Georgia PTA's The Voice_June 2012

the VOICEGeorgia

June 2012

What’s inside this issue?MESSAGES FROM:

Georgia’s PTA President & Georgia’s State School

Superintendant

ARTICLES ABOUT: Growing Your PTA Money,

Male Involvement, Transitioning Your Documents,

What’s Happening at Zoo Atlanta This Summer

HELPFUL INFORMATION such as Important Dates &

Convention Leadership Training Information and Workshops

AND MUCH MORE!

Georgia PTA « THE VOICE 2

Message from the Georgia PTA President

It is another exciting time of the year! The Georgia PTA Board of Directors is working diligently to finish the 2011 – 2012 school year strong, and prepare for CLT 2012, which marks

the beginning of the 2012 – 2013 school year. With this, comes reflection—how was the transition into this administration? Was there an impact on how successful we, as a team, are with our goals and vision?

All year long, I have thought about CLT 2011 and the issues that came from the multiple elections. While we were bound by

the Georgia PTA Bylaws, emotions grew with each vote. A lot of that flowed into this administration, and it has caused us to expand our thinking and sharpen our skills in ways we had not devoted time and effort to before. This year has been a tremendous year of growth—painful and enlightening, efforts spent on building leadership and trust, all the time focusing on our goals.

To keep us on track, three significant factors happened, alongside all the wonderful programs and events held this year. We brought nationally recognized leaders to various meetings in order to provide empowering strategies on conflict resolution and strengthen harmony, which impacted us as board members and personally. We did not fully realize it at the time, co-hosting the Family Engagement Conference was more timely and profound than any one of us could have imagined. Its impact affected us as a board and everyone else who attended this historical and incredible event. There is also a proposed Bylaws amendment coming to the convention floor that, if passed, would allow a candidate to win through plurality in round two of voting, streamlining the state elections process.

We are building bridges by every means possible and with all levels of our association, maintaining our relevance as a voice for all children in Georgia. Education reform is the landscape, and we must be ready to help shape this change. We as PTA leaders do not just serve; we advocate, and in order to advocate most successfully, we develop tomorrow’s leaders and establish means to make our work function independently of ourselves and talent.

Sometimes the transition defines the vision. In our case, I believe this to be true. As we continue to build our legacy, it becomes more and more apparent this is about the relationships we have with each other, with our parents, with our local school communities, and with our partners. As we cross this bridge into 2012 – 2013, we extend this foundation of support for all students, so that they transition ready for school, Kindergarten to Grade 12, to graduation, to college and career ready—for their future, our hope!

Building leadership and trust is a plan for success. See you for CLT 2012, July 12-14, at the Classic Center!

Let’s make history, together.

Donna Kosicki, Georgia PTA President, [email protected]

Georgia

Let Children Play This SummerPlay is an activity engaged in for the purpose of enjoyment. The play of children helps them understand and master their feelings and to practice and master new intellectual, social and physical skills. There are three forms of play:

a) Sensory motor: The free movement of small and large muscles and the exploring of body senses to give the body practice with its sensory motor functions.

b) Symbolic: Make-believe play in which children express their ideas through gesture or the movement of toys or objects. Materials used by young children to produce their symbolic development are often very challenging for them to master and control.

c) Construction: The making of symbolic products by using materials such as paints, paper, clay and a wide array of similar art materials.

Children playing with companions at their own stage of growth are forced to take into consideration positions taken by others in order to continue playing.

Children use play to reduce tensions and gain mastery over their fears and anxiety.

If a child can handle play and real-life situations positively, he/she will develop confidence to accept new challenges as they grow and develop. So, let the children play and enjoy their summer.

Neatie Green, Education Chair, [email protected]

We are building

bridges by every

means possible

and with all levels

of our association,

maintaining our

relevance as a voice

for all children in

Georgia.

3June 2012

New Graduation Rate Calculation Gives a More Accurate Picture

T he new graduation rates for Georgia’s schools came out recently, and if you read only the headlines, you would assume kids are dropping out of high school in droves; yet, if you dig a little

deeper, you will find that no fewer students graduated from high school this year—the formula for calculating the graduation rate just changed and represents a more accurate reporting of that number. That is not to say that we don’t have major challenges or that we are satisfied with where we are, but it needs to be noted that this is a new baseline which we will use to measure future progress.

Using the new formula to calculate the graduation rate revealed a significant percentage of students who are simply taking longer than four years to graduate from high school. If these students graduate in five years, is that a bad thing? I would say no (look at how long it takes most students to graduate from college). I would much prefer a student get a high school diploma—regardless of the time it takes—because there are few opportunities for success without it in today’s labor market.

A key requirement of the new graduation rate formula is having documentation for students coded as transfers, withdrawals, and homeschoolers. There were many cases this year across the state where schools didn’t have all the documentation necessary to get credit for those students. If a school codes a student no longer in the “cohort” as anything but a dropout, our student data system triggers the requirement for documentation. As a result, I believe school districts will get much better at keeping documentation, and we will likely see the graduation rate increase. However, the real issue isn’t what the difference is between the old graduation rate calculation and the new one. The real issue is what we are going to

do moving forward to ensure more students graduate, regardless of how it’s calculated.

There are many exciting initiatives going on in Georgia’s public K-12 education system that I believe will help increase our graduation rate. Initiatives like Career Pathways for high school students will promote relevance in the classroom so students connect what they’re learning to what they want to do after high school. The Common Core Georgia Performance Standards will offer more challenging standards for our students and also allow us to compare the achievement of Georgia’s students with other students across the country. Additionally, the new College and Career Ready Performance Index will give the state and schools a roadmap for student success, while measuring schools based on all of the work they are doing. It will also allow parents and the community to see an easy to understand school grade (0 to 100 percent).

We still have a great deal of work to do, but before accepting the negative commentary you may hear about your public schools, please take a moment to look more closely into the issue before forming an opinion.

As a parent myself, I believe it’s critical for me to support my child and my child’s school, rather than sitting on the sidelines. Ask your child and the school tough questions. Be present so your child and the school are more willing to discuss the issues with you. This kind of engagement will help more of our students in Georgia graduate prepared for college and a career.

