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Source: http://onevoiceillinois.wordpress.com/feed/

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<title>3 Steps to Take If Your PTA Can’t Fill an Officer Position</title>
<link>https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/04/30/3-steps-to-take-if-your-pta-cant-fill-an-officer-position/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[illinoispta]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 15:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Running a PTA]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://onevoiceillinois.com/?p=3035</guid>
<description><![CDATA[It’s PTA election season, but what does your PTA do when your nominating committee can’t find someone to run for an office? Here are three steps to take. Photo © 2006 by wl under Creative Commons license.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
It’s PTA election season, but what does your PTA do when your nominating committee can’t find someone to run for an office? Here are three steps to take.
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignright size-medium"><a href="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/290409554_a450d15bb0_o.jpg"><img width="300" height="225" data-attachment-id="3037" data-permalink="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/04/30/3-steps-to-take-if-your-pta-cant-fill-an-officer-position/290409554_a450d15bb0_o/" data-orig-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/290409554_a450d15bb0_o.jpg" data-orig-size="640,480" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="290409554_a450d15bb0_o" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/290409554_a450d15bb0_o.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/290409554_a450d15bb0_o.jpg?w=640" src="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/290409554_a450d15bb0_o.jpg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-3037" srcset="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/290409554_a450d15bb0_o.jpg?w=300 300w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/290409554_a450d15bb0_o.jpg?w=600 600w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/290409554_a450d15bb0_o.jpg?w=150 150w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a></figure></div>
<ol>
<li>Start with your bylaws. Your PTA bylaws spell out how electing officers takes place. They spell out how long a term is and how many terms a person can serve in an officer position. Your bylaws also likely include “or until their successors are elected and assume their duties.” That means that if you can’t find someone to fill an officer position, the person currently in the position can continue to serve until someone new can be elected. That could mean that you find someone willing to serve over the summer and elect them at your first PTA meeting of the year, or perhaps that your officer serves out the full year if no one else is willing to serve. </li>
<li>What if the person in the position is unable or unwilling to serve another year? Perhaps your current officer is moving on to another school or moving away from the area. Perhaps they are just done serving as a PTA officer. Whatever the reason, you have a vacancy that your PTA will need to cover somehow while hunting for someone to serve in that position. Your approach will vary depending on which office has the vacancy. If the PTA President position is vacant, but you’ve elected a Vice President, the VP can act as president until a new president can be elected. A vacancy in the Vice President position can often be managed without much difficulty, as the duties of the VP are to fill in when the president is unavailable and any other duties assigned by the president. That may mean a little schedule juggling to ensure the president can be at the meetings they need to preside over. A vacancy at Secretary can be handled by appointing a secretary for any meeting that needs minutes taken. A vacancy at Treasurer is probably the most difficult to cover. After all, your PTA will still be bringing in money, collecting dues, and writing checks, so the work must be done. If your PTA is only missing the treasurer, serving as interim treasurer can be assigned to the VP. Otherwise, your PTA can have the executive committee (all elected officers) serve as a Ways and Means committee to cover the duties of the treasurer. You’ll still want to have two signatures on checks and maintain good financial security practices. You’ll also need to have an audit done when you do elect a new treasurer, as signatories will be changing, it will assure the incoming treasurer that they are taking over a clean set of books, and it protects those who filled in from being accused of any improper financial activities. </li>
<li>OK, we’ve got someone willing to serve. Now what? You’ll need to hold an election at your next general membership meeting. Announce that there will be an election at the meeting at least 30 days in advance. Make sure your potential new officer is a member of the PTA. At the election meeting, the president (or officer presiding) will announce that there is “a vacancy for _______ position” and ask for nominees from the floor. Your potential new officer should be nominated, and the president should confirm that they are willing to serve if elected. The president should then ask three times if there are any other nominations for the position. If hearing none, proceed with the election as you normally would—by a voice vote if unopposed or by ballot if there is more than one nominee.</li>
</ol>
Photo © 2006 by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nozomiiqel/290409554/">wl</a> under Creative Commons license.
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<media:title type="html">illinoispta</media:title>
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<title>May is Mental Health Month</title>
<link>https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/04/23/may-is-mental-health-month-4/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[illinoispta]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 23 Apr 2024 15:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://onevoiceillinois.com/?p=3030</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Mental Health America has been supporting mental health since creating Mental Health Month in 1949. This year’s theme is Where to Start: Mental Health in a Changing World, and they have created a free toolkit full of resources you can use to educate, support, and advocate for mental health in your community. The chaos of … <a href="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/04/23/may-is-mental-health-month-4/" class="more-link">Continue reading May is Mental Health Month</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<a href="https://mhanational.org/">Mental Health America</a> has been supporting mental health since creating Mental Health Month in 1949. This year’s theme is Where to Start: Mental Health in a Changing World, and they have <a href="https://mhanational.org/mental-health-month">created a free toolkit full of resources</a> you can use to educate, support, and advocate for mental health in your community. The chaos of daily life can sometimes be overwhelming to deal with, and this year’s toolkit can help those who are struggling as well as those who love them better understand what they are dealing with and how to get help.
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignright size-medium"><a href="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/153185052_may_is_mental_health_month_2024.png"><img width="300" height="300" data-attachment-id="3032" data-permalink="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/04/23/may-is-mental-health-month-4/153185052_may_is_mental_health_month_2024/" data-orig-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/153185052_may_is_mental_health_month_2024.png" data-orig-size="1080,1080" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="153185052_may_is_mental_health_month_2024" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/153185052_may_is_mental_health_month_2024.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/153185052_may_is_mental_health_month_2024.png?w=1024" src="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/153185052_may_is_mental_health_month_2024.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-3032" srcset="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/153185052_may_is_mental_health_month_2024.png?w=300 300w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/153185052_may_is_mental_health_month_2024.png?w=600 600w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/153185052_may_is_mental_health_month_2024.png?w=150 150w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a></figure></div>
The toolkit is loaded with resources that you can use, including:
<ul>
<li>Key messages on mental health</li>
<li>A drop-in news article you can share with your school community</li>
<li>A proclamation you can encourage your local governments to adopt declaring May is Mental Health Month</li>
<li>Posters you can print or share to educate PTA members on mental health</li>
<li>Fact sheets on aspects of mental health, including what to say when you’re not “fine” and what to say when someone says they’re fine but they are not</li>
<li>Coping tools resources (including coloring pages)</li>
<li>Outreach ideas for individuals, organizations like your PTA, schools, and businesses</li>
<li>Ready-to-use graphics, including Zoom backgrounds and social media items</li>
</ul>
While discussing mental health issues has become more common, it can still be difficult to know what to do when you or someone you love is struggling. Download this year’s <a href="https://mhanational.org/mental-health-month">free toolkit</a> and share the resources with your community.
]]></content:encoded>
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<media:title type="html">illinoispta</media:title>
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<item>
<title>Get Ready for Teacher Appreciation Week</title>
<link>https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/04/16/get-ready-for-teacher-appreciation-week/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[illinoispta]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Apr 2024 16:15:27 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Running a PTA]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://onevoiceillinois.com/?p=3024</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Teacher Appreciation Week is coming up May 6-10, and National PTA has resources you can share with your members and use as a PTA to send the message that “Teachers Are Shining Stars!” National PTA’s Thank a Teacher toolkit has everything you need as a PTA to celebrate your school’s teachers. In the toolkit, you’ll … <a href="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/04/16/get-ready-for-teacher-appreciation-week/" class="more-link">Continue reading Get Ready for Teacher Appreciation Week</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
Teacher Appreciation Week is coming up May 6-10, and <a href="https://www.pta.org/home/events/PTA-Teacher-Appreciation-Week">National PTA has resources</a> you can share with your members and use as a PTA to send the message that “Teachers Are Shining Stars!”
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignright size-medium"><a href="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/153185052_taw-gen-promo-24-03.png"><img width="300" height="285" data-attachment-id="3026" data-permalink="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/04/16/get-ready-for-teacher-appreciation-week/153185052_taw-gen-promo-24-03/" data-orig-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/153185052_taw-gen-promo-24-03.png" data-orig-size="545,519" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="153185052_taw-gen-promo-24-03" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/153185052_taw-gen-promo-24-03.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/153185052_taw-gen-promo-24-03.png?w=545" src="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/153185052_taw-gen-promo-24-03.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-3026" srcset="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/153185052_taw-gen-promo-24-03.png?w=300 300w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/153185052_taw-gen-promo-24-03.png?w=150 150w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/153185052_taw-gen-promo-24-03.png 545w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a></figure></div>
National PTA’s Thank a Teacher toolkit has everything you need as a PTA to celebrate your school’s teachers. In the toolkit, you’ll find:
<ul>
<li>Ideas to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week for students and families</li>
<li>Ideas for school-wide teacher appreciation</li>
<li>A printable, fillable Thank You card</li>
<li>An acrostic poem activity for students</li>
<li>Fillable, printable certificates from students, the principal, the PTA President and Vice President, and the PTSA President</li>
<li>Fliers to show your appreciation</li>
<li>Social media graphics</li>
</ul>
Help your families go beyond the World’s Best Teacher mug by <a href="https://www.pta.org/home/events/PTA-Teacher-Appreciation-Week">sharing the resources from National PTA</a>. And start planning how your PTA will celebrate your teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week.
