PARRAS MIDDLE SCHOOL PTSA
Newsletter
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Week of October 31, 2022 | Issue 22-23.14 |
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Don't forget to download our app!
Please enable notifications on your phone in order to get reminders of all school activities.
Enjoy!
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Upcoming Dining-Out Fundraiser
Bettolino Italian Kitchen - November 1
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Parras Family Social at AR Workshop
- SPOTS STILL AVAILABLE -
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Join the Parras PTSA for our first family social of the 2022-2023 school year.
Come on out to AR Workshop and get creative with other Parras families. Choose from several projects (wood and doormats) to create your one of a kind piece. Everyone in attendance must have a project to work on - no group projects.
No student drop-offs allowed. Every student must have an adult present.
Not able to attend? You can pick up a DIY project and have a family craft night at your leisure.
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Parras 2022 Family Photo Fundraiser |
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Parras PTSA Nominating Committee |
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Interested in joining the Parras PTSA Nominating Committee?
Thank you!
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Multicultural Celebration Event |
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We have postponed our Multicultural Celebration to March 23rd and we are setting up a committee to work on this fun event. If you would like to volunteer and be part of the committee, please complete this form below. |
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Parras School of Excellence |
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Our school has started its journey to Excellence!
The National PTA School of Excellence recognition program opens the lines of communication and critical thinking within school communities to make data-driven decisions that yield positive, long-term results. School of Excellence is committed to supporting and recognizing partnerships between local PTAs and schools to enrich the educational experience and overall well-being for all students.
Our first step is to survey the entire school community to gain a better understanding of your perceptions on current family-school partnership trends. The more survey responses we collect, the more informed we will be as we move forward in the program steps to create our action plan.
Please click below to fill out this short survey. If you have any questions, please contact our PTSA President, Karen Cull at president@parrasptsa.org
Thank you!
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Become a 2022-2023 Parras PTSA member today! |
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Guess what? Our membership perks page is active on our new app!
Get a FREE COOKIE from Lazy Acres
with a purchase if you use our exclusive Parras MS code found on the app!
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By joining the Parras PTSA, you support programs and events such as: Hands On Art, Assemblies, Teacher Grants, S.T.E.M. Night, 7th Grade Science Fair, and more...
We are currently at 819 members!
Thank you to everyone who had already joined.
Our goal is to have 1062 members and reach 100% participation.
Click to see the
If you would like to receive a paper membership card, you can do so at the next General Association Meeting (November 17)
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Middle School Parents Book Club
So just as you know what you are doing as a parent, everything changes and suddenly you have a tween and then a teen, and it feels like you need a new manual! So we are going to check out some books together on parenting teens, and use that as a vehicle to chat, share ideas and experience, and support each other!
When: Once a month 3rd Wednesday of the month, 7 pm on zoom.
Meeting ID: 858 1415 8980
Passcode: 854725
November 16th Frances Jensen Why Teenage Brains are so hard to understand (Or the whole book)
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Volunteers Needed for 2022-23 School Year:
We need several Chairs and Committee members to help make the 22-23 an epic year full of education, fun, events, and more! If you can help, please see below.
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Honorary Service Awards Chair
Scholarship Committee Members
70th Anniversary Volunteers
Schools of Excellence Chair
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Docent: You will present the Hands on Art projects to the students. You will attend training workshops or review the online lesson and try the project at home before teaching.
Helper: You will help with set up and clean up and assist the docent and students during the lessons. You do not attend training workshops.
Why volunteer with Hands on Art?
1. It’s quick! Each period is about 45 minutes long so you can be in and out within 1 hour. Have more time? Sign up for 2 classes back to back for 2 hours of volunteer time.
2. It’s easy! You do not need to have any artistic talent or teaching experience. Each project is designed for kindergarten through high school so anyone can do it. Slide decks, lesson plans, videos, and all art supplies are provided for you. You can attend in-person training or learn the project at home.
3. It’s fun! Learn about different art techniques, art supplies, and artists. Join other Parras docents for an in-person breakfast training session where we will create our own projects with the artist.
