MA PTA President Kathresha Cureton, Governor Maura Healey and Congressman McGovern working together to help our students with Summer Child Nutrition Program

Message from our MA PTA President Cureton:

As we advance into this year, I express sincere gratitude for your unwavering support and dedication. Your efforts have been essential to our ongoing success at the Massachusetts PTA, and I genuinely appreciate the time and energy you invest in our mission. Thank you for standing by us and your commitment to enhancing the educational experience for all. I am uplifted by those who share such passion and dedication. -"Every small effort creates a ripple of positivity, shaping our schools and communities into vibrant places for our children to thrive."

Your State Could Shape the Future of Reflections! Each year, students have the chance to submit ideas for a future National PTA Reflections theme through our Annual Theme Search Contest. Students participate through their state PTAs and each state may submit their top five theme submissions by Dec. 1. We need your help to host and promote this opportunity! National PTA provides digital submission forms and promotional graphics to support in launching the contest. Email Reflections@PTA.org with questions or connect with your State Reflections Chair.

It's that time of year to get your Reflections Arts Program up and running!

This year, MA PTA new Reflections' Chair, Samantha Lewis is here to help you.

Samantha (Sam) Lewis who hails from the Patrick Lyndon school in Boston. She is a former PTA president and have been running the Reflections program at the Lyndon for the last four years and truly believes in the program being an important outlet for students to express themselves.

Has your school had a Reflections program set up in the past? Awesome! Let's make it even better this year! Have you wanted to do Reflections but it never had the energy to get off the ground? .

Samantha can help-- and it's easier than you think! Have you always heard people talking about Reflections and been completely confused about what it is? She would love to tell you all about it. The gist is this: It's probably one of the most fulfilling programs your PTA can run. You help students express themselves creatively through art-- music, dance, visual arts, literature, film, and photography-- and celebrate the unique and beautiful art every student creates.

The theme this year is Accepting Imperfection. Between now and sometime in January, your students at your local school level will create art inspired by the theme and submit it for judging. Then the winners from all arts categories and grade level divisions will move on to compete at the Massachusetts state level and we'll honor our winners at the State Annual Meeting in April. Finally our state winners will move on to compete at the National PTA level, with the winners being announced around the National convention in June.

Here's to an awesome Reflections 2024-2025 program! Samantha can't wait to see the amazing artwork your students create! Please don't hesitate to reach out to her.

Start early and be in the know. Your School, your community , your parents will be very proud and your students, children and youth will love this whole program. There is something for everyone!

Reach out to Samantha Lewis at s.lewis@masspta.org

Congratulations

to Memorial Early Childhood Center PTA in Middleboro, MA.

They have worked diligently and with tremendous zeal to nearly TRIPLE their membership numbers currently in this

2024-25 school year!

Looking for Help with PTA Membership?

Contact Karen DeRoche

MA PTA joins forces with MTA on Question 2

this November on the Ballot!

Teachers and parents agree: One standardized test shouldn’t determine a child’s future.

This November, we can vote for a ballot initiative that would replace the standardized MCAS test as a high school graduation requirement, and instead require students to demonstrate that they have mastered the state’s education standards, skills, and competencies through their schoolwork and teacher evaluations. Get Involved Today!

Dear PTA Members and Supporters,

In the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, many of our PTA communities are facing significant challenges. Families have lost homes, schools have been damaged and entire communities are struggling to recover. In these difficult times, the National PTA Disaster Relief Fund stands ready to provide crucial support—but we need your help.

Your donation to the National PTA Disaster Relief Fund will directly assist affected PTA communities by supporting State PTAs in the reopening and rebuilding of damaged schools. Every contribution, regardless of size, makes a difference. By donating, you're not just giving money—you're giving hope and showing the true strength of our PTA family.

Donate Now

Welcome to the 29th Annual MIAP Pediatric

Immunization Skills Building Conference!

The in-person conference will be held at the DCU Center, Worcester, Massachusetts.

Registration fee $175. See Exhibitor Info Tab for exhibitor fees.

CONFERENCE DESCRIPTION

This full-day, pediatric conference will provide up-to-date information on the field of pediatric immunization with an emphasis on current immunization recommendations and general immunization updates.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, medical assistants, community outreach and public health workers, immunization coalition members, and office staff who work in pediatric healthcare settings, healthcare and civic organizations.

LEARNER OBJECTIVES

Summarize the current Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) schedules and recommendations.
Cite two current topics related to immunizations in Massachusetts and nationally.
Describe current vaccine preventable disease outbreaks and trends and discuss ways to address them.
Utilize evidence-based strategies for improving vaccine confidence in their practice.
Review strategies for creating a positive vaccination experience.

Click here to visit the conference website. Complete conference details, including exhibit information, can be found on the website

Offering an enhanced in person experience using the MIAP Mobile App! Available October 2024

DCU Center

50 Foster Street

Worcester, MA 01608

News and Updates

From National PTA

President, Yvonne Johnson

This month is National PTA Family and School Safety Month, and Oct. 20-26 is designated Safe Schools Week. For far too long, we have seen gun violence quickly escalate to a crisis point. PTA has been calling for action and common-sense gun laws and gun violence prevention policies that will help make our schools and communities safer. As you may know, last week President Biden released an executive order to help reduce gun violence and save lives. The executive order is a positive step toward ending gun violence and National PTA applauds the Biden Administration for addressing this epidemic.

400+ PTA Resources to Grow PTA Membership Together.

Check out our Membership Tools and make a habit of sharing resources you love with your leaders. Start by encouraging leaders to utilize their PTA logo and QR codes; show PTA’s value with customizable resources; and watch Membership Minutes for ideas any leader can use. Let’s grow PTA together and have a successful 2024-2025 membership year!

Do You Know Any Youth Between the Ages of 13-17 Who Are Part of a PT(S)A? National PTA is starting a Youth Advisory Council to promote digital well-being and safety. Council members will have the unique opportunity to gain valuable leadership skills while promoting National PTA’s digital safety initiatives. The application will open later this month.

New Blueprint for Parent Leaders to Take Action on Gun Violence Prevention. I am so excited to share that as part of National PTA’s Family and School Safety Month in October, National PTA has released a new resource for our members, A Blueprint for Parent Leaders to Take Action on Gun Violence Prevention. The blueprint is designed to serve as a practical resource providing guidance for parent leaders to host critical conversations related to school safety planning and gun violence prevention in their school communities. With the resource, we are aiming to empower our members to have a seat at the table, elevate the PTA voice and help influence key policy and planning decisions that impact school and community safety. National PTA has long been committed to advocating for the safety of all children and youth—from promoting safe and secure firearm storage at home and encouraging evidence-based gun violence prevention research to strengthening background checks and building supportive learning environments. This new resource deepens our commitment to this work and our role as a leader on this issue among K-12 organizations. The blueprint is part of our collaboration with Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the United States.

So much Gratitude to all of our Partners, Sponsors and Supporters!

Without your collaboration the Massachusetts PTA could not do the work we do on behalf of Children, Families , Educators, Schools and Communities.

It is for THEM,

that we need YOU!

To keep them Healthy,

To keep them Safe,

To keep them Well.

Everyone is Welcome at Massachusetts PTA

The Massachusetts PTA

thanks you for everything that you do for PTA,

our families, our schools, our communities,

but most of all, our children!