Family Matters—March 2018 by Family Matters

Fam ly Matters JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND POVERTY PROGRAMS

March 2018

A PUBLICATION OF THE 15TH DISTRICT PTA

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Advocacy Day Spelling Bee Winners Grants and Awards

15th District PTA Contact List 2017-18

President Autumn Neagle

FROM THE PRESIDENT As the March winds blow, it is a good time to make sure you have the rest of the year buttoned down. What do I mean? Make sure you are ready for the end of the year. Here are a few things to do before the year ends.

(502) 718-2590 15thDistrictPTA.President@gmail.com

President-Elect Adam Kesler

arkesler24@gmail.com (502) 413-1639

If this is an election year for your Parent Teacher Association (PTA), make sure you are helping your nominating committee find new board members. Your bylaws detail your Nomination Committee. They will be looking for the most qualified person for each elected office. Most elections take place in April or May.

First Vice President—Program Sienna G. Newman

If your school needs to elect its parents for the School-Based Decision Making (SBDM) Council, you will need to begin that process.

daaville@yahoo.com (502) 386-1455

Don’t forget to send your membership dues payment to Kentucky PTA by March 15. Complete your Evangeline J. Sansome Scholarship Application. They are due by March 15. Don’t forget to update your procedure book. If you don’t have one, start one! There are still 20 days left in the Kentucky Legislative Session. We still need you to use your voice to help our students! Last, but most fun, make plans to attend the 15th District PTA Awards Banquet on May 10, at the Ramada Inn. It will be a night to celebrate PTA and all that you do in your schools. There is more information in this newsletter and online at 15thdistrictpta.org/events/award-banquet.

sgnewman77@gmail.com (502) 410-9117

Second Vice President—Membership R. Shawn Summerville Third Vice President—Ways and Means Eddie Squires pta.eddie@gmail.com (502) 930-3516

Fourth Vice President—Communication Liz Cannon Anncannon1968@gmail.com (502) 905-1233

Legislative Chair Taylor Everett

teverett@teachfund.com (502) 640-8323

Nutrition Initiatives Coordinator Andrea Wright

If the wind blows too hard, don’t hesitate to call us for assistance. We are here to help you!

andrea.wright@jefferson.kyschools.us (502) 485-3199

Sincerely,

FRYSC Director Adrian Oldham

Autumn Neagle

adrian.oldham@jefferson.kyschools.us (502) 485-3703

Autumn Neagle, President (502) 718-2590 | 15thdistrictpta.president@gmail.com

Male Engagement Cliff Irons

ironsclifford@gmail.com (502) 807-5695

Teacher Representative Jennifer Freeman

Calendar of Events

March

April

1 �� Self Esteem Award Application Deadline 8 �� Title I Parent Advisory Council (PAC) Meeting 9 �� Elementary grading period ends. 10 �� SAT Test 11 �� Daylight Saving Time begins. 13 �� Jefferson County Board of Education (JCBE) Meeting 13–15 �� 2018 National PTA Legislative Conference 15 �� Application Deadline for Outstanding Awards 15 �� Kentucky/National Membership Dues Payment 15 �� Evangeline J. Sansome Scholarship Applications Due 23 �� Elementary Report Card Distribution 27 �� JCBE Meeting 30 �� Middle and high school grading period ends.

2–6 �� JCPS Spring Break 13 �� Title I PAC Meeting 14 �� College and Career Expo 14 �� ACT Test 15 �� Kentucky/National Membership Dues Payment 17 �� Middle and High School Report Card Distribution 24 �� JCBE Meeting 27 �� Kentucky PTA Centennial

jennifer.freeman@jefferson.kyschools.us (502) 485-8323

Student Representative Alexis Reece Treasurer Brittney Bolyard

15thdistrictpta.treasurer@gmail.com

Secretary Anna Elder

15thDistrictPTA.Secretary2017@gmail.com (502) 432-3023

Past President Heather Wampler

hkwampler@gmail.com (502) 671-9451

Parliamentarian Sharon Whitworth swhitwo1@aol.com (502) 592-4185

JCPS Parent Relations Justin Willis

justin.willis@jefferson.kyschools.us (502) 439-8782

Title I Representative Zina Harris zyt.hars27@gmail.com (502) 807-1878

Recycling Chair Sharon Kesler

Cover photo: Michael Reaves, representing Kentucky Youth Advocates.

sharonkesler24@gmail.com (502) 413-1652

High School and Scholarship Chair Robin Weiss robin.e.weiss@gmail.com (502) 314-2401

