Showing posts with label pta. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pta. Show all posts

Helping students work through adversity - free presentation Thursday

Tuesday, March 23, 2021


For Shoreline Schools families:

“An Evening with JC Pohl - Five Keys to Building Student Resiliency”
Thursday, March 25, from 7:00 – 8:30pm

COVID is affecting student life every day. Teen suicide is on the rise. Mental health continues to be a concern. And students are feeling more and more disconnected from their peers.

In the face of such overwhelming stress, how can we help our students work through the adversity they regularly face?

JC Pohl, the President and CEO of Teen Truth, is an award-winning producer and nationally certified counselor. He offers five proven and immediately applicable ways to help students build self-efficacy and resilience.

These keys to building resilient students might save the next suicidal student, help ignite campus culture, or remind every struggling child that brighter days lie ahead.

A question and answer roundtable session will follow Mr. Pohl’s presentation, which will include middle school and high school principals, district counselors and community partners.

This free event is co-sponsored by the PTSAs of Shorewood, Kellogg, Einstein, Shorecrest and the Shoreline PTA Council.

Registration is required. Sign up HERE. Interpreter services are available upon request during registration.



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Shoreline PTA Council and all four secondary school PTSAs sponsor a session on Building Student Resiliency

Tuesday, March 16, 2021


For Shoreline Schools families: 
“An Evening with JC Pohl - Five Keys to Building Student Resiliency”
Thursday, March 25, from 7:00 – 8:30pm 
 
COVID is affecting student life every day. Teen suicide is on the rise. Mental health continues to be a concern. And students are feeling more and more disconnected from their peers. 

In the face of such overwhelming stress, how can we help our students work through the adversity they regularly face?
 
JC Pohl, the President and CEO of Teen Truth, is an award-winning producer and nationally certified counselor. He offers five proven and immediately applicable ways to help students build self-efficacy and resilience. 

These keys to building resilient students might save the next suicidal student, help ignite campus culture, or remind every struggling child that brighter days lie ahead.
 
A question and answer roundtable session will follow Mr. Pohl’s presentation, which will include middle school and high school principals, district counselors and community partners. 
 
This free event is co-sponsored by the PTSAs of Shorewood, Kellogg, Einstein, Shorecrest and the Shoreline PTA Council. 

Registration is required. Sign up HERE. Interpreter services are available upon request during registration. 
 


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Shoreline PTA Council announces finalists in the 2021 "Reflections" Arts competition

Friday, February 26, 2021

The PTA Reflections arts competition is an annual event, occurring nationwide every fall.

The National PTA chooses a theme from a contest of student submissions and students are encouraged to submit original artwork, photographs, literature, film video, music compositions and dance choreography to their schools in November.

The Reflections Art Competition for 2020/21 with the theme of “I matter because…” was held virtually.

Shoreline Council PTAs held Reflections events at each school and sent a total of 74 finalists to our district competition. 31 of those were selected to go to the state competition.

There was artwork from all around the Shoreline School District in categories of Visual Arts, Music Composition, Literature, Photography, Film Production, and Dance.

"Our judges are professionals in art fields, and we are so appreciative of their time and expertise. We would also like to send a huge thank you to the individual school Reflections chairs who kept this program alive this year! Congratulations to ALL participants and to the finalists moving on to the state level of competition."

Please take a few minutes to view the event slide show showcasing the artwork, photography, literature, films, dance and music compositions.


