November 2023

Awards, Recognitions & Capitol Day

As we enter the seasons of thanks and giving, I want to take a minute to share my appreciation for the work each of you do to build community and engage families.

In celebration and recognition of the impact you've had over the first few months of the school year, below you'll find membership awards, reflections theme awards, a shout-out to our 38 units who received National PTA grants, and recognition of the 27 PTAs that have chartered or restarted so far this year. It's been a busy fall!!

At the state level, we've started preparing for winter PTA work, which means turning our attention to the General Assembly. Here's a few notable events we participated in during October to bring focus to needed funding and policies for Virginia's students and school communities:

Roundtable with Congressman Bobby Scott to talk about funding needed to repair, replace, and upgrade school buildings.

Meeting with Governor Youngkin, Secretary of Health and Human Resources, John Littel, and Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security, Terry Cole, to talk about improving Virginia's youth mental health services and outcomes.

Spoke, by invitation, at the Virginia General Assembly Joint Commission on Technology & Science (JCOTS) about improving online student data privacy protections for our children and teens.

I know the hard work it takes to raise funds for your school community, but it's also important to raise awareness and raise your voices to share the realities of Virginia's school funding shortfalls with your Legislator. Despite record state revenues, Virginia’s schools receive less K-12 funding than the 50-state average. Legislators need to hear your perspective as an engaged parent volunteer and/or school staff member!

Below you'll find information about Virginia PTA's Capitol Day on Friday, January 19th. Please consider joining us this year to "fundraise" for Virginia's schools. Your physical presence is important and powerful.. and you'll still be home in time for dinner.

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoy a well-deserved break making new memories with families and friends.

Yours In Partnership,

Jenna Alexander

Virginia PTA President

2023-2025

Register for PTA Capitol Day!

Fri. Jan 19, 2024

Virginia PTA Capitol Day

PTA Capitol Day is an annual opportunity for Virginia PTA members (and their students!) to meet with their legislator to share insights about your school community.

WHAT DO WE TALK ABOUT?

Let your legislator know what your PTA is raising money to purchase and what your students need to be successful. Is your school short staffed? Is your building deteriorated? Are there safety concerns? Share how increased funding could improve opportunities for student success; both for your student and your school community.

It's also okay to listen if it's your first time attending. Your presence is impactful, important, and needed!

HOW DOES THE DAY WORK?

Registrants for Capitol Day are grouped with other members from their region and an experienced PTA lead. You'll attend a series of meetings from 8:00am-11:30am. Each meeting is 15-20 minutes long and you'll have 10-15 minutes to walk to your next meeting. At 11:30am, we'll meet outside the Capitol for a group picture and head to the House Gallery to watch the start of the Daily Session. There will be a special welcome for Virginia PTA from the House floor, with a shout-out to schools in attendance. For those interested, we'll have a group lunch at ~1:00 pm in the Merriweather Cafe directly across from the General Assembly. You'll be back home in time for dinner with your family.

For those who want to travel to Richmond on Thursday night (Jan 18th), this year we will be staying at the Holiday Inn Express Richmond Midtown. They have free parking, a hot breakfast, and nearby restaurants.

HOW DO I PREPARE?

Register for our annual General Assembly Preview for a review of how the day works and notable bills we'll be talking about with legislators. We'll also have a casual Advocacy Social on Thursday Jan 18th (7-8pm) to prepare for the day and discuss bills being debated. Virginia PTA and your Council Advocacy Chair take care of organizing the meetings. You just need to show-up and bring your personal perspective about education in your community.

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?

Dress your best and wear comfortable shoes. Business clothes and/or PTA Blue (royal blue) are ideal so that you can best represent your school and PTA.

Legislative Priorities

Reserve a Hotel Room

Learn More About Capitol Day

Membership Challenges

Virginia PTA's Membership Challenge Awards share and celebrate the innovative ways PTAs build community and grow membership throughout the school year.

Challenge #1 ($100)

Do you have an online join link set up?

WINNER

Marshall Road Elementary PTA

Fairfax County Council, Northern Region

Challenge #2

Tell Us Your Theme and Goal

WINNER

Kiptopeke Elementary School PTA

Northampton County, Tidewater Region

”Setting the Stage for Success”

Challenge #3 ($200)

400 Members Challenge

WINNER

Grafton High School PTSA

York County Council, Tidewater Region

Challenge #4 ($100)

Doubled Membership

ENDS NOV. 30th

Please ensure your dues are paid in full

by Nov. 30th to qualify!