]]></content:encoded>
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<media:title type="html">illinoispta</media:title>
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<item>
<title>Accommodating Special Needs at Your PTA Events</title>
<link>https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/04/09/accommodating-special-needs-at-your-pta-events/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[illinoispta]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 09 Apr 2024 15:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Family Engagement]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Running a PTA]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Special Education]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://onevoiceillinois.com/?p=3020</guid>
<description><![CDATA[We’ve often said that one of the best things about being a PTA versus other parent organizations is that you are never alone in this. Not only do you have resources from Illinois PTA and National PTA, but other state PTAs as well. Late last year, we published an article on ways your PTA could … <a href="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/04/09/accommodating-special-needs-at-your-pta-events/" class="more-link">Continue reading Accommodating Special Needs at Your PTA Events</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
We’ve often said that one of the best things about being a PTA versus other parent organizations is that you are never alone in this. Not only do you have resources from Illinois PTA and National PTA, but other state PTAs as well. Late last year, we published an article on <a href="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2023/11/28/embracing-inclusivity-and-diversification-7-ways-to-foster-a-welcoming-holiday-season/">ways your PTA could foster a welcoming holiday season</a>. Making sure our PTA events are welcoming for all is sometimes a challenge. Recently, Washington State PTA shared some resources on <a href="https://www.wastatepta.org/special-education/">how to accommodate those with special needs at your PTA events</a>.
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignright size-medium"><a href="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/dynamo_art_gallery.jpg"><img loading="lazy" width="300" height="199" data-attachment-id="3022" data-permalink="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/04/09/accommodating-special-needs-at-your-pta-events/dynamo_art_gallery/" data-orig-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/dynamo_art_gallery.jpg" data-orig-size="800,533" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="dynamo_art_gallery" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/dynamo_art_gallery.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/dynamo_art_gallery.jpg?w=800" src="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/dynamo_art_gallery.jpg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-3022" srcset="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/dynamo_art_gallery.jpg?w=300 300w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/dynamo_art_gallery.jpg?w=597 597w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/dynamo_art_gallery.jpg?w=150 150w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a></figure></div>
While the focus of the page is on special education broadly, the links on the sidebar share some tools your PTA may find helpful when planning your next PTA event. Among the items are:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.wastatepta.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/WSPTA_Venue_Checklist.pdf">A venue checklist</a> to ensure everyone can get to and around your event easily.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.wastatepta.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Sample_Accommodations_Checklist.pdf">A sample accommodations checklist</a> to help you determine what accommodations people may need to attend your event.</li>
<li><a href="https://wastatepta.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Recharge-Room-final.png">Considerations for a Recharge Room</a> where people who need a break can take one.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.wastatepta.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Special-Education-Resources-V1.pdf">A list of special education resources</a>, and while the Washington state-specific once are likely of limited use to PTAs in Illinois, the national and other resources linked are helpful for all.</li>
</ul>
It’s important to remember that PTA is for everyone, from membership being open to all, to advocating for every child, to <a href="https://www.pta.org/home/run-your-pta/family-school-partnerships/standard-1-welcome-all-families">welcoming all families</a> as the first of the <a href="https://www.pta.org/home/run-your-pta/family-school-partnerships">National PTA Standards for Family-School Partnerships</a>. We further the PTA mission when we make our events welcoming for everyone.
Photo © 2019 by <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dynamo_Art_Gallery.jpg">Shockster2000</a> under Creative Commons license via Wikimedia Commons.
]]></content:encoded>
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<media:title type="html">illinoispta</media:title>
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<title>Plant-Based School Meals Have Arrived—Here’s How to Make the Most of Them</title>
<link>https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/04/02/plant-based-school-meals-have-arrived-heres-how-to-make-the-most-of-them/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[illinoispta]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 02 Apr 2024 15:05:14 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Tips for Parents]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://onevoiceillinois.com/?p=3015</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Today’s guest post comes from Madeline Bennett, MS, the Food System and Nutrition Policy Analyst at Balanced, which is part of the Plant-Based School Lunch Collaborative. She advocates at the federal level for regulatory and legislative initiatives that improve school nutrition for all. Today, she shares how families can access plant-based school meals made available … <a href="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/04/02/plant-based-school-meals-have-arrived-heres-how-to-make-the-most-of-them/" class="more-link">Continue reading Plant-Based School Meals Have Arrived—Here’s How to Make the Most of Them</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
Today’s guest post comes from Madeline Bennett, MS, the Food System and Nutrition Policy Analyst at Balanced, which is part of the <a href="https://www.plantbasedschoolmeals.com/">Plant-Based School Lunch Collaborative</a>. She advocates at the federal level for regulatory and legislative initiatives that improve school nutrition for all. Today, she shares how families can access plant-based school meals made available under a new Illinois law.
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It’s a new year, and for many students and families, maintaining balanced nutrition is top of mind. When considering how to prioritize kids’ health, school meals might not be the first thing you think of. After all, some of the most popular menu items in the lunchroom tend to be burgers, chicken nuggets, and pizza. However, recently enacted legislation is challenging us all to rethink what school food can and should be.
You might have already heard about HB 4089 (now <a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=4089&GAID=16&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=110&GA=102#:~:text=Amends%2520the%2520School%2520Breakfast%2520and,plant%252Dbased%2520school%2520lunch%2520option.">PA 102-0761</a>), a new law designed to expand food choice for students and families by making plant-based meals available upon request. At first blush, it may sound like the new rule benefits just a handful of students with special diets. But in practice, the law has the potential to be a giant leap forward for child health at large.
Yes, the law is written to accommodate students with dietary restrictions, but all children stand to gain from menus that include more plant proteins. Consider that nearly all kids are lacking fiber-rich beans, greens, and grains in their diets according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. 
Having daily plant-based options in schools means children will be exposed to a wider array of healthy foods. This in turn encourages kids to build diverse diets that meet not only their protein and calorie needs, but also their needs for fiber and other nutrients found mostly in plants. Not to mention, these long-neglected plant-based foods also present a unique culinary opportunity for districts as they learn to showcase how flavorful plants can be.
Of course, serving exciting, kid-friendly meals made entirely from plants is easier said than done. Between picky eaters and schools’ tight budgets, you may be wondering if it’s even possible! 
Enter the <a href="https://www.plantbasedschoolmeals.com/">Plant-Based School Lunch Collaborative</a>, or PBSLC. Established by the nonprofit organizations <a href="http://pbnm.org/">Plant-Based Nutrition Movement</a> and <a href="https://www.balanced.org/">Balanced</a>, PBSLC connects districts with school nutrition experts, as well as heaps of free resources, to help schools serve plant-based and plant-forward meals that are kid- and parent-approved. 
The PBSLC website, <a href="https://www.plantbasedschoolmeals.com/">plantbasedschoolmeals.com</a>, hosts its many resources specially made for Illinois families and school nutrition operators who want to make the most of the opportunity HB 4089 offers. PBSLC knows families want to learn more about IL 4089 and plant-based eating more broadly, and the Collaborative’s dedicated team can answer all your questions about meeting kids’ nutritional needs, preparing flavorful plant-rich recipes, and how your children can request plant-based meals in their schools.
At the district level, PBSLC provides personalized support, recipes, plant-based product lists, on-site training, and one-on-one consultations—all at no cost. For more information about how the Collaborative can assist you or your district, simply get in touch with the PBSLC team using the contact form on the website.
Now, you may be thinking: Don’t our schools already adhere to strong nutrition standards? Yes, but only in a narrow sense. Although kids are required to take a fruit or a vegetable with their meals, when it comes to the center of the plate, too often many of the foods that meet the federal guidelines are processed, too low in fiber and high in excess sodium and solid fats. 
The majority of plant-based entrees, on the other hand, are naturally high in fiber and lower in added sugars, salt, and saturated fat. Increasing accessibility and frequency of these foods on menus is a great way to round out school food service and diversify kids’ diets. And when children and teens have the chance to choose these options—even if just a few days per week—they reap outsized nutrition and health benefits. This is why making the most of HB 4089 is so critical for all students in Illinois, not just those with unique dietary needs.
If you’d like to learn more about how PBSLC can enhance and expand plant-based meals in your district, or if you’re curious about our family resources, get in touch at <a href="https://www.plantbasedschoolmeals.com/">plantbasedschoolmeals.com</a>. You can also find more resources at <a href="https://www.moreplantsonplatesil.com/">moreplantsonplatesil.com</a>.
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<title>New National PTA Connected Program Ready, Tech, Go!</title>
<link>https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/03/26/new-national-pta-connected-program-ready-tech-go/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[illinoispta]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 26 Mar 2024 15:00:21 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Family Engagement]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Juvenile Protection and Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Tips for Parents]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://onevoiceillinois.com/?p=3010</guid>
<description><![CDATA[We’ve highlighted the programs in PTA Connected from National PTA before. Now, in partnership with AT&T, National PTA has a new PTA Connected program called Ready, Tech, Go! The program is aimed at families trying to decide when their child is ready for technology of their own, known as screen readiness. As with all the … <a href="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/03/26/new-national-pta-connected-program-ready-tech-go/" class="more-link">Continue reading New National PTA Connected Program Ready, Tech, Go!</a>]]></description>
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We’ve highlighted the programs in <a href="https://www.pta.org/home/programs/connected">PTA Connected</a> from National PTA before. Now, in partnership with AT&T, National PTA has a new PTA Connected program called <a href="https://www.pta.org/home/programs/connected/ready-tech-go">Ready, Tech, Go!</a> The program is aimed at families trying to decide when their child is ready for technology of their own, known as screen readiness. As with all the National PTA programs, the materials are available in both English and Spanish.