4. It’s important! Arts education encourages students’ creativity and critical thinking skills.
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Parras Yearbook - Reserve your yearbook ad space now!
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Yearbook Recognition Ads are the perfect way to commemorate achievements and celebrate milestones. In addition, revenues from Recognition Ads help our school create a better yearbook. To purchase your ad online, click the link below. You will have to create your ad and then you will be prompted to pay after. |
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Jostens is responsible for our school's yearbook ad sales. Please do not contact or send materials to the school. All early-bird orders must be placed by 12/01/2022. After this date, the prices go up! Also, don't forget to purchase the actual Yearbook in addition to a Recognition Ad.
The yearbook is produced by the Yearbook Class lead by Mrs. Kanemaru.
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Amazon Smile
SUPPORT PARRAS PTSA WHILE YOU SHOP ON AMAZON!
Just go to https://smile.amazon.com/ch/95-6206414 or if shopping by phone, create an Amazon Smile App Shortcut. Designate Nick G Parras Middle School PTSA as your organization and shop as usual. Amazon will then donate a portion of your purchase price to Parras PTSA. Don't forget to bookmark it or go to your AmazonSmile Shortcut app every time you shop!
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Ralphs Rewards
Using the Ralphs community reward program is simple:
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Visit https://www.ralphs.com or log on to the Ralphs app.
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Click on Kroger Community Rewards at the bottom of the page.
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Search for NICK G. PARRAS MIDDLE SCHOOL PTSA or use our organizations number - SE934
- Click Enroll
Linking your card to Nick G. Parras Middle School will help the PTSA with their fundraising efforts. Every time you swipe your card or use the phone number associated with the account, Parras will receive credit for that purchase.
New users will need to create an account which requires some basic information, a valid email address and a rewards card. Reward cards are available at the customer service desk at any Ralphs.
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PTSA GENERAL ASSOCIATION MEETINGS
11/17 - General Association Meeting - in person, 8:30AM
01/26 - General Association Meeting - in person, 6.30 PM
03/30 - General Association Meeting - in person, 8.30 AM (election)
05/25 - General Association Meeting - in person, 8.30 AM
Sign this waiver if you want to participate in any of our in-person meetings
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Diversity and Equity Initiative (DEI) |
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National Native American Heritage Month – In 1990, President George H. W. Bush declared the month of November as National Native American Heritage Month. This month is a time to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories of the Native American people and to acknowledge their important contributions.
It is also a time to educate others about tribes, to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges Native people have faced both historically and, in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges.
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Alzheimer’s Awareness Month – November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, a time to heighten awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and show support for the more than 6.2 million Americans living with it. On November 3rd, more than 800 structures around the world will “go teal” to raise awareness and show support people affected by Alzheimer’s. If you have access to an office building, campus, or even your house, you can be a part of “lighting the world in teal”. In addition, you can wear teal and update your social media cover photo to help raise awareness!
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November 1st - All Saints Day – Also known as All Hallows' Day, the Feast of All Saints, the Feast of All Hallows, the Solemnity of All Saints, and Hallowmas, this is a solemn holy day for Christians, which honors all the saints of the Church, that is, all those who have attained heaven.
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November 1st – Dia de los Muertos – Also known as Day of the Dead, this traditional Mexican holiday is observed over two days. From November 1st – 2nd, it is believed that the souls of the dead return to visit their living family members. Many people celebrate this day by visiting the graves of deceased loved ones, saying prayers, and setting up altars with their favorite foods, drink, and photos. Although originated in Mexico, it is celebrated all over the world by people of Mexican heritage.
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November 8th is Election Day – State-wide Primary Election Day. There are many ways to vote:
Vote Centers – For a full list of Vote Centers for the General Election, visit: https://lavote.net/home/voting-elections/voting-options/voting-in-person
Vote-by-Mail Ballot Drop Off Boxes – Redondo Beach locations are Riviera Triangle Parking (corner of Ave del Norte and S. Elena), Redondo Beach Main Library, North Branch Library, and Dominguez Park. Ballot Drop Off Boxes are open. On Election Day, November 8th, they will be locked at 8:00 p.m. (These are County-maintained ballot collection boxes; they are not USPS Mailboxes).
