• Educate families about the school system and how to collaborate with school staff and administrators to improve student learning and overall well-being;
• Navigate the school system and champion school improvements; and
• Link families to community resources that will support student learning and overall well-being

                                   A Word from our Sponsors!

Snacking Sense For You and Your Family…

by Shaye Arluk, McDonald's Nurtriional Consultant

Snacking has become a favorite American past time. Most American adults snack every day, and children are snacking between 4-10 times a day!  As the prevalence of snacking increases, the medical community is seeing an increase in excessive calorie and fat in children’s diets and a decrease in calcium, a critical nutrient for children.  However, smaller meals like snacks can be very beneficial.  They have the potential to provide the body with energy and nutrients needed after playing, exercising or fueling the body between meals to help maintain concentration and prevent poor behavior. 

Yet, poor snack choices can slow the body down and potentially cause excess weight gain.  Studies have shown that both adult and children are mainly snacking for non-hunger reasons: boredom, stress, fatigue, sadness, etc.  When you choose snacks when you are not truly hungry, the human body tends to gravitate towards empty calories and large quantities. Children’s snacks should be limited 300 calories or less per snack including their beverage calories.  The snacking habits a child sets up in their life now will influence what they eat in their adult life, so snacking smart is important!

Liquid snacks in the form of real fruit smoothies and fat-free chocolate milk can be an excellent snack for children that will give them the calcium, vitamins, minerals, and protein instead of the empty calories found in sugar sweetened beverages and fruit drinks.

Perfect snack choices combine lean protein sources and whole grain carbohydrates or fiber rich foods.  Examples of good nutrient dense snacks include dairy snacks like low fat yogurt with granola, and fresh fruit, vegetable snacks like baby carrots and hummus, nuts and dried fruit, and whole grains like oatmeal made with milk.  When your kids’ snacks contain complex carbohydrates and good sources of vitamins, they will feel more satisfied from the snack and you will feel good that you’ve provided their body with the nutrients it needs to function.

You can design easy and ideal snacks every day by combining one item from each of the 2 columns below.  Remember, the snack choices you feed your child today will lead to life long choices in their adult years…happy snacking!

                     Column 1                                         Column 2                                                  

                       Fruits                                                              Proteins                                             

                           *1/2 Banana (try frozen)                                 *Hummus

                           *Apple Slices                                                  *String Cheese

                           *Dried Apricots                                              *Hard-boiled egg

                           *Grapes (try frozen)                                        *Fat-free or low-fat yogurt

                           *Canned fruit in juice                                     *Peanut butter

                           *Craisins/Raisins                                             *Almond butter

                           *Dried apple rings                                           *One handful of nuts

                           *Dried banana chips                                       *Fat-free refried beans

                           *Cherries/Berries                                             *Canned tuna (no more than

                            *Real Fruit Smoothies                                    once a week)

                                                                                                   *Deli roll-ups (turkey, roast beef,   chicken or lean ham)

                     Veggies                                                     *Trader Joes Turkey/Buffalo Jerky

                          *Baby carrots                                                  * Non-fat or 1% Milk (white or

                          *Edamame                                                        chocolate)

                          *Cucumber Slices                                            *Edamame (this protein rich bean

                          *Green peas (from freezer)                               can count as a vegetable or protein)

                          *Sugar Snap Peas                                           

                          *Red Pepper slices                                         

                          *Yellow Squash Pizza

                           (jarred pizza sauce on yellow

                            squash strips with melted cheese)

                           *Sweet potato fries

                    Whole Grains

                          *Whole Wheat crackers

                         *Graham Crackers

                         *Small whole grain tortilla

                         *Low-sugar cereal bars

                          *Rice Cakes

                          *1/2 English muffin or bagel

                          *Low-sugar oatmeal made with skim milk

                          *Microwave popcorn (made in a chemical free brown lunch bag)

                          *Fruit and Maple Oatmeal

Your Contributions Make an Important Difference

Contributions to the Annual Fund are used for important programs and projects, as well as day-to-day operations at Maryland PTA.  Since it is impossible for Maryland PTA to fund all of the worthy and important programs it would like to support, it must depend on the generosity of PTA members and supporters, through contributions to our Annual Fund.

