Newsletter for the second week of November, 2008

PTACHC General Meeting Monday, Nov. 10th 7:30 pm. Coat Drive - Coats will be accepted beginning at 7 pm at the ARL.

NOVEMBER IS PTA HEALTHY LIFESTYLES MONTH! Visit http://www.pta.org/healthy_lifestyles.asp 

SHARING QUESTION TO PTAS

Wellness friends:
A good friend of mine who works at the corporate offices of the YMCA passed on this idea to me in conversation just yesterday. It's a fitness motivational program for December for your school staff. It is fairly easy to accomplish for its participants (the goals are easy), I think, and can create some fun and motivational interactions amongst the staff. I would like to give away a $100 gift card to the drawing winner if there are funds available. $50 would come from the PTA and $50 matched from the school if they can (we're running it by the principle on Monday). If funds are not available because you didn't budget for it (like us), you can come up with your own creative incentive or get something donated from the community? I'm not sure if this idea is permissible, but perhaps you could have everyone who wants to participate 'donate' $1/$2 to the pot? 
Anyway, hopefully you find this simple Wellness initiative helpful. If you wind up using it, I'd love your feedback! Feel free to share this with others.
Kelly Miller, LWES Wellness Coordinator 

HCPSS NEWS 

The 2009-10 proposed calendar was presented to the Board of Education last Thursday.  The calendar committee (which PTA Council had 2 representatives on) has recommended that spring break be shortened to Thursday, Friday and Monday plus a few other minor revisions.  To read the report from the committee, go to Board Docs on the HCPSS website. Here is the direct link: http://www.boarddocs.com/mabe/hcpssmd/Board.nsf/Public?OpenFrameSet 

The public hearing for the proposed calendar will be Dec. 11. The Board encourages public participation.  Persons may pre-register and are asked to limit their testimony to three minutes. More detailed written testimony is welcomed. Participants are asked to provide 15 written copies of their testimony before or at the time of the hearing. To sign up for a public hearing, call the Board of Education Office at 410-313-7194.  Or you can email the Board members at boe@hcpss.org.  This is a read only avenue. Or if you wish to write the old fashion way, please send your letter to the Board Chairman and copies will be made for all Board members.    

Chairman
Board of Education
Howard County Public School System
10910 Route 108
Ellicott City, MD 21042

STUDY SKILLS PROGRAM www.stresslesstests.org

CALENDAR

Nov. 11         HCPSS "What Counts in Education" 7pm Information or to reserve a space:                             410-313-5638, or e-mail Florence Jackson, florence_jack son@hcpss.org.

Nov. 15         ALL PTAs must complete-990 Forms are due to the IRS www.irs.gov 

Nov. 14/15    MD PTA Fall Convention for info www.mdpta.org   

Nov. 16-22    American Education Week : http://www.nea.org/aew/index.html

What is the difference between American Education Week in November and Take your Family to School week in February?  

American Education Week is a program of the National Education Assoc.                

Take your Family to School week is a National PTA program designed to get parents connected to their children's school experience. 

Both are designed to get parents into their children's school.  

Dec. 1             PTACHC General Membership meeting at ARL 7:30 pm

Dec. 19          Reflections entries due to Council

Jan. 5, 2009   PTACHC General Membership meeting ARL 7:30 pm

The Howard County Arts Council is seeking nominations for the 2008 Howie Awards.  For more information go to www.hocoarts.org

 Thank you for being an advocate for all children

THANK YOU FOR BEING AN ADVOCATE FOR EVERY CHILD!