VOTE for the People's Choice Award by Monday, March 7: VOTE HERE 

31 Finalists and Honorable Mention winners

REFLECTIONS 2020-21 SLIDESHOW

LITERATURE ENTRIES


Reflections 2020/2021 Finalists and Honorable Mention Winners

Visual Arts – Finalists 
  • Lucy Meyer –VA 3D – Brookside -Primary – “I Am Kind”
  • Ayla Bronsther – Echo Lake – Intermediate- “Perspective”
  • Elana Bronsther- Einstein – Middle – “A Helping Hand”
  • Alina Li – Highland Terrace – Intermediate – “My friends live all around the world”
  • Vivian Sherrard- Highland Terrace -Intermediate - “Self-portrait”
  • Lina Yang –Kellogg Middle – “Pieces of me”
  • Daphne Tyl – Kellogg Middle – “Family Tree” 
  • Lucia Shadduck – Kellogg Middle – “Stronger than she looks”
  • Angelina Vaughn – Kellogg Middle – “Sunset”
  • Lauren Atherton – VA 3D - Kellogg Middle – “Balloon Dress”
  • Lila Seda-Stannard – Kellogg Middle – “I matter regardless”
  • Ada Wirkala-Bryant – Parkwood – Intermediate – “Kid Stack”
  • Cooper Rogers - Parkwood – Intermediate – “I am the Future”
  • Isabel Arcaris – Shorecrest HS – “Petals in her Hair”
  • Penelope Merydith – Shorecrest HS – “warrior
  • Malia Megargee – Shorewood HS – “Bilateral Gynandromorph”
  • Eliana Megargee – Shorewood HS – “Beautiful.”
  • Jianyi Du – Shorewood HS – “Through the Lens”
  • Eliana Hensel – Syre – Primary – “I matter because I take care of nature”

Visual Arts – Honorable Mention
  • Sabine Jordan – Brookside - Intermediate – “Helping Hand”
  • Julia Schielke – Einstein Middle – “Tree of Significance”
  • Annabelle Horne – Highland Terrace –Primary– “Grandma”
  • Cherryn Kim – Highland Terrace – Intermediate – “I matter because I draw in the forest”
  • Eleanor Town- Highland Terrace – Intermediate- “I Matter Because of my thoughts and opinions”
  • Claire Stellmon – Kellogg Middle – “I am on top of the World”
  • Taylor Draper – Kellogg Middle – “Simple Matters”
  • Amelia Smith – Parkwood – Intermediate – “I Can Change the Future!”
  • Selena Voigt – Ridgecrest – Intermediate – “My Spirit”
  • Trek Hugg – Shorecrest HS – “A Road to....”
  • Dante Jigamian - Shorecrest HS – “My Love”
  • Sophia Koontz – Shorecrest HS – “We're all connected”
  • Alana Brust – Syre – Intermediate – “Be Yourself”


Photography - Finalists
  • Bradley Atherton – Briarcrest - Intermediate – “Stuifmeel”
  • Taylor Draper -Kellogg Middle – “Essential Steps”
  • Linnea Claar – Kellogg Middle – “Friends”
  • Cecilia Phillips – Shorecrest HS- “The Lighthouse”

Photography – Honorable Mention
  • Sophia Tubbs – Kellogg Middle – “I matter because... the earth is special”
  • Avery Leptich - Kellogg Middle – “Looking for Light”
  • Gabriel T. Rice – Syre – Primary- “Family: Regardless of Color”

Literature – Finalists 
  • Boon Dumrong – Kellogg Middle - Special Artist – “Every Person Adds Something”, short story in braille
  • Abel Semere – Kellogg Middle – “The Next Generation”
  • Angelina Vaughn – Kellogg Middle – “I Matter.”
  • Kovana Williams – Ridgecrest – Intermediate – “I Stand”

Literature – Honorable Mention
  • Leia Wirkala-Bryant – Parkwood – Intermediate – “Future Generation”
  • Ada Wirkala-Bryant – Parkwood – Intermediate – “If I Wasn't There”

Film - Finalists
  • Wellington Pitts – Kellogg Middle – “A Spectrum of Acceptance”
  • Lauren Atherton – Kellogg Middle – “Simple Acts”

Music Composition - Finalists
  • Alaina Buker – Echo Lake - Intermediate – “The Cheerful Giver”
  • Caleb Buker – Echo Lake – Primary – “The Big Heart Song”

Music Composition – Honorable Mention
  • Zora Barchechat – Cascade K-8 - Middle - “Chatter”

Dance – Honorable Mention
  • Rio Williams – Ridgecrest – Primary – “Matter of the Heart”

Congratulations to all of our artists!!!!
Watch for yard signs
around town that say “My Reflections piece is heading to state” and congratulate these students!

All finalists' pieces were sent on to Washington State PTA competition and we expect to hear about state level winners in April-early May.

Awards were determined by our professional and community judges. 

Thank you to our amazing judges!

FILM - Tony Doupe, John Nold, Ken Winnick 
DANCE - Terry Goetz and Bronwen Houck
LITERATURE - Shiela Giesler
MUSIC - Jensina Oliver, Charles Enlow
VISUAL ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY- Kevin Sheen, Bronwen Houck, Tara Shadduck, Ken Winnick

Special thanks to our Shoreline PTA Reflections Co-Chairs
  • Tiffany Megargee 
  • Beth Neils 
  • Suzanne Gugger

2-27-2021 Clarification of number of finalists / level

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Shoreline Schools and Third Place Books Black Books Fair ends Feb. 14

Saturday, February 13, 2021

Black Books Fair open through Sunday


The Black Voices: Black Books Fair ends at midnight this Sunday, February 14, 2021. 

