Program Planning

The Program Award Certificate is given to local PTA units and councils that apply and meet the criteria for outstanding issue and theme oriented programs. Your programs truly are the heart and soul of your work. They are judged by members of the Florida PTA Organization Commission and from the Program Award winners, the President’s Program award is chosen – one each for Elementary, Middle and High School PTAs or PTSAs and a County Council.

For more information on submitting a program for Program Award Certificate consideration, contact the Florida PTA State Office. For a list of our President’s Program Award winners, click here.

Program Suggestions

Programs that serve parents and the community are the cornerstones of the PTA. Attendance at PTA meetings can be directly related to the quality of programs that are carefully planned and meet the needs and interests of the membership. Effective programs make PTA an organization people want to join and help members to become involved in issues affecting children. 

Types of Programs

Parent and Family Life; Leadership Training; Health and Safety; Legislation; Communication; Student Learning; School Decision Making and Advocacy

Types of Presentations

Audio-Visuals; Buzz Session; Demonstrations; Forum; Debate; Symposium; Lecture; Plays and Skits; Question Box; Problem Clinic; Breakout Workshops

Program Resources

Program Ideas from PTA units throughout the state:

      Program Ideas for Middle School and High School  PTSA Units

 Involve Men

      All Pro Dads- Tony Dungy is the “head coach” for

      this national organization dedicated to helping fathers be

      better fathers.  Bryan Davis is the Pinellas County

      coordinator and the website is www.allprodad.com.

Please remember, not everyone has a father, so try to be inclusive. Some suggestions for involving men are:

Game Night

Father Daughter/ Mother Son Dance

Real Men Read/ Mentors and Tutors for students

School Landscaping/ Plant a Tree for the     

environment 

Health Programs

           Students Working Against Tobacco (S.W.A.T.)

Caroline Smith is the Pinellas County coordinator and is willing to speak at schools to both parents and students. You can reach her at 727-824-6947. The website is www.Pinellas-SWAT.com.  American Cancer Society is always helpful for educational purposes also.

           Youth Gambling

The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling is a non-profit independent corporation designated as Florida’s authority on problem and compulsive gambling. “Problem and compulsive gamblers are more likely to encounter difficulties with alcohol and drugs, to suffer from serious mental health challenges, to have higher levels of criminal activity, as well as increased rates for suicidal ideation and attempts.” (From “Keeping An Eye On The Pulse”). FCCG’s mission is to increase public awareness, especially with youth. There are MS and HS gambling prevention DVDs and interactive workbooks available from them along with instructor guides for schools. Their 24-hour helpline is 1-888-ADMIT-IT. You can also contact Mary Hutchinson (extension 108) and Seandrea Earls (extension 104) at 407-865-6200 for more information.

The LiveFree! Coalition targets underage binge drinking in North Pinellas County. Wanda Stuart, Program Director, has a team of adult and student speakers who will speak to parents and students. Wanda can be reached at 727-545-7564 extension 267. There is a similar program in Hillsborough County called the Hillsborough County Anti-Drug Alliance.  Why not start one in your county?

Drug Prevention

The Florida National Guard presents a drug demand reduction program called Night Vision. Its purpose is to give truthful information about alcohol, drugs and smoking to students through programs such as Gateway Drugs, Club Drugs and Other Drugs. You can contact Lt. Jeanette Asuncion at 813-376-6444 or e-mail at jeanette.asuncion@us.army.mil. Lt. Asuncion will travel as far north as Hernando County, south as Lee County, west as Pinellas County, and east as Polk County.

 “The Everest Challenge” targets children from 10 to 18 years old. The child must weigh a minimum of 55 pounds in order to climb the wall. This program is designed to pick up where DARE finishes. The minimum number of children for a presentation is 25 and the maximum is 300. Ed Wiencek will set up a presentation in any county of Florida. You can reach him at 727-865-2600. The students learn life skills and get to climb a 24-foot climbing wall. It is a free program.

The Florida Hospice website, www.stateofflorida.com, lists programs for grieving children in the various Hospice Care facilities throughout Florida. The Hospice of Naples had a “Good Grief” Day on June 1^st. It was a complimentary day camp for children ages 6 to 11.  High School students can be instructed in assisting Hospice.

The National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity (NANA) is a coalition of more than 330 organizations that advocates policies to promote healthy eating and physical activity. For more information Joy Johanson at the Center for Science in the Public Interest at 202-7778351 or jjohanson@cspinet.org; Jennifer Weber at the American Dietetic Association at 2020-775-8277 or jweber@eatright.org; Tina Dove at National PTA at 202-289-6790 extension 202 or tdove@pta.org; Derek Scholes at the American Heart Association at 202-785-7927 or Derek.scholes@heart.org.   Hold a program on Obesity and Healthy Eating.

 American Heart Association and the American Lung Association are very helpful in providing programs.

 Suicide Prevention/ Youth and Depression- Guidance Counselors can advise who to contact for this presentation.

Educational Issues

      Help parents and students transition between schools by

      having programs about:

            - Progressing from Elementary to Middle School     

               (August)

- Progressing from Middle School to High School

   (April/May)

- High School Night - How To Choose The Right

   School (January) 

- Special Needs Program (ESE, Music, Art, Gifted)  

   (any time of the year)

- Preparing for FCAT examinations (January)

            - High School to College- Partner with a Community

              College or have returning college students speak.

The Partnership, the Florida Partnership for Family Involvement in Education, has been awarded a grant form the U.S. Department of Education and will assist all parents and schools in Florida. They would like to improve academic achievement, family involvement, and inform parents or the No Child Left Behind Act. You can contact Dr. Sally M. Wade, Project Director, at swade@coedu.usf.edu for more information.

