Wednesday, May 22, 2013

PTA Meeting


Last PTA Meeting of the year. Kindergarten and Pre-K will be performing.  Come out to vote for PTA Officers for the 2013-2014 school year.  If you are wanting to make a difference considering joining the PTA...As an officer or a committee chair.

Thursday, May 30, 2013 at 6:30 pm

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

SWES PTA Committee


Hi Gator Family,

We are seeking  PTA Officers for the upcoming school year 2013-2014. If you are interested please contact the front office or complete the form that was sent home.  If you are unable to be an officer but would still like to help out, maybe consider being a Committee Chair.  Descriptions are below.

Southwest Elementary PTA Committees
Box Tops Committee
Manage and organize the processes of collecting Box Tops to redeem for cash to support Southwest Elementary.  Duties include communication of information to parents, collecting, cutting, sorting, and bundling Box Tops, mailing, organizing contests, etc.  This program runs throughout the entire school year. The Box Tops Committee sponsors contests between classes and hosts an end of the month party for the winning class.

Communications
The Communications Committee is responsible for all communications with the families of SWES and the community. This includes updates and maintenance of the PTA Blog, Facebook, PTA Newsletter, and the PTA website (PTAvenue).

Daddy Daughter Dance Committee
This Prom like dance is an annual event, held around Valentine's Day, for any Southwest Dad, Uncle or Grandfather to attend with all of his daughters, granddaughters or niece’s. The committee works very hard to decorate the cafeteria, hire a DJ and offer light snacks to the attendees. Preparation for the event begins in November, costs are covered by admission, and the 2-hour dance is a wonderful night for young ladies and their dads. This year almost 300 attendees enjoyed the dance!

End of the Year Celebration (Spring Carnival)
This event has been awesome that last few years. The students enjoy bounce houses, petting zoo, water-slide,face painting and much, much more. Spring Carnival/Festival is the end of the year celebration. Both the incoming and outgoing PTA board would be on hand to help.

Family Movie Nights
 A family friendly movie will be shown and refreshments will be sold. The committee will sell tickets, refreshments, and is responsible for setup and cleanup.

Fundraising
The Fundraising Committee supports all that the PTA strives to do for the school. Through the generosity of our parents, and community and the hard work of our students and staff we raised funds through our membership drive, our highly successful JAXCO, World’s Finest Chocolate, and many passive (at no cost to the family) fundraising opportunities.

Grandparent’s Event
This is also a new event that we would like to incorporate into our calendar to include the grandparents in our community. This would be a morning event probably with breakfast, a performance, and maybe an art project of some kind. We also think this is a great way to increase membership to the PTA. Because this is a new event the committee will decide the details.

Holiday Shop
The Holiday Shop may well be the students' favorite PTA event.  For several days in early December, the Holiday Shop Committee, along with a local business vendor, provides a holiday shopping opportunity with a huge assortment of gifts in all price ranges.  Each teacher has an opportunity to bring his or her students through the Holiday Shop to purchase gifts for family and friends.  The Committee "staffs" the shop by arranging for volunteers to do any one or several jobs - set up and take down at the beginning and end of the week, help the students shop, wrap purchases, read stories to waiting students, and so on. 

Hospitality Committee
The Hospitality Committee procures refreshments (either by purchasing supplies or soliciting donations from businesses) for all meetings hosted by the PTA Executive Board, such as membership meetings, open house, and committee chair meetings.  Hospitality Committee volunteers also serve as "greeters" for events, directing volunteers and parents to the appropriate meeting areas and providing assistance as needed.

Membership Committee
The Membership Committee is a core group, essential to the creation and maintenance of the PTA.  Through its organized year long membership drive, the MC, provides the basis and funding to support the PTA and its goal of reaching and serving every child in our school. The Membership Committee works to come up with new and exciting membership drives

Mother Son Date Dance
This Prom like dance is an annual event, held around Mother’s Day, for any Southwest Mom, Aunt or Grandmother to attend with all of her sons, grandsons or nephew’s attending SWES. The committee works very hard to decorate the cafeteria, hire a DJ and offer light snacks to the attendees. Preparation for the event begins in January, costs are covered by admission, and the 2-hour dance is a wonderful night for young men and their moms.

