September 30, 2016

This is the last call for Convention registration! Don't delay, register today!

Are you looking for ideas to support your child and community? Do you want to learn about education policies that affect all students? Do you want to meet new friends who care about kids as much as you? Do you want to build a better PTA and hone your leadership skills? Then the NYS PTA Convention is for you!

Registration closes on October 2! Click here to register for Convention 2016 in Saratoga Springs, NY!

(Registrations after October 2 are processed on-site only with increased fees and no guarantee for overnight accommondations).

Watch this 2016 Annual Convention promo video! And check out these Convention highlights:

Meeting National PTA President Laura Bay;
Attending amazing workshops to help your child succeed;
Voting on NYS PTA Officers, setting policy through Resolutions and amending the NYS PTA Bylaws;
Visiting the many Exhibitors for program and fundraising ideas, strolling through the Reflections Gallery, and shopping at the PTA Store; and
Attending the Annual Banquet, enjoying post banquet activities and more!

	Local Units Do Great Things!
	Check out some of the great things our local units throughout NYS are doing! We will be spotlighting stories from your units going forward so please tag us at @nyspta on twitter or email us at pta.office@nyspta.org and share your stories so we can share with the rest of the state! View the story "PTA Units in NY Do Great Things!" on Storify here.

Your PTA Membership Matters

JOIN PTA! It only takes a few moments. Click here to search for your school's PTA and join online 24/7!

And if you need a reason, check out this example from Tooker Avenue PTA. Please send your flyers to pta.office@nyspta.org and we'd love to share!

Why PTA? Check out this awesome flyer that you can edit to add the amazing things you're doing in your PTA! #DoGoodThings4Kids

Please consider taking the NYS PTA Membership Survey to help NYS PTA continue to provide amazing services and programs to kids and families!

New Member Benefits!

Math and Movement - We are excited to share Math and Movement as a new Alliance member of NYS PTA! With the support of a generous donor, Math and Movement is offering FREE Family Fun Nights across the state hosted by PTAs or schools. Contact Math_and_movement@twcny.rr.com to see if your PTA is eligable for this free event! Click here for more information on hosting a FREE math event in your school.

Grom Social - We are also thrilled to work with Grom Social, a leader in safe social networking for kids! NYS PTA and Grom Social have forged an alliance to provide children a safe and monitored space to learn. NYS PTA members will receive special treatment, programs and discounts by clicking here!

And check back often as we revise and update membership benefits here!

	Name This Email Winner!
	We are proud to announce the winner of the Name This Email contest! Congratulations to Caitlin Cusack for her suggestion of NYS PTAlert! She is the Corresponding Secretary of South Huntington School District PTA Council, Birchwood Intermediate School in Suffolk Region. Plus a huge shout out to our two honorable mentions! Thanks to Lisa Zylberberg of Balmville Elementary School (Central Hudson Region) for her suggestion - NYS PTA Today, our children matter. Also thanks to Georgette Caddle, Vice President of Hiawatha Elementary School (Suffolk Region) for her suggestion - The PTA Voice. Our three winners will be receiving some PTA swag and have serious bragging rights! Thank you to all who contributed!

Communicate to Advocate - Action Alerts!

State Education Department released draft revised ELA and Math Standards

Last week, the State Education Department (SED) released draft revised learning standards in English Language Arts and Math.

These revised standards are the culmination of a lengthy process where educators, teachers and parents reviewed standards for modifications.

According to this news release from SED, 60 percent of the ELA and 55 percent of the math standards have been modified. SED has also indicated that the work and revision of PK-2 standards and curriculum is continuing.

SED is seeking input into these revised standards here:
English Language Arts draft revised standards
Math draft revised standards

Check out this new Advocacy Calendar here. Take action to make a difference month-by-month to support our kids and families!

Juvenile Justice bill gets full, bipartisan NY support in the House!

On September 22, the U.S. House of Representatives passed (382 - 29) the Supporting Youth Opportunity and Preventing Delinquency Act. This reauthorizes the long overdue Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act and its passage strengthens PTA's historic position in support of a juvenile justice system that recognizes prevention and restorative justice for at-risk youth and juvenile offenders.

The Supporting Youth Opportunity and Preventing Delinquency Act includes important provisions that would prevent children and youth from entering the juvenile justice system and better protect and support those currently in the system.

Its great to see this bipartisan commitment to ensuring greater opportunities and alternatives to incarceration for our nation's youth. We are proud and grateful to our NYS House members for their support! Please take action here to thank them!

Alliance for Quality Education walks for CFE

AQE, a colloborating partner of NYS PTA, is hosting a walk October 2 - 11 to bring awareness to the $3.8 billion in school aid still owed to New York public schools.

You can find details of the walk here, with a schedule of stops and events if you would like to participate!

Join us to celebrate Music and Arts in education!

NYS PTA is Taking the Show on the Road!

Announcing the NYS PTA Reflections Art Roadshow Exhibit

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: Saturday, October 15, 2016, 1:00pm

Hosted by Genesee Valley Region

Location: Monroe 1 BOCES, 15 Linden Park, Rochester NY 14625

This two week-long public access art exhibit features the original multimedia artwork of the 2015-2016 NYS PTA Reflections Award of Excellence and Award of Merit students.

The NYS PTA Reflections Art Roadshow mission is to bring communities together in celebration of student success in the PTA Reflections Program, while advocating for quality arts education for all children.

We hope you can join us for a special ribbon-cutting ceremony, featuring student performers, a multimedia student art display and remarks from New York State PTA, Genesee Valley Region PTA, and other special guests.

Please email pta.office@nyspta.org if you would like to attend! Let's celebrate the arts and our students together.

	Pick a Reading Partner Toolkit is here!
	Are you planning a Pick a Reading Partner (PARP) program at your school this year? What a great way to celebrate the love of learning and reading. Please check out this PARP Toolkit to use!

Parent Resources

Access helpful health, education, human service and disability information in one place here - the NYS Multiple Systems Navigator. Information for youth, parents and caregivers.

Need family literacy hints? Check out this day by day calender of reading activities!

What do parents and children need to know about walking to school safely? Check out this information on pedestrian safety tips for kids.

Help your children become a book worm! Check out this information on how to create a home library.

Its that time of year again - Flu season. See here for information from Kids Health on the Flu.

	Social Media
	Follow us on Twitter Read "The Voice of NYS PTA" Like us on Facebook Watch us on YouTube Follow us on Pinterest NYS PTA App from Google Play NYS PTA App from the App Store

	Sponsors
	Click here for information on how many NYS PTAs can host a free Math and Movement event at your school! Click here for information, benefits and discounts from GromSocial about a safe and monitored online environment for children.