Dr. John Barge is Georgia’s State School Superintendent

Message from the Georgia State School Superintendent

Dr. John D. Barge, State Superintendent of Schools

The real issue is what

we are going to do

moving forward to

ensure more students

graduate, regardless

of how it’s calculated.

Newly Designed 2012-2013 Membership Cards are Coming from National PTA 1. Members are asked to

go online or telephone to “activate” their membership card.

2. Members will be asked limited personal information, including their email address, to activate.

3. Members must activate their cards to access the locked National PTA sections and benefits.

4. Each card has a unique ID number.

5. There are 4 membership cards to a page. A special offer coupon from Office Max is attached to each card.

6. Due to a decrease in the total number of membership cards we will receive from National PTA, 2012-2013 membership cards will be initially distributed to local units using the following formula: 90% of 2011-2012 membership total as of 5-31-12, rounded down to a multiple of 4.

Note: Local units will be given prior notice that the number of membership cards received will be a decrease from last year, (100% of 2011-2012 membership total, rounded up to multiple of 10). Based on good reason, the local unit can request the additional 10% for immediate receipt.


Georgia With Six Students Placing at National PTA

We have some exciting news to share regarding our long awaited Reflections placements at the National PTA level. Georgia had an outstanding showing this year with six placements at the National PTA level.

Of the six Outstanding Interpretation winners in the country, two are from Georgia. Way to go GEORGIA! Our two winning artists have been invited to attend the National PTA Convention in San Jose, California in June and will be recognized during a special ceremony. The winners will receive a certificate, medallion, and $800 prize for their winning entry. A special award of $200 will be granted to each outstanding winner’s local PTA. To view their artwork, visit the National PTA website and click on this link: http://www.pwrnewmedia.com/2012/national_pta/reflections/.

National PTA also awarded 72 students with Awards of Excellence and 116 students with Awards of Merit across four grade divisions—primary, intermediate, middle/junior, and senior—in six arts categories—dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography, and visual arts. Their artwork will be showcased in a virtual PTA Reflections gallery that will be live later this year. Georgia had four pieces place with Awards of Merit in the various categories.

Congratulations to all!

Reflections

OUTSTANDING INTERPRETATION – DANCE CHOREOGRAPHYRacquel Charles“True Colors” Sequoyah High SchoolCanton, GA

OUTSTANDING INTERPRETATION – VISUAL ARTSEmily Lam “Diversity means Harmony in the world”Primary SKA Academy Duluth, GA

AWARD OF MERIT – DANCE CHOREOGRAPHYChristianna Mariano “A World of Dance” Henderson Middle School Chamblee, GA

AWARD OF MERIT – FILM PRODUCTION Cullen Hunt “Defining Diversity” Tritt Elementary SchoolMarietta, GA

AWARD OF MERIT – LITERATUREMarissa Ross“Diversity Means… “Reese Road Elementary Columbus, GA

AWARD OF MERIT – LITERATURERaven Dean“Petals”Isle of Hope Elementary Savannah, GA

2012 National PTA Reflections Winners from Georgia

Experts say cheating in schools is an epidemic, but most parents think their kid would never do it. On April 30, 2012 National PTA President Betsy Landers participated moments ago in NBC’s Google+ hangout with Natalie Morales and Rosalind Wiseman as they talk about kids and cheating... Click the link below to watch and listen to the conversation!

https://plus.google.com/s/%23MyKidWouldNever

National PTA President Betsy Landers Participated in Google+ Hangout about Cheating

CIndy Austin, Reflections Chair, [email protected]

5June 2012

Reflections

Allow me to share with each of you a memorable experience that I had on the evening of May 15, 2012. On a lovely sunny afternoon, I traveled to a delightfully quaint town, Forsyth, Georgia for an evening meeting. The

purpose of my visit was to attend a PTA charter at Samuel E. Hubbard Elementary School. It is very exciting each time we gain a brand new PTA by means of a charter. In many instances, this occurs as a result of a new school opening. However, for me, it seems extra special when we successfully convert a school to a school with a PTA. It has been a couple of years since I had the privilege of attending events of this nature, and

it certainly brought back fond memories. The feeling I get is always the same—WONDERFUL! As I sat in the school cafeteria, I watched with great pride as Deirdre Pierce, District 11 Director, and the

District 11 Parliamentarian, Evelyn Johnson, captivated the audience by the professional and seamless manner in which this charter process proceeded. Just hearing the words, “congratulations to the newly elected officers” put a smile on my face just as big as the ones worn by the new PTA officers and the 32 new members that had just become brand new card-carrying PTA members. In fact, I marched right over to the membership table and jumped in the line with the others that were waiting to submit their dues.

In my current role as a member of the National PTA Membership Committee, my mind drifted off into membership think mode. I was so excited by the celebration being had a Hubbard Elementary and know that we have more opportunities to grow PTA, not only in Forsyth, Georiga, but all over our state. Our goal of growing the number of local units bridges with National PTA membership goals as well. We will continue to reach out to and extend offers to schools all over our state to become a part of the growing family of local units. There is always more work to be done, and we remain steadfast in our resolve to grow our voices throughout Georgia!

Rita Erves, Georgia PTA President-Elect, [email protected]

Coffee Break with the President-ElectDon’t miss important information for you and your PTA! If you haven’t submitted 2012-2013 officers, be sure to do so immediately. Correct email addresses of officers and committee chairs are essential.

Enter 2012-2013 officers via our website, www.georgiapta.org.

From left side of homepage listed under Local Unit Toolkit, click on Submit Officers/Chairs. It’s quick and easy.

· Outgoing secretaries are responsible for entering 2012-2013 officers.

· If you are serving a second term in the same position, you must re-enter your contact information.

· You must enter a working, correct personal email address in order to receive important and on going officer newsletters, officer’s calendar of events, procedures, etc. At least 90 per cent of information from Georgia PTA is sent via email.

· Do not use email addresses associated with school systems, e.g. [email protected]. These addresses are blocked from receipt of communications.

· If you are not able to elect officers before June 30, please enter an “alternate contact” so information may be received.

Stay Connected to Georgia PTAWe make it easy to be in-the-know!