Nomination Committee
It is the responsibility of the Nominating Committee to select the most qualified candidate to fill each of the officer positions on the PTA Executive Board.  This is accomplished by taking suggestions from the membership, which includes both staff and PTA family membership.  Nominations can be taken from the floor of the general membership meeting as well.

Recruiting & Appreciation
This committee assists the VPs in filling any vacant positions on committees or the board. They will recruit for the open positions via sign-up forms, the PTA website, word of mouth, and email solicitations. This committee is also responsible for showing appreciation to our internal volunteers.

Reflections Committee
Each year, the PTA Reflections Program challenges students to create art inspired by a specific theme. Themes are selected from hundreds of ideas submitted by students to the PTA Reflections Program Theme Search. Past themes have included "If I Could Give the World a Gift...," "A Different Kind of Hero," “Wow!” and "Beauty is...”  The 2010–2011 theme is “Together We Can."  Southwest students participate in the Reflections Program by submitting entries in one of six arts areas—dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography, and visual arts.  This Committee works to encourage student participation, seeks out volunteer judges from outside the school, collects and organizes the entries submitted, and also plans and hosts a reception in the fall to view all the entries after winners are chosen. 

School Store
The School Store committee will be responsible for stocking the “store” with merchandise and helping and selling the items.  Dates and times will be selected at the start of the school year.

Staff Appreciation
This committee is always filled with fun, creative and generous volunteers.  The chairman will lead the team in brainstorming sessions to shower our teachers and staff members with the gratitude they deserve.   Then, each task is delegated to a ready and willing volunteer!  The chairman will develop the communications via assistance from the board members.  Help awaits you at every turn if you're the type needing that second opinion or let your creativity run wild.  Staff appreciation week is held in May. Staff Appreciation week offers many chances for the students and their parents to show the staff how grateful we are for them.  This is a great committee to chair even if you are a first-time PTA member! 

Talent Show
The Talent Show is an annual production, which allows students to showcase their talents and abilities as individuals or in groups.  Our children work very hard on their extra-curricular activities throughout the year, and the Talent Show gives them a venue to practice performing in front of a group, and to display their skills before a live audience

PTA Officer Descriptions

Hi Gator Family,

We are seeking  PTA Officers for the upcoming school year 2013-2014. If you are interested please contact the front office or complete the form that was sent home.  

President 
  • Schedule, prepare and preside at all meetings of the local PTA and of the executive committee/board
  • Perform such other duties as may be prescribed by these bylaws or assigned by the local PTA or by the executive committee board
  • Coordinate the work of the officers and committees
  • Represent the PTA in all meetings with school administration, BOE and county PTA
  • Address various memberships groups as needed throughout the year :
    • Kindergarten Orientation
    • Staff Appreciation Lunch
    • Back to School Night
    • Budget information night
    • Father Daughter Dance
    • Mother Son Dance
    • End of Year Celebration (Spring Fling)
    • Fundraising
  • Distribution of all national, state and county PTA information to executive board
   Vice President 
  • Assist the President (as needed) in the day-to-day running and decision making of the PTA.
    • Perform the duties of the president in the President’s absence or inability to serve
  • Serve as committee chairperson liaison for all non-financial matters.  Responsibilities include:
    • Schedule and run (along with the Treasurer) a committee chairperson orientation meeting at the beginning of the school year.
    • Deliver chair people pertinent information such as volunteer lists, letterhead, and any other information needed.
    • Follow up with the chairperson during and after the event to see how things are going and whether or not they wish to chair the event again.
    • Email reminders to committee chairs regarding monthly membership meetings.
  • Report at monthly membership meetings,
    • Any executive board meetings held during the month
    • Meetings held with the administration
    • Items voted on by the board
    • Committee Reports for committee chairs who are not present

Treasurer
  • Maintain bank account for the SWEPTA, working with Finance and Audit Committees
  • Receive funds, deposit funds and write checks ·  Disburse funds: reimbursement to members, payment of invoices·  Enter all bank transactions in QuickBooks· Reconcile bank statement and QuickBooks·  Maintain paperwork to support all transactions for audit· Cash box distribution· Prepare reports/ summarize activity for Membership meetings
  • Develop & modify financial and committee communication forms as appropriate (Funds Request, Funds Submission, Event Summaries)
  • Financial training of Chairpersons




Secretary  
  • Record all the minutes of all meetings of the Southwest  PTA and of the executive committee/board
  • Have a copy of the approved bylaws
  • Have membership list available at every meeting
  • Handle all official correspondences of the PTA as directed by the President and report to the membership at each meeting.
  • Maintain PTA mailbox at designated school and forwards to appropriate members.
  • Maintain file of PTA correspondence, email and handwritten

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Mother/Son Dance

Good Morning to all...

