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Friday, February 27
Lovinggood MS PTSA eNews - Healthy Art
by
WebWiz
on Fri 27 Feb 2009 10:54 PM EST
Lovinggood PTSA eNews!  
Calling all Artists!! Each month the Food and Nutrition Services Department holds a nutrition-themed art contest to increase the awareness of nutrition and wellness topics. Students of all grades may enter the contest and a grand prize winner will be awarded a GREAT prize and certificate that is signed by your school's Principal and the Executive Director of Food and Nutrition Services. See below for contest rules. | Theme Name | Date Due | Winner | | TV Turnoff Week | March 17, 2009 | | | National Child Nutrition Employee Appreciation Week | April 21, 2009 | |
Art Contest Rules
1. Theme name must be included in the artwork.
2. Art work must be submitted on a 8.5 X 11" paper.
3. Students name, grade, school, and teacher (if appropriate) must be included on the back of the artwork.
4. Turn in your art work to the Cafeteria Manager who will send in the top 3 entries from your school.
5. Artwork and winner's name (first name only), grade and school will be posted on this website for this school year. (You may enter as many times as you like, but you may only win once per school year). If you have any questions, please contact your Cafeteria Manager or you may email Cindy Kanarek Culver. For more information, please visit:http://www.cobbk12.org/departments/bs/bsfoodservices/wellness_08/Wellness_art_contest.htm
The Home of the Silver Hawks Lovinggood PTSA - Contact Us We respect your privacy and will not share any of your information with a third party. If you need to update a mailing or email address please contact us at: LMSPTSA@lovinggood.ptsamail.com
Wednesday, February 25
Lovinggood MS PTSA eNews - "Understanding the Adolescent Brain",
by
WebWiz
on Wed 25 Feb 2009 10:01 PM EST
Lovinggood PTSA eNews! Special Articulation Session: "Understanding the Adolescent Brain" Thursday, February 26 7:00 p.m. Sponsored by Lovinggood Middle School Council For your printable flier, please click the following link:
PTA Takes Action Advocating for every child Georgia PTA’s weekly update on legislative activity – Feb. 22, 2009 The General Assembly has completed 21 of the forty days that it will meet in 2009. As of the 20th day, no new revenue bills may be introduced that can be passed this session. Voucher Legislation! SB 90: The Senate Education committee held its first hearing last week on SB 90 and GA PTA testified. We stated that we were in support of the provisions in the bill that allow for public school choice but opposed those provisions that allow taxpayer dollars to be used to fund vouchers to send students to private schools. The arguments we gave included: - Private schools choose the student not the other way around
- Private schools may discriminate based on gender, religion, economic status, family background, intelligence, academic success or behavior. Public schools take everyone; private schools exclude those who they don’t choose to serve.
- In a US DOE survey of private inner city schools, 68% stated they definitely or probably would not accept vouchered students with learning disabilities, limited English or low academic achievement.
- Studies show that private schools do not do a better job educating youth than public schools
- Private school teachers do not have to be certified to teach; public school teachers no only must be certified to teach but must be certified in the subject matter they are teaching
- No fiscal or academic accountability is attached to the public tax payer dollars spent on private schools
- Incidents in private schools accepting vouchers with no accountability have shown abuses of those dollars
- Private schools do not have to demonstrate that students are making academic improvements through measures such as norm referenced tests nor do they have to publish the results of any tests that are given
- In every other department, program or taxpayer funded service, transparency is being demanded and reported yet we would accept less for our students?
- Vouchers fail to serve those who need them most, the economically disadvantaged
- Cost of most private schools exceeds the amount of the voucher so only those who can make up the difference can take advantage of them
- Transportation is not provided so only those who can get themselves to the private school can go
- Vouchers drain critical dollars from public education and remove the focus on improving public education
Update: Call to Action – Save our School Nurses At PTA Day at the Capitol we will have a press conference showing our support for school nurses and will ask for the continued funding of school nurses in the 2010 budget. Many of you have already brought or sent you Popsicle sticks/tongue depressors to your legislators. Thank you! If you haven’t sent them in, bring them with you on Tuesday and deliver them in person to your legislator. New Legislation to Watch Every week we will report on new legislation and the status of existing legislation critical to you. While school nurses and vouchers are a big issue, other legislation passed at the Capitol will have as big of an impact on your child, your school, your community and you. If PTA has an official position it will be shown next to the bill number. Please note if PTA has an established position, a local unit cannot take an opposing position. HB 193: Permits the required 180 day school year to be defined in hours, thus providing local school boards with flexibility in setting the school calendar. Status: passed out of House Ed. HB 400: BRIDGE, Building Resourceful Individuals to Develop Georgia’s Economy Act. Department of Education is to develop programs so a student can get courses at the home school, a technical college, a two or four year college, a work site as an apprentice, and other approved settings. Middle grades advisement shall provide counseling, advisement, career awareness, career interest inventories to evaluate each student’s academic skills and career interests. In grade 8, students shall select a preferred focused program and study and develop an individual graduation plan, IGP, with