President’s Corner:
I am glad to report
that Children’s Day at the Legislature was a success for us. Debbie did a good job of setting up our
display to be viewed by those in attendance.
Diane and I watched the table while Debbie visited the members of the WV
Legislature. Diane and I also attended
the WV’s 21st Century Learning First Alliance meeting on February 12th. We were given a presentation of plan that is
being considered. I had some concerns
about some of the ideas but my biggest concern was where parent involvement
fitted in this plan. For anyone wishing
to read about this idea, it can be found in a book written by Ron Robinson,
National Center on Education and the Economy.
The book is called “Tough Choices or Tough Times”. After this meeting Diane and I joined Debbie
at the Children’s Day activities. Also
on February 25th through the 28th your PTA was
represented in DC by Debbie Gurtis, Kathy Parker and myself at the National
PTA’s Legislation Conference.
By the time you are
reading this bulletin, we will be under 60 days from your state convention,
which is on May 2nd and May 3rd at Flatwoods, WV. You
should have already received your Call To Convention. The convention committee has been working hard to give you
informative workshops. We will have a
presentation by the National PTA President-Elect, Charles Saylors, on father
involvement and diversity. We will have
Dr Steven Paine, State Superintendent, doing a town meeting style workshop to
answer many of those questions that you have.
We will have a representative from the State Tax Department, to talk
about tax issues. Want to know more
about security and emergency plans in your school; they will be answered by
Captain Ron Smith. We will have someone
talk about bullying and violence in the school. Krista Farley will be there to talk about healthy choices. Have bylaws and parliamentary procedure
questions? Judi Conrad will have those
answers. Insurance and bonding question
will be answered by Aim Insurance representative. Didn’t think you were an advocate? Jay Cole, Governor’s Educational Advisor will explain that you
are or could be. And last but not
least, we have been getting so many inquiries on the difference between PTA and
PTSA, well National PTA is sending us Annie Krysl to give us that information.
I can’t forget the Friday evening’s reception for our Scholarship winners
followed by the Scholarship Auction to benefit the scholarship fund. And on Saturday will bring the Reflection
Luncheon, where student throughout the state will be presented with their state
award. And last will be Saturday Awards Banquet with the locals being presented with their awards. (Don’t forget you can’t win if
you don’t apply. Fill out application
and return by March 15th.
Application may be found on our website). Wow! What do you
think! All of those activities will
take place within two days. Hope you
will make plans to attend. If you have
any question about the convention please call the office.
Hope to see you at
the convention
Linda Craig
WV PTA President
Parent Involvement at the Middle School Level
This article was
prepared by ACCESS ERIC, with funding from the Office of Educational Research
and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education and is in the public domain.
Many parents who
are actively involved in the education of their children at the elementary
school less become less involved when their children reach middle school. However, parent involvement in a child’s
education during the middle school years is just as important in a child’s
success at school as it is in earlier grades. If school doesn’t have a formal
participation plan for parents, it is important that parents take the
initiative to continue their involvement and collaboration in their children’s
school.
What are middle
schoolers like?
As children grow,
they begin to experience physical, intellectual and emotional changes. The way they learn, feel, see the world, and
relate to other people becomes different from when they were younger. These changes, along with demands from
present-day society and peer pressure, create conflicts and tension in the
adolescent, which are reflected in their behavior in school and at home.
Young people at
this age show a good number of contradictions and conflicts, which normal.
There is no “model” adolescent. All
young persons are individuals with strong and weak points and with positive and
negative qualities. There are some
common characteristics that should be kept in mind in order to understand a
help the middle schooler in daily activities at home and at school.
·
Adolescents have high levels of
physical and emotional energy, which may contrast with long periods of
idleness, generally disapproved of by adults.
·
They take risks, are curious, and love
danger and adventure, yet their feelings can be hurt easily. This is the time when they feel immortal,
but they worry a lot about what their friends think about them.
·
They want to be independent from their
families and at the same time, they need to be pampered and protected.
·
They withdraw and want a private life,
and at the same time, they worry about being accepted by their peers.
·
They demand privileges but avoid
responsibilities. At the same time,
they are developing an awareness of social problems and the welfare of others.
Adolescents from
other cultures sometimes face an additional burden as they develop their
identities and try to comply with the requirements of home and school. On one side, they have the values and
customs of the home that the family wants to maintain, and on the other, they
have to respond to the demands of their peers and teachers, who have different
set of rules.
Why is it important
for parents to be involved at the Middle School level?
The results of
recent research are very clear: When parents are actively involved in their
children’s education, they do better in school. The academic level of the parents, their socioeconomic level, and
their ethnic or racial origin are not determining factors for academic success. It is essential for parents to have a
positive attitude regarding education, and to demonstrate trust that their
children can do well.
How will children
and your school benefit from your involvement?
When parents become
involved, both students and school benefit:
·
Grades and test results are higher:
·
Student attitudes and behaviors are
more positive;
·
Academic programs are more successful;
and
·
The schools as a whole are more
effective.
