![]() In our area of the Pacific Northwest, many of us suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Often when the seasons change to fall and winter and the days get shorter and darker, we might feel sad and not ourselves. We may have trouble sleeping, overeating, and have low motivation. Not only is SAD common in people with depressive disorders, but also those with anxiety, panic, or eating disorders, and those with ADHD. SAD affects mostly women, and generally the onset is between ages 20-30 years of age. This means it may not affect our children as much as us caregivers. We need to take care of ourselves so that we can take care of our loved ones. While it is not fully known what causes SAD, research shows that low levels of the brain chemical serotonin plays a large role, as well as high levels of melatonin. Both of these help maintain daily body rhythms, along with sufficient levels of vitamin D. Traditional treatments include light therapy, vitamin D, talking to a therapist, and possibly some medications. Additionally, with the holidays approaching, even more of us may suffer the Holiday Blues. This time of year can bring more anxiety, depression, stress, loneliness, unrealistic expectations, and even memories of the past that can lead to sadness. It might be helpful to remember that the Holiday Blues are short term, however, the effects can still feel all-consuming and should be taken seriously. Here are a few ideas for Avoiding the Holiday Blues and SAD: Get plenty of sleep Keep routines Exercise, even a little Sit by a sunny window Keep things simple Eat a well-balanced diet Set reasonable expectations and boundaries Do things that make you happy Take time for yourself to recharge Don’t overschedule If these coping strategies do not help, consider talking to your doctor or your mental health professional. Check out these links for more information:
Tips for Managing the Holiday Blues | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness Seasonal Affective Disorder (nih.gov) Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) | Mental Health America (mhanational.org) This article was brought to you by Northshore Council's Mental Health Committee. Visit our Mental Health Awareness Resources page to learn more about this committee and the other resources they have provided. CONGRATULATIONS to all our local PTAs/PTSAs! As of Thursday, November 18th, as a combined group, Northshore PTAs had officially passed their membership total from last year! All the hard work on your membership campaigns this year is paying off. Here at Council, we are #PTAProud and so impressed by everything you have done!
Council's goal for our combined Northshore PTAs is to have 6,000 members this year. We encourage all of our local PTAs/PTSAs to continue to promote the value of membership. For tips and resources in doing so, visit our Membership page. Additionally, you can always reach out to Council's Co-Chairs of Membership, Hanisha Bakshani and Melissa Kline.
You are invited to join Council's next Emergency Preparedness (E-Prep) Chair meeting!
Anyone in PTA/PTSA is welcome to attend our meetings, and we encourage all local PTA/PTSA E-Prep chairs to attend as well as PTA/PTSA Presidents and/or Vice Presidents or delegates. In this meeting we share and obtain updates from the NSD Safety team and discuss opportunities where the PTA can provide support to our schools in the areas of emergency preparedness, safety, and security. Date: Tuesday, December 7th Time: 11:00 AM to Noon, Pacific Time (US and Canada) Zoom Link & Passcode: Available upon request If you would like the zoom link and passcode in order to attend this meeting, or have questions concerning Emergency Preparedness, please email Council's E-Prep Co-Chairs, Tracy Jokisch & Robin McKenzie. We look forward to seeing you! ![]() On Wednesday, November 17th we had the opportunity to hear a presentation from Kendra Read, Ph.D. titled "Identifying and Addressing Youth Anxiety". Anxiety is one of the most common mental health concerns youth face. While it is a normal emotional experience, it can grow to become incredibly distressing and interfering, particularly during a global pandemic. When anxiety is present, caregivers (parents, educators, family members) have an important role in helping youth identify anxiety and encouraging and reinforcing brave vs. anxious behavior. In the video below, Kendra Read, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and assistant professor in the UW School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, discusses how to identify, understand, and begin to intervene in cases of problematic anxiety. We want to thank Dr. Read for the informational and engaging presentation. If you missed it or want to listen again, we have made a recording of this presentation available, which can be viewed by clicking the image below. Please note, this recording does not include the live Q&A portion. BIO: Kendra Read, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist, the Director of the Mood & Anxiety Program and Director of Anxiety Programs at Seattle Children’s. She received her PhD in clinical psychology from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA under the mentorship of Philip Kendall, Ph.D., and completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Stanford University School of Medicine in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Department. Dr. Read specializes in the treatment of youth with anxiety disorders and OCD from a cognitive behavioral therapy perspective. Her research interests include understanding factors that contribute to treatment outcome, and the dissemination and implementation of CBT for anxiety disorders. This event is brought to you by the Northshore Council Mental Health Committee. For questions, please email [email protected] ![]() We're fresh out of Legislative Assembly and gearing up for Focus Week which will take place January 17 - 21, 2022! Let us know how we can support advocacy efforts at your school! Please complete Council's short Advocacy Efforts Survey to help us serve you better. Additionally, Council's Co-VPs of Advocacy, Diana Christiansen and Jennifer Drury, are happy to speak at one of your PTA's board or general meetings or talk with folks one-on-one about questions they have about getting involved in advocacy at all levels. Please reach out to us at [email protected]. Northshore Council PTSA wanted to take today's Membership Monday to post a message of thanks to YOU.
