August 18, 2015
Become a School of Excellence
You can also enroll today. Through the National PTA School of Excellence program, PTAs and schools will gain new ways to engage families in school decision-making, such as improvements to programs, practices and policies related to education, health, safety or the arts.
Learn more at PTA.org/Excellence.
Awesome, New Tools For School & You
It’s back to school time again! For many kids, that means using digital devices to complete homework, stay connected with working parents or communicate with teachers and friends.
- PTA Back-to-School Kit - The newly revamped digital kit provides a set of interactive resources to help your local PTAs kick-start a winning school year.
- Digital Backpack - Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) released a guide to ensure your kids develop healthy digital habits by teaching them how to use technology wisely. Check out Good Digital Parenting to Fill Your Child’s Digital Backpack for the advice and tools you will need to guide their tech use at each stage of development.
- Parent Checklist - U.S. Department of Education, National PTA and other organizations collaborated to create a Parent Checklist that offers key questions, tips for educational success and resources for parents.
- The Super 5 - “Be A Learning Hero” delivers the most trusted and meaningful information to help parents and guardians navigate the changes in the classroom and help kids succeed.
Special Preview of The Smart Talk
LifeLock and National PTA want you to be the first to learn about The Smart Talk, a new interactive online tool that lets parent-child duos set ground rules together about smart digital habits.We’ll be launching a campaign to promote it in September and will be relying on you to spread the word and bring this program to your constituents. Consider adding The Smart Talk as a timely topic of discussion for your Back-to-School Meeting agenda. Visit TheSmartTalk.org to learn more.
Together, we can help educate a new generation of good digital citizens.
Mark Your Calendars
Thurs., Aug. 20
Wed., Aug. 19
Sept. 13 to Sept 19
Sept. 14 to Sept. 18
Sept. 21 to Sept. 25
Get Ready for #ArtsEdWeek! Every second week of September, National PTA and partnering organizations promote and showcase the immense role arts education has in producing engaged, successful and college and career-ready students.
Have fun and be creative during #ArtsEdWeek Sept. 14-18 by kicking off your PTA Reflections in a big way!
Visit PTA.org/ArtsEdWeek to help you plan your program kick off National Arts in Education Week and celebrate the arts in your school.
Sponsored Content
Markers? Check. Notebook? Check. Anaphylaxis Action Plan? Check! Help PTA parents of children living with potentially life-threatening (severe) allergies put having a plan for an allergic reaction, or anaphylaxis, at the top of their back-to-school list.
Auggie Maturo of “Girl Meets World,” along with Nina Garcia, “Project Runway” judge and Marie Claire Creative Director, and Chef Amanda Freitag, has shared his story about managing severe allergies to spread the word about the importance of having an anaphylaxis action plan. Learn more http://bit.ly/1w1qZPa.
Auggie Maturo, Nina Garcia and Amanda Freitag are paid spokespeople of Mylan.
Resource for Helping Students Choose the Right Career Path
Know a student who isn’t sure what to do after high school? The ASVAB Career Exploration Program helps students determine interests, measure developed abilities, predict future academic and career success, and explore career options both within and outside of the military. The ASVAB provides students with the tools they need to make an informed career choice tailored to their own strengths and interests.
Get Right with Kuder, Inc.
For over 75 years, more than 165 million people worldwide have relied on Kuder for evidence-based career assessment, education planning and guidance resources.With affordable solutions, our customizable products and services reflect a commitment to encouraging lifelong learning, development and achievement. Earn $10 for your PTA unit for every paid Kuder Coach Package.
Visit Kuder.com for more info.
Your School Could Win a $30,000 Cafeteria Makeover
Great news for PTAs and schools! Uncle Ben’s®: The Ben’s Beginners™ Cooking Contest begins on Aug. 26! Five families will each win $15,000 and their kid’s school will win a $30,000 cafeteria makeover! Entry is easy. Parents and kids create a short video cooking a rice recipe together and upload it to UncleBens.com. Spread the word to everyone in your school! Learn more at UncleBens.com.
1250 N. Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA 22314