Our final meeting of the year features awards and scholarships! May 5

Save the Dates!

2/14 - FCCPTA Nominations Due
3/15 - FCCPTA Awards Applications Due
3/31 - FCCPTA Advocacy Night (rescheduled from 12/2)
4/16 - PTA NOVA District Student Awards Ceremony, TJHSST Auditorium
4/19 - NOVA District PTA Annual Meeting
5/6 - FCCPTA General Membership Meeting and Elections
6/6 - Local Officer Training, Luther Jackson MS
In this Issue
  • FCCPTA Nominations
  • Advocacy Night
  • Awards
  • It’s About Time Campaign
  • FCPS Summer Camps
  • RFFK Culinary Challenge
  • Resources All Year Long
FCCPTA Nominations Due Tomorrow

The window of opportunity to seek a nomination or recommendation for FCCPTA’s Executive Board is quickly closing. Visit  https://tinyurl.com/fccpta2020  by February 14 to help form a vibrant team of Fairfax County Council PTA (FCCPTA) leaders. Either apply to serve, or refer a leader who may have been overlooked.
 
FCCPTA strives to work with local PTAs and the community at large to provide our children with the highest quality educational environment and opportunities available. With your dedication and leadership, the FCCPTA will continue to be a powerful voice for all children; a relevant resource for families and communities; and a strong advocate for the education, health, and well-being of every child. 

FCCPTA presents a unique opportunity for Fairfax County families to learn about the school budget process and share what matters to them. Elected officials from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and the FCPS School Board representing each District have been invited and will present their priorities for the year. Elected officials will spend time meeting with constituents from their regions and discussing concerns. This is a great opportunity for PTA members to make their voices heard with our elected officials. A light dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m., with discussion from 7-9 p.m. at the Fairfax County Government Center. Register here . Questions? Contact Matt Dunne, vp.advocacy@fccpta.org .
FCCPTA 2020 Awards Focus on Student Safety and Wellness.

 Awards up to $1,000 will be granted to PTAs that demonstrate activities promoting one (or more) of the following categories:
* Alcohol, Tobacco/Vaping, and Drug programs
* Bullying Prevention & Intervention
* Digital Citizenship & Online Safety
* Food & Nutrition Programs
* Gang Prevention and Education
* Gun Violence Prevention and Education
* Mental Health and Resiliency
 
The application questions are designed to gauge efforts
towards engaging the full school community in a student-centric manner. Applications are due March 15. Winners will be announced at the May 6 General Membership Meeting. Apply here .
It’s About Time campaign advocates for seven-day access to public libraries.

What would you do with more time at your Fairfax County Public Library? The Coalition to Expand Library Access is launching a new campaign, called “It’s About Time,” to advocate for:

·        Sunday hours at ALL public libraries
·        Same hours at ALL libraries
·        More books and materials

Click  here  to sign up for It’s About Time updates. Visit  celafairfax.org  to learn more.
Real Food For Kids Culinary Challenge. The 2020 Culinary Challenge is the only event in the US that gives students the chance to influence what is served in their school cafeterias. Twenty-one teams from seven school districts will participate in three categories: breakfast, lunch and snack. Come have a taste and judge for yourself which team should take home the top prize! 10:45 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday March 21 at Hayfield Secondary School. Register here . Interested in volunteering? Sign up here
Now is the time to consider National PTA’s School of Excellence Program! By enrolling in this program, your PTA and school administrators are making a year-long commitment in identifying and implementing an action plan for school improvement based on  PTA's National Standards for Family-School Partnerships  and  Transformative Family Engagement .

Those that exhibit improvement are honored as National PTA Schools of Excellence, a distinction that spans two years. Honorees receive celebration tools and automatic consideration for the  Phoebe Apperson Hearst Award  and a $2,000 grant for their school. PTAs are encouraged to renew their designation each year, or every other year, to continue to build on their momentum.

Your School of Excellence designation will help attract new, action-oriented PTA members who want to focus on the issues that affect our children the most. And being a National PTA School of Excellence will open the door to other honors and opportunities for your school. Enrollment opens later this year.
FCPS has an engaging summer planned for your students! The Career and Technical Education (CTE) office will have two camps this year - Tech Adventure Camp and CTE Summer Academy. Additionally, we are offering select courses for credit! For details on the activities we have planned, please read below.
·        CTE Summer Academy:  https://www.fcps.edu/camps-and-institutes-stem-camp
FCPS Summer Camps. The Career and Technical Education (CTE) office will have two camps this year - Tech Adventure Camp and CTE Summer Academy. Additionally, we are offering select courses for credit! For details on the activities we have planned, please read below.
·        CTE Summer Academy:  https://www.fcps.edu/camps-and-institutes-stem-camp
FCCPTA Meeting Dates
2019-20 General Membership Meeting Dates

May 6 - Meeting, Awards & Elections

Meetings are held at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Gatehouse Administration Center, 8115 Gatehouse Rd in Falls Church. Meetings are preceded by a 6:30 p.m. Parent Update by Superintendent Scott Brabrand.

Need anything? We’re here to help!

Jane Miscavage,  president@fccpta.org
Kara Jenkins,  vp.outreach@fccpta.org
Matt Dunne,  vp.advocacy@fccpta.org
Denise Bolton,  vp.programs@fccpta.org
Michelle Leete,  vp.training@fccpta.org
Ann-Marie Ward,  treasurer@fccpta.org
Terri Radziewski,  secretary@fccpta.org