Bookmark our website: www.georgiapta.org

Like us on Facebook: Georgia PTA

Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/GeorgiaPTA

Register Now for the 2012-2103 National PTA Back to School KitReceive great resources from National PTA in your Back to School Kit - PTA Quick-Reference Guides, membership materials, program and advocacy resources, and special offers from national partners. All local units, council and district PTAs must register to receive the 2012-2013 kit. Go to www.pta.org to register.


For more information and to Register online, go to: http://www.georgiapta.org/conv-2012.html

UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION IN A BRAND NEW EXCITING VENUEThe Classic Center, Athens, GA July 12-14, 2012

Keynote SpeakersThursday, July 12 – 4:00 pm to 5:15 pm Dr. Grant Rivera

Friday, July 13 – 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, General Session I in the Athena Ballroom – Dr. Martha Reichrath, Deputy State Superintendent, Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, Georgia Department of Education – “Preparing College and Career Ready Students”

Friday, July 13 – 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm, General Session II, Banquet Dinner and Awards (ticketed event), in the Athena Ballroom – Laura Bay, National PTA Secretary/Treasurer will share with us how National PTA is adding value to membership!

Saturday, July 14 – 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm, General Session III, Joseph Washington, President and CEO of The Joseph Washington Group, Inc. – “Building Bridges: Breaking the Spirit of Average”

Joining us is Deborah Walsh, National Service Manager for National PTA, for the entire weekend providing relevant and exciting workshops on membership, volunteers, and building a dynamic team!

Get ready for the time of your life!

Pre-register by June 22 and save $40 on Basic Registration.

Registration CostsComplete Registration Package (includes all meals) – $150.00Basic Registration – $90.00

Individual tickets for meals and the banquet can also be purchased. Friday Chick-fil-A lunch – $8.00 Friday Banquet – $55.00Saturday Buffet Lunch – $20.00 Saturday Chick-fil-A lunch – $8.00

Hotel AccommodationsThe Foundry Park Inn is full. Go online to georgiapta.org to view our hotel guide and click on the Hilton, Hotel Indigo and other available hotels to make a reservation.

Thursday, July 12 – Kicking Off CLT 2012!

Symposium with Keynote Speaker Dr. Grant Rivera “Building A Bridge for School Excellence” 4:00 pm to 5:15 pm

Exhibitors Reception in the Grand Hall! This is your time to meet exhibitors, network with fellow PTA leaders, enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres and beverages, all in a fun setting with great music! Cool prizes too! 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm

Look for details to participate in the festive, downtown Athens “Scavenger Hunt” event after the Exhibitors Reception! More great prizes to win!

Laura Bay

Joseph Washington

Dr. Martha Reichrath

Deborah Walsh

7June 2012

Thursday, July 12 – Convention Kick Off Workshop 4:00 PM – 5:15 PM

001 – Building A Bridge for School Excellence, Dr. Grant Rivera

Friday, July 13 – Pre Convention Workshops 8:15 AM – 8:45 AM

2012 Convention Bylaws Amendments and Resolutions

First Timers Orientation

Friday, July 13 - Workshop Session 1: 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM

101 – Presidents - Part 1 of 2, Donna Kosicki and Deirdre Pierce

102 – Presidents - Part 1 of 2, Rita Erves and Leslie Cushman

103 – Treasurers - Part 1 of 2, Richard Jones

104 – Secretaries, Cheryl White

105 – Advocacy Made Easy, Sharing Best Practices, Diane Jacobi

106 – Membership – The Drive that Drives Us, Lisa-Marie Haygood

107 – National Standards – Framework for Success, Patty Yohn and Lori Sweet

108 – Bylaws and Parliamentarian Procedures, Laura Dobbs

109 – Reflections for Council Leaders (Council Chairs Only), Cindy Austin

110 – Leadership Development/Team Building, Deborah Walsh, National PTA

111 – Understanding and Working with the Latino Community, Isabel Sance

112 – WATCH D.O.G.S (Dads of Great Students), Eric Snow, Keith Schumacher

113 – What’s in Your Diversity Toolbox?, Wendy Stewart

114 – Youth and Cyberbullying, Hollande Levinson

Friday, July 13 - Workshop Session 2: 3:45 PM – 5:00 PM


202 – Presidents - Part 2 of 2, Rita Erves and Leslie Cushman


204 – Vice Presidents, Sonia Scott

205 – PTA and the Election Process, Vernetta Nuridden and Brian Kemp

206 – Value of Membership, Deborah Walsh, National PTA

207 – Parent Influence and Parent Power – Recognizing the Difference, Michelle Sandrock and Patty Yohn

208 – Report Writing, Lisa-Marie Haygood

209 – FITNESSGRAM, Christi Kay

210 – School Bus Stop Student Safety, Steve Monroe, GA DOE Consultant

211 – School Rules, Violations and More, Karen Sutton

212 – Who Are the People in Your Neighborhood?, Wendy Stewart

213 – Teaching about Religions in Public Schools, Jelena Naim

214 – Making Our Schools No Place for Hate, Hollande Levinson

Saturday, July 14 - Workshop Session 3: 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM



303 – Secretaries, Cheryl White

304 – Vice Presidents, Sonia Scott

305 – Legislative Recap: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly, Sally FitzGerald

306 – How to Attract Volunteers, Deborah Walsh, National PTA

307 – Think Like a Woman to Get a Man to Act, Charlton Bivins

308 – Building Parent Capacity: A Crosswalk for Parent Engagement, Michelle Sandrock

309 – Reflections for Local Unit Leaders, Cindy Austin

310 – Our Shared Forest, Anne Shenk

311 – Effective Outreach to Diverse Families, Elida Perez Knapp

312 – Not In Our School: Standing Together for Safety, Inclusion and Acceptance, Wendy Stewart

313 – Medicaid and State Sponsored Mental Health Services for Adolescents and Teens, Dawn Davison

