COPTA

Healthy Lifestyles Grant Program

admin — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 22:07:21 +0000

PTA HEALTHY LIFESTYLES GRANT PROGRAM – TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CALL

Join National PTA on Monday, August 30^th to learn tips and techniques to apply for PTA’s Healthy Lifestyles Grant. These grants provide up to $1,000 to support PTAs in increasing access to and awareness of healthy foods, increasing physical activity for students and families, providing healthier food in schools, and engaging family members in promoting physical activity and good nutrition. To learn more about Healthy Lifestyles Grant program, click here.

During this call, National PTA staff will provide an overview of the grant program, offer insight on the grant application process, and answer any questions that you might have about your grant application. To participate, please RSVP by Friday, August 27^th to Rosa Vivanco at rvivanco@pta.org.

Healthy Lifestyles Grant – Technical Assistance Conference Call

August 30, 8pm-9pm (EDT)

Call In Number: Dial 888-387-8686.

Enter the room number: 6450599 and Press #.

Please RSVP by Friday, August 27^th to Rosa Vivanco at rvivanco@pta.org.

The Official PTA Kit Online

admin — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 03:11:58 +0000

Registration for the 2010–2011 Official PTA Kit is now open!

All local, council, district, and region PTAs must register to receive their Official PTA^® Kit. The incoming 2010–2011 PTA president or other authorized PTA leader must fill out the registration form to select the preferred shipping address and date for the kit. The order form will be available through September 17, and kits will start shipping weekly in late June.The Official PTA Kit is available exclusively to PTAs in good standing.

For more details, read the kit FAQs.

Please note: The address units provide on the kit registration form will be used one time only, for the specific purpose of shipping the Official PTA Kit. Units still must complete all change-of-officer/address paperwork for the state PTA.

The Official PTA Kit gives you the tools to turn possibilities into realities.

Get COPTA’s Bulletin Delivered Straight to your Inbox!

admin — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 02:50:32 +0000

2010 Teachers Challenge

admin — Tue, 25 May 2010 17:24:22 +0000

The Denver Co-op partnership with the Colorado PTA continues to be strong and we are excited to continue our relationship through this highly visible community program. Information about the McDonald’s Teachers Challenge will be posted on the Colorado PTA web site at www.copta.org and we will again be gathering the names of interested PTA members at the CO PTA annual convention later this month. We will be contacting you with the names and contact information of the PTA representatives who indicate their interest in signing up for McTeacher’s Nights.

Our hope is to have as many of you as possible contact your local schools to plan McTeacher’s Nights this October and November. As voted on by the Denver Co-op, a minimum of 15% percent of the total night’s sales from the front counter and drive through will go back to the school and the three schools with the highest sales will secure an additional $1,000 each for their schools. The managers at the top three winning McDonald’s will also receive a cash prize of $250 each!

download the full challenge document here

National PTA Announces 2010 Reflections Award Recipients

admin — Tue, 18 May 2010 23:47:09 +0000

“Beauty is Hilarious” by Daniel J. Fairbanks- – Livonia, MI

Arts program recognizes six students,
celebrates 40 years of student expression

Chicago, IL (May 11, 2010) - As National PTA® celebrates the 40th anniversary of Reflections, the country’s longest running arts in education program, the association announced this week the 2010 Reflections Outstanding Interpretation Award winners in six arts categories. The winners were chosen from more than 500,000 submissions from students across the nation who participated in this year’s program, themed “Beauty is…” Each year the program provides opportunities for students to receive recognition for their artistic efforts and expressions.

The six students will be recognized during a special ceremony at the 114th Annual National PTA Convention and Exhibition June 12 in Memphis, Tenn. They also will receive a certificate, medallion, and $800 for their winning entry. A special award of $200 will be granted to each winner’s local PTA.

The national Outstanding Interpretation Award Recipients are:

Outstanding Interpretation Dance Choreography
“I Look To You”
Chelsea D. Townsend
Hillside High PTA
Durham, NC
Outstanding Interpretation Musical Composition
“Reverie”
Peter S. Shin
Park Hill High School PTSA
Kansas City, MO
Outstanding Interpretation Film Production
“Beauty is Spontaneous”
Cody A. Bralts
Urbana High School PTSA
Urbana, IL
Outstanding Interpretation Photography
“Eyes”
Aleck M. Tan
Pikesville HS PTSA
Baltimore, MD
Outstanding Interpretation Literature
“Beauty”
Joan K. Bedinger
Campbell HS PTSA
Marietta, GA
Outstanding Interpretation Visual Arts
“Beauty is Hilarious”
Daniel J. Fairbanks
Stevenson High School PTSA
Livonia, MI

The association will also recognize 72 students with Awards of Excellence and 120 students with Awards of Merit across four grade divisions—primary, intermediate, middle/junior, and senior—in six arts categories—dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography, and the visual arts. A complete list of winners is showcased in the virtual PTA Reflections gallery. To view the gallery visit http://www.ptareflections.org/cs/2010_national_winners.

