Pictured left to right at the District celebration event:
Robin Mansur, Christine Henkes, Beck Junior High Principal Carra Daniels, Beck Junior High Volunteer of the Year Claudina Lo Valvo, Beck Junior High Assistant Principal Dan DeYoung, Beck Junior High PTA President (2015-2017) Anna Marsh, and Beck Junior High PTA President-Elect (2017-2018) Rachel Shaffer. (Image courtesy of Beck Junior High PTA).
Contributing to your child’s PTA is essential to help the educational leadership team move forward in technology and resources and to help children get the most from their classes. Parents and other caregivers give in a variety of ways as volunteers, donors for projects and events, and as resources for the school administration. In other words, PTA isn’t just one big “party planning” group. Strategic decisions are made with the cash and volunteer investments you make. On behalf of the many PTA associations in the community, thank you and please don’t stop!
A few highlights from Katy ISD’s Beck Junior High’s PTA include:
First, Beck’s PTA VIPS Chair Claudina Lo Valvo was recently recognized at the Katy ISD District celebration of “Volunteers of the Year” as Beck Junior High’s “Volunteer of the Year”. And, yet the competition was stiff because Beck also honored nominees Audralyn Allen, Christine Henkes, Anna Marsh, Fiona McKay, Carolyn Pack and Rachel Shaffer. The association also awarded Lifetime PTA Membership Awards to Carrie Gay, Lori Schusterman, and Kevin Weber. Further, it awarded a PTA Extended Service Award to Katy ISD’s School Board President, Rebecca Fox.
In case you wondered how your dollars are utilized every year, the bulk of approximately $30,000 from the past two years at Beck’s PTA was spent on items such as:
Outside speakers; Faculty PTA Grants awarded; Poetry Slam; International Festival; Career Day; Interactive Texas History Presentation; Teacher Continuing Education Scholarships; Faculty, Bus Driver and Custodian Appreciation; Volunteer Welcome Event; Grow Labs for indoor Science gardens/experiements; Wireless Thermometers for Science experiements; Costumes for Social Studies (history curriculum reinactments); Document Cameras; Stand Up Desks for Special Education Classrooms; Girls PE Workout Mats; PE Tennis Rackets; Music DVD/CD/VHS Players for Orchestra; Practice Speaker for Choir; Atlas sets;
Dictionary and Thesaurus for classrooms (for occasions when Technology is not allowed);Literacy Library; SmartBoards; iPads; Charging cart and chargers for iPads; White Boards and Expo Markers; PTA Commissioned Bulldog Mural off main hall; Training Books for all teachers on campus; USA and TX Flag replacement; Partitions for JCAP classrooms; Library Furniture purchase assistance; Registration for teachers to attend/present at the TexasASCD Conference; 20th anniversary Commissioned Quilt and Curtain Rod (Beck 8th grade class of 2016 Legacy Gift); Complete Sound System for Beck Café Stage Concerts/Performances and more.
Third, Beck’s 8th Grade Party that took place recently was a great success. Why? With the help of community sponsors, donors and amazing volunteers, more than three hundred 8th graders had age-appropriate fun at their annual rite of passage event. Even better? The event expenses and income were managed in such a way that the 8th Grade Legacy Gift to the school was voted and approved by General Membership for the purchase of a much desired campus Golf Cart for the administration.
Finally, as the baton passes from outgoing Beck PTA President Anna Marsh (2015-2016 and 2016-2017) to President-Elect President Rachel Shaffer (2017-2018) and other outgoing and incoming Board members, we encourage you to stay involved in your PTA. Do what you can when you can to stay engaged in the life of your junior high student this next year because IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR CHILDREN.