Arts in Education -
Looking for program ideas or best practices for your Arts in Education Committee? We have compiled data from the schools who responded to our informal survey. Thank you to those PTAs. A spreadsheet of performers used by schools is attached as well as some general information.
Community Outreach -
Donation Drive - This past December, a kindergarten student at Kincaid ES was diagnosed with an aggressive and almost always terminal form of brain cancer. To help cover the medical expenses incurred in her care, two local Girl Scout troops are hosting a Spaghetti Dinner on Saturday, March 10 from 5:30 – 7:30pm at St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church in Marietta. They are collecting donations of forks, trash bags, spaghetti sauce and paper towels through March 7. If you are interesting in helping, please contact Heather Held at 770-578-7347 or heather@heldwhat.com.
Powers Ferry Elementary has many different types of volunteer opportunities. Please contact our Community Outreach chairs at communityoutreach@ecccpta.org if interested in learning more.
Diversity -
The GA PTA Diversity Committee is compiling a library of diversity activities, exercises, presentations and web resources to enhance diversity programming. Check out the Diversity Page to find some great resources for your local unit. Please contact Diversity Co-Chair Wendy Stewart (wstewart@georgiapta.org) with any questions or for additional information.
Education -
Georgia, along with 9 other states, was granted a waiver from NCLB. Read the press release from Georgia DOE.
The Georgia Department of Education and the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement recognized schools in January 2012 for outstanding achievements. The Greatest Gains award is given to schools that showed the greatest improvement in CRCT or GHSGT scores and had a significant percentage of students exceeding standards. The ECCC Platinum winner was Sprayberry High School.
The Highest Performance award is given to schools that have a very high percentage of students meeting test standards. The ECCC winning schools are:
Platinum: Garrison Mill, Timber Ridge, and Tritt elementary schools; Dickerson and Hightower Trail middle schools; Lassiter, Pope, Sprayberry and Walton high schools
Gold: Mountain View, Mt. Bethel, Murdock, Rocky Mount, Shallowford Falls and Sope Creek elementary schools; Dodgen and Mabry middle schools
Silver: Addison, Davis, East Side elementary schools; Simpson Middle
Bronze: Kincaid and Nicholson elementary schools
National Blue Ribbon School - Timber Ridge Elementary School is one of just eight public schools in Georgia to be named a 2011 National Blue Ribbon School, the U.S. Department of Education announced in September 2011. The program honors public and private schools where students achieve at the highest levels, as well as schools that make notable progress in closing the achievement gap. Timber Ridge was honored for scoring in the top 10 percent on state assessments in reading, language arts and mathematics.
Health & Wellness -
Raise the Salad Bar- the contest deadline has been extended to February 29! The contest aims to promote healthier eating in schools by giving the winners a free salad bar for their cafeteria. Teachers, administrators, faculty, staff, students and parents may enter on behalf of their or their child’s school and schools may submit more than one entery. All applicants have to do is tell us how their school is committed to making students and schools healthier with a very short written submission by February 29.
Family Engagement -
Be a part of the first-ever Family Engagement Conference in February – a collaborative effort between Georgia DOE and Georgia PTA. This training is an acceptable expense for your budget and TItle I schools may use that pool of funds
Legislation & Advocacy -
March 6 Presidential Primary – Residents do not require a reason to vote in advance of any contest. Advance voting for the Presidential Preference Primary will take place 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Feb. 13-March 2 and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Elections main office, 736 Whitlock Ave., Marietta. Advance voting is also open at the East Cobb Government Center.
Online registration for PTA Day at the Capitol is now available. Go to the GA PTA home page for all the info. Note: registration closes on February 17. See you under the Gold Dome!
Read the latest news from National PTA’s Take Action page, including the 2012 Federal Public Policy Agenda.
Priorities form the basis of Georgia PTA’s efforts with the Georgia General Assembly and Congress. Georgia PTA monitors all legislation and policy issues affecting children and youth, including K-12 education, postsecondary education, Pre-K, child health and safety, gun safety, teen driving and underage drinking. Check out the 2012 Legislative Priorities and share with your school communities.
The Cobb County Board of Education recently released its legislative priorities for 2012. Read the full press release here.
Environmental Education
The Clean Air Campaign announces the 2nd annual Young Lungs at Work Art Competition. The theme is Act Now for Clean Air! A great project for students of all grade levels.
Green Ribbon School Contest – Every year, more schools in Georgia are implementing sustainability programs to improve energy and water efficiency, air quality, and environment-based curriculum. The collective efforts and achievements of these schools have elevated Georgia to lead the Southeast in high performing, healthy green schools. Click here for information and link to the online application.
Keep Cobb Beautiful - Georgia Arbor Day Event - February 18