New Mexico Parent Teacher Association Newsletter

AUGUST 16, 2024

The mission of NMPTA is to make every child's potential a reality

by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.

NEW MEXICO'S NEWEST SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE: DOUBLE EAGLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Congratulations to Double Eagle Elementary School PTA for earning the National PTA School of Excellence designation for 2023-2025.

The School of Excellence program is a National PTA initiative that helps PTAs and schools create an environment where families feel welcomed, included and empowered to support their children’s success, and where students feel safe, supported and ready to learn.

Throughout the year, PTAs and schools collect feedback from their school communities and create and implement plans of action to improve family engagement based on PTA’s National Standards for Family-School Partnerships.

Stephanie Nater, President of Double Eagle Elementary School PTA shared, "The School of Excellence process helped us to truly take the time to see what our school needed. The process of two surveys insured we were on the right track. Our focus on communication has already helped to make this school year even better. Our website and text messaging is helping our families stay connected and informed."

Consider starting the School of Excellence journey for your school and PTA. Enrollment for the 2024-2025 program is open now until October 15, 2024. 

USE INCLUSIVE IMAGERY IN YOUR COMMUNICATIONS

It’s the start of a new school year and the season to build your PTA. It's really important to make all members of your community feel celebrated and invited to be involved in the school and PTA and at all of your events. One important aspect of making your organization feel inclusive is to have diverse representation in all that you do, including which images you use in your flyers, emails, and other communications.

A key thing to remember in selecting inclusive images is to avoid ones that stereotype people in any way–whether they’re considered “good” stereotypes or “bad.” 

We are more than our stereotypes, so it’s really important to expand how we portray one another.

Image credit: April Bryant from Pixabay

YOUR ANNUAL INTERNAL FINANCIAL REVIEW

Starting a new fiscal year means reviewing your financial records from the previous fiscal year. It's best to go into the current fiscal year knowing that your organization's finances are in good standing or where corrections might need to be made.

NMPTA requires all PTAs to conduct an internal financial review annually. Your 2023-2024 internal financial review is due to NMPTA by September 30, 2024 and must be uploaded into the compliance section in Givebacks. Please do not delay in completing this important requirement.

What's the difference between an internal financial review and an audit? In the past, NMPTA referred to annual financial reviews as "audits," but "internal financial reviews" are more in line with what we require. According to the Nonprofit Finance Fund, a financial review "only examines an organization's financial statements, accounting practices, and accounts. It does not cover records, individual transactions, or internal financial controls" like an audit would.

Image credit: 3D Animation Production Company from Pixabay

TITLE I SCHOOLS CAN RECEIVE FREE LYSOL MINILABS SCIENCE KITS

Lysol, in collaboration with The GIANT Room, is launching a series of Science Kits, called “Minilabs,” for schools as part of their HERE for Healthy Schools initiative. Lysol Minilabs Science Kits will be donated to a limited number of Title 1 elementary schools around the United States at the beginning of 2024-2025 school year. Elementary school admins, district admins, teachers, cluster science and/or health teachers are invited to request to receive these kits for their classrooms. 

LET US KNOW HOW TO SERVE YOU BETTER

NMPTA wants to know how we can better help you lead your PTA. If you're a PTA leader, please fill out this performance survey.

Image credit: Nasim Nadjafi from Pixabay

NEW MEXICO PTA WANTS YOUTH LEADERS

• 15-18 years old
• eager to share their points of view
• residents of New Mexico
• supported by their caregivers to join the NMPTA Youth Committee

Note that being at a school with a PTA is not required. Those that join the Youth Committee will have the opportunity to join the Land of Enchantment PTA.

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