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Eckstein Weekly News

The Weekly is distributed on Thursdays during the school year. Please send submissions by *Tuesday at 5PM. Inclusion is at the discretion of the Eckstein PTSA. Your 2020-21 Eckstein Weekly is edited by the PTSA Communications Team.
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The Eckstein Weekly ~ May 11, 2020

5/12/2020

 
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A Message from Your PTSA
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Dear Families,
Thanks to everyone who made signs for the Eckstein staff last week - it was so appreciated! Staff got to see and feel the love as they did an "appreciation drive-through" in the parking lot behind the school. They were treated to snacks, a goodie bag with fun Eckstein Eagle branded socks (paid for with money from the Eckstein Annual Campaign) and an appearance by our awesome eagle mascot!
There's a lot going on this week as well! Scroll down for details on:
  • A food and hygiene drive to help community members in need (this week)
  • A Q&A with our School Board Director (5/14)
  • A parenting webinar on how to help your "quaranteen" through the pandemic (5/12)
  • The Associated Student Body (ASB), and information on how to join. Also, a virtual talent show! Submissions requested by 5/22.
  • Free tutoring - now!
  • And a thank you to YOU!!
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Stay safe, wash your hands and hang tough!

Chat with Your School Board Director
Q&A With School Board Director Chandra Hampson
Hampson will be taking questions from parents and staff on Thursday, May 14th from 6-7pm. To make things run smoothly, please send your questions in advance of the meeting to Natalya Yudkovsky.
The School Board is responsible for creating the district budget, setting district policies and procedures, and overseeing the workings of the school district. For more options on joining the Zoom Meeting, click here.
  • Thursday, May 14th, 6-7 PM
  • Join with Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84104077287?pwd=YzFxZWRBaDRaeE9hRVNBMW1nQ3RJQT09
  • Meeting ID: 841 0407 7287
  • Password: 688091

Academics and Creativity
Free Tutoring!
Some generous former Eckstein students (current high school students) would like to help those who need tutoring during this time of school closure.
We've received links from two groups who are looking to help.
TeenTutoring
This is a website created by Taylor Bailey and Claire/Ian Eggleston. The purpose is to help teens who are struggling during these unprecedented times with certain academic concepts through tutoring with their peers. You can become a tutor to help your peers, or you can be tutored by one of your peers. All tutoring is FREE to any Seattle Public Schools student who needs it!
 LearnInShelter.org
During these unprecedented times, we as a group of student volunteers recognize the struggles of middle and high school students. We understand your problems as students due to recent school closures and are coming together on online platforms to support each other. Our mission at Learn In Shelter is simple: to provide free, high-quality tutoring for students in need. Our sessions are led by qualified tutors over zoom calls.
8th Graders - Registration Update for Roosevelt
Roosevelt needs all incoming students to register ASAP if they haven't already!
Here is the link to complete this process.
Roosevelt needs to move in to the next phase of the scheduling process, but that cannot happen until students have picked classes.
If you have any questions about completing registration, please contact School Counselor Daniel Eneberg - ddeneberg@seattleschools.org. 
Beat the Boredom, Get Creative!
Coyote North has opened registration for ONLINE classes this Spring! Students (10-15 years old) can learn anything from stop-motion animation to jewelry-making, to dance, and more! Classes are pay-what-you-can. Registration can be completed on our website here. Coyote will also be rolling out shorter tutorials with an offline option coming soon. If you have questions, contact Alex Peterson at alex@coyotecentral.org.
SPS Tech Support for Families and Students
Middle and high school students using an SPS laptop can get technical help from SPS the following ways.
  • email laptops@seattleschools.org
  • call 206-252-0100 (7:30am - 4pm, Monday through Friday)
  • Check www.seattleschools.org/tech-supports for frequently asked questions or help with passwords and/or signing in to online tools (Schoology, the Source, etc.)
  • Watch the Schoology video for help setting up your account.