In partnership with Third Place Books, this fundraiser is helping purchase books by Black authors for all Shoreline school libraries. 

Learn more and find ordering instructions HERE.

PLEASE DON'T FORGET: For your order to count towards the book fair, you must:
  • Check the box that asks if you are participating in a book fair towards the end of the check out screen
  • Then enter "Black Voices" in the ensuing text box
  • If you do not select the book fair participation box and enter the name of your school, we will not know that your order corresponds to this book fair, and it will not count towards the fundraiser.


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The WORKS PTA clothing room now open by reservation on Wednesdays

Saturday, January 23, 2021

The WORKS has its own space toward the back of the Shoreline Center

The WORKS is now open by reservation on Wednesdays from 6:30-8:00pm

Make Reservations at https://tinyurl.com/works2020

​The WORKS clothing room provides high quality, clean, gently used children’s and teen clothing to Shoreline School District families.

Shoreline families experiencing economic hardship can bring their children to “shop” for gently used, stylish clothing.

To shop at The WORKS:
  • Families must have a Shoreline School District address or have a child who attends a Shoreline School District school.
  • Each qualifying family may sign up in advance for only one (1) 30 minute time slot. No walk-ins allowed.
  • Please leave children at home. Up to two adults from the same household may enter The WORKS. Masks and gloves are required and will be provided, if needed.
For urgent needs, email theworks@shorelinepta.org or leave a message at 206-393-4916.

More information here




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Lake Forest Park PTA set up a treat table for school staff

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

PTA treat table for LFP Elementary staff
Photo courtesy LFP Elementary

Students are working at home but school staff and some teachers are still working in the buildings.

Lake Forest Park Elementary PTA set up a treat table outside of the school on Tuesday to show appreciation for the hard working LFP staff.



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Perfect stocking stuffers - tickets for Brown Bear Car Wash - benefit for Shorecrest Spree


 
So this one is a win - win - win - win!

The Shorecrest High School PTSA Spree committee is selling tickets for Brown Bear Car Wash. 

"Car wash tickets today for a clean car tomorrow"

The tickets are a fundraiser for Senior Spree - the end of year overnight party for graduating seniors. The money helps defray the cost of the tickets. WIN

You are helping to support a local business - 160th and Aurora. WIN

You are helping to save the environment - Brown Bear recycles the water at their car washes. WIN

Your vehicles will be clean! WIN




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Volunteers make our world go round - PTA Holiday Basket event serves 700 families

Tuesday, December 15, 2020


Your heart will be warmed by this news! Shannon McMaster and Stacy Cotton (and Stacy's mother Marti who made masks for the 75 volunteers) are educators and super organizers who have been long time supporters of and volunteers for the Shoreline PTSA Holiday Basket program.


They, with the help of Shoreline PTA Council co-presidents Amy Reed and Heather Segars, organized envelopes with gift cards and pick-up times for nearly 700 Shoreline Schools families.

On December 12, 2020 their newly designed Covid Safe Holiday Basket event took place for families who have children enrolled in the Shoreline School District and could use a little extra help this Holiday Season. 


Each family received gift and grocery cards in a drive through event at the Shoreline Center. 

Nearly 700 families and several thousand children (upwards of 1500) received gift cards for gifts and a $100 card for groceries. 


This super organized event handed out over $110,000 in gift cards including $50,000 in grocery vouchers from the city of Shoreline, donations from Shoreline and Lake Forest Park Rotaries, Alpha Delta, Hopelink, the Shoreline Fire Department, Dale Turner YMCA and numerous community individuals.

Special thanks to Shannon and Stacy, volunteers and contributors who made the holidays a little brighter for many!



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Flock your friends this season and benefit Shorecrest Senior Spree

Monday, December 14, 2020

Unexpected Christmas decorations - You've been flocked!

The Shorecrest PTSA Spree committee is hopeful that the annual overnight party for graduating seniors will be able to take place next summer. If not, they will refund the tickets which have been purchased.

However, they are continuing their fundraising events to help defray the costs for the students.

Santa hats are an option

A very popular event - Flocking - has been extended to the holidays. With options ranging from $20 - 50, a front yard of your choice will suddenly be covered with a flock of flamingos - with Santa hats an option.

