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VACANCY: Legislative Chair
FCCPTA Executive Board is seeking candidates for Chair of Legislative Committee to be appointed to serve the remaining 2012-14 term. Monthly board meetings are on the second Wednesday of the month.
If interested, please contact FCCPTA President, Ramona Morrow, at president@fccpta.org for more information. |
Our Children
September 2013 Edition  | | Click On Image To Open |
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Schedule A "Blueprint for Change" Adolescent Sleep Health Presentation
available for Adolescent Sleep Health presentations to members of local unit PTAs and PTSAs through December 2013 and possibly into January 2014.
Schedule a Blueprint for Change presentation now by contacting Jennifer Williams at
jenniferkwms@gmail.com or 571-232-5139.
REMEMBER: First graders have a habit of growing into high school freshmen.
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Organize A Walk To School Day For Wednesday, October 9
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Real Food For Kids Presentation
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Become Familiar With Relevant FCPS Regulations And Notices
Following is a non-inclusive list of FCPS Regulations that PTA Boards should be familiar with:
Regulation 1370.6; Fund-Raising (Establishes guidelines for elementary and secondary school-sponsored or non-school-sponsored student participation in fund-raising activities.)
Regulation 4630.7; Payment of Personnel Supporting Community Use of School Facilities
Regulation 8424.8; Booster Club, PTA and PTO Managed Fee-Based Classes, Clinics, Leagues, and Youth Summer Camps in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Facilities (Procedures and Guidelines)
Notice 8424; Booster Club- and PTA-Managed Fee-Based Classes, Clinics, Leagues and Youth Summer Camps in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Facilities (Fees)
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Greetings!
Welcome back to a new school year, everyone! FCCPTA would like to extend a warm welcome to all students, parents, staff, and administrators and wish everyone a very successful school year. With much enthusiasm, the FCCPTA has begun plans for many projects and programs to help you keep your PTA and our schools great for all our children.
Please join us for our first FCCPTA General Membership meeting on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 at 7:30 PM; these meetings are open to the public, however only the official local PTA representative is allowed to participate in the business portion of our meeting. Our meetings are held at FCPS Gatehouse Administration Center, 8115 Gatehouse Road, Falls Church 22042. Our general meetings are held in the 1st Floor Café. Please park in the underground garage and take the elevator up to the 1st floor.
To help us better serve you, please send the following contact information to the assigned email address below. By doing so, specific topical information will be directed to the proper individual in your PTA.
President: president@fccpta.org
Treasurer: treasurer@fccpta.org
Reflections: reflections@fccpta.org
Spelling Bee: vp.programs@fccpta.org
Special Education: specialeducation@fccpta.org
We're looking forward to a great year for our kids and our schools! And as always, both Debbie and I are here to assist you with your PTA questions. In fact, the entire FCCPTA board is committed to the mission and vision of PTA.
Warmest Regards,
Mona & Debbie
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Parent Project®: Empowering Parents . . . Transforming Teens
After a successful pilot program held at Herndon MS last spring Family and School Partnerships, Department of Communication and Community Outreach, FCPS is ready to offer Parent Project® in the Herndon area this fall. An orientation is offered September 25 at Herndon Middle School, 901 Locust Street, Herndon, VA for those parents who think they are interested in registering for the class, but want information before they commit. Classes will run for 12-weeks starting October 2nd. We are recruiting parents from Herndon, Reston, and neighboring areas.
The class is designed for Spanish speaking parents of teenagers (especially "challenging" teens). We welcome those families in the process of reunifying after a long separation. The Parent Project® teaches parents how to run their own support group after the conclusion of the class. We currently have a parent-led support group running in Herndon.
The program is free to parents due to the generosity of Wells Fargo. This includes a Parent Guide (Parent Project®) and Immigrant Family Reunification parent guide. The instructors include a Parent Project ® certified social worker and parent liaisons with program experience.
This same class will be held at Lee High School, this winter, for parents in Springfield and Alexandria. This class is also covered by our Wells Fargo grant.
A two-session curriculum, Immigrant Family Reunification-A Parent Program, is available for any school or community social worker or counselor to present with our Maria Mateus (she speaks Spanish). Parent Guides are available in Spanish and English. There is also a Facilitator's Guide.
Please direct questions to Robin Hamby, Family Partnerships Specialist, at 703-204-4330 or rshamby@fcps.edu, or Maria Mateus at 703-204-4342 or mdmateus@fcps.edu .
