Please use the form in the link below to submit your local unit winning entries to the Council Level recognition. ECCC PTA will take submittals up to Monday, March 1, 2010. The form indicates where to submit packets.
Honoring Our Heroes 2010 – ECCC PTA Packet Cover
Honoring Our Heroes Essay Contest 2010
Sign your school up to participate in "Parent to Parent", a prevention program that empowers parents to raises healthy, responsible kids in our increasingly toxic culture. Created by Bill Oliver, a former Walton parent after his daughter got involved in drugs, Parent to Parent has reached over 3 million parents in 18 years.
A small group of parents (20 or less) watch a DVD presentation and hold discussions with a trained facilitator for 4 weekly sessions. Some of the topics discussed will be putting yourself in the way of our toxic culture; signs and symptoms of a healthy and unhealthy child; children are not adults and why schools cannot raise children; 11 ways to raise a toxic child; managing the internet; and drugs and alcohol.
The ECCC and Cobb County Prevention Intervention Center are offering the program to East Cobb PTA’s free of charge (including the parent facilitator). Materials are $16 per parent/couple and include a book and set of CD’s to keep. The program is also offered in Spanish, but an English/Spanish interpreter is needed.
For more information and how to bring the program to your school, contact Stephanie Holden at involvement@ecccpta.org
Click here to find out more on why Parent to Parent is important and what our children face in today's culture. *** Please note that the content is for adults only.
This April 22 will mark the 40th anniversary of Earth Day and it's a great opportunity for your Environmental Education Committee and/or Club to lead the way for your school community. Here are a few program ideas, and I would love to hear other events that are out there. Earth Day will fall during the CRCT testing period, so events will need to be coordinated with your school's administration team and may need to be held on alternative days. Check out http://www.earthday.net/earthday2010 for some big picture info.
Shredding Event
Bob Karlinski from Shred2Go is a Cobb County parent and business owner who continues to support the community. Check out the flyer on a shred program for nonprofits. Bob's contact information is included.
Grounds Clean Up (School or nearby location)
The Great American Clean Up will begin March 1, so organizing a clean up/beautification event on your school grounds or at a nearby location will be a double dip! Keep Cobb Beautiful has grants available and the next application deadline is Wednesday, February 10, 2010. Check out http://kcb.cobbcountyga.gov/schoolprograms.htm for more info. Your PTA or EEC could donate a tree or flowering shrub to the school grounds.
River Clean Up (Probably more suitable for older students)
There are several websites that offer coordination of clean up activities:
Reusable bags, Water bottles and other eco-items for sales
Combine with education to your school family on why these items make sense (plastics don't degrade, reducing waste, use of petroleum and energy to keep producing disposable). On a side note – I just finished "Bottlemania" by Elizabeth Royte – defintely worth the read.
Gale McTiernan, GJM Promotions, Koru Fundraising.com 404 202-5433
Kim Zemmali, icare Bags http://www.icarebags.com/ 404-271-5506Note: ECCC PTA is not endorsing these companies – just providing information.)
Seeds for Change
Click here to see flyer for information on seed cards. Can be a joint project with your Health & Nutrition Committee. The cards come grouped in a set of four, one for each season. The wholesale price is $8 a set, and schools are free to set their own price and margin. If you purchase enough quantity to cause the cost of production to go down, then the Mendez Foundation will extend the savings and lower the wholesale price even further. If anyone is interested in doing a bulk order so we can take advantage of this, please let me know your desired amount by January 25. Seth Freedman's contact info is 404-734-7144 and his email is sfreedman@mendezfoundation.org.
Nature Hike
A low-key event for elementary-age students. Make "bracelets" of masking tape and have students collect leaves, berries, buts, seeds, etc. from the outdoors. It's amazing what can be found on a playground!
Daily Events
Waste-free Lunch day, Walk and/or Ride the Bus to school day, wear green day, calculate your carbon footprint are events that you can sponsor each day of the week. Art show with recycled materials (Mt Bethel ES does a fantastic job with this in conjunction with America Recycles Day).
As you can see, there are lots of opportunities for your school to show your support of this important milestone and provide some education to your school family about the important role each of us play in safekeeping our natural environment. If you need additional contact information or have an idea that the rest of us can benefit from, please don't keep it to yourself!
Margie Hatfield Scholarship Application NOW AVAILABLE HERE! (click & you will see a PDF document ready to fill in and print)
Do you know a high school senior who has done an outstanding job with community service and citizenship during his or her high school career? Encourage him or her to apply for the ECCC PTA Margie Hatfield Scholarship NOW!
A $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to each of the six winners, one from each ECCC PTA high school. Don’t let this incredible opportunity slip by a deserving student from your school! Applications are available in the school guidance offices, online at www.ecccpta.org, or contact ECCC PTA Scholarship Chairs: Terry Fast, 770-592-6894, thefast4@bellsouth.net , or Yvonne Single, 770-587-5791, heeby@bellsouth.net .
The ECCC PTA recommends all new drivers to participate in a driving instruction program. It is extremely important for our children to understand the responsibilities associated with driving a vehicle. Driving is a privilege but a huge responsibility in aspects of defensive driving and environmental distractions. Parents, please make sure your child has the best success possible in preparing them for the responsibility of driving. Below is one opportunity provided recently for upcoming Driver’s Education:
National PTA News Item