2022 Annual Meeting and Convention – Awards

March 11, 2022 by Stephanie Gray

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Virtual Events Run from Monday, April 4^th to Thursday, April 7^th

In-person or Virtual Session Saturday, April 9^th

Awards to be presented at the Massachusetts PTA VIRTUAL Annual Convention, April 9, 2022

Leadership Awards –

Application online is required

Nominations need to be submitted online to the Massachusetts PTA by Saturday, March 26, 2022 in order for the nominee to be awarded at the IN PERSON Awards Luncheon Celebration on Saturday, April 9, 2022 at the John Carver Inn in Plymouth, MA.

The Barbara Bailey Membership Award

Barbara Bailey was president of Massachusetts PTA in the early 1990’s. During her term (and beyond!), she was able to help units manage memberships, bylaws, and conflicts. To recognize her continued dedication to units across the state, we are honored to name this award after her. Describe a successful membership drive that your unit completed during the past year.

The Carol Woodbury Leadership Award

Carol Woodbury was the president of the Massachusetts PTA from 1999-2002. During her term, she inspired units across the state to work together and form positive relationships with school administrations and the community. Carol continues to work on behalf of students, parents and teachers in Massachusetts where she works as a superintendent. Write a brief description of an inspiring leader in your local unit. Tell us what makes that person inspiring and how it made a difference in your school/community.

Spirit of PTA Award

This award recognizes volunteers who promote and encourage the essence of PTA in their communities…every Child. one Voice. Write a short essay describing someone you feel portrays the true essence of PTA. Members must be registered to accept the award. This award is open to a variety of leadership roles that your unit feels a member is deserving of recognition: newsletter, event planning, public relations, fundraising, etc. Your local dues can cover any convention expenses, as well.

Outstanding Advocate Award

[3 separate awards will be given- 1st for Student Advocate; 2nd for Member Advocate and 3rd for a Local Unit]

This award is given to a student, PTA member and Local Unit on the Local Unit level who has made significant contributions through Leadership/Service. In a short essay, describe how this person or unit exemplifies and stands out among others, how they adopted and carried out the mission of the PTA and volunteered their time to bring this to fruition.

Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award

[3 separate awards will be given- 1st for elementary; 2nd for middle school and 3rd for high school]

This award is to recognize a school teacher who is supportive, helpful, and personally involved in the PTA.

Outstanding Vice Principal of the Year Award

[3 separate awards will be given- 1st for elementary; 2nd for middle school and 3rd for high school]

This award is to recognize a school vice principal who is supportive, helpful, and personally involved in the PTA.

Outstanding Principal of the Year Award

[3 separate awards will be given- 1st for elementary; 2nd for middle school and 3rd for high school]

This award is to recognize a school principal who is supportive, helpful, and personally involved in the PTA.

Outstanding Superintendent of the Year Award

This award is to recognize a school district superintendent who is supportive, helpful, and personally involved in the PTA.

Outstanding Counselor of the Year Award

This award is to recognize a school counselor who is supportive, helpful, and embodies the mission of PTA.

Unsung Hero Award

This Unsung Hero has gone above and beyond the call of duty. This is a special person who has done extra special things for those in need. This special person has done good work without receiving or expecting praise and recognition. In a short essay, describe how this person exemplifies and stands out among others, how they adopted and carried out the mission of the PTA. This person could be: ESP’s (Educational Support Professional), School Nurses, Crossing Guards, Guardians, Grandparents, Cafeteria Personal, Bus Drivers, School Bus Monitors, Custodian/Maintenance Personal, Lunch/Recess Monitors, etc.

Spotlight on Male Engagement Award

This award rewards those units who focus on ways to engage the fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, uncles, mentors, business partners, etc. In a short essay, describe how your PTA has utilized or involved fathers in your school or community. Attach fliers/news articles/screenshots that are related.

Newsletter/ Communications (Examples of Publication Required)

Do you have a great way of keeping your PTA community informed? Whether it is newsletters that are sent home in a backpack, emails or a website that helps members keep up-to-date with your PTA happenings, show us how you communicate. Submit an example of your communication.

Community Membership Award

In order to bring into closer relations the school and community, i.e., places of worship, businesses, community leaders, etc., this award will be given to those PTAs that recruit twenty-five members from the community in addition to parents who also serve in community leadership positions.

Literacy Award

This Award is given to PTA units that promote literacy among students, families and the community; support the Media Center with activities that help make students better readers, writers and thinkers; and advance the ideals of learning through the written word.

General Membership Awards – No application needed:

Golden Apple Award – Units with 100% membership of full-time certified teachers.
One Voice for Every Child Award – Membership equal to or greater than number of students enrolled in the school.
Massachusetts Honor Roll – Units with membership equal to or greater than 60% of students enrolled in the school.
Challenge Award – Units with 5% membership increase over the previous year’s membership total.
Making a Difference Award – Units with at least a 15% member increase over the previous year’s membership total.