parents. High school students shall have annual reviews of the IGP which are to include academic core subjects and course work in math and science OR humanities, fine arts, and foreign language, OR sequenced career pathway courses; include IEP components if applicable; align educational and broad career goals and the student’s course of study; be based on the student’s selected academic and career focus; include experienced based, career oriented learning experiences such as internships, apprenticeships, mentoring, coops, and service learning; post secondary studies, dual enrollment and joint enrollment as applicable; have sufficient flexibility to change a course of study; be approved by the parent. What this means to you: students will develop a graduation plan that will set goals and courses of study to guide path to graduation. Update on Legislation to Watch HR1: OPPOSE Property tax cap that limits the amount property assessment will be increased to no more than 3% annually or the rate of another economic index (like the Consumer Price Index) with a 9% cap over three years. Status: Voted to be Reconsidered at some future date. HB 233, OPPOSE Two year freeze on any appreciation on the value of a property, even if it changes hands. Status: Passed House, will be considered in Senate committee this week HB 143: This guarantees that the Homestead Tax Relief Grant (HTRG) will be funded this year and establishes a formula to determine whether the state will pay for it in any given year. Status:Passed and signed by Governor. Means school portion of property taxes will be paid. Taxpayers won’t have to pay a second bill this year. HB 229: Student Health and Physical Education Act. Students in grades 4-12 enrolled in physical education in 2011-12 must have an annual fitness assessment approved by the state board of education during the PE class time. The aggregate results shall be reported to the state board yearly. PTA was successful in adding a requirement that the results of any assessment be reported to parents. Status: Will be voted on in the House this week. HB 149: Move on When Ready: Students in 11th and 12th grades may enroll in Georgia public colleges and take Department of Education approved courses that will meet both high school graduation requirements and earn them college credit. Hours earned will not count against HOPE.What this means to you: If a student is ready to attend college and only has a few high school credits remaining to fulfill the high school diploma requirements, (s)he can earn those credits while attending college. Status: Passed the House Education Committee and will go to Rules to be put on the House calendar. SB 5: SUPPORT Requires seatbelts be worn in all pickup trucks with an exception for those over 18 who are doing agricultural work.. Status Passed the Senate. SB 23 also requires seatbelt use in pickup trucks SB 90: OPPOSE Universal Voucher bill. See above. Heard in committee, no vote taken HB 251: SUPPORT Provides for school choice in public schools. Passed the House and now goes to Senate. SB 83: Increase the homestead exemption from $2000 to $4000. What this means to you: You will pay less property taxes but the schools will have less money to use to fund education. Passed the Senate. Key: HR- House Resolution, HB – House Bill, SR – Senate Resolution, SB– Senate Bill Daily Reports with additional details on all the bills being tracked by GA PTA can be found on the Capitol Watch website under News: http://www.ciclt.net/sn/new/n_main.aspx?ClientCode=gapta Karen Hallacy
The Home of the Silver Hawks Lovinggood PTSA - Contact Us We respect your privacy and will not share any of your information with a third party. If you need to update a mailing or email address please contact us at: LMSPTSA@lovinggood.ptsamail.com
Tuesday, February 24
Lovinggood MS PTSA eNews - FCA & LOTL News
by
WebWiz
on Tue 24 Feb 2009 10:37 PM EST
Lovinggood PTSA eNews! Hey, Hey, it's FCA...  Just a reminder that all FCA leadership applications for the 2009-2010 school year are due NO LATER THAN this Friday, February 27th at 9:15 a.m. in Angela Gisi's classroom [Room 241 in the seventh grade hallway].  Late or incomplete applications will NOT be considered.
Hey, Hey, Hey, It’s FCA! Lovinggood On The Lawn will be here before we know it. We would like to thank everyone who has brought in bottles of water as donations for this upcoming event. We couldn’t have a successful evening without your help. Because you have been so generous, we now have enough water. However, we will also need soft drinks. Beginning this Friday, Feb 27th, 2009 we are asking for you to bring in cases of canned drinks. 6Th Grade should bring in cases of canned Coke  7Th Grade should bring in cases of canned Diet Coke  8Th Grade should bring in cases of canned Sprite 
Your help is greatly appreciated and will make Lovinggood on the Lawn a huge success!
The Home of the Silver Hawks Lovinggood PTSA - Contact Us We respect your privacy and will not share any of your information with a third party. If you need to update a mailing or email address please contact us at: LMSPTSA@lovinggood.ptsamail.com
Lovinggood MS PTSA eNews - OUTDOOR CLASSROOM - We need your help!
by
WebWiz
on Tue 24 Feb 2009 08:53 AM EST
Lovinggood PTSA eNews! Outdoor Classroom Project WE NEED YOUR HELP! When: Saturday, Mar. 7th, & Mar. 28th Where: LMS, Bus port Area Time: 9:00 a.m. to 2::00 p.m.
Got 15 minutes? Got 5 hours? Whatever fits your schedule!  HOW CAN YOU HELP?Organize as many of your club members to come to the work dates. Hands and bodies needed to complete a variety of tasks  HOW MUCH TIME IS INVOLVED?Whatever amount of time can be donated will be appreciated….15 minutes, 45 minutes, 4 hours.  WILL THIS BE ORGANIZED?Work days will be organized with lists of tasks to be accomplished  WE NEED AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN GET TO HELP MAKE THESE WORK DATES PRODUCTIVE!  BRING YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, WHOEVER YOU CAN GET TO COME! At the link below, you will find your printable reminder flyer for the upcoming work dates to begin ground breaking for the outdoor classroom. Thanks for supporting this great project!