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Don't Forget
Check progress of Annual Financial Audit. Audit Must Be Completed Soon After Beginning Of Fiscal Year AND Before Checks Can Be Issued. UNLESS there are irregularities revealed in the audit, checks may be written prior to approval of the audit by the general membership during the first general membership meeting.
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School Bonds 2013: Vote YES!
The world class education provided by Fairfax County public schools is the driving force behind our region's economic success. To continue the excellence in education in our public schools, our schools need adequate facilities. With construction costs and interest rates at an all time low, now is the time to invest in our infrastructure.
Bonds are the means by which we provide the funding necessary for our students' facilities. The use of bonds avoids diverting funds that are critically needed for classroom instruction. They also spread the financing of required school construction over the improvement's usable life, diversifying the contribution over all users throughout the years.
NOTE: Bond Referendum are not considered political campaigns. Local unit PTAs are encouraged to advocate for their schools by promoting Fairfax County Bond Referendums to their members.
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Behind the Headlines: The State of Education in Fairfax County
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Superintendent Karen K. Garza will be one of five participants in Behind the Headlines: the State of Education in Fairfax County, on Wednesday, September 18, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Fairfax High School, 3501 Rebel Run, Fairfax.
The public forum, sponsored by the Washington Post, will also include Kimberly Adams, president of the Fairfax Education Association; Steve Greenburg, president of the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers; Ramona Morrow, president of the Fairfax County Council of PTAs; and T. Rees Shapiro, Fairfax education reporter at the Washington Post.
The forum will provide an opportunity for panelists to discuss the challenges facing FCPS, including funding for renovations and new construction, teacher workload, student discipline, and economic and demographic changes in Fairfax County.
To RSVP for the forum or submit a question for the panel, e-mail behindtheheadlines@washpost.com no later than Tuesday, September 17.
Doors will open at 6 p.m. This is a FREE event
The discussion will be led by Robert McCartney, columnist for the Washington Post.
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Fairfax Education Summit
Hosted by the Fairfax County School Board with appreciation to our sponsor, Deloitte LLP. Join hundreds of parents, students, citizens, business leaders, community leaders, and school leaders to explore a Portrait of a 21st Century Graduate and School System. Dr. Karen Garza, the new superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools, will be the keynote speaker and will share her insights on 21st century learning and areas she intends to focus on in her first year. |
National PTA School of Excellence Program
The PTA School of Excellence Program is a great way to step-up your PTA's involvement in school improvements or make something meaningful happening between your PTA and school.
The National PTA School of Excellence program helps PTAs strengthen the family-school partnership and make measurable progress together in one of three areas:
- Education
- Health and safety
- Arts and cultural exploration
At a National PTA School of Excellence, families feel welcomed and empowered to support student success, and PTA is a key partner for continuous school improvement.
In the 2013-2014 school year, put your school on the National PTA School of Excellence map!
Enrollment deadline is September 30, 2013!
The September 2013 issue of Our Children, available by clicking on the image in the sidebar, has an article on page 9 about Schools of Excellence.
Contact excellence@pta.org for more information.
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IMPORTANT POINTS FOR COVERING SUICIDE:
- More than 50 research studies worldwide have found that certain types of news coverage can increase the likelihood of suicide in vulnerable individuals. The magnitude of the increase is related to the amount, duration and prominence of coverage.
- Risk of additional suicides increases when the story explicitly describes the suicide method, uses dramatic/graphic headlines or images, and repeated/extensive coverage sensationalizes or glamorizes a death.
- Covering suicide carefully, even briefl y, can change public misperceptions and correct myths, which can encourage those who are vulnerable or at risk to seek help.
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Unified Prevention Coalition:
Youth Council
Membership
UPC is accepting members for the UPC YOUTH COUNCIL 2013-2014. Students should demonstrate outstanding commitment to keeping their school and community safe and free from alcohol and other drug use by youth. YC is designed for high school students. The focus will be on supporting youth-directed prevention activities and helping students develop leadership and advocacy skills.
Youth Council members will be accepted throughout the school year and will receive community service hours while serving on the Youth Council.
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Join Friends of Fairfax Community PTA
JOIN Friends of Fairfax Community PTA and start making a difference TODAY!
We need you and all of our Community Members' support and involvement to be successful! Community memberships make our PTAs strong.
Friends of Fairfax Community PTA encourages parental engagement in our schools and supports programs for students and teachers to help bridge the financial and academic gap for PTA schools in Fairfax County.
Membership Dues fund the development of PTA leaders, student enrichment programs, and teacher enhancements through a grant process.
Please Click HERE To Download the Friends Of Fairfax Community Membership Form.
Have questions? Contact: friendsffxcompta@gmail.com
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