Welcome!

Special General/Board Meeting May 11th at 7:00 PM Room D110

The purpose of this meeting is to discuss budgetary items.

LISD SEPTSA Fair Postponed

The LISD Special Education PTSA's Special Needs Activities & Resources Fair that was slated for Saturday May 9th has been postponed indefinitely due to Swine Flu and subsequent closure and cancellation of LISD facilities and events for outside use.

We will reschedule the Fair for sometime after May 11th. As soon as we know the new date and time, we will pass those details along and also update the LISD SEPTSA website. Thank you for your patience. Please call (469) 293-6343 or email amy at texasturners dot net if you have any questions.

Texas PTS Scholarships

Texas PTA offers scholarships to high school seniors and teachers/administrators for continuing or higher education. The application deadline is March 1st at www.txpta.org. Once logged into the members' site, you will see the link to the scholarship application.

MHS PTSA Scholarships

Five PTSA Scholarships for $500 each will be available for Marcus 2009 Seniors!

The recipient of a PTSA scholarship must be a 2009 high school graduate and member of the Marcus PTSA, prior to January 1, 2009. Selection is based upon a variety of factors that emphasize merit, not simply academic standing or financial needs. Merit is demonstrated through evidence of motivation, school and community involvement, and a desire to succeed.

An application is included in the December newsletter. Application forms will also be available in the Counsleors office.

The student must be a member of the Marcus PTSA before January 30th, 2009.

2008 PTSA Scholarships for $500 each were awarded to: Hayley Corbitt, Katherine Durrett, Thuy-vy, Leah Horsh and Erik Stoa.

MHS PTSA Newsletter: August-October 2008

Download the current newsletter and get all the scoop:

Read the latest Principal's Letter from Mr. Shafferman.
Read the latest President's Message from Susie Vaughn.
Learn more about what the PTSA Leadership Development Council is and how YOU can participate.
Learn how you can get plugged into the MHS PTSA.
And much, much, more!

Go Marauders!

The AXA Foundation

The AXA Foundation, a Proud National Sponsor of PTA, offers a signature program, AXA Achievementsm, which provides resources that help make college possible: access and advice.

Access: more than $1.3 million a year in scholarships
Advice: a comprehensive resource for information to help students and parents plan for college

On August 25, our 2009 AXA Achievementsm Scholarship in association with U.S. News & World Report launches:

52 scholarships of $10,000 and $25,000 to students across the nation
Application deadline is December 15, 2008

The winners, known as AXA Achievers, are ethnically and economically diverse, but share these qualities:

Ambition and drive
Determination to set and reach goals
Respect for self, family and community
Ability to succeed in college

Graduating high school seniors are encouraged to apply. More information and downloadable applications, which can be filled out online, are available at AXA-Achievement.com.

A key element of AXA's partnership with PTA is AXA's offer of free workshops to PTA units on topics such as planning for college and other financial issues facing families. Visit the AXA website designed exclusively for PTA members, www.axa-achievement.com/PTA, to learn about the workshops that are available, and speak with your local PTA leadership about having a workshop presented to your PTA unit.

Textbook Error Reporting

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has created a program that will allow the public to report errors discovered in textbooks and other adopted instructional materials used in Texas classrooms. This program, set to begin on September 29, 2008, will also provide the public with access to a list of all of the errors discovered.

Students, teachers, parents, and others concerned about the accuracy and quality of textbooks are encouraged to use the email address textbookerrors@tea.state.tx.us to report any errors in fact, misspellings, or other inaccuracies. The TEA will review all reported errors, and list those that are confirmed in the Inventory of Known Textbook Errors posted on the TEA website. For each confirmed error, the TEA will notify both the publisher and each district using the materials, as well as release an announcement via the recently established Textbook Errors mailing list. The TEA will also follow up to ensure that appropriate steps are taken to correct the errors.

The purpose of this program is to ensure that Texans who rely on textbooks to educate and to be educated have the benefit of error-free instructional materials. Posting the known errors to the website will support those who use textbooks by providing relevant and timely information about the reliability of those materials.

To learn more about this program, report an error, or sign up for the Textbook Errors mailing list, please visit http://www.tea.state.tx.us/textbooks/textbookerrors.html.

Tiffanay Waller
Administrative Assistant
Instructional Materials and Educational Technology
Texas Education Agency
512/463-1594
tiffanay dot waller at tea dot state dot tx dot us

Texas PTA: Every Child. One Voice.

PTA is a grassroots organization made up of parents, teachers and others around the state who have a special interest in children, families and schools. PTA membership is as diverse as Texas is in cultures, education levels and parenting skills. By joining a PTA,a member automatically becomes part of the largest child-advocacy organization in the state - over 630,000 strong across Texas.

Studies have proven that membership in PTA provides your child and other children around you with a greater chance of achieving in school. As a PTA member, you are more likely to be an informed, involved parent. These are dangerous times for children. More than ever, it is important for parents to learn ways to keep children safe, trouble free and involved in school. PTA is the best place to gain that knowledge.

PTA's MISSION

The mission of the PTA is three-fold:

To support and speak on behalf of children and youth in the schools, in the community and before governmental bodies and other organizations that make decisions affecting children;
To assist parents in developing the skills they need to raise and protect their children; and
To encourage parent and public involvement in the public schools of this nation.

THE PURPOSE OF PTA

To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, community and place of worship;
To raise the standards of home life;
To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth;
To bring into closer relation the home and the school, that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the education of children and youth;
To develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as will secure for all children and youth the highest advantages in physical, mental, social and spiritual education.

MHS PTSA Links

Other Links

LISD Special Ed PTSA