314 – All Pro Dads and iMom, Bryan Davis

Saturday, July 14 - Workshop Session 4: 10:30 AM – 11:45 AM



403 – Teamwork!, TBA

404 – Preventing Theft in Your PTA, Laura Bay, NPTA Secretary/Treasurer

405 – Should the Money Follow the Child, Legislative Team

406 – Building a Win/Win Collaboration, Dewanna King

407 – National Standards – Framework for Success, Patty Yohn and Lori Sweet

408 – Report Writing, Lisa-Marie Haygood

409 – FITNESSGRAM, Christi Kay

410 – School Bus Stop Student Safety, Steve Monroe, GA DOE Consultant

411 – An Inner View of the Public School Classroom in China, Abdul Akbar

412 – Bullied: A Case that Made History, Wendy Stewart

413 – Southeast ADA Center: A Resource for Public School, L. Elaine Sutton Mbionwu

414 – Understanding Muslim Students and Families: Fostering an Inclusive Environment, Soumaya Khalifa

Saturday, July 14 - Workshop Session 5: 3:15 PM – 4:30 PM

501 – Advanced Officers - Building Bridges, Donna Kosicki

502 – A Powerful Partnership – Principals and PTA, Dr. Grant Rivera

503 – Technology, Social Media and PTA, Lisa Richardson

504 – Ethics and the PTA Leader, Laura Dobbs

505 – Passion to Progress: Motivating Members to Take Action, Rebecca Branstetter

506 – Membership Advanced, Lisa-Marie Haygood

507 – Why PTA Health & Wellness, Adrian Watlington Cox

508 – Just Between Friends, TBA

509 – Conflict Resolution, Deborah Walsh, National PTA

510 – Traffic Safety Program, Steve Jones and Wanda Gill

511 – Diversity Debrief, Wendy Stewart

512 – SPARKING Science at Home, Francine Gebus, Jason Taylor

513 – Why Does My PTA Need Insurance?, TBA

Convention Leadership Training Workshops


Georgia PTA Partners for Cleaner Air

Did you know that Georgia PTA has a formal partnership with Mothers & Others for Clean Air (M&O)? This partnership was initiated in 2010 to leverage the assets of each organization with the ultimate goal of improving air quality

and reducing health risks for all Georgians – especially our children.

Founded in 2004, M&O is a project of the American Lung Association in Georgia, one of eight leading public health, environmental and child advocacy organizations that guide the work of the program. Mothers & Others for Clean Air is dedicated to educating the public about the health

effects of air pollution, advocating for policies that improve air quality and engaging Georgians in voluntary change and advocacy.

Why should school communities be concerned about air quality? Here are a few points to consider:

• Long-termexposuretoairpollutioncanlead to serious health problems in all people and short-term exposure can lead to asthma attacks and heart trouble in at-risk groups. Children are particularly vulnerable because they breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults and their bodies are still developing.

• TwelvepercentofGeorgia’schildrenhaveasthma, and air pollution is a significant asthma trigger.

• Manycountiesinourstatehavefailinggradeswhenitcomestoairquality(See:American Lung Association, 2012 State of the Air).

While M&O is involved in a number of initiatives, the primary focus of its partnership with PTA is the program’s school-based initiatives:

• Protecting Students from Air Pollution: M&O provides expert smog safety guidance tools for schools, including fact sheets, door cards, posters, and Air Quality Index (AQI) flag sets. These tools helps school staff and families monitor and respond appropriately to daily changes in air quality.

• Cleaning Up Dirty Diesel School Buses: M&O works with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, school staff and parents to encourage transportation directors to take advantage of federal grants for pollution control devices that reduce harmful soot in school bus exhaust.

• Supporting Green & Healthy School Siting Decisions: A school’s location within a community affects transportation options, air quality and children’s health. M&O and its partners are developing training modules for school communities to help them interpret and apply new school siting guidelines from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Look for communications from Mothers & Others for clean Air throughout the year on the many opportunities to be involved in creating a healthier and safer environment for our children. They deserve nothing else! Visit us at: www.mocleanair.org.

Article submitted by Rebecca Hull for Mothers & Others for Clean Air, [email protected]

This photo is from the launch of Mothers & Others Air Quality Index flag program at King Springs Elementary.

Male Involvement

Shaping Your Future

Back to the future is a 1985 American science fiction adventure film. The film tells the story of Marty McFly,

a teenager who is accidentally sent back in time from 1985 to 1955. He meets his future parents in high school and accidentally attracts his future mother’s romantic interest. Marty must repair the damage to history by causing his parents-to-be to fall in love, and with the help of scientist, Dr. Emmett “Doc” Brown, he must find a way to return to 1985.

Let’s just say for the sake of individual introspection, from a male perspective, what would your kid(s) do if faced with a similar situation. Would he or she desire to return to present day given your involvement in their life? As I stated in the May addition of The Voice, male involvement is vitally important to the development of our children on all fronts.

Back to the future not in time but metaphorically speaking about our children, as males we must find ways to be involved. If we are already involved, we must find more ways to remain involved. We must not treat our involvement as many do their diet… yo yo, up and down, back and forth (not truly committed). The impact of our involvement will pay significant dividends when we approach our involvement as a way of life. Moreover, we must be proactive about our future(s).

Our future’s success depend on us no longer being considered secondary to that of mothers. We can no longer be hidden; we can no longer use the excuse… “Well, no one asked me to join the PTA.” Let’s commit to impact history positively across the state of Georgia by committing to go back to our future(s).

I look forward to seeing and meeting each of you at CLT in Athens, GA, July 12-14. Go ahead register and be a part of the excitement. Please consult CLT course schedule for the very informative Male Involvement Workshops being offered.

Reginald B. Forrest, Male Involvement Chair, [email protected]

9June 2012

A big part of transitioning officers from one school year to the next is transitioning PTA

documents. New board members want to learn from the previous administration and don’t want to re-create the wheel.

Emailing documents between administrations can be a pain. So, here’s an idea …. Put documents in a Cloud. Cloud storage is a secure online storage where data is stored by third parties such as Google and Yahoo. PTA documents are housed in a shared location instead of one person’s computer and can be accessed easily by those on the team. Clouds also provide a more reliable and secure method of storing documents. And the best part….there are online document storage applications that can be used for Free!

By using cloud storage, instead of printing, e-mailing, or loading to flash drives, documents can just be uploaded to your PTA’s cloud. Incoming officers and committee chairs will then have easy access to PTA transition documents.

