The Child Advocate - June 2012

June 2012Issue 7, Volume 21

The The Child AdvocateChild Advocate

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Child AdvocateJune 2012Issue 7, Volume 21

The

3The Child Advocate, June 2012

Eric Liu, the featured speaker at the Washington State PTA 99th Annual Convention, discussed the idea of servant leadership in which an individual leads by being a good citizen and trying to make a difference even though the individual isn’t an expert in a specific area. “PTA embod-ies this idea of citizenship,” he said.

To develop citizenship in our communities, Liu ex-plained that we need to start educating people on the three key ingredients of citizenship: character, power, and diversity.

“Character education is not a new idea, but in the past, it has been characterized by developing individual traits, such as honesty, responsibility, diligence and showing up at places when you say you will,” he said. Liu encouraged PTA delegates to think beyond this definition of character and con-sider the ways in which people behave in groups and with one another. “I’m talking about traits like mutual obligation, reciprocity, and a spirit of ser-vice to others. These dimensions of character aren’t just about whether you tell a lie or not, but about whether you look out for each other or not. It’s about if you see your fate as woven together with other people or not.” He explained that since our lives are connected, whether or not you are civil or courteous to one another is contagious. Your actions will affect everyone in a community. In other words, if there is a school that is broken across town, it affects your family even if your children do not attend that school because it affects the whole community.

Liu explained that when PTA leaders use their voices and votes to make the changes that reflect their vision for kids, they exercise their collective power. Many PTA members are not even aware that they are powerful, but he encour-aged delegates to be aware of what they are doing, talking and teaching others. “Dimensions of power, such as how you mobilize people, how you express voice, how you frame arguments, how you get over obstacles, how you work the inside life of legislation making, are things that you need to be explicit with one another so you can raise your game at the play and practice of power,“ he said. Liu urged delegates to teach these lessons to the next genera-tion. This will help make school more relevant to young people.

Liu cautioned delegates against celebrating diversity as simply affirming efforts to have a diverse appearance, but to celebrate what you can accomplish with diversity. “Are people able and willing to foster the skills and ethics of actually crossing the lines of working together with people when we differ, disagree, or just don’t know yet what we have in common? We need to create experiences where people of different kinds and different backgrounds come together to work on something that’s not just about you or

I, but a third thing. That’s the work of diversity,” he explained. As PTAs, Liu urged delegates to move beyond celebrating different ethnicities each month, but instead work together to bring life to a real collaboration of communities to the benefit of students.

“Diversity matters not just because it’s nice, but because it can help us come up with more, better and faster resolutions to problems than any-body else on Earth. Any problem will be solved more rapidly and adaptively because you have more world views and kinds of intelligences,” he explained. No other country has the kind of diversity as the United States, but we need to learn how to utilize this raw material rather than just look at it.

Liu explained that we need to “get in the mindset of individuals not working in isolation, but as gar-deners tending a garden together. Just as gardens require gardeners to weed, seed, feed and water it, a school does not run itself, an economy does not fix itself, a community does not heal itself when

it is broken. These things require gardeners of our democracy.” He urged delegates to be gardeners of our democracy by continuing to organize people, go to meetings and mobilize each other to make a difference.

Finally, Liu urged delegates to remember that it is possible to support two or more seemingly contrary ideas in your head and in your heart. Only by being willing to do so can we find a way to bring our communi-ties together in ways that work for everyone.

The Child Advocate is published online every month from September through May by the Washington State PTA, 2003 65th Avenue West, Tacoma, WA 98466-6215, (253) 565-2153. Contributors are welcome. Call the State PTA office for guidelines. Whenever PTA is used it also refers to PTSA. PTA is a registered trademark of the National Congress of Parents and Teachers.

Novella Fraser, Washington State PTA PresidentBill Williams, Washington State PTA Executive Director

Karen Fisker-Andersen, Editor

Website: www.wastatepta.org

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (253) 565-2153 or

1-800-562-3804

Fax: (253) 565-7753

a Washington State PTA parent involvement publication

Washington State PTA

2003 65th Avenue West

Tacoma, WA 98466-6215

Child AdvocateThe VISION: “Making every child’s potential a reality.”

