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Late Fall 2017 Member News: |
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Hello Portland PTA members and leaders!
As we wrap up this five day weekend and reflect on our own personal gratitude, Portland Council wants to say thank you to all the PTA members, leaders and teachers in our district that are making a difference in the lives of kids in every school within PPS. The work you are engaged in helps all children to reach their full potential.
November 13-17 was American Education Week, a week-long celebration of public education in our country. Portland Council PTA celebrated and highlighted the partnership between parents and teachers and how it is essential to the success of students and their schools. Council President, Lisa Kensel, shared her personal thoughts and thanks to teachers here.
November 11-19 was National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, but for many schools and PTAs around the country, it's more than just a week when they work year-round to help students touched by hunger and homelessness. Thank you to the PTAs in our Region that are confronting student hunger and homelessness and making a difference for students everyday. There are many of our PTAs that run backpack programs, sending food home with students in need. There are PTAs that operate clothing drives and food drives, either for families in their own area or for other communities in Portland. We also have many PTA leaders and members that faithfully volunteer for the Portland Council PTA Clothing Center, which serves students in need all across Portland. Thank you for all you are doing to address these issues in our communities and for all students! We are grateful every day for everything you do for students and families.
Sincerely,
Portland Council PTA
*Miss our Early Fall/September edition? See it here.
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Giving Tuesday:
When students feel good about their appearance, they attend school regularly and do better academically. Giving students clothing gives them hope for themselves and for their future. The Portland Council PTA Clothing Center is participating in Giving Tuesday on November 28, 2017. We are proud to be a part of this national day of giving. Your donation on Giving Tuesday makes hope possible for students in Portland Public Schools.
To donate on Tuesday, November 28, 2017, visit our Facebook page where Facebook and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will be matching up to $2 million of funds raised on Facebook for US nonprofits. Facebook is also waiving its fees for donations made to nonprofits on Facebook this #GivingTuesday. Donations to nonprofits made through Facebook’s charitable giving tools on November 28th will be matched up to $50,000 per nonprofit or $1,000 per fundraiser or donate button, until the $2 million in matching funds run out. The match will begin at 8AM EST (5AM PST). Facebook fees on donations to U.S.-based nonprofits will be waived from 12:00am EST on November 28, 2017 to 11:59 pm HST on November 28, 2017.
While this matching program via Facebook is valid only on November 28th, you can donate any other time through the end of the year on our Giving Tuesday page of our website. All donations are tax deductible. Thanks for giving hope to PPS students in need. #GivingTuesday #GivingClothes #GivingHope.
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Save the Date - Evening with the Superintendent:
Save the date and plan to join us for an evening with PPS Superintendent, Guadalupe Guerrero on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at 7:00 pm. Light refreshments served and childcare provided at this evening meeting for all PTA members and leaders in Portland. Location to be determined and more information will be coming to you soon.
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Student Health & Safety:
November is Healthy Lifestyles month! The Healthy Lifestyles Initiative provides PTAs with education and tools to partner with schools and advocate for healthy changes in nutrition and physical activity. In a healthy school:
- All foods, beverages and snacks sold or served meet National School Nutrition Standards.
- All students have opportunities to be physically active on a regular basis.
- All students have access to regular physical education.
- District wide wellness policies are developed, implemented and evaluated with input from students, parents, staff and interested community members.
Learn More:
Healthy Schools Program (Alliance for a Healthier Generation): An evidence-based initiative that will helps schools improve physical education, health education, and nutrition.
HealthierUS Schools Challenge (USDA): A voluntary certification initiative recognizing those schools enrolled in Team Nutrition that have created healthier school environments through promotion of nutrition and physical activity.
Fuel Up to Play 60 (National Dairy Council and the NFL): An in-school nutrition and physical activity program to help students make positive changes in their schools.
Thriving Schools (Kaiser Permanente): A targeted, multiyear initiative offering free tools and resources to improve the health of students, staff and teachers in K–12 schools.
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Portland Council PTA Clothing Center:
The Portland Council PTA Clothing Center served nearly 2000 students last school year and nearly 800 students so far this new school year! The Clothing Center cannot do it alone and we appreciate everyone who makes this a successful program for our PPS students.
Thank you to Columbia Sportswear for their generous donation of coats for students this year. Recently we also had a donation from Schoolhouse Supplies, when they donated seven boxes of new clothing items. Several companies in the area also help us by sending volunteers to work at the Clothing Center. If you work for a company that donates time to organizations, or matches your volunteer time with a gift/donation, we'd love to be considered.
Thank you to all the individuals that generously donated funds to the Clothing Center last school year! We sincerely appreciate your donations and value your support. We use financial donations to purchase warm winter coats for students, as well as new socks, underwear and jeans. If you'd like to make a financial donation to the Clothing Center, you may do so online here.
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PTA Spotlight:
Congratulations to Harrison Park PTA! They were recently awarded the National PTA STEM + Families Grant! They have been awarded $1,000 and will also receive a materials pack ($400 value) to host a Science/STEM Night at their school this year. Great work Harrison Park PTA!
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National PTA News:
#STOPCutsToClassrooms Extended! The deadline to fund the federal government has been extended to Dec. 8, 2017.Therefore, we've decided to extend #STOPCutsToClassrooms to continue to advocate for greater federal investments in public education! Learn more.
Nominations for the 2018 Advocacy Awards are now being accepted!
If you know of an outstanding youth or individual PTA advocate, or know of a local unit or state level PTA that has done great advocacy work, please nominate them to receive an award for their efforts from National PTA! Winners will be announced in January and will receive their awards at the 2018 Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C.
Like in previous years, advocates may self-nominate themselves in the youth and individual categories. Please use the links below to make nominations. Nominations must be for efforts made in the last year and are due by midnight on Dec. 18. Find nomination forms here.
Disaster Relief—Matching Gift Opportunity
It’s been an especially tough year for so many communities in the wake of hurricanes, fires and other disasters. Schools need books, supplies, playground equipment and more. Your gift to National PTA’s Disaster Relief Fund ensures that resources are available to help schools restore normalcy in the face of hardship. Thanks to National PTA partner, Mountain America Credit Union, your #GivingTuesday gift will be matched, $1 for $1. Plus, you don't have to wait until Nov. 28 for your gift to be matched! Donate today!
Host a STEM + Families ThinkFun Game Night at your school!
What is a STEM + Families ThinkFun Game Night?
 Parents and children working together to learn through play- Offered in partnership with National PTA’s STEM + Families initiative
- Helps develop interest and skills in STEM
- Games and materials make for easy setup and execution
- Shows everyone that learning can and should be fun!
How Can My PTA Host a ThinkFun Game Night?
PTAs can use this ThinkFun order form
(National PTA login required) to purchase a ThinkFun Game Night Bundle at a significant discount! Instructions on how to host and run a Game Night will also be included.
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