Plano ISD Council of PTAs

We announced the winners of the Scrapbook, Directory, Memberships and Outstanding PTA awards. Congratulations to all the winners. View the award winners.

The PTAs of the Plano ISD honored 206 individuals from 66 PTAs on Tuesday, February 17, at the Plano Centre. The annual Plano ISD Council of PTAs Life Membership Banquet provides an opportunity for each of the local PTA units in the Plano elementary, middle, and high schools to recognize their heroes in volunteers, educators, and community members who provide outstanding service to children and youth.

At this year's banquet, entitled "Be a Hero," Texas PTA President Jan Wilkerson gave the Keynote Address to the crowd of about 600 talking about service to students and the community. Plano West senior, Jennifer Goebel, provided the inspirational message to start the evening with a message about being a hero as a volunteer.

Lisa Williams, Plano ISD Council of PTAs 3rd VP of Membership, transformed the Plano Centre into a cityscape skyline where super heroes gather and inspire. Williams and her team of volunteers decorated the Plano Centre, also known as Metropolis, Gotham City or perhaps the Fortress of Solitude for the evening. Batman appeared to escort honorees to the stage.

For over 90 years, Texas PTA has offered the honorary Texas PTA Life Membership as one of the highest honors presented to individuals for outstanding service to children and youth. Those heroes deserving of the honors promote the well-being of children and youth as an advocate in the areas of education, health, safety, and legislation.

Presentations of life memberships publicly recognize those who have given of their time and ability in the interest of young people in Texas. Through the years, over 2500 educators and volunteers in Plano ISD have received honorary Life Memberships.

The Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at UT Dallas has an exciting new opportunity for your students to expand their horizons and explore the world of innovation and entrepreneurship. The two-week Innovation Opportunity Camp will teach students how to turn their ideas into new businesses and solutions for the world. Through team-based learning, business simulation games, and interaction with successful entrepreneurs and UTD faculty, students will learn about entrepreneurship as a career option — how to build a successful new venture and turn it into a career.

Please make this information available to your students before they go on Summer break. Our application deadline is this Friday 5/15/09.

Quick Links…

• Camp Website
• How to Apply
• Scholarship Application

The latest council newsletter is out. Subscribe to the newsletter so you can get your news hot off the e-presses.

Past issues posted on Newsletters page.

We’ve had a busy year to say the least! It began with the Summer Leadership Seminar and advocating a change to 4x4. We honored new Life Members, enjoyed PTA Day at the Capitol, celebrated 20 Years of Plano PTA, celebrated the holidays, diversity and Martin Luther King, Jr. and much more.

Despite all we’ve accomplished, we’re looking forward to another year again meeting back in Austin for another seminar. Thank you to every single PTA member and community member for making a difference in our children’s lives and future.

BubbleShare: Share photos - Find great Clip Art Images.

Don’t let the term “seminar” mislead you. PTA Basic Training all happens in the large and beautiful Austin Convention Center. The seminar comes fully loaded with workshops [pdf file], exhibitors and much more. We want you … to attend SLS!

All the details on the Texas PTA web site. You can also register online. Basic Training runs from July 24 through July 26.

This article, originally printed in Texas PTA’s The Voice, contains year-end tips and reminders sure to help every PTA Treasurer close out the year efficiently and easily. Article reproduced with permission from Texas PTA.

View the full article…

Also posted in Treasurer’s page.

Plano ISD Council of PTAs hosted a fun family day at the Frisco RoughRiders on Sunday, May 3rd. Over 850 PTA members and families were among those who attended the game, unstopped by worries of swine flu or threatening cloudy skies.

Fans were treated to a special presentation before the game began on the RiderVision jumbotron of artwork and photos from the entries of Plano students for the National PTA Reflections program. In Plano, over 55 PTAs received over 5,000 entries from talented PISD students.

After local PTA judging was complete, highly awarded entries moved to the Plano PTA Council, which in turn sent 54 entries to Texas PTA for consideration. Of those, 34 Plano students were recognized with Awards of Excellence, Awards of Merit or Honorable Mentions. Reflections categories include visual arts, music, dance, photography and literature.

