May is always a huge month for PTA/PTSA units. Staff/Teacher Appreciation Week is something we plan for months in advance! So much time and energy is put into making it the BEST WEEK EVER! But then...COVID - 19 (Sigh). So, instead of saying "Oh well, there's really no way to do this", a lot of our units stepped up and said "OH YES WE CAN!" Once again, LPS units shined and did what they do best. . .they made it happen! While many couldn't celebrate the way they wanted to, I have a feeling this year's SAW/TAW week will definitely be a memorable one! From lawn signs, to handmade signs, videos, goodie baskets, treats, home deliveries, and so much more, our units came up with the most unique ways to honor and show appreciation to teachers and staff! Council wanted to spotlight these efforts because so many of them were unique and creative. Great job to our units for really giving it your all to give teachers and staff a week of well deserved appreciation and thanks!

Andrea Malenfant

Council Newsletter Chair

This month's shout out goes out to the LPS teaching staff for all the hard work they have done in helping students and families navigate the new adventure of online learning. While we know it can be challenging at times, you have worked together with your fellow teaching staff as well as our LPS leaders to give each student the best education they can receive during this unprecedented time. You have even gone above and beyond for your students who are moving on to their next school building. Like 4th grade teacher Becky Barwikowski from Cleveland Elementary(pictured left), who made all Cleveland 4th graders personalized t-shirts and goodie bags and then delivered them personally to her students! It just goes to show how committed the teachers are to their students. Thank you all for everything you do and are continuing to do. We appreciate you all!

Andrea Malenfant

Council Newsletter Chair

We have wrapped up PEP for this school year! We are proud to announce the top 5 winners this year. Each winning unit will receive a gift card of their choosing in the denomination listed. President Kellie Dummer will contact the President of each winning unit! Thank you for participating and working hard to be the best unit you can be! Congratulations to the top 5:

1st place - Kennedy Elementary with 7275 points. $125 gift card

2nd place - Webster Elementary with 4800 points. $100 gift card

3rd place - Buchanan Elementary with 4100 points. $75 gift card

4th place - Cleveland Elementary with 3850 points. $50 gift card

5th place - Churchill High School with 3800 points. $50 gift card

Cooper PTA made a special delivery to staff that included a lawn sign and a "Teacher Survival Kit"!

Emerson PTSA created a personalized Facebook Frame for students and families to use to show their appreciation for their teachers and staff!

Hayes PTA was hard at work setting up some fun activities for their staff! They put up a fun fence sign and delivered staff goodie baskets! They also set up virtual mock elections, quarantine edition!

Webster PTA sent a note to staff thanking them for everything they do, especially during this time. In that note, there were two features:
1) A choice of an Amazon, Target or Teachers Pay Teachers gift card.
2) A "lesson plan" similar to what their staff shares with families, but it was all about self care for themselves. The note acknowledged how much they are all dealing with and gave them easy, quick things they can do for themselves in such a stressful time.

They also updated their cover photo on Facebook thanking the staff!

Lastly, they involved families by creating two virtual Zoom backgrounds that students could use that week during their virtual meetings. The PTA also collected student photos to make the video below!

Call for Reflections Chairpersons
We are beginning to assemble our team of unit chairs for next year's Reflections program. Any LPS school with a PTA unit in good standing may participate in Reflections. We just need someone to coordinate the efforts at your school. My goal is to have every school participating next year.

I posted a video that tells a little about what the Reflections chairperson does. Please share this with your units and start having discussions with your volunteers that might be a good fit. I already know that a few of this year's chairs are either aging out of the district or their current school, or they are taking on different volunteer opportunities next year. So we'll need a few new volunteers.

Recruiting video: https://www.facebook.com/LivoniaPTSACouncil.Reflections/posts/2723643764533163

Debbie Yates

Livonia PTSA Council Reflections Chair

The Council's Officer Training Workshop was scheduled for Wednesday May 20th at Churchill High School from 6pm - 8pm. Due to the current situation council has decided to cancel this event. It will be rescheduled for some time in the summer. We will inform all units as soon as we have a confirmed date and location.

If you are a PTA officer or committee chair, please make sure to join our page for important information, discussions, and more! A lot of great info is shared on this closed group page. It's also a great way to network with other units, share ideas, and ask for help.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/541318689333449/