PARRAS MIDDLE SCHOOL PTSA 
Newsletter
parras paw
Week of December 7, 2020                                                             v.20-21 i.12
Project Unified

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who donated to our Project Unified families! Your generosity is so much appreciated, we are overflowing with Panther Pride!

A huge shoutout to Jamie Fresques for organizing, collecting, shopping, wrapping, delivering... your continued service to our community is inspiring!
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PTSA Nominating Committee

We are looking for PTSA members interested in serving in this year's PTSA Nominating Committee.  

The Nominating Committee recommends individuals to serve on next year's PTSA Executive Board. It's an important role that ensures the best candidates for next year's Executive Board are proposed to the Association.

The Nominating Committee will work from January to March to identify and interview potential candidates, and prepare and present potential officers for consideration at the March PTSA Association meeting.  

I am presenting all persons interested in serving on the Nominating Committee to the PTSA Executive Board at the December Executive Board meeting.  If you would like to serve on the Nominating Committee, please let me know by end of day on Thursday, December 10, 2020.   If you are interested or have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me at 
[email protected].

 
Thank you for your consideration in volunteering on the Nominating Committee. I look forward to hearing from you!

Best,

Carrie Gonzales
Parras PTSA Parliamentarian
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South Bay Hands on Art is proud to present its online art projects.  We may not get to be together, but we can still create.  In fact, there's no better time to bring a little art into our lives than now.  For December, we have "Galaxy Skies" which celebrates the starkness of a winter landscape against the color drenched backdrop of a dramatic sky.  You can use supplies that you have at home - colored pencils, markers, crayons... you could even make it a family project!  To get started, just visit: www.SouthBayHandsonArt.com.

When finished, you can send a picture of your landscape to [email protected] and they will be put into a virtual gallery!


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Support Parras PTSA while you shop at Amazon!

   

Just go to https://smile.amazon.com/Designate Nick G Parras Middle School PTSA  as your organization and shop as usual.  Amazon will then donate a portion of your purchase to Parras PTSA.
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Join PTSA

Did you know that if you are a PTSA member, you have PERKS?

 
We are STRONGER TOGETHER!  Have you joined the Parras PTSA yet?
It's easier than ever, please sign up your family today by clicking on the flyer above.
We hope you will join us for our next PTSA Meeting on January 27 @ 5:30p.  Zoom link will follow.
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PTSA still has a few open positions, please help us out, we need you!
  • Hands on Art Co-Chair
  • Fundraising Chair
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REGISTRATION IS FREE - click for more info.

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Download the Benefit Mobile app (via the App Store or Google Play) select "Parras Middle 
School PTSA" as your school and we get up to 20% of your in-store purchases at Target, 
Starbucks, Whole Foods, and more.
 
SCHOOL NEWS
Congratulations RBUSD!
RBUSD was named a top school district in CA!
Team RBUSD is proud to report that the Redondo Beach Unified School District was named a top school district in the state of California last week. RBUSD is ranked 7th in Los Angeles County and 17th in California out of 440 districts in the "2021 Best School Districts in California" category by a national academic ranking service, Niche.
RBUSD is also ranked 10th in having the best teachers and the12th best place to teach in the state of California. Rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics and millions of student and parent reviews using data from the U.S. Department of Education. 
Parras Middle School, among several other RBUSD schools, was awarded an A+ by Niche for their educational outcomes. 
Congratulations to our students, staff, and community for making RBUSD a great place to be!
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Yearbook



Yearbook sales are now open!  If you would like to recognize your child with an ad in the yearbook or just want to order one, CLICK HERE!
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New Community Walk Opportunity
We are starting something new at Parras as another form of positive and safe engagement for students and families.  We are calling them "Community Walks", and it is a chance for a student (with or without a parent) to walk around the outside of the school with a staff member in the afternoon.  The purpose for these walks is to build connection beyond-the-screen, and enjoy some mild outdoor exercise in the process.

Masks and social-distancing are required throughout, and participants will go through a health-screening process when they arrive to campus.

To get more information, and to sign-up, click here: https://forms.gle/rr2gEdYgFxQjgJnH9
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Engagement Recognition

Team Parras would like to spotlight students who have been 100% engaged in all of their online lessons for the month of November.  We understand how different and sometimes difficult it can be with distance learning.  So a big shout out & thank you to students who have shown up every day and fully engaged!  Please see the attached certificate recognizing all of these students, and remember, each month is a fresh start, so you always have the opportunity to get recognized the following month.
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Parras MS Counseling


December Counselor Corner Newsletter - CLICK TO READ.
December Counseling Curriculum - CLICK TO READ.
Parras Counseling Website - CLICK HERE.
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Curbside Meal Service 

The Child Nutrition Department welcomes parents/guardians of children
(18 years of age and under) to come to our drive-thru curbside meal service to pick-up one free breakfast and one free lunch.

Meals will be available for pick up at Alta Vista Elementary School, Madison Elementary School, Adams Middle School and Redondo Union High School, Monday through Friday from 11:00am to 1:30pm. These meals will be provided daily to all students at no charge. Adult meals are $3.00 for a breakfast and $5.00 for a lunch. Only exact change will be accepted.