MISSION: PTA is:n A powerful voice for all children,n A relevant resource for families and communities, andn A strong advocate for the education and well-being of every child.

The Washington State PTA accomplishes the mission of PTA by• Speaking on behalf of children and youth in the schools, in the community, and before governmental bodies and other organizations that make decisions affecting children; • Supporting parents* in developing skills to raise, protect and advocate for their children; • Encouraging parent*, teacher, student and community involvement; • Promoting opportunities for positive outcomes for children; and • Being a financially stable, well-managed organization that promotes diversity, provides quality service, models best practices and values its members and employees.

*Parent may include adults who play an important role in a child’s family life since other adults (grandparents, aunts, uncles, or guardians) may carry the primary responsibility for a child’s health, welfare, education and safety.

Eric Liu Discusses the Importance of Good Citizenship

Lakota Middle PTA Awarded Outstanding Local Unit of the Year

Stephanie McCleary and Family Receive Friend of Children Award

Novella Fraser Receives Outstanding Service Award

Eric Hargis Focuses on Building Strong and Relevant PTAs

May Ray, Washington State Teacher of the Year

Business Conducted at Convention

Randy Dorn Outlines Plans

PTA Men’s Essay Contest Winner

Jay Inslee Discusses Education

Rob McKenna Discusses Education

PTA Men’s Essay Contest Winners

Contents

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An inspiring weekend with a variety of training opportunities, engaging keynote speakers, and plenty of fun!

Attend WSPTA’s 100th Annual Convention

May 3-5, 2013Bellevue Hyatt Hotel

(located next to Bellevue Square)

Photo: 37th Annual WSPTA Convention, (Tacoma, May 2, 1950) Courtesy of the Tacoma Public Library, Northwest Room

Photo courtesy of University of Puget Sound

5

6

7


4

4

s A powerful voice for all children,s A relevant resource for families and communities, ands A strong advocate for the well-being and education of every child.

3The Child Advocate, June 2012

Eric Liu, the featured speaker at the Washington State PTA 99th Annual Convention, discussed the idea of servant leadership in which an individual leads by being a good citizen and trying to make a difference even though the individual isn’t an expert in a specific area. “PTA embod-ies this idea of citizenship,” he said.

To develop citizenship in our communities, Liu ex-plained that we need to start educating people on the three key ingredients of citizenship: character, power, and diversity.

“Character education is not a new idea, but in the past, it has been characterized by developing individual traits, such as honesty, responsibility, diligence and showing up at places when you say you will,” he said. Liu encouraged PTA delegates to think beyond this definition of character and con-sider the ways in which people behave in groups and with one another. “I’m talking about traits like mutual obligation, reciprocity, and a spirit of ser-vice to others. These dimensions of character aren’t just about whether you tell a lie or not, but about whether you look out for each other or not. It’s about if you see your fate as woven together with other people or not.” He explained that since our lives are connected, whether or not you are civil or courteous to one another is contagious. Your actions will affect everyone in a community. In other words, if there is a school that is broken across town, it affects your family even if your children do not attend that school because it affects the whole community.

Liu explained that when PTA leaders use their voices and votes to make the changes that reflect their vision for kids, they exercise their collective power. Many PTA members are not even aware that they are powerful, but he encour-aged delegates to be aware of what they are doing, talking and teaching others. “Dimensions of power, such as how you mobilize people, how you express voice, how you frame arguments, how you get over obstacles, how you work the inside life of legislation making, are things that you need to be explicit with one another so you can raise your game at the play and practice of power,“ he said. Liu urged delegates to teach these lessons to the next genera-tion. This will help make school more relevant to young people.

