Campbell High School PTSA eNews 2/19/11
CHS PTSA
PTSA Nominating Committee Elected
At its February 10 general membership meeting, the Campbell PTSA held an election of the 2011 Nominating Committee. The following people were elected to serve on the committee: Theda Akigbogun, JoAnn Fant, Ana Hogan, Paula Houston, Pamela Johnson, Shena Lamusta (temporary chairperson), and Dr. Grant Rivera. The Nominating Committee will propose a slate of PTSA officers for the 2011-2012 school year. The general membership will vote on the slate at the last PTSA meeting of the year. All positions are open and we’d love to hear from you if you’re interested in a PTSA leadership position. Executive Board Positions include: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The committee members can be contacted via email at chsptsa@att.net.
Legislation and Advocacy
GA PTA – Week 5 Legislative Report (Wrap up February 11, 2011)
(From: Otha Thornton – GA PTA Legislative Chairperson)
Weekly Advocacy Action Item(s):
P – Pre K E – Elementary M – Middle H – High school
1. (P,E,M,H) 2011 amended budget passed through House this past week. It is headed to Senate this week. Call your Legislators along with Senators Heath and Senator Fran Millar this week and express your support to maintain funding for nurses. All information and phone numbers in Capitol Watch. Inform your Principals and School Board Members again about funding for school nurses. Questions to your school leaders should include, but not limited t7o: What is our
school’s plan to possibly operate without a nurse? What will be the liability of the school if teachers have to store, monitor, and administer prescription drugs to child? What is our plan to prevent cuts?
2. (P,E,M,H) Sign up for PTA Day at the Capitol Advance Registration $35 on and before 18 February 2011. On 19 February – 2 March 2011 costs will be $50
3. Georgia Legislation Week in Review – Focuses on “Race to the Top” overview this week
Information
We had a fantastic week at the Capitol for our students this week. We had over 300 people at Student Advocacy Day (280 students) primarily from the Atlanta metro area. We had a couple of students from as far away as Savannah (Chatham). The Legislative Team did an outstanding job in planning and executing this event. We shared information with the students on the legislative process and gave them an opportunity to share their views on current issues. They did a superb job. We highly encourage students from all over the state of Georgia to attend this annual event. So, we are now, on to final preparations for PTA Day at the Capitol.
The immigration bill, HB 87, committee meetings over the last two weeks were standing room only events. This bill is seeking to implement immigration laws through stricter enforcement of E-Verify system, creating new criminal offenses (namely aiding, harboring, transporting, and shielding unauthorized or undocumented aliens (see note below). There were a couple of dozen groups providing testimony for and against this bill. PTA’s opposes HB 87. This opposition is due to the violation of the children’s right to a public education. The children have no say in the parent’s decision on transporting them here to the United States. I will continue to cover and keep you updated.
*note, I am using the correct federal language for the commonly used term, illegal alien
Budget- HB 77, 2011 Amended budget passed in House this week. It is expected to go through Senate this week. A $1.09 million cut in nurse funding recommended, a 10% cut, higher than average for any agency. It will be just under $25 million for FY12. New money was provided for commission charter schools opened in fall 2010 for training and experience, ($1.227 million). Traditional public schools do not get training and experience for teachers in the midyear budget. Since the Georgia Supreme Court case pending against commission charter schools is currently awaiting decision, this may be an area to recommend to your representatives to cut in order to provide funding for nurses. Pending decision on the commission charter schools, they may possibly be judged unconstitutional and may have to close their doors.
Working Legislative Priorities/Bills Filed
Priority – SUPPORT efforts to increase the graduation rate in Georgia through mandatory attendance until graduation or age 18, early identification of potential dropouts, improved instructional programs for at-risk students, expanded counseling and guidance services, job placement and work experience programs, immediate follow-up of why individual students drop out.
* SB 14, Jackson – 2 SUPPORT S.Education & Youth
Raises the age of mandatory school attendance to 17, from 16. Also raises the age adult literacy programs may be offered toward a GED to those 17 and older, from age 16. PTA believes students should remain in school until they have graduated from high school or are still a minor, and support efforts that raise mandatory school ages. We have two additional bills this week for compulsory attendance change listed below:
*SB 43, James – 35 SUPPORT S.Education & Youth
Compulsory school ages are changed to 5th birthday through 17th birthday unless the student has completed requirements for a high school diploma. Currently, students must attend school from the sixth through the 16th birthdays.
*SB 49, Albers – 56 SUPPORT S.Education & Youth
Compulsory school ages are changed to 6th birthday through 16 years and 6 months unless the student has completed requirements for a high school diploma. Currently, students must attend school from the sixth through the 16th birthdays.