Third-Grade Student Wins District Bee Congratulations to Cameron Calvin, a third-grade student at Audubon Traditional Elementary. Cameron won the 15th District PTA Spelling Bee on Wednesday, February 7, rising to the top of 43 competitors from elementary and middle schools. Cameron survived multiple spelling rounds and finally won with the word marzipan, which is a confection consisting primarily of sugar or honey and almond meal. Spelling Bee coordinator Doug Wilham said this year’s Spelling Bee included the fiercest competition in recent years, and Cameron is also the first third-grade student in recent memory—or perhaps ever—to win the district spelling bee. Both of his parents were there to cheer him on. He received a $100 cash prize from the 15th District PTA and a trophy. He will represent JCPS at the Ford Motor Company Kentucky Derby Festival Spelling Bee, which will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 17, at the Bomhard Theater at the Kentucky Center. Ben Mowery, an eighth-grade student at Noe Middle, won second place, and Saveer Jain, a fifth-grade student at Stopher Elementary won third place. Both students won trophies. Mowery received a $75 cash prize and Jain received a $50 cash prize from the 15th District PTA.

Pursue an ArtsEd Grant

Applications will be accepted in April for a Mary Lou Anderson ArtsEd Grant. This National PTA grant program funds projects that increase access to learning opportunities in the literary, media, visual, and/or performing arts for atrisk or underserved populations. Eligible applicants must be a PTA in good standing, according to the Kentucky PTA. The application period is April through June, and the awards are announced in September. The grant period is September through November. For more information, send an email to reflections@PTA.org.

Audubon Traditional Elementary student Cameron Calvin, center, wins the 15th District PTA Spelling Bee. Ben Mowery, right, an eighth-grade student at Noe Middle, wins second place, and Saveer Jain, left, a fifth-grade student at Stopher Elementary, wins third place.

Diversity and Inclusion Award PTAs are encouraged to apply for a Jan Harp Domene Diversity and Inclusion Award. This award recognizes PTAs that best demonstrate outstanding achievement in the areas of diversity and inclusion as well as efforts to end discriminatory practices.

Jan Harp Domene

The award will be presented to one state PTA, one district PTA, and one local PTA at the 2018 Annual National PTA Convention and Expo, which will be held in June in New Orleans. The award recognizes PTAs with proven efforts of welcoming diverse members of their community; who effectively hosted multicultural events to engage diverse communities; with a proven ability to address such issues as bias, prejudice, and misunderstandings to promote diversity and inclusion; and/or increased diversity of their board. Winners will receive a $1,000 cash award and a trophy in addition to being honored with several complimentary tickets to National PTA Convention events. Applications must be submitted online by 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 31. For more information, send an email to diversity@pta.org or call 1-800-307-4782.

A Time for

ADVOCACY

From every direction, significant challenges affect the well-being of Kentucky’s children. School budgets and funding are under scrutiny and facing cuts. A state budget fails to meet Kentucky’s existing needs and its growing ones. Legislators propose and debate bills that could shift priorities and funding for health, education, and safety.

All of these issues and changes will greatly affect Kentucky’s largest school system, Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS). The district enrolls 101,000 students and employs roughly 14,000 full-time employees. In February, the JCBE named Dr. Marty Pollio to serve as JCPS superintendent after seven months of serving in an interim status. Pollio has worked to address a number of corrective actions following a Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) management review. In an era of high-water stakes for children and families, the 15th District PTA serves as an embedded and involved participant among decision makers. “If your superintendent is the head of the school district and you want your voice heard, then the only way you can have it heard is to be a participant,” says Autumn Neagle, president of the 15th District PTA. Representatives from the 15th District PTA attended each of the four JCPS superintendent forums, in which superintendent candidates Dr. Marty Pollio and Dr. Mike Raisor answered questions from the public. Neagle personally attended the last two forums. She submitted the question about Kentucky’s Senate Bill 55, which would alter hiring and screening abilities of an SBDM Council. The 15th District PTA communicates with its members and the public about issues and legislation that affects schools and students. The Kentucky PTA also issues alerts through email or social media when an issue affects Kentucky schools and students. The National PTA issues advocacy alerts, and interested parties may sign up for these on their website at pta.org. 4

