pta in california - january 2016

Happy Birthday

Advocacy is what makes PTA unique. As leaders, your workand contributions are an important part of PTA’s legacy ofadvocacy that has held strong for morethan a century.Volunteers from the San RamonValley Council of PTAs in westContra Costa County (Thirty-Second District PTA) arestrengthening that advocacyvoice by getting the civic-engagement word out to teens and parents in a fun – and memorable – way.

When students in the council’s four high schools turn 18, volunteerssend them birthday cards reminding them to register to vote. Using thetheme and image of a birthday gift, volunteers designed a paperpostcard and a digital ad emphasizing voting as a lifetime opportunity.

The birthday cards are an innovative way to reach a traditionally hard-to-reach audience – high-school students and their parents – to remindthem about the lifelong importance of civic education and involvement. The electronic birthday ads include links that track engagement data,allowing volunteers to provide additional voter-registration follow-upand encouragement.

®

everychild. onevoice.

®

Volume 78, Issue 2 Official Newsletter of the California State PTA January 2016

Inside Engagement andEmpowerment at Walt Whitman, page 4

10 PTA New Year’sResolutions, pages 6-7

Convention Q&A,pages 10-11

INSIDE

PTA advocacy in actionVolunteers give the gift of civic engagement

continued on page 2

Hooray – February 17 is

PTA Founders’ Day! PTA’s lookin’ good for 119 years old! CelebratePTA’s legacy, success andpower on Founders’ Day:February 17.Founders’ Day is a great timeto raise awareness of PTA’sachievements by showcasingyour PTA’s successes,recognizing individuals withHonorary Service Awards andsharing PTA’s story as thenation’s largest child-advocacyorganization. Find out moreand share your celebrationswith us at capta.org!

119

How is your PTA advocating for children, schools and communities? Share your stories with us!

Email [email protected]

Applications are due FEBRUARY 1. – Don’t Delay –

Find out more and apply at capta.org

Children are PTA’s number-one priority, and you canhelp spread the word at California State PTA’s 2016Legislation Conference! Join PTA leaders from all overthe state to share experiences, hear the latest news andlearn advocacy techniques to use in the State Capitoland in your local communities. Be on the lookout forregistration details at capta.org!

“Remember, no matter how much fundraising you do, itwill never equal the impact of one piece of legislation.”

~ Shayne Silva, 2015-2017 Director of Legislation

2 PTA in California • 2016

ScholarshipsAvailable for graduatinghigh-school seniors Educationdoesn’t end oncea student walksacross that high-school graduation stage. That’s why California State PTA has twoscholarships to help studentsachieve college dreams:

Council members hit upon the idea to use voter registration asa way to reach out to students and their families, who had notbeen coming to local civic-advocacy events as frequently asin the past.

“This need to re-engage with this population has been perkingever since, and the council’s Voter Registration Drive is thefinal result,” said Thirty-Second District PTA Advocacy andLegislation Chair Robin Peoples Klau.

Klau reports that the rock-bottom-cost project – now in itssecond year – is being well received by all implementingpartners including school administrators, teachers and studentgroups, and volunteers are looking at taking it even further.

“With approval of the committee and the board we’d like totranslate into Spanish and, at a minimum, distribute thedigital ‘ads’ to the additional six councils within the district,”she said. ● The $750 Volunteer Service

Scholarship accepts graduatingseniors for their volunteer service inschools and communities. Applicantsmust be PTA members graduatingfrom a California high school. Theymust have reference forms and lettersand proof of enrollment andcompletion of coursework.

● The Dr. Ralph E. White GraduatingSenior Scholarship provides $500each to two successful applicants ofthe Volunteer Service Scholarshipwho intend to pursue a career in amedical field.

PTA advocacy in action continued from cover

Speak up for kids at the 2016 Legislation ConferenceMarch 14 & 15 in Sacramento

“

3PTA in California • 2016

A message from

Justine Fischer, President

California is amazing. I have met so many wonderful people, metchildren engaged and motivated to learn and seen so many PTA memberspositively impacting the lives of all children and families every day. You

are connectors, relationship-builders, inspirations, motivators, classroomassistants, advocates and leaders. I get the privilege to serve our mission andorganization throughout California and especially in Sacramento. No matterwhere I go, I always remind people the important roles that families play inour children’s lives. We know the support you give your children, school andcommunity makes a world of difference throughout their lives. So keep ondoing the fabulous work you do. I am so proud of you, PTA!

I am so proud of you, PTA!”


