It’s GRANTS season, but not for long! See what grants are currently available, what important due dates and events are coming up, and more in the October newsletter.
September 1, 2023 Newsletter
August News: Fall Training on August 28th and More
Hey there PTA leaders,
The start of a new school year is around the corner. Are you ready?
Read about upcoming [in person] Fall Training on Monday, August 28th, and more in today’s newsletter.
Link to full newsletter => https://conta.cc/3rROU6E
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Get In on Reflections!
Reflections is an art appreciation PTA program that lets students, families, schools, and communities come together to support the arts. This 50+ year-old, program helps youth explore their own thoughts, feelings, and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence, and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful in school and in life. To offer Reflections at your school site, all that is required to get started is a Reflections Chair who can lead the effort. Most of the work for this program takes place during September/December. The rest of the time you will be keeping an eye on any artwork that has moved forward, communicate with your school and push next year’s theme.
I wanted to let you know about a PTA program that celebrates the Arts in your school. Reflections is a National PTA Art Program encouraging students to explore their creativity. Reflections was started in 1969 to help promote the arts in public schools. It is designed to provide an opportunity for students of all grades and abilities to express themselves and to receive positive recognition for their artistic efforts. Each year, the PTA Reflections Program challenges students to create art inspired by a specific theme.
The 2023-2024 theme is “ I am Hopeful Because…”. Artwork is collected by schools with PTA’s in place and then judged at the school level. Select pieces from each school are then forwarded to Council (if in a Council area) or Peralta District level (if the school is out of Council), and then go through the judging process again to be forwarded to Peralta District/State, and lastly, the National level. Peralta covers all of Alameda County.
Reflections has six art categories: Visual Arts (painting, drawing, and also 3-D artwork such as sculpture), Photography, Literature, Film Production, Dance Choreography, and Music Composition.
To be part of this program It is imperative to find a volunteer to be your Reflections Chair as soon as possible, tomorrow at best. Then your school will be on the path to providing your students the chance to explore their creativity and look at the world around them in a new and different way. It is because of you and your time finding a Reflections Chair that your students will be recognized and celebrated for their creations. Give our kids a way to voice their needs, thoughts, and creativity through art and support the Reflections Program for 2023-2024.
Now you have a chair, what do you do? First off, be on the lookout for an email on training for Reflections in August. Next, get them to download all the information they will need. Find Guidelines and rules here. Publish these on your school or PTA website.
Then it’s time to advertise, advertise, advertise!!!! Get the theme out there using social media or flyers. Emphasize the importance of working on artwork over the SUMMER. Most schools will have a due date in early FALL. Summer will be the best, least unhurried time for them to create.
Here are links to videos you can use to help promote the program and theme.
https://youtu.be/MuaoV5TyfBI https://youtu.be/F30WEbPSYIs
Oh, and don’t forget to register with National PTA.
I’m looking forward to seeing your school participate this coming year.
Michelle Hertel
Peralta District PTA
Reflections Chair
Copy of July 14, 2023 email to contacts designated as president or vp leadership/organization
A New PTA Term Starts Today
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June 3 Training Workshop Descriptions
Spaces are filling up fast so be sure to reserve your spot by May 25th (extended from May 22nd) for an optimal experience.
Link to register: https://forms.gle/EWq27HNqoZaQSTao8


June 3 Annual Training Saturday, June 3 | Register by May 22
***Please share with all your incoming officers***
We hope you are also as excited as we are to attend this event to learn about your PTA job, listen to wonderful speakers, network with PTA leaders across Alameda county, enjoy the vendor fair and celebrate PTA accomplishments.
We are very excited to offer this in-person training after a gap of a couple of years due to the pandemic.
All officers are welcome to attend
No PTA approval needed to attend
No FEE to attend
Handouts available for attendees
Breakfast and lunch included (early RSVP is requested)
Please submit the following Google form to reserve your spot.
https://forms.gle/ZVm65P1LZUYT1rB27
Date: Saturday, June 3, 2023
Time: 8:15 am to 3 pm
Location: Mount Eden High School, 2300 Panama St, Hayward, CA 94545
Schedule:
8:15 to 9:00am Check-In and Continental Breakfast in Cafeteria
9:00 to 10:00am Association Meeting and General Assembly
10:15 to 11:05am Session I Workshops
11:15 to 12:05pm Session II Workshops
12:05 to 1:00pm Lunch and Exhibitor Expo
1:15 to 2:05pm Session III Workshops
2:05 to 3:00pm Exhibitor Expo until closing
(Schedule and workshops subject to change)
Register by Monday, May 22nd to ensure your lunch of choice and to help us prepare sufficient handouts.
For more information contact: Maritess Simmons at training.pdpta@gmail.com and cc Ujjwala Gadgil, Peralta District PTA President at president.pdpta@gmail.com
We look forward to seeing YOU at the training!
Thanks,
Ujjwala
Election Results | Incoming PTA Leaders
Election results are in!
Thank you to this year’s Nominating Committee for all your good work:
Page Tomblin (Chair)
Kimberly Anakata
Cary Fukada
J.T. Mates – Muchin
Anuradha Zindal

CAPTA Convention Grants | Apply by March 31, 2023
Consult your executive board and apply ASAP:
Peralta is offering grants to units in need of financial assistance to send their leaders to the convention. Priority will be given to units with higher financial need.
More information about the grant is included in the grant form.
Link to convention grant: https://forms.gle/yLEqJX8wxYHbKG3n7
Important Dates for REFLECTIONS
All virtual entries are due by December 1, 2022.
Virtual artwork from councils (Alameda, Berkeley, Fremont and Pleasanton) and out-of-council PTAs (located in Albany, Castro Valley, Hayward, Livermore, Newark, Oakland, San Leandro and San Lorenzo) must be turned in by December 1st by 11pm. You must email your Google Sheet — created by the Google Form which was introduced in training — to reflections.pdpta@gmail.com. A link to the Google Form was previously emailed to Presidents and Reflections chairpersons. Only send your Award of Excellence entries. You can have one Award of Excellence for each category, in each grade division.
All Participation Forms must be turned in on December 1, 2022.
These will be emailed out to you to be filled in. If you have physical artwork contact me directly at reflections.pdpta@gmail.com. We encourage all to accept the virtual option since this is how California State PTA is accepting artwork this year as well.
Peralta’s Virtual Reflections Ceremony is January 7, 2023, at 3:00 pm.
The ceremony will be hosted on our Facebook page.
Michelle Hertel, Peralta District PTA Reflections Chair