At the game, Superintendent Dr. Otto threw out the first pitch and received an autographed ball from the RoughRiders catcher, Chris Gradoville. Plano Senior HS student, Delilah Fernandez sang the National Anthem and appeared unfazed when fireworks went off in the background while she sang “rockets’ red glare!”

School board members, district officials and PTA members all enjoyed a break from the rain with a good ball game, a chance to visit with friends and discover new ones. The kids all enjoyed watching the game, dancing to the great music and participating in the many activities and, of course, eating cotton candy, peanuts and hot dogs!

The PTA Day at the RoughRiders seeks to build community spirit while highlighting arts achievement and raising dollars for student scholarships. This year, every senior at the three senior high schools who is a member of their PTSA will be eligible for a scholarship. One scholarship per senior high school will be awarded by a drawing at the May 12th Plano PTA Officer and Chairman Training.

KT Handley, Plano ISD Council of PTAs RoughRiders Event Chairwoman

What a great year we’ve had for Reflections! We received 515 advancing entries from our local schools for judging at the Council level. The judges were very impressed with the talented students that we have in Plano.

Council judging occurred in December. The top 10% of the Council Awards were submitted to Texas PTA for judging at the state level. 54 entries were sent to Austin from our Plano Council of PTAs. State judging took place on January 28-30. State results should be available by mid-February. We will host a reception for students and their families in April to present our Council Awards. Invitations will be distributed by your local Arts in Education or Reflections Chairman.

2008-2009 Reflections Results [Excel .xls file]

2008-2009 Reflections Results [Adobe Acrobat .pdf file]

Thank you to all of the students who participated and to all of the parents who encouraged them to express themselves through the arts.

The Plano ISD Council of PTAs has adopted a legislative advocacy to change high school graduation requirements in Texas. The project is to secure additional, rigorous high school diploma degree plan choices that recognize individual student’s natural talents, interests and abilities and prepare all students for a variety of career and continuing education aspirations.

Right now, our students who are in 9th and 10th grade are taking a uniform class schedule with only one path toward graduation, and it includes only 3.5 credits of electives. Each students, regardless of interest or ability, is required to take 4 years of high school math, science, social studies and English. For 3 of the 4 years, there are no choices on which math or science class they can take. (The graduation requirement used to be 2 years of math and science, but PISD required 3 years of each)

Did you know there is NO college or university in Texas that even requires 4 years of math and science? In fact, of the top 5 universities listed by US News & World Report, only Harvard requires 4 years of math and science? Right now, over 25% of the Texas science teachers aren’t even certified to teach science, so when the students start taking the additional science next year and the following year, who will teach these classes? Only 6% of teachers become certified in math or science annually. Did you know that in our digital age, there is only one technology credit required?

We think there is a strong value in arts education and the problem solving and life skills associated with it. The inventor of the microchip (thank you for my computer, digital camera & cell phone!) currently has his photography work on display at SMU’s Meadow’s museum and credits the synergy of arts and technology for his creative solutions. PISD students received thousands of dollars in college scholorships for achievement in the arts! Athletics and fitness for life should be encouraged, not dropped because it would be the only elective available to a student. Students with an interest in math and science should be encouraged to explore through interesting, high-level, hands-on projects and classes that let them collaborate with professionals. Students who do not choose to progress to college should leave high school with valuable certifications (nursing assistant, JROTC, network administrator, automotive repair, plumbing, electrician, etc..). We believe all work has value!

The details of this project are outlined in the PowerPoints below. We welcome your feedback and support. Senator Shapiro of Plano Chairs the Senate Education Committee and is in the information gathering mode. Should you wish to contact her to let her know of your concerns, we have posted her information below.

