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Dear PTA Leaders, Welcome to the 2019-2020 school year! The Wake County PTA Council thanks you for your commitment to your children, the children of your school, and the children of Wake County. Please know that we are here to help you with any questions or challenges and to share and celebrate your successes as a PTA (PTSA). The mission of Wake County PTA Council is to unify, promote, and strengthen PTA units in Wake County, North Carolina. As a part of our mission, the Council models and educates local units in the best practices of a PTA. We are an all-volunteer organization that provides training, networking opportunities, county-wide events, and support to PTA units across the county. In this packet you will find:
WCPTA 2019/20 Welcome Packet 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. |
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August 2019
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