The month of April is known for its rain showers. As National Volunteer Month, April is also a perfect time to shower thanks on family and community members who are involved in the school and PTA.

• Present a certificate of appreciation to those who have given three hours of their time through PTA Three for Me.
  
  
• Create a Three for Me Wall near the school entrance, and when parents sign up or fulfill commitments, post their names and pictures.
  
  
• Write an article for the school newsletter and local newspaper explaining how the school has benefited from those who dedicated their time this year.
  
  
• Ask local radio stations to donate some airtime to allow you to publicly thank volunteers.
  
  
• Host a special event or dinner just for volunteers. Ask the school, local businesses, and other organizations to help make the evening memorable.

When people are publicly recognized for their contributions, no matter how large or small, they (and others) see how much involvement is valued and are more likely to give even more of their time.

National Volunteer Month should also be a time to reach out to potential new volunteers. Put together an updated list of volunteer and other involvement opportunities, and ask families to participate in any way they can. By providing a variety of ways for families to become involved, you are creating a welcoming environment and laying the foundation for strong family-school partnerships.

This month, shower with thanks those who have given time to help make the school a better place, and shower with opportunities those who are not yet involved.

Kick off the New Year With Campbell's Labels for Education™ program!

The New Year is here and it's time for a fresh start! The Labels for Education program is a wonderful opportunity for parents, schools and the entire community to work together.

Established over 30 years ago, Labels for Education is the longest-running school program of its kind and has provided over $100 million in free merchandise to schools nationwide. Program extensions like Labels for America and Game Plan for Good Health™ help nourish the minds and bodies of children by promoting good nutrition, fun active play, and community spirit. 

Participating is as easy as collecting UPCs and beverage caps from participating Campbell products and redeeming them through the Labels for Education catalog for FREE educational merchandise such as computers, physical education equipment and musical instruments.  Earning points is easier than ever because you no longer need to clip the front of the label – just the UPC code! And now more than 150 Campbell products are worth 5 points!  

Ensure your school is registered with Labels for Education and help make a difference in your community in the new year!

To register visit labelsforeducation.com or call 1-800-424-5331.

PTA programs are continuously evaluated by PTA staff in order to make sure they reflect current research and are effective at the local level. Part of the evaluation process is receiving feedback from the members and leader —where the program impacts local communities

As a result of feedback from users of the Parent Involvement Schools of Excellence Certification Program, the followingchange has been made: A Certificate of Excellence will no longer be awarded solely based on the parent survey results.This change is being made to incorporate the need for a written parent involvement plan.

The Parent Involvement Schools of Excellence Certification program provides schools with tools to assess and enhance their commitment to parent involvement based on the National Standards for Family-School Partnerships. This recognition attests to schools working to involve parents in meaningful ways in the school community, and is mark of distinction for those schools striving to go beyond expectations to better children’s education.

Following this revamp, a school will be awarded a Certificate of Excellence if they meet the following criteria: 

• Show how the parent survey results are reflected in the parent involvement plan.
• Provide evidence of current parent involvement programs and activities.
• Submit a completed application packet:
  1. A copy of the online registration form,
  2. A completed application form,
  3. A copy of the parent involvement plan,
  4. A copy of the online survey results,
  5. No more than two pieces of supporting documentation (evidence of current parent involvement programs and activities), and
  6. A check for $100 (PTA school); $175 (non-PTA).

A Recognition of Commitment Certificate will be awarded if participants do not show how the parent survey results are reflected in the parent involvement plan.  

If you have any questions about the Parent Involvement Schools of Excellence Certification Program please send an e-mail to mmeredith@pta.org.

Chicago Parents Gather at Field Museum for PTA Parent Summit

We all know as PTA leaders that when parents are involved, students succeed. No matter their socioeconomic status. That's why on Saturday, March 8 Chicago PTA parents and families joined hundreds of other parents at Chicago's Field Museum for the first ever Chicago PTA Parent Summit. A fun day for kids, but more importantly, a day for parents and families to see what it means to be involved so that their child succeeds… and it was all free!

PTA, in partnership with other Chicago community organizations, provided parents with valuable tools, resources, and contacts to help them help their children succeed. The event included a panel discussion with community experts including representatives from the Illinois Family Partnership, Illinois Parent Information Center, Healthy Schools Campaign, Black Star Project, and many others. Parents were invited to bring their children to the event and children in attendance were chaperoned on a tour of the museum and participated in fun activities.

Studies show that what families do to support literacy in the home is more important to student success than family income or parents' level of education. Reading aloud and listening to others read aloud helps strengthen reading literacy—a key ingredient for academic success. Without reading literacy, students are likely to struggle in other subject areas and in life.

As part of our continuing effort to promote literacy development in the home and at school, PTA is supporting several national reading events in the coming months.

• Drop Everything and Read (D.E.A.R.) Day, April 12

Keep an eye on this newsletter for planning tips for each of these events, and join schools, families, and communities across the country in promoting reading and promoting student success.