Officers & CommitteesMeetingsMembershipVolunteer OpportunitiesBudgetSAT/ACT Readiness ProgramForms
|
ISSAQUAH HIGH SCHOOL PTSAP.O. Box #2541, Issaquah, WA 98027
The Issaquah High School PTSA Welcomes You! Click on the links to the left for additional information about our PTSA.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
·
January’s PTSA
meeting is Friday, January 6th, 2006,
9:30 – 11:30 am, in the IHS Library. · Four ballot measures have been approved by the Issaquah School Board for a February 7, 2006 election. At its December meeting, IHS PTSA voted to endorse each of these measures Click on “Bond and Levy Information” at left for details. · SAT/PSAT/ACT News: Registrations for Winter ACT and SAT mock exams and a winter/spring SAT readiness course are now being accepted. Click on “SAT/ACT Readiness Program” at left for more information and specific dates. Click on “Forms” at left to access the registration forms. · Internet Safety Parent Seminar: The Internet is a great tool for school, work and to keep in touch with the world but… How do we KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE? How do we teach our kids to NAVIGATE THE NET SAFELY? How do we know WHAT THEY ARE ACCESSING? How do we know what they have on MySpace or Blogs? How do we STOP IM BULLYING? Come to a parent seminar on January 12, 2006, from 7:00-9:00 pm, in the ISD Administration Building. The seminar’s goal is to have you leave prepared to work with your children on how to use the Internet wisely, safely, and with the freedom to talk with them about what they encounter online. Go to the Issaquah School District website for information on this and other parent education opportunities. · IHS PTSA is pleased to have five students create six submissions for the PTA Reflections competition. Students submitted in the categories of photography, visual arts, and literature. The IHS students participating are: Cora Houser – photography Noelle Oliviera – visual arts Elyssa Dixon - literature Emily Fine – literature and photography Ashley Allot – photography Reflections is a National PTA program. The theme for this year’s competition is "I Wonder Why…” The reception for district finalists will be held in the IHS Commons on Tuesday, January 17, from 7:00 - 9:00 pm. GOOD LUCK to our entrants!! · Quarterly Student Honors: 34 outstanding students were honored at the quarterly honors breakfast December 1st. Principal Paula Phelps spoke about each student while presenting individual certificates honoring them for their contributions to the classroom. Many parents attended, providing a strong show of support for all the students. Congratulations to all students who were honored! The next quarterly awards will take place in March. · Do You Know An Outstanding Volunteer or Educator? - This is your opportunity to recognize a volunteer or educator whose exemplary dedication to students surpasses the norm. Nominations are being accepted for both the Golden Acorn Award and Outstanding Educator Award. The Golden Acorn Award is given to an individual who serves not only the PTSA, but also I.H.S., the district, and community. The Outstanding Educator Award is awarded for providing educational opportunities beyond the scope of his/her job by a teacher, specialist, member of the support staff, administrator or community member. These are two different awards and both nomination forms can be found by going to Forms and then to “Golden Acorn” and/or “OEA”. The deadline for nominations for both awards will be in February, and can be emailed to Deed Chase at deedchase@comcast.net, returned to the school office, or mailed to the I.H.S. PTSA address found on the form. · A volunteer is needed to chair be a liaison to Tiger Mountain High School. If interested, please contact Mary Lou Pauly at karlpauly@aol.com. · Microsoft recently announced a way for employees to earn money for non-profit organizations (like IHS PTSA!) by volunteering for these organizations. Click on “Fundraising” at left if you are a Microsoft employee who would like to help. This link also features other ways to contribute to our PTSA. Thanks for your support! · Student Directories were mailed to all PTSA members in November. Please let Caryn (carynmat@qwest.net) or Nancy (n.kamitsuka@comcast.net) know if you did not receive it.
THANK YOU · Thank you to all who have joined PTSA! To date, we have 1155 members.
· Thanks to all who helped with the Quarterly Student Honors breakfast, the Student Directory, and Reflections.
Thanks to each and every volunteer – we can’t do it without you!!
Drug and Alcohol Awareness · Parents - The Parents, Teens & the Law booklet is now on our school website under “Parent Information.” This is a resource guide to help you and your teens understand the risks, laws and consequences of driving, drinking and drugs. It also contains great information for communicating with your teens and signs to watch out for, along with a list of local area resources for counseling and advice.
· The teen years can be a trying time for your child. The stress of school and expectations can mount and depression, anxiety or substance abuse can result. Sometimes the signs between normal adolescent behavior and signs indicating substance abuse or use can be a matter of degrees. As a parent, you have to rely on your knowledge of normal behavior and act on it. Ignoring these behaviors will not make them go away and may harm your teen. If you suspect problems, contact a counselor or advisor. List of names of help agencies are at the back of the Parents, Teens and the Law booklet.
