Happy November,

I am not completely sure where the first few months of this year have gone.  The holidays will be here before we know it.  And then, it will be time to start electing new officers.  How is that for reality?

I know you are well on your way to forming your nominating committee.  This is a very important step in preparing for a successful year.  It takes time to find the right leaders.  Start looking now and start inviting potential leaders to GCC of PTAs leadership development opportunities.  Build strong leaders now! 

When is the last time that you sent a thank you email or shared a positive experience?   I would like to ask each of you a favor.   Will you all take a moment and thank someone for making a difference?  Will you share the next positive thing that happens to you with the person responsible, and their boss?  Thank someone and make his or her day fabulous!  Life is stressful and the small things often make a giant difference.  

Thanks for making a difference,

Kelly Langston

Membership Benefits Include:

 Membership packets filled with great resources for your whole board

• Participation in S.P.I.C.E. Grants
• Participation in Reflections
• Participation in Awards
• Personal support via email, phone or in person from GCC of PTAs Board of Directors
• Our eNewsletter - The Council Connection
• The E.C. Voice - the eNewsletter for parents of children with special needs
• Our Health and Safety eNewsletter
• Weekly Updates from our President 
• Free training and conferences from GCC of PTAs

Questions? Contact Katie Sayani at katiesayani@gmail.com

Thanks for all you do for children!

Superintendent Maurice "Mo" Green wants to hear from you. What is working? What needs more focus? What is getting in the way of the district's progress? The answers to these questions will help guide Guilford County Schools (GCS) as the district prepares to draft its second strategic plan.

A short online survey is posted on the GCS website for parents, students, employees or members of the community who would like to provide feedback on the current strategic plan or suggestions for the new plan, which will be introduced at the district's annual State of Our Schools address on Jan. 31, 2013. Comments on the plans will also be collected through email at feedback@gcsnc.com. All comments and ideas should be submitted by Friday, Dec. 21.

In 2008, Superintendent Green asked for the community's input on Strategic Plan 2012 and received responses from 3,596 individuals who contributed their ideas. GCS launched Strategic Plan 2012, the first of its kind for the district, in January 2009. Since that time, GCS has put many new initiatives into place, includingGuilford Parent Academy, Character Development and Service Learning, One Million Books (now Three Million Books) and Respectful and Responsive Service.

So far, more than 20 employee and community groups have provided input for the new Strategic Plan 2016, and another 20 are scheduled prior to winter break. GCS departments, schools or community groups can schedule a strategic plan input session by contacting Kassinda Ross in the strategic planning department at rossk3@gcsnc.com.

For more information about Strategic Plan 2016 and "Mo Wants to Know - Again!" visit the GCS website at www.gcsnc.com/strategicplan2016.

State of Our Schools will be held on Jan. 31, 2013, at the Carolina Theatre in Greensboro. A reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the program will begin at 6 p.m. GCS will provide a final progress report on Strategic Plan 2012 and then launch the new Strategic Plan 2016.

www.GuilfordEducationAlliance.org/events

Or Call

(336) 841-4332  

*******DEADLINE NOVEMBER, 28, 2012*******

Encourage creativity and lifelong learning while offering recognition for artistic endeavors. The PTA Reflections Program is designed to enhance quality arts education for students in preschool through grade 12. 

2012-2013 PTA Reflections Guide

Once you have received the guide, please visit the link below to obtain other very important information about dates and times. 

The Real Men are F.B.I. program is progressing nicely this school year.  Remember T-shirts and business cards for Real Men are F.B.I. are still available for your Men's Group.  Please contact Chris Herndon at gccmore12@gmail.com if 

you are interested in getting any.  We will be ordering more shirts soon so if your group knows how many you would like please let us know so we can order accordingly.

Below is a list of 10 simple ways for dads to volunteer and get involved with your child at school:

1.  Attend parent-teacher conferences.

2. Volunteer to drive or chaperone during 

    field trips.

3. Coordinate a time with the teacher to               read to the class or be involved with class       projects.

4.Together with your child, prepare snacks for special class celebrations.

5. Set up or clean up after a class party.

6. Come in and have lunch with your child once a month or however often you can 

    swing it.

7. Drive your child to school or pick him/her up after

8. Join a PTA committee.

9. If you're handy with the computer, volunteer to set up a class website.

10. Don't forget that being involved with your child's education includes providing 

      support at home: help your child with homework, review homework, help your                 child study for an upcoming test, call out spelling words, read and respond to                 paperwork that the teacher sends home.

