“Direct Give” is our simple, straightforward annual fundraising campaign during which we ask families and the community to contribute towards our annual fundraising goals of $360 per student. The best way to donate is through Kindful online:
More details on Direct Give and the fun activities happening during the campaign can be found here.
Congratulations and thank you for all of hard work, Stacy! Enjoy your dedicated parking spot in front of the school for a month!
Have an idea for our next Volunteer of the Month? Let us know: volunteers@geneseehillpta.org
Many schools across the Seattle Public School District have been affected by budget cuts for the 2018-2019 school year, and unfortunately, Genesee Hill is one of those schools. Our school was affected for a few reasons. Current enrollment is 678 students, which is below both the 692 student projection that the initial budget was based on last February and the updated projection of 686 this past June. Also, the shared equity priority that the district implements preserved staffing at schools with higher needs and reduced staffing at schools with greater resources and deeper programs that could absorb adjustments easier, like Genesee Hill.
Principal Kischner, Ms. Dunn and Ms. Henn worked closely with the Building Leadership Team (BLT) and PTA leadership to implement the budget adjustment in ways that respected the amazing staff members we have at our school, minimized disruption at the homeroom level and followed contractual guidelines. Starting October 1, the following plan to address the budget adjustment will be implemented:
Principal Kischner will be hosting a discussion about this plan and the budget adjustment at 5:30 pm Tuesday, September 25 in the library. Additional information about the plan for our school are included in his letter emailed to families September 24. Additional information on the district-wide staffing and budget adjustments can be found on the Seattle Public School District website, and questions can be emailed to Principal Kischner directly at gakischner@seattleschools.org or staffing@seattleschools.org.
Please join us at our first General PTA Membership Gathering of the school year on Thursday, October 4 from 6:15 pm – 8:00 pm in the Genesee Hill Elementary lunchroom. Childcare is provided for school aged children. Our Fall Membership Gathering gives our membership and community an opportunity to learn more about our PTA’s vision and goals, activities and events planned for the year and how you can get involved, whether it is sharing your time, talents or resources. Our Fall Membership Meeting is also where will we fill our open board position (Vice Treasurer), accept nominations for participation in the Washington State PTA Legislative Assembly and review and approve our revised 2018-2019 PTA Budget.
PTA General Membership Meetings are open to all current PTA members and the community. However, if you are not a member and would like to vote at the meeting to elect the board and approve the budget, please join the PTA now. (Please note that your PTA membership is an annual membership and must renewed each school year.)
Open Elected Board Positions and Nominees
Greg Deviny – Vice Treasurer
Open Appointed Board Positions
Legislative Advocacy Chair(s)
Nominating Committee
*If you are interested in being nominated for one of the open board positions (elected or appointed positions), please let me know.
We look forward to seeing you at the meeting!
Erika Rasmussen, PTA President
On September 20, the Seattle Public School District posted information on staffing adjustments for the 2018-2019 school year. These adjustments will impact Genesee Hill Elementary School by decreasing our staff. The school must submit its staffing adjustments to the district Monday, September 24. That evening, Principal Gerrit Kischner will email families an update on the school’s staffing changes, how we will be addressing the impact and why staffing adjustments are happening at our school. In follow up to the email, he will be discussing the staffing adjustments with families who are interested and able to attend at 5:30 pm Tuesday, September 25 in the school library. This is before the special Trudy Ludwig presentation, which begins at 6:30 pm. Information will be posted here on the blog when it is available. If you would like to contact the Seattle Public School District directly, you can email staffing@seattleschools.org.
The Genesee Hill PTA is hosting bestselling children’s author Trudy Ludwig, who will be talking to parents about topics that have become more and more prevalent for kids growing up today: cyberbullying, social ostracism and how kids can engage in kind, caring ways.
Trudy’s emphasis is on empowerment – giving school communities the tips, tools, and resources that help children connect and engage with their peers in kind, caring ways. In this adult presentation, she’ll discuss the latest research in relational aggression, cyberbullying, the nature of boys’ and girls’ friendships, social ostracism and inclusion, kindness in a digital world, and many other timely and important topics related to bullying. On September 26, Trudy will lead student presentations for K-2 and 3-5 grades to address bullying/friendship issues in an age-appropriate manner. She will also provide a staff presentation to help school staff members in their ongoing efforts to promote a safe, social-emotional learning environment for our students.
The presentation will be at 6:30 pm Tuesday, September 25 at Genesee Hill Elementary, and all community members are welcome. RSVP here: https://bit.ly/2xsk6KJ. Child care will be provided for school age kids.
*We will have a handful of books available to purchase the night of the event.
Our volunteer of the month is Mike Busby. Mike is our Treasurer on the PTA and is a great example of a volunteer who contributes to our school outside of school hours. In his role as Assistant Treasurer and now his second year as Treasurer, Mike leads the PTA Finance team in the enormous role tracking our expenditures and keeping us financially responsible. In addition to the hundreds of hours he spends each year in writing checks, balancing our books, maintaining our non-profit status, and preparing our taxes, he also continuously challenges the PTA to ensure the dollars we spend are true to our mission and our membership created and approved budget. And yes…this is a volunteer position!
Mike is dad to Aidan (5th Grade) an Ian (2nd Grade). He has worked at T-Mobile for 8 years in Telecom Product Strategy. When not at his day job or doing volunteer work for the school, Mike is an avid skier, cyclist and loves camping with his kids and wife, Maureen.
Congratulations and thank you for all of hard work, Mike! Enjoy your dedicated parking spot in front of the school for a month!
Have an idea for our next Volunteer of the Month? Let us know: volunteers@geneseehillpta.org
Students are motivated to achieve more when parents, caregivers or other significant adults get involved in their school.
We are building a diverse, inclusive, and culturally competent volunteer program to best serve our students. We encourage people of different cultural, ethnic, educational and national backgrounds to apply to volunteer at Genesee Hill.
Apply now so you’re ready when opportunities arise! We are currently seeking volunteers for the following: Click on the link to sign up for each job. The volunteer application process includes:
Complete the online Volunteer Application (required yearly)
Have a copy of your current, government issued photo ID available to upload – or present to the front office or to volunteer coordinator, Rene Bibaud
Complete the Adult Sexual Misconduct Prevention course (online). If you taken the course previously, please submit a copy of your certificate of completion or the month/year the course was completed.
If you need a paper application, please request it from the school office where you wish to volunteer.
Rene Bibaud – Volunteer Coordinator volunteers@geneseehillpta.org
Looking for an opportunity to help out at school? We need volunteers to supervise the lunchroom daily from 11 AM – 12:15 PM.
Volunteers for lunch will report to the lunchroom and ask another parent volunteer what is needed.
Please look on this as an opportunity to fill a very necessary role and sign up for a shift HERE.
NOTE: Volunteers need to complete paperwork and a background screening annually. Volunteer applications can now be submitted online HERE.
Questions? Contact the Volunteer Coordinator Rene Bibaud
1st Grade Cohort, it is your turn for before-school recess duty! This group is responsible from September 5th – November 2nd. Take a look at the Sign-up Genius and help when you can.
Before School Recess – sign up HERE.
Be sure to register as a volunteer (needs to be done each year) online HERE.
Our school is committed to providing supervision for our students on the playground from 7:30 to 7:50 am. With the increasing number of students, we need additional help to ensure everyone’s safety. Each cohort will be responsible for specific weeks of coverage, with two volunteers per morning.
Contact the Rene Bibaud, Volunteer Coordinator, at volunteers@geneseehilllpta.org for more information