Since the beginning of the event several years ago many options have been added: revenge flocking, flocking insurance, get off my yard flocking, and much more.

All the details are here: https://www.shorecrestptsa.org/spree/spree-fundraising/flocking

If flocking is too exotic for you, they are also selling tickets for Brown Bear Car Washes - great stocking stuffers!




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Winterfest Cascade K8 Community School Craft Fair is online this year

Tuesday, November 24, 2020


Winterfest Cascade K8 
Community School Craft Fair

November 23 - December 5, 2020

We can’t gather as a community, but we can help our community by shopping local for the holidays! 

Click on an image to visit each virtual “booth.” Our Winterfest webpage has a vendor directory to give you a central place to find out what your friends and community members have for sale this year.

Local item pick up can be arranged with the seller or you may have the option to pick up your items at Cascade K8 Community School on December 5, 2020. 2800 NE 200th St, Shoreline 98155.



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Help support Shoreline PTA Council's Holiday Baskets event

Monday, November 16, 2020

The Holiday Basket event is a partnership among the Shoreline PTA Council, City of Shoreline, the Lake Forest Park Rotary, Shoreline Rotary, the Shoreline Fire Department, the Dale Turner YMCA and Hopelink to provide assistance to families in need in Shoreline and Lake Forest Park.

This year there are over 650 Shoreline and Lake Forest Park families registered, which includes over 1200 children ages 0-18. This is an increase of about 25% over last year's numbers.


Community support is extremely important to be sure that no family or child goes without during this season.

This year, because of no in-person school and Covid restrictions, we will not be collecting food items, but will instead collect money and gift cards to support families.

Contributions of money and gift cards ($25 amount preferred) will go a long way to ensuring a happy holiday season for many families.

The most wanted gift cards include Amazon, Fred Meyer, Target and WalMart.

This year the "baskets" will be made up of gift cards and food assistance vouchers instead of toys and donated food. Every PTA in the Shoreline School District makes major contributions.

The Shoreline Fire Department usually holds a toy drive to support the event, but because of Covid will instead partner with us by collecting gift cards as well.

Money and gift card donations can be dropped off at the WORKS on Wednesday November 18 from 6-8 pm (18560 1st Ave NE - enter from the north parking lot), at any Shoreline Fire Department, or money can also be donated online: https://www.tinyurl.com/DonateHB2020

The event will be held on December 12, 2020 at the Shoreline Center. For any questions or more information, please email: HolidayBaskets@shorelinepta.org




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Shoreline PTA Council collecting gently used winter coats


The Shoreline PTA Council clothing room, The WORKS, is holding a drive currently for gently used coats (in very good condition, no holes, stains, tears)- hoods preferred. 

On Monday, November 16, 2020, the WORKS will have special hours when coat donations can be dropped off - from 7 - 8pm.

Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Gift cards for Holiday Baskets can also be accepted at that time. (see article)

Donations can also be dropped off during the WORKS's normal hours, Wednesday evenings, from 6-8pm.

The WORKS is located at the north end of the Shoreline Center. Drive to the back of the north parking lot, then turn south and drive straight back.

18560 1st Ave NE, Shoreline 98155



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984 students signed up for the Back to School event Saturday

Friday, August 21, 2020

Shorecrest Football players and Coach Christensen help The WORKS move 1,000 pairs of socks, underwear, and 500 hygiene packs to Meridian Park Elementary in preparation for the Back to School event. This is the third year that the team has supported The WORKS.


Story and photos thanks to the Back to School Consortium

This Saturday, the 19th Annual Back to School event will take place at Meridian Park Elementary from 12:30-4:00pm.

This event is a labor of love brought to the community by the 
  • Shoreline PTA Council, 
  • Shoreline School District, 
  • City of Shoreline, 
  • Center for Human Services, 
  • Dale Turner YMCA, 
  • Rotary Club of Lake Forest Park, 
  • Shoreline Community Care, 
  • Ronald United Methodist Church, 
  • Hopelink, 
  • The Salvation Army, 
and our newest members, 
  • Rotary Club of Shoreline and 
  • Shoreline Public Schools Foundation.
Socially distanced and masked volunteers helped organize pre-packaged school supplies in advance of the Back to School event. This year, the event will forgo backpacks due to remote learning.



This year, there are 487 families and 984 students pre-registered. Last year, we pre-registered 395 families and 898 students.