PTA members andvolunteers like WaltWhitman ElementarySchool PTA President Sue Salorio are truechange-agents, creatinglocal programs that go on to touch – and engage– entire communities. Walt Whitman Elementary in SanDiego (Ninth District PTA) held itsfirst-ever School Smarts ParentEngagement Program last schoolyear. Salorio, a home-hospitalspecial-education teacher and SchoolSmarts parent graduate, workedalongside other parents to develop anaction plan designed to increasefamily engagement on-campus. Theresult…a new parent center scheduledto debut in late January 2016.

“Parents really wanted someplacewhere they could go get moreinformation on how to help theirstudent with homework and

understanding the new statestandards,” Salorio said. “Some ofour parents are not English speakers,so we wanted a place where we couldoffer to learn how to speak Englishon the computer, as well as a place tobe used for students and families whodo not have Internet access at home.”

Salorio noted that, while parentsreceived key support from schoolpersonnel, the families are fullyengaged in leading the effort.

“Parents take the lead as to how theplan is going to be rolled out,” shesaid, noting that PTA membersregularly meet with the principal and other staff to ensure the processis moving forward smoothly for all involved.

“Parents worked together as a teamto decide what they wanted the newparent center to be,” added SanDiego Unified Council PTAPresident Celeste Bobryk-Ozaki.“The center is becoming a symbolof how parents can be part of agrassroots effort and demonstrates

the impact of what parentinvolvement can do for a school.”

As Salorio and the school communitygear up for the parent center’sJanuary 2016 grand opening, PTAmembers and School Smartsgraduates are planning even moreactivities to strengthen family andcommunity engagement. To createsimilar engagement changes, Salorioencourages other PTAs to work withschools as best allies and to start witha plan and keep communication goingfor team success.

And her encouragement forparents? “Come and be the changeyou want to see!”

Engagement and empowerment at Walt Whitman Elementary


A message from

Sherry Skelly Griffith, Executive Director

California public schools and the students and familiesthey serve are undergoing historic changes, alldesigned to help students succeed. New content

standards in English language arts, English languagedevelopment, mathematics and science; a new statefunding formula and new accountability metrics are all intransition and various stages of implementation. Nowmore than ever PTA leaders are needed to champion theneeds of all children and families.

Decades of research demonstrate that family engagementis key to student success, and PTA leaders from around thestate have been called on to lend their insight and expertiseas the public-education system undergoes significantreform. California State PTA has embarked upon anambitious campaign to advocate for one-time stateeducation funds to ensure there is meaningful family,parent and student engagement in every school in the state.

$1 Billion for 9 Million Children – FamilyEngagement Budget Campaign As one of three advocacy goals for the 2015-2017 term,California State PTA has developed a proposal beingshared with state policy leaders that would set aside $1billion (or $111 per child/student) in “one-time” statefunds for parent and family engagement and training. Thefunds are intended to serve families with children ages 0-18 in public schools as well those families who will enterthe public-school system with children ages 0-5. There isno better time to advance meaningful family engagementthen at this time, as the state now requires student, parent,family and community engagement as one of eight toppriorities under the Local Control Funding Formula(LCFF) requirements. Your state President, President-elect, Director of Legislation, Vice President for FamilyEngagement and Vice President for Education comprise asmall but mighty advisory team to move the campaignforward during this year’s state-budget process.

Building Strong Alliances PTA leaders have been meeting in earnest with a diversearray of stakeholders and leaders in Sacramento to sharecommon goals and develop stronger partnerships andalliances to better serve children and families. In just thelast three months, state PTA leaders have met with keygroups from the Education Coalition including the

Association of California School Administrators (ACSA),California School Boards Association (CSBA), CaliforniaCounty Superintendents Educational Services Association(CCSESA), California Association of School BusinessOfficials (CASBO), California Federation of Teachers(CFT), California Teachers Association (CTA) and theService Employees International Union (SEIU), as well asgroups such as Early Edge, School Services, CapitolAdvisors, Suburban School Districts Association,Children’s Partnership, Public Advocates, CaliforniaAssociation of African American School Administrators(CAAASA), California Alliance for the Arts, CREATECA, Education Trust-West and the new Executive Directorfor the California Collaborative for Education Excellence,Dr. Carl Cohn. Robust conversations and opportunities tobuild strong alliances will continue in the weeks andmonths ahead.

California State PTA Leaders Representing Our Members In addition to numerous others, volunteers representingPTA members at the state level on key educationinitiatives include Vice President of Education Celia Jafferepresenting PTA on the Public School AccountabilityAdvisory (PSAA) Committee during this critical time ofreform. She also recently served on important assessmentadvisory groups at the state level. Chairman of the LCFFTask Force Patty Scripter represents PTA before the StateBoard of Education, while Education Commissioner MaryPerry serves at the state level on the Promoting AuthenticCollege, Career and Community Readiness AssessmentSystems Working Group. Please reach out to your stateleaders to share feedback or insights on these importanteducation reforms.