To our PTA leaders and committee members for all you do each day to support your PTA. To each PTA member across Northshore School District who gives our PTA a greater voice just by joining. ![]() You have promoted Reflections and shared your due date with your school community. Some of you may even be receiving artwork! So now what? Now it's time to submit artwork to Council! Deadline to submit is 9PM on Friday, December 3rd. Check out our Step-by-Step Guide to Submitting Your PTA's Reflections Entries to Council below. For questions or help with your submissions, please contact Jasmine Lee Fry at [email protected].
For more information about Reflections, including entry forms and rules, visit our Reflections page. ![]() Looking for a way to keep your membership campaign going strong? Consider running a membership giveaway! Giveaways for joining your PTA must have every member of your PTA registered by a set date included in the drawing to win. You can even make the drawing themed for the season. This time of year is perfect for a "Thanksgiving Giveaway" where the prize is a Thanksgiving meal in a bag: Turkey (or gift certificate to redeem one), box of stuffing, salad kit, and you can't forget the pie! Reach out to your local grocery store as they may even be willing to donate the items for the giveaway. Questions about running a membership drive campaign or giveaway? Contact Council's Membership Co-Chairs, Hanisha Bakshani & Melissa Kline. Northshore Council PTSA is hoping to hold online elections for the three (3) positions on its 2020-21 Nominating Committee on Monday, November 15, 2021 during our General Membership Meeting.
As of this date, we have NO candidates that have self-declared themselves for nomination. We will continue to seek nominations until Friday, November 12th in the hopes that we will have a slate to present at the Nov. 15th meeting. The Nominating Committee is a special committee that holds the key to a successful PTSA. It is responsible for presenting the best qualified candidates to serve as the elected officers who will lead Northshore Council PTSA in 2021-22. Qualification Requirements:
Information about Northshore Council PTSA online elections procedures is available in its Electronic Voting (E-Voting) Policy. Questions? Please contact Northshore Council PTSA President Jane Chiodo. 11/15 General Meeting Zoom Information Topic: Northshore Council PTSA General Meeting Time: Nov 15, 2021 06:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88145329623 Meeting ID: 881 4532 9623 Passcode: *Available upon request. One tap mobile +12532158782,,88145329623#,,,,*479874# US (Tacoma) +17207072699,,88145329623#,,,,*479874# US (Denver) Dial by your location +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 720 707 2699 US (Denver) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) Meeting ID: 881 4532 9623 Passcode: 479874 Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kcYfPTuLVH *A meeting password is required to join. It will be sent to local leaders via email. You can also request the password by emailing Council PTSA Communications VP, Rachel Fitzgerald. Join us for ‘Northshore PTAs Connect’ – an online roundtable discussion for PTA/PTSA leaders to ask questions, share ideas, and connect with one another.
Northshore PTAs Connect Roundtables are designed to support our local PTA/PTSA leaders as we navigate membership, programs, and managing our organizations in an uncertain and ever-changing landscape. This evening (7pm) roundtable will feature a focused discussion on the topic of DEI: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Local leaders will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn what DEI is and how it translates to work at the local PTA level. While the focus will be on DEI, Northshore PTAs Connect Roundtables are an open discussion and there is always opportunity to ask questions and tackle emerging or ongoing areas of interest or concern. Date: Thursday, November 18th Time: 7:00PM Location: Online via Zoom Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87946933213 Meeting ID: 879 4693 3213 Passcode: *Available upon request Questions? Contact Council's DEI Chair, Cherry Holmes. |
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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.