January 2015 - Little Rock School District

Little Rock PTA Council
News and Updates
LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT
JANUARY 2015
Message from the President
Thank you to Principal Tyrone Harris and the Brady Elementary PTA
for hosting the December PTA Council Meeting. Special entertainment
was provided by Mrs. Cynthia Grant and her awesome music students.
By now, each unit should have received the membership incentive
letter from the Superintendent regarding the memberships you have
collected for your school this year and the financial awards you should
receive. The membership list for your unit along with dues should have
been submitted to the AR PTA. Schools will be awarded an incentive payment by the
LRSD for each PTA membership submitted, so continue to work on getting
memberships! Those funds are paid directly into the school's activity funds each fall
and spring. Principals and PTA leaders should plan together to determine how the
funds will be utilized.
Please make plans to attend our Annual PTA Founder’s Day which will be held
Tuesday, February 10, 2015 at Hall High School. All PTA members and Past Presidents
are encouraged to attend. American Education Week Awards will be presented at this
special meeting. Details are forthcoming regarding time and ticket prices.
Our next meeting will be held at the LRSD Administration Building. Lunch will be
served at 11:00 a.m. and the business meeting will begin at 11:30 a.m. The featured
topic will be Student Registration—Open Enrollment.
Sincerely,
Greta Freeman
LR PTA Council President
LR PTA Council Meeting Dates 2014-2015
January 13
LRSD Administration
February 10
Founder’s Day
Hall H. S.
March 10
Central H. S.
Inside this issue:
Reflections and LRSD Testing Dates
2
AR PTA Legislative Day
3
Bylaws and American Education Week
4
LRSD Truancy and Dropout Prevention
5
ViPS An Evening for the Stars
6
Parent Involvement
7
Treasurer and Membership
8
Volunteer Opportunity and BE a PIG
9
Dates to Remember
10
LR PTA Council and State Officers
10
Email Attachments
*
April 21
Mann Magnet M. S.
May 12
Spring Awards Celebration
TBA
Please be advised of the following test dates:
Dates
December 15-19
January 20-21
January 20-23
January 26-30
TBD
January 26-March 6
March 3
March 9-11
March 11-17
March 16-May 1
March 5-6
March 30-May 15
April 7-9
April 14-15
April 28-29
April 29- April 30
April 30-May 6
Assessment
Math (grade 2)
Mid-Year EOC Biology Exam
Math (grades 3- 5)
Literacy (grades 3- 5)
Math and Literacy (grades 6-11)
NAEP Assessment for selected schools
ACT Exam (grade 11)
PARCC Performance Based Assessments (grades 3-8)
PARCC Performance Based Assessments (grades 9-10 & EOC)
English Language Development Assessment
Science Alternate Portfolios Due (grades 5, 7, & 10)
National Center and State Collaborative (NCSC)
Alternate Assessment (grades 3-8 & 11)
Iowa Test of Basic Skills (grades 1-2)
Benchmark Science Exam (grades 5 & 7)
EOC Biology Exam
PARCC End Of Year Assessments (grades 3-8)
PARCC End Of Year Assessments (grades 9-10 & EOC)
Tips You Can Use to Help Your Child Have a Successful Testing Experience!
Make sure your child . . .
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Gets plenty of rest the night before the test.
Eats a good breakfast the day of the test.
Feels confident about taking the test because of constant encouragement from you.
Is present everyday during testing.
Has a pleasant home environment free of unnecessary stressors.
www.lrsd.org
NO Registration Fee!
Arkansas PTA—State
Legislative Day
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Poultry Federation Building
321 S. Victory, Little Rock
Agenda:
8:30-9:30
Registration & Light Breakfast Snacks
9:30-11:45
Speakers and Discussion
11:45-12:45
Break for Lunch
1:00-
Visit to State Capitol
Learn to put PTA “Advocacy” into “Action”!
Professional attire recommended.
If possible, please email the state office with an RSVP, so we can prepare accordingly.
We also want to be able to contact you if the conference is cancelled due to weather. Email
us at [email protected].
[email protected]
[email protected].
American Education Week
LRSD American Education Week contest winners will be announced during the LR PTA
February 10th Founders Day celebration to be held at Hall High School. Several entries
were submitted this year and we are excited for all participating students.
Students in kindergarten through third grade submitted art projects reflecting the current
year’s American Education Week Theme: “Great Public School”- A Basic Right and Our
Responsibility. Students in grade fourth through twelfth submitted essays on the topic of
“How My School has Helped Me to Grow Healthier, Wealthier and Wiser”. Each school
sent their top two entries from each grade level to be judged.
All entrants will receive a certificate of achievement and the first place winners in each
category will receive a trophy. Make plans to support our students and attend the
Founders Day Celebration.
Chairperson: Nicole Thomas
LR PTA Council 3rd VP.
[email protected] or [email protected]
LRSD News
“Research shows that attendance is the single most
important factor in school success.”
Arne Duncan, US Secretary of Education
“Schools are responsible for teaching
your child. But schools can’t do their
job if your child is absent. Learning
builds day by day. A child who misses
a day of school misses a day of
learning.”
The Parent Institute, 2011

