Highlight of November 2013 Delegates Assembly 
Great attendance and participation marked our last Delegates Assembly of the 2013 calendar year. Thanks to Dr. Marshal Greenblatt and Denise Bracilly-Stultz for two informative presentations; the first on the Greenblatt Teacher-of-the-Year awards and the latter on how community members can provide input on the Superintendent's Bell Times Recommendation during the coming six months.  

Delegates next meet in January 2014. Enjoy the break in December; we need you ready and energized for the advocacy and action that awaits us, together, in the new year!   
President, Montgomery County Council of PTAs
Featured Business
At this session, we introduced the draft 2013-2014 MCCPTA Legislative Platform, elected our Nominating Committee, amended our budget to add funding for our legislative activities, and heard presentations on the Greenblatt Teacher-of-the-Year Awards and MCPS Bell Times Outreach activities and opportunities. We also drew the winners of Membership Challenge #2, and announced Membership Challenge #3.

The legislative platform came from the MCCPTA Legislative Committee and the Vice President for Legislation after initial vetting by the MCCPTA Board of Directors. Richie Yarrow, Legislative Committee Co-Chair, presented the platform, noting what's new, what's enduring, and what has changed. Delegates are asked to share the draft with their members and discuss.  If there are suggestions, we encourage you to work with our legislative leaders ahead of the January Delegates Assembly. We expect to discuss and vote on the platform in January. 
 
We also discussed upcoming advocacy trips and events planned to take our priorities to Annapolis. PLEASE HOLD FRIDAY JANUARY 10th, for our first mass MCCPTA visit to Annapolis; details will be sent as soon as they are finalized.  
Membership Challenge Winners...and the NEXT Challenge
Congratulations to Wayside ES PTA and Winston Churchill HS PTSA, winners of MCCPTA Membership Challenge #2 and thirteen (13) $10 Silver Diner gift cards each!  These two schools were drawn at the meeting from a basket containing the names of all schools who had grown by at least 13 members--and sent MCCPTA the dues to show it--by November 13th.
 
 
 
FLASH: As of our November Delegates Assembly, MCCPTA had recorded over 34,000 members; if every PTA and PTSA maintains the same or better membership than it had last year AND gets dues in by December 31, MCCPTA will be over 50,000 members by New Year's Day!  
 
Our Membership and Engagement Chair also announced Membership Challenge #3.  All units that have not already won a challenge, have grown by at least 13 members this year, and remit dues to MCCPTA by December 31, will be entered into a drawing to win a very special, customized PTA prize (those at the DA know the award). Details coming soon to everyone! 
Be Heard on the Superintendent's 
Bell Times Recommendation
MCCPTA urges every PTA and PTSA to inform their members and school communities on how they may provide input on the Superintendent's recommendation on bell times. Denise Bracilly-Stultz, from the MCPS Office of Community Engagement and Partnership, provided an informative presentation at the Delegates Assembly on the various ways school community members and PTAs and PTSAs can provide input, including hosting Neighbor-to-Neighbor programs. CLICK HERE for links to further details and/or to contact Ms. Bracilly-Stultz.
 
Dr. Starr's recommendation was based on the findings of the 2013 Bell Times Report, completed in August 2013, by the Bell Times Workgroup; Susan Burkinshaw, MCCPTA treasurer and co-chair of the MCCPTA Health and Safety Committee represented our organization in that work. The report reflects current research, reports from sleep experts, the efforts of other school districts, as well as previous efforts documented in reports published by Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) in 1998 and 1999. MCCPTA remains involved in the work; MCCPTA President Janette Gilman is a member of the Bell Times Phase 2 Work Group.

 

Membership Dues, Delegate Cards, Blue Books, and You
MCCPTA delegate cards were required to vote at the November Delegates Assembly (DA), and will be required at all future DAs to cast a vote per our standing rules. Delegate cards have been sent via the Pony to all schools from which MCCPTA has received membership dues for a minimum of 25 members; PTA/PTSA presidents, please check your mailbox at school and distribute cards if you have not done so already.    
 
And not only were delegate cards sent, the MCCPTA Blue Book, our directory, including copies for the president, delegates, and principal, together with a revised timeline for PTA leaders, will be found in that envelope.  
 
There are three more compelling reasons to get your dues payments in to MCCPTA and Maryland PTA: (1) Good standing requires payment of membership dues by December 31; (2) Eligibility for MCCPTA Membership Challenge #3 requires payment of membership dues (and growth by at least 13 members over last year) by December 31; and, (3) MCCPTA is on its way to over 50,000 members but will only get there if each and every one of our 190 PTAs and PTSAs send in their dues.  
 
We want our PTAs and PTSAs in good standing, we want you to have a chance at winning Membership Challenge #3, AND we want to be able to tell County Council members AND state legislators that we speak for 50,000+ members (often, voters)!
Honor an Outstanding Educator:
Greenblatt Teacher-of-the-Year Awards

Does a teacher in your school deserve recognition? Nominate her/him for a Marian Greenblatt Excellence Award; there are three awards for experienced teachers and one for a rising star. CLICK HERE to view details on this honor, and see other awards now open for nominations, on our MCCPTA website. Many awards have January 2014 nomination deadlines so please visit the MCCPTA Award Toolkit soon!

 

Dr. Marshal Greenblatt  joined us at the start of our Delegates Assembly and spoke about the awards, answered questions, and encouraged our PTAs and PTSAs to honor an outstanding teacher in their school community!  Talk with your Board and consider honoring a special educator at your school this year with a nomination. 
MCCPTA Officers    

President 
Janette Gilman

VP for Educational Issues 
Shebra Evans

Vice President for Administration 
Frances Frost

Vice President for Programs  
Paul Geller

Vice President for Legislation
Lynne Harris

Treasurer  
Susan Burkinshaw

Recording Secretary -
Board of Directors 
Karen Collishaw

Recording Secretary - Delegates Assembly 
Kellie Schoolar-Reynolds
 
MCCPTA Office 
301.208.0111
office@mccpta.com 


Upcoming Dates

MCCPTA-MCPS Science Curriculum Night
Thursday, December 12
7:30-9:15pm
Location TBD

Board of Education Hearings on FY 2015 Operating Budget
Thursday, January 9
7:00pm
Auditorium, Carver Educational Services Center

MCCPTA Rally in Annapolis
HOLD THE DATE
Friday, January 10
DETAILS COMING SOON
 
Board of Education Hearings on FY 2015 Operating Budget
Thursday, January 16 
7:00pm
Auditorium, Carver Educational Services Center 
 
MCCPTA Students for Schools (SOS) Rally and 
Film Festival in Annapolis
HOLD THE DATE
Tuesday, January 21
DETAILS COMING SOON

  

MCCPTA Presents!
Dr. Joshua Starr 
Tuesday, January  28
6:30-7:25pm
Auditorium, Carver Educational Services Center

  

January Delegates Assembly
Tuesday, January 28
7:30-9:30pm
Auditorium, Carver Educational Services Center
  
MCCPTA-MCPS Literacy Curriculum Night
Thursday, February 13
7:30-9:15pm
Location TBD
 
February Delegates Assembly
Tuesday, February 25
6:30-7:35pm
NOTE TIME CHANGE
Auditorium, Carver Educational Services Center
 
MCCPTA Operating Budget Forum
Tuesday, February 25
7:30-9:30pm
Auditorium, Carver Educational Services Center
  

  

  

Quick Links




Join Our Mailing List