Your voice matters! Make it thunderous for education! The upcoming elections are crucial, and it's time for us to stand together for the future of our schools and children. Make sure your vote counts!
Important Reminder: Texas law requires voters to register by the 30th day before Election Day. The deadline for the November 5, 2024 Election is October 7, 2024.
Join Raise Your Hand Texas and the Plano ISD Council of PTAs for a dynamic state legislative candidate forum discussion on public education.
Date: October 8, 2024
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: The ArtCentre of Plano
902 E 16th St
Plano, TX 75074
Mandatory Council Dues
Plano ISD PTAs: If you have not already, please submit your PTA's mandatory Council dues for the 2024-2025 year, along with any optional donations. These were due by the first Council Delegate meeting on September 19, 2024, and are now past due. Details at https://pisdcouncil.membershiptoolkit.com/councildues.
October Delegate Meeting
Council delegates, PTA presidents, and principals: You’re invited to our upcoming ONLINE Council Delegate meeting on Thursday, October 24th! As key representatives, your role is essential in voicing the needs and priorities of your campus PTA at the Council level.
The Zoom registration link will be emailed to the contacts on file.
Each campus in Plano ISD has three voting representatives for Council Delegate meetings: the Principal, PTA President, and Council Delegate. If one cannot attend, an alternate can be assigned. Please notify the Council Secretary of any alternates before the meeting.
We look forward to your participation as we collaborate to support our students and schools. See you online!
Reflections Art Program 2024-2025: For PTA Reflections Chairs
Theme: "Accepting Imperfections"
As a Reflections Chair, your role is crucial in promoting and managing the Reflections program at your school. This year’s theme, "Accepting Imperfections," encourages Pre-K to 12th-grade students to showcase their talents in dance, film, literature, music, photography, and visual arts.
Key Tasks:
- Promote Participation: Share program details with students and families. Multiple entries are encouraged.
Oct 31- Deadline for PTAs to achieve Active Status to qualify for Reflections
Any Local PTA/PTSA that attains Active Status no later than October 31 is eligible to sponsor Reflections on their campus. PTAs who are not in Good Standing may affect students’ eligibility to receive awards from Texas PTA.
Successful students are a shared responsibility, and thriving schools create strong communities. At PlanoPTA.org, we’ve made it easier than ever for community members to support multiple schools through our Community Membership packages.
Whether you choose City, Senior High Feeder Pattern, or Elementary Feeder Pattern memberships, these options allow alumni, businesses, residents, and officials to back several schools and their PTAs at once. Just select the package that includes the campuses you'd like to support, and Plano ISD Council of PTAs will manage the rest—ensuring memberships are processed and funds are allocated to the appropriate local and Texas PTAs.
Join us today and help us make every child’s potential a reality!
Legacy Community Membership Package by November 30th
The Legacy Community Membership Package offers PTA memberships in tribute to the four Plano PTAs that will be closing at the start of the 2025 school year: Davis and Forman Elementary PTAs, along with Armstrong and Carpenter Middle School PTAs. By purchasing this package, you’ll support these PTAs in making their final year special. Funds raised will be distributed to each PTA, helping them host meaningful programs, activities, and events during their legacy year. To ensure timely use of the contributions, the deadline for donations is set for November 30, 2024.
The Plano ISD Council of PTAs is proud to support our local PTAs with the Local PTA Impact Grants, empowering you to bring amazing programs to life. These grants help PTAs enhance learning, foster creativity, and strengthen our community.
Program Details:
The grants provide financial assistance to local PTAs for educational programs that boost student success, wellness, and engagement. One grant per PTA per school year.
Eligibility:
Open to all Plano PTAs in good standing. Areas of focus include:
- Academic enrichment
- Health & wellness
- Family engagement
- Cultural programs
- Social-emotional learning
Deadline: Applications due November 1st, 11:59 pm CT.
For more details, visit our website at PlanoPTA.org.
Amplify Your Impact: 2024-2025 Community Sponsorships
Take the lead in supporting over 47,000 students and nearly 20,000 PTA members across Plano ISD! By partnering with the Plano ISD Council of PTAs, your business can:
✯ Drive Change: Invest directly in the future of our schools, creating better educational experiences and resources for students and educators.
✯ Maximize Exposure: Showcase your brand’s commitment to local education and get noticed as a key player in community development.
✯ Build Loyalty: Align with an organization trusted for over 100 years, cementing your reputation as a dedicated partner in supporting our children’s success.
Don’t miss this opportunity to make a lasting difference—become a sponsor today!
As a reminder, all volunteers will need to create an account and complete an annual application, online orientation and background check through the Plano ISD volunteer management system, VOLY, to be eligible for district/school volunteer opportunities. Visit https://www.pisd.edu/volunteer for more information.
International Festival: October 19th, Haggard Park
Tour the world in downtown Plano on Saturday, October 19th during the Plano International Festival's 20th anniversary celebration! From 11am to 5pm, enjoy food trucks, a heritage fashion show, multicultural music and dance performances, hands-on kids' activities and displays from over 100 cultures. The festival hosts a Wellness and Fitness fair from 11am to 2pm with free health services, screenings and demos for all ages. Happening at Haggard Park, 901 E. 15th Street, Plano, 75074. Admission and parking are free. Plus, students can volunteer for community credit hours. Click here to sign up: https://www.planointernationalfestival.org/index.php/volunteer-opportunities/
The Plano ISD Council of PTAs is excited to announce the 2024-2025 Honorary Life Member Reception!
Save the date: Thursday, March 27, 2025
Location: Robinson Fine Arts Center
Tickets: $15 (includes hors d'oeuvres)
This event celebrates our amazing PISD Honorary Life Members and Extended Service Award recipients! These outstanding volunteers have dedicated their time and energy to making every child's potential a reality by empowering families and communities to advocate for ALL children.