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<figure class="alignright size-medium"><a href="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/ready-tech-go.png"><img loading="lazy" width="300" height="155" data-attachment-id="3012" data-permalink="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/03/26/new-national-pta-connected-program-ready-tech-go/ready-tech-go/" data-orig-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/ready-tech-go.png" data-orig-size="577,300" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="ready-tech-go" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/ready-tech-go.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/ready-tech-go.png?w=577" src="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/ready-tech-go.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-3012" srcset="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/ready-tech-go.png?w=298 298w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/ready-tech-go.png?w=150 150w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/ready-tech-go.png 577w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a></figure></div>
Through the PTA Connected: Ready, Tech Go! program, families will consider the various aspects of what it means to be screen-ready, learn about the tools and resources available to help determine if their child is screen-ready, and discover new ways to create a healthy digital home.
For PTAs looking to host an interactive in-person event, the Ready, Tech Go! program comes with materials in both English and Spanish to plan, promote, host, and wrap up the event, including:
<ul>
<li>An event agenda</li>
<li>A planning guide</li>
<li>A volunteer invitation</li>
<li>A customizable event flyer</li>
<li>Sample promotional messaging</li>
<li>A ready-to-use presentation and facilitator’s guide</li>
<li>A tech-free PhoneReady quiz</li>
<li>A take-home tips sheet for families</li>
<li>Sample thank you letters for speakers, volunteers, and participants</li>
<li>A follow-up feedback survey</li>
</ul>
These resources make it easy for your PTA to host an event without having to invent all the pieces to promote and run it.
Finally, the Ready, Tech, Go! program has resources for families, including an online version of the PhoneReady quiz, resources on digital safety, and <a href="https://www.theachievery.com/en/?utm_source=PTA&utm_campaign=ReadyTechGo&utm_medium=Promotional-Collateral">The Achievery</a>, an online learning platform with curated videos paired with educational activities for K-12 students. Check out <a href="https://www.pta.org/home/programs/connected/ready-tech-go">Ready, Tech, Go!</a> and start planning an event today!
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<title>How to Safely Watch the 2024 Solar Eclipse</title>
<link>https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/03/19/how-to-safely-watch-the-2024-solar-eclipse/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[illinoispta]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 19 Mar 2024 15:04:18 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Tips for Parents]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://onevoiceillinois.com/?p=3006</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Just under seven years ago, a total solar eclipse crossed over southern Illinois. Now, on Monday, April 8, 2024, another total solar eclipse will pass over southern Illinois. Unlike the 2017 eclipse that moved northwest to southeast, the 2024 eclipse will move from southwest to northeast, bringing the path of totality closer to northern Illinois. … <a href="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/03/19/how-to-safely-watch-the-2024-solar-eclipse/" class="more-link">Continue reading How to Safely Watch the 2024 Solar Eclipse</a>]]></description>
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Just under seven years ago, a total solar eclipse crossed over southern Illinois. Now, on <a href="https://dnr.illinois.gov/recreation/totalsolareclipse.html">Monday, April 8, 2024</a>, another total solar eclipse will pass over southern Illinois. Unlike the 2017 eclipse that moved northwest to southeast, the 2024 eclipse will move from southwest to northeast, bringing the path of totality closer to northern Illinois. Here’s how to safely watch the total eclipse.
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<figure class="alignright size-medium"><a href="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/651px-total_solar_eclipse_2017_at_orin_junction_wyoming_-_01.jpg"><img loading="lazy" width="300" height="276" data-attachment-id="3008" data-permalink="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/03/19/how-to-safely-watch-the-2024-solar-eclipse/651px-total_solar_eclipse_2017_at_orin_junction_wyoming_-_01/" data-orig-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/651px-total_solar_eclipse_2017_at_orin_junction_wyoming_-_01.jpg" data-orig-size="651,599" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="651px-total_solar_eclipse_2017_at_orin_junction_wyoming_-_01" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/651px-total_solar_eclipse_2017_at_orin_junction_wyoming_-_01.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/651px-total_solar_eclipse_2017_at_orin_junction_wyoming_-_01.jpg?w=651" src="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/651px-total_solar_eclipse_2017_at_orin_junction_wyoming_-_01.jpg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-3008" srcset="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/651px-total_solar_eclipse_2017_at_orin_junction_wyoming_-_01.jpg?w=300 300w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/651px-total_solar_eclipse_2017_at_orin_junction_wyoming_-_01.jpg?w=600 600w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/651px-total_solar_eclipse_2017_at_orin_junction_wyoming_-_01.jpg?w=150 150w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a></figure></div>
Total solar eclipses, when the moon completely blocks the sun, are not that uncommon, happening every year or two. However, because the shadow of the Moon on the Earth is relatively small, the path of totality is only visible to a narrow band, and with about 75% of the Earth’s surface covered with water, that band is often over the ocean. The 2024 eclipse is a rare opportunity to experience totality (when the shadow of the Moon is over you). The next total eclipse in the lower 48 states will be in 2044 over Montana and North Dakota. The next one visible in Illinois will be on September 14, 2099 and just clip the northeast corner of Illinois and Chicago.
It’s important to know that a solar eclipse at even 99% totality is completely different from 100% totality. The sun is so bright that even with the Moon blocking 99% of the sun’s light, it is still unsafe to look directly at the sun and the light is similar to that of a late evening. Also, the closer you are to the center line of totality, the longer the total eclipse will last—just over four minutes.
Safely Viewing the Eclipse
Until totality, the only safe way to look at the partially covered sun is indirectly using a <a href="https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/projection">pinhole viewer</a> or directly through special-purpose solar filters (such as “eclipse glasses”). If you are purchasing eclipse glasses, you will want to ensure that it says it meets the ISO 12312-2 International Safety Standard. You’ll also want to check your eclipse glasses to ensure that there are no scratches, punctures, or tears in the solar filter. Any damage will let through too much sunlight and damage your eyes, so damaged glasses should be thrown away. Other safety measures include:
<ul>
<li>Always supervise children using solar filters.</li>
<li>If you normally wear eyeglasses, keep them on. Put your eclipse glasses on over them, or hold your handheld viewer in front of them.</li>
<li>Stand still and cover your eyes with your eclipse glasses or solar viewer before looking up at the bright Sun. After looking at the Sun, turn away and remove your filter — do not remove it while looking at the Sun.</li>
<li>Do not look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed Sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or other optical device.</li>
<li>Similarly, do not look at the Sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while using your eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewer in front of your eyes — the concentrated solar rays could damage the filter and enter your eyes, causing serious injury.</li>
<li>Seek expert advice from an astronomer before using a solar filter with a camera, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device; note that solar filters must be attached to the front of any telescope, binoculars, camera lens, or other optics.</li>
</ul>
Other Eclipse Resources
<ul>
<li><a href="https://eclipse.aas.org/">American Astronomical Society</a></li>
<li><a href="https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/">NASA</a></li>
<li><a href="https://dnr.illinois.gov/recreation/totalsolareclipse.html">Illinois Department of Natural Resources</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.enjoyillinois.com/travel-illinois/your-2024-illinois-solar-eclipse-guide/">Illinois Office of Tourism</a></li>
</ul>
The 2024 total solar eclipse may be a true once-in-a-lifetime event for many people. Make sure your experience is safe, and plan on significant traffic both into the path of totality before the eclipse and out of it after the eclipse has passed.
Photo © 2017 by <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Total_solar_eclipse_2017_at_Orin_Junction,_Wyoming_-_01.jpg">O’Dea at Wikimedia Commons</a> under Creative Commons license.
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<title>March is National Reading Month</title>
<link>https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/03/12/march-is-national-reading-month/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[illinoispta]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 12 Mar 2024 15:28:03 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Family Engagement]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Running a PTA]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://onevoiceillinois.com/?p=3001</guid>
<description><![CDATA[March is National Reading Month in honor of Dr. Seuss’s birthday on March 2nd. Reading is the foundation of student success, and developing a love of reading can unlock a world of adventures to last a lifetime. Your PTA can help families support children’s literacy and love of reading by hosting a Family Reading Experience … <a href="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/03/12/march-is-national-reading-month/" class="more-link">Continue reading March is National Reading Month</a>]]></description>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/logo-2018-familyreadingexperience.png"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="277" data-attachment-id="3003" data-permalink="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/03/12/march-is-national-reading-month/logo-2018-familyreadingexperience/" data-orig-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/logo-2018-familyreadingexperience.png" data-orig-size="1106,300" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="logo-2018-familyreadingexperience" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/logo-2018-familyreadingexperience.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/logo-2018-familyreadingexperience.png?w=1024" src="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/logo-2018-familyreadingexperience.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-3003" srcset="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/logo-2018-familyreadingexperience.png?w=1024 1024w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/logo-2018-familyreadingexperience.png?w=1021 1021w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/logo-2018-familyreadingexperience.png?w=150 150w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/logo-2018-familyreadingexperience.png?w=300 300w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/logo-2018-familyreadingexperience.png?w=768 768w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/logo-2018-familyreadingexperience.png 1106w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
March is National Reading Month in honor of Dr. Seuss’s birthday on March 2nd. Reading is the foundation of student success, and developing a love of reading can unlock a world of adventures to last a lifetime. Your PTA can help families support children’s literacy and love of reading by hosting a <a href="https://www.pta.org/home/programs/family-reading">Family Reading Experience</a> at your school.