Because of COVID-19 restrictions, we are doing things a little differently this year... This will be a drive thru event!

Jill Steinberg, Co-Chair of The WORKS, receives a bounty of hygiene supplies from the Rotary Club of Lake Forest Park


Families will still receive five pairs of new underwear and socks, hygiene products, school supplies, and they will be able to sign up for free and reduced lunch with Nutrition Services.

School supplies will be in pre-packaged boxes since we won’t be offering backpacks this year and we could not have had the usual 75 volunteers assembling school supplies into backpacks.

Socially distanced and masked volunteers at The WORKS for the Back to School Donation Day event on July 25th


Some exciting new offerings include Black hair care products coordinated by Melyssa Stone, Dean of students at Shorewood High School and Shoreline's Equity and Family Engagement department. 

We will also be distributing a jump rope to each family through non-profit Upower, and eight masks per family provided by the City of Shoreline.

The Edmonds chapter of Days for Girls donated 600 hand made masks to The WORKS. All of the masks could not fit in the photo! 


Our superstar, socially distanced volunteer team will do their best to make this unique format as special as possible for attendees. If you would like to help out, we still have a few spots open. 

Check out volunteer opportunities HERE

For more information on the BTS event, visit our webpage 



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Shoreline PTA Council presents scholarship awards

Saturday, June 13, 2020

Elliott Guy, Shorecrest
PTA Council scholarship winner

Congratulations to Tesfa Shenkute from Shorewood High School and Elliott Guy from Shorecrest High School.

Each received a $500 scholarship award from Shoreline PTA Council to support their post-high school studies. 

The scholarship fund was created when the former Shoreline High School (now the Shoreline Center) closed to make way for the two current high schools.

The Shoreline PTA gave their money to Council to be awarded to a graduating senior from each high school every spring.

Thanks to Suzanne Monson and Marianne Stephens, the Career and College Readiness Coordinators at Shorecrest and Shorewood High Schools for their support and assistance. 


Tesfa Shenkute, Shorewood
PTA Council scholarship winner
Mea Fischelis served as Council's Scholarship Chair.

Tesfa will be attending UW Bothell to study computer science and software engineering.

Elliott Guy will be headed to Western Washington University to study marine biology.



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PTSA highlights the work of Dr. Brandon-Felder in the Shoreline School District

As an amendment to our previously published open letter, we’re writing to publicly apologize to Dr. Brandon-Felder for not highlighting her valuable work within Shoreline School District for the last four years.

We are proud to be part of a District that engages with issues of racism and inequality, and we know that would not occur without her tremendous leadership. 

Dr. Brandon-Felder has created and supported staff trainings, community forums, student enrichment and social justice conferences, and continues to keep our District focused on serving those who have been historically marginalized through unprecedented challenges of the current pandemic. 

She is recognized as a regional leader, and we are grateful for her passion and dedication to anti-racism and social justice. We are sorry and regret the harm done to Dr. Brandon-Felder and her department, as we only wish to support her as a Black leader as well as our Black communities in Shoreline.

We remain committed to amplifying the voices of Black students in Shoreline who are advocating for Ethnic Studies and to see more diversity reflected in school staff. Real institutional change is not accomplished by one person alone, but through all staff, from leadership to linestaff, redefining and reimagining what is possible.

2019-2020 Meridian Park PTSA Board of Directors

Gretchen Bjork Knudsen, President
Briana Bell, Secretary
Ann Yee, Co-Treasurer
Callie Steward, Co-Treasurer
Alex Hart, Vice President - Events and Family & Community Engagement
Mary Kate Horwood, Co-Vice-President - Clubs / Programs
Erika Botch, Co-Vice-President - Clubs / Programs
Nauko Grimlund, Membership Co-Chair
Laura Graven, Membership Co-Chair
Naomi Hillyard, Fundraising Chair
Suni Tolton, Grants Committee
Whitney Hardie, Art Docent Co-Chair
Nancy Buehler Jenkins, Communications: Website
Jiovanna Koceski, Communications: Cheetah Chatter



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Open statement to Shoreline School District from Meridian Park PTSA in support of Black students and families

Tuesday, June 9, 2020

"I've never had a Black teacher"
Organizers of Black Lives Lost event speak
Photo by David Walton
We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of George Floyd, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery at the hands of police and others, as well as countless innocent lives before them — including those not covered by the media.
 
