Public schools look different this year, but the commitment is the same: to keep every student safe, learning and growing. Join National PTA in celebrating Public Schools Week this week and show you're #PublicSchoolProud. Listen to a podcast featuring National PTA President Leslie Boggs (formerly Texas PTA President from 2014-16) on how parents and schools can work together to meet the growing social-emotional and mental health needs of students during the pandemic.
JOIN THE AWARD-WINNING SMS PTA FOR 2025-2026!
Support the SMS students and teachers by showing that you value your child’s education by joining the PTA. Memberships start at $13 and students are only $7 with a parent membership! As a benefit to members only, you will have access to an online directory as well as PTA member discounts. Student members receive special discounts during our spring and fall socials and have the opportunity to be involved in leadership opportunities. 
Did you know that Rosa Parks was not the first person to defy bus segregation laws? Or that in 1962, an African American commanded a U.S. Navy combatant ship? There are many incredible accomplishments of the African American community members that are not well-known, or that have been lost to the past.
Black History Month: Historic Pioneers | Our Children (ptaourchildren.org)
Thank you for joining Texas PTA for our largest and most celebrated advocacy event of the year!
Follow these links to re-watch Rally Day 2021:
Priorities Caucus – available on the Rally Day Band
*Join the band any time by following instructions below or HERE.
Rally Time – available on YouTube here with captions
*Click the “CC” icon to turn on captioning.
President’s Address - available on YouTube here with captions
*Click the “CC” icon to turn on captioning.
Sign Up for the Rally Day Band
Sign up for BAND to join the official Rally Day Band, the one-stop shop for Rally Day 2021. BAND is available online or through the app store, and it's free!
Easily join the Rally Day Band one of three ways (while logged into your free BAND account):
- Follow this link: https://band.us/n/a4a142haTcRe2
- Scan the QR code below.
- Use this invite code: 6687 STIR
(On the BAND home screen, click the “More” tab and select “Check invite.” Then select “I got a code” and type 6687 STIR.)
Next Wednesday, February 17th is Founder's Day -- the anniversary of the date PTA was founded. Alice McLellan Birney and Phoebe Apperson Hearst founded an organization comprised of mostly women, some men, teachers, laborers, and others, during a time when women did not have the right to vote and social activism was not popular. They believed mothers would support their mission to eliminate threats that endangered children and started a nationwide campaign in early 1897. On February 17,1897, more than 2,000 people attended the first Congress of Mothers in Washington, D.C.
February is also Black History Month. In 1926, Selena Sloan Butler formed the National Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers to advocate for children, especially African American children in segregated communities. Following the Supreme Court decision that ended segregation, the two associations held their conventions together and worked to merge the groups in all fifty states. On June 22, 1970, the two congresses signed a Declaration of Unification and became one association, known today as National Parent Teacher Association (National PTA®). The year 2020 marked the 50th anniversary of the unification of the two groups.
Michele Rohleder
Congratulations!
Here are 2021 Schimelpfenig Lifetime Member Award Winners!
Michele Rohleder | Stephanie Vaughn | Lisha Resser
Shealine Burks | Ashley Rael | Anita Frey
We recognize each one of these peoples’ contributions to making Schimelpfenig an amazing place to learn!
The instructional environment selection window for the final nine weeks of school is February 15-19 for all levels (elementary and secondary students). Students will be scheduled in the selected instructional environment, face-to-face or PISD School@Home, which will go into effect on March 15, 2021, the first day of the fourth 9-week grading period. If no changes are made in Parent Portal, then the current instructional environment will remain in effect until the last day of school.
Plano Council of PTAs is hosting an Advocacy Information Night next Tuesday, February 16th at 7 pm. You can register for this event at www.planopta.org. If you want to learn more about Plano Council's Legislative Priorities, this is the place to be! This is for all PTA members across Plano ISD and will get you ready for Rally Day on February 22nd.
Do you know educators who back the future of every child? Do you know an amazing teacher, principal, or superintendent who gives a little bit extra to make sure all students are successful? 'Share the Love' and nominate those outstanding educators from your community by Monday, February 15th at: https://www.txpta.org/
SKI Plano is celebrating its 25th Anniversary on February 27, 2021 with a virtual silent auction this year. Schimelpfenig PTA donated a themed basket for the auction – Baking With Kids.
As the Plano ISD Education Foundation’s largest fundraiser, proceeds from SKI Plano benefit all students, faculty, staff, and schools in the Plano Independent School District. These funds help our kids reach their full potential by providing financial support to educators and academic programs including: Grants to Educators, AVID, The CORE Store, Robinson Fine Arts Center, Plano ISD Robotics, Employee Crisis Fund, and Social Emotional Learning.
SKI Plano, February 24-27th.
They have four virtual experiences you can purchase, available now at www.skiplano.org
Plano ISD Council of PTAs Antiracism Committee's Book Club for How to be an Antiracist beginning Jan. 28 - Feb. 18
Register at www.planopta.org
RALLY DAY is Monday, February 22, 2021. Save the Date!
- Sign up to attend Rally Day at Texas PTA HERE
- Download the app BAND to get up-to-date information and the live stream. More information, including webinars about important advocacy issues for the 87th Leg. Session, https://www.txpta.
org/rally-day
- For the 87th Texas Legislative Session. The Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living is hosting a legislative bill tracker that identifies legislative actions relevant to research taking place at the Center. The 2021 legislative tracker is segmented into general categories: early childhood education, food policy, school/after-school care, tobacco/e-cigarettes, and more. The tracker is updated regularly with new bills as they are filed and the status of each bill as the session progresses.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2021 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
A Free Virtual Event for Plano Families!
Preschool – Elementary – Middle School – High School Discover programs of interest and resources for ALL students, especially gifted and special needs students.
“Meet & Greet” with exhibitors via video conference to learn about camps, therapies, and resources to help your child's learning and development.
The Exhibitor Catalog and Meet & Greet video conference links will become live on February 6. For more information, visit the website at http://www.planopta.org/
This week, February 1-5, is National School Counseling Week.
Thank you to our wonderful counselors for all that you do!
To "meet" our counselors -- Shealine Burks, Michelle Klena, and John Schlosser -- click HERE!
Upcoming Events
- Tuesday, August 12
- Thursday, August 14
- Thursday, August 21
The mission of Plano ISD's Family Education and Guidance Services is to strengthen all families in the community by providing education, resources and services which support raising responsible, self-confident, emotionally healthy children in today's complex society. Please visit HERE to gain access to PISD supports that you and your family may wish to utilize throughout the year!
DISCLAIMER: The Schimelpfenig Middle School PTA is a noncommercial, nonsectarian, nonpartisan association that does not endorse any candidate or political party. This PTA does not endorse non-PTA products or services. If you have a concern, please contact a member of the PTA Executive Board.