The judging process was completed by professionals representing a number of disciplines including, the non-profit, higher education, and corporate sectors. Volunteer judges represented The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; Howard University, College of Arts and Sciences; Parenting Magazine (Proud National Media Sponsor of Reflections); Cable in the Classroom; Institute for Educational Leadership-Coalition for Community Schools; National Association of State Directors of Special Education; Learning to Give; and National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. More information about the national awards and recognition is available online at http://www.ptareflections.org/cs/awards_and_recognition.

About PTA Reflections Program
Celebrating 40 years, PTA Reflections Program is designed to enhance quality arts education for students in preschool through grade 12, encouraging them to create works of art in the areas of dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography, and the visual arts.

About National PTA
National PTA® comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of parent involvement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health, and welfare of children and youth.

Panera Bread “Rising Above Award” Honoring Outstanding Teachers

admin — Thu, 13 May 2010 23:24:42 +0000

Panera Bread and Colorado PTA present the annual Rising Above Award to recognize outstanding teachers in the state of Colorado. Encourage your PTA schools and kids to participate for a chance to win a grant for the school, a Panera Bread gift card for the teacher, a savings bond of the student, and much more! Winners for 2010 were announced at the annual Colorado PTA convention on April 24th.

Learn More About Decide

admin — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 02:36:03 +0000

DECIDE stands for “Decide: Education Cuts OR Invest in our Democracy and Economy.”

DECIDE is a proposed referred measure that would give voters the chance to DECIDE whether they want an alternative to balancing our state budget by making deep and irreparable cuts to Colorado’s public schools, colleges and universities.

What would DECIDE do?

DECIDE would allow voters to grant authority to the legislature to increase revenues in order to prevent more cuts to education and invest in K-12 and higher education. New revenues could be used for accountable education reform, class size reduction, school safety, technology, effective teaching, early childhood education and full-day kindergarten, career technical education, higher education and more. Learn more here.

National Teacher Appreciation Week

admin — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 02:20:45 +0000

Since 1984, PTA has designated the first full week in May as National Teacher Appreciation Week, 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.

PTA Teacher Appreciation Week 2010 will be May 2-8. Plan to host a teacher appreciation event in your school or community. Download activity ideas, posters, timelines, and other resources here.

$15 Off Elitch Gardens from COPTA

admin — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 02:12:18 +0000

Each year Colorado PTA & Elitch Gardens have teamed up for public education. $15 off! Proceeds to Benefit Colorado PTA. Colorado PTA receives $1 for every ticket purchased with the coupon. Additional coupons are available in the registration area. You can place them at work, share them with friends and family or take them to your school. Click on the coupon to download it and print it out.

Annual Colorado PTA Convention

admin — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 17:27:54 +0000

April 23 & 24, 2010

at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center

Budget for your leaders to attend this Annual Convention.

Don’t miss this two-day event filled with great food, fabulous speakers, informative workshops, exhibitors, and the ultimate networking arena.

For more information contact the Vice President of Convention.

Registration Form

Printable Flyer

NEW: Convention Exhibitors Packet

Convention Schedule

Falcon School District Community Conference

admin — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 21:02:51 +0000

On April 17, Falcon School District will host a Community Engagement Conference. They are looking for the community to work together to provide a foundation for developing steps necessary to close the achievement gap and raise expectations. The goal is to come away with collaborative solutions to ensure every single student is performing at the highest standards within the Falcon District education system and beyond.

Advance registration is necessary. Reservations will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis. You must commit to stay for the whole event.

