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SEPTEMBER 2015 EPTA Newsletter Flipbook PDF
SEPTEMBER 2015 EPTA Newsletter
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After a whirlwind summer full of travel, fun, adventure, and family bonding time, it can be difficult to switch gears and get back into school mode. Still, no matter how hard it may be to give up lazy summer days, it’s time to rise to the challenges of a brand new school year! Is your PTA Unit ready for the challenge?
EXECUTIVE BOARD President President-Elect VP for Legislation Student VP Treasurer Secretary Director of Membership and Communications
Sharon Gilbert Bobbi Jo Bowser Kris Garst MaryBeth Mitchell Kathy Meidlein Julie Wittenberg Cheri Mitchell
European PTA’s mission, along with the National Parent Teacher Association, is to help make every child’s potential a reality, and PTA gives its members the tools to make that happen! Whether your school has an experienced board or you’re learning how to run a PTA from the ground up, European PTA and National PTA stand ready to train and support you throughout the coming school year as you make a difference in your school and your community.
COMMITTEE CHAIRS Administrative Consultant Awards & Scholarships Board Advisor Bylaws Chair Convention Chair Convention Co-Chair Diversity & Family Engagement Health & Wellness Male Engagement Reflections Chair Resource Development Special Needs Chair Spelling Bee Chair Spelling Bee Co-Chair Ways and Means Webmaster EPTA Office Manager
Matthew Kralevich Lois Dent Tricia Evans-Lockhart OPEN Kris Garst Melody Shaw Claudette Jones Linda Scheuermann OPEN Jennifer McCormack Brianna Hester Amanda Groff Crystal Lewis Melody Shaw Cyndia Gilbert Nancy Carillo Jennifer Tucker
At the annual European PTA Convention last May, the theme was . By advocating for improvements in education, juvenile justice, health and wellness, family engagement, and other issues that impact children in the U.S., across DoDEA-Europe, and in our home towns, we can build something truly great! As you plan your Local Unit’s PTA events and programs, think about what you can do to build community, build education, build communication, build partnerships, build build advocacy awareness, and build family engagement in the coming year. Take full advantage of PTA’s many programs and training opportunities to give your Local Unit a strong foundation. Build on programs that are already in place, and create new ones to better meet the needs of your school and your community.
[email protected] EuropeanPTAOnline.org Facebook.com/EuropeanPTA Twitter.com/EuropeanPTA Pinterest.com/EuropeanPTA
WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU WILL BUILD!
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EPTA FALL TRAINING
NATIONAL PTA PROGRAMS
Saturday, September 19th from 9am to 3:30pm at Ramstein Middle School (Ramstein AFB, Germany)
http://www.pta.org/programs
National PTA gives its members the tools that they need to build successful programs in their schools and communities, highlighting Family Engagement, Healthy Lifestyles, Literacy, Arts in Education, Bullying Awareness, Diversity, FamilySchool Partnerships, and more! Whether you’re looking for inspiration, activities, advertising media, or event plans, there’s a little bit of everything for your Local Unit.
Join us for a day of nuts and bolts training that will help you to learn more about your work in the PTA, to network with local and state PTA leaders, and to find out about PTA programs, tools, and opportunities. CLICK HERE for more information!
ONLINE BACK-TO-SCHOOL KIT http://PTAKit.org
EUROPEAN PTA PROGRAMS
This online tool kit from National PTA gives you the basics on how to run a PTA.
http://EuropeanPTAOnline.org
In addition to the National programs, European PTA also offers a variety of programs, awards, and scholarships to enrich our schools, families, and communities overseas. Whether it’s awards to recognize the dedication of our volunteers, scholarships for our graduating DoDEA-Europe seniors, or programs like EPTA’s sponsorship of the Scripps National Spelling Bee that can bring a little piece of home to Europe, we’re here to support you!
PTA E-LEARNING COURSES http://pta.org/elearning
National PTA offers free e-learning courses on a wide variety of topics for registered members! To access the courses, simply create your profile.
