Livonia PTSA Council Courier
January 2020 - Happy New Year!
Welcome to 2020!
Happy New Year to all! Here we are, heading into a new decade with new possibilities! This month we know our units, schools, and LPS leaders are all getting back into the swing of things after a well deserved break! We also know that all the units will continue to make AMAZING things happen in 2020 and we can't wait to see it! Remember that you can share your events/successes by submitting an article to this newsletter! Now, let's try to get through the rest of this winter WITHOUT any more snow storms! Yeah I know . . .wishful thinking!
Final Reminder For Founder's Day RSVP's!
Founder's Day RSVP'S (including a list of attendees AND payment) are due NO LATER than Thursday, January 30th!
I am still missing RSVP'S from Buchanan, Grant, Hayes, Niji-Iro, and Riley. Please contact me ASAP!
Debbie Pline, Founders Day Chairperson
rdpline91@gmail.com or 734-788-4009
Last Call For Founder's Day Photos!
THIS IS YOUR FINAL REMINDER!
The Founder's Day Photo Album will be open until Monday, February 10th! PLEASE submit all photos by then and please be sure to label your photos with your unit and the name of the event in each picture! Without labels, we don't know which unit the photos belong to!
We would like to have each unit represented!
You can submit them to https://photos.app.goo.gl/zwt6aj6kaigf2xBV9
We Appreciate Our School Board!
January is School Board Appreciation Month and the Livonia PTSA Council would like to recognize the members of the Livonia School Board who work tirelessly to keep the level of education strong within Livonia Public Schools. These individuals are just ordinary citizens with an extraordinary dedication to public schools. Their job is to establish a vision for the education program, design a structure to achieve that vision, ensure schools are accountable to the community, and strongly advocate for continuous improvement in student learning. The job of a school board member is tough, the hours long, and the thanks few and far between. Too often we’re quick to criticize school board members without really understanding the complex nature of their decisions. When you see them around town, at concerts, plays, sporting events ,and PTSA events (including the chili cook off), thank them for their time and dedication.
Mark Johnson- President
Colleen Burton - Vice President
Tammy Bonifield - Secretary
Liz Jarvis - Trustee
Dan Centers - Trustee
Karen Bradford - Trustee
Crystal Frank - Trustee
Council President
Kellie Dummer
Council's January Workshop
At our January PTSA Council meeting we had a leadership round table. We discussed ways to be an effective leader, ways your PTA nominations committee can find the right people for the right positions, and how to be an effective PTA board.
Some of the tips that were given were:
- Learn to lead by example
- Be goal-oriented. Instead of focusing on the problem at hand, an effective leader directs attention towards a solution
- Share the glory when things go great
- Take responsibility when things go wrong
- Become a master of communication
- Be approachable, organized, and be able to delegate
You can also get some great leadership learning tools on the National PTA website. http://www.pta.org , Run Your PTA, eLearning
We also discussed volunteers: How to get them and how to keep them.
- Ask, Use, & Thank- Make sure to always ask for volunteers, don't try to have just the board do everything. Use all volunteers that show up, even if that is as simple as providing directions during an event. Thank all volunteers.
- Make sure to give people a description of committees or what you are asking them to do. Try re-wording things, for instance, instead of saying "Staff Appreciation Chairperson" (which can sound overwhelming), ask for people who like to show teachers/staff appreciation.
- When your nominations committee is formed, make sure they read the bylaws as to who is eligible to be on the board and contact the schools that feed into your school. For instance at the 5-6 school, contact the elementary schools that feed into your school and have them post something in their newsletter or weekly email.
Thank you to all the unit representatives who attended this important workshop!
Council President
Kellie Dummer
PTSA D.A.D.S. Chili Cook Off
The 6th Annual Chili Cook Off took place on January 18th and in a snow storm once again! But that didn't stop us! So many people came to warm up with some fantastic chili and to support their school! It was the most attended Chili Cook Off yet! 12 schools were represented with 19 chili entries! There were fabulous raffle baskets, a bake sale, a DJ, balloon animals and glitter tattoos, and a 50/50 raffle!
A very special thank you to all of our donors (pictured below). They donated some amazing items for our raffle baskets! We'd also like to give a special shout out to DO Apparel for making special Chili Cook Off t-shirts for our entrants as well as aprons for them all! Thank you to the Kiwanis Early Risers for always being a part of this event and donating the grand prize of $500 to the winning school's PTA! And lastly, thank you to the PTSA Council's Chili Cook Off Committee for putting on a fabulous event! Well done!
Congratulations to the Winners!
Grand Prize Winner - Best Chili
People's Choice Winner- Best Chili
Hottest Chili Winner
Best Dressed Table Winner
Check Out That Crowd!
