 School is almost out and Summer is almost here!!! YEAH!!! Let’s celebrate!! On behalf of the entire board of directors of the Wake County PTA Council – THANK YOU!! Our mission is to unify, strengthen and promote PTA units in Wake County. It is a challenging position with 187 schools in the district and four new opening up in August!! We have done a lot this year and we are proud to serve you. We started our year off with our Summer Leadership Conference back in August and in between that time, we have answered hundreds of questions from our units, generated position statements of support for Immigration, the Teacher Rally, and finally the 2019-2020 WCPSS budget. Our Advocacy Chair, Lisa Mead, attended the National PTA Legislative Conference in March to learn more about advocating for our students and schools! In April, we helped charter PTAs at three new schools: Alston Ridge Middle School, Green Level High School and Parkside Elementary School. We hope to help charter Southeast Raleigh Elementary soon. We held our annual Night of Stars on April 25th, highlighting and recognizing some of our greatest PTA “stars”. Also, on that night, we presented the slate and voted in our new board of directors for 2019-2020. Several of our board members attended the North Carolina PTA Conference in May, with two of them presenting. And finally, we have ended the year with New Officers Training, which was held in May. We have had a busy year, but it was a good year. I hope that we can continue to serve you – by unifying, strengthening and promoting your units. Our plans for the next year include to hold more trainings in different venues and help promote more family engagement. We are here to help you – reach out. Thank you AGAIN for all that you do to make every child’s potential a reality, by engaging and empowering families and communities to ADVOCATE for ALL children!! Together we can do so much!! Kassandra L. Watson President, Wake County PTA Council ADVOCACY Well done Wake County Advocates! The Wake County Board of Commissioners voted 6-1 on June 3 to adopt a $1.47 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2020, which includes $515.9 million in operating funds to the Wake County Public School System. That is a $45 million increase from FY19. While it falls short of the $48.3 million increase requested by Superintendant Moore, it is a great improvement over the $36.5 the County Manager originally proposed. June 2019 North Carolina lawmakers are scheduled to approve a state budget, which provides the school system with about 60% of its funding. Find your legislator here and encourage their support of public education. FINANCES Don't forget to complete your end-of-year financial review by August 31st. Find details on the financial requirements of the NCPTA here. LEADERSHIPThank you to everyone who attended the Spring Leadership Training. There were over 150 leaders in attendance representing 63 Wake County schools. If you were not able to attend, you can find the slide presentation on our website.
Recently an article appeared on the Locker Room, a blogging website hosted by the John Locke Foundation. In it, Terry Stoops accused PTAs of "taking a hard left turn", and declaring "War on Charter Schools". Below is the response from Wake PTA Council.  Greetings PTA Family & Friends, The year is almost over!! It is time or past time for your annual officer elections. I hope that everything went well for everyone. Please be sure to contact us if you have any questions. Our new officer training will be held on May 30, 2019 from 6 pm to 8:30 pm at Crossroads II. Whether you are a new officer or one needed a refresher, please do join us for this training. It was a great month to start PTAs. The council helped start 3 new PTAs for three new schools opening up in the Fall. Let us welcome and congratulate, Green Level High School PTSA, Alston Ridge Middle School PTSA, and Parkside Elementary School PTA. We will be assisting Southeast Raleigh Elementary School in the near future. We celebrated all of our PTA volunteers with a “Night of Stars” on Thursday, April 25th, held at the Poe Center. Congratulations to all of these “superstar” volunteers and thank you for all that you do!! We also held our general membership meeting on this night and elected our officers for 2019-2020. They are as follows: President – Kassandra Watson VP of Communications – Teresa Jones VP of Leadership – Amy Jones Treasurer -Sonya Reid Secretary – MariaRosa Rangel We are still looking for council members to help us try to fulfill our mission statement to unify, strengthen, and promote PTA units in Wake County. With 187 (+4 new) schools in our district we are in need of assistance to make this possible. Please contact me at president@wakepta.org. We are here to help you as best as we can. Please do reach out to us. Let us help each other so that we can be strong advocates for all of our Wake County families and communities. Congratulations