When: Saturday, April 17, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Registration begins at 8:00

Where: Sand Creek High School Field House

RSVP: Contact Annette by April 1.

aromero@d49.org or 719-495-1149 ext. 1004

Association Insurance Management

admin — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 20:51:22 +0000

Insure Your PTA and Ensure the Success of Your PTA
When someone embezzles your PTA’s funds, they aren’t stealing from your organization—they are stealing from your kids. Don’t the kids deserve better? AIM—Association Insurance Management— offers complete insurance solutions for your PTA.
General Liability Insurance… Has a child cut open an eyebrow in a moonwalk at your fall festival or broken an arm at your roller skating rink party? The General Liability protects local PTA members and volunteers against liability lawsuits arising from these kinds of activities. The policy limit is $1,000,000, with no deductible.
Bond Insurance… What do you do when you discover $20,000 of your fund raising money has been embezzled or stolen? The Bond Insurance will replace your fund raising money and avoid having you turned over to a collection agency. The bond limits are $10,000, $25,000, and $50,000, with a $250 deductible.
Officers Liability Insurance… As an officer of the PTA, you could be strapped with huge legal bills because someone has accused you of misrepresenting or mismanaging the PTA. The Officers Liability will provide protection from situations like these. The policy limit is $1,000,000, with a $1,500 deductible.
Whether it’s coverage for your roller skating party, your fall festival, your Grad Night party, your Treasurer, your members, your supplies, or yourself…we have policies specifically designed to fit each and every one of your needs.
Let us protect you, your officers, and your organization against the risks to which you are exposed to every day.
For complete details, call 1.800.876.4044 or 214.360.0801 or visit www.aim-companies.com

Check Out the Food for the Convention

admin — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 20:41:09 +0000

Friday Breakfast – “Continental Breakfast” fruits, cereals, breads

Friday Lunch – Ancho Grilled Steak & Romaine Salad with

roasted onions, apples, almonds, gorgonzola

cheese with cabernet dressing

Flourless chocolate cake with raspberry relish

Friday Dinner – Bibb lettuce with roasted apples, caramelized

onions, golden beets, pistachios, red balsamic dressing

Porchini seared chicken with port wine & tamarind

sauce, tomato and fennel risotto, broccolini,

Banana chocolate bread pudding with praline sauce

Saturday Breakfast – Buffet #1 Diced fruit, assorted cereals,

scrambled eggs, bacon, potatoes

Saturday Lunch – Classic Caesar Salad

Grilled Chicken Gemelli Pasta Primavera with Alfredo Sauce

Snicker Bar Pie or Crème Brulee Cheesecake

Saturday Dinner – Romaine with grape tomatoes, mandarin oranges,

pink peppercorn dressing

Spiced grilled filet mignon with mashed potatoes,

Batonnet of zucchini, roasted tomatoes,

Trio of Crème Brulee (chocolate, orange, and

blackberry)

Looks good? Have you registered for the conference yet? Don’t miss out, click here

Wired With Wisdom

admin — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:38:32 +0000

Web Wise Kids in partnership with Attorney General John Suthers is providing the WIRED WITH WISDOM program available to all Colorado parents at no cost.
WIRED WITH WISDOM (WWW) was designed to give busy parents the confidence and skills needed to manage their family’s Internet environment.

WWW will bring you
up to date on current Internet concerns.
The issues addressed include:

• e-mail safety;

• personal websites;

• social networking;
• cyberbullying;

• sexting and many more issues.
WWW teaches you practical solutions to ensure that your children’s Internet experiences are fun, positive and safe. Real life stories, videos and interactive activities illustrate and reinforce the messages within each 20 minute module.
To take advantage of this special offer, visit: www.webwisekids.org/WWW-CO/ and enter the following password after you register: wisdom
You can access the program any time, anywhere.
Your kids are worth the time.

Just Between Friends

admin — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:33:31 +0000

PTA Officers:

Avoid the pressure; ease your tasks
Now’s the Time!
Just Between Friends knows how pressured you feel when you have to meet deadlines. So, this year we’re encouraging all units to begin adding members for the 2010 – 2011 school year – NOW. This will help to ease your workload as you ease into the new school year.

As you know, Just Between Friends enables you to streamline your member management, communications, directories and volunteer management. It was developed to simplify your life and strengthen your PTA. And, we’ve been working over the past year to increase the speed and enhance the system based on requests we’ve received from local PTA units.

This is also a good time of year to get your new officers involved. Have them visit http://www.pta.org/2056.htm to learn about Just Between Friends. They’ll also get lots of “how-to” information by visiting www.learnjbf.com.

