Announcements

Whitaker Elementary Students Write Teacher Appreciation Letters Whitaker Elementary PTA leaders and parents helped organize a letter writing campaign for students to express appreciation for their teachers. The letters were collected and sent to North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory. The thoughtful campaign culminated with a letter writing party at a frozen yogurt shop, and the local media were invited to share the story. Whitaker PTA President Leah Crowley and PTA Advocacy Chair Elizabeth Kehoe provided leadership support for the project, and they plan to share the letters with others as well. “This project combined a lot of great lessons in

During April, PTA will focus on ways to welcome and support families in military communities using the PTA National Standard for Family-School Partnerships. National PTA has created information and resources on the unique challenges military children face. Learn how you and your PTA can better support student success. NCPTA will post resources throughout April and provide local stories and tips from our military communities. Tune in on Facebook! Resources Every Child in Focus: How PTAs Can Better Support Military Families PTA Military Alliance for Parents and Partners Military Families Near and Far

High Five to Benjamin Martin Elementary PTA in Fayetteville for being selected as the December membership theme winner. NCPTA invited local PTA members to share male involvement and membership success stories in 2013. Angel Hoggard, PTA president at Benjamin Martin Elementary recently participated in a training and spoke to Debra Horton, executive director of NCPTA, about a new WATCH D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) program that they launched at their school. “This is such a wonderful program brought to us when I went to the conference in Raleigh last spring”, said Hoggard. “I came back with such enthusiasm that I

The NCPTA Nominating Committee is currently seeking NCPTA members who are interested in learning more about serving as an at-large member of the NCPTA board of directors. Please contact us for more information, and a member of the Nominating Committee will respond to your inquiry with additional information. Your email should include your full name, contact information, and name of your PTA and any current PTA leadership role. Interest statements are being accepted until March 15, 2014.

NCPTA is pleased to offer an additional Vision Driven Community Training in New Hanover County. The training will focus on healthy living and learning with special presentations on school breakfast, local foods, and classroom energizers.  Participants will also strengthen advocacy skills and learn about PTA finance and leadership. Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014 Cape Fear Community College Union Station Building 502 North Front Street Wilmington, NC 28401 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration is closed. Free Event Learn more.

Message from Ashley Perkinson, NCPTA Lobbyist Legislators are home from the General Assembly long session, so now is a great time to invite legislators to visit your PTA school and participate in the North Carolina PTA Elected Officials Go to School program. This program gives legislators the opportunity to gain the experience of daily routine at your school. Participating in this program will enlighten elected officials of your school’s needs and help them better understand the conditions in your school. It is important that elected officials see the total spectrum of your school. NCPTA believes the survival of effective public

It’s time to pull out your calendars and put your plans in motion for Take Your Family to School Week. Join National PTA and families Feb. 17-21, 2014, for this important week that focuses on strong family engagement and the importance of partnerships among parents, teachers, and school administrators. The timing of the week honors the day PTA was founded: Feb. 17, 1897. Throughout the week, PTAs and schools are encouraged to partner to host family-focused events with an emphasis on the theme, “Supporting Student Success.” PTAs in NC Receive $1000 Grants Nine PTAs from North Carolina have been been

February 10-11, 2014 Raleigh Convention Center Participate in the Emerging Issues Forum to discuss how to train, retain, and promote a world-class teaching workforce to secure our state’s future competitiveness. Education in our state has changed dramatically in recent years. Debates swarm around student achievement, quality instruction, and how best to help our next generation of citizens create good jobs, grow our economy, and engage in our communities. Effective teachers can influence a student’s achievement and earnings potential throughout their life, setting them on a path for success. We need to ensure high quality, effective teachers in every classroom for