to the 10 finalists for Wake County Teacher of the Year. We honor you and salute you. Remember Teacher Appreciation Week is May 6 – 10. Show them your love and appreciation. National PTA has many ideas and suggestions on their website. www.npta.org. NCPTA will hold its annual convention on May 17-18 in Charlotte. There is still time to register to attend. Past national officers will be in attendance. The theme is “Celebrating the Legacy and Continuing the Journey”, and our focus is on Leadership Matters — because it does! We will be looking at Diversity and Inclusion, Special Education, and PTA Leadership and Governance. Please go to www.ncpta.org to register. Wishing you all a great end of the year and remember to reach out to us if you need to. Thanks for all that you do to ensure that every child’s potential becomes a reality……. Advocating always, Kassandra L. Watson ADVOCACYThank you to everyone who came out for NCAE's May 1st Day of Action. An estimated 20,000 plus educators and supporters were in attendance. Signs referencing popular culture from Ms. Frizzle to Game of Thrones called for increased funding for public education. Governor Cooper began his remarks by commenting on the tragic shootings in Charlotte, “But now we need to put the same type of coordination into preventing these shootings in the first place and telling legislators that school safety is vital,” he said. “And that doesn’t mean putting guns with teachers in the classroom.” Mr. Cooper also highlighted his proposed budget with increases to teacher and principal pay, hiring more school nurses, counselors, psychologists, social workers, and school resource officers, and new funding for schools to purchase more textbooks, digital resources, instructional supplies, and enhanced digital learning opportunities for students. Wake PTA Council and many PTA units throughout the county created resolutions in support of the May 1st event. Resolution to support North Carolina Association of Educators May 1st Day of Action 2019 HEALTH AND WELLNESS There are currently 18 schools in Wake county signed up to participate in the MAY 8TH, Bike to School Day. Communities celebrate Walk to School Day and Bike to School Day for a variety of reasons, but safety is always at the core. This year, use your event to promote the importance of walking and biking safety for the entire community, starting with the trip to school. “Seven Ideas for How Walk and Bike to School Days Can Promote Road Safety for Youth and Everyone.” May is Mental Health Awareness Month   NCPTAPlanning for Your New PTA Year/Officer Transition:
May 13, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. It is that time of year when PTA leaders work tirelessly to finish the school year strong. What if finishing strong is really the key to next year’s success? How do outgoing and incoming officers work together for a seamless transition? Join us as we discuss financials, elections, board of director elections, membership, and more. Whereas, Wake County PTA Council, supports advocacy efforts that ensure every school system has sufficient funding to provide every child with an opportunity for a sound basic education.
Whereas, Wake County Public School System, will not hold classes on May 1, 2019, so that teachers and staff can elect to participate in a statewide education advocacy day coordinated by the North Carolina Association of Educators; and Whereas, Wake County PTA Council is dedicated to empowering and encouraging its members by modeling best practices of a PTA and by collaborating with others be it Resolved, that the Wake County PTA Council supports the May 1, 2019 Advocacy Day, coordinated by the North Carolina Association of Educators; be it further Resolved, that the Wake County PTA Council supports the Wake County Public School System’s decision to cancel school for students on May 1, 2019, enabling educators to participate in the Advocacy Day; be it further Resolved, that Wake County PTA Council fundamentally supports our educators’ right to assemble, advocate, and be heard; be it further; Resolved, that the Wake County PTA Council will provide the community with information on local resources to address access to food, childcare and academic resources on May 1, 2019. This resolution is adopted by the membership of Wake County PTA Council on April 25, 2019. The Wake County PTA Council recognizes that the United States began as a country of immigrants and that the resulting blend of cultures enriches our nation. We also believe that all children residing in the United States, regardless of their immigration status, have the right of access to a quality public education, adequate food and shelter, and basic health care services. Ensuring that our schools are safe and supportive for all students and their families will facilitate the physical safety and emotional well-being of all children in the District and is essential to students’ ability to achieve.
