Entries are due on Monday, November 4th. Entry forms went home with your students; there is a box to turn in submissions in the library. Reflections is a national multi-media art program for K-12 students https://www.wastatepta.org/events-programs/reflections/
Coming soon to a screen near you Friday, October 18th
All Bryant families are invited to come watch a FREE movie, munch on popcorn and hang out with their buddies while watching …. Secret Life of Pets 2!
Who should come? Bring your whole family! EVERYONE at the school is welcome to join in! The event is designed for fun and community building. All proceeds from popcorn, concessions, and the bake sale will go toward the Islandwood fundraising goal.
Date: Friday, October 18, 2019
Time: Doors open at 6:15 p.m., movie starts at 6:45 (running time is 1h 26m) We will plan to be out of the building no later than 9 p.m.
Place: Bryant lunchroom and Gym
Bring: A blanket and pad for kiddos to sit on. Adults can sit on blankets or bring chairs for the back row only. Bring cash for popcorn, concessions, and baked goods. The movie is free. Donations accepted.
Highlighting goals for the year, Whitney Griesbach / Ann Sonnen
How can we make PTSA more approachable and accessible
How we can improve the transitioning of roles: creating more of a process to transition roles, onboarding materials, etc. in order to alleviate fears of joining
More of a partnership with the building
Increased transparency of board
Approval of Last Meeting’s Minutes, Whitney Griesbach
Minutes approved
PTSA Insurance Review, Nick Barrett
Reviewed existing insurance certificate
We can renew October 1st (Chess club has an event the first week in December, and they need insurance certificate)
Can we have an insurance certificate that goes longer than 12 months (e.g. 15?) so it ends at the end of the school year?
This will be looked in to
PTSA can’t sponsor ongoing sporting events offsite due to insurance coverage
Treasurer’s Annual Re-cap Report, Nick Barrett
Annual recap
Generated $211k (primary sources are annual campaign, auction, and blast)
$219k available for 2019-2020
2/3 supplements curriculum at Bryant (grants to SPS) + additional programs and reserve
Presentation of 2019-2020 Budget
$315k, $193k for curriculum based activities/grant positions (64% of budget)
Most of the increases due to now having to pay benefits for instructional support (actual hours have decreased in some cases)
Bumped unallocated funds to $10k, as it was in previous years
Added a new line item for previous years’ expenses to handle late reimbursements
Changes between this year’s and last year’s budgets
Decreased funding for field trips and classroom needs from $26 to $22. Decreased substitute time from 2.5 to 2 days
Reduced Community Volunteer Coordinator role to 17 hrs/week and reduced stipend
Increased instructional support by contract rate and added .5 FTE math support
Will vote on budget at next meeting
School Supplies Review 2018, Whitney Griesbach (Sara Fenzl not present)
Supplies cost $19k, raised $22k, also raised $5,500 for school in need. 88% of parents have paid (518 students).
Overall a big success—one teacher said “It’s awesome”
If we have excess, it will roll into next year’s school supplies or additional supplies during the year
Principal’s Update, Charmaine Marshall
School off to a great start
Numbers continue to look good, higher than projections: 583 total.
District undercounted enrollment going into the year
Once this new number becomes official, we will optimistically be able to add support
Add .5 PE hours. For example, currently .5 PE, and optimistic we’ll move it to 1
Add 1 new teacher. Will hopefully allow us to support other classes (but not add a new 1st or 2nd grade class)
Slow rollout of Schoology across the school
Teacher newsletters will all be sent via new tool
This use will hopefully increase over time
Goal is to make Bryant a welcoming environment
Multicultural event that will replace Winterfest this winter
Thanksgiving-time family feast event
Informational session for second-language parents this fall and spring
Considering adding a second curriculum night in the spring
Adding additional country flags for the gym—if you don’t see countries you want to be represented, reach out
Added welcome signs to all the doors to help make it more inclusive
Asks:
$2000 budget request from art teacher
Discussion of role of PTSA to fund programs
Would have liked to have this ask in budget process at end of last year
This is a district supported role, which traditionally have supplies supplied by district
We do provide supplies for artist in residence
Whitney: let’s see the final numbers for supplies, and if we do have additional funds we could use them to support this.
In the future this should be added up front
$2000 Principal line item: provide additional opportunities (e.g. a student that needs additional attention, or teacher conferences)
Partial increase for literacy teacher. $1280.
