We had an informative Association meeting on zoom with over 50 attendees. We amended our annual budget since we have had insufficient donations this year but we will still be able to support our regular programs and school events as usual. Anu Kumar (Membership Chair) reported on our increase in membership. One member was randomly chosen for this month’s membership opportunity drawing:
Congratulations to Parras Student, Sophia Giusti!
Odette Matthews (Parliamentarian) talked about our nominations process to select our PTSA Board for next year. Zoe Caldwell discussed the CAPTA Legislative response to the Governor’s Budget for Education. Ms. Tiffany Straight, School Counselor, talked about the counselor services at Parras and how they support our children with Social-Emotional learning and with their transition through middle school to high school. Principal Erickson spoke about the Omicron Surge and was optimistic that we were past the peak and would soon be able to have some exciting events on campus, and off such as Camp Pali, Camp Cimi and Astro Camp.
SAVE THE DATE for our next meeting on March 24th where we will be voting in our new bylaws and electing our new PTSA Board.
PTSA Membership
Membership =63%
683 = MEMBERS
1087 = OUR GOAL / 100%
Help us reach our goal!
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 are catching up.
Together, we can do this!
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.
Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating Black history.
1st - Lunar New Year – The Lunar New Year officially begins on February 1st, 2022, and ends on February 11th. The New Year marks the transition between zodiac signs: 2022 is the year of the Tiger; 2021 was the year of the Ox. Most people think that honoring the Lunar New Year is just a Chinese tradition, but it’s an event that’s celebrated in many countries in Asia and the celebrations are as colorfully similar as they are diverse
4th - World Cancer Day
7th - Go Red for Women Day (part of American Heart Month)
12th - President Lincoln's Birthday
15th - Parinirvana Day (Buddhist) - Parinirvana Day, or Nirvana Day is a Mahayana Buddhist holiday celebrated in East Asia. This daymarks the death of the Buddha and is celebrated as Buddhists believe that having attained Enlightenment, Buddha achieved freedom from physical existence and its sufferings. Buddhists celebrate Parinirvana Day by meditating or by going to Buddhist temples or monasteries. As with other Buddhist festivals, celebrations vary throughout the world.
16th - Makha Bucha Day (Thai Buddhist) - Māgha Pūjā is the second most important Buddhist festival, celebrated on the full moon day of the third lunar month in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Sri Lanka and on the full moon day of Tabaung in Myanmar.
16th - Susan B. Anthony Day - Susan B. Anthony Day is a commemorative holiday to celebrate the birth of Susan B. Anthony and women's suffrage in the United States.
17th - Random Acts of Kindness Day
20th - World Day of Social Justice - An international day recognizing the need to promote social justice, which includes efforts to tackle issues such as poverty, exclusion, gender inequality, unemployment, human rights, and social protections.
25th - March 1st - Festival of Ayyam-I-Ha (Baha'i) - The Baháʼí Faith is a religion teaching the essential worth of all religions and the unity of all people. Established by Baháʼu'lláh in the 19th century, it initially developed in Iran and parts of the Middle East. Members of the Baha’i tradition celebrate Ayyám-i-Há, or “Days of Ha." These days are devoted to spiritual preparation for the month-longfast, Alá, that follows. These days are festive times in the community, characterized by hospitality, charity, service and gift-giving.
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.
Parents and caregivers tend to think of guidelines for screen use as a daily maximum amount of time that's OK. But if you look closely at popular recommendations, such as the ones from the American... read more
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.
The first Board of Managers of the National Congress of Mothers, later renamed National PTA
Did you know that the first-ever PTA meeting was held Feb. 17, 1897 in Washington, DC? That means National PTA is turning 125 years old on Feb. 17, 2022—and we plan to celebrate in a big way nationwide.
Since that first meeting 125 years ago, PTA members have changed the course of our nation’s history. Our association has played a major role in historic achievements, including the establishment of public school kindergartens, child labor laws, the federal school lunch program and more.
Our founders were women of vision and passion. They refused to accept the status quo of their day, and so we must consider, what would they think of our work today? We won’t rest on our laurels. Join us in our efforts to take their dreams into the future.
At the beginning of the school year, due to the continuing pandemic, families focused on their children's safe return to class. However, this pandemic has exacerbated a crisis that existed prior. Across the country, local emergency departments are recording dramatic increases in all mental health emergencies, including suspected suicide attempts. Our country is currently witnessing soaring rates of mental health challenges among our children and it is inextricably tied to the stress brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Childhood mental health concerns and suicide rates have steadily risen in the last decade. By 2018, suicide became the second leading cause of death for youth ages 10-24. The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Children’s Hospital Association have officially declared a national emergency in children and adolescent mental health. Additionally, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory report to highlight the current youth mental health crisis in correlation with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Suicide Training and Awareness Nationally Delivered for Universal Prevention Act (STANDUP Act) is the first federal legislation providing uniform research-based suicide prevention and awareness standards in schools to address the mental health needs of students. The bill currently has 46 bipartisan sponsors (38 Democrats and 8 Republicans).
PTA calls on Congress and the Administration to immediately address the many factors that contribute to the mental health crisis in the United States. Our association strongly encourages efforts that establish comprehensive community mental health. In addition, our organization supports all programs and projects that educate and inform parents, students and the general public about youth suicide prevention and support services for survivors of a suicide attempt.
The STANDUP Act has already passed in the Senate. Now it is the House of Representatives’ turn to cast the final vote! Take action today and urge your representative to vote to prioritize youth suicide prevention and vote “Yes” on the STANDUP Act!
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