State Superintendents Accountability andContinuous Improvement Task Force (ACITF)I’m honored to serve on your behalf on StateSuperintendent Tom Torlakson’s Accountability andContinuous Improvement Task Force (ACITF). Thepurpose of the task force is to recommend reforms to thestate assessment and accountability systems pursuant tothe requirements of AB 484 and SB 1458. To learn moreabout these bills, please visit the “current legislation page”online at capta.org.


The New Year is a great time to takestock of what you have accomplishedand set new goals for the year. EachJanuary, roughly one in three Americansresolve to better themselves in someway. We do this as individuals; why notfor our PTA? It’s a new year—a freshstart and a chance to do great things for children and families.

Here are 10 PTA New Year’s resolutions to consider:

1Resolve to move toward your PTA goals:Hold a mid-term board evaluation—take sometime in January to evaluate the programs andactivities your PTA has done so far this schoolyear. What has worked well? Are there stillthings you want to accomplish? Do you need toreevaluate your goals? Budget? Calendar? Thisis a great time to make sure you are on theright track and make any adjustments youmight need.

2Resolve to stay on track for the nextschool year: It’s easy to stay busy with all theactivities you have going on, but to keep yourPTA healthy, check your bylaws and calendar toensure you are meeting your target dates foryour election meeting in the spring. If you haveelected your nominating committee and theyare working on nominations for next year’sboard, you should be in good shape. If youhaven’t, now is a great time to fix that.

10 PTA New Year’sResolutions


3Resolve to ask for help, if you need it:There is nothing wrong with asking for help, andthis is the perfect time to reach out to yourcouncil or district for some support. Council anddistrict officers would rather get a call for help inJanuary when there is still lots of time to workthrough challenges. Problems tend to get biggerwhen we ignore them, but can often be resolvedquickly when we get some help.

4Resolve to share your successes:If things are going well, let us know! Share your stories with California State PTA, your district and your council. Share youraccomplishments with your fellow PTA leadersand let’s all support each other. It’s fun tocelebrate the great work you are doing, and ithelps give other PTAs ideas and inspiration!Consider applying for a Spotlight Award, too.

5Resolve to try something new:Explore social media for your PTA—Facebook,Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram or something else.Read up on what other PTAs are doing anddecide if your PTA wants to try something new: a new program for the students, a great familyengagement activity or a new twist on a tried-and-true program.

6Resolve to learn more: California State PTAhas many resources for you to learn aboutschools, districts, how schools work and howyou can best advocate for your child and allchildren. Check out our School Smarts ParentEngagement Program, or new resources aboutLocal Control Funding Formula (LCFF), new state standards, new assessments and more.Learn about education at Ed100.org and don’t forget the great PTA training, inspiration

and networking that takes place at the state convention.

7Resolve to share the fun: Teamwork is oneof the great benefits of PTA. With the new year,look around to see if there are more people youcan include on your committees, invite toactivities or ask to volunteer. Let more peopleenjoy the privilege of contributing.

8Resolve to grow your PTA: Remembermembership is a year-round activity. Think aboutwho you haven’t asked to join your PTA. Arethere new families who have moved into yourcommunity or folks you forgot to ask to join?Have all your school-board members joined? Arethere a few teachers you can remind?Remember, not every member needs tovolunteer. The more members we have, thestronger our voice as we advocate for allchildren.

9Resolve to leave a legacy: PTA’s legacy islong and substantial because we share ourvision. Plan to attend the California State PTAAnnual Convention in San Diego this May. Theconvention offers great workshops, resources,exhibits, networking opportunities and more. Youcan participate in the decisions of CaliforniaState PTA. Build your PTA knowledge and that ofyour friends and colleagues. It takes all of us.

10Resolve to celebrate: You work hard atthe most important job there is—raisingthe next generation. Having a positive

impact on your children and families is worthcelebrating. Thank you. We all appreciate all you do!

If you haven’t done everything perfectly up until now, you’re just like the rest of us (not perfect). Don’t beatyourself up about what you should have done—just start fresh and do better from now on. That’s the greatthing about a new year. It’s a fresh start! Celebrate and thank you!

Get further information about increasing your membership at capta.org and share your success with us!