The Family Reading Experience program from National PTA provides a ready-to-use toolkit of literacy activities to host in both English and Spanish, including:
<ul>
<li>Book Bingo</li>
<li>Build a Library</li>
<li>Connecting Families with Inclusive Books</li>
<li>Hosting a Visiting Author or Illustrator</li>
<li>Stage a Community Book Swap</li>
<li>Stage a Community Read</li>
<li>Stage a Virtual Bedtime Story</li>
</ul>
You’ll also find resources to share with your families, including suggested book lists, information on how to “read” a picture book to a young child, and potential collaboration resources for your Family Reading Experience events. Finally, you’ll also find a couple of Notes from the Backpack PTA podcast focused on literacy. Check out the <a href="https://www.pta.org/home/programs/family-reading">National PTA Family Reading Experience</a> page and start planning your event now.
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<title>5 Nominating Committee Problems (and How to Fix Them)</title>
<link>https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/03/05/5-nominating-committee-problems-and-how-to-fix-them/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[illinoispta]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 05 Mar 2024 16:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Running a PTA]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[The nominating committee is an essential part of a successful PTA. The committee’s charge is to slate one person for each officer position at least 30 days before the election. However, nominating committees often run into problems in completing this seemingly simple task. Here are five problems that nominating committees most commonly have and how … <a href="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/03/05/5-nominating-committee-problems-and-how-to-fix-them/" class="more-link">Continue reading 5 Nominating Committee Problems (and How to Fix Them)</a>]]></description>
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The nominating committee is an essential part of a successful PTA. <a href="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2019/02/19/nominations-and-elections-a-how-to-guide-for-ptas/">The committee’s charge is to slate one person for each officer position at least 30 days before the election</a>. However, nominating committees often run into problems in completing this seemingly simple task. Here are five problems that nominating committees most commonly have and how to fix them.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/screen-apple-black-and-white-plant-fruit-wind-545043-pxhere.com_.jpg"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="377" data-attachment-id="2999" data-permalink="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/03/05/5-nominating-committee-problems-and-how-to-fix-them/screen-apple-black-and-white-plant-fruit-wind-545043-pxhere-com_/" data-orig-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/screen-apple-black-and-white-plant-fruit-wind-545043-pxhere.com_.jpg" data-orig-size="9483,3500" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="screen-apple-black-and-white-plant-fruit-wind-545043-pxhere.com_" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/screen-apple-black-and-white-plant-fruit-wind-545043-pxhere.com_.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/screen-apple-black-and-white-plant-fruit-wind-545043-pxhere.com_.jpg?w=1024" src="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/screen-apple-black-and-white-plant-fruit-wind-545043-pxhere.com_.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2999" srcset="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/screen-apple-black-and-white-plant-fruit-wind-545043-pxhere.com_.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/screen-apple-black-and-white-plant-fruit-wind-545043-pxhere.com_.jpg?w=1021 1021w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/screen-apple-black-and-white-plant-fruit-wind-545043-pxhere.com_.jpg?w=2043 2043w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/screen-apple-black-and-white-plant-fruit-wind-545043-pxhere.com_.jpg?w=150 150w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/screen-apple-black-and-white-plant-fruit-wind-545043-pxhere.com_.jpg?w=300 300w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/screen-apple-black-and-white-plant-fruit-wind-545043-pxhere.com_.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
<ol>
<li>No committee chair. The nominating committee is supposed to elect its own committee chair as soon as they are elected as a committee. This essential step is often overlooked, and the result is the committee doesn’t have one person responsible for driving the nominating process forward. To ensure this doesn’t happen, have your nominating committee elect their chair right after the PTA meeting when they’re elected. If a member isn’t present, get them on the phone or via text so the committee can agree on a chair and inform the PTA president who that is before the evening is over. </li>
<li>Not clear on what they’re looking for. If your nominating committee isn’t clear on what the duties are for each officer position, they may end up seating a nominee who isn’t the best choice for that position. The nominating committee should collectively review the duties of the officer positions found in the bylaws, as well as any additional information in <a href="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2015/06/02/standing-rules-your-ptas-guide-beyond-the-bylaws/">standing rules</a> or <a href="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2015/05/26/procedure-books-preserving-your-ptas-knowledge/">procedure books</a>. Once the committee knows the duties of each position, they are prepared to find candidates best suited to each one. </li>
<li>Too passive. Does your PTA just send out an e-mail or ask at a PTA meeting if anyone is interested in serving as an officer next year and then just wait for the volunteers to line up for each position? Do you end up with no nominees and “candidates will run from the floor” at the election meeting? While people volunteering to serve in an officer position is helpful, it just doesn’t happen all that often, and when it does, the best person for the position may not be the one stepping up. Your nominating committee needs to go beyond passive “who wants to serve?” requests and actively seek out candidates that will be effective leaders and have the skills to do the job well. The committee should talk to the current officers, consider those they suggest as potential replacements, and look to other people such as committee chairs and those “just volunteer for a lot of PTA events” folks. The key job of the nominating committee is getting people with the right skills in the right positions as well as creating a team that will work together effectively. </li>
<li>Not asking for someone to fill a position directly. When nominating committees just ask for volunteers for officer positions at PTA meetings, it is far to easy for everyone to just sit on their hands and far more difficult to be the lone person who raises their hand and says they’d like to serve. After seeking out recommendations and developing their own list of target candidates, the nominating committee needs to talk with each potential candidate individually and, if they feel a candidate is qualified, ask directly if they would be willing to serve. The committee should set aside time to do this, perhaps by setting up in a local coffee shop and inviting candidates to join them at certain times. Asking people to serve while other things are going on (e.g., sitting on the sidelines during a rec league soccer game or while serving punch at a PTA event) can make it more difficult to get a person to agree to serve. Eliminating distractions so the focus is on the officer position can help to get a potential candidate to say yes. </li>
<li>Not selling your PTA. Did you think selling your PTA was just something you did to grow your membership? Think again—your nominating committee also needs to be selling your PTA to those it is trying to convince to lead your PTA. With membership, selling your PTA is about what your PTA does and provides, but with leadership, it’s about what your PTA has and needs. Your nominating committee needs to be selling potential candidates about the resources available to make the officer jobs easier (e.g., procedure books, Illinois PTA resources, past officers available to consult, Illinois PTA officer training, etc.). The committee also needs to be explicit about what the PTA needs in its officer candidates (e.g., good accounting skills, solid organization skills, great volunteer recruiter, etc.) and how a candidate meets those needs.</li>
</ol>
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<title>National PTA Standards for Family-School Partnerships Video Series</title>
<link>https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/02/27/national-pta-standards-for-family-school-partnerships-video-series/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[illinoispta]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 27 Feb 2024 16:08:28 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Family Engagement]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Running a PTA]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://onevoiceillinois.com/?p=2992</guid>
<description><![CDATA[National PTA’s Standards for Family-School Partnerships are the basis for effective family engagement. And effective family engagement is critical to student success, as a recent study demonstrated that schools with better family engagement practices had students that did better after returning to school from remote learning during the pandemic. National PTA has recently released a … <a href="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/02/27/national-pta-standards-for-family-school-partnerships-video-series/" class="more-link">Continue reading National PTA Standards for Family-School Partnerships Video Series</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
National PTA’s <a href="https://www.pta.org/home/run-your-pta/family-school-partnerships">Standards for Family-School Partnerships</a> are the basis for effective family engagement. And effective family engagement is critical to student success, as a <a href="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/01/23/family-engagement-and-the-pandemic/">recent study</a> demonstrated that schools with better family engagement practices had students that did better after returning to school from remote learning during the pandemic. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ5seUGdPQBUHtGUbXmlBoThltCYGZ1Pg">National PTA has recently released a video series</a> to help local PTAs better understand the standards.
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<figure class="alignright size-medium"><a href="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/img-2022-nationalstandards-hexagon.png"><img loading="lazy" width="300" height="286" data-attachment-id="2691" data-permalink="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2022/11/15/the-new-update-of-the-national-standards-for-family-school-partnerships/img-2022-nationalstandards-hexagon/" data-orig-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/img-2022-nationalstandards-hexagon.png" data-orig-size="450,430" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="img-2022-nationalstandards-hexagon" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/img-2022-nationalstandards-hexagon.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/img-2022-nationalstandards-hexagon.png?w=450" src="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/img-2022-nationalstandards-hexagon.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2691" srcset="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/img-2022-nationalstandards-hexagon.png?w=300 300w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/img-2022-nationalstandards-hexagon.png?w=150 150w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/img-2022-nationalstandards-hexagon.png 450w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a></figure></div>
The National PTA Standards for Family-School Partnerships have six standards:
<ol>
<li>Welcome All Families</li>
<li>Communicate Effectively</li>
<li>Support Student Success</li>
<li>Speak Up for Every Child </li>
<li>Share Power</li>
<li>Collaborate with Community</li>
</ol>
The video series has six short videos under six minutes on each of the standards. There is also a recent 71-minute webinar to conclude the series, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZnz6UEXzK0&list=PLQ5seUGdPQBUHtGUbXmlBoThltCYGZ1Pg&index=7">Transforming Family-School Partnerships: De-Politicizing Family Engagement and SEL</a>.
Effective family engagement not only supports student success, it helps your PTA as well because engaged families are more likely to become involved with your PTA. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ5seUGdPQBUHtGUbXmlBoThltCYGZ1Pg">Check out the video series</a> to learn how your PTA can better engage your families. You can also plan ahead to participate in the <a href="https://www.pta.org/home/programs/National-PTA-School-of-Excellence">School of Excellence</a> program next year. The program is built on the six standards, and registration for the 2024-2025 program will begin May 1, 2024.
