November 2020 Issue
Welcome to FCCPTA's newsletter, Top 10 on the 10th, where we'll bring you no more than 10 PTA-related news items on the 10th day of every month.
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In this Issue

  1. Honoring our Veterans
  2. Financial Fitness
  3. Spelling Bee
  4. Antiracism Seminar | November 14
  5. Advanced Academics Application Process Changes
  6. FCCPTA General Membership Meeting | December 2
  7. Citizenship Essay Contest
  8. Return to School Update
  9. National PTA Grant Opportunities
  10. Microsoft Teams Virtual Platform
Celebrating our Veterans
True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.

-Arthur Ashe

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!
Financial Fitness
Financial Fitness from the FCCPTA
November marks a month of financial deliverables for local PTAs. We wanted to remind everyone of the following deadlines: 

  1. Dues for the Virginia PTA were due on November 1, 2020. You can pay your dues through MemberHub or via mail. If paying by mail you can use this DUES REMITTANCE FORM
  2. Taxes are due on November 15, 2020 for most units. All units must file 990, 990-EZ, or 990-N (e-Postcard) with the IRS by the 15th of the 5th month after the end of the fiscal year (if your fiscal year ends June 30th, your filing deadline is November 15th). Remember, you don't simply file your taxes, you must also submit a copy of your accepted 990 (email receipt for 990-N) to Virginia PTA state office via liaison@vapta.org
  3. Dues are due to the FCCPTA on December 1. You can pay online through MemberHub at  or you can download our DUES REMITTANCE FORM dues remittance form from  and mail it to the FCCPTA (our mailing address is on the form). Additional information on dues submission is located HERE.
Finally, to be a PTA in good standing you must do the following: 
  1. Update your officers with the VA PTA. You can do this on MemberHub or at https://www.vapta.org/officer-contact-information
  2. Pay your membership dues (VAPTA and FCCPTA)
  3. Have current Bylaws (revised and adopted every 5 years)
  4. Complete a yearly Financial Review and have it approved by you membership, and sent to the Virginia PTA
  5. File taxes and send our IRS 990 confirmation sent to Virginia PTA
  6. Have insurance and send your proof of insurance sent to Virginia PTA 
Please remember, Treasurers, we want to hear from you. If you have questions or need assistance on financial matters, contact Jaime Yarussi, FCCPTA Treasurer at treasurer@fccpta.org
Spelling Bee
NOVA District PTA Antiracism Seminar
Advanced Academics Application Process Changes
Since this school year has come with lots of changes, not everyone may have been informed that the screening process for the Advanced Academic Level IV Program has had the timeline shortened for parents to submit referral forms. The deadline for the referral form is December 1, 2020. (This is over a month earlier than in previous years.)

A referral form is required for any student (grades 2-7) whose parent would like them screened for full-time services but is not in the 2nd grade screening pool. Those in the 2nd grade screening pool will have been informed by November 1. 

Submit your referral form and optional materials to your Advanced Academic Resource Teacher at your local school. You can find out more information about the program here

Questions? Please contact Cheryl at aapac@fccpta.org

General Membership Meeting
Join us Wednesday, December 2 at 6: 30 pm for our Virtual General Membership Meeting. Hear from
Dr. Brabrand, School Board Members and the FCCPTA team, and learn more about growing your PTA and helping your community.

Topic: FCCPTA General Membership Meeting
When: Dec 2, 2020 06:30 PM

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Please note the meeting will also be shared on Facebook Live

ALL ARE WELCOME!

2021 Virginia PTA Citizenship Essay Contest
Virginia PTA is committed to promoting a sense of citizenship and responsibility in the lives of our children – tomorrow’s leaders. To demonstrate the value that Virginia PTA places on good citizenship, we are proud to sponsor, support, and encourage Virginia students to write an essay for the 2021 Citizenship Essay Contest. This year’s selected theme is “How can we stand together when we are so far apart?”

WHO CAN ENTER?
All Virginia students in grades K through 12 presently enrolled in schools with active PTA/PTSAs in Good Standing may enter. A non-graded Special Writer Division is available and limited to students whose physical, cognitive, or mental health challenges meet ADA guidelines. Qualifying students entering this division create their own essay but may receive non-artistic accommodation and assistance from an adult.

CRITERIA:
In all categories, adherence to the theme as it relates to CITIZENSHIP, originality, clarity, thought and skill in standard written English will be judged. The theme must be used as the essay title and may not be altered in any way.


Return to School Update
FCPS Continues Gradual
Return to In-Person Instruction

On November 16, Group 5 students are scheduled to return. This group includes Early Head Start (infants and toddlers); PreK (three- and four-year-olds); Kindergarten; Intensive Support Needs (students instructed with modified curriculum for at least 50 percent of their core courses and instructed in special education settings 50 percent or more of their instructional day); the Vision Program at Robinson Secondary School; Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing (DHH) Programs at Canterbury Woods Elementary School, Frost Middle School, and Woodson High School; and students with 50 percent or more of core content areas in special education settings.

National PTA Grant Opportunities
Throughout the year, National PTA offers awards or grants to honor or support PTAs as they: engage families, support student success, improve the health and safety of students and families, increase access to arts education or celebrate advocacy and diversity.

Active Grants & Awards
  1. Healthy Hydration Grants
  2. PTA Connected Smart Talk Conversation Grants
  3. STEM + Families Science Festival Grants
  4. STEM + Families Propelling Our World Grants
  5. Mary Lou Anderson ArtsEd Grants
  6. PTA Life Achievement Award




Microsoft Teams Virtual Platform
Need anything? We’re here to help!


Kara Jenkins, president@fccpta.org
Shawna Garrett, vp.outreach@fccpta.org
La Guardia Myers, vp.advocacy@fccpta.org
Larry Mills, vp.programs@fccpta.org
Hamid Munir, vp.training@fccpta.org
Brett Fox, secretary@fccpta.org
Jaime Yarussi, treasurer@fccpta.org

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