Cara Mendelsohn
president@planopta.org
President, Plano ISD Council of PTAs

Gretchen Abner
legislative@planopta.org
Legislative Chairman, Plano ISD Council of PTAs

Contacting Senator Shapiro
Written correspondence can be sent to:
The Honorable Florence Shapiro
5000 Legacy Dr., Ste. 494
Plano, Texas 75024

Phone (972) 403-3404
Fax (972) 403-3405

For more information click on one of the documents below:

* PTA Advocacy Project Detailed Presentation 9/19/2008 [PDF file]

* PTA Advocacy Project Quick View Presentation 09/19/2008 [PDF file]

Plano was well represented in Austin at the PTA Summer Seminar. We had about 140 members trek to Austin to learn the latest in subjects relating to parent groups. Many changes were announced, lots of ideas were shared, and I think we all came home excited for the coming year!

• Will volunteer background checks still be needed? Background checks will have to be done each year with notary forms at each school where you actively volunteer. Basically, no change in volunteer process.

• Will office volunteers be trained about the system? If volunteers will be using the new system, which is a campus by campus decision, they will need a generic PISD username, and would be trained by their school’s secretary or office manager.

• Will office volunteers be trained about safety procedures? Yes

• What if the visitor doesn’t have a driver’s license? The current system (signing the affidavit affirming that he/she is not a sex offender) would be utilized. A valid Texas ID is also acceptable and can be purchased from the DMV. *See Mark Hinshaw’s e-mail regarding this issue below.

• Will a visitor/volunteer need to swipe their license every time? Once a person has had his/her license swiped, they are “in the system” for that particular campus. The license must be swiped at each campus where you visit or volunteer. However, the best practice would be to have your license with you at all times.

Plano ISD Council of PTAs soared at the Plano parade on December 6. That’s because PTA always swoops in to save the day. Happy Holidays!

Here is the PowerPoint presentation reporting on Plano ISD Council of PTAs’ survey results. If you have questions, please contact Cara Mendelsohn

Remember to check the bulletin board as it has news, events, questions and answers posted by people from various Plano PTAs. We want to make it a resource so you can post questions and events for sharing with others.

Entries go from oldest to newest. So be sure to scroll down. We delete anything that no longer applies to keep the bulletin board clean.

From PISD eNews:

• Library Resources - Access our school libraries and district and professional resources, including millions of online educational streamed videos.
• Instructional Center - Your headquarters for custom tools and resources for students, teachers and parents.
• ParentViewer - View your students’ grades and attendance records in real time.
• eClassroom Center - Homework assignments, class documents and notices are posted here by teachers.
• eSchool - Thousands of students have supplemented their educational programs with this unique Plano ISD program.
• RouteFinder - Enter your home street address to get mapped bus routes and school information.
• eNews - Receive school and district e-newsletters sent directly to your personal e-mail.
• PayPAMS - Pay online for your student’s meals, fare busing and early childhood tuition.
• ePay - Pay online for the PASAR after-school program.
• Parenting Classes - Sign up for one or a series of parent education workshops offered by Practical Parent Education.
• Elementary Schools / Secondary Schools - These profile pages contain information and links to school home pages and faculty & staff e-mail addresses.
• Telephone Directory - Reach your child’s teachers and administrators quickly with this searchable directory.
• Online Volunteer Application - Sign up to volunteer at your child’s school, using this required application.
• Plano ISD Website - Full spectrum of online tools and resources for students, parents and staff.

Plano ISD Council of PTAs awards given in May 2009. Congratulations to all the winners!

Download the Plano ISD Council of PTAs Outstanding PTA Application due March 23, 2010 [doc file]

Texas PTA Awards Information and Applications. The page requires the ID and password that appears on the back of your PTA membership card.

Area 15 Awards Information and Forms

eNews is a free e-mail newsletter service from our district and schools. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Doug Otto encourages parents, employees and students to subscribe to the district eNews and individual school e-newsletters. Archives are also online.

Food Policies and Guidelines

• Texas Public School Nutrition Policy

• Texas Department of Agriculture’s Nutrition Resource

• Event Guidelines and City of Plano Temporary Food Permits

• Temporary/Seasonal Health Permit Application Packet [pdf file]

• PTA Events and Childcare Guidelines