![]() Awards are a great way for PTAs to show their community how much they appreciate them and to celebrate the dedication of those who support your PTA's mission and goals! Many PTA's do this through WSPTA's formal volunteer award recognition program which allows for local PTAs to award for outstanding educator, advocate, student advocate, and volunteer (Golden Acorn), as well as the honorary life membership award. A portion of the cost of the awards goes directly toward the WSPTA Scholarship Program benefiting students. This means the gift given to our amazing volunteers becomes a gift that keeps on giving by helping students pay for continued education. Council is excited to share in the celebration of our local |
PTA |
Award / Recipient |
Canyon Park Middle School PTSA |
Golden Acorn: Tina Neil Outstanding Advocate: Patricia Herrera Outstanding Educator: Malisa Spencer |
Fernwood Elementary PTSA |
Golden Acorn : Aleah Dometita Outstanding Educator: Alison Fada |
Frank Love Elementary PTA |
Golden Acorn: Renae Sowald Outstanding Advocate: Katie Long Outstanding Educator: Amanda Sympson Outstanding Educator: Rebecca Wynkoop |
Innovation Lab High School PTSA |
Golden Acorn- Heather Bloom Outstanding Educator- Dr. Ashley Crisp Student Advocate- Victoria Tchervenski |
Kenmore Elementary PTA |
Golden Acorn: Maria Cone Golden Acorn: Patti Foster Outstanding Educator: Dana Plant |
Kenmore Middle School PTSA |
Golden Acorn: Jessica Read Outstanding Educator: TBA Outstanding Advocate: Christine Roehnelt |
Kokanee Elementary PTA |
Golden Acorn: Fatima Padela Golden Acorn: Ramesh Chundru |
Leota Middle School PTSA |
Golden Acorn: Dawn Simpson Outstanding Educator: Gary Warmbrodt Outstanding Educator: Douglas Poage Outstanding Advocate: Tony Van Zeyl Outstanding Student Advocate: Julien Wong |
Lockwood Elementary PTA |
Golden Acorn Award: Izabela Michnicki Outstanding Advocate Award: Sean Schoenfeldt Outstanding Educator Award: Bryce Wallace |
Maywood Elementary PTA |
Golden Acorn: Julia Cole Golden Acorn: Mary Irving Outstanding Advocate: Nicole Dibble Outstanding Educators: Lisa Vorwerk Outstanding Educators: Jeremy Lainer |
North Creek High School PTSA |
Golden Acorn: Karen Cohen Golden Acorn: Melissa Kline Outstanding Advocate: Saskia Mizushima Outstanding Educator: Christine Serica Outstanding Student Advocate: Jayden Lock |
Northshore Family Partnership PTSA at Bear Creek Campus |
Golden Acorn: Alynda Silcox Golden Acorn: Suzie Madsen-Kostopoulos Outstanding Advocate: Lauren Galloway Marantz Outstanding Advocate: Leslie Connor Outstanding Educator: Leslie Harwood Outstanding Educator: Todd Parker |
Shelton View Elementary PTA |
Golden Acorn: Lisa Groce Golden Acorn: Faustine Wiley Golden Acorn: Cheryl Whaley |
Sunrise Elementary PTA |
Golden Acorn: Shannyn Houtrouw Golden Apple: Sheri Padget |
Timbercrest Middle School PTSA |
Golden Acorn: Terri Kashi Outstanding Educator: Johnny Ho Outstanding Educator: Nikolas Gregg Outstanding Student Advocate: Ben Comer |
Wellington Elementary PTA |
Goden Acorn: Maryam Zarrabi - Worrell Outstanding Advocate: Diana Cherry Outstanding Educator: Jennifer Deskin Lifetime Award: Emily Williams Wellington Way Parent: Carol Bates Wellington Way Student: Ryan Bower |
Westhill Elementary PTSA |
Golden Acorn: Ericka Coleman Outstanding Educator: Noelle White Outstanding Educator: Sandra Lamb |
Woodin Elementary PTA |
Golden Acorn: Lorena Espinoza Outstanding Advocate: Theresa Cussac Outstanding Educator: Kirsten Jackson |
Woodinville High School PTSA |
Golden Acorn: Debi Niemi Golden Acorn: Lynn Smith |
Woodmoor Elementary PTSA |
Golden Acorn: Jill Benoit Golden Acorn: Jennifer Homes Golden Acorn: Amy Robinson Outstanding Educator: Ann Delano Outstanding Educator: Nycole Swearingen Outstanding Educator: Evelyn Romero Perez Outstanding Advocate: Kim Skrla Honorary Lifetime Membership: Sandy Hayes |
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:
- Family Events
- Classroom Grants
- Advocacy Efforts
- Funding for Field Trips
- Staff Appreciation
- Parent Education Events
- And so much more!!