Missing 10 percent, or about 18 days, of the
school year can drastically affect a student’s
academic success.
Students who are truant or skip school are at an
increased risk of delinquent and/or criminal
activity. Truant students are also at a higher risk
of being drawn into negative behavior patterns
involving drugs, alcohol and violence.
Truancy is more than a school or school district
problem— it is a community problem and with
your help, we can keep our students safe,
protected and in the classroom. LRSD has
Help
interventions aimed at addressing underlying
LRSD problems for students who are reported as truant.
Fight
Truancy, call 447-SKIP
Truancy or skipping school has ramifications
that are costly and far-reaching for the student,
the school, the district and the entire community.
www.lrsd.org
Research indicates that school attendance is the
single most critical factor in school success and
student achievement. Good attendance results in
higher standardized test scores, higher student
achievement, on-time promotion from one grade
to the next, and higher graduation rates.
Mark your calendar for the 2015 ViPS volunteer appreciation event!
 Click here to nominate your school program, volunteers, staff or Partners in Education.
LRSD Parental Involvement Office
LRSD School Cluster Teams
Grade Transition Workshops for Parents and Students
CENTRAL/EAST SCHOOL CLUSTER TEAM
(Participating schools: Elementary: Bale, Booker, Carver, Franklin, Gibbs, King, Rockefeller,
Stephens, Western Hills, Wilson, Woodruff ECC; Middle School: Dunbar, Mann;
High School: Central, Metro
Team Leader: Gregory Hodges (Central High School)
District Point of Contacts: Kamesha Lindsey, 447-7615, [email protected] and
Kaye Rainey, 447-3357, [email protected]
January 24, 2015 ** Time: 10:00 a.m.—Noon **
Host Site: Franklin Elementary School
SOUTHWEST SCHOOL CLUSTER TEAM
(Participating schools: Elementary: Baseline, Chicot, Geyer Springs, Mabelvale, Meadowcliff
Wakefield, Watson; Middle School: Cloverdale, Mabelvale ; High School: J.A. Fair,
McClellan
Team Leader: Dr. Angela Dallas (Cloverdale Middle Academy)
District Point of Contact: Kamesha Lindsey, 447-7615, [email protected])
January 29, 2015 ** Time: 5:30 p.m.—7:00 p.m. **
Host Site: Southwest Community Center
WEST SCHOOL CLUSTER TEAM
Participating schools: Elementary: Brady, Fair Park ECC, Forest Park, Fulbright, Jefferson,
McDermott, Pulaski Heights Roberts, Williams; Middle School: Henderson, Pulaski Heights;
High School: Hall, Parkview
Team Leaders:
Pamela Lewis (Don Roberts Elementary) and Millie Jones (McDermott Elementary)
(District Point of Contact: Kaye Rainey, 447-3358, [email protected])
February 23, 2015 ** Time: 5:30 p.m.—7:00 p.m. **
Host Site: Forest Heights STEM Academy
If you have questions contact one of the LRSD District Point of Contacts listed above.
NNPS Six Types of Involvement
Supported by LRSD Title I/Parent Involvement
Treasurers, please check to make sure your records are in order. The
following deadlines should have been met:

LR PTA Council Fees to LR PTA Council
Treasurer, Marilyn Hopson, P. O. Box
461, Little Rock, Arkansas 72203.

