Florida PTA 
September 2014 eNewsletter 


A Message From The President



It's that time of year again, September is here! PTAs/PTSAs across the state are focusing on Membership. As your President, I am asking you to consider this: when you are asking people to join PTA, please ask EVERYONE. Do not make judgments or make the decision for them. I would like to see all of us reach outside the box. Go to your school district building, local colleges, businesses within your community, senior living communities, sporting events, and local legislator offices. PTA represents all children; in turn your PTA membership should reflect your community.

It is an exciting time to be a member of the Florida PTA. We are developing relationships and having real conversations with real people about real issues across the state, all in the best interest for our children and families. We may not always agree but we will stay steadfast to the mission and vision of Florida PTA. Together, let's make PTA a household name again.

If you can, join a local unit, or please visit our website www.floridapta.org to join. "Like" us on Facebook, and follow us by Twitter: tweet out @FLORIDAPTA. Do whatever you need to do to get the information out there about PTA, and share all the wonderful events and programs you are hosting at your schools. Remember, together, we are PTA Proud!

Thank you,
Mindy Haas
Florida PTA President
In This Issue
* PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
* TOOT YOUR HORN
* HEALTHY HABITS WEEK
* FLPTA WEBSITE LOG IN
* MEMBERSHIP MATTERS!
* HEALTH & WELLNESS
* 3 WAYS TO ENGAGE
* FLORIDA PTA STORE
* UPCOMING DATES
* THANK YOU SPONSORS
Quick Links

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TOOT YOUR HORN!
  


Now that school has started, your PTA will begin a wonderful year of programs for your students and families. Florida PTA wants to recognize your hard work in producing innovative program events. Starting at the beginning of the year, keep a history (log) of everything your PTA does. This will make it easier to fill out the award applications at the end of the year and you will discover that your PTA did much more during the year than you realized! The deadline for submission of most applications is May 1, 2015. But, you can be creative and submit your applications at any time after the event is completed so you don't miss the deadline. I look forward to seeing what you have accomplished this school year. 

Your school can start with the Gold Early Bird Membership award. The deadline is Oct. 1st . Submit your dues and meet the percentage of school enrollment required to earn this fabulous award. 

Jenny Dyess
FL PTA Awards Chair

Celebrate Healthy Habits with
Healthy Habits Week

During the Back to School season, it's important to educate children on how they can practice healthy habits inside and outside the classroom. Healthy habits such as good hygiene, nutrition, and fitness, help benefit students with fewer school days missed and stronger bodies and minds. The National PTA and NEA support the development of the Lysol Healthy Habits Program to bring these habits to life and help reduce absenteeism in schools across the country.

You too can join the movement to help keep families happy and healthy during the annual Healthy Habits Week beginning on September 22! Teachers and parents can participate in the cause by taking advantage of available resources on Lysol.com/HealthyHabits, which include 30 ready-to-use lesson plans, insights from an expert NEA/PTA panel, free posters and literature, and activity guides. The Healthy Habits Program also features a nationwide tour of the Healthy Habits Bus, a science museum on wheels that teaches children about germs through interactive games.

In preparation for Healthy Habits Week, visit Lysol.com/HealthyHabits to learn how you can participate this September and beyond. We'd love to hear about how you celebrated Healthy Habits Week in your community!
NEED TO LOG IN THE FLORIDA PTA WEBSITE TO ACCESS THE KIT OF MATERIALS?
1. You must have registered (this membership year) your new or returning officers. (CLICK HERE to register if you haven't done so already.)

2. Your PTA President will receive the USER name and
PASSWORD information in a
"Very Important Letter" that  is included with your membership cards. (Use these credentials to log in.)

3. If your PTA wants an
additional user, the president must request it by emailing info@floridapta.org the additional user's information
(Name, Title, Address, Email, and Phone number).
YOUR MEMBERSHIP MATTERS!


PTA is the largest volunteer child advocacy association in the nation; we can proudly make this claim because of the thousands of members worldwide. Any organization is only as strong as its individual links.  Without your membership, PTA would not be the driving force for today's children.