Membership Milestones

PTA Membership is about relationships and the sense of community and value you create in your school throughout the entire school year. To celebrate the hard work and impact of our local PTAs, Virginia PTA recognizes local units who have reached notable membership milestones.

Membership Milestone Awards are updated monthly based on the number of reported and paid memberships reflected in your PTA's Givebacks (MemberHub) account.

1,000 Membership Milestone Award

(Award for your School’s Trophy Case)

Will Your PTA Be The First to Reach 1,000 Members?

800 Membership Milestone Award

(Banner for your School)

Brickell Academy at Old Donation PTA (Tidewater Region | Virginia Beach Council)
Thomas Jefferson HS for S&T PTSA (Northern Region|Fairfax County Council)

600 Membership Milestone Award

(2 Annual Meeting Registrations)

Chickahominy Middle School PTA (Central Region | Hanover County Council)
Freedom High School PTSA (Northern Region | Loudoun County Council)

500 Membership Milestone Award

Langley High School PTSA (Northern Region | Fairfax County Council)
Princess Anne Middle School PTSA (Tidewater Region | Virginia Beach Council)
Glenwood Elementary School PTA (Tidewater Region | Virginia Beach Council)
Winterpock Elementary School PTA (Central Region | Chesterfield County Council)

400 Membership Milestone Award

Grafton High School PTSA (Tidewater Region | York County Council)
Short Pump Middle School PTSA (Central Region | Henrico County Council)
Hickory High School PTSA (Tidewater Region | Chesapeake Council)
Pearsons Corner Elementary School PTA (Central Region | Hanover County Council)
Robious Middle School PTA (Central Region | Chesterfield County Council)
Tabb High School PTSA (Tidewater Region | York County Council)
Gayton Elementary School PTA (Central Region | Henrico County Council)
Nuckols Farm Elementary School PTA (Central Region Henrico County Council)
Ocean Lakes High School PTSA (Tidewater Region | Virginia Beach Council)
Lake Braddock Secondary School PTSA (Northern Region | Fairfax County Council)
Flint Hill Elementary School PTA (Northern Region | Fairfax County Council)
Atlee High School PTSA (Central Region | Hanover County Council)
James Madison High School PTSA (Northern Region | Fairfax County Council)
Pole Green Elementary School PTA (Central Region | Hanover County Council)
Evergreen Elementary School PTA (Central Region | Chesterfield County Council)

Congratulations to

Newly Chartered & Reinstated PTAs

We want to recognize and celebrate the 27 local units who have restarted or newly chartered their PTA so far this school year!

ACTIV8 STEM Academy (3-5)

Belmont Elementary School PTA

Carlin Springs Elementary School PTA

College Park Elementary PTA

Fairview Elementary School PTA

Glen Lea Elementary School PTA

Hampton FleX PTA

Highland Springs High School PTSA

Huguenot High School PTSA

J B Fisher Elementary PTA

James H. Blackwell Elementary PTA

Katherine Johnson Elementary PTA

Mack Benn Jr Elementary PTA

Mary Passage Middle School

McCleary Elementary School PTA

Montvale Elementary PTA

Oakland Elementary School PTA

Pleasants Lane Elementary School PTA

Rena B Wright Primary PTA

Round Hill Elementary PTA (Roanoke)

Sandston Elementary PTA

Tallwood High School PTSA

Tanners Creek Elementary School PTA

The Academy of Virginia Randolph

Virtual Learning Academy at Point Option PTSA

Walnut Hill Elementary School PTA

Westside Elementary School PTA

Congratulations National PTA Grant Awardees!

CONGRATULATIONS to the 38 PTAs in Virginia who were awarded National PTA Grants totalling more than $47K to support family engagement in schools across Virginia!

National PTA awarded $700K in grants this year to help local units and councils host PTA family engagement events at their school in the areas of digital safety, healthy lifestyles, STEM and the arts.

National PTA provides a full suite of in-person and virtual family event toolkits that you can use to plan and run events at your school!

Reflections Student Arts Contest

2023-2024 REFLECTIONS

I am hopeful because..

As a reminder, local unit entries should be sent to your Council PTA no later than December 15th.