State and Local PTA Membership Dues
and Report to the State PTA Office.

Secure Bond Insurance Policy.

Filed taxes with the IRS.

If you need help with your audit, contact Sandy Becker
([email protected]) or Marilyn Hopson
([email protected]) for assistance.
For assistance with membership questions or concerns,
contact Shannon Johnson, LR Council 2nd VP
[email protected] or [email protected]
LRSD ViPS and Health Services
Volunteers are needed to help supervise classes of Senior High students taking CPR during
January and February. This is a new state graduation requirement.
Manikins have been purchased for each student in the class and
there is a 15 minute training video from the American Heart
Association.
A certified teacher will be in the class at all times. Volunteers are
needed to encourage participation and monitor technique.
Volunteers need to be certified in CPR but not at the instructor level.
The video explains the skills clearly. It takes about 40 minutes to practice the skills.
Parkview High School: January 12 and 13
Hall High School: January 28
J.A. Fair High School: January 29
McClellan High School: February 5
For more information or to register contact Debbie Milam, ViPS office: 447-4450 or
Margo Bushmaier, Health Services, 447-7382.
www.arkansaspta.org
www.pta.org
LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT
PTA COUNCIL
P. O. Box 461
Little Rock, Arkansas 72203
January 2015
Submit stories and information to:
the President
[email protected]
5
Professional Development—Students Out
13
Council Meeting LRSD Administration Building
15
Reflections Entries “Believe, Dream, Inspire” –
State entries due to state chair
the
We’re on
web at
Lrsd.org
LR PTA Council
19
MLK Holiday (Schools/Offices Closed)
26-30
Open Enrollment for 2015-16 School Year
22
School Board Meeting – 5:30 p.m.
February 2015 Career and Technical Education Month
1
Council Award nominations due to Council President
1
State Award nominations due to Arkansas PTA office
2-6
Open Enrollment continues
10
Council Meeting-Founder’s Day Hall High School
13
Professional Development—Students Out
16
Parent Conferences--Students Out
19
Open House, Metropolitan Career-Tech Center
26
School Board Meeting – 5:30 p.m.
LR PTA Executive Board, Committee Chairs, and State Officers
LR PTA Executive Board Officers
Greta Freeman
[email protected]
1st VP
Neva Johnson
[email protected]
2nd VP
Shannon Johnson
[email protected]
3rd VP
Nicole Thomas
[email protected]
Secretary
Shikara Linsy
[email protected]
Treasurer
Marilyn Hopson
[email protected]
Parliamentarian Michelle Odum
[email protected]
Historian
Charlene Kirk
[email protected]
Handbook
Shikara Linsy
Greta Freeman
Charlene Kirk
Bylaws
Neva Johnson
Membership
Shannon Johnson
Awards
Nicole Thomas
Virginia Stuckey
President
LR PTA Council Committees
Advisory
Presidents Club
[email protected]
President’s Task Force
[email protected]
Newsletter
Greta Freeman
ViPS Rep
Ginny Belotti
[email protected]
AR PTA State Officers
AR President
Charles Warren
[email protected]
President-Elect
Keli Gill
[email protected]
VP of Legislation
Henri Smothers
[email protected]
VP of Membership
Beth Everett
[email protected]
Secretary
Betsy Hayes
[email protected]
Treasurer
Melinda Kinnison
[email protected]
Im. Past President
Ray Samaniego
[email protected]
Bylaws Chair
Julie Delashaw
[email protected]
Reflections Chair
Geraldine Nichols
[email protected]
Central Region VP
Phillip Crutchfield
[email protected]
Central Region FSR
Michelle Odum
[email protected]
Arkansas PTA
Office Manager
Shelley Ussery
[email protected]
Monday thru Wednesday
9:00 a.m.—3:00 p.m.
Phone: 501-753-5247 Fax: 501-753-6168
National PTA
www.pta.org