Wake County PTA Council advocates for our schools to be a safe place for its students and their families to seek help, assistance, and information if faced with fear and anxiety about immigration enforcement efforts; that law enforcement honor the policy not to involve schools and other sensitive locations, and that principals and school staff are encouraged to work with and support families and students who express concern about immigration enforcement actions at school, including students who may not be attending school because of such concerns. The Wake PTA Council supports the following statements:
 Happy Spring PTA Families: We are closer to the end of the year!! YAY!! Hopefully your nominating committees are at the end of the nominating process and you are ready for your new officer elections. Don't forget that the slate of officers and election date should be posted a minimum of 10 days prior to the election. If you need to review the process or have any questions, please see the archive of the presentation Responsibilities of the Nominating Committee and Navigating Elections done by NCPTA on 2/11/19. Getting nervous about those end of year financials? Join NCPTA for a session focused on the end of year financial responsibilities of PTAs and PTA officers on April 22, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. They will also address what the Audit Committee duties are and how financial well-being is the responsibility of all. Register at: End of the year Financial Boot Camp/Responsibilities of the Audit Committee. The council will also sponsor a training on this, as well. Be on the lookout for information in MemberHub. We are proud to announce that we will be forming four (4) new PTAs/PTSAs this month for the four (4) new schools opening up in Wake County next year!! We will give more information in the May newsletter. We will celebrate all of our volunteers with the Night of Stars on Thursday, April 25th. This is also our general membership meeting and we will be voting on our council officers for 2019-2020. Wake PTA Council is closely following the proposal of a membership dues increase by the National PTA. You will hear more about this. We are also in the process of approving a position statement with regards to immigrant children. THANKS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO!! Our main purpose is to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for ALL children!! Hand in hand, together WE CAN make a difference!! Wishing you all a successful rest of the school year! Advocating for ALL children, Kassandra L. Watson ADVOCACY In 2018, the General Assembly raised all permanent state employees’ wages to $15/hr - but they left out public school workers. Approximately 45,000 public school employees, including school bus drivers, custodians, and teaching assistants, are paid as little as $12/hour to do essential tasks like transporting our children to school, ensuring a safe and sanitary learning environment, and providing one-on-one educational support. This is just one of the many reasons teachers across the state will be marching in Raleigh on May 1st.  FINANCE End of the year Financial Boot Camp/Responsibilities of the Audit Committee: April 22, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. Getting nervous about those end of year financials? Join NCPTA for a session focused on the end of year financial responsibilities of PTAs and PTA officers. We will also address what the Audit Committee duties are and how financial well-being is the responsibility of all. Register here. HEALTH AND WELLNESSApril Health and Wellness Awareness Alcohol Awareness Month Visit TalkItOutNC.org to learn tips on how to talk to your child about alcohol and sign the pledge to commit to talking to your child. Autism Awareness Month. Learn more and find out what locat chapters are doing at Autism Society of North Carolina. National Every Kid Health Week April 22-26 Promote a health and wellness lifestyle by participating in national campaigns in your schools, with your families, and in your communities. For creative ideas on how to incorporate any of these themes in your school, please contact the WCPTA Health and Wellness Committee at healthandwellness@wakepta.org Mental Health 101 Friday, April 12th 11:00-12:30 | WakeMed Andrews Center Presented by WakeMed Health & Hospitals and the Wake County PTA Council A conversation with Dr. Tomasula, a pediatric mental health professional, to promote understanding of mental health and provide accurate information about:
