Mabry PTSA

LIVE WEBCAST—A Parent's Guide to Video Games: Online Video Game Safety Simplified

LIVE WEBCAST—A Parent's Guide to Video Games: Online Video Game Safety Simplified

Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Time:  7:00 p.m. EDT

REGISTER NOW!

Video games can be a great source of entertainment and learning for the whole family.  But, with the ever-changing world of online gaming, how can a parent keep up?  How do you translate game ratings?  How do parental controls work?  What tools can you use as a parent to ensure safe online gaming for your child?  Join our free live webcast featuring PTA National President Jan Harp Domene, ESRB President Patricia Vance, and Andrew S. Bub from GamerDad.com, as they discuss online video game safety.

TOPICS WILL INCLUDE:

• An inside look at the ESRB rating system
• An expert-guided tour on setting up parental controls
• Expert advice on managing online game time with your children
• Tips for online video game safety
• An interactive Q & A session

PTA has partnered with the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) to produce A Parent's Guide to Video Games: Parental Controls and Online Safety, a guide full of the information that parents need to know about video games.  Copies of the English- and Spanish-language versions of the guide can be downloaded from www.pta.org/mediasafety. This program is presented by ESRB and PTA.

REGISTER TODAY!

Elected PTSA Officers 2008-2009

Mabry Middle School

2008-2009 Officers

At the General Meeting on 4/17, the following were elected to serve as officers for 2008-09

Co-President:      Teresa Haverly and Sara Basler

Vice Presidents:  Trish Boone

Secretary:           Monique Bruno

Treasury:            Sara Dunnell

Letter to Governor Perdue to VETO HB 89, HB 1133 and HB 881

The following letter was sent to Governor Perdue asking him to veto three bills that we believe will negatively impact children and public education.  Add your voice by calling his office (404) 656-1776 and urging him to veto these bills. The call takes only a minute but could make a big difference in the lives of the children of Georgia. Share this information with your membership and urge them to call too.

April 17, 2008

Dear Governor Perdue,

On behalf of Georgia PTA and its over 318,000 members, I am asking you to VETO three bills that will have a negative impact on children and public education: HB 89, HB 1133 and HB 881.

HB 89 will result in more guns in environments where children are normally present: in restaurants, on public transportation and in public parks.  This will place our children in close proximity to guns being held by individuals who are not law enforcement officers and who may not have had any training to use them, who may be under the influence of alcohol and who may be careless and thus provide an opportunity for children to have access to guns.  It is very disconcerting to parents to think that while their children are with them riding MARTA, eating at a restaurant or playing in a park, the person next to them could be in possession of a concealed gun. We believe a line can and should be drawn when it comes to children and access to guns.

HB 1133 needlessly drains money from the state coffers by allowing a tax credit for making a donation to private schools.  Companies and individuals have historically made donations to provide scholarships to schools and have used the existing tax deductions to do so.  This is not the time to pull more money out of the State economy just to provide up to $50 million in tax credits for private institutions, especially when the State government hasn't been able to afford to fully fund the education QBE formula since 2003.

HB 881 unconstitutionally takes local tax dollars out of the hands of local boards of education and places the money under the control of state commissioned charter schools.  The State has a process by which a charter school can be established and it appears to be working well. Adding another authorizing agency who has additional authority and who can raid local dollars undermines both the existing State process and the local boards of education.

Please give these highly contested bills additional consideration. Each passed by a very narrow margin which indicates mixed support at best. We hope that when you do, you will recognize the negative impact they will have on our children and the education system of Georgia and VETO them.