Here are some tips to help you and your teen make it through: LEARN!!!!! * Learn as much as you can about substance abuse and use * Learn about the signs for anxiety, depression and suicide * Learn to communicate and teach your teen how to communicate - Don’t ask 2 questions in a row, without getting an answer to the first one - Don’t ask “why” questions - they lead to defensiveness * Learn about your computer - What websites are your teens visiting? - Review IM away messages and find out if they have a “My Space” website - Ask your teen to tell you about “My Space” and teach your teen about problems with posting information on a website. It’s open to EVERYONE.
BE THE ENFORCER!!! * Use tough love. Surveys of teens show it works. * Don’t be a friend….be a parent. Provide structure and guidelines * Ask tough questions. “Where are you going? Are the parents home? Will there be alcohol or drugs there? Are you thinking of suicide?”
BE THERE FOR YOUR KIDS!!!!! * Listen!!!! Be there for your kids when they fall (and they will) and help them know that they can learn from their mistakes * Tell your teen that their effort is important …. that they don’t have to be perfect. * Praise your teen and give them hugs. And then more hugs!!! They need your approval.
SENIORS
·
Excitement is building
as more and more seniors sign-up for the All Night Celebration on
Graduation night! This special event provides one last chance for the
class of 2006 to be together in a fun, activity packed night.
Registration continues. The price is $150.
LEGISLATION · Washington State PTA Legislative FOCUS DAY is January 26th. A full day of activities is planned and includes the following: Issue briefings on WSPTA’s five Priority Issues (see below) Pre-arranged visits with legislators and legislative staff Brown bag lunch with fellow PTA members Legislative committee hearings A tour of the newly renovated Capitol Building Networking with other advocates from your area Additional learning opportunities For more information or if you would like to go to Olympia for this event, please contact Deborah Parsons, Legislation chairperson: deborah@theparsons.com or (425) 373-5969.
· The following five issues will be the issues the State PTA focuses its lobbying efforts on in the coming state legislative session. These priorities were determined at the PTA’s Legislative Assembly in October: 1. K-12 Education Funding - The Washington State PTA shall initiate and/or support legislation or policies that fully fund all elements of basic education as well as programs that are essential to educating all students to current academic standards. 2. Definition of Basic Education - The Washington State PTA shall initiate and/or support legislation or policies that redefine basic education in Washington State and mirror that definition with the current Washington State education funding study. 3. Simple Majority for School Levies and Bonds - The Washington State PTA shall initiate and/or support legislation or policies that allow the people to vote on Simple Majority for school funding measures. 4. Multiple Measures of Student Achievement - The Washington State PTA shall initiate and/or support legislation or policies that create a balanced assessment system with high standards and multiple ways for students to demonstrate learning. This assessment system must provide students with wide access to multiple forms of statewide assessments. 5. Mathematics and Science - The Washington State PTA shall initiate and/or support legislation or policies that strengthen scientific and mathematical education in Washington State including but limited to 1) Enhanced pre-K through college education in mathematics and the sciences; and 2) Elimination of the gender gap in educational opportunities and achievement in mathematics and the sciences in pre-K through college.
· For legislative information and/or updates, contact Deborah Parsons, Legislation chairperson: deborah@theparsons.com or (425) 373-5969.
PTSA GOALS for 2005-2006 · IHS PTSA adheres to the mission and objectives of the Washington State PTA. In addition, at the October 2005 General Membership meeting, the following goals were adopted: · Work with the school to develop programs to address the gap in student achievement. · Focus on improving communication links with the parent community by partnering with the school to: · Improve timeliness of website updates and information; · Promote the use of the new school e-news group, family access, and basmati, and provide user feedback to the school; and · Support the efforts of the VIS by supplying volunteers, and disseminate information on the upcoming bond and levy · Continue supporting and developing programs at IHS that meet the needs of students, the school and parent communities.
GENERAL INFORMATION Our PTSA is a private, non-profit organization with members dedicated to the service of the students, parents and staff of Issaquah High School and advocates for the health, education, safety and welfare of all children. We are affiliated with the Washington State PTA and National PTA.
Our Board of Directors consists of officers elected by the general membership each spring for the following school year and appointed committee chairs representing many areas of interest throughout our school community. Each parent and staff member is invited to join simply by completing a membership form and paying a nominal fee. A benefit of membership is our student directory, published each fall and mailed to each PTSA member. Membership in PTSA supports our many programs and events and shows dedication and commitment to our students and school community. In addition to simply joining, parents have the opportunity to become directly involved in one of our many committees by contacting the committee chairpersons. Our meetings are held monthly and are open to all members - a great resource for school information and networking with other caring and dedicated parents. Click on “Officers & Committees” for contact information. |