News, events and announcements for PTA Leaders in the Seattle School District 

Dear PTA Presidents and Education Leaders,

Thank you to all who were able to attend the Principals Breakfast. I was excited to meet you in person and share with you my vision for National PTA School of Excellence and the PTA's National Standards for Family-School Partnerships.

For those of you who were not able to make it, the National PTA School of Excellence is a recognition program that supports and celebrates partnerships between PTAs and schools to enrich educational experience and help  families feel welcomed and empowered to support student success.

As you learn more about the program, I would like to ask, how will you welcome more families and communicate more effectively? How will you seek to understand and value the many perspectives at your school?  How will you take action to support student success and school improvements?  How will you strive for excellence by sharing power?

When you shift to this approach, you'll find you attract more families, more educators, and more community advocates to our cause of providing a  voice for every child. This commitment to excellence is what keeps PTA in its position as the most powerful voice in education and children's issues in our schools, our district, our state and across the country. 

I urge each PTA group in Seattle to enroll in the School of Excellence by September 30! It is free and easy to join, and you will receive a tool kit and information to guide you through the implementation process. 
Sincerely,
Sebrena Burr, SCPTSA President 
PTA News

PTA and the Law Training - August 22 & 23
This is an annual required training for at least one elected board member of every PTA in Washington State. It provides a great overview of federal and state non-profit law and requirements for every board members or those who are involved in other non-profit work.
There will be three PTA and the Law Trainings near Region 6, the  Region 6 Fall Conference in North Seattle on August 22 and trainings in both Redmond and Everett on August 23. 
August 22 at Region 6 Conference in North Seattle

Reflections Art Program: Now is the Time to Get Started!
The theme for this year's Reflections is: "What is Your Story?" Here's what you should be doing this summer to kick off the program at your school: 
  • Register for the 2016-17 program via the link below.
  • Request a Local Leader's Guide, state-specific dates, forms and additional information from the Washington State PTA.
  • Take the Reflections Leader Training (on demand).
  • Coordinate your kick-off with National Arts in Education Week (Sept. 7-11).
  • Distribute and share the 2016-17 Reflections Poster to advertise this year's theme.

Webinar: Supporting Hispanic Students' Success - September 15
Twenty-five percent of students today are Hispanic, and Hispanic children and youth are the fastest-growing population in America. We know that Hispanic and Latino parents want the best for their children and want to be engaged, but there are cultural and language barriers that make it challenging. As Hispanic families head back to school, it is important they are equipped with tools and resources to help their children start strong and stay on track to success. In this webinar, you will gain knowledge of the impact of family engagement on student success and ways to support Hispanic and Latino children's learning and development in school, at home and in the community.
SPS News

Budget Work Sessions - August 23 and Late September
Seattle Public Schools will be hosting a two-part budget work session to provide budget background information and gather feedback from community partners and stakeholders.
The first session will provide an overview of the budget, including information about District revenues and expenditures, as well as an overview of the state funding formula and the allocation model that the District uses to allocate funding to schools.  The second session will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to make recommendations to the District's Leadership Team and School Board for school year 2016-17. Both sessions will be held in the auditorium in the John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence.
  • Session One - Tuesday, August 23, 2016 from 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
  • Session Two - Late September (Date TBD)
Community News

Save the Date: OSPI Candidate Forum - Saturday, October 8  
The League of Women Voters of Washington Education Fund, Washington STEM, Seattle Council PTSA, and OneAmerica are sponsoring a general election forum for the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. There will be one of two forums back-to-back in the same venue with the Superintendent of Public Instruction and a Commissioner of Public Lands forum. Each forum will be approximately 45 minutes long. The event will be held Saturday, October 8 at the  Quincy Jones Performance Center at Garfield High School, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
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Seattle Council PTSA | 206.364.7430 | president@scptsa.org | www.scptsa.org