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Florida PTA e-News
January 2021
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Happy New Year Florida PTA!
As we head into 2021, we still face unique challenges, but I know we stand ready to overcome them, united together for All Children. Why we do what we do is paramount during these challenging times. Times like these can lead us to question our why. That is normal and is to be expected. It seems each day we think we are getting it down and then each day brings its own new challenge. If you find yourself needing to talk to someone, know that we are here for you. Your Florida PTA Board of Directors are here; do not hesitate to reach out for support, for an ear to listen or to just talk. Our strength lies within each other and is the bedrock of what separates our great association from any other: our people, our family, our resolve.
#LeadingTheWayForwardTogether
Florida PTA continues to offer ways to engage, educate and empower our leaders and members. We hope you take advantage of the Get Engaged Wednesdays events that are offered every Wednesday as a free resource. If you are unable to attend, you can visit our webpage for previous events: https://floridapta.org/get-engaged-wednesdays/
Save these dates for some upcoming Florida PTA events:
- January 23: How Do You PTA Today Leadership Summit
- February 20: How Do You PTA Today Leadership Summit, Sunshine State PTSA work day at the office
- March 9-11: National PTA LegCon, Virtual event, registration is now open
- March 21-23: Florida PTA LegCOn, Virtual event, registration is now open
- May 1: Reflections Celebration Event
- June 24-27: National PTA Convention, Grapevine Texas
- July 15-18: Florida PTA Leadership Convention, Innisbrook Resort Palm Harbor, Florida
This month I chose HOPE as our word:
hope
/hōp/
noun
a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen, a feeling of trust.
Merriam-Webster's definition makes “hope” seem close to “wish”: “to cherish a desire with anticipation: to want something to happen or be true.” Whatever the details, hope in general means a desire for things to change for the better, and to want that better situation very much
Thank you for all that you do each and every day for All Children. Your time, talents and treasures are greatly appreciated.
Jennifer "Jen" Martinez
President | Florida PTA
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January 12 (rescheduled): Grow Your Membership, 7 PM (to register, click here)
January 20: Zooming Into Membership
January 27: Youth Advocacy
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For more information, including recordings of past sessions, please visit our website.
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Our virtual LegCon event will take place March 21-22! To register, please click here.
Our Legislative Committee has been hard at work. Please click here to view the latest updates!
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Upcoming Leadership Summits |
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Mark your calendars for our upcoming "How Do You PTA Today?" Leadership Summits! Registration is now open for the Central Area - click the picture below to register!
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As we welcome in the beginning of 2021, the Florida PTA Reflections Committee has been hard at work. We are looking forward to seeing the amazing artwork that your talented students have created. All entries that are moving on to the state level for judging are due on Friday January 15, 2021 from the county council chairs. Forms A and B must be completed and emailed to Reflections@floridapta.org and all artwork must be uploaded to the student entry portal.
The committee is planning the Reflections Award Ceremony for May 2, 2021 in Orlando to celebrate the artists that placed at the state level. We are looking to stream our event live so that everyone can participate either online or in person. We are also looking at doing an online art show to share the amazing student artwork that was submitted to us. We will be announcing our state level winners in March 2021 after we submit our entries to National PTA for judging. We will announce any winners at the National level in May 2021.
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Languages Service Committee |
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Call for Language Services Committee Members
Hola! Bonjour! Ciao! Kon'nichiwa! Olá!
Do you like helping people? Are you fluent (spoken and written) in more than one language? Do you find yourself with a little extra time on your hands?
If you answered yes to these questions, we need you! As an extension of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts, Florida PTA is looking for individuals who are willing to translate documents, presentations, flyers, etc. from English into other languages for the benefit of our members.
Opportunities may also arise for you to assist with interpretation.
Interested? Complete this Google form and you will be contacted with additional information regarding this volunteer opportunity.
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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion |
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The Multilingual and International Students Committee was newly created and appointed by the direction of the Florida PTA Board of Directors in August 2020. Our goal is to engage our English Language Learners (ELLs), families, and communities.
One of our committee's top priorities is to prepare a resource guide for English Language Learners (ELLs), especially useful for families of those students participating in distance learning settings. The resource guide will be available by early 2021. This guide will include health and safety information and supplementary educational materials in Haitian Creole, Spanish, and additional languages.
We need your help to get this critical resource guide to the families who need it. Our committee is compiling a Multilingual Resource Persons Directory of ESOL teachers, bilingual paraprofessionals, Parent Leadership Council and Migrant Parent Council members, and of any other groups that might include multilingual resource persons. Please click this link to complete and submit our form back to the committee, this will help us share our guide with you and the community. https://forms.gle/gyHo9aiGfJTvh4rB7. Thank you!
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High School Seniors: Scholarships! |
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The deadline to apply for a Florida PTA Scholarship is February 1st. We offer scholarships to four-year universities, vocational colleges, community colleges, and fine arts institutions. You must be a Florida PTA member to apply!
Click here for more information.
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Children's Week 2021 at the Capitol |
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Join us and become a part of the annual and signature Children's Week Florida event, Celebration of the Hands!
Each year since 1986, early learning programs, schools, and individual families across the state, have created children’s hand artwork for a stunning visual display at the Capitol Rotunda during Children's Week Florida. These beautiful hands serve as a reminder to legislators, advocates, and visitors of how thousands of Florida’s children, youth, and families are impacted by decisions made during legislative session.
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Virtual Assistance From National PTA |
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NEW VIRTUAL RESOURCE WEBPAGE: National PTA compiled resources to help local PTA leaders move their PTA into the virtual world. Resources include leadership training, growing membership virtually, online programs and socially distanced family engagement.
TWO LOCAL PTA MEMBERSHIP TRAININGS: Two 15-minute recorded webinars designed for local units navigating PTAing in a virtual world. The Virtual Membership campaign mini-webinar covers making it easy to join online, making the case that PTA is worth it, and forming an effective ask. The Effective and Engaging Virtual Meetings webinar differentiates meetings from other events, and provides suggestions to streamline meetings, and convey the value of member participation. To access both webinars, leaders must be signed into the PTA Kit. They are also linked to the new Lead a Virtual PTA webpage. Help spread the word about the new membership focused resources – post on your social media, on your websites, add to your virtual local PTA trainings, and more. Look for additional short trainings to come soon.
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Leadership Convention 2021 |
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Do you have an idea for a Leadership Convention workshop? Please use this form link and share your idea with us!
ARE YOU READY FOR FLORIDA PTA’s BIGGEST FAMILY REUNION?
If you have not already provided a line item in your budget to attend the 2021 FPTA Leadership Convention (July 15-18), you still have time! Here are the prices for this incredible event and please remember training is a legitimate, approved expense!
Early bird: $90, Regular: $105, On-site: $130
Students 21 & younger: $50
Non PTA-members: $150
We can’t wait to see you there!!!
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Follow us on social media! |
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ShopPTA.com sells official PTA and PTSA logo apparel, membership items, awards, gifts and more. All products are offered through each of the participating State PTA organizations. Visit shoppta.com for all your PTA needs!
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