It may seem like such a small gesture: I joined my child's PTA, but it has such large implications.  National PTA, with its state and local unit members, has established programs and called for legislation, which has improved our children's lives, such as:  the creation of Kindergarten classes, child labor laws, hot and healthy lunch programs, mandatory immunization, and arts in education.

All this was done by people willing to become a member of PTA. Membership does matter! 
So when someone walks up and asks you to join the PTA, just do it! 

Linda Nestor
FL PTA Membership Chair
HEALTH AND WELLNESS



Wednesday, October 8, 2014 is International Walk to School Day. You can participate by walking your child to school that day, talk about pedestrian safety, and note pedestrian hazards on your route. Visit http://walkbiketoschool.org or http://saferoutesinfo.org for more information. 

Is your PTA planning an event for International Walk to School Day? CLICK HERE to register.
 
The National Center for Safe Routes to School and Schwinn's Helmets on Heads program are teaming up to provide 25 $1,000 mini-grants to 25 schools across the country.  These mini-grants support a common goal of both organizations:  to support educators, communities and families in encouraging children to safely bike to school. Applications are now being accepted for mini-grant activities planned for the second half of the 2014-2015 school year. Mini-grant applications are due Wednesday, October 22, 2014, and award winners will be announced in December. The mini-grant activities should occur between January 1, 2015, and the end of the Spring 2015 semester.  CLICK HERE for details! 

Eric Stern,
FLPTA Health and Wellness Chair

3 Ways to Engage Families and Communities

 

 

Making every child's potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities is the PTA mission, and these 3 programs provide a way to do just that. Pick one or all three to get started on PTA mission-possible!  The "National PTA School of Excellence" program seeks to improve a school's current family engagement strategies by evaluating current ones, then identifying ways the PTA and the school can work together through the year to address barriers and open up new ways for families to support student success. Enrollment ends 10/1/14. CLICK HERE to ENROLL!

 

"The Florida PTA and Florida Department of Education Family/Community Involvement Award" promotes and recognizes innovative school practices that increase family and community involvement.  Applications are due February 2015. (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS)

"PTA Take Your Family to School Week" is February 16-20, 2015  and is a program that encourages strong family engagement and the importance of partnerships among parents, teachers, and school administrators.  A complete program guide with other event ideas, will be available soon on the National PTA website. 
 

Janet Lamoureux,
FLPTA Family-Community Engagement Chair
NEED MEMBERSHIP PROMOTIONAL ITEMS? SHOP THE ONLINE PTA STORE  
ADDITIONAL UPCOMING DATES

  

ALL 2014...FL PTA DAYS AT LEGOLAND!  (CLICK HERE to purchase your tickets)
 

10/01/14  Golden Early Bird Award (apply online -CLICK HERE!)  

11/01/14  Silver Early Bird Award (apply online -CLICK HERE!) 

11/03/14  Resolutions Timeline - (Phase 1) Submit draft resolution materials to                                                     resolutions@floridapta.org * (CLICK HERE for details) 

11/15/14  DEADLINE to FILE YOUR TAXES

(If your fiscal year ends June 30, then your filing deadline is November 15th. You can file any time between the close of your fiscal year and the deadline. Do not be late.)    

11/15/14  Reflections (2016-17) Theme Search Deadline (see floridapta.org for details!)**  

12/01/14  Bronze Early Bird Award (apply online -CLICK HERE!)
12/15/14  Deadline for Dues submission for Reflections PTA participants.

* Resolutions have many dates to follow-Review the Resolutions Page on the floridapta.org website.
** Reflections have many dates to follow-Watch the Reflections Page on the floridapta.org website. 

FLORIDA PTA THANKS OUR SPONSORS
                                                                

Florida PTA | 1747 Orlando Central Parkway | Orlando, Florida 32809 | (407) 855-7604
 

Florida PTA is the state's largest and oldest volunteer association, dedicated to advocating for every.child with one.voice. Education and other children's services are scandalously under-funded in Florida.  Florida PTA, made up of almost 300,000 members in over 1600 local PTA units, represents the organization's advocacy for education and children's services.

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