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Plano ISD Council of PTAs
March 2014                                                                     Volume 2, Issue 7
President1Council President's Letter

President Section Image

 

March Madness

 

Thank you to everyone who attended our Annual Life Membership Banquet at Southfork Ranch.  We had a great turnout to honor some amazing volunteers, staff and community members from across our school district.  I'd like to give a special thank you to our guest speaker, Karen Slay, Immediate Past President of Texas PTA, for joining us that evening.  Her remarks on the ABCs of PTA have inspired so many of our PTA leaders.  Our 3rd VP of Membership, Angela King and her wonderful Banquet Committee volunteers did a fantastic job of organizing the entire event - congratulations on a successful evening!

 
To continue, click here.
Texas PTA Updated Local & Council Bylaws TemplatesBylaws

 

The Texas PTA Board of Directors approved amendments to the local PTA and Council PTA bylaws templates which took effect February 9, 2014.

 

For additional information regarding these changes please click here.

 

Membership UpdateMembership

 

Be an Early Bird by qualifying now for the Spring Awards and other Texas
PTAs membership awards.  The postmark deadline to submit member names for the 2013-2014 school year is March 17, 2014.

For a complete list of awards that your PTA can earn, click here.

 

The Plano ISD Council of PTAs is proud tannounce the following Award Recipients:

  • Penny Chapman, 1st VP, Aide to the President - Texas Life Member Award
  • Richard Matkin, PISD Superintendent - Texas Life Member Award
  • Amanda Driscoll, Community Outreach Chair - Texas Life Member Award 
  • Lesley Range-Stanton, PISD Director for Communications - Texas Life Member Award
Community Outreach - STAAR Snacks NeededOutreach

 

One of our Community Outreach Initiatives is to provide snacks to students who are taking the STAAR tests at our Title 1 Schools.  This is important because these schools work with very limited, if any, PTA budgets and taxed school fund accounts. As we know, children who aren't hungry feel better and do better on their tests.

 

We are asking for your PTA to help provide snacks to these 11 schools.

 

Here's how your PTA Can help:

A Financial Donation

-Checks can be made to council or directly to a campus

 

A Water Donation

-Provide bottled water to students at schools

 

Snack Donation

-Purchase or collect donated snacks that can be given to one of our campuses

 

How much money is needed?  

We discovered last year that it cost about $200-$300 to provide all of the snack foods per campus.  

 

When you decide what the best way for your school to support this initiative is, please let me know.  Also let me know if your PTA has a particular campus they'd like to support.  

 

THANK YOU!

Amanda Driscoll

VFReflections
 
The Plano ISD Council of PTAs Vendor Fair will be Saturday, April 26th from 10am-2pm at Plano Senior High School in the Gymnasium.  We have lots of exciting changes coming this year, so stay tuned for more details!  For questions about the Vendor Fair, contact Brandi Hatley at ways@planopta.org.
The Reflections program "Believe, Dream, Inspire" generated over 1300 participants across the district, and we received over 560 submissions at the council level.
 There were totals of
  • Dance: 19
  • Film: 13
  • Literature: 134
  • Music: 44
  • Photo: 103
  • Visual Arts: 265

Plano sent 24 entries to state, The State level judging was to be held between the dates January 27 and February 28. The state-selected entries will be advanced to National PTA by the March 3rd deadline. Those results will be on the state web site on March 1. Please visit this link for updates:
http://www.txpta.org/programs/reflections/


The students who received awards at council will be invited to a special awards ceremony on April 10.

Thanks to everyone who worked to make this program a success and great opportunity for Plano students to express their artistic abilities.

It is not too early to start working on projects for next year's theme: "The World Would be a Better Place..."
Volunteer UpdateVols
 
Does your campus need on-site volunteer help? Have you heard that Council has entered into a partnership with Collin College's Spring Creek Campus to support our volunteer needs and to help fulfill their student and staff service requirements?

 

There are currently 65 student organizations within the Collin College Spring Creek campus that may have college students** available for one-time time volunteer opportunities. These students sign liability waivers and receive general volunteer training from the Collin College Department of Student Life.  Staff and Faculty may also be available for long-term events and projects.

 

**NOTE: ALL volunteers over the age of 18 must be approved to volunteer through PISD and

be scanned in through the Raptor System before being allowed to volunteer on campus.**

  • Due to the location of the Spring Creek Campus and for ease with transportation, Collin College has requested that we consider them for the eastern-most PISD campuses.
    • Campuses further west may still put requests, but responses may be limited.
    • As our partnership grows, we may look into reaching out to help from the Frisco Collin College Campus.
    • Please visit the Volunteers Shutterfly Share Site at www.pisdptavolunteers.shutterfly.comfor details and contact information.
  • If you are hosting a daytime event, you might like a college student whose hours are more flexible than that of a high school student.
    • Please remember that our high school student organizations would still like to be contacted for evening and weekend events as they are scheduled.
  • For long-term volunteerism needs, we have other Collin College organizations or Staff and Faculty that may be able to help. Please contact me for a referral.