Membershipresources? We’ve got youcovered atcapta.org!Looking for new ideas to increasePTA membership at your school?How about ways to engage studentsor teachers in PTA? In addition tovideos, webinars, graphics and fliers,you’ll find proven tips and resourcesat capta.org including:

• Membership Monday eBlasts library

• Membership timeline• Membership theme ideas• Ways to increase

PTA membership• Ways to encourage teachers

to join PTA• Ideas to build student

membership and involvement• Membership incentives

and awards.

And don’t forget:The PTA Store is here to help withpromotional items and materials tospread the membership word!Browse, shop and order today atwww.shoppta.com!

PTA’s across the state are engaging parents through local membership campaigns with excitingand eventful fun ideas that draw not just the parents and staff members, but kids and communitymembers, too! By doing different campaigns and using creative ideas, PTA leaders are helpingget parents, teachers and staff more involved with the school. Take a look at these two examplesof PTAs that are building membership.

PTA engages parents across the state

Western Center Academy PTSA encouragesstaff membership

Western Academy PTSA in Hemet (Twenty-ThirdDistrict PTA) has created a high amount ofmembership for the school by reaching out to staff.

Last year’s membership was 240 and, by setting agoal of increasing by 10 percent, they did just thatand more by encouraging all to join. PTAPresident Christine Lovett said their principal isvery supportive of PTA, so he pledged schoolsweatshirts for all the staff if they reached 100-percent staff membership. Also, they don’t have acafeteria on campus because they are located at amuseum: the Western ScienceCenter. So they offered free hotlunches for staff members asan incentive as well.

“Have a presence at allschool events before school,summer, registration andmore to create excitement andvisibility,” Lovett shared.

“Havea presence at

all school eventsbefore school,

summer, registrationand more to createexcitement and

visibility.”


Send best practices, tips and stories to [email protected]

“Nowwe are up 315%

in membershipthis year!”


Two membershipchallenges to help you focus on membership

PTA leaders: Here are two chances toincrease membership and engagementwhile also helping you make the most of the California State PTA Annual Convention:

• Put the "T" in PTA with theTeachers Matter…Members Matterchallenge – and win a hotel roomnight at convention! The membershipchallenge recognizes the value ofteachers in your PTA and continues tofocus on increasing membership. Thechallenge runs through Feb. 1, 2016,so you still have time to get all of yourschool’s teachers to join your PTA andmake sure your membership hasincreased! If you do those two things,your PTA could win A FREE ROOMNIGHT at the Town & Country Resortfor the California State PTA AnnualConvention in San Diego. CaliforniaState PTA will be giving away up to 100 room nights, and you can put two people in a room for even moresavings! So don’t miss out on the fun. Application required.

• NEW for 2016: Get men engaged in PTA – A brand-new membership-incentive program is putting the focus on men in your schoolcommunity. With the Kick Off toMale Membership challenge, get 16new men to join your PTA betweennow and Super Bowl weekend (Feb. 7, 2016), and your PTA couldwin ONE OF 10 FREE ROOMNIGHTS AT CONVENTION.Application required.

Get applications, details and information at capta.org.

With a 315-percent increase, Franklin Elementary PTA is excited!

It’s been an exciting year for Franklin Elementary PTA in Redlands (Fifth District PTA), which has seen a major increase in membership and engagement.

When Lani Morales became president this year, she wantedto do something to really help out with their membershipand encourage parents and teachers to join. She and otherPTA leaders created a theme, Get on the Bus: Join FranklinPTA, featuring photos of students and staff who hadbecome members. They visited every class to talk aboutmembership, and the teachers, staff and even the kids gotinto the excitement!

To build parent engagement, PTA leaders met with parentsbefore school as they were dropping their kids off to reallyget the word out. Plus, they shared Member Perks on theback of the school membership flier and spread the wordabout coupons and other discounts.

“The biggest challenge was informing parents that theydon’t have to be at every PTA meeting; just joining was all right,” Morales said. “Now we are up 315 percent inmembership this year!”

http://capta.org/programs-events/convention/

http://capta.org/programs-events/convention/


QWhat’s new this year at convention?

AWow! There are so many new things, it’s hard to know where tostart. We’re going to have different themes and activities each

day. We’re going to bring the history of PTA to life and we are goingto embrace STEAM in a unique interactive way. Everyone whoattends is going to be able to see it, feel it, touch it and smell it—it’sgoing to be a great PTA adventure!

QWho should attend convention?

AAnyone and everyone who has a desire to impact the lives ofchildren and families! That would certainly include PTA leaders

and members, parents, teachers, administrators, students andcommunity members—we have something for everyone!

QWhat workshops will be offered?