Liu cautioned delegates against celebrating diversity as simply affirming efforts to have a diverse appearance, but to celebrate what you can accomplish with diversity. “Are people able and willing to foster the skills and ethics of actually crossing the lines of working together with people when we differ, disagree, or just don’t know yet what we have in common? We need to create experiences where people of different kinds and different backgrounds come together to work on something that’s not just about you or

I, but a third thing. That’s the work of diversity,” he explained. As PTAs, Liu urged delegates to move beyond celebrating different ethnicities each month, but instead work together to bring life to a real collaboration of communities to the benefit of students.

“Diversity matters not just because it’s nice, but because it can help us come up with more, better and faster resolutions to problems than any-body else on Earth. Any problem will be solved more rapidly and adaptively because you have more world views and kinds of intelligences,” he explained. No other country has the kind of diversity as the United States, but we need to learn how to utilize this raw material rather than just look at it.

Liu explained that we need to “get in the mindset of individuals not working in isolation, but as gar-deners tending a garden together. Just as gardens require gardeners to weed, seed, feed and water it, a school does not run itself, an economy does not fix itself, a community does not heal itself when

it is broken. These things require gardeners of our democracy.” He urged delegates to be gardeners of our democracy by continuing to organize people, go to meetings and mobilize each other to make a difference.

Finally, Liu urged delegates to remember that it is possible to support two or more seemingly contrary ideas in your head and in your heart. Only by being willing to do so can we find a way to bring our communi-ties together in ways that work for everyone.

The Child Advocate is published online every month from September through May by the Washington State PTA, 2003 65th Avenue West, Tacoma, WA 98466-6215, (253) 565-2153. Contributors are welcome. Call the State PTA office for guidelines. Whenever PTA is used it also refers to PTSA. PTA is a registered trademark of the National Congress of Parents and Teachers.

Novella Fraser, Washington State PTA PresidentBill Williams, Washington State PTA Executive Director

Karen Fisker-Andersen, Editor

Website: www.wastatepta.org

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (253) 565-2153 or

1-800-562-3804

Fax: (253) 565-7753

a Washington State PTA parent involvement publication

Washington State PTA

2003 65th Avenue West

Tacoma, WA 98466-6215

Child AdvocateThe VISION: “Making every child’s potential a reality.”

MISSION: PTA is:n A powerful voice for all children,n A relevant resource for families and communities, andn A strong advocate for the education and well-being of every child.

The Washington State PTA accomplishes the mission of PTA by• Speaking on behalf of children and youth in the schools, in the community, and before governmental bodies and other organizations that make decisions affecting children; • Supporting parents* in developing skills to raise, protect and advocate for their children; • Encouraging parent*, teacher, student and community involvement; • Promoting opportunities for positive outcomes for children; and • Being a financially stable, well-managed organization that promotes diversity, provides quality service, models best practices and values its members and employees.

*Parent may include adults who play an important role in a child’s family life since other adults (grandparents, aunts, uncles, or guardians) may carry the primary responsibility for a child’s health, welfare, education and safety.


Lakota Middle PTA Awarded Outstanding Local Unit of the Year

Stephanie McCleary and Family Receive Friend of Children Award

Novella Fraser Receives Outstanding Service Award


May Ray, Washington State Teacher of the Year


Randy Dorn Outlines Plans

PTA Men’s Essay Contest Winner

Jay Inslee Discusses Education


PTA Men’s Essay Contest Winners

Contents

56

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5

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An inspiring weekend with a variety of training opportunities, engaging keynote speakers, and plenty of fun!

Attend WSPTA’s 100th Annual Convention

May 3-5, 2013Bellevue Hyatt Hotel

(located next to Bellevue Square)

Photo: 37th Annual WSPTA Convention, (Tacoma, May 2, 1950) Courtesy of the Tacoma Public Library, Northwest Room

Photo courtesy of University of Puget Sound

5

6

7


The Child Advocate, June 2012 5

National PTA Executive Director, Eric Hargis, spoke to delegates at the General Session 2. His remarks focused on the importance of PTA’s advocacy efforts for a better future for our chil-dren and our nation.

