Latest News from New Mexico PTA 
January 17, 2017
In This Issue
Attention Local PTA Officers:
 
Please review the following documents that must be submitted to New Mexico PTA in order to be considered a PTA in Good Standing.  The list of documents should have been submitted in the Fall of 2016.  If you have not yet submitted some of the Compliance documents please send them as soon as possible.  Call the New Mexico PTA office at 505-881-0712 if you have any questions or need any assistance.  Thank you for your attention to this important compliance requirement.

Renata Witte
President, New Mexico PTA

Standards of Affiliation 2016-2017

Attention Local Reflections Chairs
Deadline for Reflections  
This Thursday!
January 19, 2017

This Thursday, January 19, is the New Mexico PTA Reflections deadline!  Your school's advancing entries should be delivered in person or mailed to our office no later than the 19 th.  Our office hours are 9am until 1pm.  Don't forget we have a new location at Wilson Middle School (in the portables).  Please reference the Local Leader Guide on our web page for submission details.

  http://www.newmexicopta.org/pta-reflections/

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact [email protected].

Apply for a Mary Lou Anderson Grant

$1000 in matching funds to support local PTA arts projects within their school community.

Funded projects will increase access to learning opportunities in the literary, media, visual and/or performing arts for at-risk or underserved audiences.

Arts projects must actively engage families and community partners to strengthen family-school partnerships. Eligible applicants must be PTA in good standing as determined by the State PTA.    
Applications must be submitted by Friday, March 17, 2017. Find out more at PTA.org/Awards.
17 in 17 Membership Challenge


New Mexico PTA and Grand Canyon University Working Together for You! 
 
Grand Canyon University is proud to offer staff or members of New Mexico PTA an exclusive scholarship opportunity. You are eligible to receive a 10% off tuition scholarship* toward any degree program at GCU. Or, if you are a spouse of a staff member or parent of a student, you are eligible for a 5% tuition scholarship**.

Why GCU?

Our innovative online classes provide the convenience and flexibility to accommodate your busy schedule as you earn your degree. We also provide ongoing support from enrollment through graduation, including free tutoring, technical support and more. We ensure you will have the resources needed to have a positive and rewarding academic experience.

To schedule an appointment to determine how GCU can help you reach your personal and professional goals, contact your local university development representative.

Karen Brown
University Development Counselor
[email protected]

Spring e-Learning Challenge

The New Mexico PTA Board of Directors encourages all local unit PTA leaders to take the e-learning classes offered on the National PTA website, www.pta.org/elearning.
This is your PTA's chance to win free registration for 4 people to attend the New Mexico PTA Convention, May 5-6, 2017.

A $450 value
Enter Today!

Click here to be linked to the National PTA e-Learning Library.

**For each local PTA unit that has every executive officer* complete one e-learning course and submits a 'Certificate of Completion' for those officers to the NMPTA office postmarked by March 31, 2017 your PTA unit will be entered into a drawing for a free '4-pack' to the NMPTA 102nd Annual State Convention, May 5-6, 2017
*based on the officer list on file with NMPTA; PTA unit must be in compliance to win. **
Family Online Safety Institute's "How to be a Good Digital Parent"
Family Online Safety Institute's "How to Be a Good Digital Parent" program
is a train the trainer program designed to train PTA leaders to teach parents and caregivers to
confidently navigate the Internet with their kids. The program will go through each of
the 7 Steps to Good Digital Parenting in detail and identify risks and address ways to mitigate the harms so that families can reap the online rewards. It is free for PTA leaders to sign up and they will provide participants with a toolkit that contains:
  • PowerPoint Presentation
  • Instructional Video
  • Answer to Frequently Asked Questions
  • Audience Handouts
  • Presenters Guide

To take advantage of this program, visit their website, www.fosi.org/gdppresentation.



Explora's Educational Programs


January-2017
 Your New Mexico PTA Board in Action

  • Financial Officer continues to work with schools across the state in the areas of budget support and audits.
  • New Mexico PTA in partnership with the Multicultural Membership Development Manager at National PTA and Univision are in the process of setting up a pilot program in the Gadsden School District.  The partnership is designed to utilize Univision's Clave al Éxito (Key to Success) program for 2-3 schools in the district.  Stay tuned for updates about this program!!
  • VP of Membership enjoys visiting schools across the state!  Conversations regarding membership and volunteer support are the topics most often addressed.
  • Education Partners (including NMPTA) presented their collective and individual Legislative Platforms during the School Board Association Conference as well as to the Legislative Education Study Council (LESC).  
  • A partnership with the New Mexico Learning Alliance and a grant through the LANL Foundation provided training for PTA leaders from across the state to participate in Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Training.  The PTA leaders that participated in the training are holding ESSA forums in their school communities and providing input back to the Learning Alliance and the Public Education Dept.
  • A National PTA webinar was held in December that discussed the value of partnerships in order to affect change in ESSA.  Participants included the National PTA President, the national NEA President, the NMPTA President and the NM NEA President.  The webinar was recorded and can be found on the National PTA website.
  • New Mexico PTA is in the process of finalizing working sponsorships and agreements with the following organizations:
    • Mountain America Credit Union has supported New Mexico PTA for the past two years and we look forward to a continued relationship with them.  They have been NMPTA Convention sponsors and continue to provide member benefits to PTA schools.  We value their support and sponsorship of NMPTA scholarships.
    • Grand Canyon University is offering New Mexico PTA members a tuition discount.  Contact Karen Brown for more information (contact details in article above) and to take advantage of this great opportunity.
    • Our newest agreement is with the owner/operators of McDonalds, New Mexico.  This is an agreement still in process and we look forward to bringing more information to you soon.
  • Reflections Chair is busy collecting work from students around New Mexico to send on to National PTA for the national competition.  We will celebrate New Mexico PTA's winners at the State Convention and hold a special celebration for all students whose work was sent to the state level on the evening of Friday May 5th.
  • ARE YOU INTERESTED IN SERVING ON ANY OF THE NMPTA COMMITTEES?  Convention Committee, Finance Committee, Legislation Committee, Bylaw Committee are currently meeting and accepting new members.  We appreciate your "fresh eyes" on issues and procedures.  Please contact NMPTA at [email protected] for information.
New Mexico PTA | [email protected] | http://www.newmexicopta.org
1100 Cardenas Dr SE
Albuquerque, NM 87108