Thank you for sharing your great back to school activities on Facebook! Be sure to follow our
Best Practices page
for new ideas, tips and more!
In This Issue
For Officers
- Meet Dr. Scott Brabrand, view Screenagers – Oct. 17
- Boost membership/volunteers/family engagement - Oct. 20 Conference
- Invite your SRO to speak this fall
- Important Tax Exempt Reminder
- Reflections Support Sept. 14
- Leadership Training Sept. 29
- High School Voter Registration Challenge
- Customizable membership materials
For Members (feel free to cut and paste for your e-news)
- Concerned about cell phones/screens/tech in schools and home?
- FCPS Family Language Lines
- Candidate Forums
|
|
Mark your calendars
for the Oct. 17 FCCPTA General Membership meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Gatehouse Administration Building, 8115 Gatehouse Road, Falls Church. Membership meetings are open to all PTA members but only presidents or their designees can vote (just like local PTAs, the Council needs you to approve our audit and budget). Our membership meetings feature an up-to-the-minute FCPS briefing by Superintendent Scott Brabrand.
This year FCCPTA is launching a parent program series to explore how parents and schools can better manage screen time and technology use
(in other words, to live
healthy
digital lives). We kick off the effort with a
free viewing of
Screenagers
for you to consider sharing with your local PTAs.
FCCPTA has negotiated a discounted Screenagers’ license fee from $500 to $300 for local PTAs if 10 or more sign up.
It is easiest to charge a modest ticket price to cover the fee (tickets also secure attendance), and Screenagers splits any funds raised exceeding $300 with your PTA 50/50. Contact Jane Miscavage at
[email protected]
for more information.
|
|
Boost Family Engagement – Attend Oct. 20 Family Engagement Conference.
Family and Community Engagement (FACE) is at the center of everything PTAs accomplish. The goals of family and community engagement are for each and every child and family to be an active part of the community in which they reside. FCCPTA is partnering with FCPS Family and School Partnerships to increase interaction among parents, families, educators and administrators. Our day-long FACE Conference takes place from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday October 20 at Thomas Jefferson High School. Topics will include: Engaging Military Families, Building PTAs through Cultural Proficiency, Male Engagement, Advocating for Children and Families, Special Education Updates, Parent Liaisons and Community Outreach, Mental Health and Stress Management, Title I Schools, Effective Two-Way Communication and PTA Take Your Family to School Week.
Registration is open. Given the wide range of topics you can get the most from the conference by bringing two to three officersor volunteers to represent your local PTA. Click
here
for more info.
This conference is made possible by your FCCPTA dues, support from FCPS, and generous donations.
|
|
School Security.
Over the summer, FCCPTA sought and participated in a community review of the role of School Resource Officers in schools. Superintendent Scott Brabrand and Fairfax County Police Chief Edwin Roessler incorporated community input and have directed SROs to be available to speak at PTA meetings. Middle and High School PTA/PTSAs, please invite your SRO to speak with parents at an upcoming meeting.
|
|
Important Tax Exempt Reminder
.
Virginia PTA secures and maintains your PTA’s 501c3 designation with the IRS and Commonwealth of Virginia (which is why PTA prompts you to remain in Good Standing…PTA
must be able to verify that you are complying with rules for non-profits
). If your volunteers make purchases on behalf of your PTA, they must abide by the Retail Sales and Use Certificate of Exemption you have on file from the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Taxation (contact Barb Waldmiller,
[email protected]
, if you cannot locate yours).
To make tax-free purchases you must present a copy of your letter to the store/vendor/dealer and pay directly from the PTA’s funds (using a check from your treasurer).
Other forms of payment are taxable
.
|
|
Reflections training
will be held Friday, September 14, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., at FCPS Gatehouse Center Cafeteria, 8115 Gatehouse Road, Falls Church. Click
here
to register.Check out this
Fairfax Times article
for inspiration!
High School Voter Registration Challenge returns this fall!
In partnership with the League of Women Voters, FCCPTA helped register 5,000 high school seniors to vote last year. Students may register at age 17 if they will be 18 during the next election. Can we surpass last year’s total? Click
here
to learn more and help spread the word!
Officers missed Summer Leadership Training?
Here’s your chance: Saturday September 29, 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.,NOVA District PTA EXPO Leadership Conference, Lake Braddock SS, 9200 Burke Lake Road, Burke. Click
here
for info & registration.
Customizable membership materials
are available through National PTA. Click
here
to learn more.
|
|
Tired of arguing over screen time? Concerned about social media, gaming, cyber bullying and addiction
?
Let’s face it: smart technology and screen time are part of modern life.
But struggles over screen time, overuse and addiction don’t have to be
. Fairfax County Council PTA is seeking parents to serve on a new advisory council that will explore ways to encourage smart and healthy use of technology and home and school. Interested? Click
here
.
|
|
Hear from Congressional candidates during non-partisan forums this fall
.
In Virginia there is an election every year. Fairfax County Council PTA partners with the League of Women Voters and other nonpartisan organizations to hold forums where citizens can learn more about candidates. Three forums will be held this fall for Congressional candidates in the 8th, 10th and 11th Districts of Virginia. Forums also provide opportunities for student volunteering and service hours. 2018 Links to forum dates and info:
Find your District
here
.
|
|
FCPS language lines
are available in eight different languages to assist parents who do not speak English as their first language. A school system employee will respond to your call in your preferred language within 24 hours, Monday through Friday. The caller will provide you with the requested information, arrange for you to speak with the appropriate school employee, or connect you with the resource that you are looking to find. For more information, click
here
.
|
|
PTA Officers and Chairs, THANK YOU
for serving your fellow families, teachers and communities. As fellow volunteers, we understand the joys and challenges of coaxing volunteers, fielding questions and complaints, raising funds and building participation. FCCPTA has your back – don’t be shy about reaching out. Click
here
to contact our officers at any time.
See you on the 17
th
!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