Win gift cards for your unit!

All units which submit their dues and membership lists by November 15, will be placed in a drawing for $50 gift card. Two units will be selected.

The following will be determined and awarded based on dues/membership submissions received by December 15, 2021

First unit to submit:

a 15 member increase over last year’s total membership will receive a $25 gift card*

a 25 member increase over last year’s total membership will receive a $50 gift card*

a 30 member increase over last year’s total membership will receive a $75 gift card*

*Units will receive a TD Bank Visa Gift Card!

Simply and Successfully Sweet: Volunteer Awards
Application online is required

Online applications are due by Saturday, March 26, 2022.

PTA is a volunteer driven organization. To provide all of the amazing programs and events a local PTA may provide for their community it requires many dedicated volunteers. To encourage and recognize the outstanding work of volunteers, Massachusetts State PTA (MA PTA) provides multiple individual recognition awards that local PTAs may choose to award to deserving volunteers. Local PTAs develop their own timeline for recognizing volunteers, nomination form(s), and rubric for determining eligibility. Each unit can submit up to 8 nominations, 1 for each candy listed below.

Nominations need to be submitted to the Massachusetts PTA by Saturday, March 26, 2022 in order for the nominee to be awarded at the IN PERSON Awards Luncheon Celebration on Saturday, April 9, 2022 at the John Carver Inn in Plymouth, MA. Each winner will receive a certificate and the corresponding candy for their award.

Starburst- You always burst with energy and excitement

Pay Day- You always keep us on budget

Crunch- You are always help others when they are in a crunch

KitKat- You are always helpful and give others a break

Pop Rocks- You rock our world!

3 Musketeers- You are loyal and a good friend

Extra- You are a hard worker and go the extra mile

Rolo- You always roll with the punches

Please check back or contact info@masspta.org for more information about scheduled events.

2022 Annual Meeting and Convention – Agenda

March 11, 2022 by Stephanie Gray

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Virtual Events Run from Monday, April 4^th to Thursday, April 7^th

In-person or Virtual Session Saturday, April 9^th

MA PTA is proud to announce this years event is $20.00 to all who wish to attend the event. Award recipients will receive an email detailing how to register themselves.

Please check back or contact convention@masspta.org for more information about scheduled events.

Tentative Schedule-

Monday, April 4, 2022
- 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm VIRTUAL- Minding Your Mind- Elizabeth O’Neil
Wednesday, April 6, 2022
- 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm VIRTUAL-Special Education Program- Christopher Gusman
Thursday, April 7, 2022
- 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm VIRTUAL- Be Mental Health Champions in Your Community: How to Run PTA Healthy Minds Programming- Shaton Berry
Saturday, April 9, 2022 Annual Meeting Day (IN PERSON)
- 10:00 am – 10:30 am Registration
- 10:30 am – 12:30 pm Annual Meeting & Awards
  - Awards
  - Elections (Slated Candidates)
  - Installation of Officers
- 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm Lunch with Keynote Speaker
- 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm Networking/Round Tables

2022 Annual Meeting and Convention

March 11, 2022 by Stephanie Gray

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Virtual Events Run from Monday, April 4^th to Thursday, April 7^th

In-person or Virtual Session Saturday, April 9^th

PTA has a long and proud history. Join us for our virtual workshops April 4-7, 2022 and either virtually or in person on April 9, 2022 at the John Carver Inn in Plymouth, MA as we celebrate that history and look forward to the challenges and opportunities of the future. Meet our National PTA Representative, Yvonne Johnson, President Elect of National PTA!

We have an exciting schedule of virtual sessions on the topics that you have requested from our Special Education Committee, Health Safety and Wellness Committee, and National PTA. This week long opportunity to engage and learn how to support our children, families, and communities culminates in our Annual Meeting and Awards Celebration on Saturday.

MA PTA is proud to announce this years event is $20.00 to all who wish to attend the event. Award recipients will receive an email detailing how to register themselves.