Lunch will be provided as part of your free REGISTRATION If something changes and you will no longer be able to attend or if you do not need a lunch, PLEASE contact us as soon as possible so we may offer your spot to another registrant and ensure an accurate number for the catering order. Tobacco-Free Community Forum Friday, May 3rd | 9 am-11:30 am Andrews Conference Center In the past year alone, e-cigarette use among high school teens has increased 78%. E-cigarettes contain nicotine, and some e-cigarettes contain as much nicotine as a pack of 20 regular cigarettes. This is a public health crisis. The Poe Center for Health Education in partnership with Wake County Human Services, Wake County Public Schools, the American Heart Association, and the Wake County Board of Education invite the Triangle community to imagine. the possibilities of a tobacco-free community at the Tobacco-Free Community Forum. The purpose of the Forum is to move the needle and make a healthy difference in the lives of Wake County residents. Hosted by WakeMed at the Andrew's Conference Center, this forum will feature an expert led review of current trends and a series of panel discussions on the impacts of tobacco and the policies that facilitate tobacco-free environments. Panelists will include youth, community, municipal, education, housing, and business leaders. Entities that have been leading the way in making our communities tobacco-free will also be recognized. Click Here to Register: https://tobaccofreeforum.eventbrite.com More on E-Cigerettes and Vaping Concerned about the dangers of vaping and impacts of nicotine and other substances used in vaping products on adolescents? Check out this downloadable PDF from the Centers for Disease Control designed for parents and educations with information on teen e-cigarette use. Still have more questions and concerns? Contact the WCPTA Health And Wellness at Committeehealthandwellness@wakepta.org to schedule a program for your PTA. #YouthCulture – A Workshop Series for Parents The Poe Center’s #YouthCulture program is designed to empower parents and guardians by providing insight into the environment and culture around our youth. Each workshop explores how the developing adolescent brain shapes perceptions and behavior. All participants will receive a free packet of supportive materials and resources. Adolescent Brain Development and Addiction April 4th, 2019 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm at the Poe Center Learn how early onset substance use affects the development of the adolescent brain. Participants will learn important skills and resources to address the trends in substance use today. Navigating “The Talk” May 2nd, 2019 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm at the Poe Center Learn about resources and tools to assist you in developing and tailoring the talk to your teen about social media, teen relationships, and substance use. Click Here to Register April Health Recipe Children who have eat dinner with their families are less likely to use alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Check out this healthy family Baked Vegetable Frittata recipe from ChopChop Family.  NCPTA Join us in Charlotte as the North Carolina Parent Teacher Association (NCPTA) celebrates 100 years. This “Centennial Celebration” will occur during the 2019 NCPTA Convention (May 17-May 18) at UNC Charlotte-City Center (Charlotte, NC). The Convention presents a one-of-a-kind opportunity to engage and learn with your peers from across the state and is designed for parents, teachers, principals, central office staff, and community organizers/partners. This year’s theme is “Celebrating the Legacy and Continuing the Journey”, and our focus is on Leadership Matters — because it does! We’d like to take a look at
Click Here to View the Schedule of Events Preview 2019 Workshops Registration Fees & DeadlinesEarly Bird Registration for Friday and Saturday–$125; Early Bird Registration Ends March 15, 2019 Regular Registration Window Begins March 15, 2019 and ends May 3, 2019
REFLECTIONSThank you to everyone for a fantastic Reflections program this year! Below are a few pictures from our Reflections celebration. Thank you to Sonya Reid for leading the program for WCPTA this year.   
 Looking forward to next year. The theme for 2019-2020 is LOOK WITHIN. Mary Lou Anderson ArtsEd Grant
The Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grant is open – apply now! For 50 years, the National PTA Reflections arts program has furthered the goals of the program founder, Mary Lou Anderson. Mary Lou Anderson believed in the power and importance of the arts and dreamed that Reflections would leave a lasting impact on children across the country – and it has! Reflections has helped millions of students explore their own thoughts, feelings and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful in school and in life. National PTA is happy to continue Mary Lou Anderson’s vision of Reflections through the Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grant. This grant opportunity provides local PTAs the opportunity to match grant dollars with that of school and community partners to accomplish innovative arts education projects. 2018/19 Reflections State-Level Winners Heroes Around Me NCPTA applauds students and PTA families across the state for participating in PTA Reflections, a national arts recognition program that encourages students to explore their talents and express themselves. First-place winners will move on to the National PTA competition. NCPTA Reflections Celebration During the annual Reflections Celebration, NCPTA will recognize state level winners in first, second and third place as well as Special Artists and Theme Search winners. Saturday, April 6, 2019 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. Check-in begins at 3:00 p.m. Herbert C. Young Community Center 101 Wilkinson Ave. Cary, NC 27513 Winning students receive two complimentary tickets courtesy of NCPTA. One admission is for the student and the other for a guest. You MUST register online no later than March 29. The registration fee for all other guests is $10 per person (children 12 and under are free). Registration Links: Special Artist Winners
Outstanding Interpretation Eric Neugebauer, Durant Road Elementary School, Raleigh Awards of Merit Omar Adam, Athens Drive High School, Raleigh Ian Brown, Cary Senior High School, Cary Joey Iwunze, Northern Guilford High School, Greensboro Brendan Rice, Athens Drive High School, Raleigh Dylan Volk, Northern Elementary School, Greensboro Dance Choreography Winners Primary (K-2nd grade) 1st Place: Cameron Lewis, Middle Creek Elementary School, Apex 2nd Place: Griffin Kalavsky, Carrboro Elementary School, Carrboro 3rd Place: James Greene, Sharon Elementary School, Charlotte Intermediate (3rd-5th grade) 1st Place: Ella Gagon, Ogden Elementary School, Wilmington 2nd Place: Gracianna Parsons, Edwin A. Anderson Elementary School, Wilmington 3rd Place: Ella Hodak, Carpenter Elementary School, Cary Middle 1st Place: Myers Dumas, M.C.S. Noble Middle School, Wilmington 2nd Place: Dylan Szuch, Murray Middle School, Wilmington 3rd Place: Audrey Williams, Mills Park Middle School, Cary Senior 1st Place: Kaylee Christmas, William A. Hough High School, Cornelius 2nd Place: Ive Jones, Apex Friendship High School, Apex 3rd Place: Emma Bailey, Northern Guilford High School, Greensboro Film Production Winners Primary (K-2nd grade) 1st Place: Knox Duncan, Beverly Woods Elem. School, Charlotte 2nd Place: Jasmine Walton, Abbotts Creek Elementary School, Raleigh Intermediate (3rd-5th grade) 1st Place: Avni Choudepally, Cedar Fork Elementary School, Morrisville 2nd Place: Will Jarrett, Northern Elementary School, Greensboro 3rd Place: Milo Nooner, Holly Tree Elem. School, Wilmington Middle 1st Place: Sabrina Layman, Bailey Middle School, Cornelius 2nd Place: Alex Dick, Martin Middle School, Raleigh Senior 1st Place: Evan Daniel, Holly Springs High School, Holly Springs 2nd Place: Tilly Boraks, William A. Hough High School, Cornelius 3rd Place: Mary Louise Renegar, West Forsyth High School, Clemmons Literature Winners Primary (K-2nd grade) 1st Place: Savannah Cape, Middle Creek Elementary School, Apex 2nd Place: Eera Bhawe, Carpenter Elementary School, Cary 3rd Place: Rebecca Joel, Polo Ridge Elementary School, Charlotte Intermediate (3rd-5th grade) 1st Place: Martin Cardenas, Ashley Elementary School, Fayetteville 2nd Place: William Britt, Kitty Hawk Elementary School, Kitty Hawk 3rd Place: Amulya Volety, Parsley Elementary School, Wilmington Middle 1st Place: Delaney Atwood, Lufkin Rd. Yr-Rd Middle School, Apex 2nd Place: Chloe Calilung, Hanes Magnet School, Winston-Salem 3rd Place: Annabelle Aller, Paisley IB Magnet School, Winston-Salem Senior 1st Place: Janjay Gardea, Northern Guilford High School, Greensboro 2nd Place: Aeris Gruber, William A. Hough High School, Cornelius 3rd Place: Julianne Gryder, Reagan High School, Pfafftown Music Composition Winners Primary (K-2nd grade) 1st Place: Soha Deshpande, Polo Ridge Elementary School, Charlotte 2nd Place: Jesse McArthur, Donna Loflin Elem. School, Asheboro 3rd Place: Declan Stephens, Irving Park Elem. School, Greensboro Intermediate (3rd-5th grade) 1st Place: Kieran Smith, Northern Elementary School, Greensboro 2nd Place: Scott McFarland, Parsley Elementary School, Wilmington 3rd Place: Graham Baker, Kitty Hawk Elementary School, Kitty Hawk Middle 1st Place: Seth Olanovich, Murray Middle School, Wilmington 2nd Place: Jolie Duquene, Martin Middle School, Raleigh 3rd Place: Marcel Huchvijda, Shepard IB Magnet Middle School, Durham Senior 1st Place: Drew Gibbs, William A. Hough High School, Cornelius 2nd Place: Jasmine Marshall, West Forsyth High School, Clemmons 3rd Place: Julia