President's MessageHoliday greetings to you! As we are drawing to the close of 2020, there is so much to reflect on. Much of it hasn’t been very positive - it’s been a difficult year, to say the least! I have something to share with you, though, that will hopefully peak your curiosity and lift your spirits… A couple of weeks ago a gentleman in Raleigh contacted me saying that he had been cleaning out a relative’s attic and had come across PTA record books from the old Murphy School in Raleigh. The Murphy School was built in 1916 and is still standing today on Person Street, now housing senior apartments. The books contained the PTA secretary’s minutes from 1919-1940, and he wondered if Wake PTA Council would like to have them. I met this gentleman to pick up the books, and spent much of the next few days reading through them. What I found myself looking at was a one hundred year old record of one of the very first PTAs in North Carolina, and a fascinating piece of Wake County history! The first pages spelled out the Murphy School PTA’s bylaws, their newly elected officers, and plans they had to support the school community that year. It was a snapshot in time of dedicated and concerned parents going about the business of PTA, just as we are still doing today. There were even some familiar names among those pages - Miss Conn was the school’s principal, and Miss Lacy was one of its teachers - women who impacted public education in our county and later had schools named for them. Some topics recorded in the minutes were strikingly resonating. At one meeting in 1920, the head of the Wake County Health Department spoke to the PTA about the importance of keeping children safe from highly contagious diseases, and how parents and teachers should report cases and isolate themselves if they became sick (this was not long after the Spanish Influenza epidemic of 1918). How much time have we spent talking about the very same thing?? Even what must have seemed mundane to these parents in 1919 is familiar to a present-day PTA leader; raising funds for playground equipment, ensuring all children had access to a healthy lunch, granting the principal’s request for money to buy more chairs for the cafeteria. One particular note recorded in the minutes landed close to home for me, personally. It spoke of the meeting being concluded successfully and then members spending time sharing refreshments so everyone could get acquainted with one another. How many connections and friendships have we made through PTA while serving snacks at a hospitality table, or setting up booths for a carnival, or pouring over a budget, or working the cash register at a book fair? I have without a doubt found some of my best friends through serving together on PTA. I am sharing this story with you because it’s an interesting bit of history. But I also hope that you will take a minute here at the end of the year to pause and reflect on your role as a PTA leader. You have stepped up to be part of something much bigger than yourself - just as parents have been stepping up for 100 years before you. Yes, this year has been frustrating, and at times you’ve wanted to pull your hair out. We are tired of Zoom meetings, it’s challenging to keep families engaged or get them to volunteer, we are worried about our students and teachers, and we want to get back to our normal routine. Sometimes - especially this year - PTA work can be a bit exhausting. Just for a moment, though, please feel the tie that connects you 100 years back through time to generations of past PTA leaders that cared enough about their children and their school communities to give of their time and service. You are doing good work. Thank you. (And take good minutes at your meetings, because who knows who might be reading them 100 years from now!) With warmest wishes, Amy *We are researching the best place for these record books to ultimately land so that they can be properly archived and available for viewing as important historical documents. We will let you know when final decisions are made! NC Families for Testing ReformWednesday, Dec 9 7-8pm: STOP Mandatory In-Person Standardized Testing During COVID-19 Are you interested in learning more about what alternatives you have if you do not want to send your child to school for face-to-face testing? NC Families for School Testing Reform is hosting a virtual workshop on Wednesday December 9 at 7pm. You will hear hear from parents, students, and educators regarding mandatory in-person standardized tests during the pandemic, and what you can do about it. Information about options will be offered to parents and students facing these in-person exams. To register please follow this link, tinyurl.com/HighStakesNC and see the FaceBook event page for more details. NC Families for School Testing Reform is a parent led advocacy group focused on fewer tests, fairer tests, and fruitful tests. https://nctestingreform.org/ Health and WellnessNational PTA is Dedicated to Improving the Health and Wellness of Families The National PTA's Healthy Lifestyles program offers educational resources and engagement opportunities that inform students and families on ways to make better-informed health decisions.
Check out the National PTA's Website to learn more. https://www.pta.org/home/programs/Healthy-Lifestyles Download the Healthy Lifestyles Calendar (2020-21) Download Healthy Lifestyles Calendar (2020-2021) to learn ways you can support your school and families in making healthy decisions. Dec 1 - 7: National Handwashing Awareness Week Check out this video from the Poe Center for Health Education on proper handwashing. Feel free to share via email and social media with your families. Proper Handwashing (ENGLISH): https://youtu.be/xITIASd4CG8 Lavado Correcto De Las Manos (SPANISH): https://youtu.be/XcMSvqlIxig Lock Your Meds For more information on how to store, monitor, and dispose of medications safely, visit https://www.poehealth.org/medicationsafety/. Presentations and resources are available including lock boxes and medication disposal kits. Wake County PTA Council Q&A SessionsTake Aways from Our November Sessions Are Gift Cards Allowed?
Remember: PTA funds must be spent on PTA purposes. Check to make sure that new activities are aligned with the PTA’s purposes and are a part of your approved budget. What Fundraisers Are You Doing This Year?