Vote-by-Mail – Be sure to sign your return envelope! Ballots must be post-marked by Election Day.
California State PTA currently supports the following state ballot measures on the upcoming November 2022 Ballot:
Proposition 31
Voting Yes on Proposition 31 will prohibit the sale of flavored tobacco products.
The California State PTA conducted two studies of this measure.
Proposition 28: CALIFORNIA ART AND MUSIC K-12 EDUCATION FUNDING INITIATIVE
Vote Yes on Proposition 28
See the California State PTA Referendum Study Report here.
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Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk |
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A huge thank you to every Parras family who walked, virtually or in-person, in the Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk.
We are so excited to announce that Parras crushed the walker goal.
Our school had 415 registered walkers!!!
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Beach Cities Health District identified substance use as a health priority for 2022-25.
Know the Facts
- Cannabis refers to all products derived from the cannabis plant, while the word marijuana refers specifically to parts or products from the plant that contain substantial amounts (more than 0.3%) of the mind-altering chemical tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, 2019)
- Marijuana is the most commonly used federally illegal drug in the United States, with an estimated 48.2 million users in 2019 (CDC, 2021)
- On average, THC concentration in cannabis products has increased 3-fold between 1995 and 2014, from 4% to 12% (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2019)
- Use of high potency products is associated with greater risk of psychosis (Forti et al., 2019)
- High potency marijuana users show five times higher risk for symptom onset of cannabis use disorder (Arterberry et al., 2019)
- Cannabis-related emergency department visits in the United States have increased by more than 300% between 2006 (12.3 visits per 100,000 population) and 2018 (54.2 visits per 100,000) (Roehler et al., 2022)
Youth
- In 2019, 37% of United States high school students reported using marijuana in their lifetime and 22% reported use in the past 30 days (CDC, 2021)
- Lifetime marijuana use is the number one risk factor for prescription opioid misuse (CDC, 2020)
- Nationwide, cannabis vaping among youth increased by 58% between 2018 and 2019 (California Department of Public Health, 2019)
In the Beach Cities
- 15% of Beach Cities 11th graders reported using marijuana in the past 30 days, which is higher than the Los Angeles County average (13%)
- 39% of Beach Cities 9th graders reported it is “very easy” or “fairly easy” to obtain marijuana
- Since 2019, the perception of risk/harm of occasional and daily use of marijuana has declined among Beach Cities 7th, 9th and 11th graders
(Source: California Healthy Kids Survey, 2019 – 2021)
Adults
- In 2020, cannabis use in the past year was highest among young adults 18 to 25 years old (35%), followed by adults 26 or older (16%) (SAMHSA, 2021)
- Among older adults 65 years and older, the use of cannabis more than doubled among those who used alcohol from 2015 to 2018 (Han and Palamar, 2020)
In the South Bay
Health Impacts of Cannabis Use
Dangers of Underage Cannabis Use
- Cannabis use interferes with brain development which can disrupt cognitive functions that are important for academic performance and activities such as driving and sports. These functions include:
- Learning and memory
- Pleasure and reward
- Motion and motor control
- Appetite
- Sleep
- Reproduction and fertility
Short-Term Adverse Effects
- THC overactivates certain brain cell receptors, resulting in effects such as:
- Altered senses
- Changes in mood
- Impaired body movement
- Difficulty with thinking and problem-solving
- Impaired memory and learning
- Overdose symptoms including:
- Difficulty breathing
- Lethargy
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Loss of coordination
Long-Term Effects
- Increased risk of mental health issues including:
- Depression
- Social anxiety
- Psychosis
- Schizophrenia
- Suicidal ideation or behavior
- Chronic bronchitis and injury to cell linings of the large airways. Symptoms include:
- Chronic cough
- Phlegm production
- Acute bronchitis
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