Leeman, William A. Hough High School, Cornelius Photography Winners Primary (K-2nd grade) 1st Place: Richard Pascal, Aldert Root Elem. School, Raleigh 2nd Place: Zac Ro, McKee Road Elementary School, Charlotte 3rd Place: Anna Kaczmarski, New Town Elementary School, Waxhaw Intermediate (3rd-5th grade) 1st Place: Ryder Cutts, Vienna Elementary School, Pfafftown 2nd Place: Max Saunders, Northern Elementary School, Greensboro 3rd Place: Lillian Marti, McKee Road Elementary School, Charlotte Middle 1st Place: Claire Farrell, Hanes Magnet School, Winston-Salem 2nd Place: Peyton Cayea, Southwest Middle School, Charlotte 3rd Place: Addison King, Durham School of the Arts, Durham Senior 1st Place: Makayla Patterson, R.J. Reynolds High School, Winston-Salem 2nd Place: Mallory Justis, South Mecklenburg High School, Charlotte 3rd Place: Abigail Patillo, R.J. Reynolds High School, Winston-Salem Visual Arts Winners Primary (K-2nd grade) 1st Place: Zoya Rahman, Vienna Elementary School, Pfafftown 2nd Place: Mallan Betts, Irving Park Elem. School, Greensboro 3rd Place: Noah Dondero, Kitty Hawk Elementary School, Kitty Hawk Intermediate (3rd-5th grade) 1st Place: Hasini Kanthi, White Oak Elementary School, Apex 2nd Place: Eliza Rose Haugland, Parsley Elementary School, Wilmington 3rd Place: Weston Greene, Altamahaw Ossipee Elem. School, Elon Middle 1st Place: Camille Gamino, Shepard IB Magnet Middle School, Durham 2nd Place: Virginia Fowler, Myrtle Grove Middle School, Wilmington 3rd Place: James Toon, Gray’s Creek Middle School, Hope Mills Senior 1st Place: Jennifer Wah, Carrboro High School, Carrboro 2nd Place: Alexis Durah, West Forsyth High School, Clemmons 3rd Place: Reeve Metcalf, Hopewell High School, Huntersville Theme Search WinnersRachit Chandrakul, Jefferson Elementary, Winston-Salem Lan Truong, Early College at Guilford, Greensboro Avni Choudepally, Cedar Fork Elementary, Morrisville  Greetings PTA Families, The year is almost over!! Has your nominating committee started the search for your new officers for next year? Remember, your slate of officers must be presented ten (10) days prior to the election. If you have any questions, please see the archive of the presentation done by NCPTA on 2/11/19. Go to Lifeline for Leaders at www.ncpta.org. In addition, you can register for the next webinar: Duties of Officers/Standing Committees on March 11th. It is that time of the year to apply for the NCPTA awards. This is NCPTA’s way of recognizing and celebrating the efforts of our PTA/PTSA units, councils and individuals throughout our state. You must apply online for all of these NCPTA’s awards. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to say “thank you” to those deserving people who have contributed greatly to improving the lives of children and youth. Your PTA unit must be in good standing to be eligible to apply. The winners will be recognized at our 2019 NCPTA Convention on May 18, 2019 in Charlotte. If you have any questions please contact the NCPTA office by email at office@ncpta.org. Registration is open for the NCPTA Convention to be held in Charlotte on May 17th & 18th. Your budgets should reflect a line item for the expenses for these types of conferences/conventions. Early bird registration is $125 for both Friday and Saturday and ends on March 15th. This is a great time of networking and fellowshipping with fellow PTA members from across the state, as well as, gaining more knowledge about PTA. The Wake PTA Council will celebrate our Reflections winners on Saturday, March 16th at Garner Sr. High School. We will celebrate our elementary school winners at 10:30 a.m. and then our middle/high school winners at 1:30 p.m. Please come and help us celebrate the arts and our outstanding Wake County students. THANKS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO!! Our main purpose is to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for ALL children!! Hand in hand, together WE CAN make a difference!! Wishing you all a successful rest of the school year! Advocating for ALL children, Kassandra L. Watson ADVOCACY The North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research invites you to join the People's Session — a new project, launched today, that allows you to weigh in on policy issues and share your own priorities for our state. In two weeks, the People's Session will end, and we will surface the top education priorities of North Carolinians. Then, we will publish those priorities and share them with our legislators. Register Now to Attend NCPTA PTA Day The annual PTA Lobby Day is Tuesday, March 26. This is a great opportunity to build legislative support for our schools and showcase PTAs across the state. Join your fellow PTA members and partners for PTA Day. Training Session Join us on