In the past, PTA has successfully advo-cated for child labor laws, universal kindergarten, and school hot lunches. “While we can reflect with pride on the past, PTA is an organization focused on the future. The next 100 years, the America our children and grandchildren will inherit, will continue to change dramatically,” Hargis said.

He pointed out that today almost half of all 4th grade students are from Hispanic or Latino descent. As PTAs, we need to make sure we build an environment that is inclusive and welcoming to these families or PTA will become irrelevant to the next generation. “We cannot engage families if they don’t find the PTA experience to be meaningful,” Hargis explained.

Hargis shared a couple measures National PTA is taking to help PTAs identify and meet the needs of our changing population. The Urban Family Engagement Initiative is a series of conferences in several regions across the country to help with the forma-tion of new local units in urban areas. Ad-ditionally, the National PTA secured a new staff position to help states identify and develop nontraditional PTAs.

The next generation of students need a strong and relevant PTA. “In the next decade 80% of American jobs will require some type of advanced degree. At the same time, 25% of American teens are not gradu-ating from high school,” he said.

Although there are multiple reasons for this trend, Hargis pointed out that literacy is recognized as the most pronounced problem. As many as 68 % of 4th grad-ers are unable to read at grade level. When students fail to master basic reading and comprehension skills, they fall further behind in subsequent grades.

The outlook for these students is bleak.

a Washington State PTA parent involvement magazine4

Hargis pointed out that the Department of Justice has found crime to be linked to illiteracy. “Experts responsible for long-term planning of the prison system are using 3rd grade reading scores to predict how many cells they will need and where,” Hargis said.

In light of these startling statistics, PTA’s work to make every child’s potential a reality is more important than ever before. Some parents may look at these statistics and set them aside because their school is doing fine with literacy. The problem with that line of thought is that the America your children inherit is dependent on the experience that other people’s children have. “They will inherit a legacy of crime and poverty if we only care for our own child’s school and not all schools. This is why every school needs to be a part of PTA. We need a common voice to advocate for all children,” he explained.

PTAs can be more engaged in explaining to the other parent groups why we need to speak together to address this problem, as well as the impor-tance of parent engagement at their children’s school and in the broader community. Early childhood education can make a difference in reading proficiency and is a key to improving academic performance.

PTAs need to have a strong and healthy membership base to be effec-tive advocates for kids. In closing, Hargis provided some tips for PTA membership campaigns. * Personally ask people to join; emails are no substitute for personal

contact. * People join when they feel welcome. Make sure your PTA meetings

are held at a time and location that is accessible to parents. * PTAs need to address the needs and concerns of younger parents.* Let members know that any time they can devote to PTA is great.

Make it easy for people to be involved in PTA.


Novella Fraser Receives WSPTA Outstanding

Service Award

Novella Fraser, the cur-rent WSPTA President, was awarded the WSPTA’s most prestigious volunteer award at the Awards Breakfast.

Fraser has been involved in PTA for 13 years. She has progressed from leadership at the local and council levels to the State PTA, where she previously served as Secretary and Region 9 Director. Along the

way, Fraser always embraced the vision of “PTA making every child’s potential a reality.” She is at the forefront of PTA’s goal of diversity as a means for achieving this vision.

Outside of PTA, she served on the Parent Involvement and Parent Engagement Committees at Federal Way School District, OSPI Parent Involvement Committee, Parent Action Committee for the Office of the Educational Ombudsman, is a member of the Seattle Police Dis-patchers Guild, an active volunteer for youth sports in her community and is employed as a 911 dispatcher.

When presenting the award, award chair Heather Gillette, described Fraser as “approachable, friendly, knowledgeable, kind, always listens and always has time for you.”

Lakota Middle PTA was awarded the Washington State Outstanding Local Unit of the Year award at General Session 4. They will represent local units from our state at the Na-tional PTA Convention in San Jose, California, in June.