Through the Annual Fund, PTA members and donors are able to have a profound and lasting impact on the broad community we represent—parents, teachers, students, and communities.   Because of our donors and members demonstrated dedication, compassion, and commitment, PTA is able to address important community issues, such as arts in education, parent involvement  and healthy lifestyles.

Your gift will be put to work immediately on behalf of all of Maryland’s children.  Thank you for your support of PTA and its mission. 

Annual Fund donations can be made online with the button below or simply mailing a check (made payable to Maryland PTA), a letter outlining the purpose of the gift, to the following address:

Maryland PTA

5 Central Avenue
Glen Burnie, MD 21061

It Is Nominating Time- Local PTAs

Should be Setting up Nominating Committees!

Your PTAs should be forming nominating committees to seek officers for the upcoming year. Be sure to check your PTA’s bylaws to see what your timeline is, and the required number and composition of your nominating committees. Please refer to ARTICLE VI Officers and Their Election- Section 3 in your local PTA bylaws for information regarding your nominating committee. In order for PTAs to grow their own membership, they must be actively involved in looking for leadership in your school communities. Sometimes, all it takes is asking another if they would like to consider a leadership role in your PTA. PTAs work very hard in their school communities advocating on behalf of children and are a great support for their schools. Be inviting!

Quick Tips about PTA Nominating Committees from Maryland PTA

Nominating Committee-The nominating committee is one of the most important committees in your PTA unit. It is essential that the members of the nominating committee include experienced ongoing leadership as well as newer members. The unit bylaws should outline how the nominating committee members are elected and how many members should be on the nominating committee (Article VI, section 3). The nominating committee members have the responsibility of bringing forward the name of the most eligible person for each elected position. In considering which PTA members are the best qualified to serve in the officer positions, the criteria listed below should be considered and evaluated.

Each nominee:

• Must be a PTA member.

• Must be enthusiastic and supportive of PTA.

• Must believe in the basic policies and purposes of the PTA.

• Must be fair and objective and concerned for the best interests of PTA.

• Should be willing to attend training.

• Should have some knowledge of the organization and its role in the school and in the community.

• Should be willing to give PTA a satisfactory level of priority and commitment, including attendance at meetings.

• Should be able to work well with people.

Who is eligible to serve on the Nominating Committee?

Any member who has paid current membership dues in the local unit is eligible to serve on the nominating committee. The principal may serve on the Nominating Committee if elected as any other member. The current PTA President may not serve on the Nominating Committee. All members should have an opportunity to nominate or be nominated for the committee.

What skills should Nominating Committee members possess?

• Fair, ethical and impartial judgment when evaluating people or situations.

• Ability to listen and ask penetrating questions.

• Ability to keep confidential information.

• Understanding of PTA Mission, Purposes, and plans.

• Understanding of how to build skill sets by position.

Election of Nominating Committee:

• The Nominating Committee is elected, as described in Article VI Section 3 of your bylaws. The bylaws state the number of people to be elected to the Nominating Committee. It is always an uneven number.

• Elect the Nominating Committee at least two months prior to the election meeting according to the manner described in your unit’s bylaws (general membership or board of directors).

• After the committee is elected, the committee will elect their chair.

• When selecting a chair, consider their demonstration of:

1. Ability to facilitate and resolve difficult discussion.

3. Ability to hold information in confidence.

4. Non bias behavior within their role at the PTA.

5. Integrity and ethical behavior.

• The chair, with input from other committee members, sets the first meeting date, time, and place. Hold the first meeting early enough to allow for a second and third meeting, if necessary.

Conducting Nominating Committee meetings:

• Conduct the meeting only if a majority of the committee is present. All committee members should be present at the meeting, if possible.

• Allow sufficient time to interview, study and discuss candidates

• Matters discussed by the Nominating Committee are strictly confidential. No names should be revealed until they are released according to established procedures.

• Committee members themselves may be nominated for office. They should be excused from the room while their nomination is being considered and may return to vote.

 • Committee meetings are open only to committee members. Discussions must be open and honest, and above all, confidential. Should confidentiality be breached, it is the chair’s responsibility to counsel the member. If the chair breaches confidentiality, it is each member’s responsibility to bring it to the attention of the President.

