Dear RHMS PTSA families,  

The Rose Hill Middle School PTSA logo above is a powerful reminder that inclusion is at the heart of all we do - “every child. one voice.” Our PTSA is an organization that supports and advocates for every child in our diverse community, including our black and brown children. We understand that the senseless murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and others are a painful trauma for our families and more profoundly so for our families of color. We all feel outrage at the problem of unequal justice. For some of our families, the burden is heavier as they deal with feelings of fear, anguish, frustration and despair in addition to the outrage.  

Principal Bowser shared some helpful resources and tips in her email to families yesterday (June 1, 2020). I encourage you to read through it. If the entire list feels a little overwhelming or if you are unsure of how to be a help, pick just one thing. We might not all be able to join a protest, but we can all do one thing to inspire meaningful change. For example, read a book, listen to a podcast, educate your circle, let your representatives in Congress know that racial justice is important to you, support a black-owned business, listen to understand, reach out and let your friends of color know that you care…every little act of love and kindness counts.  

In the spirit of love and thankfulness, RHMS PTSA would like to acknowledge and thank all of you for your helpful support this year. Despite the challenges we’re all dealing with, particularly in these last 4 months of the school year, you have continued to support the work we do on behalf of our most valuable and vulnerable resource – our children. Thanks to you, RHMS PTSA has met our fundraising goal this year, enabling us to fund important activities and programs like STEM puzzles and brainteasers for Math classes, a Ga-Ga ball pit for PE classes, foreign language library books, a digital media resource subscription, supplemental fresh fruit for Pantry Packs, emergency preparedness supplies, student planners, a play production, the Reflections art competition and more. Thanks to you, RHMS PTSA was able to set up a fund to provide support to our families that are negatively impacted by COVID-19. Thanks to you, RHMS PTSA is the only PTA out of 800+ PTAs in the state of Washington, to have 6 consecutive years of membership growth! Thank you so much for your support!  

A special thank you to the following individuals who chaired a PTA program or committee this year: Jorge Santos, Conni Irias, Becky Stansell, Danelle Mathews, Yuni Yu, Evelyn Chambers, Andrea Knott, Candy Ansari, Denise Ferguson, Colette Moss, Trisha Tripathi, Michela Casazza, Danielle D’Agostino, Crystal Floyd, Chitra Ramaswamy, Susan Davis and Mahruma Siddiqua. 

Finally, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to my fellow 2019-20 PTSA board members (Denise Ferguson, Mahruma Siddiqua, Jennifer Grimes and Susan Davis). It has been a pleasure and an honor working alongside you during this uncertain and unprecedented year. 

In closing, the 2020-21 school year lies unknown before us. There is so much about how it will look and work that we still don’t know. One thing that I do know – and am very thankful for - is that we are in this together. 

Kind regards, 

Yumna Green 

President 

RHMS PTSA