A unique and innovative PTA, Lakota PTA serves a middle school community where many languages are spoken and 55% of students receive free and reduced lunches. Lakota Middle PTA meets these challenges by translating their website and flyers into Korean, Ukrainian, and Spanish; providing a wide range of programming including Art History Club, Lego Night, Walking Wednesday, and Fall Harvest. Lakota was one of the first PTAs in the area to introduce the WatchD.O.G.S. program, and they sponsor a thriving Reflections Program, with 100 entries from their students this year.

Lakota Middle PTA was chosen by OSPI as a model of family involve-ment, and a delegation from Hong Kong visited their school and PTA to

provide a model for quality communication with families. Finally, they have increased their membership by 33% this year and have 100% staff membership. Congratulations, Lakota Middle PTA!

Lakota Middle PTA AwardedOutstanding Local Unit of the Year

McCleary Family Receives Friend of Children Award

Crystal Level Leadership Academy

The purpose of this Academy is to identify Washington State PTA leaders, at the local unit, council, region, and state levels – which have made a commitment to leadership and leadership education. The Leadership Academy consists of 4 levels of achievement. They are the Bronze level, the Silver level, the Gold level, and the Crystal level. Congratulations to this year’s Crystal Award winners who were recognized at the Awards Breakfast: Leanne Hawkins, Barbara Martin, Moneika Rupert and Pam Deming.

The Friend of Children Award recognizes one or more individuals or organizations whose work on behalf of children has exemplified PTA’s vision that every child’s potential become a reality.

As the lead plaintiffs in the lawsuit challenging the state’s failure to fully fund public education, the McCleary family have played a key role in securing a landmark legal victory for the students of Washington state. Stephanie McCleary and her family are this year’s recipients of the Friend of Children Award.

Stephanie McCleary, a parent who has been involved with the public school system for about 25 years, has witnessed the challenges that schools face when trying to make ends meet. “When the Chimicum School District signed on to the lawsuit as one of the first school district to sign on, I signed on as well to show my support,” McCleary explained when accepting the award on behalf of her family.

She urged PTA members to correct people who say that now the state has to come up with the money for the lawsuit; instead she requested that we say, “the supreme court in the State of Washington was clear that educa-tion should come first and the children of our state come first and the money they need to find is to fund everything else, not education.”

Mark Ray, a teacher librarian at Skyview High School in Vancou-ver and Washington State Teacher of the Year for 2012, delivered some remarks about his view as teacher librarians being an essential component in the schools at the Awards Breakfast which was held Sunday morning, May 6, 2012.

“Building strong school library programs is a challenge,” he said. “Educational technology is essential in the 21st century. Teacher librarians are the technology leaders in the schools. They are the ones who teach students to find the facts hidden in the fog on the Internet, and who help students develop the love of the written word in a book or on screen.”

Ray urged PTAs to go home to their schools and spread the word that a teacher librarian is our state’s Teacher of the Year this year. Offer to build a parent advisory team to provide assistance to your teacher librarians. Offer to meet school administrators to explain why strong school library programs are important in the 21st century.

Mark RayWashington State Teacher of

the Year

7a Washington State PTA parent involvement magazine The Child Advocate, June 2012


Washington State Attorney General, Rob McKenna, visited Con-vention during General Session 3. During his brief remarks on educa-tion, he focused on the importance of putting kids first in our public schools and making sure all children have an op-portunity for a superb education. He suggested some ideas to help our state move in this direction such as making sure principals are educational leaders in the schools. “We need principals to be in the classroom 30-40 percent of the time and who know the strengths of the teachers and what’s going on in the classroom,” said General McKenna. Along with strong principals, he identified the need to develop strategies to provide incen-tives for the most talented teachers to be placed in the most challenging schools.

Reading and early childhood education are also priorities for improving education. General McKenna pointed out that 150,000 children in our state from 3rd to 8th grade are not reading at grade level, and many of those children were unprepared for school when they entered kindergarten.