The Home of the Silver Hawks Lovinggood PTSA - Contact Us We respect your privacy and will not share any of your information with a third party. If you need to update a mailing or email address please contact us at: LMSPTSA@lovinggood.ptsamail.com
Lovinggood MS PTSA eNews - Cheer tryouts, PE Bill - House Bill 229, Wellness News
by
WebWiz
on Tue 24 Feb 2009 08:16 AM EST
Lovinggood PTSA eNews! Hillgrove Junior Hawks/Middle School Cheerleading Tryout Information Middle School Tryouts
MARCH 2 - 6, 2009 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. LOVINGGOOD GYMNASIUM
There is a $20 tryout fee. Each girl needs to bring a small photo of themselves to tryouts. Click here for tryout packet. Schedule of Events During Tryouts
March 2nd (Dance)
March 3rd (Dance and Cheer)
March 4th (Practice Dance and Cheer - Rehearsal)
March 5th (Judging for Tumbling and Stunts)
March 6th (Final Day for All Judging)
Tryout Times for March 6th: TBD based on the number of participants
March 2nd (Dance)March 3rd (Dance and Cheer)March 4th (Practice Dance and Cheer - Rehearsal)March 5th (Judging for Tumbling and Stunts)March 6th (Final Day for All Judging) Tryout Times for March 6th: TBD based on the number of participants For your packet, go to:
 Take Action to Pass PE Bill - House Bill 229 The PE Bill (this year’s much improved version of the SHAPE Bill) will come up for a vote before the entire House on Wednesday. Please contact your Representatives to encourage them to pass House Bill 229. Listed below is a summary of the Bill. You can access more detail via Capitol Watch on the GA PTA Website. Here is the summary: HB 229, Coleman – 97 Students in grades 1-12 enrolled in physical education in 2011-12 must have an annual fitness assessment approved by the state board of education during a PE class time taught by a certified PE teacher in which the student is enrolled. The individual results will be sent to the parent/guardian. The aggregate results shall be reported to the state board yearly. The state board will submit an annual report to the governor beginning in 2012. A recognition program may be established. PE is required in elementary school and one year of PE and Health is required in high school. Middle schoolers are not required to take it and 3 of the 4 years in high school are without PE requirements. Many eating habits are established in the pre school years, which is not addressed in this legislation. PTA asked that the results of any assessment done on a student be shared with the parent. Thank you! Health & Wellness Co-Chair "Change will not come if we wait for some other person or if we wait for some other time. We are the one we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek." - Barack Obama
 Wellness News to Watch - from GA PTA Groups Urge the NBA to Ban Courtside Booze Ads
Ads promote consumption, send harmful message to underage sports fans, says CSPI WASHINGTON—The nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest and dozens of health, youth advocacy, and other organizations are urging the National Basketball Association to reverse its decision to allow courtside hard-liquor advertisements and other alcohol promotions on team web sites, retail locations, and inside arenas. Read More at this link or from attached document. http://www.cspinet.org/new/200902092.html Be a part of "A Walk In The Park" for Cure Kids Cancer Every 30 minutes, a family learns their child has cancer. And you have the power to do something about it. Cure Kids Cancer helps kids receive the very best cancer treatment while staying close to their homes and families. By joining "A Walk In The Park," you can raise much needed funds for Cure Kids Cancer. Six Flags Friends, the philanthropic arm of Six Flags, and Cure Kids Cancer have teamed up once again to raise awareness and funding for pediatric cancers through the annual "A Walk In The Park" program. This unique walk-a-thon event will take place at all domestic Six Flags properties beginning April 26, 2009 through July 26, 2009. This year’s walk at Six Flags Over Georgia will take place on April 26th and all proceeds will benefit Children’s Healthcare Atlanta. This is a unique opportunity for friends, families, students and organizations to unite and make a difference, as it will be a day filled with the smiles and thrills of being at an amusement park coupled with a worthy cause. Registration is $10 for teams and $15 to join as an individual. All registered participants who raise $50 or more will receive a free ticket to Six Flags. Each day, more than four dozen children are diagnosed with cancer. These children cannot fight this battle alone – they need our help! Please join us in hope that one day all children will know a life as carefree and refreshing as “A Walk In The Park”. Visit www.walkintheparks.org for more information on how you can participate and a complete listing of walk dates. Please feel free to call Jessica King, Director Six Flags Friends at 212-652-9361 with additional questions or visit WALKINTHEPARKS.ORG. Obese people who drink fructose-sweetened beverages with their meals have an increased rise of triglycerides following the meal, according to new research from the Monell Center. This effect was especially pronounced in insulin-resistant subjects, worsening their already adverse metabolic profiles and potentially increasing their risk for heart disease and other metabolic disorders. Click on link above for more.
The Home of the Silver Hawks Lovinggood PTSA - Contact Us We respect your privacy and will not share any of your information with a third party. If you need to update a mailing or email address please contact us at: LMSPTSA@lovinggood.ptsamail.com
Tuesday, February 17
Lovinggood MS PTSA eNews - CCSD Annual Report, Happy Birthday PTA
by
WebWiz
on Tue 17 Feb 2009 08:13 PM EST
Lovinggood PTSA eNews! 
