News You Can Use - February 21, 2018
Useful Information to Support Your PTAs Success
and to Share With Your Community
This message has been sent to all current PTA leaders in our database.
From Tragedy to Advocacy:
Working Towards Solutions

Statement from National PTA President Jim Accomando and Florida PTA President Cindy Gerhardt

"National PTA and Florida PTA are deeply saddened to hear of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the students, families, educators and administrators impacted.

This is the second school shooting just this month.  It is urgent that families, educators, school administrators, community leaders and elected officials work together to find solutions and make meaningful changes to ensure that all students have a safe environment in which to thrive and learn.
 
Any act of violence at a school or involving children and youth is intolerable. Every student deserves to learn and grow in a safe environment. And no parent should fear for the safety of their child every time they leave home for school.
 
It remains a top priority of PTA to promote safety for children and youth and improve education. PTA has a strong history of supporting and advocating for policies in the areas of gun safety and violence prevention, juvenile justice, mental health and students' overall well-being.
 
PTA is committed to supporting students, families, schools and communities in coping with and preventing violence. The association offers a variety of resources that can be downloaded at PTA.org/SchoolSafety."


Articles

  • Florida Shooting: Superintendent Has 'No Words That Can Describe the Heartache' [Edweek] - "This is what needs to happen in this country. We can't continue to have these tragedies [and] press conferences. We grieve for the victims and the community, and we all give our thoughts and prayers in earnest. But what is the follow-up action? It is going to take leadership at the state and national level to fix these problems. That's the bottom line." - Robert Runcie, Superintendent in Broward County, Fla
 
 

Position Statements

 
 

Resolutions

 

 
School Safety

 

Taskforce


Sixth District's Annual Luncheon - Full
Friday, March 2, 2018

We have reached the maximum capacity for the luncheon.  Unfortunately, we will not be able to accommodate walk-ins this year.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Parent Ed Two-Part Documentary Series

Wilcox Parent Ed in conjunction with Peterson Middle School is pleased to bring you a two-part documentary series on March 8 and April 11.
 
Mark your calendars and come join us!
 
The two films look at the current educational climate and its impact on students in their efforts to strive for success and what steps are needed to decrease stress and re-inspire learning.
 
Race to Nowhere [Film 1]

Thursday,  March 8, 2018
10:00 am or 6:30 pm (two time options - space is limited)
Peterson Middle School Library
1380 Rosalia Ave,
Sunnyvale, CA 94087  
RSVP  
Free
 
About the film :   A concerned mother turned filmmaker aims her camera at the high-stakes, high pressure culture that has invader our school & our children's lives.

Race to Nowhere points to the silent epidemic in our schools: cheating has become commonplace; students are disengaged; stress-related illness and depression are rampant; and many young people arrive at college and the workplace unprepared and uninspired.  
 
Race to Nowhere is a call to action for families, educators, and policy makers to challenge current assumptions on how to best prepare the youth of America to become healthy, bright, contributing and leading citizens.  
 


Beyond Measure [Film 2]

Wednesday, April 11, 2018
7:00 pm
Wilcox HS - Mission Theater
3250 Monroe St,
Santa Clara CA 95051
Free
 
About the film :  In Race to Nowhere, director Vicki Abeles unveiled the dark side of America's achievement culture. 

In her follow-up documentary, Beyond Measure, Abeles travels to public schools across the country as they embark on a journey to transcend the limits of our outmoded, test-driven education system and create a more equitable, empowering, student-centered education culture from the ground up. 

By putting research and innovative models into practice, groundbreaking school communities are transforming how and what they teach. In chorus with experts including Sir Ken Robinson, Linda Darling-Hammond, Yong Zhao, Alison Gopnik, Jo Boaler and Daniel Pink, the change makers in Beyond Measure prove that both a new vision and a higher purpose are within reach for American education. 


Seasons of LCAP - Winter
 
Basics:
  • Review the current LCAP and determine if any local priorities need to be added or adjusted.
  • Review the Governor's January budget proposal and discuss the impact on your local district.
  • Determine how the proposed funding will impact the current LCAP three-year plan.
LCAP outreach/parent engagement:
  • When are the Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) and District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC) meetings?
  • Parent Advisory Committee has to made up of a majority of parents.
  • What are the results of the parent and student surveys
  • Has at least one Community Forum been scheduled?
Review and reflect on current LCAP:
  • Has the updated draft LCAP been presented to the PAC & DELAC?
  • What changes have been made to the LCAP directly based on parent/student/community input?

CAPTA:   Seasons of LCAP    [ English  flyer]   [ Spanish  flyer]
                                         [ Vietnamese  flyer] [ Chinese  flyer]
                                          [ Arabic  flyer]   [ Tagalog  flyer]
 
CAPTA: LCAP Best Practices   [ English ]    [ Spanish ] 
 


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"Volunteers are at the heart of PTA advocacy.
We speak up for all children and families
to make a difference at the
local, regional, state
and national
level."

Thank you for volunteering with your PTA.

- Lea Darrah, 2017-2019 CAPTA Director of Legislation

Finding the Best People to Lead Your PTA
 
Most PTA's want to have their nominating committee, find the best nominee for each position, and to have those individuals be a team that will work well together.
 
To help your nominating committee get started with the process, we have resources from CAPTA and Georgia State PTA:
 
 
Nominating Committee First Meeting Agenda
                                   Second Meeting Agenda
                                   Third Meeting Agenda
 
 
 
 

PTA Calendar of Essential Requirements
February 2018 -

  • Nominating Committee Needs to be Elected [Info] [Toolkit]
  • Founder's Day - February 17
               Info
  • Insurance Premium - $228 for units
  • Fiduciary Agreements - Info and Form
  • Connect with volunteers signed up for winter/spring activities
Previous Issues

Feb 14 - How Many Women and Men Attended the First PTA Meeting
      - Volunteers are at the heart of PTA advocacy
      - Sixth District's Annual Luncheon
      - President's Day
      - Founder's Day
      - Sixth District Office
      - CAPTA Membership Increase Challenge

Feb 7 - PTA's Mission Does Not Start or Stop at the School Door
      - Make a Friend Day
      - Health and Community Concerns Conference Call
      - Parents for Healthy Kids Grants
      - Sixth District's Annual Luncheon
      - High School Students Apply to be on the CAPTA Board of Managers

Jan 31 - Why is the Restaurant Asking my PTA for a W-9?
      -  Parent Ed - The Smart Talk: Internet Safety
      - Parent Ed - Impact: Teen Drivers
      - Want to Increase Family Engagement in Your School Community?
      - Sixth District's Annual Luncheon
      - The Princess Project: Silicon Valley
      - Tax Returns with Extensions - Oops

Jan 24 - When's is a Good Time to Do Your Bylaws
      - CAPTA Graduating High School Senior Scholarship
      - Parent Ed - The Smart Talk: Internet Safety
      - Tax Returns with "extensions"
      - Parent Ed - Teen Drivers
        - # 1 - What Do You Consider Lethal?
        - # 2 - Impact: Teen Drivers



Feel free to forward this e-newsletter to any and all PTA officers, members and other interested persons, and encourage them to   join our mailing list.      
 
As always, you are encouraged to send us your suggestions for articles and additional information you would find useful. Thanks!  
 
Questions? Comments? Contact
Wendy Akers-Ghose, eNews Editor, Sixth District PTA
Amin Fazal, VP Communications, Sixth District PTA
Vandana Kaushal, President, Sixth District PTA
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