Huntsville Council of PTAs
September 2012 |
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| Dates to Remember | |
Sept. 17 - Merts Center, 12:00 - 1:30. Presidents' meeting.
Sept. 28 - Merts Center, 12:00 - 1:30. Pizza Pepsi and Postage.
Sept. 30 - Alabama PTA Golden Apple and Early Bird deadline.
Oct. 1 - Fall Grants Application deadline.
Oct. 1 - Presidents' Meeting, MERTS 12:00 - 1:30.
Oct. 15 - Meet the Superitendent and his Cabinet. Event for PTA Presidents and one board member. Location TBD. 6:30p - 8:30p
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Letter from the President |
September is Membership Month for PTA. It is also the month when most of us are holding our first PTA meetings and open houses. Membership in PTA is more than just a card; it is tangible support of our public schools. We appreciate all that you are doing to encourage and engage your communities on behalf of your local school. Keep up the good work!
We are entering our 4th week of the school year and there are still some growing pains with our 1:1 learning roll out. As PTA leaders you can help in the transition. If you know of specific problems at your school, help your members connect with the on-site computer technician. If he or she cannot fix the situation, they will know who to send you to. Be specific in the descriptions of your issues. It will give the staff information they need to troubleshoot your individual problem. HCPTA is here to help you in any way we can.
Parent training classes on the digital curriculum are rolling out in the next week or two. Stay tuned for the details on date and location. Until then, parents can access training videos and information on curriculum at every grade level on a site provided by Pearson. Click on
www.huntsvillecityschools@weebly.com.
Closing the achievement gap, meeting each student at their ability and need level, and helping to motivate them towards progress, is no easy task. It will take time before every day is a smooth day. Knowing we have done everything we can to help students realize their potential will be worth the effort. We are engaged in more than just a digital transition, we are in a culture change. You can be an integral part of a positive outcome by assisting your members with their questions, keeping things factual, avoiding hearsay and rumor, and focusing on the end goal; that being the positive progression of every student in our great city. Thank you for all that you do!
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Alabama PTA Reporting Forms | |
 Many of the PTAs in the Huntsville Council have already completed and returned their 2012-2013 Local Unit Officers Forms. If you have not completed your form yet, please make it a top priority. The form should be returned to Alabama PTA with a copy mailed or emailed to the Huntsville Council. The Local Officer's Form can be found on the Alabama PTA website.
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Grants Deadlines Approaching |
 FREE MONEY!!! Do you have a great idea to support the six national standards for PTA at your school? The Huntsville Council of PTAs would like to help by providing funding for worthwhile programs that will accomplish these objectives. The Huntsville Council of PTAs has set aside $7,000 for the 2012-2013 school year to award grants to our local units to support their projects and programs. This year, we will offer seven $500 grants in the fall and seven $500 grants in the spring. We have made the process even easier this year by providing a fillable form. CLICK HERE to access the grant application. When you have completed your work, save your file using your PTA's name in the document name, and e-mail the completed application to Melissa Thompson at TLTMCT@COMCAST.NET or mail your application to Melissa Thompson, Huntsville Council of PTAs, P.O. Box 18762, Huntsville, AL 35804. The application deadline is October 1. Your applications can be turned in at the Presidents' meeting on October 1 in the Executive Dining Room at MERTS. |
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Reflections |
The HCPTA deadline for Reflections entries is November 9th. Local Units should set their deadline at least a week prior to that, giving you enough time to ensure each entry form is completed properly and each entry adheres to the rules set forth by National PTA. Visit with your fine arts teachers and English teachers to encourage participation at your school. This year's theme is "The Magic of a Moment." Entries can be dropped off on November 9th at the MERTS center in the Executive Dining Room from 9am - 1pm. For information on the categories, age groups, and ways to promote the fine arts program in your school, please click on Reflections. |
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Alabama PTA Summer Leadership Training |
A big THANKS to everyone who participated in our Summer Leadership Training last month! This was our biggest event yet, and we are so grateful for the presenters and for the participants who made the day special. Our Council Board deserves a special shout-out for all that they did both behind the scenes and in the spotlight to make this event a success. Our presenters have been providing their materials, which we are adding to our website as we receive them. Keep checking back for additional updates. |
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PTA Membership Cards |
 The PTA membership card has been redesigned this year. Check out the new card, its benefits and the new printing requirements on the National PTA site. Membership cards must be activated on the National PTA site. If you are having difficulty with the process, a council in Kentucky has posted a YouTube video outlining the process.