Thank you, in advance, for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Leslie Cushman
Georgia PTA President

Mabry Middle School Slate of Officers 2008-2009

Mabry Middle School

Slate of Officers

2008-2009

For Co - President:                     Teresa Haverly

For Co-President:                       Sara Basler

Vice President of Membership:  Trish Boone

Vice President of Volunteers:     Chrissy Miletto

Secretary:                                    Monique Bruno   

Treasurer:                                    Sarah Dunnell

Cyber Bullying Workshop for Parents and Caregivers

Peachford Hospital & Georgia PTA

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

7:00pm – 8:30pm

“Cyber Bullying Workshop for Parents and Caregivers”

Presented by Patti Agatston, PhD      

Free Program for Family Members, School Counselors & other Mental Health Professionals

Download peachford_hospital_cyber_bully.doc

Parent Eye Opener

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR

KELL HIGH SCHOOL’S

PARENT EYE OPENER

Thursday, February 28, 2008 at 7:00 PM

Kell High School Auditorium

Experts will speak to parents about the decisions, challenges and issues students are faced with every day. Are your eyes open to these realities?

This may be the most valuable investment you make in your child –and it is free!

“Our Teens’ Reality”

Chief Judge M. Russell Carlisle Jr, State Court of Cobb County

Dave Goerlitz, former Winston Man Jeff Dess, Cobb County School District Prevention Specialist

The middle school and high school years are filled with times that our kids make life-altering decisions: whether to drink, take driving risks, have sex, smoke and even today’s latest challenges regarding what they see, do and say online.

“The Parenting Paradox: Neither Friend Nor Foe”

Stacey DeWitt, founder and CEO Connect with Kids

Paradox… a puzzle, a contradiction, a situation that defies intuition. Parenting today includes the reality that too many of us want to be our children’s friend. Yet, parenting is not a popularity contest.

Learn what parents need to understand about our kids’ lives and how to be a safe haven – with rules and standards – in the midst of their chaos.

Planting Mabry Pride

Please plan on joining us Saturday, October 20^th from 9:00am – 12:00pm to help spruce up the front grounds of Mabry.  I don’t know if you’ve happened to looked around the front grounds of Mabry, but after several years of neglect, it looks sad and tired.  Mike Banik and the Trojan Youth Lacrosse have noticed and they want to do something to change that.  They have committed to come out and spend a little time helping us to Plant Mabry Pride.  The team is donating some of the pine straw and their strong lacrosse team energy. They need us to commit our time and a little energy as well.  They also need you to bring any of the following garden tools that you may have: hand held pruners, rakes, stiff rakes, shovels, manual hedge trimmers, and pruning saws. Please remember to put your name on them. Most importantly, don’t forget a set of garden gloves for each member of your family who plans to volunteer. We’ll provide water to quench your thirst and snacks to keep you energized.

There were often classes sitting outside on the barren front hillside last spring during their DEAR time.  It’s great to get outside and enjoy the nice weather and a little fresh air, but sitting on a hillside of red clay doesn’t sound very appealing. Come help to make it a nicer outdoor environment for your children.  They may not always admit it, but children are thrilled when their parents donate a little time to volunteer along side of them.  Please come out and give of yourself to your child’s school.  An hour is greatly appreciated.  If you can give more time by all means stay as long as you are able. We can accomplish much in a small amount of time with many hands helping.

If you plan to attend, please have your child submit the portion in the attached file Download planting_pride_sign_up.doc   to his or her homeroom teacher.  A family count and the hours you plan to be here are important in helping us provide water and snacks and utilizing your time wisely

General PTSA meeting

Welcome Back to a new school year at Mabry M.S.  It's so nice to see both the familar and new faces of our Mabry families.  The first PTSA general meeting is scheduled to be held in conjunction with the 7th / 8th grade Open House.  This will be on Tuesday, August 28th at 6:30pm.  The main topic of discussion will be adopting the 2007 - 2008 PTSA budget.

If you are the parent of a sixth grader and are interested in attending this meeting, please plan to join us.  Mabry PTSA meetings are held at the beginning of other scheduled school events.  PTSA general meetings are open to all. 

Additionally, a PTSA Membership table will be set up by the theatre for those of you who are interested in obtaining your membership and have not had the opportunity to do so.