We appreciate the message of solidarity that Superintendent Miner sent out and were heartened to see the large community turnout to the peaceful protest organized by Shoreline's Black youth. 

We recognize that this moment is one of both grief and reflection, and hope that it is a call to action for all of us to make a lifelong commitment to dismantle our country's shameful legacy of White supremacy.

We are proud to be part of a school district that is engaged in addressing issues of racism and inequality, and hope to work together to continue examining where we can foster change and ensure ALL of our students are seen, heard, represented, and uplifted.

We appreciate the resources that Superintendent Miner shared with families in her recent statement, and would like to see a commitment by the District to prioritize the implementation of anti-racist instructional materials into our curriculum at every grade level throughout the school year. 

We believe that providing our youth with language about race and diversity, as well as historical context surrounding social justice movements, is an investment in future leaders who are equipped to continue the work of ending oppression in our country.

We support the call to make Ethnic Studies a requirement for graduation in Shoreline schools. 

Learning about the experiences of our communities of color is critical if our students are to hope for a future where people are not being killed because of the color of their skin. A deeper understanding of each other and our histories is not only the foundation for a better tomorrow, but literally a matter of life and death.

We call on our District to commit to hiring and retaining teachers, paraprofessionals, and classified staff who represent the diversity of our community, and require mandatory anti-racist and anti-bias training for ALL staff. 

Shoreline School District serves a student population of which approximately 48% are students of color (7.8% are Black), yet only 14% of our teachers are people of color (and only 0.7% are Black). Not only is it important for our Black students to see themselves represented in our faculty, we know that biased expectations by teachers have long-term effects on student outcomes. 

Recent studies show that:

Student–teacher racial mismatch reduces teachers’ expectations for Black students.

White teachers are almost 40 percent less likely to expect their Black students will graduate high school.

For Black students, particularly Black boys, having a non-Black teacher in a 10th grade subject made them much less likely to pursue that subject by enrolling in similar classes.

Assigning a Black male student to a Black teacher in the third, fourth, or fifth grades significantly reduces the probability that he drops out of high school, particularly among the most economically disadvantaged.

Exposure to at least one Black teacher in grades 3-5 also increases the likelihood that persistently low-income Black students of all gender identities aspire to attend a four-year college.

We realize that teachers of color are in high demand due to the student-teacher racial mismatch throughout much of the country. 

The lack of teachers of color has been a self-perpetuating cycle as students of color are not seeing education as a viable career choice due to lack of representation. 

We understand this is a complex problem and commit to supporting your efforts to correct this disparity. While working to employ more staff members of color, we ask for the District’s active support for representation of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color at school-led assemblies throughout the year by partnering with community organizations and groups, including veterans, performing artists, writers, and more.

We have noticed that the District has refrained from using the phrase “Black lives matter” in its official communications and honoring the National Black Lives Matter Week of Action in Our Schools annually in February as our neighboring districts have. 

This absence feels even more pronounced as the City of Shoreline publicly displays two banners proclaiming the message “Black Lives Matter” as a small way to demonstrate support for our Black community members and challenge racism. 

We invite you to reflect on the reasons for its absence in our District's messaging and what that means to our Black students and community.

We are committed to working with you to facilitate change, share in our learning, show that Black lives matter in our practices and policies, and build community around the common goal of dismantling White supremacy within our institutions.

Sincerely,

2019-2020 Meridian Park PTSA Board of Directors

Gretchen Bjork Knudsen, President
Briana Bell, Secretary
Ann Yee, Co-Treasurer
Callie Steward, Co-Treasurer
Alex Hart, Vice President: Events and Family and Community Engagement
Mary Kate Horwood, Vice-President: Clubs and Programs
Nauko Grimlund, Membership Chair
Naomi Hillyard, Fundraising Chair
Whitney Hardie, Art Docent Chair
Nancy Buehler Jenkins, Website Communications


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Back to School event: Help and be helped

Friday, May 29, 2020


The Shoreline Back to School Consortium is excited to hold its 19th annual Back To School (BTS) Event to support a successful start to the school year for our K-12 students.

Each year the Shoreline/Lake Forest Park (LFP) community comes together by donating backpacks, school supplies, clothes, and hygiene products for this event and plans to serve over 1,000 students!

Please Note: This year’s event will be different due to COVID-19. To ensure the health and safety of BTS event attendees and volunteers, changes are being made to follow state and district level guidelines. Please make note of the changes included below.

