CLICK HERE to view the schedule of meetings.

Are you looking for a meaningful and simple way for your school to serve the community and join thousands of youth across the nation in helping others? Souper Bowl of Caring is a national, non-profit organization that uses the energy around the Super Bowl game to mobilize youth to fight hunger in their community. Your students can participate simply by having a food drive the week of the Super Bowl. Souper Bowl of Caring makes it easy and provides you with the materials you need.
All you have to do is follow these 4 steps:

1. Register your school at www.tacklehunger.org

2. Collect your donations during the week of the Super Bowl

3. Report your collection at www.tacklehunger.org

4. Donate the collection to the charity that your school chooses

If you have questions, please contact Emily Heeg via EMAIL or 288-8414.

PTA day in the Park is a state wide event; everyone will be planning this event on the same day. I wanted to share some ideas and guidelines you may want to use to ensure the success of this day.

The Purpose
Create a Florida PTA statewide event that will bring families together, encourage PTA membership by showing the value of belonging to the association and raise awareness of PTA’s Healthy Lifestyles Month
Ideas when planning the event

In the spirit of “5” for membership we will ask 5 things

• Unit can host a fun, free & family friendly event at a chosen park
  
• Encourage Families to go to a park in your area (provide a link/list on your website and newsletter)
  
• Partner with a Local unit (or 2 or 3) and arrange to have popcorn and cotton candy (or the like) at a local park and invite folks to stop by and meet the PTA.
  
• Encourage local units to meet up at the park with their members and have fun activities for all ages (examples: egg toss, hula hoop contest, relay races, softball/baseball games for adults and/or children)
  
• Have a drive for a needy group…food drive for a local food bank (Holidays are coming and they could use extra), toiletries for homeless, care packages for troops, cell phone drive for battered women

After the event
Now that your event has been planned and was successful please fill out Award Submission Sheet and tell Florida PTA about your Day.

Why “PTA Day in the Park”?
Kids these days are spending too much time sitting still, and it’s becoming a major health risk. American children 8 years old and above spend an average of 6.5 hours a day engaging with media technologies including watching TV, using the computer and playing video games. Studies have shown that the more TV kids watch, the more likely they are to be overweight. (National PTA Magazine 2010-2011)

Download:

• PTA Day in the Park – Award Application 2011
  
• PTA Day in the Park – Activity Kit 2011
  
• PTA Day in the Park – 2011 event flyer

For more information contact Florida PTA
info@floridapta.org
407-855-7604 / Toll Free: 800-373-5782

It is the school’s responsibility to count and bag the sweaters, jackets, blankets and other
items for pick up. If possible, please separate the items for men from the female and
children’s. Please label bags: Teacher Supply Depot, #10 attention Duval County PTA and
prepare for pickup by school mail.

Download participation form for Sweater Drive 2011

What’s new in 2011-2012:

• JWJ ACT Center – The former James Weldon Johnson facility is being converted into a community-based full-service center to aid in neighborhood revitalization, including programs for over-age middle school students and re-entry program for students returning to school

• Middle Grades STAR – Designed as a continuation of Elementary STAR, this program provides both remediation & acceleration for over-age middle school students with an emphasis on intensive reading and math instruction.

• Graduation Initiative at DBI – As many high schools scale back their GI programs, the initiative is now being offered at several Drop Back In Academy sites

• Schools for the Future at the Bridge – A comprehensive program for overage students 14-17 that are 2 or more years behind and may need remedial work in core areas, and includes full-time student advocates

• Revised Elementary STAR Model – Now includes a full-time paraprofessional for each classroom and a central admissions process, with priority given to tier 3 students

• Student Advocates – Two part-time professionals dedicated to providing program and support for student referrals from school-based teachers and administrators

• Expanded TeamUp – Jacksonville Children’s Commission is adding three more full-service 5-day sites in Westside elementary schools

• Virtual Instruction – All students in grades K-12 can now receive full & part-time virtual education through collaboration of home and school.

Download Flyer

Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) invites you to the launch of a bold new reading initiative aimed at raising the literacy rate for students throughout Duval County. The “Read It Forward Jax” campaign will partner city, business, faith based, and non-profit leaders throughout the community to share in helping teach Jacksonville’s children about the importance of reading.

“This is about changing the culture of the city. Reading can open so many doors for our students. Our goal is to have every child reading at grade level every year and this reading initiative provides the necessary resources to ensure success,” said Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals.

The launch is the culmination of months of detailed research and planning. “Read It Forward Jax” will focus on improving reading performance for students in grades K-12. The school district will provide additional professional development opportunities for teachers and require extended reading instruction for students who are not yet proficient.