Committee Reports
Fundraising
Spring survey about what families were interested in
15% response rate
3/4 satisfied with fundraising
1/2 want more visibility into use of funds
Teaching support ranked #1, tutoring and academic support #2, social and emotional support #3, and then #4 arts and culture (distant 4th)
3/4 said they would contribute to playground but wanted improvements to the field
1/2 wanted us to do more for other schools, 1/2 wanted more done for their kids
We should continue to provide opportunities to give to other schools
These conversations mirror those on the PTSA
Annual campaign
Discussion over what to do for prizes
Membership
New system, and some PTSA board members need to update their membership (board members must be members, anyone who handles cash must also be a member for insurance purposes)
215 paid members, 87 student members
Volunteers
54 responses to volunteer interest survey. Will send to different category chairs
Looking for mentors, Reflections the only one without volunteers
Bryant Blast position also open
New family orientation on 10/1, one in morning and one in evening
Legislative
Olivia, youth organizing for Global Climate Strike, presented information about the student-led strike on Friday 9/20
Detailed information about legislative updates will be on FB
Needs a separate page on the site
Teacher Representative
No update
Communications
Working on simplifying communications
New Business
Art Docent Program, Nicholas Eve
Volunteer program where Bryant parents come into class 1x month and teach about art
Program is making some changes this year
Goals: increasing consistency of content and its delivery
New curriculum, with same programs across the school
New trainings for each unit (in person and online trainings being developed)
Improve coverage across all the classes (previously a wide range of involvement across the classes)
Changing from hero model of art history to studio model, with an emphasis on fundamental art lessons
Increased amount of activity and discussion
Will collect lots of feedback and data to understand what is/isn’t working
Phase 1 of a 2 phase project. Phase 1 every student gets some education. Phase 2 (next year) will focus on different pathways per grade
PTSA can help in the following ways:
Fund artist notebooks (unlined): ~$0.89/unit
Mirrors (for self portraits—approx 1 class worth in art docent closet)
Battery operated lights (~$50)
Viewfinder (helps frame drawing). $40 for transparencies
We already have $1000 in art docent budget
Additional new business, Whitney Griesbach
There was a vote over email to approve funding new soccer goals
Presentation of New Standing Rules, Whitney Griesbach
All parents and caregivers are welcome to attend our first Speaker: Wednesday, October 2nd at 7-8:30 pm in the Bryant Library
This 90-minute workshop teaches you the foundational principles of mindfulness and the impact it’s having in our schools and at home.You’ll be able to understand the benefits of Mindfulness and learn how to practice Mindfulness at home as a family.
Cultivating Mindfulness helps you: -Create Self-Awareness -Develop emotional regulation skills -Increase your ability to focus
Why Mindfulness Matters: Practicing mindfulness electrifies our ability to regulate mood and emotion and reduces stress and anxiety. For parents this means stronger relationships with their children through empathy and self-awareness. For students this means greater emotional stability for a fulfilling life and mental clarity necessary for deep focus and peace.
About the Instructor: Kristy Banks has a Masters in Elementary and Special Education from Teacher’s College Columbia University and is a certified Behavior Analyst. She continues her mindfulness education journey through workshops and courses.
Since 2010, Kristy has been a special education teacher at the Kent School District, teaching grades two through twelve. She first introduced mindfulness into her classroom in 2015. Struck by the impact it had, colleagues requested she introduce mindfulness in their classrooms. Over the past four years, she’s helped a dozen classrooms and over a hundred kids experience the joy of meditation.
In an effort to strengthen our school-to-home communications, all Bryant teachers, including specialists (Art, Library, Music, PE) will be posting updates and class materials on Schoology, Seattle Schools’ learning management system. To get set-up on Schoology, we have created this step-by-step document.
Spirit Wear is available for purchase during a limited time only. Sales end 9/23. Available this year are collegiate colors and the ever-popular Seahawk colors. New this year are Strideline socks! Purchases can be made here: https://bryantptsa.givingfuel.com/bryant-wear
There’s nothing like finishing off the first week back (or if you’re a Kindergartner, celebrating the last Friday before school starts) at Bryant with ice cream! This is the ever-popular event for families to rub shoulders with old buddies, teachers, and new friends. One bowl for $3 or two bowls for $5 supports the 4th Graders as they start raising funds for 5th Grade Islandwood camp. Enter through the set of three doors on the southwest side of the building adjacent to the Bryant Garden.
Calling all Bryant 4th Grade Families! This is a BIG 4th-grade fundraiser for our class trip to Islandwood next year. We need lots of adult volunteers and 4th-grade scoopers to help pull this off! Please click on the link to reserve your spot now!
2nd annual Back to Bryant! Ease back into the school year with a visit the day before school! Check out your new classroom, establish a nickname with your new teacher, and see some classmates at this casual re-entry to the year. No need to bring anything other than yourself.
When you’ve had enough classroom time, come join everyone out on the schoolyard for some lemonade until you’re ready to go home and get prepared for the big day.
Reminder to submit receipts before June 20th for reimbursement
Legislative Chairs Report Jean Charette, Yvonne Roberts & Diana Fryc
Sam Fogg: Cards to thank our legislators for helping to lift levies
Primary August 6th– 10 candidates running for City Council, 3 School Board candidates
Forum for learning about candidates on June 24th at Roosevelt, more forums to come
Bryant Leadership Team Kim Love
Finalized CSIP at last BLT meeting. Main change is the two focuses: ELA and Math
Principal’s Report Charmaine Marshall
Recognized and appreciated PTSA Exec Board- “phenomenal year” at Bryant due to volunteerism and staff/parent support
Enrollment is projected to be higher than this past year- will know definitively about staffing adjustments by the end of this school year
Thanks to Melissa who will be leaving this year to become a principal in Edmonds
Melissa said her goodbyes
New Business
Allison Broadgate: Stewardship and Messaging around where different funding goes, will be sending out a message about future dollars and where they will be spent. Big question is whether or not to launch a capital campaign forplayground/what this would cost- survey to families to find out and how much families would be willing to donate or time they would be willing to give. Will be sent to Exec team first.
General Membership Vote 19-20 Budget Brita Willis and Lorraine Sawicki
Review budget for approval, will be presented again in the fall after books are closed (see document), General Membership will vote on it again in October.
Ann Sonnen makes motion to approve budget/ Nelly G seconds. All approve.
General Membership Vote on 19-20 Board Tammy Shorr