Please join us, virtually, for our January Association Meeting. We will focus this meeting on working together as a community to provide our children and families with the resources they need during these difficult times. The counselors and Dr. Erickson will be available to address parent questions on any school issue. We will discuss the available resources for grief counseling and for social, emotional and mental health. We will also consider the implications of the Omicron surge for our school and community life, as well as the new restrictions.
The PTSA Board is optimistic that together we can get through this surge and will still be able to plan and enjoy school and community events in the spring. At this January meeting (on zoom) we hope to adjust our budget and focus our efforts on the events we CAN do.
Working together we believe we can make this a better new year.
Did you know that Parras PTSA is part of a team? The RB Council of PTA's consist of 11 schools. All schools are close to achieving 100% membership. At 62%, Parras is behind but we can catch up.
WHAT IS THE PTSA DOING?Once this surge is behind us, we will continue with some fabulous events. Details will be coming out soon:
Art of Candle Making
Paint & Pour
Fitness Under the Stars
WHY JOIN?Your $12 membership not only helps pay for programs at Parras, it strengthens the PTA's ability to advocate for our children at the local level, the state level & the national level.
DO I HAVE TO VOLUNTEER? No, you only have to volunteer if you want. There's strength in numbers so sign up yourself, your student, grandparents, aunts, uncles - everyone who wants to make a positive impact on our children.
Let's go Parras, let's show our community that we can reach our goal!
Due to the surge in COVID cases in our community, the in-person Hands On Art lessons that were scheduled for this month have been put on hold. We will keep everyone updated as to the plan for future lessons.
16th - 17th - Tu B'Shevat - Tu B'Shvat is a Jewish holiday occurring on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat. It is also called Rosh Hashanah La'Ilanot, literally 'New Year of the Trees'. In contemporary Israel, the day is celebrated as an ecological awareness day, and trees are planted in celebration.
17th - Martin Luther King Day - MLK Day is an annual federal American holiday that celebrates the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. (January 15th). It celebrates the life and achievements of this influential civil rights leader.
18th - Mahanyana New Year (Buddhist)
19th - Orthodox Epiphany - In the Orthodox Church, Epiphany celebrates the baptism of Jesus rather than the arrival of the Magi (three wise men) which is celebrated on January 6th as Epiphany in the Western Church.
27th - UN Holocaust Memorial Day - The United Nations General Assembly designated the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. On this annual day of commemoration, the UN and its member states honor the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and millions of other victims of Nazism and to develop educational programs to help prevent future genocides.
General information: Teams of 4 (3 v 3 with 1 alternate) will be facing off in a 6 week tournament (February through March) in Rocket League
RBUSD New COVID Guidelines
COVID-19 Testing
Beach Cities Health District has regular COVID testing Monday through Friday with expanded hours and is located at 514 N. Prospect Avenue. Please use this link to sign up for a test: BCHD Testing Link.The student ID can be found in PowerSchool. The BCHD School Well-Being Line will open tomorrow at 8:00am if you have any registration or testing questions at 310.374.3426, press option 2.
"South Bay Boardrider contests are notable for showcasing emerging young surfers....... But never in the contests’ 10-year history, has a new, young competitor beaten older veterans as convincingly as 7th grade, Parras Middle Schooler Cormac Cove O’Brien did in the Open Longboard division of the SBBC Dive N’ Surf contest at Torrance Beach"
Open Enrollment for Covered California is open! If you're in need of health insurance, make sure to sign up before the Jan. 31 deadline. BCHD is also available to help and offering FREE enrollment appointments.
Visit our new SBFC Social Skills Page for videos featuring authentic stories from South Bay youth about their re-entry struggles, plus valuable insight from experts. Videos align with strategies parents and guardians can use to better understand their children's and teens' experiences and feelings, as well as help them connect in positive ways. For additional related resources, please visit the SBFC Healthy Relationships page.
OTHER NEWS
California PTA
January 13, 2022
California State PTA President Carol Green has released the following statement in response to the proposed 2022-2023 Governor's Budget:
California State PTA is optimistic about the Governor’s January budget proposal released this week. We are pleased to see many PTA priorities in this budget proposal that includes an increase in Proposition 98 funding for the 2022-23 school year as well as adjustments to the current year (2021-22) and last year (2020-21). This represents a three-year increase of $16.1 billion over the level funded in the 2021 Budget Act.
PTA priorities:
Nutrition: The proposed budget provides all public school students with two free meals each day regardless of income eligibility, starting in the 2022-23 school year.
School Funding: A cost of living adjustment (COLA) of 5.33% for the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) which is an investment of $3.3 billion, and many other education programs that are funded outside of the LCFF.
Early Learning and Child Care: Increase in funding for younger students: $823.7 million for 36,000 additional subsidized child care slots, and an investment of more than one billion dollars and the multi-year commitment to expand Universal Transitional Kindergarten.
Expanded learning opportunities: Investment in both additional funds and infrastructure to support school districts in this work. This includes after school and summer school programs for the goal to have children in school up to 9 hours a day.
Health and Safety: Funding to fight the COVID-19 pandemic $2.7 billion COVID-19 relief package to bolster testing, accelerate vaccination and booster efforts, support frontline workers and the health care system and battle misinformation. The funding includes the distribution of tests to schools and county offices of education already underway, as well as ongoing testing site enhancement and availability for the general public.
PTA is also encouraged to see proposed investments in special education, mental health services, early literacy, arts, college and career pathways, facilities, and teacher retention and recruitment.
While this proposed budget significantly increases investments in California education, it does not address the inadequate base funding of our schools. The LCFF base funding is based on 2007-08 funding levels that are not adequate for the students of 2022. While acknowledging a modest investment, we would also like to see an increased investment and focus on special education funding and policies.
California State PTA will continue to work with both the administration and Legislature to ensure the needs of California's children and families are met. As PTA members, this is an opportunity for advocacy both locally and throughout California.
The new National PTA interactive DEI exhibit has over 1,400 views and counting. Help us continue to spread the word by sharing it with friends and family!
Get an Inside Look at PTA's New 5-Year Plan:
The future is NOW! Our 2021-2026 strategic plan builds on our values and reflects the needs and interests of the families and leaders we serve. Every stakeholder has a role and an investment in the plan’s success. Learn more.
Policy Briefs:
Are you familiar with National PTA’s 5 Public Policy Priorities for the 117th Congress? Each Congress, PTA chooses priorities to ensure that every child has access to a fair and equitable education. If you are not familiar with them yet make sure to read more here.
There are also Policy Briefs you can use to advocate in your own community!
For kids grappling with the pandemic's traumas, art classes can be an oasis
As health officials sound the alarm about the pandemic's impact on children's mental health, music, drama and other art classes are helping kids adjust to being in-person again. Read the article.
Stay up to date on local issues with 33rd District Congressman, Ted Lieu. Subscribe here.
A Podcast for Parents, by Parents
52 | Families in Transition: Lessons from the Military - NEW
51 | Cooking with Kids: Tips from Duff Goldman
50 | Our Culture is More than a Holiday with Sheetal Sheth
49 | Raising Children Who Change the World
48 | Supporting Students of Color
47 | Social Media & Cyberbullying 101
46 | What is Social and Emotional Learning Anyway?
45 |Back to School with the CDC
44 | Are You Practicing Parent Self-Care?
43 | How Can We Normalize Talking about Mental Health?