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.
Myth: Volunteering for PTA has no impact on my child's school experience.
Fact: Not only does volunteering for PTA connect you with other parents and teachers at your school, it also shows your child that you are interested and invested in their educational experience. Research has proven that parental involvement within the child's school increases academic achievements and decreases behavior issues. Additionally, volunteers are the ones who make PTA programming and support possible in order to better each and every child's school experience! |
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!
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.
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.
Myth: I don't have the experience to be a PTA Volunteer.
Fact: There is no experience necessary to volunteer! In fact, there are supports for new and returning PTA volunteers such as training classes, resource guides, online toolkits, and ways to connect with other PTA volunteers to ask questions and get help (such as Council's Facebook groups, office hours, and website). |
Open Elected Positions Open Appointed Positions
- Membership - filled
- Mental Health
- Reflections - filled
- Emergency Preparedness (EPrep) - seeking a co-chair
PTA is a membership-driven association. Sustaining and growing membership builds PTA's power as advocates and change makers not only in your own school community, but also at district, state, and national levels. WSPTA recognizes PTAs for their work growing membership as well as for achievements in membership. |
WSPTA Membership Awards in 2022-2023!!
Membership Achievement Awards
100% PTA Membership Award The 100% PTA Membership Award is presented to local PTAs that enroll at least as many members as there are full-time enrolled students at the school associated with that PTA. This is the ultimate achievement in PTA membership and recognizes that every child in the school community has a paid PTA member to be their voice.
| 100% Staff Membership Award The 100% Staff Membership Award is presented to local PTAs that enroll at least as many school staff members as there are full-time certificated employees at the school. This award recognizes the value of teachers and school staff as stakeholders advocating for all children through PTA.
|
To highlight the importance of membership growth, Washington State PTA recognizes local PTAs for enrolling more members than they did in the previous year. As PTAs achieve incremental increases in membership growth, they are recognized for each milestone they reach.
- Bronze Award: recognizes local PTAs, in good standing, for enrolling at least one more member than their previous year’s total membership.
- Silver Award: recognizes local PTAs, in good standing, for enrolling PTA members equaling at least 105% of their previous year’s total membership.
- Gold Award: recognizes local PTAs, in good standing, for enrolling PTA members equaling at least 110% of their previous year’s total membership.
- Platinum Award: recognizes local PTAs, in good standing, for enrolling PTA members equaling at least 120% of their previous year’s total membership.
Questions? Contact Council's Membership Chair, Kim Ortiz.
Visit Northshore Council Membership Page
Awards work to celebrate the efforts of local PTAs and Councils in a variety of different areas. The criteria reflect a strong knowledge and application of best practices and the submission process can be rigorous. These awards are truly reflective of the dedication and strength of these PTAs and the powerful contributions they make to their communities.
This year's recipients included:
2022 - 2023 WSPTA Awards Recipients
Standards of Excellence for PTAs & Councils
Recognizing the effective use of WSPTA best practices as a guide for local PTAs and Councils to be child-focused, responsible to members, knowledgeable, fiscally responsible, involved, and well-trained.
Leadership Service Award
The purpose of this program is to recognize and acknowledge leadership skills attained by PTA leaders throughout all levels of the association
|
Outstanding Communication Strategy
Recognizing the effective use of multiple communication channels to reach members and community.
Outstanding Newsletter Recognizing the effective use of newsletters as a communication tool.
