Recognition

Best Practices

Do you have a great story to tell about your PTA? Did you have a successful membership campaign or an outstanding parent program? Please tell us about it and you might be featured here on our Talk of Texas Best Practices page! Email your story and photographs to membership@txpta.org!

Texas PTA News

Casey Elementary's Fittest Family Contest
National PTA highlighted Casey Elementary and their Fittiest Family Contest program in their April-May 2012 edition of Our Children.

Corbell PTA’s Wild Walk Promotes Healthy Fundraising and Cultivates Community

When Corbell Elementary opened its doors in 2006 in Frisco, Texas, its newly-formed PTA faced the challenge of implementing a productive fundraiser to get the school off to a great start. A Corbell mom came to the board with the idea of hosting a fun run, where students obtain pledges from friends and family then participate in a festive event full of running, walking, and school spirit. The Wild Walk was born!

Yes, it’s a fun run, but there is definitely lots of healthy competition going on among students and teachers. Every year we change up the prize categories and recognize everything possible...from the most laps run per grade to the most pledges gathered by a student. We also bestow the coveted Golden Shoe Award to the boy and girl who ran the most laps overall. Classes are awarded a popcorn party for 100 percent participation, and the class that raises the most money gets to sit anywhere they choose during lunch. Every child that secures a pledge receives a prize donated by businesses or purchased with sponsorship dollars. Students are given two weeks following the Wild Walk to collect on the pledges they received.

Last year was their most successful year and were able to purchase a much-needed sunshade to cover their playground.

"Every year, our students look forward to the day and enjoy spending it outside while supporting their school. I can’t imagine doing anything else as a fundraiser!" - Michelle Cassano, PTA President

Rock Star Faculty at Ann Richards Middle School PTA

Wanted to share with you what the new Ann Richards PTA has done for the faculty members that join the PTA.

Before the school opened its doors to the students; the faculty and staff were scheduled for a meeting. The PTA President and Vice President bought a rock-n-roll backdrop (can be purchased at a party store or Michaels), went to the meeting, signed up teachers and took their pictures. Many of the teachers did funny poses, one of the teachers even put her sunglasses on and acted like a star being photographed by a paparazzi! Everyone enjoyed taking their pictures. Now, when you walk the hallways of Ann Richards Middle School, you see these great photo signs next to the classrooms, so anyone that passes by knows this teacher is a rock star for being a member of the Ann Richards PTA.

Great job for a new PTA!

Paper Airplane Adventures at E.L. Kent Elementary

On Tuesday, October 11 at 7pm, our goal for the evening was to bring in families for a fun, educational activity-filled event. The front lobby was decorated with hanging paper airplanes and we blared “Top Gun” theme music as families arrived for the evening.

Earlier, we had made examples of various paper airplane designs and placed them on tables along with some instructions and paper. As the families arrived, kids and parents alike immediately gravitated toward the examples and started making some of their own with the provided paper. It was great to see teachers and staff there, too, giving it their best effort!

One of our dads presented a PowerPoint on “how airplanes fly”, followed by a video of early flight failures (that we’ve all seen!). Then the kids and parents started making paper airplanes in earnest for the competition to be followed in the gym.

Once in the gym, students participated in an obstacle course (fly through hula-hoops), as well as the “longest flight” competition for prizes. We hosted about 50 families, upwards of a hundred people. The event was definitely a hit with all who attended – everyone had a great time. But the highlight of the evening was when our principal remarked there were families there that she had never seen at any event, ever. The true definition of a Family Engagement event!

Kent Elementary Teams Up