Come See Ben Austin at Valdez Elementary

admin — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 21:37:40 +0000

Our third and final speaker for the “More from Our Schools” will be speaking to parents on March 4 in Northwest Denver. The speaker is Ben Austin, a member of the Los Angeles Parents Union and the founder of Parent Revolution. He will speak at Valdez Elementary school located at 2525 W. 29th Ave. in Denver from 5:30 – 7:00 pm. The event is FREE, there will be food available and free childcare is provided. There will also be Spanish translation during the program.

Mr. Austin has dedicated much of his career to fighting for every child in California to get a great public education. Prior to joining the Parents Union, he directed the successful campaign to transform Locke High School from the worst high school in Los Angeles into a college preparatory model of reform. In 2006, he also created Parent Revolution—a coalition of organizations fighting to transform schools in LA. His work with the Parent’s Union is focused on the following belief: “For too long, everyone else had been in charge of their children’s schools: Politicians. Bureaucrats. Special interests. They had the power. Parents were told to do the bake sales. Now it’s the parents’ turn to take back the power over their children’s education. Parents are the only ones who will always stand up for our children, no matter what.”

Learn More

Read about the previous speakers in the series

2010 Reflections Finalists

admin — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 21:27:56 +0000

Congratulations to the following Colorado State Reflections finalists!!!!!! All regions and councils are represented.
Names appear in alphabetical order by age group within each category. E-mail addresses are provided if available.
Invitations will be mailed Feb 9th for finalists to attend the Colorado PTA Reflections Ceremony on Feb 21 at the Arvada Center.
To all local chairs, please contact your students asap to let them know they have been selected. Tell your PTA Presidents,
teachers, principals, superintendents, school board members and shout it from the rooftops!!!!
Please send any name corrections you see asap, so we can put together the program.
Thanks to all of you for all your hard work and dedication to education in the arts , and for giving our students this opportunity.

View the Map, Sign the Petition

admin — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 21:40:21 +0000

The Great Futures Colorado Campaign is a coalition of community organizations that advocates for implementation of, and adequate funding for, an education system that will prepare all children for the challenges of the 21st century – as outlined in the “core principles” of the Campaign’s “Membership Statement.” The Campaign provides member organizations with a platform and simple tools for united action toward our shared vision.

Our Core Principles:

Public education is the bedrock of our democracy, fundamental to individual opportunity, and the key to Colorado’s economic recovery, prosperity and future.
Colorado must provide its students with a public education system – preschool through college – that enables every child to learn to high standards, to become well-rounded, life-long learners, and to compete successfully in the 21^st century global economy.
Colorado’s public education system must both demand accountability from educators, parents, students and policymakers and provide them with the support and resources necessary for students to be successful.
Colorado needs a public education system that has adequate funding – fairly raised and equitably distributed – to provide quality teaching and appropriate educational opportunities for every student and to make student-centered, evidence-based, sustainable education reform possible.
For those who care about Colorado’s current and future students, inaction is no longer an option.

Click here to view the interactive Great Futures map and add your voice to our petition!

Teachers and Parents from 86 Schools Work at McDonalds’s for Fourth Annual Teachers Challenge Event

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:23:26 +0000

McDonald’s Donates Over $ $43,500 to Schools for Various Programs;

$1,000 Bonus Goes to Each of Three Winning Schools – Pine Lane Elementary in Parker, Columbia Middle School in Aurora and William Roberts K-8 School in Denver

Principals, teachers, parents and administrators from 86 Colorado schools became McDonald’s employees for an evening to earn a minimum of 15% of sales for their local school programs. Local Colorado McDonald’s owners/operators donated over $43,500 to schools during the fourth annual Teachers Challenge event in October and November, which is an increase of over $15,000 from last year! The three schools that raised the most money through sales in one evening are Pine Lane Elementary in Parker ($1,236.83 donated), Columbia Middle School in Aurora ($1,000 donated) and William Roberts K-8 School in Denver ($620.69 donated) and each were rewarded with an additional $1,000 bonus from McDonald’s.

Colorado school officials often choose which programs must be taken out of the curriculum throughout the year because of budget cuts. McDonald’s is partnering with the Colorado PTA to develop programs that will enable schools to earn money to fill these voids and maximize their current educational programs. The McDonald’s Teachers Challenge is an annual regional program that enables school administrators, principals and teachers to rally their students and parents around McTeacher’s Nights that guarantees them at least 15% of sales.

“We are excited to partner with McDonald’s for the fourth year to bring the Teachers Challenge to our members,” said Joel Azrikan, Colorado PTA Marketing Director. “It’s always refreshing when a corporation steps up to help students make the most of their educational experience. We have an ongoing partnership with McDonald’s in 2010 and look forward to exciting, new programs.”