Outstanding Website Recognizing the effective use of websites as a communication tool
|
We welcomed NSD’s Director of Food Services Juliana Fisher as our guest speaker. Ms. Fisher shared with us that about 2500 NSD students qualify for Free and Reduced rate breakfasts and lunches, but unfortunately only a fraction of them are currently enrolled in the program. As a result, Food Services is partnering with schools to make sure that all families are aware of the benefits and services to their students, and to encourage them to sign up if they qualify for the program. Ms. Fisher also shared with us that Food Services has faced some recent challenges due to the COVID pandemic and the impact that it had on providing meals at all schools. The main challenges have been a decrease in staffing, as well as supply chain issues. These issues have impacted the capacity for menu varieties, scratch cooking, cultural access, increasing vegetarian/vegan options, and cultural/linguistic/emotional access. Recently, Food Services created and implemented a picture food menu for our schools, which has been a hit with some of our students! Thank you, Ms. Fisher, for joining us and sharing with us how NSD Food Services continues to feed our students in our schools!
Council Business:
Council Treasurer Serena Xu presented the February Financial Report for review and approval, as well as the proposed Council budget for the 2023-2024 school year. Many thanks to the Council Budget committee (Mary Khouzam, Rachel Fitzgerald, Serena Xu, Brenae Brix, and Melissa Kline) for all of your hard work in helping create and proposing the new Council budget! Serena also shared with us that the Standard of Affiliation (SOA) is complete, and all elected Council officers have completed all of their required training, including PTA and the Law. Speaking of the SOA, Council Board member Diana Christiansen shared that 6 NSD schools participated in our SOA Raffle Drawing. The participating schools were Lockwood Elementary, Innovation Lab High School, Woodin Elementary, Frank Love Elementary, Cottage Lake Elementary, and Canyon Creek Elementary. The winner of the SOA Raffle Drawing is Lockwood Elementary! Congratulations, Lockwood!
Council Nominating Committee member Cherry Holmes presented nominees for Council Executive Officers, and a vote was taken to approve the nominations. Our new Council Executive Board for the 2023-2024 school year are as follows:
President - Rachel Fitzgerald
Vice President - Grace Jurado
Treasurer - Brenae Brix
Co-VP of Advocacy - Holly Muenchow
Co-VP of Advocacy - Terra Droney
VP of Communications - Jennifer Snyder
VP of Elementary Support - Diana Christiansen
VP of Secondary Support - Jennifer Drury
Congratulations, new Executive Board members!
We currently have two Executive Board positions that we need to fill. Those positions are Secretary and VP of Events. If you like keeping accurate records and creating meeting minutes and newsletters, or if you love throwing parties or events, please consider throwing your name in the hat for one of these roles. Council will continue to seek volunteers for the OPEN positions of Secretary and VP of Events with the goal of holding an election at our General Membership Meeting on May 15, 2023.
Advocacy Chair Jen Drury gave thanks to all of those involved in advocating for the best superintendent candidates, and thanks, also, to all of those who spent time during this last Washington State Legislative Session advocating for the Special Education bill, which passed in the Senate. Thank you, advocates! Half a dozen of advocates, including parents, spent much time in Zoom meetings with our legislators, and 2 dozen NSD parents, students, Superintendent Tolley, NSD school staff, and school board members traveled to Olympia on February 20th to meet with our state legislators and shared their voices in advocating for things that impact our students and our schools. Thank you for all of your advocacy!
On behalf of the Grant Committee Chair (Grace Jurado, who as unable to join us), Mary Khouzam shared that another round for grant application submissions was open until March 24th, and the Council Awards Nominations form will be available soon.
Reflections Chair Jasmine Fry shared that online showcasing is now available on Council’s website, and several NSD students did well! Carissa P. from Leota Middle School is advancing to National Reflections for Videography. Congratulations, Carissa!
After several other committee updates, including info for an upcoming Mental Health Fair on May 23rd at Skyview Middle School, and a reminder that the Washington State PTA Convention will be held in May at the Bellevue Hilton, Co-Chair President, Mary Khouzam, brought our meeting to a close by reminding us that planning for Council’s Spring Recognition Even is underway, and details will be shared shortly. To help determine the time of day that works best for attendance, Mary shared a link to a poll asking us if a morning event time or an afternoon event time works best for each of us.
Thank you to everyone who took time to join us!
Share this page or the link above and ask your incoming board to complete the form.
