General Meeting: PTSA Overview and Programs

Notes

Welcome and overview

Overview of PTSA and what it is. PTSA stands for “Parent Teacher Student Association.”
Kimball PTSA has a funding partnership with SESSFA (Southeast Seattle Schools Fundraising Alliance).
Our main purposes:
- Build relationships and build community among Kimball families and provide pathways for connection between families and the school. To do this we need representation from all the different kinds of families Kimball serves! diversity of our school (74% students of color, 29% multilingual from 2023/24 data)
- Supporting our amazing staff through mobilizing volunteers and helping to put on Kimball events.
- Providing communications to the Kimball community, keeping it informed of school and district-related events.
- Fundraising and fund sharing with other Southeast Seattle schools to provide resources and programs: SESSFA Move A Thon (annually); School Supplies; individual gifts and contributions and corporate matching; Kimball Kitchen
- Participating in and around advocacy at the district and state level. We are all concerned with the budgetary and funding future for Seattle Public Schools and how that will impact our children and our community.
How can you join? - All are welcome and there are no requirements or dues. Just show up! This meeting will be an overview of the things we do and the ways you can get involved.

From a group called Equity Matters - helps us live into our best selves and ensure greater awareness and inclusion. They are:

Covid, building construction and leadership shifts caused some inconsistency in PTSA and there are opportunities now to build it better. An overview of ways the PTSA is currently involved in the school community:
Fundraising collective through SESSFA - we do the Move-a-Thon through that organization and share the funds. Greater equity through fund sharing and increased funding for schools that need it most (Title 1 schools like Kimball). Projects and programs funded by Kimball’s PTSA from those funds:
- School supplies - fundraising allows all teachers to provide items for all students, saving parents time and also contributing to classroom. $300 for each teacher.
- Field trips - financially supported through PTSA.
- Kimball tee shirts - PTSA organized ordering and production, provides a shirt for every kindergartner.
- Team Read - PTSA funded program that strengthens reading and literacy by partnering kids with high school tutors for after school additional learning.
Other Projects of PTSA:
- After school clubs - enrichment activities coordinated by PTSA.
- Kimball Kitchen - like a bake sale but not in person. You can be a chef or place an order.
- Teacher Appreciation / Volunteer Coordination to support teachers.
- Communication with families about all of these happenings and more.
- The Kimball garden needs help and volunteers!

SESSFA - the fundraising focus of Kimball PTSA
- A few opportunities throughout the year like Mariners Day
- Main focus is Move a Thon
- Kimball needs a work group lead and help with Move a Thon coordination.

Kimball Kitchen started in the pandemic as a way to connect remotely through food.
- All school ask for anyone who wants to share their food heritage. You sign up.
- Order sheet goes out to families
- Chefs drop off their contributions and families pick up the food (or drinks!) on that day.
- Families can buy for staff as an appreciation.
Multicultural Heritage Night - a celebration that happens from Kimball Kitchen revenues. (about $3500) to celebrate our global majority school. April 3rd, 2025.