, Council will not ask to review your books or report you to any agency - we are not the PTA Police. We are here to support our local PTA leaders. View the PTA Leaders Resource Chart that was shared with members at the meeting. We had an open board position and Christine Roehnelt was elected Secretary for the 2023-2024 year. Installation of all Council members was made by WSPTA Finance Officer Liz Nord. 2022-2023 Council Co-President Mary Khouzam was recognized for all of her work last year. During the meeting two breakout rooms were created. Membership Co-Chair Allison Torgesen presented and answered questions about memberplanet in one room while Brittany Hernandez, AIM representative, provided an overview of what you should know about your PTA insurance and answered questions in the second room. The proposed budget for 2023-2024 was presented and approved by the members at the meeting. Committee Updates
The President ended the meeting with a review of the upcoming events. All of the events dates and times are listed on the Northshore Council’s Calendar. We hope to see you at our next General Meeting on November 14th at 7 pm. "Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much." - Helen Keller In May 2023, over a dozen Northshore parents and community members voted to form a new organization and to apply for PTA affiliation. Washington State PTA has approved their application and the Steering Committee is working over the summer to get the organizational needs in place and ready for their Charter Meeting. The new, district-wide organization will be known as the Northshore Special Education Community PTSA, or NSEC PTSA. Their purpose is to enrich the lives of students with disabilities in NSD by providing Special Education focused resources and supports for our community, including students, families, teachers, and specialists. Be a Charter Member! The opportunity to join the NSEC PTSA as a Charter Member opened on August 10th, 2023, and will close on September 21st, the date of their Charter Meeting. They need a minimum of 25 Charter Members to create the new PTSA. Join as a charter member today! Save the Date: NSEC PTSA Charter Meeting will be held on September 21, 2023 at 7pm, when they will vote in the first leadership team. Questions? Want to know how to get involved? Watch for upcoming posts on Facebook or email [email protected]. In preparation of your Fall membership drives, verify your online join link clear, and easy to find on the front page of your website. An online join link is a valuable tool for PTAs to use to help people easily become members of their local PTA. BONUS: Council is also helping with easy access by including all of your online join links on our website here! Please take a few minutes to check the links for your school. Need to update a link? Email [email protected]. Have a question about membership? Contact Council's Membership Co-chairs, Kimberly Ortiz & Allison Torgesen at [email protected]. Open To All PTA Leaders From Preschool Through High School! Connect | Ask Questions | Share Ideas Come meet your Council VPs of Support. Ask questions, meet other local PTA leaders, share ideas, and more. Bring a friend or make a new one! Contact Information: VP Elementary Support: Diana Christiansen VP Secondary Support: Jennifer Drury Click flyer to download.
How Changes Affect Local PTAs
Fees: Beginning September 1, 2023, local PTAs reserving Northshore School District facilities will need to pay a $35 administrative fee for each different type of reservation. This means one fee for meetings (they will add dates to the same original reservation throughout the year). The enrichment classes will pay $35 per type of class reservation. One fee for Chess, one for STEAM, one for Spanish, etc. Once this reservation is created for the school year, they will add on additional dates if Chess is offered in the Fall, Spring, etc.
Use Agreement and Insurance Updates
From Northshore School District Support Services: Fees for Northshore School District facility and field rentals will increase beginning on September 1. It is worth noting that these fees have remained unchanged since 2009, but after careful consideration, district budget review, and a comparative analysis including other school districts, the Northshore School Board has recently approved the rate increase. We appreciate your understanding as we navigate this adjustment. The approved changes include:
We understand that change can sometimes be challenging, but we are committed to providing you with the best possible facilities and services. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the appropriate district representatives, whose contact information can also be found on the website. Thank you for your continued support of our students and schools, and we look forward to serving you and the community during the 2023-24 school year. More information can be found at: Northshore School Districts Facilities Rental Information page.
Please take a few minutes to check the links for your school. Need to update a link? Email [email protected].
During the Spring Recognition Brunch on June 6, 2023, Northshore Council PTSA recognized a few special people who go above and beyond in service to our community and promotes the well-being and education of children in our district and beyond. Below is this year's Northshore Council PTSA Recognition Awards Recipients.
A special thank you to this year's Awards Committee members, Grace Juardo and Melissa Kline. Learn more about PTA Recogntion Awards and how your PTA can recognize those who go above and beyond in your school community. You are welcome to attend one or both sessions!
Office Hours are the perfect time to connect with Council, ask questions, or even just stop in to say hello! This time is designed to support our local PTA/PTSA leaders as you begin to navigate membership, programs, and managing your organization for the upcoming year. We hope you will join us!
If you have questions and need to connect with Council prior to this, please visit our Contact Page for a list Council Officers and their emails. PTAs Need YOU! PTAs all across Northshore School District are in need of volunteers. Volunteers for your school's PTA/PTSA are the ones responsible for all the amazing things PTAs accomplish throughout the year including things like:
Currently, NSD PTAs are in the process of electing officers for next school year. Without elected officers, PTAs are not able to fund programs and are even at risk of closing. Contact your school's PTA/PTSA to find out how you can help & encourage others to do the same! No experience necessary to become a volunteer. In fact, Northshore Council PTSA & WA State PTA provide support and training for PTA leaders all throughout the year. Click on images to download and share on your PTA's social media or newsletter.
Myth: Volunteering for PTA is only for stay-at-home moms. Fact: Anyone can be a PTA Volunteer! A parent with a full time job who is only available in the evenings or weekends, a grandpa who wants to stay active during retirement, an auntie who wants to teach a fun hip-hop class after school, a neighbor from down the street who wants to give back to their community - all of these people and so many more make great volunteers! Myth: PTAs only need volunteers in elementary school. Fact: PTAs in our Middle Schools & High Schools need volunteers as well, but it may look a bit different than it did in elementary. Many of the volunteers at the secondary level are "behind the scenes" helping to coordinate teacher grants, planning end of the year grad celebrations, or working with the ASB to increase resources. And, of course, all levels of PTAs need volunteers to fill the role of their executive board which includes positions such as President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Myth: The same people volunteer every year; I'm not needed. Fact: While it's great to have dedicated volunteers return each year, PTAs welcome and need new volunteers each year! There are term limits for elected volunteers, events that are growing in attendance, and new program ideas being suggested - all of which benefit from an increase in new volunteers.
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Northshore Council PTSA is a welcoming organization that works to support our Local PTAs and serve the children and youth of our community through advocacy, collaboration, education, engagement, leadership, and mentorship.