Welcome!
PALS ( Partners at Lowell School) PTA welcomes you to the Lowell Elementary School community. We are here to support the children, parents, guardians and staff at Lowell. We provide opportunities for community building and parent and guardian involvement in the school. We work with parents and guardians to identify priorities and present them to the staff. We provide both volunteer and financial support to increase opportunities for all students. We encourage PTA member participation in meetings, committees, events and everyday volunteer activities in and out of the classroom.
Click here to download the PALS PTA membership form in a pdf file.
PALS PTA Board 2007-2008
The PALS PTA Board is elected annually by the general PTA membership at a spring meeting. This year's officers are as follows:
Co-Presidents: Stephanie Otis and Julie Weed
Treasurer: Jody Fuentes
Secretary: Elise Kim
VP at Large: Anna Davis
VP Communication: Mona Locke
Dragon Tales: Catherine Wickham
Thursday Note: Jana Pettit
Volunteer Coordinators: Karen Santos and Leslie Stocker
PALS PTA MEETINGS
The PTA has approximately five general membership meetings a year. They are held in the Lowell cafeteria. They are announced in the Thursday Note and through the PALS PTA e-mail list. Minutes are posted on the bulletin board on the wall outside the school office. PTA general meetings may include speakers, staff presentations and discussions of issues relevant to parents and guardians.
The PTA Board meets periodically during the school year. Meeting dates and times are published in the Thursday Note . The Board sometimes meets during the hour preceding general membership meetings. Board meetings are open to all PTA members. Minutes from Board meetings are posted on the bulletin board on the wall outside of the school office.
In addition to providing volunteer support for school related activities, the PTA also sponsors many events and services.
PALS PTA EVENTS
PTA Sponsored Events:
Summer Picnic (August)
First Day Coffee
Grade-Level Welcome Teas (first full week of school)
Movie Night (September)
Fall Family Dance/Cultural Heritage Night
Grade-Level Family Events
Garden/Grounds Cleanup
Bring Your Grownup to Lunch Day (January)
Bingo Night (March)
Mariners Night (May)
Fifth Grade Promotion (June)
Other PTA Sponsored Services
PTA Handbook
Common Cents
School Directory
Picture Day
Northwest Harvest Food Drive
Student Banking
After School Language Programs
School Tours
Thursday Note
Lost and Found
Dragon Tales Newsletters
Math Club
Lowell Website
Reflections Art Contest
Holiday Family Giving Program
Performing Arts Program
Lowell Yearbook
PALS PTA E-mail List
Teacher & Staff Appreciation Events
Lowell T-shirt Sales
Important Note: The school and school nurse are not responsible for medical care of students participating in before and after-school activities sponsored by the PTA or other organizations. Medications in the school nurse's office are not available for use at these events. If your child has a life-threatening health issue (e.g. history of acute allergic reactions requiring an EpiPen), please meet with the class instructor to inform them of the situation and arrange for emergency care. If you are unclear whether an event is school sponsored, please call the office at 252-3020.
METHODS OF COMMUNICATION
PALS PTA E-mail List
E-mails sent to parents and guardians through the e-mail list communicate time-sensitive information. To be included on the list, send an e-mail message giving your name, and your child's grade to palspta@palspta.org. Announcements to be sent via the e-mail list can be sent to palspta@palspta.org .
Thursday Note
A MUST READ!! This one-page newsletter comes home with your student every Thursday. It provides a current calendar of events and a brief overview of what's happening and what's needed at school. Look for fliers and attachments stapled to the back of the Thursday Note . If you would like to receive the Thursday Note by e-mail, please sign-up for the PALS PTA e-mail list (see below).
Lowell Link
New this year, we will be "connecting the community" with a Web based Network. This secure Network will allow access to all kinds of information/resources pertaining to our school including: events, school calendar, forms, classroom pages, activities and much more. Look for a rollout mid-late fall.
Dragon Tales
This multi-page newsletter provides an in-depth look at what's happening at school. Dragon Tales is not published in September or January.
Lowell Website
Address is http://www.seattleschools.org/schools/lowell/. The PTA Handbook is also available on the Lowell website.
How to Publish Information
If you want to publish information in any of the PTA sponsored communication tools, please e-mail the chairperson for the respective committee (see list of committee chairs listed on the following pages).
Front Hall Bulletin Board
Flyers regarding PTA, community and neighborhood events and classes are located in the plastic wall pockets under the PTA bulletin board outside the school office. Minutes from PTA board and general membership meetings are also posted there.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
There are many opportunities for involvement, at varying levels. One of the best ways to help build the Lowell community and to gain awareness about the school, particularly one that is an all-city draw, is to be involved. Here are some ideas for involvement:
ATTEND
PTA general meetings
All-school events
Grade-level events
VOLUNTEER
In the classroom
On the playground
On a PTA committee
At grade-level events
At PTA events
How to Volunteer
Contact your student's teacher.
