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Questions to Ask During the Parent-Teacher Conference
- What subject does my student like most? Least?
- What can I do to help my student with subjects he finds difficult?
- How can I help my student study? Prepare for class? Improve his work? A good time to ask these questions is when the teacher gives you samples of your son's or daughter's work.
- Is my student trying as hard as he/she can?
- Does my student participate in class discussions and activities?
- Is my student in different classes or groups for different subjects? Which ones? How are the groups determined?
- How well does my student get along with others?
- Has my student missed classes?
- Have you noticed changes in the way my student acts? For example, have you noticed squinting, tiredness, or moodiness that might be a sign of physical or other problems?
- How are you measuring my student's progress? Through tests? Portfolios? Class participation? Projects?
- What kinds of tests do you give? What do the tests show about my student's progress? How does my student handle taking tests?
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E-Membership Cards Are Available
We're excited to announce that Sixth District Membership is higher than it was this time last year! Don't forget to continue sending your membership forward so that we can continue to grow! Membership numbers fortify our advocacy voice!
Keep your members engaged by providing them their membership cards!
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Training Opportunities
For All Exec Board Members, Auditors & Parliamentarians
All classes will be held at:
Santa Clara Unified School District
Santa Clara, 95051
Use rear parking lot entrance on St Lawrence Dr.
Monday, October 30
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Finance for all Officers
- Managing the PTA's finances is not just the treasurer's job. Discover how all board members fit into the finance picture. Attendees will understand the importance of complying with federal government standards needed to protect the assets of the PTA.
Parliamentarian Basics
- We will discuss the role and duties of the parliamentarian. We will also review unit bylaws. Learn what is in your bylaws and why. Knowing what's in your bylaws can make you a better officer and PTA member. Make your PTA life easier - Get the most out of your bylaws!
Tuesday, November 7
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
How to Audit PTA Books
- Don't wait until the end of the year to prepare for the audit. Get simple strategies and tips for making audits a piece of cake! Learn how to plan, conduct and report the outcome of your PTA audit. Reassure your members their resources are being managed in a businesslike manner which complies with all regulations. This workshop is not just for auditors; any officer, especially the president, treasurer and secretary, would benefit from understanding what is required to pass a PTA audit.
Parliamentarian: Nominations & Elections
- The Parliamentarian begins the annual process for nominations and elections; we'll discuss the timeline, what's in your bylaws of who is involved, how to elect the Nominating Committee, how PTA elections happen, and finally discuss meeting procedures using Robert's Rules of Order for parliamentary procedure.
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School Funding: Is Bad Good Enough?
Think you understand how well our schools are funded today, with Prop 30, Prop 55, and LCFF, and where we're headed in the next few years?
YES?
NO?
Either way, please:
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Tax Help Day
Monday, October 30 & Tuesday, November 7
6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Santa Clara Unified School District
Santa Clara, 95051
Use rear parking lot entrance on St Lawrence Dr.
Last appointment at 8:00 pm
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How to Help the Communities Affected by Fire
(also applies to hurricanes)
We've been breathing in the smoke from Sonoma and Napa, while keeping an eye on the hills nearby. Many of us are asking how to support the families across our country who need to recover and rebuild after losing so much this year from fire and from hurricanes.
PTA cannot make personal gifts to specified families or individuals, but PTA can help. Here's how:
PUBLICIZE:
In your PTA newsletters, websites, online sites, encourage your community to make monetary donations directly to trusted relief organizations. Cash donations are much preferred over material donations after disasters. Relief organizations can use cash donations to fund exactly what is needed for the community.
- For local fire assistance, CAPTA recommends donating to the North Bay Fire Relief Fund Redwood Credit Union is paying for all administrative costs for the North Bay Fire Relief Fund, so 100 percent of donations will go to relief efforts and directly to aid the victims.
SUPPORT STUDENT EFFORTS
: Your PTA can support student efforts to fundraise for disaster relief by publicizing the student events and by volunteering. Many middle and high schools have student associations which plan activities. By publicizing and supporting student events, PTA is helping students grow and become responsible citizens, in addition to helping communities in need.
DONATE
: Your PTA can make a donation to a relief organization recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) organization, such as Red Cross or the Salvation Army or another PTA. To do so, your membership must vote at an association meeting to change the budget to make the donation. This must be recorded in the meeting minutes.
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For North Bay Fire Relief, donations can be made to the
Fourteenth District PTA which serves Sonoma County. They plan to distribute all funds received to local PTAs and schools in need. Checks can be sent to Fourteenth District PTA, c/o Abby Fellman, 1648 Andover Way, Petaluma, CA 94954.
FUNDRAISE
: Your PTA can organize a fundraiser, with funds going to a non-profit
501(c)(3) organization. The membership must vote on the fundraiser at an association meeting prior to holding the event. The motions must specify the fundraiser event, specify the recipient organization which will receive the proceeds, and amend the budget to include the fundraiser. Please note that for tax purposes the funds raised will count toward your PTA's gross income and may put your PTA into a new tax category.
HELP OVER THE LONG TERM
: It will take many months, if not years, for the communities hit by fire and hurricanes to recover. Consider planning an event or making a donation later this school year or next year to help the ongoing relief efforts.
Please contact Sixth District if you would like more guidance about how to help fire and hurricane victims.
- Elena Shea, Out-of-Council Chair
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Due Date Reminder - October 15
Thank you to the many PTAs/PTSAs that have already submitted the following:
- 2016-17 Annual Financial Report (July 1 2016 - June 30 2017) - Sample
- 2017-18 Budget (July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018) - Sample
- Insurance Premium ($228 for units)
- Out-of-Council Administration Fee ($50 - Out-of-Council units only)
- Tax Returns: 990n/990EZ/990; 199n/199; and RRF-1. Please send a signed copy of the 990EZ/990, 199, and RRF-1.
And for those of you who have not yet turned them in:
- Units in councils - please send to your council by their deadline.
Sixth District PTA
1290 Ridder Park Drive, M/C 214
San Jose, CA 95131
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Emergency Notification System
In the event of an earthquake or other disaster event, you can receive life-saving information through your County's emergency notification system.
Each county provides a way to send messages to not only land lines, but also to wireless devices and e-mail addresses of people who have signed up. For residents or anyone who works in a county. Signing up is free.
San Francisco City and County - AlertSF
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PTA Calendar of Essential Requirements
October 2017 -
- Insurance Premium - $228 for units
- Thank your September Volunteers
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Previous Issues
- Due Date Reminder - October 15
- Legislative Round Table - Save the Date
- October is Dyslexia Awareness Month
Oct 4 - Explaining the News to Our Kids
- A Meeting Activity to Engage Your Parents
- Parent Education - Screenagers Documentary on Social Media
- FYI - Simply Shared
- Community Concerns - Homeless Students
- Three Contests for High School Students
Sept 27 - Learn and Gain with Ed100
- Emergency Notification System
- Banned Books Week
- How to Win $1000 for Your School
- FYI - Simply Shared
Sept 20 - We Have a Vacancy - What Do We Do
- First Financial Deadline of the Year
- Parents for Healthy Kids Website
- The Arts & Equity
Sept 13 - What's the Name of My PTA
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Parent Education - "Real Parents, Real Kids, Real Talk"
- Training Saves You Time
- National Arts in Education Week
- Do 1 Thing Monthly Reminder - Be Informed
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Feel free to forward this e-newsletter to any and all PTA officers, members and other interested persons, and encourage them to
join our mailing list.
As always, you are encouraged to send us your suggestions for articles and additional information you would find useful. Thanks!
Questions? Comments? Contact
News You Can Use and News Flash e-newsletters
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