Event Information:

Where: (NEW LOCATION) Meridian Park Elementary, 17077 Meridian Ave N

When: Saturday, August 22 from 12:30pm - 4:00pm

Who: Students who attend Shoreline School District schools and students that live in the Shoreline School District boundaries.

IMPORTANT: This year, parents and guardians are requested to send only one representative per family; please leave children at home.

What will be provided: One family representative will be able to pick up a backpack, school supplies, hygiene items, socks, and underwear for each student in Pre-K - 12th grade.

This year, we are sorry that we will not be able to hold the resource fair (including lunch) or provide haircuts.

To Register for the BTS Event: To attend the August 22nd event and receive supplies, visit the BTS website, or call The WORKS information line at 206-393-4916 and leave a message. School Family Advocates can assist with registration, too. 

Each backpack is filled with grade appropriate school supplies


To Support the BTS Event: There are many ways to support this event and our students:

  • Donate Critical Items: This year’s most needed school supplies are: Large backpacks, composition notebooks, earbuds, pointed and blunt tip scissors, fine line color markers, and scientific calculators. A full list of items can be found HERE In July, drop off donated items:
  • Volunteer: Opportunities to volunteer prior to or on the day of the event will be posted on the Back to School Consortium website: http://www.btsconsortium.org/ or feel free to leave a message on The WORKS information line, 206-393-4916.For more information or if you have questions, visit the BTS website

THANK YOU to our Back to School Consortium Members:
  • The Center for Human Services;
  • City of Shoreline;
  • Dale Turner Family YMCA;
  • Hopelink;
  • Ronald United Methodist Church;
  • The Salvation Army;
  • Shoreline Community Care;
  • Shoreline School District;
  • Rotary of Lake Forest Park;
  • The WORKS of Shoreline PTA Council.
  • The Shoreline Breakfast Rotary participated for many years.


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Rotary Gift Card Challenge has exceeded its goal

Monday, May 25, 2020

Thank you Shoreline/LFP Community! 

Thanks to our amazingly generous and caring community, the Rotary Gift Card Challenge has exceeded its goal and raised an incredible $30,672 to support students and families in need!

The 30-day challenge, ending May 15, 2020 was initiated with a $5,000 donation by Shoreline Rotary, as well as a $2,500 donation from Lake Forest Park Rotary and $1,000 from a Rotary District 5030 COVID-19 grant, for a total of $8,500 in Rotary support. 

With contributions from over 100 generous individuals and organizations, the overall goal of $20,000 was easily met and exceeded!



The Rotary Gift Card Challenge encouraged donations through Embrace Shoreline Schools to purchase gift cards which were then distributed by school-based Family Advocates to students and families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program, created by Shoreline PTA Council in partnership with Embrace Shoreline Schools and the school district, serves over 300 families, ensuring flexible spending support for needed items, such as paper goods, household items, gas and groceries.

Shoreline PTA Council is grateful for the longstanding and close partnership it has had with our local Rotary Clubs. 

Through their individual and collective support, many district-wide programs are made possible, including our Back to School event, Holiday Baskets and our free clothing bank (The WORKS). 

Thank you, Rotary Clubs of Shoreline and Lake Forest Park – and thank you to our generous community!

--Shoreline PTA Council


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Friday deadline to meet Rotary fundraising for Shoreline Schools students

Sunday, May 10, 2020

The Rotary Gift Card Challenge, in partnership with Embrace Shoreline Schools and Shoreline School District PTA Council, has until Friday to make its fundraising goal.

We are more than 1/2 way through our 30-day Challenge Grant aimed at encouraging donations through Embrace Shoreline Schools for the purchase of Gift Cards to be distributed by the School-based Family Advocates to students/families in need.

The Challenge to the community was to donate to this flexible spending program and Shoreline Rotary would match your donation, dollar for dollar, up to a total of $5,500.

As of the last report, more than 50 individual donors have stepped up and exceeded our challenge donating nearly $8,000.

With our matching funds, we are getting closer to our goal of $20,000. We still have until May 15th for the 30 day challenge - community members and Rotarians are encouraged to continue to donate to this worthy cause!

Donate here



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Shoreline PTA Council announces 2020 Award Winners


From the Shoreline PTA Council

Each year, PTAs across the country recognize outstanding volunteers and advocates who help to further the mission of ensuring the education, health and well-being of every child.

This year, due to the pandemic and school closure, the Shoreline PTA Council was not able to celebrate our honorees in the same way.