District Releases 2008 Annual Report The 2008 Annual Report for the Cobb County School District is available online at the District’s web site at www.cobbk12.org/annualreport08. Produced by the District’s Communications Office, the Annual Report provides a comprehensive overview of District operations, financial results, testing data, and school-specific information from the past year. The District first moved to an online format for its Annual Report in 2002, providing parents and the community 24-hour access to the information and saving tens of thousands of dollars in printing costs each year. The Annual Report is a key source for parents, community members, and the news media to access key facts and figures regarding enrollment, school programs, operations, test results information about enrollment, school programs and operations, test results, the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST), and more. To supplement the 2008 Annual Report, the District web site at www.cobbk12.org is continually updated with the latest information about Cobb schools. The site features on-demand video from Cobb edTV, including Board of Education meetings, as well as great news from schools on the CobbCast news blog.
Founders Day, February 17, 2009
They had a simple idea-to improve the lives and futures of all of our children. As much as  other conditions in America may have changed, that idea has not. PTAs keep it alive. PTA's founders Phoebe Apperson Hearst and Alice McLellan Birney, and the founder of Georgia's Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers, Selena Sloan Butler, were women of imagination and courage. They understood the power of individual action, worked beyond the accepted barriers of their day, and took action to literally change the world.
Today, PTA is the largest volunteer child advocacy organization in the nation. Our members represent the ethnic diversity of our nation, and they come from the ranks of traditional families, single-parent households, blended families, grandparents, and other caring adults. Together, we continue to serve as the conscience of the country for children and youth.
Founders Day is a reminder of the substantial role that PTA has played locally, regionally, and nationally in supporting parent involvement and working on behalf of all children and families. It's a time to reflect and take pride in our many accomplishments, and to renew our commitment to be a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for parents, and a strong advocate for public education.
NATIONAL PTA MILESTONES
1897 - Founding of the National Congress of Mothers to act on behalf of children in the home, at school, and in the world.
1898-1899 - The Congress promotes cooperation between parents and teachers; advocates for sex education; and lobbies for a national health bureau.
1900s - Fathers urged to join; PTA already voicing public concern for juvenile justice issues and the need for child labor laws, as well as federal aid to schools.
1910s - PTA urges that kindergarten be part of education system, asks parents to supervise their children's attendance at moving pictures; local PTAs serve hot lunches to children.
1920s - The National Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers is formed to serve children in segregated states; PTA begins a nationwide children's health project; and is involved in the first university courses in school-home relations.
1930s - A special nutrition project and emergency services prevent children from suffering during the Great Depression; PTA studies automobile and school bus safety as they relate to children.
1940s - PTA launches nationwide school lunch program; becomes one of the first non-governmental organizations to support the establishment of the United Nations; creates new university project to teach teachers home-school relations; wartime activities include the weekly radio series, "The Family in War", featuring the Baxter family and a panel of experts discussing the episode.
1950s - PTA calls a national conference to address narcotics and drug addiction in youth; helps field-test and win support for the Salk Polio Vaccine; and promotes health supervision of children from early childhood through high school.
1960s - PTA creates public message about the dangerous effects of smoking; helps enact child protection and toy safety legislation; promotes art education via a nationwide cultural arts program; and creates a new focus on home-school relations in low-income areas.
1970s - National Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers and National Congress of Parents and Teachers unite to become one organization; PTA expands outreach to combat alcohol abuse; calls for parents to share in decision making in schools; begins project to oppose violence on television; opens Office of Governmental Relations in Washington, DC; and invites students to sit on the National PTA Board of Directors.
1972 - PTA was honored with an 8 cent commemorative postage stamp to celebrate the 75th anniversary of its founding.
1980s - PTA fights for automobile safety belt and child restraint legislation; creates a drug/alcohol abuse prevention project, focuses more attention on children and families in the inner cities; and creates national HIV/AIDS education program for parents.
1990s - PTA convenes national summit on parent involvement; becomes major force in adding parent involvement to National Education Goals; develops National Standards for Parent/Family involvement in cooperation with education and parent involvement professionals; initiates nation-wide campaign to protect children from violence; forges partnerships with other national groups to promote parent involvement in early childhood education and teacher education; celebrates 100th anniversary; launches Building Successful Partnerships parent involvement initiative. 1997, the Postal Service released a 32-cent stamp to honor the 100th Anniversary of the National PTA.
2000-Present - PTA entered the new millennium with renewed energy to supply the critical link between parents and educators, government, and the legal system. National security, No Child Left Behind, and the digital divide became important issues. So, too, did children's health and safety reassert themselves as national concerns. PTA responded by creating new resources to encourage safe communities, anti-bullying measures, and healthy lifestyles at home and at school. As a means to galvanize all PTAs, a new tagline was adopted in 2001-everychild. onevoice.-to encapsulate the power and legacy of PTA. While our PTA community has grown and changed, one thing remains constant-caring members continue to make a difference every day. |
The Home of the Silver Hawks Lovinggood PTSA - Contact Us We respect your privacy and will not share any of your information with a third party. If you need to update a mailing or email address please contact us at: LMSPTSA@lovinggood.ptsamail.com
Lovinggood MS PTSA eNews - Golf Outing News
by
WebWiz
on Tue 17 Feb 2009 05:11 PM EST
Lovinggood PTSA eNews! Golf Outing Due to the low response at this time, the outing will be not be scheduled for May. Thank you, PTSA Board
The Home of the Silver Hawks Lovinggood PTSA - Contact Us We respect your privacy and will not share any of your information with a third party. If you need to update a mailing or email address please contact us at: LMSPTSA@lovinggood.ptsamail.com
Friday, February 13
Lovinggood MS PTSA eNews - Reflections winners!