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Free Public Service Event |
Hampton Cove Middle School PTA
Presents its Brown Bag Lunch Series
featuring Donna McKinley
McKinley Community and Family Services
Birmingham, Alabama.
What Your Neighbors' Children Are Doing
We all know that our own children are little angels, but do you know what your neighbors' children are doing when they are around your little angels? Donna McKinley is a Youth Culture Specialist, and she will share her unique insights to help us better protect our kids.
HCMS Library September 14 ~ Noon-1 p.m.
Free public service event for the whole community . . . all are welcome, but preregistration is required. You can pre-order a boxed lunch for $10 or you can bring your own brown bag. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. |
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FamilyWize Prescription Discount Cards |
United Way of Huntsville has been distributing their free FamilyWize prescription discount cards since 2007 and has saved Madison County residents over $90,000 on prescription drugs not covered by insurance or due to lack of insurance coverage. This is a discount program, not an insurance plan, and it is available to anyone in Madison County. Use the link below to simply print out the discount card and then visit almost any pharmacy. Over 95% of pharmacies nationwide participate. Share the news and the card with your friends!
CLICK HERE to get a discount card |
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Discount Internet Access |
Comcast is offering a reduced Internet access fee to families enrolled in the free or reduced lunch plan.
Details:
Cost is $9.95 per month for 1.5 MB Internet access. Although this is probably not considered "high speed," it is definitely faster than dial-up, per Comcast, and is more affordable than their standard rates.
Requirements:
- Proof of current enrollment in free or reduced lunch plan
- Currently not a Comcast Internet customer (although you could have an account with a competitor)
This is an affordable home Internet offer that will help students have access to technology at home.
CLICK HERE to visit the website for more information
CLICK HERE for an English flyer
CLICK HERE for a Spanish flyer |
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Speakers' Bureau | |
There are new additions to our Speaker's Bureau. If your PTA would like a speaker for an event, the HCPTAs has started a Speaker's Bureau. The list of speakers includes individuals who are well versed on varied topics and who have agreed to donate their time and share their expertise with parents or students. If you would like to coordinate a speaker to visit your school, contact Kelly May, VP of Family Support (tkmay@knology.net, 256.508.4323) and she will tell you more. If there is something you are interested in and you don't see it on our list of speakers and topics, let us know. We want to continue to grow the bureau and serve Huntsville PTAs better!
For a flyer with the current list of available speakers and topics, click HERE. |
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Presidents' Round Table Meetings |  Join us from noon to 1:30p in the Executive Dining Room at the MERTS center on Monday, September 17th. We will be discussing membership, grants, calendar, budget and digital transition. Boxed lunches are $10 and are being catered by Clementines. If you would like a boxed lunch, please let us know your sandwich preference. |
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Pizza, Pepsi, Postage and PTA Membership | |
 The deadline for Early Bird and Golden Apple Awards is Sunday, September 30th. Your lists of members and dues remittance must both be postmarked by September 30th. HCPTA is going to make the process a little easier for you. Presidents and Membership Chairs / VPs can join us on Friday, September 28th in the Executive Dining Room at MERTS with their lists and their check, and HCPTA will send the paperwork to Alabama PTA, priority mail. The Early Bird award is for PTAs selling 50% of their total membership from last year by the September 30th deadline. The Golden Apple award indicates your school has 100% membership from certified personnel by September 30th. Continue to work towards these goals, and join us for lunch on September 28th in the Merts Center from 12:00 - 1:30. The pizza, Pepsi and postage are on us! If you have more questions about membership procedures you can refer to the Membership Chair's Reference Guide on the Alabama PTA website, or contact HCPTA Membership Vice President, Chaundra Jones at chaunjonz@hotmail.com.
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I am looking forward to an amazing year Together we can achieve "every child . . . one voice." |
Elisa Ferrell President, Huntsville Council of PTAs
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