Contact a Committee Chair / PTA Board member.
Sign-up on the Volunteer Opportunities sheet available in the "First-Day-of-School Packet."
Contact one of the Volunteer Coordinators for the 2007-08 school year, Leslie Stocker at 829-9952 or klstocker@comcast.net or Karen Santos at 322-8822 or karenrsantos@msn.com.
Logistics of Volunteering
Complete a Seattle Public Schools-Screening Form Request for Criminal History (available in the "First-Day-of-School Packet" or in the school office, return the completed form to the office before volunteering).
Sign in and out of the Volunteer Sign-in book in the office. This allows the office staff to keep track of who is in the building as well as the number of volunteer hours performed at Lowell.
Wear a volunteer badge from the office, to identify yourself to building staff.
If you plan to drive on field trips, you need to complete a driver form. The form can be obtained from the school office. A copy of your driver's license and car insurance will also need to be turned into the office (copies can be made at school).
Listing of Volunteer Committees
2007-2008 School Year
Ability Awareness Day
After School Chinese
After School French
After School Japanese
After School Spanish
Annual Fund Drive
Bingo Night
Bring Your Grownup to Lunch
Building Leadership Team
Chess Club
Computer Technology
Cultural Diversity
Fall Family Dance
Field Games/Movie Night
Food Drive
Gardens/Grounds
Legislative Liaison
Library
Lost and Found
Mariners Night
Math Club
PTA Membership
Picture Day
Reflections
Safety Committee
School Directory
School Tours
Science Kit Inventory
Shirt Sales
Social Skills
Special Education Liaisons
Student Banking
Teacher/Staff Appreciation
Thursday Packet Assembly
Vision/Hearing Testing
Wrapping Paper Sales/Entertainment Books
Grants
Hospitality
Yearbook
OTHER RELATED GROUPS
Building Leadership Team
The BLT is a school governance committee that oversees policy at the school. It consists of school staff from both the APP and Special Education programs, as well as a parent or guardian representative from each program and a representative from the PTA. This year's parent representatives are Janet Pelz (PTA) and Valerie Breen (APP). The BLT Special Education position is currently open.
APP Advisory Committee
The APP Advisory Committee is a group charged and appointed by the Seattle Public Schools Superintendent to study issues and make recommendations regarding the APP program directly to the school district. It is comprised of APP parent and APP staff representatives from each of the APP school buildings. Official meetings are held quarterly, but work is ongoing and year round. Meetings with the APP community are held monthly (formerly known as APP Task Force).
Issues currently discussed include APP building capacity and possible solutions, testing and eligibility requirements, general curricular issues and rigor, and more. Meetings are held with school district decision-makers, the Advanced Learning Office staff, and APP principals as needed. Information on the committee and its work should be available on the school district website under "Advanced Learning."
Communication to and from the APP community is important. Lowell parents, guardians, and staff with questions and concerns can contact their school's representatives, Stacey Devenney (Lowell Parent), staceydevenney@hotmail.com or the committee chair, Stephanie Bower, stbower@comcast.net (WMS parent). Frequent communication from the Advisory Committee is sent via the PALS PTA e-mail list and the APP Advisory Committee e-mail list. Please contact Communications Liaison Karen Jensen at urbankaren@aol.com to have your name included and to receive timely information on critical issues.
PTA FINANCES
Here's what we are funding for the 2007-2008 school year:
• 100% of a classroom teacher's contract
• 90% of the Instrumental Music Program
• $600 classroom grants to each teacher to fund particular classroom projects
• Funding for the Columbia Writers Project
• Playground and safety equipment
• Fifth grade promotion event
• Library support
• Opportunity Fund which grants funds for mid-year projects
• Assemblies and speakers
• Field trip scholarships
• PTA operations
• Experts-in-Residence program
• Drama program for all grades
• Social Skills Program
• Professional Development
...and other programs
Fundraising
We currently have two fund-raisers, the Annual Fund and the Sally Foster Wrapping Paper sale during the school year.
Annual Fund
Our major fund-raiser for the year! All families are encouraged to participate at whatever level they are able. The kick-off for this drive is in November and continues for the duration of the school year. This is a direct, tax-deductible contribution to the PTA. 100% of all donations go directly to the school.
Sally Foster Wrapping Paper Sales
The kick-off for this drive is in mid-September. The school receives 50% of all wrapping paper sales revenues.
IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION
District Transportation Office (for bus related issues): 252-0900 ansdept@seattleschools.org
Superintendent: Maria Goodloe-Johnson 252-0167 superintendent@seattleschools.org
Chief Academic Officer Carla Santorno 252-0180 cjsantorno@seattleschools.org
Deputy Academic Officer (including Advanced Learning and Special Education): Michelle Corker-Curry 252-0056 mcorker@seattleschools.org
Manager of Special Education and Advanced Learning: Colleen Shea Stump 252-0134 csstump@seattleschools.org
Supervisor of Advanced Learning: Robert C.Vaughan 252-0134 rcvaughan@seattleschools.org
Assistant to the Office of Advanced Learning (Highly Capable Programs): Vera Stritzel, Main Line 252-0130 vjstritzel@seattleschools.org
Advanced Learning Consulting Teacher: D. Roger Daniels 252-0132 drdaniels@seattleschools.org
Special Education Supervisor: Becky Clifford , Elementary programs 252-0887 rlclifford@seattleschools.org Julie Mack, Pre-school, Elementary 252-0838
Special Education Consulting Teacher: Peggy McLeod 252-0836 pmcleod@seattleschools.org
Addresses for all Seattle Public Schools personnel can be found on the Seattle School District home page at http://www.seattleschools.org.
Seattle School Board (by District)
I. Sally Soriano 252-0052 sally.soriano@seattleschools.org
II. Darlene Flynn 252-0031 darlene.flynn@seattleschools.org
III. Brita Butler-Wall 729-3202 brita.butler-wall@seattleschools.org
IV. Michael DeBell 706-3848 michael.debell@seattleschools.org
V. Mary Bass* 720-3303 mary.bass@seattleschools.org
VI. Irene Stewart 933-5338 irene.stewart@seattleschools.org
VII.Cheryl Chow 721-4199 cheryl.chow@seattleschools.org
*represents Lowell
School Breakfast and Lunch Menus
A link to the breakfast and lunch menus can be found on the Seattle School District home page at http://www.seattleschools.org.
FOR COMMITTEE CHAIRS:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
As chairperson of a PALS PTA committee, you are responsible for a function or event that means a great deal to Lowell. And whether your task is a one-time-only affair or a year-round activity, you've probably got some questions. We are here to help.
I've just taken responsibility for a committee. Now what? Don't panic. Check-in with the previous committee chair. If you don't know who that is, ask the PALS PTA VP of Volunteers. Give yourself enough time to plan and publicize your event. Some committee chairs maintain a folder in the Lowell office that may contain helpful information. If you have a folder, check it frequently for messages.
How do I schedule an all-school event to be held at Lowell?
If you are planning an all-school event, you should always check-in with the PALS PTA board to make sure the event is on the list of sponsored activities. Then check with the Lowell office staff for available dates and locations. They can point you to the necessary paperwork.
How do I schedule a grade-level event?
If you are planning a grade-level event, you should check-in with the PALS PTA board to make sure the event is on the list of sponsored activities. Then check with the teachers for scheduling. Yes, there's paperwork involved.
What are PALS PTA sponsored activities?
These are activities approved by the PALS PTA board, in accordance with liability policies. Ask the PALS PTA VP of Volunteers or the PALS PTA board President for the list of approved activities.
I want to discuss my event with the PALS PTA board. How do I get on the agenda?
Contact the board President and state your case.
Is there a budget for my event?
Check with the PALS PTA Treasurer to see if funds are available.
How do I get reimbursed if I buy supplies for my event?
Always check with the PALS PTA board before spending any of your own money. If your expenditure is approved in advance, keep your receipts and turn them in with a funds request form, available in the PALS PTA Treasurer's file in the Lowell office. Allow about two weeks for reimbursement.
I'd like to put up some decorations. Any ideas?
Lowell's art teacher is full of great ideas, and the art room is packed with the right stuff. Check-in with the art teacher and let the inspiration flow. Allow plenty of lead-time, and track down some volunteers to help with the work.
The VP of Volunteers maintains a list of people who have signed up to work a specific event, or who are willing to be called upon as needed.
How do I publicize my event?
Get going on your publicity well ahead of your event, if possible. You can use the Thursday Note , published weekly; Dragon Tales , published monthly; the Lowell website, the PALS PTA e-mail list; the bulletin board outside the Lowell office; and the hallways to bring attention to your event. Contact the editor of the Thursday Note to get on the calendar. Write up a press release for the Thursday Note and for Dragon Tales . If you are making up a flyer to be attached to the Thursday Note , you must get approval from secretary in the front office. The office can tell you how many copies of the flyer you should photocopy for distribution with the Thursday Note .
Where can I make photocopies?
There are two photocopiers: one on the main floor and one downstairs.
How do I use the PALS PTA e-mail list?
Contact the PALS PTA VP of Communications at palspta@palspta.org.
Whew! My event is over. Now what?
Take a deep breath. Send thank you notes to your volunteers. Tell the Thursday Note editor the names of your volunteers, and anything else you'd like to say about the event. Also, think about what worked well and what didn't. Write up this valuable information for the next committee chair. And thank you again for volunteering your time.