Their contributions, however, are significant and particularly now, it is important to celebrate the spirit of giving and caring and honor those who do so much to support our students and families.

Please join us in celebrating the following outstanding individuals – and make sure to read more about their accomplishments HERE

Neha Raichur, Golden Acorn

Neha Raichur, Golden Acorn

Neha has been a PTA member and volunteer all the years her children, now an 8th grader at Kellogg and a Sophomore at Shorecrest, have been Shoreline students. 

She spent an inordinate amount of time at Ridgecrest Elementary School serving the PTA in a myriad of ways, always stepping in wherever it was needed. 

As if this wasn’t enough, she also became a part-time paraeducator. She then transitioned to become treasurer at PTA Council, and when it became clear Shorecrest also needed a treasurer, she volunteered for this position simultaneously. 

Neha has also helped lead the Holiday Baskets Committee for over 5 years, providing hundreds of students and families with food and gifts each year. 

She has an enormous capacity for giving of her time, expertise and energy and is known for her generous and kind spirit – her delicious homemade Indian dinners always make serving on mid and end-year audit committees a pleasure. Thank you, Neha, for your extraordinary commitment to our community!

Suzanne Gugger, Outstanding Advocate

Suzanne Gugger, Outstanding Advocate

Suzanne joined PTA at Sunset Elementary School over 20 years ago, and now with her youngest daughter a Shorewood senior, leaves behind a long legacy of advocacy in the district focused on the well-being of our youth and also on art appreciation and education. 

Suzanne has led art docent and enrichment programs and served as Reflections, Communications and Legislative Chair at multiple schools, even teaching ceramics classes while organizing after-school programs. 

At the Council level, Suzanne has served as Chair for Legislation, Reflections, Awards and Communication and has inspired and mentored many newer PTA leaders. Even though Suzanne’s many years as an involved Shoreline parent are coming to a close, she has generously offered to continue her many contributions to Shoreline PTA Council and will undoubtedly continue to build and strengthen this community in a myriad of ways.

Suzanne is an advocate at heart, always connecting people and ideas to action and constantly thinking outside of the box to better serve students, families and our community. Thank you, Suzanne, for your many years of dedicated service and commitment!

Dr. Tanisha Brandon Felder, Director
Dept. of Equity and Family Engagement
Shoreline School District


Outstanding Organization

Dept. of Equity and Family Engagement, Shoreline School District
  • Dr. Tanisha Brandon Felder, Director
  • Kim Darcy, Instruction Secretary
  • Susie Moore, Lead Family Advocate

Since her hiring and the creation of the Equity and Family Engagement Department, Dr. Brandon Felder has brought equity to the forefront in the Shoreline School District. 

She has led the District in examining the impact of historical and current institutional racism and in implementing changes to the policies and practices that keep inequities in place.

Kim Darcy, Instruction Secretary
Dept. of Equity and Family Engagement

The Equity Department led a committee of staff, parents and community members in developing the district's Race and Equity policy, which identifies a directive that is paramount to the success of all students: 

"Race, as well as socioeconomic status, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression and ability, must cease to be a predictor of student success."

Shoreline PTA Council greatly appreciates the many ways that we have been able to partner and collaborate with the Equity and Family Engagement Department in service to this directive.

This was to be the 5th year that we partner on the annual district-wide LGBTQ Potluck, and this past year Council has worked with the Department on new programs, including the first Transgender 101 workshop and Black Voices Week, which successfully brought awareness to inequities and challenges in supporting our youth of color through workshops, lectures and a book fair benefiting our school libraries.

Susie Moore, Lead Family Advocate
Dept. of Equity and Family Engagement


Before the school closure, efforts were underway to provide a Racial Literacy training for PTA leadership, and through the lead Family Advocate (and Council FACE Chair) Susie Moore, Council has provided a focus and education on ensuring family engagement through PTA that goes beyond hosting events to engaging all of our students and families. 

Finally, Council has worked closely with Dr. Felder and Ms. Moore during the school closure to ensure a system of support for families in need, including a food drive and a gift card program that continues to provide over 300 families with support. 

Thank you, Dr. Brandon Felder, Ms. Darcy and Ms. Moore for your outstanding dedication and commitment to all youth in our community and for your partnership with PTA Council!


Please join us in celebrating these outstanding individuals! Thanks to their extraordinary commitment and advocacy, the health and well-being of our youth is improved and our communities are stronger. 


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