Using a shared location for PTA documents will also help during the school year. For example, if a document needs to be updated by multiple members, each member can visit the central location. There will be no need to worry about merging documents or version control issues. Also if you want to look at last month’s minutes, instead of searching through your email, just view the document on your PTA’s cloud.

There are multiple free applications that provide online storage, such as Google and Yahoo. Below are steps to set up and use Google’s cloud application – Google Docs.

Lisa Richardson, Technology Chair, [email protected]

It’s PTA Officer Transition Time!Step 1Create a Google email account for the PTA. For example, [email protected] there is already a PTA email account, this step can be skipped

Step 2Go to www.google.com Click Documents

Step 3Sign into Google Docs using the account just created

Step 4You can then upload documents.This is also where you would click on documents to view/update/save etc.

Click on the areas in the red boxes


Georgia PTA Board of DirectorsPresident, Donna KosickiPresident Elect, Rita Erves1st Vice President, Sonia Scott2nd Vice President, VACANTSecretary, Cheryl B. WhiteTreasurer, Rev. Richard JonesParliamentarian, Laura Dobbs

District Directors

1st District Director, Vacant3rd District Director, Vacant4th District Director, Tom A. Graves, Jr.5th District Director, Vacant6th District Director, Georgette Backman7th District Director, Cyd Cox8th District Director, William J. Good9th District Director, Lori Sweet10th District Director, Sandra Perrino11th District Director, Deirdre Pierce12th District, 1st Assistant Director, Carol Ranft13th District Director, Debbie RabjohnChair of the District Directors,Deirdre Pierce

Standing Committees

Asian Outreach, Gina Pollitt Bylaws, VACANT Diversity, Wendy StewartEducation, Neatie GreenFamily Engagement, Patty YohnHealth-Wellness, Adrian Watlington CoxLatino/Hispanic Outreach, Isabel SanceLegislation (State), Karen HallacyMale Involvement, Reginald B. ForrestMembership, Lisa-Marie HaygoodReflections, Cindy AustinResource Development, Dewanna KingTechnology, Lisa RichardsonYouth Services, Chanda CardwellChair of the Committees, Patty Yohn

Specialists/Consultants

Communications, Susan HayesEducation Policy, Sally FitzGeraldEnvironmental Education, Eve NeumeisterFederal Legislation, Barbara CostelloGA DOE Liaison, Michelle SandrockHospitality, Sam ShehaneStudent Representative, Arjun Ranbir SahgalSurvey Design, Sally MarkhamNPTA President Elect, Otha ThorntonGA PTA Past President and NPTA Board of Directors, Leslie Cushman

Insight from the State Capitol

The General Assembly has gone home and the governor has made his decision on every bill that was passed. The PTA FINAL Legislative Report is posted on the Capitol Watch section of the Georgia PTA web site. It

includes bills on which PTA has a position, and it also includes bills which will affect students, schools, and PTA parents but there is no position.

One of the latter is the new requirement that all volunteers and non certified employees in schools, hospitals, and social service agencies serving children become mandatory reporters of child abuse. Educators are already required to report suspected child abuse to the designated person in each school building. Volunteers will now also have to do so. The reports are oral within 24 hours of observation, and perhaps a written report may have to be made within 3 days. The designated person will then relay the report to the authorities.

There will have to be training of all volunteers so each will know what to look for. It is assumed, but not known yet for sure, that the school district will include all classified employees and volunteers in the training they provide for their certified personnel. Ask your school administrator what are the plans for training in your school district for addressing this requirement for the fall term.

July 31 is the primary election. Included on the ballot are candidates for U.S. House of Representatives, state senate and house, state judicial offices, district attorneys.

County officials may also be on the ballot and local school board members. The state office candidates can be found on the PTA Capitol Watch site and the Secretary of State’s web site. County candidates can be found on the county election superintendent’s web site.

Also on all ballots will be the Transportation SPLOST question.

PTAs may register people to vote, publicize the election date, publish voter guides and voting records, hold candidate forums and meet and greets. PTAs may NOT support or oppose a candidate or political party in any way.

Conference and Leadership Training, CLT, will be held July 12-14 in Athens at the Classic Center. The Legislative Team is presenting five workshops for those working on legislative issues. At least one member of each unit should try to attend.

Sally FitzGerald, Education Policy Specialist, [email protected]

11June 2012

Bridging the Gap

Grow Your Mind; Grow Your Money through a Win-Win Collaborative T.E.A.M.

Does your PTA face the challenges of developing resources in a spiraling economy? Today, America and the rest of the world are facing the most severe financial crisis since the Great Depression. “The automobile, mortgage, banking and insurance

organizations, Wall Street and Main Street are all facing severe financial problems for which none of the experts really seem to have the answer.” Over the entire history of Georgia PTA, we’ve enjoyed partnership and sponsorships with some of the largest and smallest successful and “strong” PTA collaborative business (T) ogether (E) veryone (A) chieves (M) ore/ TEAMs. Georgia PTA takes great pride in properly screening positive potential Georgia PTA Partners, Sponsors, Donors, etc that can assist in our “Every child.one voice” yearly campaign.

In today’s economy, growing your money often times require you to grow your mind by thinking outside of the (traditional) box. A good example is now that many are reluctant to cut any school programs for the students and teachers, PTA’s are also tapping into another Web 2.0 technology to get parents, students, and teachers excited about fundraising, and collaborative partnership, etc again. Many parent support organizations are turning to the social networking website Face book to reach out to parents for tips and suggestions. By now, you’ve probably come face-to-face with the Web 2.0. According to Wikipedia.com (which is part of the phenomenon),” Web 2.0 refers to the second generation of web development and web design that facilitates information sharing, interoperability, user-centered design and collaboration on the Internet. Examples include Facebook, YouTube, MySpace, Twitter, Flicker, LinkedIn, etc. Hundreds of millions of people around the world are taking advantage of this new technology to communicate in new ways, including parent groups. Twitter, Face book, YouTube and other Web 2.0 applications are so popular because of the faster pace of life most of us are experiencing these days, according to Internet experts.” This new method has been a journey that many PTA’s have been reluctantly taken; but, has yielding so great long term win-win collaborative partnerships and non dues revenue (financial) rewards.