Next Session: December 14 at 7:30pm How is Your PTA Board Doing? Register Today! Diversity, Equity, and InclusionThe Wake PTA Council DEI committee provides support through coaching, education, resources, and a place for local units to come together to brainstorm and share best practices. We will be hosting a series of monthly workshops to give local PTA DEI leaders a forum to receive the support mentioned above. Please use the Google Form to sign-up for our monthly workshops. Wake PTA Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Committee Workshop Series 2020-21 A Google Meet link will be sent out a couple of days prior to the meeting. If your local PTA DEI chair and/ or PTA Leadership has not yet signed up to be included in our communications, please fill out the following Google Form: Wake and Local PTA DEI Committee Sign-up Form If you have any questions, please reach out to Stephanie Mitchell at mitchellsteph2011@gmail.com . Reflections 2020-21: I Matter BecauseAll Reflections entries have been submitted. We had a total of 458 entries this year! We will judge these entries during December and have the results by January 5. Thank you to everyone who participated! If you have questions, please contact Reflections chair, Ashley Keener at reflections@wakepta.org. We Need You!The Wake County PTA Council is looking for volunteers for these committees:
Fri-YAY Shout Out!Do you know of a Wake County PTA that is doing something amazing? Let us know! Please fill out this form, and include a photo if possible. PTA leaders - don't be afraid to toot your own horn! We will give shout-outs on social media on Fridays to celebrate the difference PTAs are making in our schools. ** Please include elementary, middle or high school since there are several schools with the same name! For examples of previous shout outs, check out the Shout Out page on the Wake County PTA website. MemberHub GivebacksThe MemberHub Givebacks program is an easy way to raise money for your PTA. Simply add offers from businesses to your e-store in MemberHub and your PTA gets up to 20% donated back on every purchase. This program is automatically included in your MemberHub store, so it is easy to activate and make it easy for parents to get great deals. For more information, see MemberHub Givebacks. Wake County Public SchoolsFood Distribution: Every Meal Matters Meals are free for ALL students and each day one lunch and one breakfast may be picked up. Participation is extremely beneficial for CNS as they do not receive funding and are only reimbursed for meals that are picked up. This means participation mutually benefits those picking up the meals and CNS. Immunizations and Health Assessment Records Are Due! Reminder: Immunization and Health Assessment Records Grace Period Ends Dec. 31 After multiple extensions, Tuesday Dec. 1 was the state deadline for students to submit a certification of immunization and a school health assessment. The 30-day grace period will end December 30, 2020. After the 30-day grace period, a student would have to be excluded from in-person and remote learning until compliant with these legal requirements. If a new student moves into the district, they have 30 calendar days from their first date of attendance, whether attending remotely or in-person. NCPTANCPTA Gates Team Hosts Virtual Town Hall: Virtual Learning During a Pandemic: Are we Surviving or Thriving?Saturday, December 12 from 10-2 The NCPTA Gates Team is pleased to invite you to join us for our final virtual town hall of the year entitled: Virtual Learning during a Pandemic: Are we Surviving or Thriving? During the event, we will take a closer look at how effective our State has been in response to administering virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. We will be joined by a panel of parents, school, district and state representatives, who will share their experiences and feedback on how our State has responded to virtual learning in the midst of the pandemic. Download and share the flyer. The event will occur via Zoom. Register now! Spanish Virtual Townhall December 12 from 6-7om TownHall will occur via NCPTA Facebook live pages No Pre-Registration Required The NCPTA and NCPTA Gates team in collaboration with Que Pasa will be facilitating a virtual townhall panel discussion for Spanish speaking families on December 12th from 6:00 pm- 7:00 pm. The event will examine how effective our State has been in response to administering virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The event will broadcasted via Que Pasa, Society of Professionals, and NCPTA Facebook live pages. No pre-registration will be required, participants will simply visit the Facebook page of their choice from the options listed above to tune into the event! Webinar Jan 11 7:30pm Diversity and Inclusion Register Today! State-Level Reflections Theme Winners from Wake County! National PTA Reflections sponsors a student-focused Theme Search Contest annually to determine a future program theme. Congratulations to these Wake County students who were announced as state-level winners for the Reflections 2022-2023 Theme Search. The winners below have moved on to the National level. Fingers crossed the next Reflections theme will come from a North Carolina student! “Do the Impossible” Tara Nambi, Carnage Middle School, Raleigh “My superpower is...” Zoe Powell, Green Elementary