News (last update 10/5/2008):

October 5, 2008

Save the date for the next Auction!:

"Lasso the Stars" on Friday, March 27 2009, Location: Bellevue Red Lion

Contact Ken and Susie Pietz for more information and to get involved: auction@spiritridge.org or phone (425) 643 1949

We are encouraging everyone to join the PTSA.  There are so many reasons to join. Forms are in the school office.

Support Bellevue’s Students!

Bellevue, Washington, August 20, 2008 - Back to school! The phrase conjures powerful images for people of all ages. For students, it means the end to the freedoms of summer, and the chance to reconnect with friends. Busy parents welcome the return to a regular schedule. We older folks remember uncomfortable new shoes and the smell of the blue ink in the duplicating machine. And everyone thinks about getting new pencils!

As a PTA (Parent Teacher Association) leader here in Bellevue, I think about renewing my commitment to the students of the Bellevue School District. And the first thing I’ll do is join my local PTA. Second, I’d like to invite you to do the same thing.

You may be wondering, “But isn’t PTA just for parents?” Of course not! PTA membership is open to anyone who cares about kids. You can find membership forms at the web site for your local school. For a list of local PTA websites, visit our PTA Council webpage at www.bellevueptsacouncil.org and click on “Directory of School and PTSA Organizations.”

You may also feel you don’t have time to volunteer for this kind of association. There’s no need to worry about that – most PTA’s understand all too well the busy nature of modern life. They understand that many members have no time to give to activities. Your membership alone is a valued commodity.

PTA has evolved since its formation in 1897. You might wonder why an organization that bakes cupcakes wants your membership – that’s the old PTA. PTA today is one of the largest child-advocacy organizations in the country. Here in Washington, where we face low levy caps and limited funding, our PTA’s work very hard to keep the needs of student visible to our local legislators. It would be an honor to say that you’re with us in this work.

Every school in the Bellevue School District has an active and thriving PTA. In fact, three of our PTA’s – The International School PTA, Cherry Crest PTA, and Somerset PTA - enjoy what we call “100% membership,” which means that for every enrolled student, the PTA has at least one PTA member. What an incredible sign of community support!! Wouldn’t it be great to see every school reach this degree of support? Yet for the rest of the schools, membership tends to be at about 50% - or one member for every two students. It can be done – our neighbors in Issaquah reach 100% membership in the majority of their PTA’s. And with your support, we can too.

Our PTA’s are affiliated with the Washington State PTA and the National PTA, giving our members access to an array of remarkable benefits. Leaders receive training to ensure that we each PTA can build an effective, professional-quality organization. Members have access to electronic and mailed newsletters, an idea bank, on-line bulletin boards, and e-training to help them gain the skills and knowledge they need to work effectively. Members also receive discounts at Barnesandnoble.com, Liberty Mutual Insurance, and Southwest Airlines Vacations. Information about these and other benefits can be found at www.pta.org.

Please, when you head out to get new pencils, please consider joining us.

Contact Information:

Connie Gerlitz, President, Bellevue PTSA Council, dgerlitz2@comcast.net

Audrey Bennett, VP Leadership, Bellevue PTSA Council, Audrey_Ann@comcast.net