As you review and register for our 2012 Georgia PTA’s Convention Leadership Training (CLT) in Athens, Ga; consider attending our training session (“Win-Win” Collaboration Strategies for your PTA); and, learn more about best business practices to build and bridge the gap in our schools and communities. Come prepared to receive more nuggets about how to grow your mind and grow your money for your PTA. We look forward to you joining our T.E.A.M. as we continue to “Build Bridges” at this year’s Convention Leadership Training (CLT) in July 2012.

Dewanna King, Resource Development Chair, [email protected]

How Was Your Transition?“Beauty is the moment of transition, as if the form were just ready to flow into other forms.” This quote from US essayist, poet and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson rings true for PTA when it comes to transitioning smoothly from one administration to another. Whether we look at the components of transition, including potential challenges PTAs face when working to complete this incredibly necessary task – the focus of finding the beauty of it can be easier than one thinks!

Transitioning takes place in three parts:

1. Ethics and conflict resolution – doing the right thing and knowing how to resolve issues when they arise.

2. Have the “to do” list that once completed ensures that everything that needs to be done by the end of the 2011 – 2012 school year is done. This includes Nominating Committee, Elections, taking care of all financial matters and having a Transition Meeting between the outgoing board, and newly elected officers and the Principal.

3. Prepare for success for the 2012 – 2013 school year, and this begins with the first Executive Committee meeting!

Three points of beauty when accomplished in order is like a song with one note flowing harmoniously into another. Your transition should not be compared to the theme song for “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly” but rather it should be symphonic! This is a tried and true recipe for success, and your Council PTA and District PTA teams are available to assist and support you in every way for your Local Unit PTA’s smooth transition.

Join us for Convention Leadership Training, July 12-14, in Athens, Georgia for your next moment of beauty – we look forward to seeing you there!

Donna Kosicki, Georgia PTA President, [email protected]


Zoo Atlanta Updates

As an official partner of the Georgia PTA, Zoo Atlanta will be represented as exhibitor at the Convention Leadership Training July 12-14 at the Classic Center

in Athens, GA. Come visit our booth and learn how the Zoo can work with your PTA to support family engagement and enhance learning in the classroom. To support the PTA’s National Standards to support student success and collaborate with the community, the Zoo will also be giving a workshop on Saturday, July 14 from 3:15pm - 4:30pm. The Zoo will share elements from its SPARKS (Supporting Parents in Advocacy, Reform, and Knowledge in Science) program to empower parents in enriching their children’s lives with science.

Don’t forget, all active Georgia PTA members receive a $10 discount towards any Zoo Atlanta Membership or Rare Care animal sponsorship through July 1, 2013. Redeem the discount, by calling 404.624.5662 and reference member code GAPTA. The discount is not available online and cannot be combined with other offers.

June Happenings At Zoo AtlantaSIGNATURE EVENTSWild on the Rocks: Scaly Slithery Spectacular Sssneak Peek June 14, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. What’s so cool about the cold-blooded? Here’s a hint: things are about to get a whole lot cooler. Find out why Zoo reptile keepers are so shamelessly biased about the more than 100 animals in their care, and get an exclusive sneak peek at the phenomenal changes planned for the reptile and amphibian experience at Zoo Atlanta. Reservations include two complimentary beverages, light hors d’oeuvres, exhibit tour and theater seating. Programs are designed for adults; content may not be suitable for children. Visit zooatlanta.org for reservations.

REGULAR ACTIVITIESZoo Atlanta is REAL LIVE FUN. Don’t just see the Zoo; do the Zoo! By all means, enjoy over 1,000 of the world’s most amazing animals, but make sure to take full advantage of exciting daily activities like keeper talks, training demonstrations, wildlife shows, and up-close-and-personal animal encounters. Gorilla and orangutan feedings run at 2 p.m. and 2:45 daily; check your Zoo map for a listing of other animal feedings and opportunities available every day.

Cost: FREE with the price of general admission. Visit zooatlanta.org for tickets or directions.

Now open! Giraffe Feeding – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily Stand eye-to-eye with one of Earth’s tallest land mammals. Make your visit a trip to remember with an exclusive new giraffe feeding encounter unlike any other ever before offered at Zoo Atlanta. Times may be subject to change. Visit zooatlanta.org for more details.

NEW! Wild Encounters: African elephant – 1:30 p.m. daily NEW! Get closer than ever before with a behind-the-scenes experience. Meet and get a chance to feed one of the giants of the African savanna during an exclusive encounter. Times may be subject to change. Visit zooatlanta.org for tickets and details.

NEW! Wild Encounters: Komodo dragon 12 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays NEW! Get closer than ever before with a behind-the-scenes experience. It’s lunchtime for the world’s largest lizard species – and you get to help! Meet and get a chance to feed a Komodo dragon during an exclusive encounter. Times may be subject to change. Visit zooatlanta.org for tickets and details.

NEW! Wild Encounters: Giant panda – 11 a.m. daily NEW! Get closer than ever before with a behind-the-scenes experience. Meet and get a chance to feed one of the Zoo’s world-famous black-and-white bears during an exclusive encounter never before offered as part of a regular trip to the Zoo! Times may be subject to change. Visit zooatlanta.org for tickets and details.

13June 2012

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS & CAMPSSummer Safari Camp and Quest Day Camp June – August 10 Immerse your children in an award-winning day camp adventure packed with tactile learning, outdoor exploration, exclusive tours, crafts, new friends, and over 1,500 animals from around the world. Book a program today on zooatlanta.org.

Adventure Cubs – Sensational Senses – June 5, 12 and 19 Two to 3-year-olds and their favorite grownups learn more about animal senses, and find out who has the animal kingdom’s best sight, hearing and smell. Dates listed are for series classes only; visit zooatlanta.org to learn more about single day options. Book a program today on zooatlanta.org.