Thank You To Our Donors!
Our Competitors Go All Out!
It's All About Family!
When LPS Leaders And Council Collide!
The Chili Cook Off Committee Minus One!
There Was "Magic In The Air"!
Did We Mention Raffles?
PTA Shout Out!
This month's PTA Shout Out goes out to several PTA Boards!
Holmes, Hoover, Riley, Buchanan, Webster, Kennedy, Franklin, Grant, Johnson, Emerson, Jackson Center, and Niji-Iro!
All 12 schools had entries in the PTSA Council's Chili Cook Off. We know getting participation in events can be difficult sometimes, but you guys made it happen! Way to go on getting out there and talking to your members about entering! It was a fantastic event and we couldn't do it without you! Thank you all!
Andrea Malenfant
Council Newsletter Chair
Reflections Award Ceremony
We will be celebrating all of our Reflections participants and winners this Thursday, January 30th at Stevenson High School. The gallery reception will start at 6:30 p.m. in the lobby of the performing arts center and the awards ceremony will start at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium.
We had 130 participants this year from 18 schools, and 72 of their entries have advanced to the state competition. Come take a look at their work and help us recognize their efforts.
And did I mention that Mandy Gerstenbrand is bringing cookies? Come for the art, stay for the cookies. See you there!
Debbie Yates
Council Reflections Chair
YOUR INPUT IS NEEDED!
There are 2 opportunities for you to provide important feedback…
1) The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is updating their Top 10 Strategic Plan and would like public input to help shape the focus area. The survey will close on February 7, 2020 and can be found on the MDE website at www.michigan.gov/Top10in10. A draft of the updated plan is expected to be presented to the State Board of Education in late spring of 2020.
2) Oregon State University and University of Northern Colorado are conducting a national school recess survey and are looking for your thoughts and experiences. The Survey can be found at https://oregonstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_266BvQkI9gOd7UN?fbclid=IwAR1s6r6qFULM8FYw6DyQ84nkLeYX5z1P5ObAvBLSCPa98sYuxjfyIlM8OIU
By Mike Testa (Hoover and Riley PTA Advocacy Chair)
OUTREACH TIP
Be sure to invite City and State elected officials to your activities like Guest Reader Day. Examples include the Board of Education, Mayor, City Council, County Commissioners, State Senator, and State Representative, etc. Also consider inviting Central Office Staff and Alumni. This is good way to involve others in the community.
By Mike Testa (Hoover and Riley PTA Advocacy Chair)
Get Your PEP On!
The PEP Program is underway! Your PEP guide has all the important dates!
Due in February: Attending the Founder's Day celebration. You recieve 100 points per person!
Be sure to submit your Council dues by the 28th! That's tomorrow!
Important Dates for the 2019 - 2020 Year!
* Indicates change ** Indicates update
2020
1/30 Reflections Ceremony | 6:30 p.m. Gallery, 7:00 p.m. Ceremony| Stevenson High School
2/12 Founders Day | 6:00 p.m. | Vis Ta Tech Center
3/18 LPTSA Council Executive Board Meeting | 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. | TBD
3/18 Workshop - TBD | 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. | TBD
4/15 LPTSA Council Executive Board Meeting | 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. | BOE - Conference Room A
4/15 LPTSA General Membership Meeting - Elections | 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. | BOE - Room A
4/16 Youth Making A Difference Ceremony | 6:00 p.m. | Churchill High School
5/20 LPTSA Council Officer Training | 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. | Churchill High School Library
6/17 LPTSA Council Executive Board Meeting | 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. | TBD
7/15 Council Audit Party | 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. | BOE Board Room - Basement
Have You Joined Us On Facebook?
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.
For More Information On Michigan PTA and National PTA
Are you looking for PTA logo merch? Check out the Michigan PTA store here: Michigan PTA Online Store
Click here for more information about the National PTA Local PTA Leaders Guide- http://www.ptakit.org
About us...
The Livonia PTSA Council is a group of 22 local PTA/PTSA Units within the Livonia Public Schools District. The Council is organized under the authority of the Michigan PTA for the purpose of promoting conferences, communications, leadership development and coordination of the efforts of the local units.
Interested in joining Council? There are chair opportunities available! Contact President Kellie Dummer at kellie.dummer@livoniaptsacouncil.org
Email: newsletter@livoniaptsacouncil.org
Website: www.livoniaptsacouncil.org
Location: 15125 Farmington Road, Livonia, MI, USA
Phone: .
Facebook: facebook.com/LivoniaPTSACouncil
Twitter: @LivoniaPTSAC