MCCPTA News and Updates                                             December  2013

MCCPTA and our local PTA leaders and members are making a difference for our students and schools every day, whether sponsoring a STEM night, celebrating staff this Holiday season, supporting a sister school, or preparing to advocate in Annapolis for our students and school communities.    

 

We also are working this month to give parents an opportunity to learn more about their children's education through our Science Curriculum Night on the 12th and to help others in our community through our Holiday gift card drive with Linkages for Learning.  

 

And if you are struggling to find the perfect gift this Holiday season, we have the answer. Give the gift of PTA membership.  Your gift of membership supports children by adding strength to our voice and financial support to your PT(S)A.  Find your school and check their website for a membership form.   

 

Stay warm, and I wish all of you the best for the coming new year! 

   

Janette Gilman

President, Montgomery County Council of PTAs
National PTA Reflections
Is your school participating in the National PTA-sponsored Reflections contest?  
 
If you answered yes, bravo!  Your students have a wonderful opportunity to express themselves and participate in America's oldest and largest arts education program of its kind!  And, please, to ensure your school's successful participation, remember that your PT(S)A must be in good standing by December 31, 2013 to participate in the county, state, and national levels of this program. Presidents and treasurers, if you have any questions or concerns about standards of affiliation requirements, please email us.  
 
If you answered no...there's always next year!  In the meantime, take a look at our countywide program and some of the award-winning work of our students. 
 
MCCPTA Acts on MSA Testing
Concerned that federal law is forcing our students to take statewide assessments that no longer align with curriculum, the MCCPTA Board of Directors (BOD), on November 28, 2013, passed a resolution to advocate for the cancellation of MSA exams this school year. Aware that the US Department of Education already has denied a similar request from the State of California, the BOD nonetheless felt it was important that parents express their disappointment with this testing requirement, and ask county and state education leaders to work to have the mandate waived.  

MCCPTA will keep our members and community up-to-date on opportunities to join us in sharing objections to requiring students to sit for exams that no longer reflect classroom learning and educational objectives. Stay tuned. 
Membership Challenge #2 Winners...and the Next Challenge
Congratulations to Wayside Elementary School PTA and Winston Churchill High School PTSA, winners of Membership Challenge #2 and thirteen (13) $10 Silver Diner gift cards each. Whoever said 13 was an unlucky number wasn't in MCCPTA!
 
   
 
FLASH: As of early December, MCCPTA had recorded over 36,000 members; MCCPTA anticipates being well over 50,000 members by New Year's Day!  
 
The final challenge of calendar year 2013, Membership Challenge #3, is on and open to 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. Each PT(S)A that meets these criteria will be entered into a drawing to win a very special, customized PTA prize to be unfurled and presented at our January Delegates Assembly!
January Delegates Assembly
The next MCCPTA Delegates Assembly (DA) will be held on Tuesday, January 28, (DATE CORRECTED) starting at 7:30 PM in the Auditorium of the Carver Educational Services Center. The agenda will feature discussion of our proposed Legislative Platform, updates on MCCPTA's advocacy plans, trips, and projects, and presentations by the MCCPTA Gifted Child and Outreach Events committees. We also will announce the lucky PTA or PTSA to win Membership Challenge #3.  
 
Come early for our MCCPTA Presents! program at 6:30 PM that evening, featuring Superintendent Joshua P. Starr.  
Get Your Community Members' Voices Heard on Bell Times
MCCPTA urges every PTA and PTSA to encourage the members of their school community to share their views on the Superintendent's recommendation on bell times.  MCPS has created a Neighbor-to-Neighbor toolkit to facilitate providing input; CLICK HERE to access this program and resources.   
 
There will be a parent survey, and three more Bell Times Community forums (the first was held at Paint Branch High School) at which the members of your community may provide input. The events will be held:
  • Monday, December 16: Richard Montgomery High School, 250 Richard Montgomery Drive in Rockville
  • Monday, January 6: Seneca Valley High School, 19401 Crystal Rock Drive in Germantown
  • Monday, February 10: Montgomery Blair High School, 51 University Blvd., East, in Silver Spring

Each forum will be held 7-8:30pm; free child care (ages 4 and older) and interpretation services will be provided.
PTA Logo

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
Office Administrator
Pamela Loebach 
301.208.0111
 

Upcoming Dates

MCCPTA-MCPS Science Curriculum Night
Thursday, December 12
7:30-9:15pm
Richard Montgomery High School Cafeteria

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 on Schools (SOS) 
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
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