Monday, March 18, at 7:30 p.m. for a webinar-based training and information session to help you get prepared for PTA Day. During the training session, you’ll hear about NCPTA’s legislative priorities for all of North Carolina’s children and their families. You’ll learn about the details and agenda for PTA Day, and get to ask questions that will help you get comfortable with our day at the North Carolina General Assembly. Whether you’re new to advocacy, or you’ve done it before, this webinar-based training will provide you with all of the information you need to get prepared and feel empowered. Restoration of Master’s Pay A bipartisan group of legislators in the Senate filed S28, primary sponsors Senators Britt and Horner, would restore Master’s Pay for teachers with certain Master’s degrees. This bill requires that teachers who spend at least 70% of their work time teaching a subject related to their Master’s degree would receive a supplement to their current salary. The Master’s Pay supplement was previously removed in 2013. School Calendar Debate and Discussion The school calendar flexibility bills continue to be filed every day in both chambers. The House K-12 Education Committee held a discussion-only meeting around the topic of school calendar flexibility, and NewFrame, our NCPTA lobbyists attended. Funding Priorities from WCPSS Superintendant's Office Members of the school board's Finance Committee recently held a discussion about the development of our upcoming 2019-2020 budget. Unlike in past years, we are sharing information about some items before the superintendent's proposed budget is presented to the Board of Education in the coming weeks. One of the most important items we must face in the 2019-2020 budget is our approach to long-term funding in several key areas. For example: K-3 Class Size: There are costs associated with the state's new K-3 class size legislation -- primarily adding hundreds of new classrooms and teachers -- that will require a funding plan spanning several years. Social-Emotional Needs: A cost of nearly $30 million to add enough counselors, psychologists and social workers to reach national standards will require a multi-year plan. That plan will also be affected by the state initiatives in this area. Deferred maintenance and staffing: Catching up with deferred maintenance in our schools -- and adding an adequate number of staff members to deliver those services -- has reached a point where only a multi-year plan can help us meet staff and facility needs. Salaries: Salaries for non-teaching and non-certified positions have not kept pace with inflation in the past decade. While we cannot address that gap in a single year, we must start now to simply attract and retain the employees we need. Additionally, we must continue to address the salaries of our certified staff. Growth: In addition, we will be separating the costs of new schools and special education from overall growth. While overall growth has slowed, new schools are still needed in our fastest-growing areas of the county and many of our schools still depend on trailers to accommodate students. The nature of special education students is also changing in a way that requires more funding for the same number of special needs children. We hope this approach will help make our needs -- both current and future -- more transparent to those who support the Wake County Public School System. More details will be released in the coming weeks as we work toward a final budget document for 2019-2020. FINANCE Many units will be having their last general PTA meeting of the year soon. Any budget amendments must be presented and approved by the general membership for this school year at that meeting. Also, consider proposing an interim budget (July 1 - October 1) during this meeting to cover any budgetary items that may occur before your 2019 - 2020 final budget is approved. It is not early to secure your auditors for the year-end audit in July. Three auditors are needed who do not have check writing authorization for your unit. Schedule the audit to occur immediately after the June statement can be reconciled. If a new Treasurer will be in place for the 2019-2020 school year, invite the incoming Treasurer to the audit. If the unit grossed less than $50K during the school year, complete the unit's 990 postcard during the audit. Any questions, email treasurer@wakepta.org. HEALTH AND WELLNESS . Mental Health 101 Presented by WakeMed Health & Hospitals and the Wake County PTA Council A conversation to promote understanding of mental health and provide accurate information about:
