Important Strike-Related Resources

Whether you’ve been clued in or you’re feeling a little lost, the Whittier PTA has assembled some important information to help you understand (and make it through) this strike.

HOW CAN I FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION?

Channels of direct communications from stakeholder groups:

SEA:

• FB: https://www.facebook.com/SeattleEA
• Linktree (including links to website and past contracts): https://linktr.ee/seattleea…
• Position statements side-by-side: https://www.washingtonea.org/file_viewer.php?id=53001
• Bargaining updates: https://www.seattlewea.org/contracts-and-bargaining/2022-bargaining-updates/

SPS:

• FB: https://www.facebook.com/SeattlePublicSchools
• Website: https://www.seattleschools.org/news/category/district-news/
• Family Resources page (note: listed childcare resources are not available for gap care): https://www.seattleschools.org/news/family-resources-and-faq/

School Board Directors:

• Rankin (D1): https://www.facebook.com/lizaforseattleschools/
• Rivera Smith (D2): 
  • Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LisaRiveraSmithSPS
  • Recent letter from Lisa Rivera Smith: https://onedrive.live.com/?authkey=%21AIAHKp%5FE80kR2BI&id=3381BB53AB7DC835%213852&cid=3381BB53AB7DC835&parId=root&parQt=sharedby&parCid=01B0732DA7970C7E&o=OneUp
• Song Martiz (D4): 
  • Recent post: https://www.facebook.com/viviansongmaritzSPS/posts/pfbid0QzEn7PJ2pYKptT58XMR3PwBKJyZTcwdKwr6RwKTDpsTDPm7Jjh4mDS8F6nwFb5sfl
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/viviansongmaritzSPS

Seattle Council PTSA:

• FB: https://www.facebook.com/scptsa
• Website: https://scptsa.org/news
• Joint statement with Seattle Special Education PTSA:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rb2LZg3dkhs

Seattle Special Education PTSA:

• FB: https://www.facebook.com/SeattleSpecialEducationPTSA
• Website: https://seattlespecialeducationptsa.org/news-%26-advocacy

HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED?

• Contact your School Board representative (our rep is Lisa Rivera Smith). She is your voice, so let her know what you think is the best path forward. Here’s a letter template/sample.
• Whittier teachers and staff will be picketing outside of Whittier starting at 7:30am on Wednesday.
• Whittier teachers and staff, along with SEA, are organizing a food drive to benefit the Ballard Food Bank from 11am-3pm on Friday, September 9, in front of Whittier. High demand items include: non-perishable food items and hygiene products (dry shampoo, tampons, etc). Gift cards to Fred Meyer are also being requested to be provided to Whittier families in need of support (to be distributed by Ms. Monica and Ms. Rebecca). Learn more on Konstella.
• There is a district-wide Facebook group organizing community efforts as they relate to the strike.

I’M LOOKING FOR COMMUNITY SUPPORT

CHILDCARE

• Licensed Childcare Providers and Enrichment Programs we’ve contacted (know someone offering childcare? Contact us):
  • Illumination Learning Studios – waiting to hear back
  • Seattle Parks and Recreation/Associated Recreation Council – operating for currently enrolled families this week (9/7-9). Should the strike continue next week, the city will open Recreation Activity Hubs for school-aged children between 5-12 from 9am-5:30pm at 8 community centers including Ballard Community Center and Bitterlake Community Center. Registration opens Thursday, Sept 8 here: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/seattle/home?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true Learn more here: https://harrell.seattle.gov/2022/09/07/city-to-provide-recreation-drop-in-centers-for-school-age-children-in-response-to-teachers-strike-and-delayed-school-start/?fbclid=IwAR0a_wECL_CEPfXYsAF14exINDYQUgEkTp2u2vwJy0O5sOmaN0cN52XXl7U. Here’s a direct link to the Recreation Hub at Ballard CC: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/seattle/activity/search/detail/47030?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true
  • Seattle Public Library – waiting to hear back
  • Pacific Science Center – waiting to hear back
  • Little Explorers – not offering camps
  • Whittier Kids – unable to offer due to limited staffing
  • Creative Kids and Learning Center – waiting to hear back
  • Kids Inc – open for currently enrolled families only
  • Bricks 4 Kids – waiting to hear back
  • Seattle Young Engineers – waiting to hear back
  • Jump on Languages – limited availability for 9/8 and 9/9. Register here: https://www.jumponlanguages.com/service-page/sept-7-9-camp-9am-3pm?category=c58ff559-945a-4828-9317-b2f7583b23c4&referral=service_list_widget
  • Sponge School – not offering camps
  • Seattle Languages – waiting to hear back
  • Washington Karate – offerings for currently enrolled students only
  • Alpha Martial Arts – waiting to hear back
  • Seattle Gymnastics (Ballard & Lake City) – SGA Ballard only offering regular indoor playground sessions for ages 0-5.
  • Small Faces (we’ve heard they’re enrolling!) – https://smallfaces.org
  • Three Dragons Academy (we’ve heard they’re enrolling!) – https://www.threedragonsacademy.com/
  • Boys & Girls Clubs – open for currently enrolled families only
  • Arena Sports Magnuson & SODO – offering camps for 9/8 and 9/9. Register here: https://member.daysmartrecreation.com/#/online/arenasports/programs/8/level?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Camps&utm_content=Seattle%20&facility_ids=2&facility_ids=1

• Whittier Families offering to host informal playdates with drop-off – This is a homegrown spreadsheet we created to help connect Whittier families. Please feel free to sign-up if you’d like to host a playdate for other Whittier families! Also feel free to connect with other families using your Konstella classrooms or grade-level Facebook groups.
• Whittier families can use the Whittier playground during this time (it’s a community space when school isn’t in session).

SCHOOL DAY MEALS

SPS Culinary Services is offering free sack lunch meals beginning Wednesday, Sept. 7, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. for pick-up at Whittier near the main office. This is available for all students. Parents, and guardians may pick up meals for students. Students do not need to be in attendance. Looking for help picking up meals? Want to offer to help drop-off meals to a Whittier family? Contact outreach@whittierptaseattle.org.

OTHER SUPPORTS

• Mental Health Supports 
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources 
  • Crisis Text Line – free, 24/7 support for those in crisis. Text from anywhere in the USA to text with a trained Crisis Counselor. 
  • The Trevor Project–Crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ young people ages 13-24; 24/7 opportunities to chat online, text or call 
  • The GLBT National Youth Talkline–Youth serving youth through age 25; Provides telephone, online private one-to-one chat and email peer-support. 
  • While this was created during COVID around anxiety related to return to school, there is good information here about supporting students with anxiety and you may still find some useful tips. https://mhttcnetwork.org/centers/northwest-mhttc/managing-anxiety-return-schools 
     
• Domestic Violence Support 
  • ADWAS – Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services empowers Deaf and DeafBlind survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and harassment to transform their lives, while striving to change the beliefs and behaviors that foster and perpetuate violence. We provide comprehensive services to individuals and families, community education, and advocacy on systems and policy issues. 
  • DAWN–protects women and children from domestic abuse, providing shelter, support and empowerment  https://www.dawnrising.org/get-help/ 
  • The National Domestic Violence Hotline–A general 24-hour domestic violence hotline 
  • New Beginnings–One-on-one advocacy, counseling, legal support, youth and parent groups, educational training/prevention. 
  • Northwest Network–Offers support to LGBTQ survivors, as well as youth programming, community education, and professional development for youth-serving providers