Common Core State Standards Communications Leadership Summit in Yakima on April 21

Are you a PTA leader or parent wanting more information on the implementation of Common Core State Standards and the Smarter Balanced Assessments?  If so, you may want to attend the ASCD one-day Washington Common Core Communications Leadership Summit on April 21 from 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. in Yakima.  Common Core leaders and experts from ReadyWA, OSPI, WSSDA, district teams and our own Legislative Director, Sherry Krainick will help attendees understand what to expect with the implementation of Common Core State Standards.  Click here to register. More information on Common Core State Standards is on the WSPTA website.​

Register for Convention Today

To avoid lines and save money, please be sure to pre-register for the WSPTA convention. Everyone who pre-registers before the convention starts will receive the early-bird rate.  Register Today! As an added incentive to pre-register, the WSPTA is offering a special prize drawing for two free convention registrations for two PTAs to attend the 2015 convention. You must pre-register for the 2014 convention by April 18 to be entered into this special convention drawing! Convention offers many exciting learning opportunities, including a special pre-convention professional development session and a family engagement lunch. Click here for the convention agenda. We hope you will join us at the convention on April 25-27 at the Bellevue Hyatt Regency Hotel!

Platinum Membership Award Winners

Green Mountain PTA 1.3.9

Cottonwood PTSA 1.3.10

Hilder Pearson PTA 1.7.5

Vinland PTSA 1.7.11

Kingston Middle PTSA 1.7.20

Olalla PTA 1.8.9

Sunnyslope Community School PTA 1.8.10

Hawkins Middle PTSA 1.9.20

Eastgate PTA 2.3.30

Eastside Home School PTSA 2.3.40

Sherwood Forest PTSA 2.3.75

Highland Middle PTSA 2.3.120

Tillicum Middle PTA 2.3.140

Big Picture PTSA 2.3.149

Newport High PTSA 2.3.155

Clark PTA 2.6.7

Norman Rockwell PTA 2.8.47

Samantha Smith PTA 2.8.57

Laura Ingalls Wilder PTSA 2.8.66

Finn Hill Middle PTSA 2.8.70

Kirkland Middle PTSA 2.8.77

Renaissance School PTSA 2.8.83

STEM High PTSA 2.8.105

Tolt Middle PTSA 2.16.25

Opstad PTA 2.18.21

Snoqualmie PTSA 2.18.23

Cascade Middle PTSA 3.5.27

Orchards PTA 3.6.27

Woodland Combined PTSA 3.6.55

Sarah J. Anderson PTA 3.7.5

Chinook PTSA 3.7.7

McLoughlin Middle PTSA 3.7.96

Pioneer PTSA 4.3.30

Evergreen Forest PTSA 4.4.3

Meadows PTSA 4.4.18

Chehalis Combined PTA 4.6.5

Orting Combined PTA 5.2.35

Camas Prairie PTA 5.3.3

Frederickson PTA 5.3.7

Naches Trail PTA 5.3.13

Thompson PTA 5.3.20

Frontier Jr PTSA 5.3.31

Kibler PTA 5.4.5

Southwood Elementary PTA 5.4.15

Firgrove PTA 5.7.5

Karshner PTA 5.7.20

Spinning PTA 5.7.50

Edward Zeiger PTA 5.7.79

Woodin PTA 6.10.50

Leota Jr High PTSA 6.10.65

Echo Lake PTA 6.12.20

Ridgecrest PTA 6.12.60

Adams PTA 6.15.20

Jane Addams (K-8) PTSA 6.15.24

FH Coe PTA 6.15.70

Thurgood Marshall PTA 6.15.75

Concord PTA 6.15.76

B. F. Day PTSA 6.15.85

Gatewood PTA 6.15.120

Friends of Hawthorne PTA 6.15.155

Leschi PTA 6.15.207

Loyal Heights PTA 6.15.215

McDonald PTA 6.15.234

John Muir PTA 6.15.250

Sand Point PTA 6.15.315

Hamilton Middle PTSA 6.15.385

Madison Middle PTSA 6.15.425

Cleveland High School Eagles PTSA 6.15.433

Franklin High PTA 6.15.465

Chief Sealth PTSA 6.15.505

Vashon Island Community PTSA 6.17.10

Eagle Creek PTA 7.1.5

Hazelwood PTA 7.2.50

Alderwood Middle PTA 7.2.120

Garfield PTA 7.3.10

Jackson PTA 7.3.20

Silver Lake PTA 7.3.45

Whittier PTA 7.3.55

Eisenhower Middle PTSA 7.3.65

Cascade PTA 7.4.5

Pinewood PTSA 7.4.20

Marysville A & T PTSA 7.4.55

Olivia Park PTA 7.5.15

Twin City PTA 7.6.46

Frank Wagner PTA 7.6.50

North Lake Middle PTSA 7.6.62

Park Place Middle PTSA 7.6.63

Sky Valley Ed. Center PTA 7.6.95

Coupeville PTA 7.7.7

Friday Harbor PTA 8.2.22

Whitney PTA 8.2.55

Birchwood/Cordata PTA 8.3.15

Larrabee PTSA 8.3.40

Fairhaven Middle PTSA 8.3.80

Meridian PTA 8.4.40

Nooksack Valley Middle PTSA 8.4.50

Crescent Harbor PTA 8.7.6

Hillcrest PTA 8.7.10

North Whidbey Middle PTA 8.7.43

Alpac PTA 9.2.5

Ilalko PTA 9.2.17

Arthur Jacobsen PTSA 9.2.22

Gildo Rey PTA 9.2.35

Cascade Middle PTSA 9.2.45

Mt. Baker Middle PTA 9.2.48

Brigadoon PTA 9.4.10

