President's Message
Greetings Wake PTA Family, and Happy Fall!! 
This is Amy Jones - please allow me to introduce myself as the newly elected Wake County PTA Council President. I am honored and excited to serve you, and want to express my sincere gratitude for Kassandra Watson’s leadership as I step into. I have served on the Council for the past two years as the VP of Leadership and Training, and for three years as the Chairperson for our Night of Stars Volunteer Recognition event. I have two sons in 11th and 7th grade, and served for many years on the PTA board at their elementary school. I was also a teacher for 12 years. Supporting public schools and the families who attend them is my calling and passion!


As we head into October of this school-year-like-no-other (as we all are getting a little tired of saying), some PTAs are adapting and finding ways to connect with their school families, while other PTAs are finding it challenging to get things going.  While it’s frustrating that we cannot meet in person, this pandemic has afforded us the greater flexibility of meeting with more units online with much fewer schedule and travel constraints. Please do not hesitate to contact us if your unit is in need of some assistance from our council! In case you are not sure what a PTA council does...


A council is an organized group of three or more local PTA units affiliated with NCPTA for the purpose of promoting conferences, communications, leadership development, and coordination of the efforts of such local PTA units. The PTA council’s main purpose is to promote the welfare of children and youth.


The Wake County PTA Council provides unity, strength and promotes all PTA units in the communities of Wake County. We are committed to serving, empowering and encouraging all of our members by being an integral part of the National PTA, NCPTA, our school board, superintendent, administration, teachers & staff, parents, businesses and especially our children. We are trustworthy advocates who want to ensure that all Wake County families are engaged in every child’s success.


This year, WCPTA is waiving our normal dues of $50 due to the pandemic. 
We would love to see 100% unit membership from PTAs and PTSAs across the county, but understand that fundraising efforts and budgets have been disrupted since last March. Even though we are waiving fees, we still need units to complete this form so that we can keep track of membership. If you have any questions on council membership, please reach out to myself at president@wakepta.org or our treasurer, Gary Lewis, at treasurer@wakepta.org. In the subject line, please put “Council Membership” and we will respond as soon as possible. A big “thank-you” to all of our units who have already joined!  


Please remember that there are many resources available to PTA leaders online!
NCPTA has a Lifeline for Leaders webinar every month. This month’s topic was “PTA Financial Basics and Budget Preparation” on Monday, October 5, 2020. The full webinar schedule and archived training sessions can be found here. In addition, National PTA has numerous resources to assist your unit with any topic. 


Thank you to all of you for all that you do to ensure that every child’s potential becomes a reality - together we can make a difference! Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have issues, concerns, or questions. Wishing you all a happy fall and a successful PTA year!!
Advocating for you, 
Amy



Did You Add Your PTA Officers to MemberHub?
Remember: Load your Officers into MemberHub even if they did not change. 
Each year, every unit needs to input their Officers into MemberHub.

• President
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• 1 or more VPs
• Membership Chair
• Advocacy Chair
• Reflections Chair
• Health/Wellness/Safety Chair

The NC PTA and the Wake County PTA Council use the information in MemberHub to communicate with your leadership.  Entering this officer information is also a Good Standing Requirement, so please make sure to load them today. 
If you need help, you may email treasurer@wakepta.org for assistance.

PTA Units: Join the Wake County PTA Council
The Wake County PTA Council has waived their normal $50 annual fee to join the council.  We would love to see all units join our council, so please take advantage of this free year by completing the Membership Form (NOTE: You have to complete the form to actually “join” the council this year). 
If your unit plans to participate in the annual Reflections program, you need to fill out the form and pay the $25 Reflections fee.  Here is the invoice letter for your Reflections fee.

Early Voting Starts Thursday, Oct 15
Early voting starts Thursday, Oct 15 and runs through Saturday, Oct 31.  For dates, times, and locations, see the Wake County Early Voting site.
​PTA Advocacy: Candidate Forums

The Wake County PTA Advocacy Committee and local units recently conducted several candidate forums for the November elections. Several of these sessions were recorded and available for viewing on the Advocacy YouTube channel.

