With the recent increase in illness, all grade levels are in need of boxes of facial tissue/kleenex and disinfecting wipes. Please consider making a donation. Students can bring the items to the front office to be distributed to classrooms.  Parents and students also can bring items to drop off during Open House.  The teachers and students thank you!

Forty state PTAs signed on with almost 2,000 organizations to a national letter urging the USDA to extend its nationwide waiver authority through the 2022-23 school year.  Check out the full letter here: CN_Waiver_SignOnFeb2022.pdf (frac.org)

What do your kids know about money? Jen Hemphill, host of Her Dinero Matters podcast, joins this episode of Notes from the Backpack to share tips on how to talk about money with children of all ages, and how you can help them to become financially responsible. Listen now.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Children’s Hospital Association have officially declared a national emergency in children and adolescent mental health.  National PTA is calling on Congress and the Administration to take immediate action!  Urge your elected officials to prioritize youth suicide prevention and vote "Yes" on the STANDUP Act.

Safer Internet Day is an international education and awareness-raising effort, celebrated in over 100 countries. Led by ConnectSafely in the United States, it is a day to bring communities together to discuss challenges families face navigating the digital world, and empowers them to use technology responsibly, respectfully, critically, and creatively. This year's U.S. theme is Improving Well-Being Online. Join PTA Connected throughout the week of February 7-11 for virtual events designed to teach us all how to talk about technology and use it to spread kindness and build community: Safer Internet Day - Events | National PTA.  Additional virtual events throughout the week are available on the ConnectSafely website at: Safer Internet Day Programs for Home & School - ConnectSafely

Why Aren't There More Black Teachers? Most people can count on one hand the number of Black teachers they had during their school years. Our recent podcast guest Sharif El-Mekki is working to change that.  Listen here:  Why Aren't There More Black Teachers | National PTA

The 2023-2024 Reflections theme has been chosen:  I Am Hopeful Because...  The theme contest winner is Alice Meko from Hampton Cove Elementary PTA in Alabama. It's not too early to start working on your Reflections projects for next year!

Texas Mental Health Creative Arts Contest

We discussed our plans for the spring semester and heard from Ms. Kinnard about the happenings at Schimelpfenig MS.  Here are the highlights:

• We announced our PTA Lifetime Members:  Karen Gournay and Mitch Matuska.  Karen has been our VP of Membership for the past two years.  She has been an active volunteer at Schimelpfenig and other PISD schools for many years with her three children and also teaches in PISD.  Mitch has taught 8th grade History and PACE at Schimelpfenig for many years.  He chairs the History Department and PACE Department at Schimelpfenig and continues to be enthusiastic about teaching our children about history.  Congratulations to Karen and Mitch!
• We elected our Nominating Committee.  The nominating committee is responsible for recruiting the best-qualified PTA executive board candidates to lead your SMS PTA for the 2022-23 school year.  Please consider serving on the board next year; contact information for the nominating committee will be available soon!
• PTA Events dates in February:
  • Monday, February 14th -- We need your help to set up an awesome Valentine's Treat Bar for the staff.  Please sign up here if you are able to donate items.
  • Monday, February 28th -- The In-N-Out Burger Cookout Fundraiser is coming to Schimelpfenig!  February 28th is Middle School Open House night, and the Cookout truck will be at the school before the Open House.  Tickets for meals will be sold in advance for $5.  Meals will include a hamburger or cheeseburger (with lettuce, tomato and spread), potato chips, and a soft drink.  (Plain burgers or grilled cheese sandwiches will also be available.)  Tickets will be on sale soon!  
• Ms. Kinnard updated us on the following
  • New 6th grade English teacher started this week; Spanish 8 has a long-term substitute; still searching for a nurse and 8th grade English teacher.
  • Recognized the following teachers:
    • Shelby Rose -- Teacher of the Year Nominee 
    • Tiffany Prda -- TI STEM Teacher Nominee
  • New cell phone policy -- phones must be put away during class to minimize distractions
  • Reading Initiative -- grant and matching funds from the school
  • Important spring semester dates:
    • March 4 -- Lunchapalooza
    • April 14 -- Multicultural Day
    • Spring Testing -- 7th grade reading field test and TELPAS in February; STAAR testing in May.
• School of Excellence -- in the next step in our path to earning the School of Excellence, SMS PTA will be assisting the school with the Reading Initiative.  More details will be coming soon about how students, parents, and community members can be part of the Reading Initiative and help encourage all Schimelpfenig students to read more books!  

Michele Rohleder, 

SMS PTA President

Please help your Schimelpfenig PTA earn the Welcome Back Award -- 10 new members by January 31st!  Students, family members, and community members can join to support our PTA. 

SKI Plano is this coming Sunday, February 5th!  To buy tickets for this fun event, go to:  Sponsorship Opportunities / SKI Plano (pisd.edu)

Nominate your favorite Schimelpfenig teacher for the RoughRiders Foundation and CoServe Teacher of the Month Program.  School staff, parents and community members can nominate deserving educators that stand out for their excellence in the classroom, school, and community. During the 2022 season, the RoughRiders will host the winning educators at a ballgame each month, and each teacher will be honored on the field with a $500 check split between the School District Education Foundation and the teacher’s school.  Find more details here:  RoughRiders Teacher Appreciation | RoughRiders (milb.com)

New articles of interest on the National PTA website include Preventing Tobacco Use Amongst Teens at PTA History: Preventing Tobacco Use Among Youth | Our Children (ptaourchildren.org), and Ask This Question to Better Shape Your Child's Future at Ask this Key Question to Better Shape Your Child’s Future | Our Children (ptaourchildren.org).