More details will be available soon at PlanoPTA.org and across our social media channels. We wanted to give all our PTAs a heads-up to plan and budget accordingly!
Meal Benefits Eligibility Expiration
Students who qualified for free or reduced-price meals at the end of last school year are eligible to participate at their current eligibility status for the first 30 operating days of the 2024-25 school year or until a new eligibility determination is made, whichever comes first.
In order for meal benefits to continue, a federal meal application for the 2024-25 school year must be completed. Students with no application on file after 30 calendar days will return to full-paid eligibility status effective September 25, 2024.
Households that have submitted a federal meal application for free or reduced-priced meals for the 2024-25 school year do not need to reapply.
Households who wish to apply for free or reduced-priced meals will need to complete an online federal meal application, https://www.schoolcafe.com/pisd, for the current school year via the website, https://www.pisd.edu/mealprogram.
Applications will be processed within 10 business days. Eligibility notification letters will be sent via email. If you have not received the letter in your inbox, please check your junk and spam folders.
For any questions regarding federal meal applications, please contact mealprograms@pisd.edu.
National Principals Month
National Principals Month in 2024 is celebrated in October. It's a time to recognize and advocate for the important role that school principals play in the education system.
Celebrate: Show your appreciation for your principal's hard work and dedication. You can write a short note or #ThankAPrincipal on social media.
Recognize: Learn about the work of impactful principals and explore recognition programs.
Oct 31: Snappy Increase - Being snappy has it's advantages. Earn LAUNCH Bling by submitting more than 100% of last year's membership total. For more details, visit https://www.txpta.org/local-and-council-pta-awards.
Educational Town Hall with Rep. Matt Shaheen
Join us for a community discussion organized by the Office of Representative Matt Shaheen (HD 66) on 11/15 from 9:00-10:30 AM at La Madeleine (Park & Preston). Enjoy coffee and breakfast, provided by Rep. Shaheen's office.
Planning for Rally Day Webinar: October 8th
Whether it is organizing a school meeting to discuss classes for students with special needs, participating in the Texas PTA Rally Day, meeting with Texas State Legislators, or calling a member of Congress to talk about the federal budget, PTA members are making a difference for children and families in their communities and across the country. After 120 years, at its core, PTA advocacy is still about speaking for every child with one voice.
Join us for the first in a series of three webinars in preparation for Rally Day 2025. In this session learn how to:
Plan ahead
Get support from your ISD and community
Handle logistics (transportation, lodging, meals)
Create a sample schedule
Make the most out of the legislative (adult) and student caucuses
Save the Date! Join us for the Texas PTA Rally Day on Monday, February 24, 2025, at the Texas Capitol! This year is crucial as it's a legislative year, and our collective voice needs to be louder than ever. Rally Day is our chance to advocate for the issues that matter most to our students, teachers, and families. Together, we can make a difference and ensure that the Texas PTA and Plano Independent School District's legislative agendas are heard. Let's show up in full force and be a thunderous voice for change!
Council's Social media
Stay updated and connected! Follow the Plano ISD Council of PTAs on social media for the latest news, events, and community updates. Join us and be a part of the conversation!
Join our PISD Council of PTAs Idea Share public Facebook group to stay informed and engaged with the Plano ISD Council of PTAs! This group is a great place for parents, teachers, and community members to share ideas, learn about upcoming events, and discuss ways to support our schools. Whether you're looking for resources, want to advocate for educational initiatives, or connect with other families, this group is here to help foster a strong and united community.
Advocacy Facebook Group
Be a voice for positive change by joining the PISD Council of PTAs Advocacy group! This public Facebook group is dedicated to those passionate about advocacy and making a difference in our schools and community. Share information, discuss important educational issues, and collaborate on efforts to support and improve Plano ISD. Your involvement can help shape the future of our schools and empower students and families.
Role-specific Facebook groups
If you are a Plano PTA president or treasure, we invite you to join our private Facebook groups! Connect with fellow officers to share experiences, ask questions, and find support within our community.
Learn how PTAs can effectively utilize social media to engage their community, share relevant information, and advocate for important educational issues on our Social Media Policy page.
Did you know your PTA membership comes with great perks? For example, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. offers 17 brands that include gourmet foods, gift baskets, floral products, personalized keepsakes, and more. This multi-brand approach creates a one-stop destination for all your gifting and sharing needs. Visit https://www.txpta.org/member-perks to explore even more perks.
Texas PTA scholarship application
The Texas PTA scholarship application is now open!
Visit www.txpta.org/scholarships to learn more about the guidelines, how to apply, and download the Scholarship Toolkit.
Each year Texas PTA awards $1,000 to deserving graduating students and $500 to deserving faculty members to continue their education. In keeping with our work in building strong family-school partnerships, Texas PTA's scholarship process focuses on the impact an applicant's family, teachers, and PTA have had on their goals to continue their education or training.
2025 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards
H-E-B wants to honor educators who go the extra mile every day to serve their students and communities, while also inspiring others to do the same. Winners, finalists, and their schools receive cash grants! This journey starts with just one application and could bring amazing benefits to schools and districts in your area.
Submit your application today at heblovesteachers.comNominations close on October 7, 2024.
New school year—new PTA goals! Get the head start your PTA needs to succeed by enrolling in the School of Excellence program. Enrollment is open until October 15 at PTA.org/Excellence.
Parent and Guardian's Guide to Instagram
National PTA consulted with Meta on a new Parent and Guardian's Guide to Instagram that includes safety features, details on parental supervision, conversation starters and a glossary of Instagram terms. Get the guide and have ongoing conversations with your kids about online safety.