• Candidate Forum for State Senate (Oct 8)
• Candidate Forum for NC House (Oct 5)
• School Board District 2 Candidate Forum
• Wake County School Board Candidate Forum

On October 14, there will be a School Board District 8 & 9 Candidate Forum. 
For details, please 'like' our Facebook page and subscribe to the WakePTA Advocacy YouTube Channel.  
Reminder: PTA’s cannot endorse candidates, but can provide voter information as long as all candidates are represented.

Join the New Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
We are inviting PTA members to join our Wake PTA Divisity, Equity, and Inclusion Meting.  This is a new committee, and we are recruiting members.
If you are interested in becoming a member, join nus for our first meeting on October 15, 2020 at 7pm via Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/gtg-qauc-qdd

Reflections 2020-21: I Matter Because

**Payments for Reflections fees must be postmarked by October 31, 2020 in order to participate.
The theme for this year's competition is "I Matter Because ...". For more information, see the Reflections page on the Wake County PTA website or contact Reflections chair, Ashley Keener at reflections@wakepta.org.
To participate in Reflections, you must be a member of Wake PTA Council. Please complete the Membership Form and send your Reflections fee of $25 to:

Wake PTA Council 
WCPSS – Crossroads II 
110 Corning Drive 
Cary, North Carolina 27518



Reflections: National Theme Search
National PTA Reflections sponsors a student-themed Theme Search Contest annually to determine a future program theme.
Students can submit ideas for the 2022-2023 Reflections Theme. The student who submits the winning entry at the National level of judging will receive $100 from National PTA and his or her theme will be used to spark creativity during the 2022-23 National PTA Reflections Program!
Themes must be submitted online to NCPTA by October 31, 2020. Submit here!

2020 Color of Education Summit
The Public School Forum of North Carolina, the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity, and the Center for Child and Family Policy at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke is hosting this event.
There are four sessions in October and each session is a different topic.
For more information, see colorofeducation.org.
 
Mark Your Calendars!

• Oct 14: School Board Candidate Forum for District 8 & 9: WakePTA Advocacy YouTube Channel.  
• Oct 15:
  • 7:00pm Meeting of Wake County Equity and Inclusion Committee via Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/gtg-qauc-qdd
  • First deadline for State and National Membership Dues
  • Early Voting Starts
• Oct 31
  • Deadline for Reflections fees to Wake County PTA Council.
  • Deadline for Reflections National Theme Search. Submit here!
  • Last day for Early Voting
• Nov 3:  Election Day.  No School!

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

In observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, InterAct is hosting a series of presentation via Eventbrite. These events are free and open to the public. Join us!
Registration is required. Use links below to complete registration.
 
October 15 @ 2pm: Domestic Violence 101
October 22 @1pm: Effects of Domestic Violence on Children and What We Can Do
October 29 @ 2pm: Hear Their Voice: A Q & A with Survivors

On September 23 the Wake County PTA Council will be hosting a virtual candidate forum for those running for school board in the November election. All candidates were invited to participate in this event. Questions have been submitted in advance. ​It will be broadcast on the WakePTA Advocacy You Tube Channel and on Facebook @Wakepta.

OPEN POSITIONS - The Wake County PTA Council is recruiting new board members for the 2020-21 school year. As a small group of dedicated volunteers, Wake PTA Council supports the mission of the PTA through advocacy, educational programs, training and conferences, and sharing of information. As part of a community of advocates, WCPTA collaborates with other local organizations to ensure all Wake County families are engaged in every child’s success. We meet monthly (currently online), to receive updates from the WCPSS Superintendent, plan programs, and review advocacy efforts. 

Interested in learning more? Please complete the Wake PTA Council Board Interest Form and someone will contact you!

The follwoing positions will be on the slate for officer elections on September 12th:

VP of Leadership
Local PTA units look to you to support their efforts by clarifying their roles and responsibilities, as well as troubleshooting issues that arise.  
The VP of Leadership’s responsibilities include:

• Be responsible for planning, communication, and implementation of training programs held twice each year, in coordination with the President
• Serving as the first alternate to the President.
• Assist NC PTA in the establishment of new PTA/PTSA units, as delegated by the President. 

