![]() Mental health issues related to our lockdown and pandemic are difficult for everyone but especially hard for people with depression or who suffer from drug or alcohol abuse. According to an article by the American Medical Association, there has been an increase in drug overdoses during this period. The CDC reported that symptoms of anxiety disorder and depressive disorder increased considerably in the United States during April–June of 2020, compared with the same period in 2019. Below you will find articles with additional information and resources to help if you or someone you know are struggling. Article from HCP Live: Covid-10 Lockdown Having an Impact on Adolescent Mental Health
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): Covid-19 Information & Resources (including NAMI Crisis Helpline) Mental Health Coping Strategies during Coronavirus Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Article on Coping During Community Unrest 24/7 Online Chat & Phone Numbers Crisis Text Line Be #HealthyAtHome with Tips from the World Health Organization (WHO) Resources from Northshore School District including Mental Health Providers in both King & Snohomish counties. ![]() Threads & Treads provides Northshore families free, quality donated clothing for school age youth, teens, young adults and parents. Clothing items include: school-appropriate clothing for the school day and special events, sportswear, shoes, and accessories. All NSD families in need of clothing assistance are welcome to shop each month for 3 outfits and school event attire. They are open weekly each Wednesday afternoon from 3-6pm. Click here for shopping guidelines to accommodate social distancing protocols. Please consider helping to spread the word about this Northshore community resource via your PTA communication channels! Threads & Treads Needs Volunteers! They can only have adult volunteers at this time. Visit this link to sign-up today: https://cpptsa.org/ways-to-help/volunteer-sign-ups/
Threads & Treads Needs Donations!
Threads & Treads Donation Wishes:
If you have any questions or would like information to provide to your school, please feel free to contact Kelly Hennessey at [email protected]. Thank you for your help in supporting this vital community resource! THIS PROGRAM IS COORDINATED AND SUPPORTED BY CANYON PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL PTSA. The Washington State PTA Standards of Affiliation Agreement Checklist 2020-2021 is now available! This checklist is a tool to help your PTA keep up with its legal requirements, both as a non-profit and as a PTA. The requirements come from the IRS, the State of Washington, your insurance company, and WSPTA. What your PTA needs to do:
There have been a few updates this year to make the SOA even better, including an introduction page that has clear instructions, calls out what’s new to the checklists in 2020-21, and offers a number of resources to answer questions and give more detail on all requirements. This video from WSPTA offers a great overview of SOA and what it means for your PTA: In addition, WSPTA offers a number of tools to help support your PTA in completing the SOA checklist, including:
Remember that sharing the progress of your SOA with your members also lets others know about how your PTA operates and shows the work that goes on, often behind the scenes, to keep your PTA legal, safe and operating within the very best practices of our state. Questions? Council is here to help!
Get help buying groceries while schools are closed.
The Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is coming up on the deadline for families to apply for the Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) program. The deadline to apply is September 11th at 5PM. This program provides families whose children are eligible for free or reduced-priced meals a food benefit that allows them to buy groceries while schools are remote. It is estimated that King County has about 41,000 families that are eligible for this, but have yet to apply. Apply online at: www.WashingtonConnection.org or call 877–501–2233 (interpreter services available). To learn more about P-EBT, visit http://ow.ly/4VzB50B63or. Northshore Council is providing a new service for local PTAs/PTSAs: Online Meeting Hosting!
This can be used by any local PTA/PTSA that wants Council to host a Zoom meeting for them. Here is how it will work:
Join us for ‘Northshore PTAs Connect’ – an online roundtable discussion for PTA/PTSA leaders to ask questions, share ideas and connect with one another. Offered two times a month—once in the evening (7pm) and once at midday (noon)— this series of roundtable events is designed to support our local PTA/PTSA leaders as we navigate membership, programs and managing our organizations in an uncertain and ever-changing landscape. Each roundtable event will feature a focus topic, but it is an open discussion and there is always opportunity to ask questions and tackle emerging or ongoing areas of interest or concern.
You may choose to attend the topics or times that work best for you, or attend them all!
We hope to see you there!!! If you have questions or suggested topics you would like to see addressed in the discussion, please email Council PTSA President, Robin Zaback. *Topic was changed/updated as of 11/25/2020 to better meet the needs of our PTA Leaders & Community. ![]() Hello Northshore PTA Leaders! Have you heard? National PTA has declared that PTA is more than just an acronym for Parent Teacher Association. PTA is a verb! The definition of PTA is to support your child’s potential. As leaders, we have the opportunity to PTA and support not just our own children—but so many more. These are uncertain times, but I know one thing for sure: our Northshore PTAs are strong and flexible and are continuing to make a difference and support our students, families and schools in wonderful ways. PTA-ing is what we do. However, the reality is that right now, doing it is not often easy or straightforward or even familiar—which can be kind of an overwhelming, scary thing. I am here to remind you that you are not alone. Northshore Council PTSA is here to help and we have lots of resources for you, including:
We have an amazing Council team this year ready to empower you to continue doing amazing things for our students, our school communities and beyond. Let’s get out there and PTA!!! Robin Zaback President, Northshore Council PTSA 6.10 [email protected] All PTA/PTSAs must update their officer information in memberplanet, the membership database used by Washington State PTA (WSPTA). Updating officer information is a requirement for all PTAs per the WSPTA Standards of Affiliation. Doing so gives WSPTA and Northshore Council PTSA the means to contact a PTA/PTSA if a need arises as well as ensuring that all PTA/PTSA leaders are included in important WSPTA and Northshore Council communications.
Starting in July 2020, the way to communicate leader information in memberplanet is through its Committees Module. There are a number of resources to help local PTA leaders use and understand memberplanet. However, because the Committees Module feature is so new, the documentation and support is not yet very extensive. Due to the importance of updating officer information, Northshore Council PTSA has created a guide to help users navigate the process. Download the “Assigning and Updating PTA Leaders in memberplanet” guide to get started! For questions about the process or to share feedback about the guide, please email Robin Zaback. Resources:
![]() A board retreat can be a powerful way to kick-start your PTA's new year. If fact, it can be such a powerful tool that Washington State PTA considers having one to be a PTA best practice. A retreat is more than just a regular meeting-- it is an opportunity to:
![]() There are many things to consider when planning for your retreat. And planning a virtual retreat adds a few more items to that list.
![]() Great retreats also include a few key social elements that serve as ways to allow board members to connect, bond, and get to know each other-- all of which work to help build a more cohesive team:
The extended nature of a retreat means that a board can have time for conversations and discussions with more breadth and depth. Consider some of the following discussion areas and questions as you build your board retreat agenda:
Finally, remember that some of the most important work will happen after the retreat ends as ideas are put into action. Take time through the year to reflect and check-in with one another regarding discussions, action items, and progress toward goals. Resources:
Get help buying groceries while schools are closed.
The Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is coming up on the deadline for families to apply for the Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) program. The deadline is September 11th at 5:00 PM. This program provides families who’s children are eligible for free or reduced-priced meals a food benefit that allows them to buy groceries while schools are remote. Apply online at: www.WashingtonConnection.org or call 877–501–2233 (interpreter services available). Learn more about P-EBT by visiting http://ow.ly/4VzB50B63or. |
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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.