We would like to recognize the following schools for Dads activities they had during the month of October:

• Pearce Elementary: Lunch with Dads on October 12, 2012 and it was a tremendous success.

• Northern Elementary: All-Pro Dads Day breakfast on October 19, 2012.  This was their second All-Pro Dads Event.  

• Millis Road Elementary: All-Pro Dads Day breakfast during October. 

• Brooks Global Studies Elementary: Operation Car Pool Invasion. FBI monitored the car pool lane on October 31, 2012.  Please see pictures of this event and their newsletter below.

 Photos from Northern Elementary's All-Pro Dad Event

It was great to hear about all these events.  I am sure the children loved seeing all the dads with their children at these events, and the teachers enjoyed the break from the car drop off line and seeing dads helping out at school.  Please let us know of any activities your Men's Group is doing, and we will include it in future newsletters.  

Please do what you can to get more men involved with our children at school.  Also, it is not too late to form a Men's Group for the 2012-2013 school year at your local unit.  If you have any questions or would like assistance in forming a Men's Group please feel free to contact Chris Herndon at gccmore12@gmail.com.

Also, we would like to inform you of an upcoming event in November.  On November 10, 2012 from 10am - 2pm there will be an All-Pro Dad Day at Omega Sports at 2431 Battleground Ave, Greensboro, NC.  Attached is a flyer with more information.  If you have any questions please feel free to contact Ricky Evans at (336) 740-2476. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS EVENT

Thanks again for all you are doing for the children of Guilford County.

If you have any questions or would like assistance in forming a Men's Group please feel free to contact 

Chris Herndon 

at

gccmore12@gmail.com

Don't forget about these excellent resources to also assist you in getting more men involved at your schools 

www.pta.org     www.fathers.com    www.allprodad.com

The School Safety Committee for Northern Guilford Middle School's PTSA is hosting nationally renowned comedian and speaker, Keith Deltano. He will be addressing the topic of bullying with the students, teachers and parents. Keith Deltano has served and worked with youth for many years in various roles, including as a military police officer, public school teacher, youth leader, private counselor, and educational comedian. He draws on this varied background to reach out and share with youth. Keith taught sixth grade and won the Teaching Excellence Award for his work with at- risk youth. He has been listed in Who's Who of America's Teachers and Outstanding Young Men of America. He was granted The National Impact Award for his work in parent outreach and education.  We hope you will be able to come.

Northern Guilford Middle School

Auxiliary Gym

Thursday, November 8, 2012

6:30 PM ~ 8:00 PM

NGMS' Student Council will be providing childcare for parents who are attending the Anti-Bullying Presentation.  Children, ages Pre-K through 5th grade, will be supervised by a teacher and several of the NGMS Student Council Members in the Main Gym. 

Please RSVP and Request Childcare At This Web Link 

 RSVP HERE

For More Information Please Call 336-605-3342 

Use Everyday Activities to Teach Your Children Good Money Habits

This spring the government launched Money as You Grow, an online, interactive tool to give families a guideline for teaching kids 3 to 18 (and even beyond) important money lessons, like how to make good choices when spending, how to avoid debt, and why it's important to save for an emergency. Put up a Money as You Grow poster on your refrigerator, try the activities in your everyday life, and check to see if your children know the milestones for their age groups.

Also Click On The Kids.Gov logo for more great tools and information.

The public is invited to an upcoming presentation on teaching children about the humane treatment of animals. The speakers, Angela Zumwalt and Pam Partis, have developed a remarkable curriculum for 4th graders that is currently being taught in schools in Moore County, North Carolina. The content of their program is aligned with Common Core State Standards, and is included as part of the Character Education Program, focusing on good judgment, integrity, kindness, perseverance, respect and responsibility. This year Angela and Pam's organization, theMoore County Citizens' Pet Responsibility Committee received the Governor's Award for the excellence of its work. 

Unfortunately, Guilford County has animal welfare problems similar to those experienced in Moore County: pet overpopulation, high euthanasia rates, and too many cases of animal neglect and abuse. Education about the proper care of pets is a critical, yet often overlooked part of making a community a safe and healthy place for both people and animals. The MCPRC program places special emphasis on the

NOVEMBER 2012 

November 6

ELECTION DAY

CLICK HERE FOR IRS FORM ( Must Have Password)

November 15, 2012 

GCC of PTAs Board Of Directors Meeting

6:30 PM

November 15, 2012 

GCS Board Of Education Meeting