McDonald’s has several programs in Colorado similar to the McDonald’s Teachers Challenge that give back to the community, including the McDonald’s Mile Kids Race at the Denver Marathon, ongoing support of the two Ronald McDonald Houses in Denver and Aurora and the Smart Meals program in partnership with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to promote healthy/balanced lifestyles.

About McDonald’s of Colorado
Over 200 McDonald’s restaurants in the state of Colorado annually feed $197.9 million into the Colorado economy and employ 8,180 people. For local employment information please visit www.mccolorado.com and for more information about McDonald’s visit www.mcdonalds.com.

About the Colorado PTA

Colorado PTA is proud to be partnered with McDonald’s for the Teachers Challenge for the fourth year in a row. Beginning three years ago with 26 schools, this year saw 86 schools participate. Colorado PTA is celebrating over 102 years serving “Every child One voice” and has partnered with well over 30 organizations and corporations in Colorado. Our 31,500 membership base throughout the state receives many benefits that far out weigh the $5.75 membership dues.

Take the Great Futures Pledge

admin — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:07:04 +0000

Take the Great Futures Pledge Click here.

Now more than ever, our kids need us to invest in their future – and that starts with a great education. As parents, educators, employers and citizens we know that inaction is no longer an option. It’s time for us to reform, renew, and adequately resource Colorado’s public schools and colleges.

Hearst Family-School Partnership Awards: Apply Today!

admin — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 20:59:30 +0000

NOTE: The 2010 Hearst Award Application is now available. Click Here

How successfully is your PTA achieving the National Standards for Family-School Partnerships? Share your success story by applying for the Phoebe Apperson Hearst Family-School Partnership Awards!

The National Standards provide a roadmap to help PTAs, schools, and communities work together to more effectively connect family and community engagement to student success. All local PTAs that submit a complete award application demonstrating achievement in one or more of the National Standards will receive a Family-School Partnership Award of Merit. For representing the best in one of the six National Standards, six PTAs will receive an Award of Excellence, with a $500 monetary award. One PTA will receive the Outstanding Family-School Partnership Award, with a $2,000 monetary award, for demonstrating significant achievement in all six standards.

The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. EST, Monday, March 1. Learn more and apply online.

Learn More Expect More Do More

admin — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:07:30 +0000

Part 2 of our speaker series is coming up! About the speaker: Ms. Moskowitz is a former elected official and Chair of the New York City Council Education Committee, and a forceful advocate for education. She has been a history professor and civics teacher at Prep for Prep, a program for gifted minority students. She then started the Success Charter Network in 2006 with the Harlem Success Academy 1, added three more schools in the summer of 2008 with plans to expand to 40 over a decade. As part of these efforts, she helped create Harlem Parents United, a group that shows up en masse at public hearings to demand good schools for their children.

Download the flyer
Read about the other speakers in the series

Relief Efforts for Haiti, Students, Families, Schools

admin — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:10:35 +0000

Friends,

Over the last 24 hours we have been asked about any effort(s) to help students, families and schools in Haiti. For now we would encourage our members to support relief agencies, like the Red Cross. Currently it is too early to develop or provide support other than those connected to search, rescue and recovery efforts.

Please pass this information along to your membership and ask everyone to keep this country, their citizens and the rescue efforts in their thoughts and prayers.

Thank you.

Chuck

Chuck Saylors, President
National PTA
(864) 354-3577 Cell
(803) 360-3527 Business
(864) 268-6375 Fax
csaylors@pta.org

2010 Census in Schools

admin — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:41:39 +0000

The U.S. Census Bureau has created a Census in Schools program called 2010 Census: It’s About Us. The program will provide educators with resources to teach the nation’s students about the importance of the census so children can help deliver this message to their families. The program will engage America’s youth to help ensure every child and every household member is counted in 2010. Read more in the downloadable PDF

Recent Scholarship Opportunities

admin — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:13:27 +0000

Since 1948 the Colorado PTA has managed a Scholarship Fund for graduating seniors who have attended PTA/PTSA affiliated high schools. During this time we have been able to provide over 300 scholarships to deserving students who have met the criteria outlined here. And click below to download the scholarship form:

COPTA Scholarship

other scholarship opportunities

9Kids Who Care
Deadline: November 20, 2009

Xap/Bridges 2009 Video Contest
Deadline: December 4, 2009

Team CIC
Deadline: May 1, 2010