Connections and Communications
PTA-to-Parent Communications
Konstella
Konstella is the North Beach PTA’s main form of communication. It is the place to catch the latest school news, learn about volunteer opportunities, and connect with others at North Beach.
When you click the button below, click the top right “find your school” and enter North Beach Elementary.
Come to a PTA Meeting
PTA meetings are open to all and usually take place in the North Beach Library on the second Tuesday of the month. You’ll hear from Principal Bodwitch, PTA leadership and committee members. These meetings are a great way to learn about what is happening at the school, how to support your kids, the teachers and staff and participate in upcoming events.
Check out the calendar or the Newsletter to find out when the next meeting is happening and come, no RSVP necessary.
Follow Along on Social Media
Mostly fun posts about school happenings. Often includes timely reminders about events and opportunities to engage.
Volunteer with the PTA
Parent volunteers play an important role in putting on PTA hosted events throughout the year - like Popsicles on the playground, the Harvest Carnival, Stem Night, and our annual auction. Parents can sign up to lead a committee or volunteer to help with an event day-of.
You can also volunteer your time to help with graphic design, communications, and more. Contact the PTA to find out how you can help!
Volunteer in the school
Lunch Time Volunteer Want an easy way to volunteer your time at the school while also getting to spend time with all the grades and have fun? Sign up HERE to be a lunch time volunteer! It's only an 1.5 hour commitment and is so incredibly helpful to our wonderful North Beach staff, and especially our Lunch Lady Kate.
Field Trip Chaperones as needed, your teacher may ask for help from parents on field trips. You need to have your volunteer paperwork filled out ahead of time.
On-call Volunteer pool - Parents who work from home and live close by, consider joining the on-call volunteer pool in Konstella. You may get called in to help with lunch or playground duty as needed.
Room Parents still needed! If you are looking for a fun way to get involved at North Beach, sign up HERE to be a Room Parent, or grab a friend and sign up together.
Library Support Our librarian, Ms. Van Stone, is looking for a volunteer to help with shelving for 30 minutes or more on Fridays, at any time during the school day. She is also looking for extra support on Thursdays or Fridays between Oct. 13 and Nov. 6. If you are interested, please email nevanstone@seattleschools.org.
All Volunteers must complete SPS volunteer training and paperwork before volunteering.
If you are applying to volunteer at an SPS school for the first time, use this link: New Volunteer
If you have previously been approved to volunteer and need to update your personal details, use this link: Returning Volunteer
Teacher and Staff-to-Parent Communications
North Beach Elementary School Website: https://northbeaches.seattleschools.org/
Main Office Phone: 206-252-1510
Attendance email: northbeach.attendance@seattleschools.org
Teachers typically use email, a S’more newsletter and the Talking Points app to communicate with families. Check with your child’s teacher to know their communication channels and preferences.
Email: Best for direct communication about your child with teacher and staff.
TalkingPoints: You may receive notifications from your teacher, your school or the district using TalkingPoints. TalkingPoints is a non-profit educational technology platform designed to bridge the communication gap between K–12 schools and families. It specializes in multilingual, two-way messaging to help educators and parents connect regardless of language barriers. Families do not necessarily need to download an app or have Wi-Fi; messages can be sent and received via standard SMS text messaging, while apps like TalkingPoints for Teachers and TalkingPoints for Families, and web portals are also available for organized class threads, announcements, and media sharing.
Newsletters: S’more is an interactive, online newsletter builder purpose-built for K–12 educators, principals, and district leaders to streamline school-to-home communication
North Beach Newsletter - Principal Bodwitch sends a monthly newsletter - archive here: https://northbeaches.seattleschools.org/news/
“Kid mail” - look for Important announcements from your kid’s teacher, the school (and even the PTA) in your kids’ backpacks and school folder, aka “kid mail”
Seattle Public Schools District Communications
Seattle Public Schools Website: https://www.seattleschools.org
SPS Youtube Channel “SPS TV” https://www.youtube.com/@SeattlePublicSchoolsTV
SPS Board Meetings: (Regular meetings monthly) https://seattlepublicschools.community.diligentoneplatform.com/Portal/MeetingTypeList.aspx
Board meetings on Youtube (Live streamed and archive)
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC07MVxpRKdDJmqwWDGYqotA/videos
Superintendent Engagement meetings Fall 2026 tour: https://www.seattleschools.org/news/superintendent-community-engagement-meetings-return-this-fall/
PTA Suggestions for Parent and Caregiver Relations
Good communication is key to maintaining a strong relationship between you and your child’s teachers. Here are a few Herbie approved tips that can be helpful to foster healthy communication.
Find the right time to speak to the teacher or staff member. Check in with your student’s teacher to see if they have time to speak. If not, work together to set up a convenient time to meet. Drop off and pick up can be especially busy times for teachers and staff. It is always a good idea to check in with a teacher before you drop in to chat.
Be brief and specific in written communications. The more specific you can be about a concern or issue, the easier it is for your child’s teacher to respond or offer suggestions.
Recognize stylistic differences. Everyone is different when it comes to parenting, learning, and communications. Recognize that you may have stylistic differences than your child’s teacher.
If you are able, volunteer! Volunteering in the classroom and school is a great way to get to know your student’s teacher and classroom. Volunteering is different for every teacher and they will communicate their needs.
Preparing for Parent Teacher Conferences. Parent Teacher conferences can be over in a flash, it is helpful to be prepared. Conferences are the perfect opportunity to share questions, concerns, and collaborations to help your student get the most out of their classroom experience. Don’t forget to speak with your child a few days before conferences. This is a great way to hear from them how things are going, what they like most or least, and if they have any questions or concerns. Some questions that may be helpful in conferences:
What are my child’s strengths/weaknesses in class?
Does my student need any additional support in a particular area, how can I support them at home?
Does my child participate in class/turn their work in on time/ meet classroom behavior expectations?
Does my student have friend support from their peers?
How can I challenge my student at home?