School, Raleigh “A Matter of Perspective” Tara Nambi, Carnage Middle School, Raleigh Wake County Honor Roll Recipients Congratulations to these Wake County PTAs who sent in dues by November 15 and had total number of members equal to or greater than last year’s membership. Amazing work! Banks Road Elementary School Cedar Fork Elementary Crossroads Flex High Fred J. Carnage GT Magnet Middle School Fuller Magnet Elementary PTA Ligon Magnet Middle School PTA Millbrook Magnet High School Moore Square PTSA Partnership Magnet Elementary PTA South Garner High PTSA WYWLA PTSA For a complete list of Honor Roll Recipients, see the NCPTA Website. Wake County Blue Key Winners Congratulations to all these Wake County PTAs who turned in their membership dues to the state by October 15. A.B. Combs Elem. School PTA A.V. Baucom Elementary School PTA Abbotts Creek Elementary PTA Aldert Root Elem. School PTA Alston Ridge Elementary PTA Apex Elementary School PTA Apex Friendship High PTSA Apex Middle School PTA Apex Senior High School PTSA Athens Drive High School PTSA Aversboro Elementary School PTA Ballentine Elementary School PTA Banks Road Elementary School PTA Brassfield Road Elem. School PTA Briarcliff Elementary School PTA Brier Creek Year-Round Elementary PTA Brooks Elementary School PTA Broughton Community High School PTSA Buckhorn Creek Elementary PTA Carnage GT Magnet Middle School PTSA Carpenter Elementary School PTA Carver Elementary School PTA Cary Elementary School PTA Cary Senior High School PTSA Centennial Campus Mdl School PTSA Conn Elementary School PTA Creech Road Elementary School PTA Davis Drive Elementary School PTA Davis Drive Middle School PTA Dillard Drive Elem. School PTA Dillard Drive Middle School PTA Douglas Creative Arts-Sci. Mag PTA Durant Road Middle School PTA East Garner Magnet Middle PTSA Enloe High School PTSA Farmington Woods Elem. School PTA Forest Pines Drive Elementary School PTA Forestville Road Elementary PTA Frances Lacy Elem. School PTA Fred A. Olds Elem. School PTA Fuller GT Elementary School PTA Fuquay-Varina Elem. School PTA Fuquay-Varina High School PTSA Fuquay-Varina Middle School PTSA Garner Magnet High School PTSA Green Hope Elementary School PTA Green Hope High School PTSA Green Level High School PTSA Harris Creek Elementary PTA Heritage High School PTSA Heritage Middle School PTA Highcroft Drive Elementary PTA Hilburn Drive Academy PTA Holly Grove Elementary School PTA Holly Grove Middle School PTSA Holly Ridge Elementary School PTA Holly Ridge Middle School PTA Holly Springs Elem. School PTA Holly Springs High PTSA Hortons Creek Elementary PTA Hunter GT Elementary School PTA J.W. York Elem. School PTA J.Y. Joyner Elem. School PTA Jeffreys Grove Elem. School PTA Jones Dairy Elementary School PTA Kingswood Elementary School PTA Laurel Park Elementary PTA Lead Mine Elementary School PTA Leesville Road Elementary PTA Leesville Road High School PTSA Leesville Road Middle School PTSA Lewis H. Powell GT Elem. PTA Lincoln Heights Magnet Elem. PTA Lufkin Rd. Yr-Rd Middle School PTA Lynn Road Elementary School PTA Martin Middle School PTA Middle Creek Elementary School PTA Mills Park Elementary PTA Mills Park Middle School PTSA Moore Square Museums M.M.S. PTSA Morrisville Year Rd. Elem. PTA Neuse River Middle School PTA North Garner Middle School PTSA North Ridge Elementary School PTA Northwoods Elementary School PTA Oak Grove Elementary School PTA Oakview Elementary School PTA Oberlin Middle School PTA Olive Chapel Elementary School PTA Panther Creek High PTSA Parkside Elementary School PTA Partnership Elementary School PTA Pine Hollow Middle School PTSA Pleasant Grove Elementary PTA Pleasant Union Elementary Sch. PTA Rand Road Elementary School PTA Reedy Creek Middle School PTA Richland Creek Elementary PTA Rolesville Elementary School PTA Sanford Creek Elementary School PTA Scotts Ridge Elementary PTA South Garner High School PTSA South Lakes Elementary School PTA Southeast Raleigh Elementary School PTA Southeast Raleigh High School PTSA Swift Creek Elementary School PTA Timber Drive Elementary School PTA Trilogy School PTA Turner Creek Elementary School PTA Underwood GT Elem. School PTA Vena Wilburn Elem. School PTA Wakefield Elementary School PTA Wakefield High School PTSA Washington GT Elem. School PTA Weatherstone Elementary School PTA Wendell Creative Arts & Science Magnet Elem. PTA West Cary Middle School PTSA White Oak Elementary School PTA Wildwood Forest Elem. School PTA Wiley International Elem. PTA Willow Springs Elem. School PTA WYMLA PTSA WYWLA PTSA Yates Mill Elementary School PTA Zebulon GT Elem. School PTA For a complete list of Blue Key winners, see the NCPTA website. National PTASpotlight Your PTA Achievements at LegCon 2021: March 9-12
Proposals due by Dec 8 at 11:59pm Submit your state, regional and/or local PTA to conduct a Spotlight presentation, where they will share how your PTA advocated for kids on issues that impact their education and well-being. Presentations should focus on issues included in National PTA’s Public Policy Agenda and include strategies and tactics that other PTAs can emulate. All Spotlights will be pre-recorded and shown at our Virtual Legislative Conference Tuesday, March 9, 2021. For a list of requirements and the rubric or to submit your proposal, Spotlight Your PTA Achievements at LegCon. |
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