Kentucky PTA has two members who serve on the Kentucky Education Action Team (KEAT), which represents more than 130,000 active and retired school employees. Recently, KEAT distributed a statement about Governor Matt Bevin’s budget proposal and how it would affect the Support Education Excellence in Kentucky (SEEK) funding, which is a formula that provides state funding for local school districts. At least once a year, the 15th District PTA representatives who work on local and state advocacy also visit Washington, D.C. In mid-March, Neagle and two officers with the 15th District PTA will join three officers with the Kentucky PTA for the National PTA’s 2018 Legislative Conference. In addition to polishing advocacy tools and techniques, the members will visit legislators on Capitol Hill, sharing a pro-children and pro-family message. For several years, the 15th District PTA president has met regularly with the JCPS superintendent. This is a private meeting in which both leaders are able to discuss trends and issues and share PTA plans and actions. “It is just a check-up,” Neagle says. “We talk about what the PTA can do for the district. Dr. Pollio is big on culture.” Throughout the fall, Neagle continued meeting periodically with then-Acting Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio and Chief Equity Officer Dr. John Marshall. Now that Pollio has been named superintendent, Neagle plans to continue meeting with Pollio and Marshall. At least three meetings are scheduled for this spring. The 15th District PTA has a presence on several committees and organizations, including the SBDM Council committee, Louisville Promise, JCPS calendar committee, racial equity subcommittee, and finance advisory committee. PTA representatives also attend Title I meetings. (The 15th District PTA does not serve on and has not been asked to join the Steering Committee for Action on Louisville’s Agenda [SCALA].)

Nicholas Neagle, a seventh-grade student at the Brown School, completes a Step Up for Kentucky Kids message card.

With its roots in 1897, the National PTA has name recognition and a track record of advocacy affecting everything from child labor laws to early childhood education, lunch programs, immunizations, school safety, and the creation of kindergarten classes. There’s always room for more people to become involved with advocating for causes and legislation that supports children and families. The 15th District PTA offers advocacy workshops to help families get involved at the grassroots level. Once a student starts middle and high school, he or she may also join the school’s Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA). The goal is for each PTA member to advocate on behalf of their school. And often the best advocate is the student, Neagle says. When a PTA representative—whether school, 15th District, Kentucky, or National levels— advocates for children, legislators and educators know the weight and history behind the organization. Each school PTA membership supports causes throughout the nation by giving the PTA a voice with numbers and strength. This is clearly evident during the trips to Washington where legislators meet directly with PTA officers. “PTA is the largest parent organization in the United States,” Neagle says. “We let them know our voice and our concerns. They know there is strength in numbers, and our visit is followed up with individuals calling for the same thing. That reinforces that our numbers matter. And membership is what brings us those numbers.”

Advocates throughout Kentucky gathered in January for the fourteenth annual Children’s Advocacy Day.

Advocates Rally for Children On Thursday, January 18, the Kentucky Capitol was alive with advocates for our children. This was a day to celebrate our students and make our voices known in the capital. Students, parents, advocates, and community leaders share a desire that their voices are heard for our children. Kentucky Youth Advocates (KYA) and the partners for Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children, a coalition of nonprofit, public, and private organizations, put this day together to rally for our children. The excitement started in the rotunda with a rally and presentation of 2018 Champion for Children awards. Congratulations to this year’s recipients: • Senate President Robert Stivers

• Senator Mike Wilson

• Senator Julie Raque Adams

• Representative Addia Wuchner

• Senator David P. Givens

• Secretary John Tilley

• Senator Whitney Westerfield The day wasn’t complete without filling out a Step Up for Kentucky Kids message card, visiting your representative, or attending a committee meeting. This was a day to advocate for all students. I hope you will join us next year. Autumn Neagle, President

Snow and ice in Jefferson County and throughout Kentucky didn’t stop this Children’s Advocacy Day contingent. From left, Barbara Fischer, Kentucky PTA Board of Directors; Autumn Neagle, president of the 15th District PTA; Nicholas Neagle, Brown School PTSA member; and Cherie Dimar, president of the Kentucky PTA

Prepare Your Advocacy Toolkit The National PTA website offers an Advocacy Toolkit. The toolkit includes a refresher on the steps of how a bill becomes a law, tips for notifying media, strategies for communicating with members of Congress, suggestions for effective social media, and even a refresher course about writing effective and engaging personal testimony. Visit pta.org and search for Advocacy Toolkit.

Scholarships for Seniors Did you know that all eligible high school seniors can apply for the Evangeline J. Sansome Scholarship through the 15th District PTA? This annual set of scholarships varies in amount and number every year based on the amount of money available, but in past years it’s been valued at $1,700, with more than 15 scholarships awarded. Students must be a member of a PTSA that is in compliance and have a grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.7. Scholarship applications should be postmarked by March 15 to qualify. To learn more about this scholarship or to submit an application, visit 15thdistrictpta.org/programs /scholarships.