Host Facility

John Carver Inn and Spa – Plymouth, MA is the official facility for the 2022 MA PTA Convention – I Will Change The World By…

John Carver Inn and Spa -Plymouth

25 Summer St, Suite #1
Plymouth, MA 02360

508-746-7100

Transportation

Driving Directions

From the North

Take Route 3 South to exit 6A (Route 44)
Turn right off the ramp and follow to the second traffic light
Turn right (Route 3A) and follow to the next traffic light
Turn right onto Leyden Street
The road immediately turns to the left, the John Carver Inn is on the right

From Logan International Airport

Take The Callahan Tunnel toward Boston; stay right through the tunnel
Follow the signs to Route 93 South and loop around under the highway to the on-ramp to Cape Cod/South Shore
Follow Route 93 South for approximately 8 miles. Get into the left lane and exit left onto Route 3 South
Follow Route 3 South to exit 6A (Route 44)
Turn right off the ramp onto Route 44 East
Follow to the second traffic light and turn right onto Route 3A
Follow Route 3A to the next traffic light and turn right onto Leyden Street
The road immediately turns to the left, the John Carver Inn is on the right

From the Cape

Take Route 6 West to the Sagamore Bridge – cross over bridge
Follow Route 3 North to exit 6
Take exit 6 and bear right onto Route 44 East
Follow to traffic light and turn right onto Route 3A
Follow Route 3A to the next traffic light and turn right onto Leyden Street
The road immediately turns to the left, the John Carver Inn is on the right

Please check back or contact convention@masspta.org for more information about scheduled events.

Tentative Schedule-

Monday, April 4, 2022
- 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm VIRTUAL- Minding Your Mind- Elizabeth O’Neil
Wednesday, April 6, 2022
- 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm VIRTUAL- Special Education Program- Christopher Gusman
Thursday, April 7, 2022
- 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm VIRTUAL- Be Mental Health Champions in Your Community: How to Run PTA Healthy Minds Programming – Shaton Berry
Saturday, April 9, 2022 Annual Meeting
- 10:00 am – 10:30 am Registration
- 10:30 am – 12:30 pm Annual Meeting & Awards Ceremony
  - Awards
  - Elections (Slated Candidates)
  - Installation of Officers
- 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm Lunch with Keynote Speaker
- 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm Networking/Round Tables

2022 Health Safety and Wellness Webinar Series

January 20, 2022 by Stephanie Gray

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We would like to thank our partner, the Massachusetts Teachers Association, for the grant that funds this series.

This two part webinar series by acclaimed Author and Speaker, Karen Gross, addresses how we, parents and educators, can work with our children and students to deal with mental health issues from trauma, anxiety, depression and fear. In addition to the educational webinar, Karen Gross, is including a complimentary copy of her book and written material in pdf format.

Webinar Session 2 March 7, 2022 Zoom Event Time: 7:00 pm. – 8:00 pm (ET)

The second session will focus on books/ poems/ stories written for older students (middle and beginning high school). Attendees will learn about a host of collateral activities that can be used to augment the power of the written word. These include the student creation of games, songs, dances; these works also enable research and discussion between students and parents/teachers. Written words are a profound launch pad and the topics within them enable students (even for non-readers) to address their feelings, their creativity and their problem solving skills, all of which are impaired by trauma. For the disengaged older student, struggling with the continuation of the Pandemic and the ways in which it impedes their freedom, books/ poems/ stories can help us travel within our minds and with our friends.

Webinar Session 1 Feb. 7, 2022 Zoom Event Time: 7:00 pm. – 8:00 pm (ET)

Title: How Reading Trauma Sensitive Children’s Books to and with Students Helps Them Thrive
The first of two sessions (one can enroll in one or both) will focus on trauma sensitive books for younger students (Grades K — 6). In addition to reading a story written by Karen Gross, participants will learn the “layer-cake” approach to trauma sensitive reading. In addition to the story itself, children’s books can serve as launch pads for drawing, dancing, design, dilemma solving and discourse (the 5 D’s). Concrete examples will be provided and demonstrated; parents and educators can take these strategies home and use them immediately with the PDF of the book they receive upon registration. In difficult times, reading to, with and by children takes on added significance.

Fee for Webinars:

You may attend one or both sessions. A single webinar is $10.00 or both for $15.00. If any PTA member feels the cost of attendance is a hardship please contact health@masspta.org for information and assistance.

2021 Health Summit Sessions Recordings

November 16, 2021 by Stephanie Gray

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Recordings of the 2021 Health Summit Sessions

Massachusetts PTA is proud to have brought to you such a robust program in our 2021 Health Summit. As a virtual summit we were able to record many of the workshop sessions so that you can revisit a session or if you were unable to attend one you can at your leisure. As some of the material present is subject to copywrite, we were not able to record all of the sessions. Below you will see the list of sessions and if we were able to record that session a link to the recording will be listed for you.