Other strategies for improving schools include rigorous graduation requirements so students don’t need to take remedial courses when they attend technical or community colleges. “Every child needs to think about going to college, and every child needs to be ready for what the workforce demands,” he explained.

General McKenna also touched on the need to make high performing public charter schools available to students. “Charter schools are not a silver bullet, but it’s one thing that should be available,” General McKenna said. Another thing that should be available is online courses.

Education funding is a major weakness in our state that needs to be addressed. “We need to look at the rest of our government and allow it to grow, but not as fast as has been in the past. We need to moderate the growth rate of other agencies in the government, recognize the state budget grows and be more disciplined to devote more resources to educa-tion. We also need to get rid of loopholes and make more effective use of educational money,” he said.

Jay InsleeDiscusses Education

Washington State Congressman Jay Inslee visited Convention dur-ing General Session 3. During his brief remarks on education, he focused on education as the para-mount duty of the state and the need to embrace an innovative public education system in our state for every child. He described two dynamics in developing an educa-tion system that is innovative and sets high expectations for all children in every school. “First, the status quo isn’t good enough. Second, there are teachers and schools that are breaking up the status quo. These pockets of innovation need to spread across the state of Washington,” Congressman Inslee explained. He cautioned that if things don’t change, one out of every five students who start first grade this year will not graduate from high school, which is simply not acceptable.

Congressman Inslee explained that when our state fails to graduate stu-dents with high caliber skills, we fall behind in the race for economic im-provement. “My vision: first, all students graduate from high school are prepared for 21st century skills; second, the achievement and opportu-nity gaps that exist today are eliminated in the state of Washington; and third, all Washington students have access to post secondary education or training of their choice,” he said.

In order to meet these goals, Congressman Inslee pointed out that we need to embrace innovation and accountability. This includes setting priorities and focusing on what works best such as smaller class sizes in the early years, all day kindergarten, and early childhood education.

Another innovative educational strategy he suggested is to partner high tech compies with schools to help them explore cost effective opportuni-ties, as well as access to online resources and support.

Finally, he pointed out, “We need to reward great teachers, provide help to make good teachers great, and understand that if some teachers can-not improve to an acceptable level, they should not be in the classroom. The passage of the teacher and principal evaluation system this past legislative session is a good start, but we also need better mentoring for teachers and rewards for teachers who mentor others.”

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Washington State PTA was fortunate that both of the major party candidates for governor agreed to address the 2012 Conven-tion, and we appreciate them taking time to be with us. As a nonprofit tax exempt organization Washington State PTA does not endorse or support candidates for any elective offices. The invitation to the two candidates to address the delegates and the following summaries of their remarks are for the purpose of informing our members about important issues affecting chil-dren in Washington State.

Candidates for Governor Address PTA Delegates

State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Randy Dorn, greeted PTA delegates at General Session 3. In his brief remarks to delegates, he outlined his top priorities. These priorities include replac-ing the assessment system with a shorter online assessment that won’t result in kids getting test fatigue, funding basic education, encouraging students to get skilled training in technical fields or apprenticeships as an alternative to college for students who may have interests in technical careers, improve the dropout rate, and early learning.

Randy Dorn Outlines Priorities

My Dad is No Ordinary HeroBy Anirudh Prakash, 5th grade

“Raise high, my sunshine,” most mornings, a pair of hands tickles me awake, later present a sumptuous breakfast: full grain, fruit, and milk, not cake, accompanied by a worthy tagline, “…because they are good for you!” Ah, after ensuring a nice hot shower, wrapped in a warm towel, neatly folded clothes politely await my arrival.

Lips narrate timely reminders of my jacket, lunchbox, homework, “Got your PE shoes, planner, and instrument, bud?” Tedious, reliable clock-work. I feel like a prince, although getting ready for routine: school. Afterschool action is selected with utmost care for my edutainment, else, a detour off to the library so I pick references for my science assignment.