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<title>White House Takes Action on Safe Gun Storage</title>
<link>https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/02/20/white-house-takes-action-on-safe-gun-storage/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[illinoispta]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 20 Feb 2024 16:27:29 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Advocacy]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Resolutions]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://onevoiceillinois.com/?p=2987</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Illinois PTA adopted a resolution on Safe Gun Storage at the 2021 convention. A slightly-modified version of that resolution was submitted jointly by Illinois PTA and Michigan PTA and was adopted at the 2023 National PTA Convention. Last month, President Biden signed an executive order implementing several actions to promote safe gun storage in order … <a href="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/02/20/white-house-takes-action-on-safe-gun-storage/" class="more-link">Continue reading White House Takes Action on Safe Gun Storage</a>]]></description>
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Illinois PTA adopted a <a href="https://illinoispta.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Resolution-on-Gun-Storage-final.pdf">resolution on Safe Gun Storage</a> at the 2021 convention. A <a href="https://www.pta.org/home/advocacy/ptas-positions/Individual-PTA-Resolutions/resolution-safe-storage-of-firearms">slightly-modified version of that resolution</a> was submitted jointly by Illinois PTA and Michigan PTA and was adopted at the 2023 National PTA Convention. Last month, President Biden signed an executive order implementing several actions to promote safe gun storage in order to reduce gun violence. National PTA President Yvonne Johnson and National PTA Vice President of Advocacy Rose Acerra were able to attend the signing.
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<figure class="alignright size-medium"><a href="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/153185052_us_doj_safe_storage_of_firearms_guide_cover.png"><img loading="lazy" width="230" height="300" data-attachment-id="2989" data-permalink="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/02/20/white-house-takes-action-on-safe-gun-storage/153185052_us_doj_safe_storage_of_firearms_guide_cover/" data-orig-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/153185052_us_doj_safe_storage_of_firearms_guide_cover.png" data-orig-size="684,893" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="153185052_us_doj_safe_storage_of_firearms_guide_cover" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/153185052_us_doj_safe_storage_of_firearms_guide_cover.png?w=230" data-large-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/153185052_us_doj_safe_storage_of_firearms_guide_cover.png?w=684" src="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/153185052_us_doj_safe_storage_of_firearms_guide_cover.png?w=230" alt="" class="wp-image-2989" srcset="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/153185052_us_doj_safe_storage_of_firearms_guide_cover.png?w=230 230w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/153185052_us_doj_safe_storage_of_firearms_guide_cover.png?w=460 460w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/153185052_us_doj_safe_storage_of_firearms_guide_cover.png?w=115 115w" sizes="(max-width: 230px) 100vw, 230px" /></a></figure></div>
The executive order notes that:
<ul>
<li>76% of school shootings are committed with guns from the home of a parent or close relative.</li>
<li>80% of the firearm suicides by children (age 18 or younger) involved a gun belonging to a family member, and the firearm suicide rate among children and teens has increased by 66% over the past decade.</li>
<li>76% of the unintentional shootings of children were committed with an unsecured gun in the home, most often stored in nightstands or other sleeping areas. From 2003 to 2021, 1,262 children were killed by fatal unintentional firearm injury, with approximately half caused by another person.</li>
</ul>
Because local leaders like school officials can serve as trusted messengers, the executive order directs resources to help them promote safe firearm storage. Among the actions are:
<ul>
<li>A <a href="https://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/secletter/012524.html">letter sent to all school principals</a> explaining the importance of safe storage and encouraging them to communicate with families and their broader community about how safe storage can protect students in school and in their communities.</li>
<li>A <a href="https://rems.ed.gov/docs/Safe-Firearm-Storage">communications template</a> that school leaders can use to share the importance of safe firearm storage with families and encourage more people to take preventive action by safely storing their firearms.</li>
<li>A US Department of Justice (DOJ) <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/DOJ-Safe-Firearm-Storage-Guide.pdf">guide to the safe storage of firearms</a> that provides information on the different types of storage devices and best practices for safely storing firearms. This is the most comprehensive guide on safe storage ever released by the federal government.</li>
</ul>
Illinois PTA continues to advocate for safe gun storage laws here in Illinois and encourages PTAs to share the DOJ guide with their school community. Strong safe gun storage laws can <a href="https://everytownresearch.org/two-decades-of-suicide-prevention-laws-lessons-from-national-leaders-in-gun-safety-policy/">cut the rate of gun suicides by more than half</a>.
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<title>Busting 5 PTA Membership Myths</title>
<link>https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/02/13/busting-5-pta-membership-myths/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[illinoispta]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 13 Feb 2024 20:31:48 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Membership]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Running a PTA]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://onevoiceillinois.com/?p=2982</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Membership is one of the basic parts of PTA, but there are a lot of myths and misunderstandings about it. Here are five common PTA membership myths busted. Myth #1: Membership campaigns are only at the start of the school year. Busted: Sure, most of your members will join PTA at the start of the … <a href="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/02/13/busting-5-pta-membership-myths/" class="more-link">Continue reading Busting 5 PTA Membership Myths</a>]]></description>
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Membership is one of the basic parts of PTA, but there are a lot of myths and misunderstandings about it. Here are five common PTA membership myths busted.
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<figure class="alignright size-medium"><a href="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/153185052_myth_busted.png"><img loading="lazy" width="300" height="150" data-attachment-id="2984" data-permalink="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/02/13/busting-5-pta-membership-myths/153185052_myth_busted/" data-orig-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/153185052_myth_busted.png" data-orig-size="800,400" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="153185052_myth_busted" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/153185052_myth_busted.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/153185052_myth_busted.png?w=800" src="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/153185052_myth_busted.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2984" srcset="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/153185052_myth_busted.png?w=300 300w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/153185052_myth_busted.png?w=600 600w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/153185052_myth_busted.png?w=150 150w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a></figure></div>
Myth #1: Membership campaigns are only at the start of the school year.
Busted: Sure, most of your members will join PTA at the start of the year, but how many times have you heard, “I can’t write another check right now” while sitting at the PTA table during school registration. In fact, anyone can join PTA at any time. You can use various holidays or events to get more people to join your PTA. For example, “Love our PTA events? Show us some love by joining our PTA! Your membership helps to support our events.” around Valentine’s Day.
Myth #2: You have to have a kid at the school or work there to join.
Busted: Anyone can join any PTA by paying their membership dues. While most of your PTA members will be parents, teachers, or staff associated with your school, there are many people out there who could join your PTA. Make a “community membership” available to your PTA (it’s easy to enable it in Givebacks) and encourage grandparents, school board members, school district central office members, local politicians, Chamber of Commerce members, realtors, and more to join your PTA. Everyone in your community has a stake in good local public schools, and strong PTAs support strong public schools.
Myth #3: “Family memberships” are the same as regular memberships.
Busted: Some PTAs offer a “family membership,” and that’s okay, but it needs to be well-defined. Remember that a PTA membership entitles the member to vote on motions and elect officers of your PTA. How many votes does your “family membership” provide to a family? Two? Everyone in the family (and how does that work at one price)? Keep in mind that you also need to pay Illinois PTA and National PTA dues for every member in your PTA.
Myth #4: “Everyone is automatically a member of our PTA.”
Busted: No one wants to feel like they’re excluding people from PTA membership, so the appeal of this idea is understandable, but practically, it just doesn’t work. Remember, PTA membership provides the right to vote on PTA officers, and anyone can join a PTA. If everyone is automatically a member, can a group walk into your PTA election meeting off the street, nominate one of them to be PTA president or treasurer from the floor, and then elect them if they come in sufficient numbers to do so? Also, how does your PTA then pay state and national dues for everyone?
Myth #5: We can’t do “gift” memberships.
Busted: This myth partially feeds into myth #4 above. There may be people who would like to join your PTA, but can’t manage the dues in their family budget. While “gift” memberships are possible, they can be challenging to administer. If your PTA wants to limit them to families eligible for free and reduced-price lunch, you’ll need to work with your school administration to handle who gets memberships, as that information cannot be shared with the PTA. You can also have people purchase additional PTA memberships when they join to create a pool of gift memberships, but extreme sensitivity and confidentiality is needed in how they are administered.
One way that some PTAs get around these difficulties is to provide a benefit with the PTA membership that offsets the cost of the membership itself. For example, if your PTA has a fun fair and has a meal of a hot dog, potato chips, a cookie, and a drink for sale that costs as much as or more than a PTA membership, you can have a PTA membership entitle someone to one free meal at the fair (provide a free meal voucher when they join).
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<title>Show Your PTA Volunteers Some Love This Valentine’s Day</title>
<link>https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/02/06/show-your-pta-volunteers-some-love-this-valentines-day/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[illinoispta]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 06 Feb 2024 16:11:11 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Running a PTA]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://onevoiceillinois.com/?p=2977</guid>
<description><![CDATA[PTA runs on volunteers, from the person helping out at the book fair all the way up to the National PTA President. One way to build your PTA’s volunteer base and strengthen your PTA as a whole is to support your volunteers. Here are some ways you and your PTA can make sure your volunteers … <a href="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/02/06/show-your-pta-volunteers-some-love-this-valentines-day/" class="more-link">Continue reading Show Your PTA Volunteers Some Love This Valentine’s Day</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
PTA runs on volunteers, from the person helping out at the book fair all the way up to the National PTA President. One way to build your PTA’s volunteer base and strengthen your PTA as a whole is to support your volunteers. Here are some ways you and your PTA can make sure your volunteers feel the love.