Lunch will be provided as part of your free REGISTRATION If something changes and you will no longer be able to attend or if you do not need a lunch, PLEASE contact us as soon as possible so we may offer your spot to another registrant and ensure an accurate number for the catering order. E-Cigarettes and Vaping Concerned about the dangers of vaping and impacts of nicotine on adolescents? Check out this downloadable PDF from the Centers for Disease Control designed for parents and educations with information on teen e-cigarette use. Still have questions and concerns? Contact the WCPTA Health And Wellness at Committeehealthandwellness@wakepta.org to schedule a program for your PTA. March Health and Wellness Days Promote a health and wellness lifestyle by celebrating these days in your schools, with your families, and in your communities. For creative ideas on how to incorporate any of these special days in your school, please contact the WCPTA Health and Wellness Committee at healthandwellness@wakepta.org March 3rd-10th - National Sleep Awareness Week March 4th - 8th - National School Breakfast Week March 12 - National Plant a Flower Day March 19th - National Let's Laugh Day March 20th - Kick Butts Day Kick Butts Day is a national day organized by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids that is designed to empower youth to speak out against tobacco. Check out these great activities to do with youth of all ages. https://www.kickbuttsday.org/search-activities/ March 30th - National Take a Walk in the Park Day #YouthCulture – A Workshop Series for Parents The Poe Center’s #YouthCulture program is designed to empower parents and guardians by providing insight into the environment and culture around our youth. Each workshop explores how the developing adolescent brain shapes perceptions and behavior. All participants will receive a free packet of supportive materials and resources. Click Here to Register Adolescent Brain Development and the Role of Social Media March 7th, 2019 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm at the Poe Center Learn about current research on adolescent brain development and teen risk perception. Participants will also explore how a risk perception impacts a teen’s engagement with social media and Internet security. E-Cigarettes 101 March 21st, 2019 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm at the Poe Center This program addresses the growing concern of e-cigarettes and youth. Participants will explore adolescent brain development and effects of e-cigarettes as we cover the latest research. We will also take a look at the risk factors for use, and the protective factors that help prevent use. A discussion on resources and strategies for increasing protective factors with our youth will leave attendees with tools for the next steps. Adolescent Brain Development and Addiction April 4th, 2019 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm at the Poe Center Learn how early onset substance use affects the development of the adolescent brain. Participants will learn important skills and resources to address the trends in substance use today. Navigating “The Talk” May 2nd, 2019 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm at the Poe Center Learn about resources and tools to assist you in developing and tailoring the talk to your teen about social media, teen relationships, and substance use. Healthy and Fast Family Fun Recipe of the Month 15 Minute Enchiladas NCPTA Join us in Charlotte as the North Carolina Parent Teacher Association (NCPTA) celebrates 100 years.
This “Centennial Celebration” will occur during the 2019 NCPTA Convention (May 17-May 18) at UNC Charlotte-City Center (Charlotte, NC). The Convention presents a one-of-a-kind opportunity to engage and learn with your peers from across the state and is designed for parents, teachers, principals, central office staff, and community organizers/partners. This year’s theme is “Celebrating the Legacy and Continuing the Journey”, and our focus is on Leadership Matters — because it does! We’d like to take a look at
Click Here to View the Schedule of Events Registration Fees & DeadlinesEarly Bird Registration for Friday and Saturday–$125; Early Bird Registration Ends March 15, 2019 Regular Registration Window Begins March 15, 2019 and ends May 3, 2019
 PTA LEADERS:
IS YOUR NOMINATING COMMITTEE UP AND RUNNING? It's the time of year for your nominating committee to start recruiting officers for 2019-2020 so that your PTA can hold elections at your last general meeting of the year. Not sure what to do? Click here for a quick reference guide. More information coming soon about WCPTA Leadership webinars and video chats! Questions? Contact Amy Jones at leadership@wakepta.org |
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Remember..."Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can..." Archives
June 2019
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