A pair of eager eyes watches my repetitive Taekwondo practice, silently reassures me, especially on dreadful belt promotion belt test tease. Patiently witnesses my recitals or drama, I catch a few shiny, happy tears. “Know what you feed your body: a temple,” as we grocery shop together, prompt is so gentle, but we dive and scan food labels for each other.

Two legs hop along, rollerblading and ice skating in fall and winter. End-less kite-flying, Frisbee, tennis, basket, volley to spring into summer. Car lacks spoiling videogames; we choose random topics to discuss, my nosy queries: license-plates, states, car models, traffic ruckus. From trees to landmarks, birds, quiz, puzzles, jokes to duties of civic, “See, effortlessly you mix up math, science, social or real-life, terrific!”

With focus to improve my brainpower, we download games of strife, Chess is my favorite pastime with him; I am definitely hooked for life. “Never underestimate your opponent,” lesson is handy in tourna-ments. Win against him means big kudos, but by no means a piece of cake, he remembers to teach, so I dare not repeat twice, the same mistake.

Our extensive road trips are equally enlightening, how do I know? My collection of national park junior ranger badges proves, that’s how. Our souvenirs from visits boost both: my knowledge and achiever ego. Occasionally we load up to say hello to aquarium, or wildlife at local zoo. Among everlasting memories with dad, a few cruise and splash rides too.

Immigrated for his work, oh hard economy, but now values future: me. Strives for my great opportunities and challenges, means he is a busy bee. My school’s gifted program curriculum, becomes a little tougher, he calmly comforts to keep focus on big picture, if things get rougher. Proud? Yes, but cautions me “Avoid being reckless, or let pride-show,” “stay humble, achieve well; be curious, honest…” his advice list grows.

Thrilled he looks, while reporting to his folks about my glory, adventure, how he respects his father, keenly I observe, to copy same gesture. Wow, dad: an awesome role model, I will sure follow his foot-steps. Being an only child, with abundant love he showers, I cannot be spoilt. Trust him with my life, enough to close eyes, if I am eased on catapult.

Compared to many, our home is smaller, but pa’s heart is large. On a raging river of time, he hangs on tight as my steady barge. Inspires great virtues of hope, faith, not to give up, stay strong, positive thoughts, so I can decide best, between right and wrong. Why kids get so mad on parents often, I may never understand, Who can be luckier than a son like me, for my dad, is also my best friend?

PTA Men Essay Contest

WinnersThe following essay is printed as

submitted by the student.

n Resolutions: All resolutions passed as printed in the 2012 WSPTA Voters Guide.

n Bylaws: All bylaws passed as printed in the 2012 WSPTA Voters Guide with the following exceptions:Amendments 7a and 7b were amended by inserting the words, “or by a region service delivery team member in May or June” before “shall be counted...”Amendments 10a and 10b were referred back to the Bylaws Committee for more research.Amendment 13 was defeated.

All amendments will become effective July 1, 2012. An updated copy of the Bylaws will be posted to the website on or before that date.

n Elections: Barbara Martin--SecretaryKaren Madsen--Finance OfficerHeather Gillette--Leadership DirectorJMarie Johnson-Kola--Outreach DirectorDeeDee Loberg--Program DirectorPam Deming, Kerrilyn Robinson and Dori Tate--At Large Members of Nominating Committee















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8 a Washington State PTA parent involvement magazine

DadsBy Breaonna Brask, 6th grade

All men play an important role in our daily lives. But I think dads are the best men there are. They teach you right from wrong, they work hard to make sure there is a roof over your head, and they would do anything to help their kids have a good future. My dad is a perfect example of this.

He has a job and works very hard. Sometimes his job takes him far away for long periods of time, but he does it so we can pay the bills, have a roof over our heads, and have food on the table. He works long and hard in the blistering heat of Dubai, and the frigid winds of England, because he knows he has a family waiting for him at home. That is one of the many reasons my dad is important to me.

In addition, my dad also helps out with my school. He is one of the very few men who goes to the PTA meetings. Also, he helps out with the Watch Dog program at my sister’s elementary school. He helps out with our homework too (which is very hard to do since I am in an advance math class). My dad wants to make sure my sister and I can have the best future ahead of us so we can do the things we want to do, not the things that will just pay the bills.