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<figure class="alignright size-medium"><a href="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/8975602227_090ce649a2_o.jpg"><img loading="lazy" width="300" height="300" data-attachment-id="2426" data-permalink="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2021/11/09/10-secrets-to-getting-and-keeping-volunteers/8975602227_090ce649a2_o-2/" data-orig-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/8975602227_090ce649a2_o.jpg" data-orig-size="300,300" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="8975602227_090ce649a2_o" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/8975602227_090ce649a2_o.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/8975602227_090ce649a2_o.jpg?w=300" src="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/8975602227_090ce649a2_o.jpg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2426" srcset="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/8975602227_090ce649a2_o.jpg 300w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/8975602227_090ce649a2_o.jpg?w=150 150w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a></figure></div>
While the main reason people initially volunteer for your PTA is to help make your school a better place for their child, there are many other reasons why they continue to do so:
<ul>
<li>To meet and network with other people</li>
<li>To better know what’s going on at the school</li>
<li>To find a sense of community</li>
<li>To make a difference</li>
</ul>
Note that many of these reasons tie in to interpersonal relationships, and your volunteer recognition is one way to help build those relationships. Best practices for effective volunteer appreciation include:
<ul>
<li>Make volunteer appreciation a priority. Consider creating a Volunteer Coordinator position for your PTA who helps sign volunteers ups for tasks and makes sure their work is recognized.</li>
<li>Say “thank you” often. Thank people after the event, at your PTA meetings, and in a variety of ways.</li>
<li>Be creative. Don’t just have one big volunteer recognition at the end of the year. Consider simple and fun ways to recognize volunteers throughout the year.</li>
<li>Focus on the individual. Most people aren’t volunteering for the personal accolades, but everyone appreciates being recognized individually.</li>
<li>Make it prompt. Make sure your volunteers at an event get a thank you as soon as possible after the event (and maybe in more ways than one).</li>
</ul>
While most volunteer recognition ideas focus on the “thank you for volunteering,” there are other ways to recognize volunteers. Here are several ways you can recognize or thank your volunteers.
<ul>
<li>Have distinctive name tags for volunteers at events.</li>
<li>Send personalized thank you notes by mail, e-mail, phone call, or text.</li>
<li>Hand out recognition awards, even if it’s something simple like a personalized certificate, a candy bar, or a $5 coffee shop gift card.</li>
<li>Highlight your volunteers on social media, whether it’s just thanking a list of volunteers at an event or individual posts with photos of each volunteer working at an event.</li>
<li>Share a video thanking them on Tik Tok, Facebook, or other social media.</li>
<li>Give them a perk—if you have an event that requires tickets, provide your volunteers with a free ticket for admission, snacks, or activities. Let Book Fair volunteers pick out a free book for their child (up to a certain cost) or designate a free book for their child’s teacher or the school library.</li>
<li>Recognize long-time volunteers who are leaving your school by donating a book to the school library with a nice book plate noting that the book was donated in their honor by the PTA.</li>
<li>Got a volunteer who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, organizing, logistics, problem solving, or other skills? Give them a recommendation or endorsement on their LinkedIn profile.</li>
<li>Set aside some close parking spots for your volunteers at a busy event.</li>
</ul>
Volunteer appreciation doesn’t have to be expensive or flashy. It simply needs to be public, frequent, and heart-felt.
Graphic © 2013 by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/90833212@N07/8975602227">Pump Aid Pictures</a> under Creative Commons license.
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<title>Helping Your Kid Make Decisions</title>
<link>https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/01/30/helping-your-kid-make-decisions/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[illinoispta]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Jan 2024 15:04:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Tips for Parents]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://onevoiceillinois.com/?p=2971</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Our children are born needing us to make every decision for them, and by the time they leave home, we hope that they are able to make all their decisions themselves (maybe with some occasional asked-for advice from Mom and Dad). Moving them along that path is often a challenge for parents. The Child Mind … <a href="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/01/30/helping-your-kid-make-decisions/" class="more-link">Continue reading Helping Your Kid Make Decisions</a>]]></description>
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Our children are born needing us to make every decision for them, and by the time they leave home, we hope that they are able to make all their decisions themselves (maybe with some occasional asked-for advice from Mom and Dad). Moving them along that path is often a challenge for parents. The <a href="https://childmind.org/">Child Mind Institute</a> has an article to provide you with some guideposts on <a href="https://childmind.org/article/helping-kids-make-decisions/">when to step up and when to step back</a> as your child learns to make their own decisions (<a href="https://childmind.org/es/articulo/ayudar-a-los-ninos-a-tomar-decisiones/">also available in Spanish</a>).
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<figure class="alignright size-medium"><a href="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/child_crossroad_kid_choice_direction_what_way_choosing-456168.png"><img loading="lazy" width="300" height="198" data-attachment-id="2973" data-permalink="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/01/30/helping-your-kid-make-decisions/child_crossroad_kid_choice_direction_what_way_choosing-456168/" data-orig-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/child_crossroad_kid_choice_direction_what_way_choosing-456168.png" data-orig-size="1948,1288" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="child_crossroad_kid_choice_direction_what_way_choosing-456168" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/child_crossroad_kid_choice_direction_what_way_choosing-456168.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/child_crossroad_kid_choice_direction_what_way_choosing-456168.png?w=1024" src="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/child_crossroad_kid_choice_direction_what_way_choosing-456168.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2973" srcset="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/child_crossroad_kid_choice_direction_what_way_choosing-456168.png?w=300 300w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/child_crossroad_kid_choice_direction_what_way_choosing-456168.png?w=600 600w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/child_crossroad_kid_choice_direction_what_way_choosing-456168.png?w=150 150w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a></figure></div>
The article notes that learning to make decisions can start early, even with toddlers, by giving them two options that you are okay with (e.g., chicken nuggets or grilled cheese for lunch?). As they grow, you can help them learn by sharing how you are making decisions out loud. We make decisions all the time without really thinking that much about the process, but even something as simple as what to cook for dinner can be instructive: What do we want to have for dinner? Do we have all the ingredients for it? Do we have time to go to the store to get them? What else could we make?
As they get older, you can help them implement similar thinking with their decisions. Questions to have your child ask when they’re struggling with a decision include:
<ul>
<li>What decision do I need to make?</li>
<li>What are my options, including less-preferable ones?</li>
<li>What are the pros and cons of each choice?</li>
<li>Are there any rules (school policy, curfew, etc.) I need to consider when making my decision?</li>
<li>How will this decision impact others?</li>
<li>What is my gut telling me to do?</li>
<li>How does that decision make me feel?</li>
<li>What’s my plan B?</li>
</ul>
As you become more confident in their ability to make good decisions, you can begin to step away. It’s not always easy to do, but trusting them with little decisions prepares them for making their own big decisions down the road. At this point, if they come to you for help with a small decision, you can ask if they really need your help and encourage them to make the decision on their own. If it’s a big (or medium) decision, then you can acknowledge that and discuss it with them.
Part of this stepping away process is letting your child make bad decisions in some cases. As long as it’s a safe situation, you can let your child learn from mistakes. That means that perhaps you don’t drive to school to drop off the forgotten homework assignment or let them spend their allowance on a toy that will easily break. The important part of the process is to talk with them about why the unfortunate consequences happened and what they could do differently in their decision-making process. Remember, it’s not about blame, it’s about learning how to make good decisions.
Check out the <a href="https://childmind.org/article/helping-kids-make-decisions/">full article</a> for more information and suggestions on how to support your child’s learning to make decisions and how doing so builds their self-confidence.
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<title>Family Engagement and the Pandemic</title>
<link>https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/01/23/family-engagement-and-the-pandemic/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[illinoispta]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 23 Jan 2024 15:50:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Family Engagement]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://onevoiceillinois.com/?p=2966</guid>
<description><![CDATA[As PTAs, family engagement is fundamental. Recent research from our friends at Learning Heroes uncovered yet another way that family engagement has made a difference in student success. Data has shown that the disruptions to schools from the pandemic had an effect on student performance. The study, the first of three on the topic, looks … <a href="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/01/23/family-engagement-and-the-pandemic/" class="more-link">Continue reading Family Engagement and the Pandemic</a>]]></description>
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As PTAs, family engagement is fundamental. Recent research from our friends at <a href="https://bealearninghero.org/">Learning Heroes</a> uncovered yet another way that family engagement has made a difference in student success. Data has shown that the disruptions to schools from the pandemic had an effect on student performance. The study, the first of three on the topic, looks into <a href="https://bealearninghero.org/research/">whether schools with strong family engagement were able to better handle these pandemic disruptions</a> and, if so, how they did so.
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This first study aims to establish the case that schools with strong family engagement had better student outcomes with the return to in-person schooling compared to schools with weaker family engagement. The next two studies will try to figure out what family engagement policies, practices, and mindsets made a difference and to develop a way to measure the strength of family engagement.
This first study should be of special importance to Illinois PTAs, as the research used the 5Essentials survey to measure pre-pandemic family engagement (specifically, the Involved Families essential measure) and Illinois as demographically similar to the entire United States. Statistical tools were used to control for differences in school and community characteristics. Next, a variety of measures were investigated regarding how strong family engagement might have resulted in better student success, including attendance, chronic absenteeism, participation in the ELA and math parts of the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR), math and ELA achievement and growth scores from the IAR, teacher retention, and others.