PTA believes students who are still minors, age 18, should be in school unless they have graduated from high school. We support bills which head in that direction.
Priority – SUPPORT the right of local boards of education to manage and control local public schools (in matters such as selection of instructional materials, hiring of personnel, millage rate, and school calendar) as they seek to improve the quality of education for all students and are sensitive to differences in educational needs of children and youth.
Priority – SUPPORT state funding for a full time licensed nurse in every school Current $1.09 million dollar cut in nurses passed through the House. We expect the vote from Senate on Wednesday. Don’t forget to call to express your concerns.
Campbell High School
From the Counseling Department
Campbell High School's counseling department received national recognition as a
Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) for 2011. The RAMP award is given to exemplary comprehensive, data-driven school counseling programs around the nation. RAMP status is good for three years and programs are asked to re-apply every third year to show how their school counseling services address the needs of all students and impact student achievement, behavior, and/or attendance in the school. Campbell's school counseling department was the first in Cobb and the first high school in Georgia to receive this national recognition in 2008, and it is now the first in Cobb and the first high school in Georgia to receive this recognition twice. Congratulations on a job well done!
Epic Empowerment will host a college tour starting Tuesday, April 5-8, 2011. The tour includes visits to: Grambling State University, Southern University, Louisiana State University and Xavier University. The cost is $375 per student. Registration forms are available in the school counseling office. Deadline: Friday, March 18, 2011. Visit: www.epicempowerment.com for more information.
The following scholarships are available for seniors only:
Cobb County Public Schools Educational Foundation - is accepting applications for their Academic Scholarship Program. Each year, two students are selected from CHS to receive the $1,000 scholarship. Interested students must attach a letter of recommendation, transcript, evidence of extracurricular or community activities, demonstration of leadership role/s, and academic success in coursework for the technology career and/or college preparatory curriculum. Applications can be downloaded at: www.cobbeducationalfoundation.org.
Deadline: Monday, February 28, 2011.
Delmar Gardens of Smyrna - is accepting applications for their 2011 scholarship program. Interested students must meet the following requirements: Be scheduled to enroll in a university in the fall or proof of acceptance letter, be living in Cobb County and you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to Campbell High School students.
Deadline: Monday, March 21, 2011.
The CHS PTSA - is accepting applications for their Maria Vandermey Scholarship. Interested students must have attended CHS for at least two years, be actively involved in school clubs/activities, and parent and/or student must be an active member of Campbell’s PTSA. Transcript, essay and letters of recommendation are required. Applications are available in the school counseling office. Deadline: Monday, March 28, 2011.
Smyrna Golden K - is accepting applications for the Kiwanis Foundation Memorial Scholarship Program. They are looking for a Campbell High School student with a history of hard work, leadership, service to others, and who is overcoming or has overcome adversity. To qualify, you must have an acceptance letter from a college/university. Smyrna Golden K will offer a $1,000 a year (for up to four years) scholarship to the winner. An essay is required. Please see Mrs. Wright for application and additional information.
Deadline: Friday, April 8, 2011.
The 411 from Your School Social Worker
As you may know, several of the elementary and middle schools in our area require students to wear uniforms to school. Please consider donating any of your elementary and middle age sized uniform type clothing. This clothing would be - solid color polo shirts - usually in basic colors: red, blue, white; solid colored pants (usually blue or khaki); and solid colored skirts (usually blue or khaki). All donations can be brought to the Campbell HS social worker’s office from now until the end of the school year. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our school social worker, Ana Murphy (ana.murphy@cobbk12.org).
Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter
Campbell High School is now staying connected with students and families through social networking. You can find Campbell High School on FACEBOOK here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Official-Campbell-High-School-News-and-Information/155774011138900. You can also follow Campbell High School on TWITTER here: http://twitter.com/campbellhs.
Yearbook Sales
Buy your 2010-2011 yearbook NOW! Prices are increasing to $85 on Tuesday, February 1 and then again to $100.00 on Tuesday, March 1. The last day to submit your senior ad is this Friday, February 4. A full page is $250.00, 1/2 page is $200.00, 1/4 page $100.00 and 1/8 page is $50.00. Buy EPIC now, once their gone, they're gone!
Cobb County School District (CCSD)
Cobb County Board of Education Approves Aug. 15 Calendar
At its Feb. 17, 2011 meeting, the Cobb County Board of Education voted 4-3 to approve the Aug. 15 start date calendar. The approved calendar can be found here:
http://www.cobbk12.org/board/2011-2012_Aug15Start.pdf. The summary report of the calendar survey data can be found here: http://bit.ly/gDNzUX.