NATIONAL PTA GRANTS http://www.pta.org/awards
EUROPEAN PTA OFFICE
National PTA offers several awards and grants throughout the year for PTA programs that promote Healthy Lifestyles, Family Engagement, and Arts in Education. European PTA will share application info and deadlines as grants become available. A number of EPTA Units have received grants in recent years, and the funds and tools that come through grant programs can really make a difference for your school!
[email protected]
Have questions? Need some advice or support? EPTA is just an email, a letter, or a phone call away! From Germany: 017656 549018 International: +49 17656 549018
EUROPEAN PTA Box 34 86 FSS/FSFP unit 3240 Box 535 APO, AE 09094
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1. ENROLL your PTA between April 1 and Oct. 1. You will receive the "Getting Started Guide," which describes program components, including your first steps to gather feedback from families and set goals with your school partner.
National PTA School of Excellence is a national recognition program that supports and celebrates partnerships between PTAs and schools to enrich the educational experience and overall well-being for all students.
2. SURVEY your school community and share the results with National PTA by submitting a FamilySchool Partnership Scan by Nov. 1.
In a National PTA School of Excellence, all families feel welcomed and are empowered to support student success, and PTA is a key partner with the school and community for continuous school improvement.
3. RECEIVE your own customized "Roadmap to Excellence" containing recommendations that respond to your specific results from the FamilySchool Partnership Scan.
The path to excellence starts with a joint commitment to work together to achieve PTA's National Standards for Family-School Partnerships.
4. COMPLETE the year-end National PTA School of Excellence application before June 1, 2016.
In the analysis of data for the 2015-2017 National PTA School of Excellence participants, PTA found that nearly 95% of families felt that they are treated fairly regardless of their age, their gender, their race or their cultural backgrounds, and that’s just part of the impact that this program had on schools! You can learn more and download the full SOE infographic at PTA.org/ExcellenceAwardRecipients.
5. CELEBRATE your excellence! All National PTA School of Excellence recipients will receive a toolkit to support celebration activities.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE TWO NATIONAL PTA SCHOOLS OF EXCELLENCE IN EUROPE:
Through the School of Excellence program, your PTA and school will gain new ways to engage families in school decision-making, such as improvements to programs, practices and policies related to education, health, safety or the arts. Contact [email protected] for more info.
GRAFENWOEHR ELEMENTARY (2014-16) INCIRLIK UNIT SCHOOL (2015-17)
Your school could (and should) be next! In the 20152016 school year, put your school on the National PTA School of Excellence map.
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A UNIT IN GOOD STANDING is an EPTA Unit that has submitted all of the documentation that is required to operate per the European PTA bylaws.
WHY DOES YOUR PTA UNIT NEED TO BE A UNIT IN GOOD STANDING?
Your Local Unit can’t legally represent itself as a PTA or PTSA unless it is actively working toward being a Unit in Good Standing.
Your Local Unit can’t participate in programs like Reflections and School of Excellence, and won’t be eligible for National PTA grants and awards without being a Unit in Good Standing.
PTAs that aren’t Units in Good Standing will be charged an additional $150 fee to be able to participate in the EPTA Spelling Bee.
TO BECOME AN EPTA UNIT IN GOOD STANDING, please send the following forms, documents, and information as soon as possible to the European PTA office:
1. A BOARD ROSTER that lists all officers and includes the following information for each:
NAME BOARD POSITION MAILING ADDRESS (Military Mail) EMAIL ADDRESSES PHONE NUMBERS
2. A BUDGET FOR THE 2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR 3. A COPY OF YOUR BYLAWS that have been signed and dated by your current (2015-2016) President. Please send this electronically! 4. A COPY OF YOUR AUDIT FOR THE 2014-2015 SCHOOL YEAR 5. ON-GOING MONTHLY EPTA MEMBERSHIP DUES AND REPORTS EVERY MONTH you must send in an EPTA Membership Report that must be postmarked by the 25th of that month. If you have NO new members that month, you may submit your monthly report by the 25th via email to EPTA at [email protected]. EPTA MEMBERSHIP DUES are $3.75 per Member, and cover membership in both National PTA and European PTA.