Key Findings
This initial study reported several results illustrating the importance of strong family engagement:
<ul>
<li>Schools with stronger family engagement before the pandemic experienced better-than-expected attendance, achievement, and school climate outcomes post-pandemic.</li>
<li>For these outcomes, the importance of strong pre-pandemic family engagement was comparable to the importance of spending more time learning in-person versus remote. In fact, for similar schools, being in the top 10% in family engagement instead of the bottom 10% was associated with improvements in math and reading achievement on the IAR similar to replacing over half of the prior school year with in-person instead of remote learning.</li>
<li>The powerful relationship between family engagement and student outcomes applied to a diverse range of schools, including high- or low-income areas, elementary to high schools, and city or rural settings.</li>
<li>A school’s pre-pandemic family engagement was also related to better chronic absenteeism, attendance, and test participation outcomes in 2021-2022, while the amount of in-person learning in 2020-2021 was not.</li>
</ul>
Check out the Learning Heroes research page on this <a href="https://bealearninghero.org/research/">Family Engagement Impact Study</a>. You’ll find a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CampaignforGLR/videos/802192931591874/?mibextid=zDhOQc">recorded webinar</a> covering the study, a downloadable copy of the <a href="https://bealearninghero.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/FACE-Impact-Study.pdf">slide deck</a>, a <a href="https://bealearninghero.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/LH-23-FACEImpactFlyer-V3.pdf">one-pager summary</a> of the study you can easily share with your school community, and a summary article from <a href="https://www.edweek.org/leadership/new-research-finds-a-crucial-factor-in-reducing-chronic-absenteeism/2023/10">Education Week</a>.
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<title>Time for Take Your Family to School Week</title>
<link>https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/01/16/time-for-take-your-family-to-school-week/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[illinoispta]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Jan 2024 16:56:19 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Family Engagement]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Running a PTA]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://onevoiceillinois.com/?p=2961</guid>
<description><![CDATA[National PTA’s Take Your Family to School Week is February 11-17, 2024. The week celebrates the founding of PTA on February 17, 1987 and is designed to engage families in their children’s schools and build partnerships with teachers and administrators. The time to start planning how your PTA will celebrate Take Your Family to School … <a href="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/01/16/time-for-take-your-family-to-school-week/" class="more-link">Continue reading Time for Take Your Family to School Week</a>]]></description>
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National PTA’s <a href="https://www.pta.org/home/events/PTA-Take-Your-Family-to-School-Week">Take Your Family to School Week</a> is February 11-17, 2024. The week celebrates the founding of PTA on February 17, 1987 and is designed to engage families in their children’s schools and build partnerships with teachers and administrators. The time to start planning how your PTA will celebrate Take Your Family to School Week is now, and National PTA has resources to help you do just that.
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<figure class="alignright size-medium"><a href="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/img-2022-girlsmiling-1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" width="300" height="180" data-attachment-id="2963" data-permalink="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/01/16/time-for-take-your-family-to-school-week/img-2022-girlsmiling-1/" data-orig-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/img-2022-girlsmiling-1.jpg" data-orig-size="500,300" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="img-2022-girlsmiling-1" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/img-2022-girlsmiling-1.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/img-2022-girlsmiling-1.jpg?w=500" src="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/img-2022-girlsmiling-1.jpg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2963" srcset="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/img-2022-girlsmiling-1.jpg?w=300 300w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/img-2022-girlsmiling-1.jpg?w=150 150w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/img-2022-girlsmiling-1.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a></figure></div>
Family engagement is critical to student success, and Take Your Family to School Week is built around this concept. National PTA has eight ways your PTA can celebrate Take Your Family to School Week and build family engagement in your school.
<ol>
<li>Explore PTA’s National Standards for Family School Partnerships with their <a href="https://pta.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_YLaLmj-TSz2CTfmCzAvziw#/registration">ongoing webinar series</a>. Upcoming webinars are January 24th, February 14th, March 13th, and April 3rd, all from 1:00pm-2:15pm Central Time.</li>
<li>Enhance your PTA’s inclusion of historically underrepresented children and families with National PTA’s <a href="https://www.pta.org/docs/default-source/files/runyourpta/2023/diversity-equity-inclusion/pta-multicultural-reference-guide.pdf">Multicultural Reference Guide</a> (also <a href="https://www.pta.org/docs/default-source/files/runyourpta/2023/diversity-equity-inclusion/pta-multicultural-reference-guide-esp.pdf">available in Spanish</a>).</li>
<li>Become a role model and advocate for transformative family engagement by taking National PTA’s 25-minute <a href="https://www2.pta.org/NewFamilyEngagement/#/">Transformative Family Engagement e-learning course</a> to learn the “Four I’s” of transformative family engagement—being inclusive, individualized, integrated, and impactful.</li>
<li>Use a <a href="https://www.pta.org/home/programs#programslist">National PTA program</a> to provide an engaging and education opportunity for families and students.</li>
<li>Check out the <a href="https://www.pta.org/the-center-for-family-engagement/podcast/notes-from-the-backpack">Notes from the Backpack podcast</a>..</li>
<li>Speak up for the health and well-being of all children using <a href="https://www.pta.org/home/advocacy/advocacy-resources/Advocacy-Toolkit">National PTA’s Advocacy Toolkit</a> and <a href="https://illinoispta.org/local-unit-advocacy-toolkit/">Illinois PTA’s Local Unit Advocacy Toolkit</a>.</li>
<li>Host a community listening session on a topic of your choice using <a href="https://www.pta.org/docs/default-source/files/cfe/2020/cfe-facilitating_listening_sessions.pdf">National PTA’s Facilitating Community Listening Sessions Guide</a> (also available in <a href="https://www.pta.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/cfe-toolkit_es665d48f1aa3e63899f67ff00009b2bd9.pdf">Spanish</a>, <a href="https://www.pta.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/cfe-toolkit_mandarin.pdf">Mandarin</a>, <a href="https://www.pta.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/cfe-toolkit_arabic.pdf">Arabic</a>, <a href="https://www.pta.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/cfe-toolkit_vietnamese.pdf">Vietnamese</a>, <a href="https://www.pta.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/cfe-toolkit_-somali.pdf">Somali</a>, and <a href="https://www.pta.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/cfe-toolkit_haitian.pdf">Haitian</a>).</li>
<li>Share the value your PTA provides to your community by <a href="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2023/09/19/creating-your-pta-value-message/">creating your own value message</a>.</li>
</ol>
Founder’s Day and Take Your Family to School Week celebrate the birth of PTA. Use <a href="https://www.pta.org/home/events/PTA-Take-Your-Family-to-School-Week">National PTA’s resources</a> to decide how your PTA will join in the party.
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<title>New Report on Gun Death in Illinois</title>
<link>https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/01/10/new-report-on-gun-death-in-illinois/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[illinoispta]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jan 2024 16:24:49 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Advocacy]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Juvenile Protection and Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://onevoiceillinois.com/?p=2955</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In 2021, Illinois PTA Convention delegates adopted a resolution on safe gun storage. Since then, we have advocated for safe gun storage laws in Illinois and educated members on firearms issues. A new report by One Aim Illinois called Gun Death in Illinois looks at the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) … <a href="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2024/01/10/new-report-on-gun-death-in-illinois/" class="more-link">Continue reading New Report on Gun Death in Illinois</a>]]></description>
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In 2021, Illinois PTA Convention delegates adopted a <a href="https://illinoispta.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Resolution-on-Gun-Storage-final.pdf">resolution on safe gun storage</a>. Since then, we have advocated for safe gun storage laws in Illinois and educated members on firearms issues. A new report by <a href="https://oneaimil.org/">One Aim Illinois</a> called <a href="https://oneaimil.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Illinios_2023_ver6.pdf">Gun Death in Illinois</a> looks at the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). While the data provided are crucial to developing effective public policy, throughout the report are quotes from those whose lives have been affected by gun violence as a reminder that behind the statistics are tragedies that have devastated real human lives.
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Gun deaths include homicide, suicide, accidental shootings, and firearms deaths of undetermined intent. Among the shocking statistics included in the report are:
<ul>
<li>Gun deaths in Illinois exceed motor vehicle deaths, have done so since 2014, and the gap between the two has continued to widen.</li>
<li>Illinois’s rate of gun deaths ranks 27th in the country. The homicide rate in Illinois is higher than the national average, but the suicide rate is lower than the national average.</li>
<li>Victims of firearm deaths are overwhelmingly male (88%), and that figure is consistent for both homicide and suicide.</li>
<li>Those under 24 years of age account for nearly 30% of all firearm deaths in Illinois.</li>
<li>87% of the homicides in Illinois in 2021 were committed with a firearm.</li>
<li>45% of the suicides in Illinois used a firearm, and this percentage has been increasing since 2019 (when it was 38%).</li>
</ul>
What PTAs Can Do
As PTA, our mission directs us to educate and advocate on issues to help make every child’s potential a reality. Far too many children’s lives are cut short by gun violence. Here’s what PTAs can do:
<ul>
<li>Educate your PTA members and school community on the issue. Our <a href="https://illinoispta.org/active-resolutions/#design">resolutions page</a> has a drop-in article you can use on safe gun storage and an infographic to share with members. You can find them in the drop-down box for the resolution on safe gun storage.</li>
<li>Illinois PTA will continue to advocate for safe gun storage laws in Illinois. When a Call to Action is sent out on the topic, take a few minutes to send a pre-written e-mail to your legislators asking them to support the bill and encourage your members to do so as well.</li>
<li>National PTA also has advocacy campaigns on gun violence. You can see all active National PTA campaigns, along with active Illinois PTA campaigns, on our <a href="https://illinoispta.org/take-action/">Take Action page</a> under the Advocacy menu.</li>
</ul>
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<title>Learning New Ways to PTA</title>
<link>https://onevoiceillinois.com/2023/12/26/learning-new-ways-to-pta/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[illinoispta]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 26 Dec 2023 16:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Family Engagement]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Running a PTA]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://onevoiceillinois.com/?p=2950</guid>
<description><![CDATA[National PTA has been using PTA as a verb for a couple of years now, emphasizing the idea that PTA is taking action for your child’s and every child’s success. National PTA has also been sharing reports on how grant recipients and other PTAs have been implementing the PTA mission through programs and other activities. … <a href="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2023/12/26/learning-new-ways-to-pta/" class="more-link">Continue reading Learning New Ways to PTA</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
National PTA has been using PTA as a verb for a couple of years now, emphasizing the idea that PTA is taking action for your child’s and every child’s success. National PTA has also been sharing reports on how grant recipients and other PTAs have been implementing the PTA mission through programs and other activities. If your PTA is looking for new ways to PTA, check out <a href="https://www.pta.org/home/run-your-pta/how-we-pta">National PTA’s How We PTA page</a>.