Keeper for a Day – Elephants and Warthogs – June 9 Spend the day helping zookeepers with their daily routines of food preparation, cleaning, and animal care. Meet some exciting animals along the way, and learn what it takes to be a zookeeper! Hang out with two of the Zoo’s most interesting species in this hands-on program focusing on elephants and warthogs. Participants must be 14 or older. Book a program today on zooatlanta.org.

Adventure Cubs SINGLE DAY: Animal Dads – June 13, 16 or 21 Toddlers and their adult caregivers learn more about animal dads in this one-day alternative to the popular Adventure Cubs series. Book a program today on zooatlanta.org.

Father’s Day After Dark Deluxe Family NightCrawler June 16 Make Father’s Day an event to remember – spend the night in the Zoo! Enjoy a nocturnal adventure focused on the many regions of Georgia, and go home with new ways to keep our state clean and beautiful. Book a program today on zooatlanta.org.

Stroller Cubs: Animal Dads – June 23 or 27 Just in time for Father’s Day! Bring your little one to learn more about animal dads during a special program tailor-made for infants to 2-year-olds. Book a program today on zooatlanta.org.

Giants of Africa Deluxe NightCrawler – June 30 Towering above us at 20 feet tall, the giraffe is Earth’s tallest land mammal. Weighing up to 900 pounds, the spectacular eastern bongo is Africa’s largest and most impressive antelope species. And the longest black rhino horn ever measured was 4.9 feet long! Spend the night in the Zoo, and learn more about these superlative species. In the morning, enjoy a behind-the-scenes peek at the savanna exhibit, followed by an exclusive opportunity to feed one of our African giants! Book a program today on zooatlanta.org.

Keeper for a Day – Australia and Carnivores – June 30 Spend the day helping zookeepers with their daily routines of food preparation, cleaning, and animal care. Meet some exciting animals along the way, and learn what it takes to be a zookeeper! Hang out with our Australian animals in the morning, then head to carnivores for a fascinating afternoon. Participants must be 14 or older. Book a program today on zooatlanta.org.

Georgia PTA Dues IncreaseOn July 15, 2011 Georgia PTA convention delegates approved

a fifty cents ($.50) increase to raise Georgia PTA’s portion of the

member fees from $1.00 to $1.50. The increase is effective July

1, 2012, raising Georgia PTA’s portion of membership dues to

$1.50. Since the last State dues increase 9 years ago, operating

costs and the increased need for services and resources have far

exceeded cost cutting measures and the ability to keep up with

rising costs.

What this means to your PTA:Total National PTA and Georgia PTA dues per member = $3.75.

Your PTA/PTSA should:•EvaluatebudgetneedsanddetermineifyourPTA/PTSAcan

sustain its priorities, programs and services to parents, teachers

and students without a dues increase to its members.

•IfitisdeterminedthatyourPTA/PTSAduesshouldbeincreased,

you must amend your bylaws. Amendments to local unit

bylaws require:

•30daysnoticetothemembershipofthespecifiedchange

•Approvalby2/3voteofthemembershipatageneral

meeting

•Onecopyofthebylawsamendmentistobeforwardedto

Georgia PTA for approval

•Bylawsbecomeeffectiveuponreceiptofanapproved

stamped copy from Georgia PTA

PTA remains an incredible value. For less than the cost of a movie

ticket, PTA members belong to an association that uses its’ power

and voice to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging

and empowering families and communities.

Local Unit Leader ResourcesSharing Ideas

The PTA Great Idea Bank is a social network which enables parents to interact and learn from each other. The best advice comes from peers, so use the discussion forum to share money-saving tips, ideas on how to be a more involved parent, fun activities to share with your kids, ways to communicate with your child’s school and more. The advice and discussion on these pages is directed by users. If you are also a PTA leader or active in your local unit, this idea bank is filled with ways to run PTAs more effectively.

Leadership Resource Guide

Want to know the specific duties of officers? Have a question about policy or procedure? Need report forms? Your Leadership Resource Guide is a great place to find those answers. You can access it online at http://www.georgiapta.org/leadership-resources.html


DeKalb Schools Superintendent Recognizes Gladys Cook Scholarship Recipients

DeKalb Schools Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Atkinson and the DeKalb County Council of PTAs honored 13 graduating high school seniors this month during the Council’s annual Spring Scholarship & Awards Dinner. Each student received a $1,000 Gladys Cook Scholarship from the DeKalb PTA Council to use towards their college education.

This year’s ceremony also marked the 50th anniversary of the Gladys Cook Scholarship, which is administered by the DeKalb PTA Council and is named for Ms. Cook, the scholarship’s founder and former DeKalb PTA Council president. To commemorate the special event, Chamblee Charter High School senior Claudia Holbrook, received the Advocacy in Action award. The $500 award will help Ms. Holbrook further her volunteer work with a refugee family in Clarkston.

Recipients are:

Arabia Mountain High SchoolKyle Jackson WoumnCollege/Major: Georgia Institute of Technology/Computer Engineering and Spanish

Cedar Grove High SchoolBrittany Sherrell GasCollege/Major: Georgia Southern University/Criminal Justice

Chamblee Charter High SchoolJasmine Alicia ClaytonCollege/Major: University of Georgia/Graphic Communications

Clarkston High SchoolMakiya Adem MotiCollege/Major: Georgia Perimeter/Nursing

DeKalb School of the ArtsSydny A. CaldwellCollege/Major: Howard University/Computer Science and Dance

Druid Hills High SchoolKip David LacyCollege/Major: University of Georgia/Medical Research Autoimmune Diseases

Lithonia High SchoolKaelyn Tyler PaschalCollege/Major: Emory University/Biology – Medical School/Anesthesiologist

McNair High SchoolStanley Louis StewartCollege/Major: Northeastern University or Brown University/Digital Media Journalist

Miller Grove High SchoolSafia Abdirahim AbdirizakCollege/Major: Mercer University/International Business

Redan High SchoolKaylin Victoria Ashlyn RiggsCollege/Major: South Carolina School of Leadership/Sociologist/Psychologist

Southwest DeKalb High SchoolDemetria Charlaine DickinsCollege/Major: North Carolina A&T State University/Architectural Engineer

Stephenson High SchoolJonathan Alden DeBowlesCollege/Major: Georgia State University/Business Administration