Tip for the month:  Don't be afraid to ask for help. We can all learn from one another!

 

Reminder: Have you made any suggestions about who will replace you or notified your PTA of your intentions for next year? If not, now is a good time to do so.

 


  Foundation 
 
Central Market Thrill of the Grill 5K: Register early and save!

 

Make walking or running the May 17th Central Market Thrill of the Grill 5K your new year resolution, and support the Plano ISD Education Foundation. Register this month and save on registration fees for adults and youth. Enjoy a walk or run, post-race breakfast, party and live music at this fun annual event.  
golf
Click Here to Learn More!

In This Issue
 

Connect with us Socially

Quick Links
 
Platinum 
Sponsorship
EPI Partner LogoEducational Products, Inc.
Bronze
Sponsorship
Membership Toolkit
For information on becoming a Sponsor of the Plano ISD Council of PTAs, please visit our website.  

VF
Annual Vendor Fair

 

You're invited to the 19th annual Vendor Fair hosted by the Plano ISD Council of PTAs.  This highly-anticipated event will take place Saturday, April 26, 2014, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and is free to attendees and open to the public (children welcome).  This year's event features a whole new layout at Plano Senior High School gymnasium with more than 100 vendors, food trucks, entertainment, freebies, games, door prizes and much more.

 

All conveniently located in one location, meet with various vendors about fundraising ideas, arts and enrichment, programs, parent education, youth protection, and educational services as well as other products and services to help you with all your PTA needs.  We encourage all PTA and PTO members, Plano ISD faculty and staff, booster clubs, churches, civic organizations, scouts, sports associations, and community members in the Plano area to attend as well as those in surrounding ISDs (i.e. Allen, McKinney, Frisco, Carrollton-Farmers Branch, and Richardson) to take advantage of this great opportunity.

 

Vendors will display a variety of fundraising ideas, school supplies, student planners, sportswear, spirit wear, jewelry, home d�cor items, food items, posters, gift wrap, magazines, children's literature, parent/student programs, and so much more.  There's something for everyone at the Plano ISD Council of PTAs Vendor Fair.

 

Please invite all of your board members-especially your Ways and Means/Fundraising Chairperson-to check out our vendors and explore new opportunities for your unit.  And feel free to share this information with and/or any organization, group, booster club, etc. which relies on fundraising each year for their financial needs.

 

Admission is free.  Parking is free.  Children welcome.

 

Plano Senior High School is located at 2200 Independence Pkwy, Plano, Texas 75075, but the Vendor Fair is located in Building E (which is located on Westside Dr).

 

If you need any additional information, please contact Brandi Hatley.

 

Looking forward to seeing you at the Fair!

CommunityCommunity PTA Membership Campaign
 
The Plano ISD Council of PTAs has officially launched its inaugural Community PTA Membership Campaign for 2013-2014.  The purpose of this campaign is to promote PTA membership at our local PTAs and create a community of engaged families, staff, and business professionals in Plano ISD.  Your support of our local PTAs helps them provide programs and experiences that helps supplement their academic experiences in and out of school.  

To become a PTA member of one or more Plano PTAs, complete the Community PTA Membership Campaign form and return it to Plano ISD Council of PTAs, Attn: Rhonda Snyder, 2700 W. 15th St., Plano, TX 75075.  

As a thank you, you will receive a Plano ISD Council of PTAs Certificate of Appreciation, window sticker, and recognition on our website, Facebook, and Twitter.  For questions, please contact president@planopta.org
 
Thank you for supporting Plano PTAs!
SchoolBoard1

School Board Meeting Dates

 

2013-14 Board Meetings

Regular Meetings

7:00 p.m., First Floor Board Room, Plano ISD Administration Building, 2700 W. 15th Street, Plano, TX 75075


� April 8
� May 6 
� May 20
� June 3

 

Work Sessions

6:00 p.m., Sockwell Center, 6301 Chapel Hill Boulevard, Plano, TX 75093


� March 18
� April 22

 

Symphony
Plano Symphony Orchestra's Family Sunday Series

Click here to enlarge. 
Bios


Two of our incredible Life Member Honorees were inadvertently left out of the banquet program.  Click here to learn more about these fabulous ladies!

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