Livonia PTSA Council Courier

News for May 2016

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2016-2017 Livonia PTSA Council officers

Congratulations to our new Officers! Please congratulate them the next time you see them!

President – Joanne Hayes

Vice President – Karen Werden

Second Vice President – Debbie Pline

Treasurer – Tytti Newton

Recording Secretary – Amanda Walworth

Corresponding Secretary – Joy Ellis

The ELVs are looking for some HIgh School student volunteers!

The ELVs (Early Literacy Volunteers) program is back in action at the Livonia Civic Center Library this summer and we have lots of elementary students already signed up to work on reading skills this summer - but we need volunteers to work with them!

If you know any High School students interested in volunteering to read with Elementary students this summer, they can either contact Amanda Walworth at amanda.walworth@livoniaptsacouncil.org or they can sign up online to volunteer here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1JPF9zd09jLCNBo6Tq7H9IQ4piG132-_sQeRSoUO6mFg/viewform

Please help us help our youngest readers become SUCCESSFUL and CONFIDENT readers!

PTA’s Legacy in Advocacy

Today, PTA continues to advocate for quality education and opportunity for every child, in every neighborhood. In 2016, PTA will support the effective implementation of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act/Every Student Succeeds Act (ESEA/ESSA) and efforts to reauthorize and improve the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

PTA will also seek to:

• Expand access to high-quality early childhood education

• Improve child nutrition programs

• Increase federal investments in education

In addition, advocacy efforts will focus on:

• Improving the juvenile justice system

• Ensuring safe environments in and outside of school—including safe-guarding student data

• Providing access to technology to support learning

As always, we continue our historic mission of speaking for every child with one voice.

PTA is the oldest and largest volunteer child advocacy association in the United States. Founded in 1897, PTA has a long, successful history of influencing federal policy to promote the education, health, and well-being of all children, such as:

Creation of kindergarten classes

Child labor laws

Public health service

Healthy lunch programs

Juvenile justice system

Mandatory immunization

Arts in education

Safety in schools


To find out more about PTA's Legislative programs, see their National PTA Public Policy Agenda 2016 report here:


http://www.pta.org/files/Advocacy/Public_Policy_Agenda%202016_FINAL.pdf

PEP winners announced!

The PTA/PTSA Excellence Program — better known as PEP — provides PTA/PTSA units with a way to streamline unit requirements and provide a points system for units who complete the required tasks. PEP helps your unit stay in good standing and encourages unit growth and participation.

Awards to the top three Units were awarded at our April PTSA Council meeting:

First Place was awarded to: Garfield Elementary PTA with 7900 points
Second Place was awarded to: Stevenson High School PTSA with 7350 points
Third Place was awarded to: Webster Elementary PTA with 7300 points

Congratulations to ALL of our Units. Your hard work is much appreciated! We start all over again at our Officer Training Workshop later this month!

Elementary PTA Officers - You're invited!

to join the Niji-Iro PTA for a Games with Grownups night! This is a new event for the Niji-Iro PTA and if you would like to check out how to run a family game night - WITHOUT volunteers (you're interested now, aren't you?) plan to attend on May 20. For more information, contact Rebecca Lenk.

YMAD 2016!

Youth Making A Difference 2016 was another big success! Lots of great projects were on display at Churchill High School Tuesday April 26. Special thanks to Debbie Pline for organizing this magical event again this year.

We had almost 1,200 participants, representing 15 schools. There were lots of amazing service projects, benefiting dozens of local, national and international groups. Our students have such an amazing ability to make a difference. It is one of our favorite events each year! THANK YOU LPS PTA Units and students!

Staff Appreciation Contest is back!

Send ONE photo that best represents how you celebrated Staff Appreciation week by FRIDAY MAY 27 to Livonia PTSA Council president Julie Thompson, who will post them (together in one post) on the Council Facebook page on Monday May 30 - yes, on Memorial Day. The photo that gets the most likes by noon Friday June 3 will win a $100 Gift Card to the store of their choice. Make sure you share and encourage friends and family to like your photo - on Council's Facebook page -www.facebook.com/LivoniaPTSACouncil

2016 Livonia PTSA Council Officer Training Workshop...

...is scheduled for Wednesday May 25 at Franklin High School. ALL INCOMING 2016-2017 PTA OFFICERS SHOULD PLAN TO ATTEND. Please let your newly elected officers know about this - they can sign up online at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1T9FWg0h64gFdKGsWw5T4-9w3u16cmu9L-EhqjXJl5Yw/viewform

2016 Livonia PTSA Council ANNUAL AUDIT PARTY!!!

The annual AUDIT PARTY - is scheduled for Wednesday July 20 at the LPS BOE office. Make sure that you select/elect/nominate your audit committee no later than your MAY PTA Meeting. (CHECK YOUR BYLAWS TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU NEED AND HOW THEY SHOULD BE SELECTED/ELECTED)


WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO SEND YOUR COMMITTEE TO THE AUDIT PARTY.