Now is the perfect time to start the process of preparing for your transition to your 2023-2024 PTA Leaders. One key step to that process is connecting your incoming board with Council and having everyone on the incoming board update their contact information with Council.
Council gathers this information in order to support all Northshore Local PTA/PTSA Leaders. Contact information is used to connect with leaders including receiving our twice a month eNews, sending invites to Council events, relaying important and timely information about program specific areas (such as Advocacy or Reflections), and more!
![Picture](/uploads/1/1/8/1/11811744/editor/update-officers-2023-2024-1.png?1684520261)
- Council 2023-2024 Contact Form
For local Northshore PTA leaders including executive committee (aka: elected positions), board members, committee chairs, etc.) - Council Email Contact List
- Northshore Council webpage
- Northshore Council Facebook page
- Northshore Council Instagram
- Northshore Council Twitter
Facebook Groups for local Northshore PTA Leaders:
- Northshore Council PTSA Presidents (Current and Incoming 2023-2024 Presidents Only & Council)
- Northshore Council PTSA Membership Chairs
- Northshore Council PTSA Advocacy Community
- Northshore Council PTSA EPREP Chairs
- Northshore Council PTSA Reflections and Art Docent Chairs
- Northshore Council PTSA Special Education Representatives
- Northshore Council PTSA F.A.C.E. & DEI Chairs
- Northshore Council PTSA Treasurers
- Schedule ahead so that people know when it is going to be. Prioritize having the whole team there.
- Make it fun. A game? A picnic? Whatever seems fun to your board and would help you get to know each other! There are a ton of team-building activities like 2 Truths and a Lie that can help you all get to know each other a little better.
- Give out some homework. To save time, ask everyone to read or fill out a few documents in advance. Examples might include:
- Contact information (including preferences),
- Your PTA's Standing Rules,
- Your Budget,
- Code of Conduct*,
- Your PTA Money Handling Policy*, and
- Social Media Policy*.
- Create an agenda. Although you don’t have to take minutes at a Retreat (since you are not voting on anything.), it’s good to have a schedule and try to stick to it.
![Picture](/uploads/1/1/8/1/11811744/editor/summer-retreat.png?1684481235)
Create your calendar as best you can. Get down your meetings and some of your bigger events.
Review the Budget and Standing Rules.
Discuss your team’s communication norms and individual expectations.
Brainstorm new ideas for Membership, Advocacy, Diversity, and Engagement.
There are more resources available. Check out PTA Year-End Board Transition: Nuts and Bolts and Summer Board Retreat - Northshore Council PTSA 6.10 for previous year’s ideas from Council.
Communication Methods You Might Discuss
Update Memberplanet
Assign Incoming 2023-2024 Executive Board/Officers. We use Memberplanet’s COMMITTEES menu to handle board/officer reporting, a WSPTA Standards of Affiliation requirement. If you haven’t already, please input your 2023-24 officers. You may access a full guide to reporting your officers by accessing the membership database. If you have any questions about this process, please don’t hesitate to reach out to [email protected]. More Tips on Using Memberplanet End of Year Financial Review
If you still need a committee, don’t worry! The PTA President just needs to appoint 3 or more members of your PTA who were non-signers on your bank account for the period being reviewed. WSPTA have a financial review checklist to guide them. Download Checklist & Forms *Check WSPTA Leadership Newsletter for username and password. |
Beware of TextTexting is a great resource when someone forgot the ice on the way to the back to school fair. Texting is not a great place to:
This may seem obvious, but it’s easy to fall into texting especially as you and your PTA team members become good friends. It’s best to keep business communications and your friendship communication separate. 10 Digital Miscommunications — and How to Avoid Them (hbr.org) |
“Help. College? I’m a parent of a high schooler.
What do I need to know to help them?” If this is you, please join us for the presentation and get your questions answered. |
Immediately following the presentation, we will conduct our regular PTA business including holding an election for VP of Events.
Zoom Meeting Information:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83070692283? Meeting ID: 830 7069 2283 Passcode: *Available Upon Request* |
Northshore School District Staff Appreciation Week is May 8th to May 12th.
The video below is filled with messages from PTA Leaders, Volunteers, and Families.
Link to share Canva video. No sign in required: https://bit.ly/41mjemk (4:30)
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