by
WebWiz
on Fri 13 Feb 2009 08:42 PM EST
Lovinggood PTSA eNews! REFLECTIONS WINNERS from South Cobb Council The following students won at state level: Musical Composition: Jacqueline Faciane from Kemp Musical Composition: Katelyn Pope from Lovinggood Film/Video: Aaron Nielsen from Hollydale Special Artist Photography: Jonas Millena from Russell
The Home of the Silver Hawks Lovinggood PTSA - Contact Us We respect your privacy and will not share any of your information with a third party. If you need to update a mailing or email address please contact us at: LMSPTSA@lovinggood.ptsamail.com
Lovinggood MS PTSA eNews - TGIF
by
WebWiz
on Fri 13 Feb 2009 02:39 PM EST
Lovinggood PTSA eNews! TGIF!!!! Our Honor Students watched a movie with freshly popped popcorn and a bottle of water.  PTSA would like to thank WEST COBB CHIROPRACTIC for their use of a popcorn machine and their donation of popcorn bags (over 700 bags were donated) We especially like to thank all the moms who came to bag over 600 bags of popcorn! Thank you from our students and PTSA Board
The Home of the Silver Hawks Lovinggood PTSA - Contact Us We respect your privacy and will not share any of your information with a third party. If you need to update a mailing or email address please contact us at: LMSPTSA@lovinggood.ptsamail.com
Lovinggood MS PTSA eNews - Curriculum Night and Founder's Day Thank You!
by
WebWiz
on Fri 13 Feb 2009 11:58 AM EST
Lovinggood PTSA eNews! 
Thank you for making Curriculum Night and Founder's Day successful! We hope you enjoyed the cake and coffee.  The rich and delicious coffee was donated by our neighbor and friendsat WEST COBB CHURCH. Thank you for all the donation of great tasting coffee. A special thanks to Ms. Libby for brewing 86 cups of coffee! Thank you, Teri Primiano PTSA Board
The Home of the Silver Hawks Lovinggood PTSA - Contact Us We respect your privacy and will not share any of your information with a third party. If you need to update a mailing or email address please contact us at: LMSPTSA@lovinggood.ptsamail.com
Tuesday, February 10
Lovinggood MS PTSA eNews - Thank you!
by
WebWiz
on Tue 10 Feb 2009 09:42 PM EST
Lovinggood PTSA eNews! PTSA AND ALL VOLUNTEERS Sending out a big THANK YOU to Lovinggood for the Appreciation Brunch today. The food was excellent and the entertainment was mind blowing - can we say "MR. GOLOWICH" IT WAS GREAT!!!  To all the parents whose children helped serve today, you can be very proud of their conduct and manners. Mrs. Castleberry's class put on a Five Star meal for the Volunteers' Tea. The food and presentation was outstanding!  It is truly a pleasure to work in an environment that is filled with warmth and gratitude. Thank you, Mrs. Perkins for your inspirational words at brunch. Mrs. Perkins' daily declaration that we all choose the type of day we will have was explified today. I believe we as a school, and as parents, choose to have a great mutal relationship with one another - through volunteering and repect. Thanks for everything! Teri Primiano LMS PTSA President
The Home of the Silver Hawks Lovinggood PTSA - Contact Us We respect your privacy and will not share any of your information with a third party. If you need to update a mailing or email address please contact us at: LMSPTSA@lovinggood.ptsamail.com
Lovinggood MS PTSA eNews - Legislative update
by
WebWiz
on Tue 10 Feb 2009 08:29 AM EST
Lovinggood PTSA eNews! PTA Takes Action Advocating for every child Georgia PTA’s weekly update on legislative activity – Feb. 8, 2009 The General Assembly has been in session three weeks and has completed fifteen of the forty days that it will meet in 2009. Their new schedule will be to meet Tues-Thursday starting this week, ending on day 35, which will be March 25. They will then take a break until June 22 to see what the economy does and what benefits Georgia will receive from the economic stimulus package coming out of Washington. Voucher Legislation! SB 90 introduced As predicted, a universal voucher bill was introduced last week. Any child currently enrolled in public schools could get a voucher to any public (within the district or in another district) or private school if: • The school accepts the student • Parents agree to provide transportation for the student • Parent and student agree to abide by the rules and policies of the new school While GA PTA supports school choice, we oppose this legislation (SB 90): In a time where every dollar counts, where every program and department is being scrutinized to make sure public taxpayer dollars are being spent effectively, how can the State government use public tax dollars to write a blank check to a private institution with no accountability of those tax dollars? • Private institutions don’t need to hire certified teachers. The teachers don’t have to be certified in the subject material being taught; they don’t have to be certified to teach; they don’t even need to have a college education. • Private institutions are not required to teach a curriculum that prepares the student for the 21st century in a global economy or test them on that curriculum. • Private schools don’t have to show that a student has learned anything since there is no requirement to test a child and show any level of knowledge or gain in knowledge. The bottom line is there is no fiscal or academic accountability attached to these taxpayer funded vouchers. Tell your legislators NO to SB 90! Update: Call to Action – Save our School Nurses The Call to Action to conduct a Popsicle stick/tongue depressor campaign and to call your legislators about funding for school nurses went out three weeks ago and our legislators are hearing from you! Keep up the good work. With additional reductions in state revenues, the pressure will be even greater to cut the budget and it will be hard for our legislators to put funding back in for a line item. We need to keep the calls and Popsicle sticks