A great VP of Leadership has a strong knowledge of PTA rules and processes and values the development of skills and competencies in all PTA volunteers. Organization and management skills are helpful when coordinating training events. The VP of Leadership is responsible for leading the Wake PTA Council when the President is not available.

VP of Communication
Wake PTA Council looks to you to communicate important information to the membership, share ideas and best practices from other PTAs, post stories on social media that support our mission, and collaborate on programs and activities of the Wake PTA Council.
Specific duties of the VP of Communication include:

• Oversees public relations and technology for the Council
• Communicate appropriate and timely information through Twitter and Facebook
• Collect and edit information from various committees to distribute a monthly newsletter
• Be a resource to help with setup and use of Memberhub as a communications tool
• Serve as webmaster of Council website or work directly with an appointed webmaster to ensure that all information posted to the website is appropriate to the mission, values, and objectives of the Council
• Develop communication necessary to inform members of activities and events, in collaboration with President, VP’s, and committee chairs as appropriate

A great VP of Communication should have knowledge of website building/editing, G-Suite management, and social media platforms. As an elected position, the VP is integral to the leadership of the Wake PTA.

Treasurer 
Wake PTA Council relies on you to ensure that appropriate financial records are kept, a budget is established and followed, and controls are in place to prevent theft or fraud. Additionally, Wake PTA Council looks to you to provide guidance and assistance to local units regarding fiscal responsibilities. 
Duties of the Treasurer include: 

• Chairing the Budget Committee, which prepares the annual budget for adoption by the council membership.
• Keeping permanent records to track Council funds and financial transactions
• Paying all PTA bills as authorized by the board
• Making timely deposits of PTA income
• Preparing reports for every board meeting and an annual financial report
• Ensuring IRS 990 and reports required by PTA bylaws, insurance or federal and state governments are completed and submitted by the due dates

Wake PTA currently has two past treasurers sitting on the board who can assist you throughout the year as needed. Training and tools are also available from NCPTA  and National PTA.

The following positions will be appointed through a vote by the Council:
​
Reflections Committee
The Reflections program is an arts program administered by the national PTA. The Reflections Committee is responsible for promoting this program to WCPSS and facilitating the participation of all interested PTA units.  
The Reflections Committee is responsible for the following tasks to make the program successful:

• Promoting the Reflections program
• Coordinating and implementing all aspects of the Reflections program in Wake County
• Maintaining a program timeline
• Supporting individual PTA Reflection Chairs through materials and effective communication
• Recruiting committee members and delegating tasks
• Collecting student entries and verifying they meet all eligibility requirements
• Coordinating the Wake County judging process
• Answering questions about the rules, deadlines, and student entry forms
• Overseeing the awards and recognition of participants
• Return entries to students. Evaluate the process at the end of the year and make recommendations for improvements

A great Reflections Chair values the arts as a tool for student expression and is skilled in organization and collaboration. A Reflections chair must be able to manage deadlines, communicate effectively with local PTA units, and follow Reflections guidelines and criteria set by the National PTA.
Time commitment is 10-15 hours for the months of September, November, December. 5 hours in January. 
Special Education Inclusion Committee
Your role in the SEIC is to support the Wake PTA mission and the development of inclusive PTA programs and practices by: 

• Providing ideas to PTA units that facilitate the inclusion of students with special needs through modifications and accommodations to programs and events
• Serving as a link to special education resources and related community services.
• Managing (or delegating) the upkeep of SEIC website, Facebook page, and Memberhub
• Serving as a member of the Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC), 

A great SEIC Chair has knowledge of and passion for inclusive practices and enjoys building networks of support.
Volunteer Recognition/Night of Stars Coordinator 
Your role is to coordinate volunteer recognition of our local PTA units. Collaborate with local unit officers to assess and identify volunteers to be recognized at the annual Night of Stars celebration.

