Calendar

Participants will learn strategies for fostering positive and productive relationships with volunteers, board members and other adults who work with PTA in a variety of roles. It’s not always easy, but with some empathy, some careful listening and some strategies for when conflict arises, you can get the most from your PTA relationships.

REGISTER FOR THIS TRAINING OPPORTUNITY HERE.

Has your PTA considered applying for an Award of Excellence but were not sure how to begin? You’re not alone! The great news is that all PTAs in good standing are eligible to apply for this prestigious recognition.

Join WSPTA for an interactive webinar where we will cover:

• What is the Award of Excellence?
• Application Requirements: Learn what it takes to apply.
• Best Practices: Discover strategies to enhance your application.
• Step-by-Step Guidance: Get tips on navigating the process.

Remember, a strong PTA can make a significant impact on students, parents, teachers, and the entire community. By applying for an Award of Excellence, your PTA can unlock its full potential and strive for excellence!

Local chairs must finish online submission of entries advancing to Council no later than 10 pm on this date. Late entries will not be accepted. Please do not wait until this evening to submit your entries.

Upload instructions will be shared soon.

Your standing rules are the agreement between your board of directors and your members about how your PTA will do business. What needs to be there? What does not? Whether your standing rules need a complete overhaul or just a quick update, this workshop will walk you through it. Bring your PTA’s standing rules!

This workshop is led by WSPTA Region 9, open to other regions.

This is the most important and useful class of them all, as it will prepare you and your fellow officers to run your PTA with an eye toward the important legal and fiscal requirements in running a nonprofit. PTA and the Law deals with state and federal rules and regulations relevant to running a charitable, tax-exempt, nonprofit corporation in the state of Washington, and will explain how these rules impact your PTA. PTA and the Law is a required class for at least one elected officer per PTA each year.

Register for this free, virtual training here

November’s Lunch & Learn was rescheduled from its original date due to the storm and power outage. The Zoom link remains the same. Please join us!

All members of our school community are invited to join us for this month’s Lunch & Learn on “The Role of Technology in the Classroom,” with guest speakers Forrest Baker, LWSD Executive Director of Technology Services; Aubrey Dane, LWSD Technology Integration Specialist; and Jake Duke, LWSD Curriculum Specialist. Learn about how our students’ teachers are integrating technology in the curriculum, how device use differs from K-12, how our schools and parents can partner to be mindful of screen time in and out of the classroom, and more. Bring your questions, and get answers!

Register for the Zoom link

LWPTSA Council’s Lunch & Learn series consists of short presentations and Q&A on topics of interest to our school community, from noon – 1 pm on select Thursdays online via Zoom. Grab your lunch, log on, and learn with us! Event links will be shared on our website calendar, social media and newsletters close to the event dates. Topics and featured speakers are subject to change and will be updated as they are finalized.

Washington State PTA’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee presents a FREE virtual Zoom called “Actionable Takeaways.”

DEI award winners and our Washington State PTA DEI Committee will share ideas you can use both long term and today. There will also be question and answer time.

Register with the QR code or the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwpce6orTsoH9VNuJi4Ec41r38eFOT0Zxfj

Questions to: PTAFACEDir@WAStatePTA.org

This month we’ll be talking about school gardens, schoolyards and water. We will be joined by guest speakers from Redmond Elementary and King County Green Schools.

REGISTER FOR ZOOM LINK

The LWPTSA Sustainability Committee is made up of local sustainability chairs at schools across the district. The committee has worked on a range of issues, including food recovery, waste reduction, composting, green cleaning, no-idle zones, herbicide-free schools, and engaging and supporting students in their efforts to combat climate change and create a livable planet.

Sustainability Committee meetings for 2024-2025 will be a mix of in-person meetings at the LWSD Resource Center Sammamish Room (16250 NE 74th St., Redmond WA 98052) as well as online sessions via Zoom.

This month, join us for a transformative DE&I workshop: 

FOUNDATIONS OF SOCIAL JUSTICE

Are you ready to deepen your understanding of equity and racial awareness? This workshop is an incredible opportunity to gain the tools you need to address equity and race effectively. Together, we’ll explore the journey from color blindness to racial cognizance, empowering you to foster meaningful and lasting change.

✨ What You’ll Gain

• Practical strategies for advancing social justice in schools
• A shared language to navigate important equity conversations
• Inspiration and actionable steps to challenge systemic inequities

We encourage PTA leaders to join us for this vital conversation. Your involvement can help shape actionable change in our school communities. We can’t wait to see you there.

WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 4, from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm
WHERE: Zoom — Register

🎙 About the Speaker

Ilsa Govan, Co-Founder of Cultures Connecting, is a nationally recognized facilitator, consultant and social justice activist. A former Equity and Race Specialist for Seattle Public Schools, Ilsa has extensive experience addressing institutional racism. Her work includes an award-winning book exploring issues of privilege and racial justice.

📚 Pre-Reading/Viewing

• Dr. Caprice Hollins’ TEDx Talk: What White People Can Do to Move Race Conversations Forward (YouTube)
• Social Justice Checklist for Schools (PDF)

This is your chance to learn, connect, and grow as part of a community committed to building more inclusive and equitable schools.

For any questions or further details, feel free to contact Council DEI Co-Chairs Zahra Eslami and Mansi M. Majeed at Diversity@LWPTSA.net.

Council’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee meets one Wednesday each month of the school year (with the exception of September and June) at 11:30 am. During the 2024-2025 year, meetings will be held online via Zoom.

DEI chairs and other interested leaders from PTAs and PTSAs in the Lake Washington School District are invited to these monthly meetings to discuss DEI issues and advocacy initiatives that impact our students and families.