Due to the CRCT Testing...Mother Son Dance has been rescheduled to Friday, May 17.Tickets on sale until Wednesday, May 15 @ 12!!!!

PTA Nomination!!!! Due May 21





Dear Southwest Families,

The PTA is extremely active here at Southwest Elementary .They are responsible for many of the events & programs that we all love including Family Movie Nights, Father/Daughter Dance, Mother/Son Dance, Fundraisers, Talent Show, and Spring Carnival etc. They also provide a great deal of support to our teachers through stipends, staff appreciation week, and much more. It is a strong, goal oriented organization dedicated to supporting students, teachers and administrators. As we prepare for the upcoming school year, it is important that the PTA continues its work, and they need your help.

The current PTA has asked volunteers to form committees for Southwest.   These volunteers have spent the last month looking at ways to improve our organizational structure to better represent the needs of our schools moving forward. They have identified needs for executive officers and committee chairs.

Now, more than ever, it is vital that we fill these spots. Next year will be exciting for all of us, and the possibilities for the PTA is endless. We are looking for dedicated parents to serve as PTA officers and committee chairs and/or co-chairs. As an officer, you must be elected by our PTA board at our last meeting in May. You will serve a minimum of one year, but you can serve up to two years. The chair positions are non-elected positions. Please review the included information detailing our PTA structure and committee descriptions, and consider joining us for the 2013-2014 school year.

If you are interested in one of these positions or know someone who is worthy of nomination, please complete the Nomination Form and return it by May 21. You do not have to be a current PTA member to nominate or to be nominated. If you are interested in chairing one of our committees, please check the box on the Committee Form and return it by May 21.Please feel free to contact any one of us with questions or concerns.
Thank you,
PTA Nominating Committee
Southwest Elementary School PTA

Monday, May 6, 2013

Teacher Appreciation Week, May 6-10, 2013

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PTA Teacher Appreciation Week

 Teacher Appreciation Week, May 6-10, 2013Teachers play a key role in student success, and sometimes a simple “thanks” is all a teacher needs to feel valued. Take the time to celebrate your students’ teachers during 2013 PTA Teacher Appreciation WeekSM May 6–10.

Thank a Teacher Contest Button

How You Can Show Appreciation

The decision to teach often comes with low-to-moderate pay, and around-the-clock hours. Support from families can ease the difficult work teachers do. PTA Teacher Appreciation Week is the perfect time to personally thank your students’ teachers for their sacrifices and support for children throughout the year. While appreciation alone will not reduce the challenges teachers face, it will let them know their efforts are not going unnoticed.
Here’s how you can honor teachers:
  • Write letters and cards of appreciation to your students’ teachers throughout the week and ask you students’ teachers how you can support them throughout the year.
  • Show your support for the tremendous work teachers do by volunteering in your students’ classrooms.
  • Nominate your students’ teachers for local and national awards.
  • Tell us on Facebook and Twitter how you plan to appreciate your students’ teachers using the hashtag #ThankATeacher.
  • Pick up the April/May edition of Our Children magazine, which is devoted to teachers’ perspectives and offers parents great advice for building a strong relationship with their students’ educators.
  • Give the gift of PTA membership to a teacher in your life.
  • Follow the new PTA Pinterest boards for more teacher appreciation ideas.
National PTA has also created customizable recognition tools for you and your child to use to make your teacher feel special:

National Honors


Since 1984, National PTA has designated the first full week in May as a special time to honor the men and women who lend their passion and skills to educating our children. PTA events at the national, state, and local levels celebrate the outstanding contributions teachers make.
Additionally, National PTA is proud to recognize teachers and administrators with awards and grants. Whether you want to support your school's activities during November's PTA® Healthy LifestylesSM Month with a grant or you want to honor a fellow colleague with National PTA Life Achievement Award, PTA offers a variety of ways to recognize teachers. Learn more about these opportunities here.
National PTA also serves on the selection committees for the National Teacher of the Year Program and People Magazine’s own Teacher of Year Award.