The participation
of all parents, including those with limited knowledge of English, is important
to the academic achievement of their children.
Such participation has many positive consequences for the family, the
school, and especially for the young adolescent:
·
The family has the chance to understand
the school system better.
·
The teachers can understand students
who come from other cultures more easily.
·
The students receive support from
adults in order to confront the problems of adolescence-particularly where
these problems are accentuated by the conflicting cultures of home, friends,
and school.
·
The school can become the natural
extension of the home, aiding in the preservation of families’ cultures and
values.
What can parents do
in the middle school?
The way that
parents become involved in the middle school can be somewhat different from
what they were accustomed to in the elementary school. Generally, the building is larger and it
could be located farther from home. A
middle school student may have several teachers, not just one as in the
elementary school. The schedule is
probably more complicated. Don’t be
surprised if your teenagers feel embarrassed when you go to their school. It is not uncommon for them to resent their
parents’ presence at school. Here are
some suggestions to increase your involvement:
·
Get to know several teachers, not just
one. Don’t wait for a problem to talk
to them.
·
Keep in touch with the guidance
counselors. They generally know all of
the students in the school, and they can keep you informed regarding the
progress and the behavior of your child.
·
Read all information on school policies
and curriculum carefully. Normally,
schools send this information home at the beginning of the school year.
·
Review your child’s school records each
year. It is your right and you should
know what information is in the file.
·
Keep informed about your child’s grades
and test results, especially in any subjects in which he or she ahs
problems. Ask for help if it is needed.
·
Request periodic meetings with the
teachers. If you don’t speak or
understand English, ask for a translator or bring a bilingual friend or family
member with you. Request information
concerning program that the school offers to students with limited English
proficiency. Be sure your child is
place in the program that best meets his or her needs.
·
Get to know other parents and form
support groups to work on problems and issues of mutual interest.
·
Answer notes and other correspondence
the school sends. If you do not
understand the messages due to language problems, ask the principal to send
them to you in the language you understand.
Most of this
information was taken from “The Middle School Years: A Parents Handbook. Submitted by: Tracey Dickenson, Northern
Regional Director
Bring Your Bylaws to Convention
All units are encouraged to bring a
copy of the most recent bylaws to convention for the Bylaws workshop. We will
help you understand them. If your unit is one that still needs to update your
bylaws, we will take the time to make recommendations so your unit can approve
them and still be in good standing before this year comes to a close.
Submitted by Susan Burner, WV PTA Vice President and Bylaws Chair
A dog's purpose----- from a 6 year old
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish
Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little
boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a
miracle.
I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family
we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia
procedure for the old dog in their home.
As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be
good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane
might learn something from the experience.
The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family
surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time,
that I wondered if he understood what was going on.
Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.
The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any
difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's death,
wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human
lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."
Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned
me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation.
He said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a
good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?"
The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so
they don't have to stay as long.
Remember,
if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
* When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
* Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
* Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be
pure ecstasy.
* Take naps.
* Stretch before rising.
* Run, romp, and play daily.
* Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
* Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
* On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
* On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
* When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
* Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
* Be loyal.
* Never pretend to be something you're not.
* If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
* When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle
them gently.
Submitted by Judy
Snider, Hancock Co. Council PTA President
WV PTA Membership Awards
Certificates
§
Blue
Seal 10% increase in membership over last
year
§
Red
Seal Membership equals 50% of school
enrollment as of 11/15/2007
§
Gold
Seal One adult per child in school
§
Gold
Seal/PTSA One adult per student
and 30% of student enrollment
Oak Leaf Award (Plaque or
Bar)
A
plaque is given the first year. Each
additional year, a gold bar with the date engraved will be given to place on
the original plaque. This award is
based on:
§
School
enrollment up to 250 60%
§
School
enrollment from 251-750 50%
§
School
enrollment 751 and above 40%
Special Awards
§
PTAs
with a membership increase of 50 or more
§
PTA
with the largest membership increase regardless of enrollment
§
PTA
with the largest membership increase over last year (based on percentage)
§
PTA
with the largest percentage of members based on school enrollment will be
presented to PTAs in the following categories:
§
School
enrollment up to 250
§
School
enrollment from 251-750
§
School
enrollment 751 and above
Incentive Awards
§
100% Faculty – units with 100% of faculty and administrators belonging to unit.
§
Focus on Fathers – 30% of membership is comprised of fathers/male guardians.
OMDR
Participation Awards
§
Input officers using National PTA’s OMDR website by 03/15/2008.
§
Input 10 members or more using National PTA’s OMDR website by 03/15/2008.