• Oversee volunteer recruitment, training, and assignments for Council events, if applicable,.
• Chairing the annual Night of Stars volunteer recognition event.
• Recognize PTAs and their volunteers for their great ideas and hard work on social media.

Great Volunteer Recognition Chairs have a passion for recognizing and celebrating the wonderful efforts of our many volunteers. The volunteers of our Wake County PTA units are truly the heart of the association. Wake PTA believes in honoring those special people who act as tireless advocates for children’s education, health, and well-being.

​GREETINGS PTA FAMILY, 
 
Happy May!! I hope that this communication finds you and your families staying healthy and safe and doing well. Wow, what a past couple of months it has been!! We have journeyed through some difficult, challenging and unprecedented times and the days ahead will continue to be difficult and challenging but there is light at the end of this “tunnel” - HOPE!! 
 
As of now, National PTA and NCPTA have suspended all activities. 
 
Our Reflections Celebration was cancelled but we were able to highlight the winners from each category on our Facebook page. We also cancelled our Night of Stars, which was our volunteer recognition, as well as, our elections for our officers for 2020-2021. We will be in touch with you in the coming weeks to determine how we will proceed. 
**If you are interested in volunteering with the council, please send us an email and let us know what you are interested in.
 
THANK YOU!! We are so pleased that many of our units have been providing support to our numerous communities here in Wake County. This speaks highly of the commitment and dedication of our volunteers to be of service to others in the time of need. So again, THANK YOU!!           
 
We are trying to stay connected with the national PTA and the NCPTA to ensure that we share the most important information to you all. The council has been holding monthly meetings via conference call and encourage you guys to do the same. We are here for you!! Reach out to us!! Please take care of yourselves and your families and stay safe
 
Our year started strong and amazing and although it has been totally interrupted we can still finish PTA STRONG!   Every child. One voice
 
Advocating for all, 
 
Kassandra L. Watson

Teacher Appreciation will definitely not look the same this year, but that doesn't mean PTAs across the country won't try to show their teachers some love. Teachers are working harder than ever to adjust lessons and keep kids engaged.

We have received a lot of questions about gift cards for teachers. Here are some guidelines from the NCPTA.
​
Please be aware of WCPSS policy regarding gifts:
"School system employees shall not accept any gifts except token gifts of insubstantial value. School system employees shall not accept any gift, reward, gratuity, or other compensation from any manufacturer, merchant, dealer, publisher, or author for the purpose of influencing or recommending to the school system or any school the use of a seller’s goods, wares, merchandise, materials, supplies, services, or equipment."

WCPSS has created the following:
We encourage everyone to join in by using #WCPSSThankATeacher and tagging @WCPSSTeam when giving a shout out to a favorite teacher or to all teachers.

Use the following resources to recognize your favorite teachers next week:

• Teacher Appreciation Week Thank You Card (download and insert your own message and send via email)
• Teacher Appreciation Week Certificate (download and insert your own message and send via email)
• Teacher Appreciation Week Graphics to share on Facebook
• Teacher Appreciation Week  Graphics to share on Twitter

National PTA has a partnership with Office Depot to recognize teachers:
We LOVE Teachers!Get emoji-tional with us and #ThankATeacher during Teacher Appreciation Week, May 4-8, 2020!

Teachers change the lives of millions of children every day—their immense work and impact moves us beyond words, so we need emojis to say how we feel. And with the abrupt end to the physical school year, our teachers have done even more to continue education with virtual classrooms and learning at home lessons. All to ensure every student has the tools they need to reach their full potential.

How You Can #ThankATeacher
Get creative! And post how you honor your teachers using #ThankATeacher. We love seeing all the awesome ways you celebrate the “T” in PTA!

• Email heartfelt letters, cards and messages of appreciation
• Create artwork, poems and video messages to celebrate your teachers
• Send your teacher a virtual award
• On Thursday, upload a #TBT of you and your favorite teacher and thank them using #ThankATeacher.