Eagle Life
A Video Thank You to Our Parents!
Eckstein staff know how hard families are working these days, along with our custodians, lunchroom staff, and liaisons at housing communities and this is just a small appreciation video, we hope you enjoy it!
Click here.
Free Parenting Webinar: Supporting Your "Quaranteen"
Parenting a teen during a global pandemic is no joke. There's no "What to Expect When You're Isolating" book. But we have help!
Join ParentMap for a live Q&A with author and speaker Christine Carter, Ph.D. We'll talk about what it looks like to support teens through this crisis.
Topics will include: Why it's so hard for teens to shelter in place; how to notice and respond to kids and their emotions during this time at home; and how to support teens as they grieve their losses (no matter how big or small).
  • Sign Up: Supporting Your Quaranteen: Raising Happy, Healthy Teens in our New Normal
  • Learn more about Sociologist Christine Carter, Ph.D. 
  • When: Tuesday, May 12 at 3 - 4pm.
  • Free!
ASB and Eagle Spirit
This spring, the Leadership class and the Associated Student Body (ASB) have been working to build community while being apart - no small feat! If you have an idea or want to contribute, please reach out to Ms. Poort, ASB Advisor at jcpoort@seattleschools.org 
What’s happening:
  • We are launching our 2nd Eagle News episode today. We alternate these being student-led and staff-led, but all of them are student-produced!
  • We’re looking for community members (staff, students, parents) who are interested in being featured!
  • This week, our own KOMO News 4 meteorologist, Shannon O’Donnell, popped into the newscast to share the weather (she’s an EMS mom too)! Please don’t hesitate to help us make community connections! 
  • Watch episode 2 here: 
  • We are in the middle of ASB elections and encourage all 6th and 7th graders to consider running for elected office!
  • Applications are due by Friday, May 15, 2020 and are on the Support-MS Schoology page (information can be found there as well). 
  • We keep the Instagram account active and promote Eagle news and highlights of staff and students. It can be found @insideeckstein.
  • We are working on a Virtual Talent Show! Please send in submissions by May 22 via the Support MS Schoology page (Students will be producing this video).
Your Donation Dollars
The Eckstein Annual Campaign received an amazing amount of support this year from Eckstein families. If you remember, the campaign raised $110,000. In January alone, we funded $60,000 of teacher and staff requests.
The PTSA is working to identify ways that some of that money can be put to use now - to support our teachers and families. At the same time, next year will almost certainly be a challenge financially, and we will need to have some money in the coffer.
If you are in need of support - right now - to meet your child's educational or basic needs please contact your school counselor.
If you feel as though you can afford to donate to Eckstein's Annual Campaign - you can give here. All money goes to support Eckstein students, families and staff.
Parenting During a Pandemic
This is NOT what we signed up for. It's exhausting trying to do all of the things, all the time. These days as parents, we're all just trying to survive, let alone thrive. Find out how to focus on what really matters, do more with less and forget the rest.
Join ParentMap for a free virtual talk with best-selling author and speaker Dan Siegel, M.D. Learn the secrets of raising confident, compassionate and connected kids from his new critically acclaimed book, “The Power of Showing Up: How Parental Presence Shapes Who Our Kids Become and How Their Brains Get Wired.”
“Show up” for the webinar and learn:
  • How to unplug so you can tune in to your child
  • How to balance all the competing priorities in your day and still carve out family time
  • How to talk (and listen) to kids about tough topics without scaring them
Reserve your spot for this free event now.
This webinar may be recorded and republished for educational and promotional usage.
Lake City Route Added to Seattle’s Stay Healthy Streets.
Seattle has closed several streets throughout the city to create pedestrian friendly spaces during the pandemic.
Here’s a map of the Lake City route.