Mirror Lake PTA 9.4.30

Enterprise PTA 9.4.37

Olympic View PTSA 9.4.45

Star Lake PTA 9.4.55

Federal Way Public Academy PTSA 9.4.86

North Hill PTSA 9.5.127

Raisbeck Aviation High PTSA 9.5.747

Crestwood PTA 9.7.11

Fairwood PTSA 9.7.15

Kent PTA 9.7.23

Martin Sortun PTA 9.7.72

Mill Creek Middle PTSA 9.7.80

Kentwood Community PTSA 9.7.120

Campbell Hill PTA 9.11.15

Hazen High PTSA 9.11.105

Rock Creek PTSA 9.14.10

Beachwood PTA 10.4.10

Dower PTA 10.4.25

Birney PTSA 10.9.40

Delong PTA 10.9.60

Franklin Elementary PTA 10.9.72

Fawcett PTA 10.9.75

Geiger PTSA 10.9.90

Lowell PTA 10.9.115

Manitou PTSA 10.9.130

Jennie Reed PTA 10.9.170

Sherman PTSA 10.9.200

Lincoln High PTSA 10.9.295

Key Peninsula Middle PTSA 10.11.80

Ahtanum Valley PTA 11.1.5

Cottonwood PTSA 11.1.12

Mountainview PTSA 11.1.15

Smith School PTA 11.4.62

Sunnyslope PTSA 11.5.30

Goldendale Middle PTA 11.6.50

Prosser Combined PTSA 12.2.32

Jefferson PTA 12.5.5

Tapteal PTA 12.5.23

Chief Joseph Middle PTA 12.5.28

Sharpstein PTA 12.6.40

Adams PTSA 15.2.10

Franklin PTA 15.6.10

Question of the Week

QUESTION:     Is there is any conflict with paying a PTA member to babysit during our general meetings? ANSWER:      An independent contractor generally includes any person or entity retained for a limited duration (generally not to exceed one year) to provide professional or specialized services that may not be readily available otherwise. Such persons are often paid either on an hourly or project basis as opposed to weekly or monthly. Also, their work is not subject to the control of the person or entity that hires them. Because they are not employees, independent contractors are not entitled to benefits provided to employees under federal and state employment laws. You should not try to determine for yourself whether an individual is an employee or contractor.  If your PTA’s babysitter is an independent contractor and you pay over $600.00 in a calendar year, you would be required to provide a 1099-MISC. If you pay less than $600.00 in a calendar year, you are not required to provide a 1099-MISC.  The other consideration for your PTA concerns insurance. If your PTA is insured through AIM, babysitting is covered under your General Liability insurance policy provided you follow the outlined precautions below to limit the risk of a claim:  Babysitting is only something you would provide during your organization meetings or other sponsored events. You must have two adult volunteers (18 years or older) in the room at all times. This dual rule protects against any molestation claims, provides a second witness to rule out false claims, and provides extra assistance in the case of an emergency. If paid baby sitters are involved, they will not be covered under this policy. This information comes from AIM, so if you have any further questions regarding this, call AIM for further details.  If your local unit doesn't have AIM insurance, then you will need to contact your insurance company to make sure that babysitting is covered.

WSPTA College Scholarship Applications Now Available

The Washington State PTA awards college scholarships to entering 2 or 4-year college freshmen graduating from high schools in Washington State. Applications are due May 1, 2014 and are available through an online application.

WSPTA Partner: GET

No matter how old your child is, it’s never too early to start saving for college. GET is Washington's 529 prepaid college tuition plan, committed to helping Washington families by offering a safe and secure way to save for their children's college education.  We encourage you to help spread the word to fellow members who could benefit from saving for college. Learn more and enroll online at www.get.wa.gov.

Honor Your Local Unit Leadership by Ordering Awards Through PTA Store

Local Units may order Golden Acorn awards, Honorary Life Membership awards, Outstanding Advocate, and Outstanding Educator awards may be ordered online at http://store.wastatepta.org/. Please be aware that Golden Award and other award orders will not be available to pick up on-site at convention this year. However, please feel free to go to the PTA Store to order your Golden Acorns and other awards any time (including during convention) and they will be processed and sent to you in a timely manner.