• In contacting potential nominees, the nominating committee chairman (or other designated committee member) should:

· Give a clear indication of the responsibilities of the office and how much time may be involved.

· Include any expectation of officer representation at leadership training workshops, council/state PTA meetings and/or the annual convention.

· Never try to talk a reluctant individual into accepting a nomination.

· Never try to 'fill the board' just to have names in place. A vacancy at the time of the election may be filled by a nomination from the floor or later by the newly elected executive board.

First meeting:

• Determine a target date for completion

• Develop a “candidate search list” and determine how contacts will be made. Potential nominees should include PTA members who represent the social and ethnic makeup of the school and parent community. (After the election, it is helpful to pass on a list of those individuals who are interested in a committee to the incoming president.)

• Refer to the unit’s bylaws for copies of the job duties for each elected position.

• Set the next meeting date before adjourning.

Second meeting:

• If needed, conduct interviews. Ask the same questions of all candidates per position. For example, ask all treasurer candidates the same questions. These questions can be different or the same as the questions you ask of the secretary candidates but ask all secretary candidates the same questions.

• If a complete slate of officers has been selected, complete a Nominating Committee Report, listing all nominees and positions. Date sign and present one copy to the PTA Board as soon as possible. Retain another copy to read at the election meeting.

• If the slate is not complete, give a Status Report ONLY to the Board, and continue the process until the slate is complete. When the slate is complete the Nominating Committee prepares and presents a report for the PTA board meeting and the general meeting, listing nominees for each office.

• When all nominees are selected and notification is given to the Board, post one copy of the Nominating Committee Report in the school office, or another visible location, at least 10 days prior to the election meeting or according to bylaws.

Dissolution of Nominating Committee:-A Nominating Committee, unlike other special committees that are automatically discharged when their report is made, has not completed its work until balloting for nominees has begun. If a nominee withdraws before the balloting begins, the Nominating Committee shall present another nominee.

Common Nominating Committee Mistakes:

• Forgetting to elect the Nominating Committee at least two months before the election month.

• Failing to provide advance notification to the general membership about when the Nominating Committee will be elected.

• Failing to apprise all members of their eligibility to potentially serve as an officer or on the Nominating Committee.

• Selecting members for officers without first determining what skills and qualifications they have for the position.

• Not actively recruiting new members for leadership positions.

• Assuming that only members who have children in the public school are the best candidates for leadership roles.

Have you checked the status of your unit's incorporation? 

If you are not considered  "In Good Standing" by the Maryland Department of Assessments, you need to contact them (410-767-1350) to find out what is required to bring you into Good Standing. Not being in good standing can result in the loss of your incorporation and the protection it provides.  It will cause your local to not be in good standing, and thus not be able to participate in several of our programs and benefits.  This loss of standing by the MD Dept of State is usually a result of not filing your property tax report. 

THIS REPORT NEEDS TO BE FILED WHETHER YOUR PTA/PTSA OWNS ANY PROPERTY OR NOT!!!

Check your status at www.dat.state.md.us

• Click on Business Data Search
• Click on Business Entity Search
• Then enter either the PTA name as originally submitted OR enter the Incorporation number for your PTA.
• When you see your PTA, click on general information
• This will give you an overview of the status of your PTA.        

What's going on.......

Grant Opportunities

Chesapeake Bay Trust

In 2012 the Chesapeake Bay Trust awarded almost $6 million in grants to area schools, PTAs, and other non profit organizations to advance environmental education and improve local communities throughout Maryland. Each year more than 200 schools receive funding from the Trust to pay for field trips, outdoor learning experiences and other hands on projects that teach students about their natural world.

The Chesapeake Bay Trust has 12 competitive grant programs that award funding for all kinds of projects and programs that improve the Chesapeake Bay and advance environmental education. The Trust’s Mini Grant Program for K-12 Environmental Education provides funding up to $5,000.00 for efforts that seek to educate and engage school communities in activities that benefit watershed health. Grant funding is available during three deadlines per year and more information can be found at www.cbtrust.org. If you have any questions about grant funding opportunities or how Bay plates make all this happen, contact Molly Alton Mullins at 410-974-2941, x 107 or email mmullins@cbtrust.org.

                              .....good things are happening in Maryland!

                              News and Updates from MSDE