Mentoring agencies, non-profits and the business community will provide human and material resources to enhance the literacy skills of our students. DCPS business partners have already begun purchasing new classroom libraries to increase student’s love of reading and increase their comprehension.

“Read It Forward Jax” utilizes the latest technology to reach every student at every age. This summer, a state of the art “TV Textbook” will be made available to 50 students in a pilot program. These small boxes will hook up to a standard television, and can be used to teach highly engaging reading lessons at home. In the future, parents can eventually utilize the boxes to learn new ways to read with their children. Business partners have stepped up to support this exciting development and more will join.

The DCPS’ academic team has built a plan to teach instructors the latest literacy techniques to provide students the tools they need to succeed. That professional development will be taken a step further as mentors and reading volunteers throughout the city mirror that academic plan.

Where: Matthew Gilbert Middle School
When: Tuesday, June 7, 10 a.m.

What: The “Read It Forward Jax” launch will feature guests including Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals, Duval County School Board Members, Mayor John Peyton, Mayor-Elect Alvin Brown, Sheriff John Rutherford, Jacksonville Fire/Rescue Department Chief Dr. Charles Moreland, Baptist Health President/CEO & Jax Chamber of Commerce Chairman Hugh Greene and many more.

Jacksonville Earth Day and Ecological Fair

Volunteer at Jacksonville’s Earth Day Celebration

Join Earth Day Jacksonville and some of your favorite earth-friendly companies for a fun-filled day for the whole family! This annual event is celebrating its 21st year at The Jacksonville Landing, and features more than 80 booths of educational and interactive displays and live entertainment throughout the day on the main stage. A Children’s Stage is added on the West end, offering a variety of kid-friendly hands-on displays.

Over 80 educational & interactive booths. Children’s crafts & activities. Live music & entertainment. Children’s Stage with demonstrations and interactive activities. Face painting. Prizes. Right Whale Obstacle Course. Portable movie theater with a short recycling film. And MUCH more!

Volunteer at Jacksonville’s Earth Day Celebration

Earth Day 2011 Entertainment Schedule
Main Stage entertainment includes:
10:30a.m. State of Mind Band
12 – 1p.m. Showtime USA
1:15p.m. Sponsor recognition/proclamation/mini grants
1:30 p.m. NXS Dance Academy
2:30 p.m. Radio 80
3:40 p.m. Prizes/Drawings
Stick Around! NXS Dance Academy will provide FREE dance lessons in the Courtyard for everyone! Followed by performances by Broadway Kid Starz, Dance Express, Dynamic Country and Scott Jones Dancers.

Children’s Stage to include demonstrations by:
JSO K-9 unit
Jacksonville Zoo
Wild Wonders
St. Johns Riverkeeper
JaxParks

New this year: Environmental Services, Inc. , Right Whale Obstacle Course and Waste Management’s Dump Truck Movie Theater!

**Note to Volunteers – you get a free t-shirt with the Manatee as a thank you for your help!

Duval County Council of PTAs is again offering cash scholarships to deserving graduating seniors who plan on attending 4 and 2 college education. Requirements are stated in the packets – seniors must be members of the PTA / PTSA. Deadline: April 1, 2011
Download Scholarship Application and Information

Chartwells Thompson – Duval County’s school lunch providers – are also provide 3 scholarships for Duval County graduating seniors. Deadline: April 1, 2011

Chartwells Scholarship Application A one-time $1,000 scholarship will be awarded for the 2011-2012 academic year to one student at each Duval County Public High School who plans to continue on to post-secondary education: colleges, universities, technical or trade schools

Culinary Program Scholarship Application A one-time $1,000 scholarship will be awarded for the 2011-2012 academic year to one student each from Frank H. Peterson Academies, Sandalwood High and Terry Parker High who continue on to post-secondary education in a culinary or hospitality program of study.

Thompson “Meal Plan” Scholarship Application A one-time Board (Meal Plan) Scholarship will be awarded for the 2011-2012 academic year to ten (10) students continuing on to post-secondary education at one of the following Historically Black Colleges or Universities: Bowie State University, Chicago State University, Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Edward Waters College, Elizabeth City State University, Fisk University, Florida Memorial College, Mississippi Valley State University, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, Paine College, Savannah State University, Shaw University, Texas College, Tougaloo College, University of Arkansas – Pine Bluff, Virginia State University or Virginia Union University.

DCPS is hosting a Community Meeting for the purpose of discussing school progress and future options for Raines, Andrew Jackson and Ribault High schools, and North Shore k-8 school. The meeting will be this Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 5:30 at Raines High School Auditorium. Please help us get the word out to interested parties. Thank you.