Find more unique ways to virtually celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week on our Pinterest board and PTAOurChildren.org.
Download our Teacher Appreciation Week Toolkit. It’s easy to #ThankATeacher! Use our thank-you cards, certificates, flyers, web ads and social media graphics. Download all of the toolkit materials quickly and easily with the following two zip files. 
Download All (English)
Download All (Spanish)

If you have a rising kindergarten student, and have not yet registered, you might have questions.  All information can be found on this WCPSS site https://www.wcpss.net/site/Default.aspx?PageID=33753.  The following enrollment process will allow families to enroll while school buildings are closed due to COVID-19.
You will start by completing the online enrollment form as outlined below, then await instructions from your child’s base school about how to complete the enrollment process.  These forms can be found via the WCPSS link above.
Families who are not able to complete the online process should contact their base school’s data manager, whom can be found on the school website staff directory. A school representative will contact you by telephone to assist with completing the online enrollment process.
Once schools re-open, you will be asked to submit hard copies of all required documents at your child’s school. Prior to schools re-opening, some parents may be required to bring documents in person, using safe distancing guidelines. Families will be contacted to schedule an appointment should this be necessary.

Depression is the most common mental health problem for women, and women experience depression at twice the rate of men. During National Women’s Health week, learn the facts and encourage the women in your life to make their mental health a priority. http://bit.ly/1WQhZXC

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 the How to Talk to With Your Kids about Vaping Guide from the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids.  Still have more questions and concerns? Contact the WCPTA Health and Wellness Committee at healthandwellness@wakepta.org to schedule a program for your PTA. 

SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands 5 May 2019  
Washing our hands properly is one the most important things we can do to stop the spread of germs. Check out these handwashing videos from the Poe Center for Health Education. 
ENGLISH:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xITIASd4CG8&feature=youtu.be    
SPANISH:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcMSvqlIxig&feature=youtu.be


National Physical Fitness and Sports Month

Children who have eat dinner with their families are less likely to use alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.

Check out this great Baked Apple French Toast recipe from ChopChop Family. 
ENGLISH: BAKED APPLE FRENCH TOAST https://www.chopchopfamily.org/recipe/baked-apple-french-toast/ 
SPANISH: PAN FRANCÉS CON MANZANA HORNEADOhttps://www.chopchopfamily.org/recipe/pan-frances-con-manzana-horneado/
​

These national award recipients were chosen from nearly 1,000 student submissions. Of these submissions, 211 students were selected from 40 State PTA Congresses for national-level recognition.  

Awards of Excellence

• Kai Preddy, Film Production, West Millbrook Middle School, Raleigh

Awards of Merit

• Eva Penny, Dance Choreography, Middle Creek Elementary School, Apex
• Haroon Zafiruddin, Film Production, Washington GT Elementary School, Raleigh
• Brenna Watson, Visual Art , Ligon GT Middle School, Raleigh

For a complete list of awards and prizes, please visit the National PTA Reflections awards page.

Guidelines for the Election of Officers and Officer Terms​

The State Office has received numerous questions regarding officer elections and terms due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As you know, on April 20, 2020, the NCPTA Board of Directors approved amendments to the Local Unit and Council Uniform PTA Bylaws to address the international COVID-19 pandemic allowing meeting by teleconference, in the event of an emergency; such as natural disaster, war, or epidemic. The amendments clearly state ways for the membership to meet while circumstances such as a pandemic prevents your general membership from physically meeting. 

We hope the information provided in this notice will help clarify procedures concerning the election of officers and how your unit can proceed.

Elections:
The Uniform Bylaws state that local units and councils are to hold elections of officers at the last general membership meeting of the year. The Board of Directors of the local units and councils, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the board members in office, has the authority to change the date of a regular scheduled general membership meeting.

If your unit decides to have elections by teleconference before the end of the fiscal year, your unit must comply with the procedures outlined in the NCPTA State Emergency Virtual Meeting Policy. The policy address participation guidelines, quorum, motions, roll-call vote process and more. 

