PARRAS MIDDLE SCHOOL PTSA 
Newsletter
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Week of January 25, 2021                                                             v.20-21 i.17

Ad Dedication Deadline = Feb 11th

YEARBOOK UPDATE:

As we all adapt to change, one thing that remains constant is the yearbook tradition of documenting the history of our students and our school year. Since copies are limited and school schedules continue to change, we ask that you please order your yearbook online as soon as possible. Jostens offers a payment plan at checkout for your purchase if you would like to use that option www.jostensyearbooks.com.
 
Parras Photo Upload 20-21: (Not for student portraits) 
We have been collecting photos on google classrooms and from teachers.  If you have any photos of students, classes, projects, play, work, community, sports, etc, please upload them using the below google form. Anyone can submit photos using this form!
Portraits:
With the absence of portrait day this year, the Parras yearbook staff is requesting that you upload a portrait photo of your student for use in this year's yearbook.  You may choose an appropriate portrait photo from your camera roll or take one on the spot and upload it through www.ybkplus.com.
Here's How...
·On your phone, go to www.ybkplus.com.
·Once on the site, you will enter your email. In most cases, this will be the email address you use for school notifications and/or the email address you receive notifications from Jostens. 
·A code will then be emailed to you to verify identity.
·Choose My Portrait, select and crop an appropriate portrait photo, then submit!
 
The yearbook staff reserves the right to reject any photo that does not accurately represent the student identified, does not follow proper student dress code and/or does not meet publications standards. 
Thanks for your help!   We're working hard on creating a yearbook that captures this historic school year. 

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33rd District PTA Speaker Series

 

Did you miss past Connecting Community discussions and workshops?
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*NEW PROJECT*
South Bay Hands on Art presents Salvador Dalí. The surreal artwork "The Elephants" is the inspiration for this project.  Students will be introduced to this artwork and to its creator, Salvador Dalí.  They will also learn about Surrealism, creating art based on dreams and imagination.  After, they can create their own artwork inspired by "The Elephants".  Instructions will be given on how to draw an elephant with very long skinny legs, but they are invited to vary it as they wish.  For instance, they can create another animal with very long legs, or an elephant with normal legs. 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, send a picture of your art to sandijoarthur@gmail.com to be put into a virtual gallery!



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Join National PTA for their annual Reflections Student Arts Showcase Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 4p. This free, virtual event will celebrate talented 2019-2020 Look Within Reflections artists.  All are welcome to attend.

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PTSA Nominating Committee

Do you know awesome people who love to volunteer?  Do you have awesome persuasive skills? 

If so, WE NEED YOU!  We are looking for PTSA members interested in serving in this year's PTSA Nominating Committee. This committee recommends individuals to serve on next year's PTSA Executive Board. You will work from January-March to identify and interview candidates, and present potential officers for consideration at the March PTSA Association meeting.

If you are interested, please feel free to reach out to Carrie Gonzales at parras.ptsa@gmail.com.
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Join PTSA

We are STRONGER TOGETHER! 
  • Get PERKS for being a Parras PTSA member, click on flyer to join.
  • We hope you will join us for our next PTSA Meeting on January 27 @ 5:30p.  Zoom link will follow.
 
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Support Parras PTSA while you shop at Amazon!
   
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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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
Bell Schedule Change - Effective 2/2/21 

Click here to view the schedule change.  Wednesday and Thursday schedules are being swapped, which makes it more-closely resemble a traditional block schedule, with alternating days for even and odd periods.
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Clubs at Parras MS

Any student at Parras can submit an application to create a club!  Information about creating/joining clubs and other fun activities hosted by Parras can be found at the Parras ASB webpage.
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School Reopening

Click here for information regarding RBUSD's school reopening plan.
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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 December.  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

The Parras Counseling department plans to offer small group counseling services this Spring. Groups will meet once a week for 4-6 weeks and may take place in-person or online, depending on the guidelines set forth by LACDPH at the time. Groups will consist of 5-7 students and topics may include: social skills, maintaining positive friendships, self-esteem, study skills, etc. We are currently asking for parents to fill out this interest survey to indicate if their student would be interested in participating in a group.

Please note that this is not a signup form but will serve as the list we work from during our planning process. If space in a group becomes available, we will reach out to you directly with details about the group, as well as a parent permission slip.

Also, reminder that students can sign up for individual counseling HERE and they should ABSOLUTELY add the counselor google classroom for inspiration, motivation, and connection opportunities.

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January Counseling Curriculum - CLICK TO READ.
Parras Counseling Website - CLICK HERE.
December Counselor Corner Newsletter - CLICK TO READ.
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Parents as Teachers Series



Click here for previous video chats.

COMMUNITY NEWS

South Bay Families Connected
 Resources for Discussing Current Events - CLICK HERE
 



 
 

 






OTHER NEWS
CALIFORNIA PTA NEWS

CAPTA PTA Action Items - LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD IN SACRAMENTO! 
Click here to view current legislative items.
IMPORTANT ADVOCACY WEBINAR UPDATES
This message is to alert you that the January 6 advocacy webinar was cancelled and rescheduled for January 20th. If you would like to attend on the new date, click here to register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/31940121174953740.

Topics to be discussed include how California schools are funded, and the Governor's Safe Schools for All Plan.

The February 3 webinar has also been cancelled, due to its proximity to our Legislation Conference on February 8-9. Those who were already registered for the February 3 webinar have been automatically re-registered for the January 20 webinar. If that date does not work for you, you can either cancel your registration, or simply not attend.

The March 3 webinar will proceed as planned.

We encourage you to register for our all-virtual Legislation Conference, themed "A Path to Equity," which is open to anyone interested in improving the lives of children and families in their communities, and across the state. The cost is $50. More information, including the registration link, can be found here.
JOIN OUR LISTENING SESSIONS ON RACE & RACISM
The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee of California State PTA is excited to host three Zoom "listening sessions" this month around race, racism and PTA.

We want to hear from our members of color, in order for our organization to begin to improve the PTA experience. We aim to listen to your authentic voices to help guide us in making all our members feel included, valued, and respected.

We acknowledge that our members experience PTA differently because of different aspects of their identity, so each listening session is aimed at a different racial/ethnic identity group. Each session will be a safe, confidential space for members of that particular group to honestly share, without the burden of code-switching* while participating.

The sessions dates and groups are as follows:
  • January 25, 6:00-7:00 pm: For Black/African American/multi-racial Black persons, facilitated by a Black/African American person.
  • January 26, 6:00-7:00 pm: For those Indigenous to California lands or multi-racial Indigenous, facilitated by a person Indigenous to California.
  • January 28, 6:00-7:00 pm: For non-Indigenous, non-Black persons of color or non-Black non-Indigenous multi-racial persons, facilitated by a non-Indigenous, non-Black person of color.
If you or someone in your PTA is interested, please click here for further information on the types of attendees we are seeking, and who to contact to participate.
WHAT'S NEW IN THE RESOURCE LIBRARY? DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION LEARNING MATERIALS!
The Resource Library has lots of great new content for January. Check out these items and activities that support learning about diversity, equity and inclusion.
If you've never used the Resource Library before, why not give it a try? It's chock full of at-home learning activities, videos and documents that support the Next Generation Science Standards - and a whole lot more!


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



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

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
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 parras.ptsa@gmail.com
CONTACT INFORMATION

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

PTSA President:   Jennifer Newman

PTSA General Inquiries:  parras.ptsa@gmail.com


Important Dates
JANUARY



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