coming so our legislators keep that commitment to fund our school nurses. Additional information is available on the Georgia PTA website www.georgiapta.org. If you haven’t called your legislators, their contact info can be found at the bottom of this letter or by using the GA District Lookup under the Officials tab on Capitol Watch. New Legislation to Watch Every week we will report on new legislation and the status of existing legislation critical to you. While school nurses and vouchers are a big issue, other legislation passed at the Capitol will have as big of an impact on your child, your school, your community and you. If PTA has an official position it will be shown next to the bill number. Please note, if PTA has an established position, a local unit cannot take an opposing position. SB 90: OPPOSE Universal Voucher bill. See above. SB 83: Increase the homestead exemption from $2000 to $4000. What this means to you: You will pay less property taxes but the schools will have less money to use to fund education. Passed the Senate. SB 84: School boards may have only seven members unless grandfathered by a local act. Each school board member shall subscribe to an ethics policy, shall have no interest in a business which transacts with the school system, shall accept no gifts or favors, loans, contributions or other thing of value, except campaign contributions. School board members can be removed by a vote of the remainder of the board. The governor may remove board members if a local school system is placed on probation by an accrediting agency. The board member may appeal to the governor for reinstatement after a hearing. Disallows a relative of a superintendent to be on the school board. State board shall design and deliver all school board member training. Update on Legislation to Watch HR1: OPPOSE Property tax cap that limits the amount property assessment will be increased to no more than 3% annually or the rate of another economic index (like the Consumer Price Index) with a 9% cap over three years. What this means to you: Your school districts are dependent on property tax revenues to fund their portion of education (which is increasing as the state decreases the amount it provides). Combined with the millage rate cap at 20 mills, the school district will be limited in how much money it can raise to fund the local programs, transportation, textbooks, teachers, etc. that it provides for educating your child. No movement on this bill HB 143: This guarantees that the Homestead Tax Relief Grant (HTRG) will be funded this year and establishes a formula to determine whether the state will pay for it in any given year. What this means to you: Tax bills went out this year and the HTRG was included. Based on your individual property taxes that grant equated to about $200-300. If the HTRG isn’t covered you’ll receive another tax bill and will have to pay that now. Given the funding requirements proposed in the bill, it isn’t likely that the state will pay the HTRG any time in the next few years so taxes will go up next year. Update: Passed in House, Passed in Senate but to be reconsidered. HB 229: Student Health and Physical Education Act. Students in grades 4-12 enrolled in physical education in 2011-12 must have an annual fitness assessment approved by the state board of education during the PE class time. The aggregate results shall be reported to the state board yearly. What this means to you: If your child is in PE, which is required in elementary school and for one semester in high school, he will get assessed on his physical fitness and those results will be aggregated and sent to the state. Requires elementary schools to actually conduct PE which some aren't doing today. Update: PTA asked for the bill to add required reporting to students. If a child is assessed, the parents should know the results. Vote will be Tuesday. HB 149: Move on When Ready: Students in 11th and 12th grades may enroll in Georgia public colleges and take Department of Education approved courses that will meet both high school graduation requirements and earn them college credit. Hours earned will not count against HOPE.What this means to you: If a student is ready to attend college and only has a few high school credits remaining to fulfill the high school diploma requirements, (s)he can earn those credits while attending college. To be heard in subcommittee this week Key: HR- House Resolution, HB – House Bill, SR – Senate Resolution, SB– Senate Bill Today, Feb. 10, is the last day to sign up for PTA Day at the Capitol at the early bird rate of $30. If you want to know what's going on at the Capitol, want to hear the latest news, want to have a chance to talk to your legislators in person, don't miss this opportunity. Go to the GA PTA website for the registration form and more information. www.georgiapta.org Karen Hallacy GA PTA Legislative Chair Your Legislators:
State Senate - John Wiles (R-37)
State House - Terry Johnson (D-037)
The Home of the Silver Hawks Lovinggood PTSA - Contact Us We respect your privacy and will not share any of your information with a third party. If you need to update a mailing or email address please contact us at: LMSPTSA@lovinggood.ptsamail.com
Monday, February 9
Lovinggood MS PTSA eNews - Curriculumn Night, Need photos, HHS Ad. Aca. Advisory night, HHS eNews
by
WebWiz
on Mon 09 Feb 2009 10:38 PM EST
Lovinggood PTSA eNews! Curriculum Night Thursday, Feb 12 ATTN Lovinggood Parents!
Curriculum Night begins with the PTSA meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Auditorium, and then it's on to the classrooms from 7:00 - 8:15 p.m.
 For your convenience, the School Store will be open for you before and after the events; stop in anytime from 6-6:30pm or when you have visited the last classroom on your list.
The PTSA School Store is located on the main hallway in the classroom wing at the BLUE intersection.