Session A Workshops

The 3D Approach: Strategies for Helping Parents and Educators Improve the Mental Wellbeing of their Children/Students

– click here for replay

In this workshop, Karen Gross will provide some concrete strategies that can be deployed in homes and schools that will provide the mental wellness of children/students exposed to trauma. The title captures the essence of this workshop: we have to add a new 3D lens to the way we operate so we can better see who our students actually are. Only then can we help them move forward in ways that are grounded in reality. There will be concrete takeaways that parents and educators can adopt to their own home/school.

presented by Karen Gross

Coping Skills for Current Times: Supporting Mental Health of K-6 Youth – per request by the presenter this session is not available for replay

Join Linda for an engaging workshop about supporting children grades K-6 in developing coping skills for the current times. With the increase in anxiety, depression, loneliness, and fear children often turn inward or act out to manage their mental health. Linda will provide you with a framework to understand these responses, share the most common emotional needs and behaviors, and provide strategies for supporting a child’s mental health and wellness. Interactive Q&A to follow.

presented by Linda Price

Alcohol, Cannabis & Nicotine: Changes to Youth Use During Pandemic

click here for replay

During her workshop, Sharon will briefly review the neurobiology of alcohol and cannabis, and then discuss changes to adolescent substance use during the pandemic.

presented by Dr. Sharon Levy

Fostering Resilience

click here for replay

As mental health issues continue to plague our youth, it has become a primary goal to provide children tools to overcome adversity. Resilience is the quality needed most when facing life’s challenges, it can be learned and will grow with practice. This workshop will discuss specific ways we can coach children and teens to be more effective and resilient. Together we will review strategies/fun activities to improve sense of self connections with others.

presented by Jennifer Moitoso

Supporting Students Who Experience Anxiety

click here for replay

Anxiety is a common mental health challenge among children and adolescents- in fact, one in four teens will experience problems with anxiety at some point. Especially in light of an anxiety-producing worldwide pandemic, classroom teachers may wonder what they can do to recognize and understand anxiety, and to provide active coping mechanisms for students experiencing anxiety. This training will walk participants through the symptoms of anxiety, seek to dispel common myths about it, and offer a range of strategies for supporting students experiencing anxiety in the classroom. Participants will also have the chance to reflect on what they learn and apply their understanding to sample situations.

presented by John Crocker

GBPFLAG – LGBTQ+ Community Support

click here for replay

Learn some of the key terms and concepts surrounding LGBTQ+ identities and begin to understand the importance of creating more inclusive and affirming learning and living environments. Hear directly from a parent of two transgender children about navigating the educational system.

presented by René Rives

Teaching in Color: Part I – per request by the presenter this session is not available for replay

In the two part presentation, Jennifer Hedrington and Abdel Supulveda will take us on a journey from looking at the state of the question in education to assessing our students experiences in order to create a system rooted in equity, love and hope.

presented by Abdel Sepulveda & Jennifer Hedrington

Vaccines Work: How We Can Spread the Message – per request by the presenter this session is not available for replay

Dr. Rick Moriarty will discuss life before vaccines, how vaccines were developed and are monitored, and how vaccines have resulted in the reduction/elimination of vaccine preventable diseases.

David Martin from the Massachusetts Health Council will follow Dr. Moriarty, discussing how you can become a vaccine ambassador by starting a student health club in your schools. The session will end with Q&A .

presented by Richard Moriarty, MD & David Martin

Rising Through Adversity

click here for replay

Today most people hear the words diversity and think color. Diversity comes in so many different ways. Including Rising through Diversity is presented by Jenn Johnson with follow up discussion with the diversity
panel presenters. Thursday, March 13 2020 at11Pm,the residents in the state of Michigan collectively
learned that we would shut down. The enemy was not just global contagion that would wreak havoc
through our communities. The heroes were and remain those who in the face of adversity, rose like a
phoenix for their fellow human beings.

presented by Amy Arness, Candy Jo Bracken, Erik Champy, Jennifer Johnson, Anna King, MJ Rodriguez and Juan San Miguel

Spark Kindness and Building Healthy & Connected Community

click here for replay

SPARK Kindness, Inc. is a Massachusetts based nonprofit with more than 8,000 members and the mission of supporting healthy, resilient, inclusive and connected youth and families. SPARK’s founder, Christine Fortune-Guthery, will discuss the history of the organization, how she became an “accidental” parent/community organizer, and SPARK’s work to promote community, connection, and emotional health during the pandemic and beyond. Questions are welcome!

presented by Christine Fortune-Guthery

Session B (runs from 11:15 am to 12:15 pm)

From Perfect to Purpose: A student’s struggle with anxiety, perfectionism, and substance use

– per request by the presenter this session is not available for replay

From an early age, Elizabeth thought her purpose in life was to be perfect. Surrounded by chaos and chronic illness, she thought she needed to appear happy, healthy, and high-achieving, but underneath she was struggling with anxiety, disordered eating, excessive exercise, and suicidality. Elizabeth shares her story to help adults better understand the inner lives of youth, especially those who look like they have it all. Q&A to follow. For audiences 12yrs+.

presented by Elizabeth O’Neill

Coping Skills for Current Times: Supporting Mental Health of K-6 Youth

– per request by the presenter this session is not available for replay

presented by Linda Price