I don't know about you guys, but I'm pretty excited!   It's a new beginning for so many students and families, some starting school for the first time, some are changing to new schools and some may even be entering their last year!  Regardless of where you are in this timeline, new beginnings are always great opportunities to start fresh, to do things a little different, or maybe even a little better.  For us as parents, it's a chance to step back and re-evaluate our roles and either step up our game or maybe step back a bit.  For those of you who were able to attend our Leadership Convention last month, you'll most likely be in the "Step Up Your Game" category.  You also had a chance to hear about my game, my goals and my vision for where we'll head for the next two years.  Based on your warm reception and response, I know that you're with me, ready to take our team all the way!

For those who were unable to attend, let me take a moment and catch you up to speed.  During my 20 years with PTA, I've been privileged to take part in advocating for some dynamic and crucial issues.  Whether it was fighting for funding, the safety of our children or the rights of parents and guardians, we've never shied away from a fight for fear of losing.  We fight the good fight as champions for our children.  That's what engaged parents do.

However, there are some children who have no one to fight for them.  They have no one who can attend meetings and programs, who can volunteer for events, or who can provide the extras that some of us take for granted.  Many of those children are in foster care.  Many of them have no consistent place to stay each night.  Many have found themselves in the juvenile justice system and have no support.  We must be the champion for those who have no one.  That's what our founders believed...that every child should have someone who fights for them, who looks after their well-being and ensures that they have a voice that speaks up on their behalf. 

Our theme for the next two years symbolizes this belief.  It emphasizes the fact that no matter where a child calls home, no matter what their circumstance, they all deserve to be a part of our PTA family...where ALL Children are Our Children.

This new school year it is my hope that you take a step back and look around at the faces walking the hallways.  That you find those who have hurts that may not be visible.  That we connect each community with programs and services that can help each family find a way to meet their needs. That our schools would become a place to connect with resources and find support. That we become a part of making a new beginning for all children.

Let's make history!

Cindy Gerhardt

President

AWESOME! Florida PTA Receives 

FAPE Community Legacy Tribute Award

Florida PTA is honored to have received the first ever Community Legacy Tribute award from the Florida Association of Partners in Education (FAPE).  During a presentation at this summer's Florida PTA Leadership Convention, FAPE Board Member Misa Mills, noted that "Since 1923, Florida PTA has been relentlessly and selflessly servicing the parents, teachers and students of Florida."  The FAPE organization and its members further recognized the Florida PTA as "a great reformer and advocate organization working to influence policy makers on the health, education, welfare, and safety issues affecting the children and youth of Florida."  FAPE is proud to partner and support Florida PTA members and applauded all PTA and PTSA members for "the quality of commitment in making a difference each and every day for your schools, students and staff of your individual schools".  FAPE also recognized the individual contributions of each County Council's support for the students and youth of Florida.

 

Thank you, FAPE, for this awesome honor!

The Sunshine State PTSA is the Premiere Membership Association for Florida PTA and perfect for the community at large. 

The Florida PTA premiere membership is now open! Individuals, businesses, organizations and community leaders may join the Sunshine State PTSA to become a member of the Florida PTA. Every individual who is a member of the Florida PTA also becomes a member of the National PTA and is entitled to all benefits of such membership. 

Your voice will be heard! The Florida PTA is one of the leading states in advocacy, leadership and membership. The Sunshine State PTSA is in place to engage members of the community that do not belong to a local PTA at a school. I am a grandmother and I belong to the Sunshine State PTSA so that I may represent my grandchildren and be the voice for all children. 

Dues for the the Sunshine State PTSA membership is $10.00 per member.   Please join now!

Thank you to the committee members Katrena, Katie, Rhea, Jacara, and Tonia for all their hard work and dedication to this committee, especially to the Reflections Program. This committee found other contests and events to support Arts in Education and ran the National PTA Reflections Program. The hard work and dedication of the committee, county chairs, local chairs and parents helped make this program this committee's greatest achievement. 

Fifteen counties participated and submitted 632 student entries with 30 receiving Florida PTA Awards of Excellence and 156 receiving Florida PTA Awards of Merit. Of the 30 entries advancing onto the National level, six received National PTA Awards of Excellence and nine received National PTA Awards of Merit.  We are proud of all students who participated!

Each year, the theme search contest for students determines a future program theme. T he 2016-2017 Reflections Program theme, What's Your Story, was submitted by  Brianna Eisman of Douglas Anderson PTSA, in Duval County, Jacksonville. This year's theme search contest is for the 2018-2019 school year and will be the program's 50th anniversary!  

The committee looks forward to growing this Reflections Program and to finding more opportunities to help local units keep the Arts in Education.

Thank you for an amazing year!

Deanna Neal

Cultural Arts Chair

*  Diversity is key!  It's not just about race...invite grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and community members to join. Your PTA should be reflective of your school community.  Gather information, understand issues, build awareness, and make changes.

 

*  Set up a membership table at Open House or any other school event your Principal approves.  

*  COMMUNICATE what your PTA does and how it will benefit each and every child at your school.  It's impossible to give families too much information on PTA and its link to the well-being of children.  

*  Contact members from last year who haven't yet joined.  Ask members whose children no longer attend your school to join again.

*  Don't forget the "T" in PTA!  Ask your Principal if you can attend a staff meeting and encourage teachers and staff to join the PTA.  Offer incentives or door prizes for those who join by a certain date. 

*  Offer "levels" of membership, i.e., Single, Bronze, Silver, Gold with different levels of perks and incentives with each level.  Not all incentives must cost money...offer reserved parking, reserved seating at school performances, and/or admission to the Fall Festival or any other PTA event. 

 

*  Lastly, stay connected!  Keep in touch with your members, ask for their participation in events, and ask for feedback during the year.  Give them a voice!

For the second year, the kit is completely digital and mobile-friendly. This means you can view the website from your phone, tablet or other mobile devices. Having the Back-To-School Kit with you while you're on the go is a big perk. We guarantee it will help you be more efficient and productive as a PTA leader.

Registration is a very simple process. Visit this website, watch Laura Bay's short video, and register.  After your user name and password are set, you'll have full access to the kit.