Lastly, my dad likes to teach me things to prepare me for the future. He teaches me helpful things, like how to cook (very important!), how to clean the bathroom (YUCK!), how to mow a lawn and pitch a tent. He has also taught me how to sketch, draw and paint—which will help me a lot since I want to be an artist when I grow up. Most importantly, he teaches me how to know what is right, from what is wrong.

So, these are just a few reasons why my dad is an important role model in my life. My dad is not the only person that I look up to. I also look up to my grandpa, my uncles, etc. But that is not what matters, what matters is having amazing men, like my dad, in your life too.

My Dad--My HeroBy Niranjanaa Kannan, 3rd grade

My dad is my male hero. He was the first per-son to see and hold me. My dad says he was the first person I ever saw.

My dad travels four days a week. Even when he is travelling he calls me and my family at least 3-4 times a day to find out how we are doing and if we are safe. He asks me how I did at school, and if there was test that day he would ask me how I did. He even tries to teach me Math, English writing on the phone and also taught me all the state capitals of the United States over the phone. When he comes back he usually brings me a piece of candy and makes sure my mom does not know that I ate candy until and after I finish eating. Then when my mom gets to know she becomes all grumpy! My dad sure knows how to pamper me.

My dad comes from a well educated family; he works for a manage-ment consulting firm and travels a lot. My dad would like me to work hard to become a doctor when I grow up and graduate from Harvard Medical School. On a recent trip to Boston he even took me to the Harvard Medical School campus and took a picture of me in front of the campus.

My dad, mom, myself and my sister love to go on vacations. Typically, we drive long distances to places such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver BC and Portland. My dad usually does all the driving while I watch a movie. Every now and then we take a break and my dad buys me a yummy snack like a vagan cup cake or a pastry. When he is driv-

ing he gives me mental math problems and I love to solve them. During my summer vacation my dad takes all of us with him where he works. I have visited New York, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Montreal and Toronto to name a few. I love to stay at the Mar-riott hotel and swim in the swimming pool in the evening with my dad.

My dad and I do a lot of fun activities together like snow tubing in winter and biking in summer. We also go to the farmer market to buy fresh vegetables and fruits. This summer we plan to go camping to-gether. I am so looking forward to it. Every year my dad and I go to the Father-Daughter Valentine’s day dance together. My dad dresses up in a suit, he looks very handsome. I wear my best dress that day and take a portrait picture with my dad. My dad frames the picture carefully and displays it in his office.

My dad does a lot of work around the house when he comes back. He washes my clothes, puts them on the clothes hanger and keeps the house perfectly clean. My dad loves it when the house is neat and organized. He also helps me to do my homework , order the books that I need, takes me to the library and piano classes on the weekends. When I sing and dance at the Vedic Cultural Center in Sammamish my dad remem-bers to charge the video camera, take the tripod and store the video in his laptop.

My dad makes the best food, I love the taro root and Indian curries he cooks. When I am hungry my dad makes sure to buy a healthy snack immediately.

My dad and I spend a lot of time together—I love him so much.

My Cool DadBy Sai Balaji Nagarajan, 1st grade

My Dad helps me do my homework. He helps me by letting me understand the problem.

My dad took me to India for vacation. In India, we went to a sea in Thiruchendur. Before swimming my dad and me got our hair shaved. Then we went swimming in the sea. I accidentally swallowed a lot of salty water. It didn’t taste good. So I went out of the water and played in the sand. When I was in the water my dad said “Have you finger poking out of your forehead and breath.” This made me to swim for some time. The next day we went to temple sled and I and my friend played on it. My dad pushed us at one end of the slope, and it went down. It was a bit scary, but I had fun. This made me remember about the tubing that I do every year with my family.

I really admire him and love him very much. I’m glad that he is my dad.


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The Child Advocate - June 2012

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