AWe’ll have great PTA leader training workshops, hot topics ineducation, family engagement and several brand-new workshops

that you have been asking for. We’ll have table topics and traditionalworkshops as well as a panel discussion on the arts.

Let me highlight just three of the new offerings:• The diversity in our state creates some unique challenges inschools. A new presentation this year is a workshop titled “Cross-Cultural Communication – Keeping PTA Inclusive.” You will learnhow to empower your diverse community, increase awareness andgain new skills for working in these unique environments.

• The local leader survey had a number of requests for informationon working with foster youth. I’m pleased to let you know about“Foster Youth in Transition,” a very special workshop designed tohelp both foster parents and the children about to transition out offoster care.

• We’ve seen a significant increase in students with special needs,and parents who want help navigating the system. Well, we have“Special Education Services 101” to help you sort all this out.

Convention Q&A

•Participate in the business ofCalifornia State PTA

• Attend workshops lead bydynamic leaders

• Hear from fantastic speakerson STEAM, education, the artsand other hot topics

• Gain practical ideas and bestpractices on how to run your PTA

•Network with hundreds ofother people working onbehalf of children and families

• Visit with exhibitors fromaround the state

• Demonstrate your artistictalents with a sidewalk chalkart project

• And so much more!

California State PTA Vice President forCommunications Carol Green sat downwith Vice President for ConventionBarbara Harris to get a peek at theexcitement of convention:

Join thousands of PTAleaders, members, childadvocates, volunteers,educators and communityleaders at the CaliforniaState PTA AnnualConvention in San Diego

May 4-7, 2016


Oh! And before I forget, the ever-popular workshop, “Meetings Gone Wild!” is making a return engagement. All workshops are first come – first serve with open seating, so don’t miss out.

QWill there be an exhibit hall?

AAbsolutely. In fact, we have TWO exhibit halls this year. Thereare quite a few new faces you’ll see in there, too. Another new

activity this year is a special exhibit hall reception planned for thefirst night of convention. I hope our convention participants takeadvantage to check out the programs and products on display.

QWhat’s your favorite part of convention?

APutting all the pieces together to meet the needs of those comingto convention, and especially meeting the folks who come and

participate with us.

It’s great that people from all over California come together tolearn, share and inspire each other and get ready to work togetherfor all children and families. So be sure to say “hi” as we are alllooking forward to meeting you.

Convention Fun Quiz1. What is California State PTA’s premier training event?2. Where can you meet and mingle with thousands of PTAleaders from all over the state?

3. What’s the best way to celebrate your PTA’s successesand get energized for the new term?

4. Where’s the only place you’ll hear amazing speakerson topics such as STEAM and education?

5. Where can you see hundreds of exhibitors featuringPTA ideas, inspiration and free stuff?

6. Where does your voice direct the future of CaliforniaState PTA?

7. What’s the largest parent-teacher event in the nation?

Answer – CONVENTION!

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CONNECT!Stay connected with the latest news, resourcesand information by following California State PTA on your favorite social media network and by

subscribing to free email publications and updates.

VISIT capta.org

2016 Important Dates

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California State

2327 L StreetSacramento, California 95816-5014

Articles appearing in this newsletter may be reprinted in PTA unit, counciland district newsletters only. Please credit California State PTA.

PTA IN CALIFORNIA2327 L Street, Sacramento, California 95816-5014

PH (916) 440-1985 • FAX (916) 440-1986capta.org

January 2016, Official newsletter of the California State PTA, Volume78, No. 2. Four issues published annually. Circulation 80,000. ©2016California Congress of Parents, Teachers, and Students, Inc. All rightsreserved. PTA® is a registered service mark of the National Congress ofParents and Teachers.

President: Justine FischerVice President for Communications: Carol Green

Executive Director: Sherry Skelly GriffithEditorial and Design Team:

Michelle Eklund, Brady Oppenheim, Ralph Ruiz, Pat Ruiz, Whitney McCain

The mission of the California State PTA isto positively impact the lives of all children and families.

Adopted August 2013

®NON-PROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGEPAID

CPSJanuary 2016All month – Kick off mid-year membership campaign 5 – Registration opens for the 2016 California State

PTA Annual Convention in San Diego, May 4-7 31 – Workers’ Compensation Annual Payroll Report due

February 2016 1 – Spotlight Award applications due* 1 – Graduating High-School Senior Scholarship

applications due* 1 – Deadline to qualify for the Teachers Matter…

Members Matter membership challenge 7 – Deadline to quality for the Kick Off to Male

Membership challenge 17 – Founders’ Day

March 2016All Month – Begin ordering Honorary Service Awards(HSAs)

*Due in state PTA office

pta in california - january 2016

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