If your PTA is in an area without an active Council, please submit your entries to Virginia PTA by January 5th for a first round of regional judging.

Councils should submit their winning entries to Virginia PTA by Jan 17th.

REFLECTIONS THEME CONTEST WINNERS

CONGRATULATIONS to Virginia PTA's Reflections Theme Contest Winners!

Our theme contest winners will now move forward to compete with other state entries for the 2025-2026 National PTA's Reflections Theme

Reflections Resources

Call for Bylaws Revisions Submissions

Submissions Due Jan 19, 2024

All PTAs in Virginia operate under the same Uniform Bylaws.

Every year, the Uniform Bylaws are revised/updated to incorporate revisions submitted by members and voted on by local unit PTA delegates at the Virginia PTA Annual Meeting.

While you may not refer to your Bylaws on a daily basis...something about running your PTA may have struck you as being confusing or challenging. While not everything belongs in the bylaws, we do want the Bylaws to be user-friendly and clear.

We want to hear your thoughts on what is confusing, problematic, or what would be a clarifying improvement to the bylaws to help you run your unit better. Please consider submitting a bylaws revision suggestion by completing the form linked below by midnight on January 19, 2024.

The bylaws committee will review and consider submissions in preparation for the annual general membership meeting. Thank you in advance for your input!

Submit Bylaws Amendments

Call for Resolutions

Submissions Due Jan 19, 2024

Resolutions are one way that we share our research with each other and formally communicate a researched action, opinion or needed solution to address a concern which affects children and youth statewide.

If there is a state-wide issue that impacts youth that you would like to elevate you can submit a Resolution for consideration. Accepted Resolutions will be debated and voted on at the May 18th Annual Meeting.

Write A Resolution

Virginia PTA Scholarship

Applications Due March 30th.

Virginia PTA is proud to continue our tradition of offering multiple $500 scholarships to support high school seniors as they continue their education.

Scholarships are available for students planning to attend a college/university, a technical/vocational program, a fine arts program, and for special education students pursuing continuing education.

Students must be PTA members and your PTA/PTSA must be in good standing. Please get the word out to school counselors and high schoolers.

Scholarship Application

PARTNER NEWS

Safe Routes to School & Crossing Guards

Virginia Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program helps schools and communities make walking and biking to school a safe, convenient, natural activity. SRTS programs make a difference in children’s lives by teaching them skills that help make them more independent, keep them safe and ready to start the school day.

SRTS Quarterly Calls are interactive and open to everyone involved in SRTS or just interested in learning more.

Next Quarterly Call: December 13th at 1:00pm

Topic: Crossing Guard shortage.

> Sign-Up for SRTS Quarterly Calls & News

Crossing Guard Appreciation Day is February 7th

Get Tools To Celebrate

Most Outstanding Crossing Guard Nominations open Dec 1 - Jan 19th

Quick Start Mini Grants can be used for Crossing Guard Equipment. Apply March 7th & April 4th

Help Parents Talk w/ Teens about Alcohol

Power of Parents is designed to empower caregivers to have intentional and ongoing conversations with their middle and high schoolers about the dangers and consequences of underage drinking and drug use. In collaboration with MADD, Virginia ABC offers free handbooks and training that can either be taken online or arranged for in-person events at a location convenient to you. Materials are adapted from Dr. Robert Turrisi’s (Pennsylvania State University) research with a wealth practical advice to help start the conversation and keep lines of communication open with teens.

-Request free handbooks

-Schedule a group training event for your school

VCA Grants Opportunities

The Virginia Commission for the Arts (VCA), established in 1968, is Virginia's state agency dedicated to investing in the arts of Virginia. VCA offers grants to expand Pre-K-12 students and teachers opportunities to work with professional artists in an in-school, after-school, or other community setting, including summer activities.

Learn More about VCA Grants

PLAN TO ATTEND!

Virginia PTA Annual In Person Events

Sat. May 18, 2024

Virginia PTA Annual Meeting

As a local unit officer you are an important member of the Virginia PTA voting body. Please save the date and plan to attend the 2024 Virginia PTA Annual Meeting.

This annual event provides an opportunity to discuss the state of our association, vote on bylaws amendments and resolutions that are proposed by members, celebrate and recognize your successful school year, and engage in training and collaboration with PTA leaders from across Virginia.

Together, we can make an impact and improve opportunities for Virginia's students.