PICTURES NEEDED! IF YOU HAVE ANY PICTURES FROM THE SOCIALS TASTE OF LOVINGGOOD RED RIBBON WEEK
PLEASE SEND TO THANK YOU! PTSA BOARD
 illgrove High School'sAdvanced Academic Advisory Night Tuesday, February 17, 2009 
The Advanced Academic Advisory Night will give detailed information that will help you and your student make informed decisions when deciding your future high school course of study. Times are as follows: *Meet with academic departments in the cafeteria 6:00-7:00 P.M. *AP/Honors presentation in the HILLGROVE auditorium 7:10-8:00 P.M. For complete information about the evening, please look at the flier located at the link below:
Speaking of the 'Grove... Will your student be moving over to Hillgrove next year? Then you need to sign up for the Hillgrove PTSA eNews now so you can know what is going on. It is free and easy. Type in your name and email address, and that's it! You are encouraged to sign up at your earliest convenience. Go Hawks!
The Home of the Silver Hawks Lovinggood PTSA - Contact Us We respect your privacy and will not share any of your information with a third party. If you need to update a mailing or email address please contact us at: LMSPTSA@lovinggood.ptsamail.com
Tuesday, February 3
Lovinggood MS PTSA eNews - Hillgrove PTSA eNews
by
WebWiz
on Tue 03 Feb 2009 11:06 PM EST
Lovinggood PTSA eNews! Is your student moving to Hillgrove next year? Get a jump on the happenings at the 'Grove by joining the Hillgrove PTSA eNews. It is free to all and only takes 5 seconds to do. All you need to do is visit http://hillgrove.ptsamail.com/ and then enter your name and email address. That's it! You will start receiving emails as soon as the next mailing. Welcome to the 'Grove!!
The Home of the Silver Hawks Lovinggood PTSA - Contact Us We respect your privacy and will not share any of your information with a third party. If you need to update a mailing or email address please contact us at: LMSPTSA@lovinggood.ptsamail.com
Monday, February 2
Lovinggood MS PTSA eNews - 8th Gr Parent Night, More Golf info.
by
WebWiz
on Mon 02 Feb 2009 10:36 PM EST
Lovinggood PTSA eNews! 8th Grade Parents Night Hillgrove Auditorium Tuesday, February 3 6:00 p.m.
Parents of home schooled students or students attending private schools are also invited to attend.
LMS PTSA Golf Tournament May 8, 2009 4 Person Scrambler plus Fun and games! Your entry fee includes lunch and a soft drink. Want to learn more? Contact: "Creekside is one solid hole after another, with a few exceptional ones in the mix. The 14th may be the toughest par 4 in the state. 18 is a great gambling finish for all."
-Ron Whitten,
Golf Digest
The Home of the Silver Hawks Lovinggood PTSA - Contact Us We respect your privacy and will not share any of your information with a third party. If you need to update a mailing or email address please contact us at: LMSPTSA@lovinggood.ptsamail.com
Lovinggood MS PTSA eNews - Make your plans for the LMS PTSA Golf Tournament
by
WebWiz
on Mon 02 Feb 2009 08:26 PM EST
Lovinggood PTSA eNews! No matter what Punxsutawney Phil says, Spring is on the way!! Start planning now... Golf Anyone? Dear PTSA Members, We hope you had a great Holiday with your family and friends. We hope that you are as excited about the New Year as we feel, and look forward to the excellent events that we have planned for you in 2009. One of the events that we are considering is a golf tournament. This event promises to be lots of fun as well as an excellent way of meeting LMS’s families. However, for this event to be a viable event, we need the support of our PTSA members. Before we book the course and make any necessary arrangements, we would like to gauge the interest among you. Please read the information below, and let us know if you are interested in playing. Keep in mind that this is NOT a commitment on your part. It is only to get an approximate number of players. If we do not have enough players, the event will be cancelled. The event would take place in May 8, 2009. It will be a 4 person scramble with some fun and games included. The outing would be held at Creekside Country Club in Hiram, Georgia. Visit their website for more information: www.creeksidegolf.com. Lunch and a drink would be provided. The club has an excellent restaurant, and a beverage cart will be available for additional drink or food purchases. We also hope to have sponsors to provide the prizes and various graphics needs. The cost for the event is $75.00 for PTSA members and $80.00 for non-members. This includes lunch and drink. Mulligans and tickets for various contests would also be available for purchase. More details for the event will be provide at a later time. Please send an email to ptsagolf09@aol.com if interested. We will keep you posted on the results. Please feel free to contact Bernard Primiano on his cell: (404) 259-5262 if you have any questions. Thanks, Teri Primiano LMS PTSA President
The Home of the Silver Hawks Lovinggood PTSA - Contact Us We respect your privacy and will not share any of your information with a third party. If you need to update a mailing or email address please contact us at: LMSPTSA@lovinggood.ptsamail.com
Lovinggood MS PTSA eNews - Love the Bus, Town Hall Meeting, Legislative News
by
WebWiz
on Mon 02 Feb 2009 08:18 PM EST
Lovinggood PTSA eNews! School Bus Industry Encourages Parents and Children to “Love the Bus” School Bus Drivers to be Honored for Valentine’s Day and Throughout February Washington, D.C. (January 27, 2009) – As part of the third annual National Love the Bus program, the American School Bus Council (ASBC) is encouraging parents, students and teachers to thank the men and women who take more than 26 million children safely to schools each school day. Read more at...