Save the Date for the Awards Banquet The 15th District PTA Annual Awards Banquet will be at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 10, at the Ramada Plaza Louisville Hotel and Conference Center. Tickets can be purchased now through May 5, and a reduced price is available for tickets ordered by May 1. This event is an opportunity to celebrate PTA successes. View an order form on the next page or register online at http://15thdistrictpta.org/events /awards-banquet/.

Robin Elise Weiss, Ph.D., Scholarship Chair

JUNE 21–24

NEW ORLEANS PTA CON XPO 2018 The 2018 National PTA Convention & Expo will be held June 21 through 24 in New Orleans. This event is an opportunity for PTA representatives to improve leadership skills through interactive workshops and stay informed about trends and issues. An awards ceremony will highlight standout students and PTAs. For more information or to register, visit pta.org.

March Is Family Reading Month In March, thousands of elementary schools will celebrate National Reading Month by hosting a PTA Family Reading Experience. The National PTA offers interactive approaches that engage the whole family in reading activities. Parents take part in the fun with their kids and leave the event with a deeper understanding of the simple ways they can support literacy. National PTA has partnered with Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) to provide literacy expertise and activities to host an engaging and effective Family Reading Experience. This is a free, turn-key program that includes invitations, activities, notes, announcements, and ways to enhance your family night. For more information, visit www.rif.org/pta. 6

The 15th District Parent Teacher Association (PTA) invites you to attend our

Annual Awards Banquet Thursday, May 10, 2018 at 6:30 p.m.

Ramada Plaza Louisville Hotel and Conference Center 9700 Bluegrass Parkway, Louisville, KY 40299 We look forward to a fantastic banquet. Join us, and celebrate all of your PTA/PTSA accomplishments for the year. Each table seats eight people. Reservations are $35 a person if received by Tuesday, May 1. Reservations are $45 a person if received between Wednesday, May 2, and Saturday, May 5. We are unable to accept reservations after Saturday, May 5. All reservation requests must include a check made payable to the 15th District PTA. To be sure that your PTA holds as many seats as you require, send in your reservation as soon as possible. If you need or want to be seated with another school, please send in both reservations at the same time. Send reservations to:

15th District PTA, Banquet Reservations P.O. Box 35444 Louisville, KY 40232-5444 A vegetarian plate will be available if it is ordered at the time you make your reservation. Please note: NO refunds will be made after May 1. For more information, call (502) 485-3535. To reserve your banquet tickets, complete and return the below form with payment. Name of PTA, school, or JCPS department: ________________________________________________________________________ Name and phone number of contact person: ________________________________________________________________________ Email: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Total number of tickets: _____________ x $35 (May 1, deadline) Total number of tickets: _____________ x $45 (May 2 through May 5, deadline) Amount of check enclosed: ___________________________

Number of vegetarian plates needed: _______________

15th District PTA 319 South 15th Street Louisville, KY 40203 www.15thDistrictPTA.org

Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Louisville, KY Permit No. 1049

Dated Material Deliver Immediately Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer Offering Equal Educational Opportunities

CAP Volunteers

15th District PTA

www.15thdistrictpta.org 485-3535

Kentucky PTA www.kypta.org 226-6607

National PTA

www.pta.org (703) 518-1200 or 800-307-4PTA (4782)

Twitter 15th District PTA @15thDistrictPTA twitter.com /ky15thdistpta

Clothing Assistance Program @PTA_CAP twitter.com/PTA_CAP

A JCPS snow day on Wednesday, January 17, didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop the Frost and Stuart Community PTSA from visiting the 15th District Clothing Assistance Program (CAP). Two PTSA officers and three students volunteered, working to tag and prepare clothing for families. (We didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t scare them off.) In fact, the Frost Student Council coordinated a February clothing donation challenge to benefit CAP. Students earned points for each clothing donation, and the winning class received a donut party. A group from the Frost Student Council returned to CAP on February 20 to donate the clothing collection and volunteer.

Facebook Get Connected!

15th District PTA

www.facebook.com/15thDistrictPTA

Kentucky PTA

www.facebook.com/KentuckyPTA

National PTA These magnificent seven volunteers from duPont Manual High visited CAP on Saturday, February 10. They cleared a space in the warehouse to make room for a large incoming shipment of new clothing and shoes. They also meticulously inventoried a recent shipment of $35,000 worth of uniform pants, discovering several issues in the order from a supplier that may not have been noticed otherwise. The group endured a physical workout with hundreds of boxes and thousands of pounds of clothing in addition to earning service hours for the National Honor Society and the Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica (Spanish Honor Society). 8

www.facebook.com /parentteacherassociation

15th District PTA Channel

Pinterest 15th District PTA

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