Reflections Kickoff – Virtually
Reflections may look a little different this year, as we navigate in a virtual environment, but this program is more important than ever. For more than 50 years, this National PTA arts recognition program has helped students explore their own thoughts, feelings, and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence, and find a love for learning.…
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Reflections
September 2020 – WSPTA Executive Director Message
Dear members, Most families join their local PTA for one of a short list of reasons. Some join because the PTA works together to advocate for and on behalf of children and youth in the schools. It is easier for the membership to push for change within a school than it is for a single…
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Leadership
Getting Ready for the First Membership Meeting of the Year
The 2020-21 school year is upon us, and the PTA year is about to get into full swing! Hopefully, your board of directors had a productive summer retreat and is planning a fall membership drive and the first membership meeting of the year. In many areas of Washington, membership meetings will need to be held…
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Governance
New Council SOA and Supporting Local PTAs
The Washington State PTA Standards of Affiliation Agreement 2020-2021 is now available! 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…
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Governance
A Teacher’s Thoughts on the Upcoming Year
Guest post provided by Amy Campbell, 2020 Washington state Teacher of the Year Hello fellow PTA members, My name is Amy Campbell. I am a Special Education teacher in the Camas School District, and the 2020 Washington state Teacher of the Year. I was honored to attend the Washington State PTA conference in May to…
Category:
Education
New Guidance on Reopening Schools – What Families Need to Know
State Superintendent Chris Reykdal, Governor’s Policy Adviser Maddy Thompson, and Department of Health’s COVID response director Lacy Fehrenbach met with WSPTA members for a webinar on August 10. The main topics for the hour-long event included the new school reopening framework and answers to questions about serving all students, meal service, childcare, and tracking attendance.…
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Education
Tracking Absences under COVID-19
OSPI (Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction) has adopted emergency rules to address tracking “absences” in a time of COVID and the various approaches to instruction, including in-person, hybrid, and remote learning. The rules will be in effect for the 2020-21 school year. Read the four-page summary here.
Category:
Education
WSPTA President’s Power of Connection – August 2020
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Do not follow where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” To be a leader in these times means that we must be innovative and imaginative. We can’t use the templates so often used by our predecessors. With that in mind, now is…
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Leadership
WSPTA Standards of Affiliation for 2020-21
Washington State PTA provides a Standards of Affiliation (SOA) Agreement Checklist to provide support and guidance to local PTAs and councils. The SOA agreement is in place to ensure local PTAs and councils align with WSPTA’s ethics, policies, and principles; maintain good business practices; and comply with applicable federal and state laws. PTAs are encouraged…
Category:
Governance
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Leadership
August 2020 – WSPTA Executive Director Message
Dear members, What is a PTA? At its core, it is a collection of families and teachers who have come together to improve the lives and education of the children in their care. This is the reason PTA was founded in 1897 and it is just as relevant today. The challenges are very different, but…
Category:
Leadership