Akins PTSA Newsletter
November 2021
Welcome to Fall!
The year is now in full swing and your PTSA has been hard at work helping students, teachers, and the community. You may have met a PTSA member at Chalk the Walk or Back to School Night, attended a meeting on campus or via Zoom, or seen our ad in the football program.
The Akins Parent Teacher Student Association is a non-profit volunteer organization which serves to support the students, teachers, and staff at Akins Early College High School through volunteering and fundraising. Each year, we help with:
- student organization support
- Blue & Gold Night
- Back to School Night
- teacher appreciation week
- teacher and classroom support
- Chalk the Walk
- community gatherings
- and much, much more
We thought it might be helpful to compile information about all of our current and upcoming projects in one place, so we'll be sending out this newsletter to you monthly. Please read below to find ways you might be able to get involved. Together, we can make a huge impact.
Wings up!
Akins PTSA was happy to partner with A+FCU to host a teacher breakfast in October.
Fall Membership Drive
We're excited to continue projects throughout the year to support our Akins family, but need your help. Membership dues are our largest source of revenue annually. These funds are used to pay for teacher appreciation events, student organization grants, parent meetings, and more.
We currently have 60 members, but are trying to meet our first semester goal of 100, so through December 10th, we're having a membership drive. Prizes will automatically be awarded to the 75th and 100th paid members and there will also be a prize drawing for all paid members at the end of the drive. There has never been a better time to join!
Membership Dues
Adult $15.00
Student $10.00
How can I pay my PTSA dues?
Online PTSA Portal https://txpta.secure.force.com/JoinPTA
District: Austin ISD School: W. Charles Akins High School
PayPal https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JoinAkinsPTSA
Please be sure to include the name of the person for whom you are paying membership dues.
Check/Cash
Make checks payable to Akins High School PTSA and drop off in the main office or mail to:
Akins PTSA, 10701 S 1st Street, Austin, TX 78748
Akins PTSA Areas of Focus 2021-22
At the first two meetings of the year, the PTSA narrowed the organization's focus to three primary categories for 2021-22:
- Advocacy
- Volunteerism
- Teacher Support
Advocacy
With a high potential for an AISD bond in November 2022, the Akins PTSA will be advocating for facilities improvements at Akins, including replacing portables with an actual building, adding lighting to practice fields, and repairing and upgrading the HVAC system. Many of these projects are already in AISD's 20 year plan for Akins, but with the school operating at approximately 140% capacity, they need to happen sooner than that. We will need parents willing to attend district-level committee meetings to advocate for Akins and make our voices heard.
Volunteerism
Many Akins' students are looking for places to volunteer to meet their hour requirement for graduation. The Akins PTSA has partnered with the Menchaca Elementary PTA to facilitate volunteer opportunities for our students. From Family Fitness Night to vaccine clinics to potential mentoring programs, Akins students will have an opportunity to volunteer throughout the year.
Teacher Support
Teachers are feeling the pressure of not only returning to full in-person classes after a year of hybrid learning, but also dealing with additional district academic mandates and a serious teacher shortage that has added to their workload. The Akins PTSA hopes to be able to provide ongoing support throughout the year to let our teachers know how much we appreciate their work and their care and concern for Akins students.
Support Akins PTSA when you shop at smile.amazon.com
While doing your holiday shopping this year, you can choose to support Akins PTSA at no cost to you.
Simply visit https://smile.amazon.com/ch/74-2974782 and select PTA Texas Congress 10073 W Charles Akins High School as your preferred charity. Then start your shopping at smile.amazon.com and Amazon will donate 0.5% of your purchase to the Akins PTSA.