QUESTIONS? Email us any time at [email protected]. 6 4
Online enrollment is now open for the 2015-2016 Scripps National Spelling Bee program! Each year, EPTA sponsors the Bee for schools throughout DoDEA Europe. PTA Units in Good Standing are able to register without paying any additional fees beyond the basic Scripps registration fee (PTAs that are not in good standing by 1/15/16 pay an additional $150, and non-PTA schools pay an additional $350)! TO REGISTER FOR THIS YEAR’S SPELLING BEE, GO TO
https://secure.spellingbee.com/enrollment/register If your school enrolls online by October 15, 2015, you can take advantage of the Scripps special early bird rate of just $136 per school! WHAT DO YOU RECEIVE FOR YOUR ENROLLMENT?
Scripps gives you access to everything you need to organize classroom and school spelling bees:
2015 European PTA Spelling Bee Champion Ryan Rayos from Naples, Italy, traveled to Washington, D.C. to represent DoDEA Europe at the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Exclusive online access to a teachers-only section of spellingbee.com
Official word lists for your students, organized by grade level
WHY BE IN THE BEE?
Official pronouncer guides for classroom and school spelling bees
Supplemental vocabulary materials for classroom and school bees
There are many benefits for students who participate in spelling bees. Spellers have an opportunity to build and improve their:
Vocabulary Grammar Cognitive Skills
Customizable certificates for your spelling bee participants and school champion
With your enrollment, you also receive a FREE ONEYEAR SUBSCRIPTION to Britannica Online for Kids to award to a student participant in your school spelling bee program (a $69.95 value).
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Confidence Knowledge Competitive Spirit
on the European PTA’s Scripps National Spelling Bee program, visit the EPTA website at http://www.europeanptaonline.org/#!spelling-bee/c21gd
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EVERY CHILD ACHIEVES ACT OF 2015
Since the House has already passed its own version, the two bills will now need to be reconciled by a Conference Committee. There are still a few more hurdles before a new ESEA bill is signed into law, but we will continue to share updates on final passage as they become available!
The Every Child Achieves Act of 2015 (S. 1177) is a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act- No Child Left Behind (ESEA-NCLB). The bipartisan bill, which was authored by the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Ranking House Member Patty Murray (D-WA), contains several laudable family engagement provisions.
While this legislation may not impact us directly in Department of Defense schools , it is important to take the long view. Today's DoDEA student in Germany, Italy, or the United Kingdom could be in Florida, New York, or California in the next few years, and we need to speak up and help to ensure the best possible education for them and for every child in the United States going forward. Therefore, it's vital that European PTA members add their voices to support Stateside education issues and to support, engage, and empower students, parents, and teachers across the nation!
Provisions include an amendment by Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Jack Reed (D-RI) that reauthorizes the Parental Information and Resource Centers (PIRC) program as new Statewide Family Engagement Centers (SFEC). The centers would provide states and districts with the capacity to support effective implementation and provide enhancement of family engagement policies, programs and activities that are proven to make a difference for students and schools.
For more information on this and other PTA policy issues, visit http://www.pta.org/advocacy
“Kids are more likely to succeed in school when their parents and families are engaged,” Senator Bennet said. “This bill takes steps to help schools work with parents to monitor their kids’ progress and ensure they have the tools and resources needed to succeed.”
ADVOCATES WANTED!!! Would you be interested in serving as a local EPTA advocacy point of contact? We are currently in search of volunteers to serve as points of contact in each of the four DoDEA-Europe districts (possibly more if the response permits), reaching out to local PTA Units with advocacy updates and relaying local concerns back to the European PTA Vice President for Legislation. We need to hear from you! Please contact Kris Garst at [email protected] for more information or to volunteer as an Advocacy POC.
The legislation also encourages districts to dedicate more than 1% of Title I funding to support family engagement efforts and ensures that early learning programs prioritize family engagement. The Senate passed the Every Child Achieves Act by a 81 -17 vote in July.
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