Do You Need Help?
School Meal Support
Student meals are now also served from yellow buses on routes throughout the city. SPS continues to provide food at 26 school meal sites Monday – Friday, and weekend meal support is provided by the Backpack Brigade and Food For Schools.
Click here for more details.
If your family needs a lunch or weekend food essentials and are unable to come to school, please contact you student's counselor (contact info below). If you would like to help deliver meals, please contact Beth Cogan at bethbenbear@gmail.com.
  • 6th Grade - Luz Santacruz-Ochoa: lmsantacruzo@seattleschools.org
  • 7th Grade - Reema Ziadeh: raziadeh@seattleschools.org
  • 8th Grade - Niki Duncan: nmduncansort@seattleschools.org

Do You Want to Help?
Food and Hygiene Product Drive
The Eckstein PTSA is collaborating with the elementary schools in our attendance area to collect needed food and hygiene items for local families.
Bryant Elementary Area - Hygiene Drive
  • When: Now - Sunday May 17
  • Where: The Huntington Home - 4802 36th Ave NE
  • What:  Toothbrushes, flossers, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, shampoo, feminine hygiene products, first aid kits, toilet paper and diapers
Laurelhurst Area Food Drive
  • When: Now through Sunday May 17
  • Where: The Cogan Home - 4400 48th Ave NE
  • What:  Kid-friendly, non-perishable food such as juice (8oz) and milk (8oz shelf stable), cereal (individual cups/boxes) , fruit cups and fruit snacks, granola bars and lunch box-sized raisins, peanut butter (individual servings), Beefaroni (pop top), Cup-O-Noodle and Top Ramen, mac and cheese (instant), oatmeal (instant), tuna fish and beans.
Please leave donations in the bins for a no-contact porch delivery. The drives are expected to continue through Sunday, June 14th. There will be rotating drop off points each week. If you would like to host a drive or have any questions, please contact Beth at bethbenbear@gmail.com. 
Ways to Help Your Eckstein Community
  • Volunteer to help deliver meals (see Food Support/Delivery, above)
  • Donate to the GoFundMe for the family of Arnold Gonzalez (see Eagle Life, above)
  • Donate to the Eckstein Annual Campaign fund, to help the Eckstein community now and in the future (see Eagle Life, above)
  • Become a member of PTSA Board! As parents "graduate" out of the Eckstein community, we need new parents to join us. The more the merrier and the more involved, the greater good we can do.
  • Tech Support. The Seattle Council PTSA is in dire need of volunteers to help (remotely) parents operate devices and access Schoology. If you can help, fill out this form. Bilingual help is especially needed.

PTSA News
WPTSA Meeting With Superintendent Reykdal
Last Monday, May 4th, Washington State PTA participated in an online meeting with State Superintendent Chris Reykdal. The discussion included grading, technology, and plans for reopening in the fall. Here is a summary of the meeting.


Keep on Reading!
Ms. Sterling's Reading Suggestions
Check out the 2019 end-of-the-year lists she put together!
Sports Suggestions
Sci-Fi Suggestions
Romance Suggestions
Realistic Fiction Tough Issues Suggestions
Realistic Fiction Lighthearted Suggestions
Nonfiction Suggestions
Mystery Suggestions
LGBTQ+ Suggestions
Horror Suggestions
Historical Fiction Suggestions
Graphic Novel Suggestions
Funny Suggestions
Fantasy Suggestions
Biography/Memoir Suggestions
Author of Color Suggestions
Adventure Suggestions


The Weekly is distributed on Fridays during the school year. Please send submissions by *Wednesday at 5PM* to Eckstein Weekly Inclusion is at the discretion of the Eckstein PTSA and Administration. Your 2019-20 Eckstein Weekly is edited by the PTSA Communications Team. Sign up for the Eckstein Weekly here!

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  • Translate
  • Support Eckstein
    • Volunteeer Opportunities! >
      • Secretary
    • Donate >
      • Eckstein Annual Campaign
      • Other Ways to Donate
    • Become a member
  • Eckstein Weekly News
  • Calendar
  • Resources
  • Community Supporters
  • PTSA Board Members
  • PTSA Bylaws
  • Contact