We are excited to announce our first Dine-Out for Bell this year. Even though our Bell PTSA Dine-Outs look different this year (i.e., take-out and delivery), it's still a great way to come together to support our school and local restaurants. Mark your calendars and please RSVP for this event (so we can help MOD Pizza plan accordingly). Thank you, Whitney Takaba, for organizing this event!

Date/Time: Thursday, March 18, 2021 from 10:30AM - 10:00PM
Location: MOD Pizza - 12530 Totem Lake Blvd NE #124, Kirkland, WA 98033

Please RSVP: (it helps MOD Pizza plan for the event): https://www.groupraise.com/events/182257

Ways to participate:
1. Place your take-out order in the store and mention AG Bell PTSA.
2. Order online here for delivery or pickup. Use the promo code GR182257A

None of the work the PTSA does is possible without volunteers. Thank you to all of these amazing women who have done so much to support our school this year. I simply would not be able to do my role as President without these women.

• Leslie Victor - Co-Treasurer and Pantry Packs Chair
• Lakshmi Kuduganti - Co-Treasurer
• Jennifer Venters - Secretary/ Nominating Committee
• Christi Zemke - VP, Community Events/ Nominating Committee
• Jodie Galvan - Yearbook Chair
• Tammy Sittnick - Membership Chair
• Tennille Jones - Reflections and Staff Appreciation Chair
• Kelsey Hayes - Communications Chair
• Amanda Gibson - Green Team Chair
• Gretchen Dalquist - Reader Board/ Nominating Committee
  
  

All of these women (with the exception of those who won't be at Bell next year) have commited to chair or board positions next year as well (YAY!). Unfortunately, the vast majority of the work being done is by women - it's well past time to change that. We'd love to see more men in board and chair positions as well. 

How can YOU help? 

• Complete this volunteer interest form to let us know what you might be interested in helping out with. We will reach out as we begin planning events/programs that align with your interests. Or, look at the organization chart below and email president@agbellptsa.org about any position or event you want to learn more about or possibly volunteer for.
  
  
• Nominate yourself or someone else for a board position on next year's board by emailing nominations@agbellptsa.org or by completing this nomination form. Job descriptions for each role are on the executive board page.
  
  
• Visit our Volunteer page to see open positions (this year and next year) and a number of other ways you can give back to the community.
  
  

All volunteers must be approved through Lake Washington School District. Please complete the volunteer application if you have not already done so.

Ms. Hammond (Bell PE Teacher) has partnered with Girls on the Run (GOTR) to offer a phenomenal enrichment program for our 3rd – 5th grade girls at Bell. 

The Bell coaches are: Ms. Hammond, Ms. Tanner, Mr. Morris, and Ms. Nickels.

Over the 8-week long program each girl will meet with her peers virtually for one hour (2 times per week, Mondays & Wednesdays from 4pm – 5pm) to review the GOTR research-based lessons that incorporate physical activity in a fun and engaging way. She will connect with girls, build healthy habits and stay physically active! At the end of the season, there will be a fun virtual, non-competitive 5K.

• Dates: Mondays and Wednesdays from March 29th – May 24th
• Time: 4-5pm
• Where to Register: here
• Questions: email Ms. Hammond at lhammond@lwsd.org or contact GOTR directly at program@girlsrun.org.
• More info: here

Mrs. Lustgarten has created more virtual art lessons for our Bell Bulldogs! She does all the lessons utilizing the school supplies provided to Bell students at the beginning of the year (in an effort to make access to these art lessons more equitable). Visit our Art With Mrs. Lustgarten page to see the new Pete the Cat art lesson (which is actually three art lessons in one!) and the Photobomb Llama lesson. We'd love to see pictures of your students creating art. Please email them to art@agbellptsa.org or upload them on TreeRing for the yearbook.

If your student needs art supplies to do these projects, please reach out to your teacher or to the PTSA at art@agbellptsa.org 

With 5th grade graduation only a few months away, we want to ensure our 5th grade Bell Bulldogs are celebrated. Here are a few ways to ensure this happens:

• Submit a dedication to your 5th grader in this year's yearbook.  All you need to do is upload a favorite photo to the '5th grade dedications' folder in TreeRing and add a caption with your best wishes for them as they make the leap to middle school.  If you have any difficulty using the TreeRing app you can also send the photo and caption to the yearbook editor at yearbook@agbellptsa.org. All photos must be uploaded by May 31st.
  
  
• We currently have three fifth grade parents organizing the graduation ceremony. Please email president@agbellptsa.org if you can help.

March is Women's History Month. It's not only an opportunity to celebrate the women who have made an impact on our history, culture, and society, it's also an opportunity for us to educate ourselves and our children about women being largely underrepresented in many facets of life (e.g., politics, workplace, science, sports, journalism, etc.). While much progress has been made, there is still a long ways to go.

Visit our Women's History Month page for some resources and reading materials to help educate our students about these inequalities and the continued work toward social justice and gender equality.

We have passed the halfway mark for Washington State's Legislative Session (the session ends April 25th). In addition to the Senate passing the heavily contested capital gains tax by a vote of 25-24, there was much activity that directly impacts our students. Below are a few highlights: 

• The version of E2SSB 5128 that passed the Senate floor on March 4 was significantly modified, not in a positive way, for school districts trying to minimize the impact of fewer students riding the bus and buses being used in creative ways to meet student needs under the pandemic.
• The following bills have passed their chamber and been referred to the appropriate committee in the other chamber. (Click here and type in the bill number):
  • 2SHB 1139 would require school districts to take action to address lead in drinking water.
  • 2SSB 5237 would create the Fair Start for Kids Act. The bill would take a comprehensive approach to early learning and childcare and would delay the ECEAP entitlement date to the 2026-27 school year. (The companion bill, 2SHB 1213, is on the House floor.)
  • SHB 1504 would establish a behavioral health workforce pilot program and provide training support grants to community mental health and substance use disorder treatment providers.
  • SSB 5321 would eliminate the requirement that a student sign a pledge to be eligible for the College Bound Scholarship and create a process for auto-enrolling eligible students.

We encourage you to read the full WSPTA Legislative Report for Week 8 and to reach out to your legislators about the ones of importance to you and your family. 

We have received some wonderful entries for the yearbook cover contest (see video). However, given that we have only received six entries thus far, we have decided to extend the deadline to May 1st. 

• Theme: "Oh, the Places We've Been" 
• Deadline: May 1st
• How to Enter: Create art for the yearbook cover that represent the theme. Take a photo of it (or scan it) and email it to yearbook@agbellptsa.org (include the student's name, grade, and teacher).

And don't forget to order your yearbook on TreeRing and please continue uploading photos!

Visit our Family Resource page for information on returning to school, links to Mr. Story's newsletters, videos for what students can expect as they return to school, Mr. Marino's Library newsletters (most recent: Bell's Library Newsletter - March 2021) and much more. 

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• Get Involved: volunteer your time, contribute to our programs, attend PTSA meetings. There are many ways YOU can make a difference in your community.
• Purchase Spirit Wear
• Direct Donations 
• Corporate Matching- An easy way to double your donation!
• Amazon Smiles - Select "A G Bell PTSA" as your charity and shop via AmazonSmiles 
• Fred Meyer Rewards - Link your Fred Meyer Rewards card to AG Bell PTSA

With the launch of Bell PTSA's new website, we now send our newsletter direct from our website, as opposed to going through the school registrar. Please make sure to register on our new site so your information is up to date! 

Alexander Graham Bell PTSA

11212 NE 112th St

Kirkland, WA 98033