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Scroll down to see information for; Reflections, Environmental Contest, The Texas Clean School Bus Program and Shop and Care. More coming soon!


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REFLECTIONS

WOW!
2008-2009 Reflections Theme

2008-2009 Reflections Program deadlines:

(PTAs must be in good standing and dues must be received or postmarked by Oct. 15th)

Theme: WOW!

Oct. 31st Entries due at Local Level (your PTA school) – recommended deadline

Please advance 20% of entries to next level. Keep in mind - each entry will be

judged within its own level when advancing.

Nov. 30th Council or Area* - If there is no Council, then entries go

from the Local level to the Area level. – recommended deadline

Please advance 10% to the next level.

*Please note that entries will NOT go to both Council and Area, but EITHER to

Council OR to Area (if there is no Council).

Jan. 15th Entries due to State (must be received by Jan. 15th)

Mar. 2nd 24 entries will go to National; results will be received sometime in May.

The progression is: Local – Council – State; OR

Local – Area – State (if there is no Council).

All entries will be judged 3 times before going to National.


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The Texas Clean School Bus Program

Texas PTA Acting Environmental Chair Heather Ashwell-Hair and Area 18 PTA Vice President Ame Pratt attended a press conference on Wednesday, September 17 in Fort Worth regarding the Texas Clean School Bus Program.
The Texas Clean School Bus Program is a comprehensive program designed to improve the health of school children and bus drivers by reducing the emissions of diesel exhaust from school buses.  The program offered by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is designed to award grants for eligible projects that reduce particulate matter from diesel exhaust, educate school district personnel about various options that can improve the school bus fleet and benefit the health of the environment, and educate school district personnel about the emissions and the potential health impacts associated with diesel bus idling, with the goal of eliminating unnecessary idling.  The Texas Clean School Bus Program has 8 million dollars available in the form of grants to help Texas school districts retrofit their school buses.  Funding is available to all public school districts and charter schools in Texas that operate one or more diesel-powered school buses or a transportation system provided by a countywide school district. The grant funds cover the purchase and installation of emission-reduction devices.
 
Texas PTA has made a commitment to educating parents and school district officials about these health risks, utilizing our extensive grassroots communication system to make sure parents know about the hazardous
on-board air quality and the easy solution - the Texas Clean School Bus Program - and encouraging them to ask their school districts to apply for funds.  We have written to superintendents across the state encouraging them to participate in the program.
 
But that's just part of what we've done. A few weeks ago Texas PTA completed the process to become a Supplemental Environmental Projects Administrator for the TCEQ and the state of Texas so that environmental fines may be used to fund Clean School Bus Program projects. Without our commitment to administer the program, these fines could not be utilized for the CSB Program.
 
Texas PTA is proud to be a partner with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to support and promote the Clean School Bus Program. We're proud to commit our time and talent to a program that can make a difference in Texas children's health.  To apply, call the Small Business and Environmental Assistance program at 512-239-3100 or visit our website: www.texascleanschoolbus.org

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Press conference on Wednesday, September 17 in Fort Worth, TX


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ENVIRONMENTAL

I've Got Energy

2008-2009 Environmental Theme

2008 – 2009 Environmental Program deadlines:

Theme: I’ve Got Energy!

Feb. 2, 2009 Local Level – recommended deadline

Mar. 15, 2009 Council or Area* (not both) – recommended deadline

Apr. 15, 2009 State (must be received b April 15th)

*If there is no Council, Local PTA will send entries to Area, and Area will send to State.

Entries will go to EITHER Council OR Area, but not to both. Entries will be judged

twice before going to State. The program ends at the State level.

Grouped by Primary (Pre-K to 2), Intermediate (3 – 5), Middle/Jr. (6 – 8), and Senior levels (9 – 12)

Specifics:

There are 4 categories this year:

1) Print Ad – all grades;

2) Photography – all grades;

3) Public Service Announcement – Audio & Video – grades 6 – 12; and

4) News Article: a) Opinion Editorial (based on facts – persuasive piece, an awareness campaign);

and b) Reported Information (based on facts only)

There is no Newsletter category this year.

There is no Media Art category this year.

There is no Recycled Art Contest this year.


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The Texas PTA Executive Committee just approved the launch of a new program called Shop and Care! The goals are twofold: help PTAs find ways to raise money without straining their volunteer resources and their members’ willingness to give, and also help Texas PTA generate non-dues revenue. Shop and care showcases ways to accomplish a PTA’s financial goals that the PTA leader might not have thought of. Initial offerings include an online mall, an online magazine store, a book, our online dues and donations vendor, and Tara Energy. Please visit: http://www.txpta.org/Shop&Care.html or see below for more information.