If your unit decides, the last general membership meeting of the fiscal year could be postponed and the elections of officers could take place at such time when gathering limits are relaxed or wait till school resumes in the fall. A delay in elections will cause officers to hold the position past the designated term, but that possibility is provided for in your bylaws (or until his/her successor is elected).  
Officer Terms:
In regards to the current year’s term; even though schools are closed, the PTA is still considered active and so are the officers’ terms. The term of office in the Uniform Bylaws has not been amended. The term for officers remains a one-year term with the opportunity to serve two consecutive terms in the same office. Therefore, each officer terms ends on June 30 or when his/her successor is elected.
What happens when the nominating committee asks for members to serve as officers for the upcoming year and there is no interest and also no nominations from the floor during the election? The position would be considered vacant, and the current officers may stay in their positions until their successors are elected. If officers do remain in office past their term, the Nominating Committee needs to continue to actively look for their replacements.

Join us as the Poe Center, the Wake County Public School System, Wake County Human Services, and the American Heart Association continue to move the needle and make a healthy difference in the lives of Wake County residents. At the first Tobacco-Free Community Forum, the Triangle community imagined the possibilities of a tobacco-free community.

We invite all to the second Tobacco-Free Community Forum. The purpose of the forum is to educate, empower, and engage.
Join us as we:

• Hear from leading experts on the current trends and health impacts of the vaping epidemic.
• Discuss policies that facilitate tobacco-free environments.
• Create action plans for a healthier community.

Hosted at Southeast Raleigh High School, the youth-led forum will feature an expert-led review of current trends and a panel discussion to educate attendees on the impacts of tobacco and the policies that facilitate tobacco-free environments. Panelists will include youth, community, municipal, education, health, and business leaders. Breakout sessions for youth, parents, and community leaders will provide opportunities to discuss strategies to reduce youth tobacco use and to empower communities in the solution.

Where: Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School, 2600 Rock Quarry Rd, Raleigh, NC 27610
When: March 21st, 2020, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Questions? Contact Virginia Johnson at v.johnson@poehealth.org. 

Click Here to Register:  www.poehealth.org/events/tobacco-free-community-forum-2020/  
​

The Poe Center’s #YouthCulture workshop series is designed to empower parents/guardians by providing up-to-date information on substance use prevention, internet safety, and relationships to support healthy choices. 
​
The adult program series is for adults only.

During each session there will also be a separate Youth Program that complements adult workshop. The youth series is for youths only.

All sessions are located at the Poe Center for Health Education, 224 Sunnybrook Rd, Raleigh, NC, 27610.

Feel free to attend any and all workshops. There will be light snacks and door prizes!resources.
CLICK TO REGISTER: www.poehealth.org/events/youthculture-workshop-series-at-the-poe-center-2020/

 The Parents’ Guides to Student Success were developed by teachers, parents and education experts in response to the Common Core State Standards that more than 45 states have adopted.
​
Created for grades K-8 and high school English, language arts/literacy and mathematics, the guides provide clear, consistent expectations for what students should be learning at each grade in order to be prepared for college and career. Guides for grades K-High School are available in both English and Spanish.

Responsibilities of the Nominating Committee and Navigating Elections:
​March 9, 2020 at 7:30 p.m.
Do you have questions about the duties and responsibilities of the Nominating Committee? Do you want to know how to create a slate of officers for your elections? Do you need help on how to hold elections? Join NCPTA to learn how to work effectively as a nominating committee and learn the steps to holding elections. Register here.

Congratulations to all our WCPTA Reflections Artists! You can see the winners on the Reflections page. The Wake County Reflections Celebration will be announced shortly. All 1st Place Winners will be moving onto the State level for judging, along with all Special Artists entries. State winners will be announced in late March 2020.

Are you interested in taking your PTA skills to the next level? Wake PTA is looking for passionate public school advocates to join our board. Meetings are held the third Wednesday of the month at 6:30pm at WCPSS Crossroads II. Come for a visit to see what we are doing on behalf of students and PTAs in Wake County. Contact president@wcpta.org or communications@wcpta.org for more information.