Children First in Connecticut
Newsletter Award
PAST WINNERS
2001-2002
"Meadowside Express"
REGION III
Meadowside PTA
Milford, CT
Editor:
Kathy Bonnetti
Unit President:
Susan Glennon
"Between the Waves"
REGION IV
Old Greenwich Elementary School PTA
Old Greenwich, CT
Editors:
Suzanne Hegarty, Gina Modica,
Lisa Tebbe
Unit President:
Ashley Crinfield
First Vice-President:
Daniela Bonafed-Chhabra
|
Does your unit distribute and outstanding newsletter?
A PTA newsletter is a vital link between the home and school. It
should bring members into contact with all levels of PTA... Local, Council,
State, and National. It reflects the character of your PTA and gives active
members pride in their unit. A newsletter can also invite new members into
action, and attract more members to meetings.
CT PTA recognizes this vital link and wants to
recognize those outstanding communiqués, and invites units to submit their newsletter for consideration in our annual
Newsletter Award.
EVERY PTA Unit in Connecticut is eligible - be sure to submit yours
for consideration! This is a great time to see how much you have done this year
and thank your PTA volunteers for all their hard work.
Here are rules:
| To be awarded to: |
 | Five (5) PTA's across Connecticut (one (1) PTA
representing each Region) |
|
| Criteria: |
| Recognition to a PTA for creating an outstanding
newsletter informing/communicating to their respective membership of PTA
events and Concerns. |
| Also, promoting the Objects and the Mission of PTA in
an informative format |
|
| What to Enter: |
| For consideration, we ask that you submit to your
Region Director three (3) months of newsletters distributed during
the current school year.
|
|
| Entry Deadline: |
| March 1, 2002 |
|
| Winners: |
| Winners will be recognized at our
102nd Annual Convention, May
10-11 at the Ramada Plaza Hotel, Meriden, CT. |
| Newsletters will be showcased at the CT PTA annual
convention |
| Winners may be asked to share their ideas at the
annual convention |
| Opportunity represents itself for Newsletters to be
shared at the National PTA convention |
| Newsletters will be highlighted in the
CT PTA BULLETIN |
|
Qualities of a Good Newsletter
| PTA President's Note(s)
 | A newsletter provides students with an avenue for
becoming involved |
|
| Communication with Parents
| Opportunity to provide occasional parenting pages) and
other types of information targeting parents. |
|
| Communication with Community
| Always include community in school activities/programs
and budgeting process. |
|
| Principal's comments/submissions
| Full cooperation with administration is absolutely
essential to the success of a PTA unit |
|
| A calendar of events
| Make sure to include State and National PTA dates |
|
| Year-Round membership drive
| Don't stop recruiting members at Open House! |
|
| Information from the Board of Education
| This column provides essential and factual information
for individuals not able to consistently attend board meetings |
|
| Information from the Superintendent |
| Articles of PTA concerns & issues |
| Legislative activities
| Reports on the local, state and national level |
| PTA is the largest children's advocacy group in the world
speaking in behalf of children in congress on the federal level, at the
state legislature in Hartford and on the local level in your community |
|
| A place to thank your volunteers since the last
newsletter. |
| Frequent publication & distribution |
| Creativity |
| Presentation |
| Other Features |
(Your newsletter entry may or may not offer all of the items
listed)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the purpose of a PTA Newsletter?
A. The purpose of a newsletter is to inform. Articles must be objective and
within stated PTA policy. Remember that your newsletter is read by people who
may know little about PTA. Information should always be factual, first-hand
information. Accuracy is important. Also, be relevant. Ask yourself, "Do the
readers really care about this?"
Q: Who is Responsible?
A. A PTA newsletter is the responsibility of the PTA. It is important that
you check with your administrator concerning school policy in regard to the
distribution of the newsletter when sending the newsletter home with children.
When PTA mails the newsletter, the PTA assumes total responsibility for it's
content. It is courtesy to show the newsletter to the principal before printing.
Q. What is the job of an editor?
A. The editor should present information in an interesting manner and
attempt to set a tone that makes the newsletter a good representative of PTA. It
is the editor who assumes responsibility for the paper's appearance, make
editorial changes, and with the president, decides what to print.
Q. How can the president help?
A. The president is responsible for the PTA image. The president and the
editor must work together to assure a successful newsletter. The president
should encourage and direct the editor. Together they determine which articles
are to be included and check the final copy before printing.
Q. Do articles always have to be short?
A. No, always try to mix in short informational items and longer, factual
articles or mini-features. But make sure the longer article merits the space.
Q. Can I use materials received from Connecticut or
National PTA in our newsletter?
A. Anything received in a PTA publication can be reprinted (i.e. Our
Children, CT PTA BULLETIN, state or national mailings, pamphlets/brochures,
etc.) Other sources may require permission.
Gather your newsletters and Good Luck!
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