Must be postmarked or faxed by March 15, 2008
Our Voices Are Being Heard
Dear Debbie:
Thank you for the opportunity to meet
you and discuss the various issues concerning education and the concerns that
the Parent Teacher Associations are facing. I apologize that our meeting
was somewhat rushed due to the increase of committee meetings that I must
attend as the session progresses. However, I hope that I was able to
anser most of your questions and concerns regarding this matter. As
always, I enjoy working for people such as yourselves who devote so much time
and energy to education. The PTA truly plays a vital role in implementing
programs that increase parent and teacher involvement as well as are wonderful
advocates for children throughout West Virginia.
I enjoyed meeting you and should you
ever need to discuss any further issues, my door is always open.
Very Truly Yours,
Senator John R. Unger II
District 16
Children’s Day at the Legislature
Linda Craig, Diane
Klinger, Patty Histed and myself attended Children's Day at the Legislature on
Wednesday. We started setting up our table on Tuesday evening after the
Public Policy Forum, and Patty finished the table on Wednesday morning.
We attended the
Opening Program at the Cultural Center, which included "We Are the
Future" musical performance, and "West Virginia's YouTube Youth Forum
with Legislative Panel." The YouTube Forum had questions from youth
throughout the state to ask the legislative panel. Questions included the
driver's license linked to grades legislature, CHIPs insurance, etc.
The exhibit area in
The Capitol Rotunda was very busy in the morning. Lots of people stopped
by to pick up our information and ask questions. Quite a few older kids
were picking up the PTSA brochure. Things slowed down quite a bit after
12:30 p.m.
I had meetings with 3
Senators - Senator Plymale, Senator Unger and Senator Boley, all of the Senate
Education Committee. Senator Boley is from my district. She is a
past PTA President of 3 different local units, and served on the West Virginia
PTA Board of Managers in the 1970's on the Legislative Committee and then
as Legislative Chair. All 3 Senators are very supportive of PTA and what
we do. I discussed with all of them the possibility of a PTA Advocacy Day
at the Legislature next year, and they are all willing to do whatever is
necessary to make that happen and to help us. Senator Boley volunteered to do a resolution declaring
whatever date we choose as "PTA Day at the Legislature." The
Senators also offered to do workshops for parents on how to advocate for their
children, and to help get parents comfortable with the advocacy process.
Senator Unger offered for me to use his office, and his secretary, anytime I am
in Charleston during Legislature.
I did discuss with
the 3 Senators a few issues such as parent involvement, safe schools, bullying,
and health and wellness. I made the point that I believe that health and
wellness should be comprehensive and include mental health as well.
I made up packets of
information for all of the members of the House Education Committee and the
Senate Education Committee. I focused on advocacy info in these packets, including copies of
the PTA Grassroots Advocacy Toolkit CD (thanks to Sue Woodward's secretary,
Debbie Conger, who burned all 42 CDs for me!).
Thanks so much to
Diane and Linda for manning our PTA table on Wednesday and answering people's
questions and giving out our information, and to Patty for help with set up and
tear down. Patty had a very important meeting at Huntington Middle School
to start a new PTA on Wednesday, so she could not be with us the whole day.
Submitted by Debbie Gurtis
President-Elect
Berkeley County Council News
The Berkeley County Council PTA
hosted a Healthy Hearts Make Healthy Kids Walk at Martinsburg Mall on February
9, from 8:30 am-10:00 am. We had over 50 people attend this great event
to promote physical activities for families in the winter months.
Everyone that attended received a bottle of water and was entered in to a door
prize drawing. Our goal was for everyone to around our mall path 3 times
which would equal two miles, and everyone achieved that goal! When concluding
our walk over 30 prizes were given out. We are proud to say four
families have reported back to us that they are now making the walk a weekly
tradition!
The Berkeley County Council PTA
will be holding a Bargain Basket Bingo at Bunker Hill Elementary School on February
23, for the bargain price of 25 games for $15.00. As an incentive to
local units to help sell tickets the Berkeley County Council PTA is offering a
free convention registration, and two night hotel stay to the unit that sells
the most tickets.
Berkeley County Council PTA will
be sponsoring a Community Egg Hunt at War Memorial Park in Martinsburg on
Sunday, March 16, at 2:00 p.m. This hunt will be open to the public to
promote PTA. We will have a visit from the Easter Bunny during the hunt
and lots of prizes for special eggs. All attending will receive a drink,
snack and a packet about PTA.
Submitted by,
Sherry Myers BCC PTA President
From Valley View PTA
The Valley View Elementary PTA has been busy
working with our Title 1 department sponsoring a new program this year,
Watch D.O.G.S. This successful program has put Dads in our school almost
everyday since February 1st.
Valley View Elementary PTA will also host a
PTA Art Show and Auction on March 11. This night we will display art
work from every student in the entire school. Additionally each class
will make one art project together, decorating table runners, and these pieces
will be up for silent auction that night.
Valley View Elementary PTA will host a
Muffins for Moms morning on March 18. Students may enjoy a breakfast of
muffins, fruit and juice with their mothers or mother figure in
their life. Then the mothers will be invited to stay at school for the
remainder of the day to plant flowers outside to help beautify our school
grounds.
Submitted by Sherry Myers