For your convenience, students and/or parents are welcome to visit one meal service location of their choice. Students do not need to be present.

Menus will be updated monthly on the RBUSD Child Nutrition website.

As a friendly reminder, we ask that you please wear a face mask when visiting the drive-thru meal service locations.

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Support the RBEF Investor Drive, go to RBEF.org to donate!

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Need Help Creating a Power School Account?

See this informational presentation for help!  CLICK HERE

COMMUNITY NEWS
Holiday Florals from Parras Parent, Casey @ Flower Duet.
Order & support RBEF!









 
Don't forget to check out the Families Connected speaker series!
See their website for all of the info! 






 
Use this link to find out more about how to make a donation through the BCHD.  


OTHER NEWS
Coronavirus Online Resources

Click here for information and resources from LA County Public Health Department.
Click here for information and resources from the Center for Disease Control.
Click here for information and resources from the Beach Cities Health District.
Click here for information and resources from UCLA Health.
Click here for information on local businesses that are open from the Redondo Beach Chamber.
Click here for the RBUSD Covid-19 Community Resource Listings


Free Online Tutoring
 
Extracurricular Online Learning Opportunities

2. Outschool www.outschool.com
4. Online Cooking School https://www.onlinecookingschool.com/
5. National Emergency Library Free Online Books. https://archive.org/details/nationalemergencylibrary
6. San Diego Zoo Live Cam https://kids.sandiegozoo.org/videos
8. Free Magic Workshops https://schoolofastonishment.com/
9. Learn to Code online workshops 
      Ucode  https://www.ucode.com/   
10. Free Meditation Sessions https://chopracentermeditation.com/
13, Fender 50% off Online Guitar Classes CLICK HERE 
14. Free Music Apps and lessons CLICK HERE 
15. Smithsonian Virtual Tours CLICK HERE
16. Harvard University Free Online Courses CLICK HERE
17. Yale University Free Online Courses CLICK HERE

Do you know of other online learning resources that would be helpful to our Parras
community? Let us know at [email protected]

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CALIFORNIA PTA NEWS

CAPTA PTA Action Items - LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD IN SACRAMENTO! 

California PTA is working on your children's behalf to support various bills going through
the legislative process in Sacramento.  The bills cover many issues including increasing 
funding for education, full day kindergarten, later start time for Middle and High school, supporting arts education, sugar, and reforming the restrictions on passing local parcel 
taxes.  Here is a link with current legislation and from the link, each area of PTA interest 

DON'T MISS THE DECEMBER 2ND ADVOCACY WEBINAR!
Join California State PTA Director of Legislation Shereen Walter and members of the Legislation Team on Wednesday, December 2nd from 7:00-8:00 p.m. for the monthly webinar in which they discuss the latest legislation affecting families and children and their recent advocacy efforts.

THE #DECLINETOSIGN CAMPAIGN AND SB 793
Big Tobacco continues its effort to overturn SB 793, which would outlaw flavored tobacco products in California. The bill was signed by the Governor and is set to take effect on January 1st, 2021.

Please remind parents and community members to #DeclinetoSign if they are approached by paid signature gatherers (funded by large tobacco companies) who are trying to get a referendum on the next ballot in an attempt to overturn the new law.

We also encourage you to spread the word about #DeclineToSign via social media. Click here to find a template with suggested wording and images for your newsletters, Facebook posts, Instagram posts, and tweets.


SAVE THE DATE FOR LEG CON 2021
California State PTA is excited to announce that we will be holding an all-virtual Legislation Conference on February 8-9, 2021. We hope you will join us for this new and exciting format!

During the conference, which is themed "A Path to Equity," you'll hear from legislators and other leaders from around the state on matters that are important to the children and families of California. There will also be a strong focus on how to schedule, plan and execute a meeting with your legislators.

The cost will be $50. Registration information is coming soon - keep an eye on your email, the Leg Con page of the California State PTA website, and our social media accounts!

CAPTA Resource Library:
The Resource Library has lots of great new content each month.



Notes from the Backpack

A Podcast for Parents, by Parents

PTA is working to ensure our public schools provide a high-quality and equitable education for every child to reach their full potential. Notes from the Backpack is a PTA podcast designed for millions of parents and the decision makers they influence.
Through the unique combination of expert, parent and educator guests, each episode features engaging conversations that offer real-life advice and ideas on how to support children's learning and development-all in parent-friendly language.
37.  How to help LGBTQ Youth Thrive
36.  Get on Board:  Enhancing Parent Teacher Partnerships
35.  Surviving Quarantine with Your Teen
34.  Inside the Principal's Office
33.  Raising Kids Who Embrace Race
32.  How to Handle Bullying

CONTACT INFORMATION

200 N. Lucia Avenue
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
310-798-8616

PTSA President:   Jennifer Newman

PTSA General Inquiries:  [email protected]


Important Dates
DECEMBER



12/21-1/1:  NO SCHOOL

JANUARY

1/18:  NO SCHOOL


1/27:  PTSA Association Meeting via zoom 5:30p

1/29:  Quarter 2 Ends

FEBRUARY

2/15:  NO SCHOOL



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