District 1 Town Hall Meeting 
District 1 town hall meeting, Commissioner Helen Goreham
7:00 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 12
Stratton Library, 1100 Powder Springs Road, Marietta
For more information, call 770-528-3313 or visit cobbcounty.org/boc/
PTA Takes Action Advocating for every child Georgia PTA’s weekly update on legislative activity – Feb. 1, 2009 The General Assembly has been in session three weeks and has completed ten of the forty days that it will meet in 2009. During the week of Jan. 19-23, the Assembly was in recess so it could hold hearings on the Governor’s proposed 2009 Supplemental Budget and the 2010 Budget. Update: Call to Action – Save our School Nurses The Call to Action to conduct a Popsicle stick/tongue depressor campaign and to call your legislators about funding for school nurses went out two weeks ago and it’s starting to make a difference. Our legislators are hearing you! When GA PTA is at the Capitol we hear comments from many legislators that they are hearing from their constituents and will try to keep the school nurse funding. Keep up the good work. We need to keep the calls and Popsicle sticks coming so our legislators keep that commitment to fund our school nurses. Additional information is available on the Georgia PTA website www.georgiapta.org. If you haven’t called your legislators, their contact info can be found at the bottom of this letter or by using the GA District Lookup under the Officials tab on Capitol Watch. New Legislation to Watch Every week we will report on new legislation and the status of existing legislation critical to you. While school nurses are a big issue, other legislation passed at the Capitol will have as big of an impact on your child, your school, your community and you. If PTA has an official position it will be shown next to the bill number. Please note, if PTA has an established position, a local unit cannot take an opposing position. HR1: OPPOSE Property tax cap that limits the amount property assessment will be increased to no more than 3% annually or the rate of another economic index (like the Consumer Price Index) with a 9% cap over three years. What this means to you: Your school districts are dependent on property tax revenues to fund their portion of education (which is increasing as the state decreases the amount it provides). Combined with the millage rate cap at 20 mills, the school district will be limited in how much money it can raise to fund the local programs, transportation, textbooks, teachers, etc. that it provides for educating your child. HB 143: This guarantees that the Homestead Tax Relief Grant (HTRG) will be funded this year and establishes a formula to determine whether the state will pay for it in any given year. What this means to you: Tax bills went out this year and the HTRG was included. Based on your individual property taxes that grant equated to about $200-300. If the HTRG isn’t covered you’ll receive another tax bill and will have to pay that now. Given the funding requirements proposed in the bill, it isn’t likely that the state will pay the HTRG any time in the next few years so taxes will go up next year. This has been passed by the House. HB 229: SHAPE, Student Health and Physical Education Act. Students in grades 4-12 enrolled in physical education in 2011-12 must have an annual fitness assessment approved by the state board of education during the PE class time. The aggregate results shall be reported to the state board yearly. What this means to you: If your child is in PE, which is required in elementary school and for one semester in high school, he will get assessed on his physical fitness and those results will be aggregated and sent to the state. There is currently no provision to educate parents or the child what that assessment means. Schools can be recognized based on the condition of the children who happen to be enrolled there which schools can't control. Requires elementary schools to actually conduct PE which some aren't doing today. HB 37: Parent Protection Act. Employees with at least six months of service and less than 24 hours of paid leave available on July 1 of any year may take time from work without penalty or discrimination to respond to a summons from their child’s school, to get medical help for any family member, or accompany a family member over age 60 for medical care. The employer may not penalize the employee, although the time off need not be paid time. What this means to you: A parent, under certain circumstances, can get time off to attend a conference or take their child (or parent) to the doctor without the risk of being fired. That time off would not be paid. HB 149: Move on When Ready: Students in 11th and 12th grades may enroll in Georgia public colleges and take Department of Education approved courses that will meet both high school graduation requirements and earn them college credit. Hours earned will not count against HOPE. What this means to you: If a student is ready to attend college and only has a few high school credits remaining to fulfill the high school diploma requirements, (s)he can earn those credits while attending college. Coming soon: School Vouchers. Stay tuned to see what this will mean to you and public education! Key: HR- House Resolution, HB – House Bill, SR – Senate Resolution, SB– Senate Bill Karen Hallacy GA PTA Legislative Chair
The Home of the Silver Hawks Lovinggood PTSA - Contact Us We respect your privacy and will not share any of your information with a third party. If you need to update a mailing or email address please contact us at: LMSPTSA@lovinggood.ptsamail.com
Sunday, February 1
Lovinggood MS PTSA eNews - FCA and LOTL
by
WebWiz
on Sun 01 Feb 2009 11:04 PM EST
Lovinggood PTSA eNews! Hey, Hey, it’s FCA! The student leadership did an amazing job with their skit at FCA Friday morning. If you missed it, go to Youtube.com and check it out. The title of it is “FCA Cry Out to Jesus.”  Don’t forget to send in your bottled water to help us with our preparations for Lovinggood on the Lawn. Next Friday, our speaker will be Jesse Stewart (Mr. Cali’s brother-in-law). You don’t want to miss it!  Remember, Pit Crew is every Thursday at 8:00 a.m. in Mrs. Castleberry’s room. Come join the Crew; we need YOU!
The Home of the Silver Hawks Lovinggood PTSA - Contact Us We respect your privacy and will not share any of your information with a third party. If you need to update a mailing or email address please contact us at: LMSPTSA@lovinggood.ptsamail.com
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