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<figure class="alignright size-large is-resized"><a href="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/pta-for-your-child-gif.webp"><img loading="lazy" width="300" height="300" data-attachment-id="2952" data-permalink="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2023/12/26/learning-new-ways-to-pta/pta-for-your-child-gif-2/" data-orig-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/pta-for-your-child-gif.webp" data-orig-size="300,300" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="pta-for-your-child-gif" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/pta-for-your-child-gif.webp?w=300" data-large-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/pta-for-your-child-gif.webp?w=300" src="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/pta-for-your-child-gif.webp?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2952" style="width:255px;height:auto" srcset="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/pta-for-your-child-gif.webp 300w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/pta-for-your-child-gif.webp?w=150 150w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a></figure></div>
The page highlights some case studies on how PTAs used COVID relief grants to support students and families, but if you scroll past those highlights, you’ll find a treasure trove of ideas in the Learn How We PTA section. There you’ll find reports on how PTAs have made a difference in:
<ul>
<li>Advocacy</li>
<li>Building a Community</li>
<li>Access to Opportunities</li>
<li>Membership and Community Support</li>
<li>Social and Emotional Well-Being</li>
<li>Distance Teaching and Learning</li>
<li>Bridging the Digital Divide</li>
<li>Addressing Food Insecurity</li>
</ul>
If your PTA needs to discover new ways to PTA, check out the <a href="https://www.pta.org/home/run-your-pta/how-we-pta">How We PTA</a> page and <a href="https://onevoice.pta.org/">National PTA’s One Voice blog</a> for fresh ideas.
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<title>How to Work with Your Child’s Teacher</title>
<link>https://onevoiceillinois.com/2023/12/12/how-to-work-with-your-childs-teacher/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[illinoispta]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 12 Dec 2023 16:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Tips for Parents]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://onevoiceillinois.com/?p=2945</guid>
<description><![CDATA[With the winter break from school coming up, the school year is at a rough halfway point. It’s a good time to assess how your child is doing and to work with your child’s teacher regarding areas where your child is struggling. The Child Mind Institute has recently updated an article on how to work … <a href="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2023/12/12/how-to-work-with-your-childs-teacher/" class="more-link">Continue reading How to Work with Your Child’s Teacher</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
With the winter break from school coming up, the school year is at a rough halfway point. It’s a good time to assess how your child is doing and to work with your child’s teacher regarding areas where your child is struggling. The <a href="https://childmind.org/">Child Mind Institute</a> has recently updated an article on <a href="https://childmind.org/article/how-to-work-well-with-your-childs-teacher/">how to work with your child’s teacher</a> (also <a href="https://childmind.org/es/articulo/como-trabajar-de-manera-adecuada-con-el-maestro-de-su-hijo/">available in Spanish</a>).
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<figure class="alignright size-medium"><a href="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/8048256366_e32fe1352a_b.jpg"><img loading="lazy" width="300" height="199" data-attachment-id="2948" data-permalink="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2023/12/12/how-to-work-with-your-childs-teacher/8048256366_e32fe1352a_b/" data-orig-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/8048256366_e32fe1352a_b.jpg" data-orig-size="1024,681" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="8048256366_e32fe1352a_b" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/8048256366_e32fe1352a_b.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/8048256366_e32fe1352a_b.jpg?w=1024" src="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/8048256366_e32fe1352a_b.jpg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2948" srcset="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/8048256366_e32fe1352a_b.jpg?w=300 300w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/8048256366_e32fe1352a_b.jpg?w=598 598w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/8048256366_e32fe1352a_b.jpg?w=150 150w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a></figure></div>
As our friends at Learning Heroes often remind us, <a href="https://gobeyondgrades.org/">grades may not give you the entire picture of how your child is doing academically</a>. The Child Mind Institute article identifies seven ways to work with your child’s teacher in a way that helps support your child:
<ol>
<li>Start early. It’s best to start the conversation with your child’s teacher at the beginning of the school year, but it’s never too late to start.</li>
<li>Keep them in the loop. Things happening beyond the school’s walls can affect your child’s learning, so let your child’s teacher know if something is going on in your child’s personal life.</li>
<li>Be proactive. Children often behave differently at school and at home, so asking about how your child is doing both academically and socially can help you both support your child.</li>
<li>Plan ahead. Parents and teachers are busy, so when you get the opportunity to talk with your child’s teacher, know in advance what questions you want to ask. If it’s about a certain topic, letting your child’s teacher know your concern ahead of time can help the teacher prepare for your conversation with some examples of your child’s work or resources to support them.</li>
<li>Focus on collaboration. You may not be getting an accurate picture of the situation from your child (e.g., “My teacher hates me.”), so reassure your child’s teacher that you are looking to find a way to work together to support your child, not to assign blame or make accusations.</li>
<li>Support your child’s autonomy. With older children, including them in the conversation with the teacher or providing them behind the scenes to talk to their teacher on their own can be beneficial. Let your child know that you are willing to step in and handle the conversation for them if they don’t think they can handle it.</li>
<li>Keep things positive. Don’t reach out to your child’s teacher only when there are problems. A quick positive anecdote when you see your child’s teacher at school or a note of appreciation when you see your child improving in an area where they have been struggling helps build trust and connection for those conversations when things aren’t going well.</li>
</ol>
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<title>Have Fun, Grow Membership, and Win Prizes with Membership Mania</title>
<link>https://onevoiceillinois.com/2023/12/05/have-fun-grow-membership-and-win-prizes-with-membership-mania/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[illinoispta]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 05 Dec 2023 16:15:37 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Membership]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Running a PTA]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://onevoiceillinois.com/?p=2940</guid>
<description><![CDATA[As a PTA leader, you’ve probably often heard that you should integrate membership into everything your PTA does, but perhaps you’re not sure what that means exactly. Is it having a PTA membership table out at every event? Is it always having a join our PTA link in every e-mail? All of this and more? … <a href="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2023/12/05/have-fun-grow-membership-and-win-prizes-with-membership-mania/" class="more-link">Continue reading Have Fun, Grow Membership, and Win Prizes with Membership Mania</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
As a PTA leader, you’ve probably often heard that you should integrate membership into everything your PTA does, but perhaps you’re not sure what that means exactly. Is it having a PTA membership table out at every event? Is it always having a join our PTA link in every e-mail? All of this and more? To help you sort all this out, National PTA created <a href="https://www.pta.org/home/run-your-pta/membership-resources/membership-mania">Membership Mania</a> last year and is doing it again this year.
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<figure class="alignright size-medium"><a href="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/153185052_pta_memberhsip_mania.png"><img loading="lazy" width="300" height="300" data-attachment-id="2942" data-permalink="https://onevoiceillinois.com/2023/12/05/have-fun-grow-membership-and-win-prizes-with-membership-mania/153185052_pta_memberhsip_mania/" data-orig-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/153185052_pta_memberhsip_mania.png" data-orig-size="720,720" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="153185052_pta_memberhsip_mania" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/153185052_pta_memberhsip_mania.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/153185052_pta_memberhsip_mania.png?w=720" src="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/153185052_pta_memberhsip_mania.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2942" srcset="https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/153185052_pta_memberhsip_mania.png?w=300 300w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/153185052_pta_memberhsip_mania.png?w=600 600w, https://onevoiceillinois.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/153185052_pta_memberhsip_mania.png?w=150 150w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a></figure></div>
When you sign your PTA up for Membership Mania, you will:
<ul>
<li>Learn about all the free resources for PTAs to help grow your membership</li>
<li>Have interactive discussions on calls with National PTA leaders and other local PTA leaders to learn and share experiences and ideas with each other</li>
<li>Get fun activities and challenges for your PTA to complete</li>
<li>Doing the above to earn opportunities to win prizes</li>
</ul>
You can also use to program to create challenges, whether between your PTA board members, against other PTAs in your district, against your feeder schools, or with other PTA leaders you have met from across Illinois and the nation. You can see what <a href="https://www.pta.org/home/run-your-pta/membership-resources/membership-mania">activities were used in last year’s Membership Mania</a> on National PTA’s website.
Membership Monday
Illinois PTA also has an interactive opportunity for PTAs regarding membership—Membership Monday. These quarterly interactive Zoom events are aimed at helping you and your PTA with membership. We’ll cover a few basic things you need to know related to the time of the year, have one of our fastest growing PTAs in our <a href="https://illinoispta.org/illinois-pta-membership-recognition-program/">Reach for the Stars</a> membership recognition program share what they did to grow their membership, and then turn the rest of the event over to you and your questions, problems, ideas, and solutions concerning membership. Our next Membership Monday is coming up on December 11th at 7:00pm. <a href="https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAtfu-qqD4rHdT-nx1X9Xu9MdaUKsWrFIOj">Sign up today</a>!
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