Tucker High SchoolFrances Claire LippyCollege/Major: Western Carolina University/Nursing

Front L-R: Dr. Pamela Speaks (BOE District 8 ), Mrs. Carole Rice (Scholarship Committee Chair), Ms. Marcia Coward (Council President), Frances Lippy (Tucker), Brittany Gas (Cedar Grove), Jasmine Clayton (Chamblee), Makiya Moti (Clarkston), Sydny Caldwell (DSA), Safia Abdirizak (Miller Grove), Kaylin Riggs (Redan), Jonathan DeBowles (Stephenson), Ms.Gladys Cook, Mrs. Deirdre Pierce, Dr. Cheryl Atkinson (Superintendent)

15June 2012

Congratulations to the Gates Millennium Scholars

In late summer amidst the challenges that Atlanta Public Schools were facing, a group of community business leaders came together to hold an event called “Support the Good Rally.” This event was funded solely by these business leaders. The goal was to achieve participation

by as many parents, teachers and students as possible. Therefore, one of the organizers, Aaron Turpeau, sought collaboration with PTA by reaching out to the Atlanta Council, one of 3 Councils within Georgia PTA District 10. This event was designed to celebrate the GOOD things that were happening in Atlanta. The wording selected for the t-shirts created for this event told the story:

Support the GoodOur Good StudentsOur Good ParentsOur Good TeachersAtlanta Public Schools

Due to the hard work from metro Atlanta’s good students, good parents and good teachers, the prestigious Gates scholarships for the 2011-12 school year have been awarded to 22 students from among nine (9) of Atlanta’s Public Schools. This represents the third highest number of Gates scholars in the entire nation. In fact, for several years now, APS has been on the list of the United States schools boasting the highest number of Gates scholars. Initially, dating back to 1999, a $1 billion grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funded this scholarship. The scholarship covers expenses related to full tuition, room and board to any university in the country. Scholars can even receive additional funding for graduate school for select majors. This year, student recipients of this award from Georgia totaled 88, and there were 1,000 awarded nationwide. I am sure that we all will agree that this is a wonderful example of effort and initiative for the good! Congratulations to all students and schools that were recipients of this wonderful scholarship.

Atlanta Public High Schools Represented by Gates Scholar Recipients:1. Grady

2. Booker T. Washington

3. Frederick Douglass

4. Carver School of Health & Science Research

5. Carver School of the Arts

6. Carver Early College

7. North Atlanta

8. Maynard Holbrook Jackson

9. Therrell

Neatie Green, Education Chair, [email protected] Rita Erves, Georgia PTA President Elect, [email protected]

Georgia PTA AnnouncementsWe need your input! At the bottom of the homepage of the Georgia PTA website are two surveys.

•SurveyforGeorgiaPTADaywith the Falcons — Please let us know your choice of date for our 2012 Falcons Family Fun Game Day event. Click on the link to cast your vote - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/X7TSPQ8. Thanks for helping us plan this family event!

•PTAQuestionoftheMonth– Answer our question of the month to see how your opinion compares to other PTA leaders. Look for a new question each month!

Emerging Minority Leadership ConferenceThe dates are September 21-23, 2012 in Crystal City, Virginia. Registration opens June 12. Visit http://www.pta.org/emerging_minority_leaders.asp to learn more.

Election Year Education Policy Forums Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education (GPEE) – the Georgia PTA President is a member of its board of directors; GPEE is offering Election Year Education Policy Forums in partnership with Georgia School Board Association to present half day sessions that serve as a Georgia public education primer. There are five sessions starting June 12 in Macon, over the next eight days in Savannah, Atlanta, Cartersville and Athens. To register to attend visit www.gpee.org.


Important Dates to RememberJune21-24: National PTA Convention in San Jose, California

July12-14: Georgia PTA Convention Leadership Training in Athens, GA

The Voice

Official publication of the Georgia PTA A Branch of the National Congress of Parents and Teachers

Georgia PTA

114 Baker Street, NE

Atlanta, GA 30308

404-659-0214 or 1-800-PTA-TODAY

Fax: 404-525-0210

www.georgiapta.org

President: Donna KosickiEditor: Susan Hayes

Information from this newsletter may be excerpted for other PTA publications at the local, council and district levels as long as credit is given to Georgia PTA and any byline that may appear with the item must be included.

Georgia

Three Charters in Three Weeks...Brings in 300 New Members!District 13 is proud to welcome Kelly Mill Elementary School, Clark Creek ES Stem Academy, and Otwell Middle School to our PTA Family!!

Kelly Mill Chartering on April 19, 2012

Otwell Chartering on April 30, 2012 Clark Creek Chartering on April 24, 2012

Who Should Attend CLT?Only once a year, your PTA has the opportunity to directly affect the business of Georgia PTA, energize your leaders, hear top-notch presentations, obtain excellent training, network with leaders and peers from across the state, and have fun.

Convention Leadership Training is an investment in the future leadership and success of your PTA. We recognize that time and money are scarce, but we must invest in ourselves to develop our potential in order that PTA can ensure a better future for all children.

•2011-12boardmembers

•Incoming2012-13boardmembers

•Principals,teachersandschoolboardmembers

•Memberswhohavedemonstratedthatspark of leadership potential!

Connect for RespectIn March 2011, National PTA® launched an initiative to encourage PTAs across the country to lead conversations in their school communities about bullying, how it is affecting their communities, and to develop solutions that they can implement collaboratively together. Below are tools and resources that PTAs can use to plan their Connect for Respect events. Go to http://pta.org/bullying.asp to read and download these resources.

Resources for PTA LeadersHow to Plan a Connect for Respect Event How PTAs Can Host a Conversation on Bullying in Their Community (pdf)

What You Can Do As a PTA Leader Three Ways PTA Leaders Can Prevent Bullying (pdf)

Best Practices in School-Based Bullying Prevention Resources on bullying prevention.

Best Practices in Community-Based Bullying Prevention Resources on bullying prevention.

PTA Profiles in Bullying Prevention

Highlights of State and Local PTA Bullying Prevention Programs & Activities (pdf)

Georgia PTA's The Voice_June 2012

Documents

Transcript of Georgia PTA's The Voice_June 2012