If your committee can not participate, let us know who your committee is, their contact info and when your audit is scheduled. You will be able to select your 2016-2017 COUNCIL LIAISON at the Audit Party.


Sign up here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1jyspf7NTSOG4Qf9MTfQ1MTqdY58vT6AWFV0SMGn9J_U/viewform

How did we do this year?

Council is looking for YOUR FEEDBACK on our programs and PTA Unit support this year. Please take a moment to let us know if we met your needs this year, and how we can be even better next year!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1jN9zmJ3acLw_YjbUim8mud2CwDjAXPGL8uKxogam9Vc/viewform

Supporting Students and Teachers in Livonia Public Schools

PTA members know it's important to help students succeed in school. They also know that helping teachers goes a long way toward helping students. This is why, about eight years ago, the PTA units in Livonia Public Schools began supporting the LPS Education Foundation.

The LPS Education Foundation believes every child who attends Livonia Public Schools can succeed, and will graduate college or career-ready. To that end, they offer the Competitive Edge college savings program. Under this program, every kindergarten student in the district is offered the opportunity to have a 529 college savings account opened for them. The LPS Education Foundation makes an initial deposit of $100 to each account and adds to it as the budget allows. The money in this account grows over time, and is given to the student upon graduation from Franklin, Churchill or Stevenson High School.

Additionally, the LPS Education Foundation sponsors grants for LPS teachers, which are awarded annually. These grants help teachers to bring new and exciting ideas into the classroom. Teachers welcome the chance to work with innovative equipment and programs, and the Foundation is pleased to help fund those dreams.

When the LPS Education Foundation first began these programs, Livonia's PTA/PTSA units were among its first and strongest supporters. The Foundation is proud to have included Livonia PTAs/PTSAs in its highest level of contributors, and has publicly acknowledged the support of these units. The PTAs/ PTSAs agreed to continue supporting the LPS Education Foundation with annual contributions from each unit. This generosity has helped the Foundation to continue offering the Competitive Edge and teacher grant programs to students and teachers across the district.

The Foundation would like to thank the PTA/ PTSA units of Livonia Public Schools for their continued support. We ask that as you plan your budgets for next year, you remember to include a line item for your annual contribution to the LPS Education Foundation. This is an excellent way to continue representing every child in LPS. Your unit's contribution is making a real difference in our classrooms, and we look forward to working together for years to come.

Board of Directors

LPS Education Foundation

Coming up:

May:
2-6 National PTA Staff Appreciation Week
3 - Cass & Grant PTA meetings
4 - Randolph PTA meeting
6 - Cass PTA muffins with Mom
7 - MI PTA Reflections Awards Ceremony at Churchill High School
9 - Franklin PTSA meeting
11 - Garfield PTA meeting
12 - Johnson PTA Arts, Beats & Ice Cream
13 - Kennedy PTA meeting
17 - Frost PTSA meeting
18 - Johnson PTA meeting
19 - Grant PTA Community BBQ
20 - Kennedy PTA Spring Fling
24 - Churchill PTSA meeting
25 - Livonia PTSA Council Officer Training @ Franklin High School
28 - PTA membership due
30 - LPS NO SCHOOL (Memorial Day)

June:
16 - LPS Last day of School!
28 - PTA membership due

July:
20 - Livonia PTSA Council Audit Party @ BOE Meeting Room (downstairs) 6:00 pm

For More information about the Michigan PTA, click here

For more information about the National PTA, click here:

To access the PTA Tool Kit, click here:

Check out the PTA One Voice Blog here: http://onevoice.pta.org/

Welcome to One Voice, the Official Blog of National PTA. A powerful voice for all children, PTA launched this blog as another platform for our leadership, ambassadors, staff and members to share the work they do on behalf of all children. You’ll read about dynamic programs happening at the local level, commentary on news and issues impacting the everyday realities of children, as well as live action from our conventions and events.

Check out the PTA Our Children Magazine here: http://ptaourchildren.org/

Our Children Magazine is the unique voice for parents.

Go to PTAOurChildren.org for:

  • Tips to help parents best support your child’s academic success and well-being
  • Relevant and timely stories about the successes and challenges of students, schools and families
  • Inspiration from everyday heroes who work to make every child’s potential a reality

Want to contribute to Our Children? View our Editorial Calendar.

Share any comments, story ideas and questions with our editorial team at ourchildrenmagazine@pta.org.

About us

The Livonia PTSA Council provides support and guidance to local PTA/PTSA units within the Livonia Public Schools District. Council promotes conferences, communications, leadership development and coordination of the efforts of the local units.