2019 will be a great, big, busy year!
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In the spirit of gently easing into the busy spring season, we’re taking a break from our regular format to highlight a few special opportunities to help you build and strengthen your PTAs, replenish your energy, grow your leadership skills, and develop your emerging leaders (think of all those nice, new parents who don’t yet suspect they’ll get a tap on the shoulder from your nominating committee!). We will return to our regular format, and tons of information, in February. In the meantime please let us know how we can support you! Contact Jane Miscavage at
president@fccpta.org
.
January Events At-A-Glance
23
... FCCPTA General Membership Meeting
26-27
... Virginia PTA Annual Meeting, Training and Elections
28
... PTA Day At the General Assembly, #RedForEd March and Rally
Ongoing
... effort to ratify the ERA
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Jan 23: FCCPTA General Membership Meeting
Please attend or send a designee
to the next FCCPTA General Membership Meeting – we have a terrific parent program scheduled!
6:30 p.m.
Superintendent Scott Brabrand provides Parent Update
7 p.m
.Brief business meeting
7:30 p.m.
Executive Functioning and Digital Media: A Framework for Understanding and Addressing the Challenges of Technology Use
.
Executive function, the “ability to get things done” (organize, plan accordingly, set goals, prioritize etc.) is still developing in children and adolescents. Digital media can make it harder for children to develop proper executive function. FCPS school psychologists Dr. Ellen Goldberger and Dr. Josh Kefer are joining us to discuss how adolescents often struggle to regulate their use of digital media. We will explore these challenges and learn how to support our adolescents to lead healthy digital lives.
Thank you to Fabiola Green and our Digital Wellness Parent Advisory Council for organizing this program!
All PTA members are welcome at FCCPTA General Membership meetings – please pass this opportunity along to your parents! Meetings are held at the
FCPS Gatehouse Administration Center
. Park in the underground lot located at the back of the building and take the elevator to the First Floor Café.
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Annual meetings provide meaningful and fun ways to grow your leadership skills, have an impact on the future of PTA, and meet fellow advocates. We conduct the business of Virginia PTA, elect new officers and learn new skills through a comprehensive training program. This weekend is time well spent and you will return to your PTA with new ideas and motivation!
Virginia is a strong PTA state with 1,100 chapters and 225,000 members. You can have a say in the future of Virginia PTA by voting on the business of PTA and its officers. This year, the talented group of officer candidates includes two of FCCPTA’s very own leaders! Congratulations to Debbie Kilpatrick, former FCCPTA President and current NOVA District PTA Director, for being slated as candidate for President Elect. Congratulations to Michelle Leete, FCCPTA Vice President – Training, for being slated as candidate for Vice President – Training on the state level. If you would like to vote in the Virginia PTA election, you must register for the conference and be a member of a PTA in good standing. Learn more about all candidates
here
.
The Annual Meeting and Training is one of the most powerful ways you can strengthen your local PTA. Consider those emerging local leaders you’d like to tap for the next year or two. It is customary for local PTAs to cover convention and training costs, so you can offer to reimburse an interested member. If you don’t have the budget, please consider the generous offer by Virginia PTA President Sarah Gross, who will comp the registration fee for 15 attendees. From yesterday’s VOICE Newsletter: “If you want to come to our Annual Meeting and Advocacy Conference but you don't have the budget, the President's Mission Scholarship is for you! Send me an email at
president@vapta.org
by midnight 1/10/19. Put "President's Mission Scholarship" in the subject line and tell me what our mission means to you and what you hope to learn at conference. 15 lucky winners will receive a complimentary registration for conference! (hotel and travel expenses not included).”
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January 28 PTA Day at the General Assembly
& #RedforEd Rally
Each year, Delegates and Senators meet with PTA members to hear about our priorities for our children’s education. This year, PTA members voted to advocate on issues including increased mental health and school security supports. NOVA District PTA is contacting the delegates and senators who represent our region and will soon publish a list of appointments so you or your interested parents can meet and talk with your elected officials. We will provide advocacy training and materials during the conference. However, if you are only able to drive down Monday – we’re happy to make arrangements and get the information you need to you! Questions? Please contact Julie Shepard,
advocacy@novadistrictpta.org
. After your meeting, stay for the historic
#RedforEd March and Rally
beginning at 11 a.m.
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Virginia is the 10th wealthiest state in per capita income…but per-student spending ranks us 43rd in the Nation. If this upsets you, we look forward to seeing you at the Rally.
If you’d like to support your Rock Star teachers, share this
video
with your parents and let them know about the rally!
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ADVOCACY DAY SCHEDULE (January 28th - subject to change)
9 -11 AM = Meet with your Legislators
11:00 AM = Gather at Monroe Park (620 W. Main St)
Virginia Educators United
11:30 AM = March to the State Capital
12:00 PM = Rally with Virginia Education
Association at the Bell Tower on Capital Square
12:00 PM = General Assembly session starts (You
can watch them in session)
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Thank you to all PTA leaders and members who are working to inform fellow Virginians of the need to ratify the ERA!
The FCCPTA and Virginia PTA Executive Boards have each unanimously passed
resolutions supporting ratification
of the ERA. Ratification is a bi-partisan effort. With enough public support Virginia will become the 38
th
and final state needed to ratify the ERA (the ERA was passed in 1972 and sent to the states for ratification). Help give this effort the Fairfax County overachiever treatment and surpass the 20,000-signature petition goal by signing
here
. Learn more
here
.
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We look forward to our continued work in the new year!
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