Dr. Bob Fisher, a professor at the University of South Florida, has a Career Planning program for high school students. He is willing to travel throughout Florida to present to large groups. You can contact at www.collegecareerlifeplanning.com or rsfisher@aol.com or 727-521-9798. (Brochures provided on request at workshop.)

Student Social Issues

            Bullying

See National PTA’s archive at www.pta.org/archive_article_details_1117639656218.htm

The SPCA has a program about the connection between animal cruelty and human violence. It is part of character education. This program is for 6^th to 12^th Graders. Phone Sharon Hauser at 727-586-3591 extension 126 or e-mail at Sharon@spcafl.org. for information.  All counties should have an SPCA.

The YWCA throughout Florida has programs for school age children concerning topics such as teen pregnancy, mentoring, and computer classes. The Health Department in your area is usually very helpful in providing printed information as well as speakers on current topics.

The Pregnancy Center in Pinellas County offers an abstinence program for middle schools. Contact Jan Mills at 727-545-8282 extension 232 or e-mail at janmills@use100.net.  Most counties have Pregnancy Centers.

PCCPTA and Pinellas County Schools Police have produced a “Guidelines for Teen Parties” at:   Hard copies available on request. 

www.pinellas.k12.fl.us/forParents/files/4E564099D2194BA694078C7775A41C34.pdf

 Community Awareness

      Involve students in PTSA by creating board positions to include them.  Include  

      students from all groups.  Have a Multi-Cultural Night.     

Sweet Sixteen Birthday Card-   This is for all students turning 16 to remind them of the importance to drive responsibly. Prom Promise- State Farm Insurance

Clothes Closet for students to get prom dresses or other clothing. Guidance Counselors can be very helpful in identifying these students

       PTSA School Dance/ Parents Night Out

-         Every student who is a PTSA member gets free admission.  Middle Schools can also have a Parents Night Out and have a DJ or an open gym for children to gather.  PTSAs can organize this with school involvement

The Museum of Florida History, the state museum in Tallahassee, hosts a Florida         History Fair in May. Why not set up an entry with your students? This year the fair was held on May 20^th. There were 700 student participants from 24 counties presenting 414 entries. You can contact the museum at www.flheritage.com/museum/programs/history/fair.

 There are a number of civic educational programs for grades K-12 from the Florida League of Cities. The topics range form the ABCs of City Government to City-School Partnership Ideas. You can view their website at www.flcities.com.

Public Speaking/ Toastmasters- the Toastmasters organization is willing to do presentations on public speaking.  Contact them at www.toastmasters.org

 Hurricane Preparedness- FEMA www.ready.gov/business 

Safety Issues

       Ask your school’s SRO to speak on relevant safety topics (any time of the year)       

       such as "gangs".  The SROs may have DVDs on other topics.  A great one is

       on Designer Drugs.

       Latch Key Kids – especially for Sixth Grade parents (beginning of the school year),      are discussed in a program by Devereux Kids of the Pinellas County Health     

       Department.  This program is called Front Porch.  Its focus is on community

Escape School (any time of the year) is a child safety program presented by Dignity Memorial. Its target audience is 3^rd to 8^th Graders. Phone Cheryl Godbout at 561-585-0555 extension 219 to book a presentation. They also have Spanish speakers and brochures.

 Internet Safety sheets are also available from Connect with Kids, 1-888-598-5437 or www.connectwithkids.com.

Corporal Denise Nestor, Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, is willing to speak at      schools and address parents about this topic throughout the school year. She also has many pamphlets addressing:

Sexual predators

Sex Predator and Offender Tracking Unit (S.P.O.T.) of Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office at 727-582-7768

FDLE Sexual Predator and Offender List at www.pinellascounty.org/offender/default.htm

Internet Safety

(Also see i-SAFE America at www.isafe.org and National PTA’s archive at http://www.pta.org/archive_article_details_1117655691078.html)

The Florida Suncoast SAFE KIDS Coalition is sponsored by All Children’s Hospital. Their mission is to fight the unintentional injury of children.  Jean Shoemaker is the coordinator and can be reached at 800-756-SAFE or 727-767-8581 or shoemakj@allkids.org. Their website is www.allkids.org.  Check local hospitals.

More Health Incorporated, a non-profit outreach organization, has functioned as an educational outreach program of Tampa General Hospital, teaching health education and injury prevention in the Hillsborough County School system (K-12 Grades) and the community. Its Pinellas County partner is All Children’s Hospital. They currently teach 9 out of their 24 safety lessons in Pinellas. There are three programs they teach (and supply all books) for Grades 6 and 7 – Firearm Safety II “Responsibility, Respect and Reason”; Fitness, Nutrition and Bone Health “Fit For Life”; Teen Pregnancy Prevention/Sexual Abstinence “Choice Not Chance.” For more information call Karen Pesce, director of More Health at 813-287-5032. Their website is www.morehealthinc.org. 

Plan a Health Week/ Health Day- Plan a day or a week to highlight student health concerns:

Monday- Physical Health- Blood Pressures/ Pulse- involve the School RN

Tuesday- AIDS Awareness- Might correspond with first week in December

Wednesday- Substance Abuse- Involve the local hospitals and health departments

Thursday- Have a giveaway day and get donations of toiletries from local stores

Friday- Competition among grades for posters/ tee shirt designs- be creative!  Have the students get involved with the topics as well as the organization.  Most Health Instructors as well as PE instructors are willing to assist with this as well as Guidance Counselors.  Be Creative!!!

Program Ideas for Elementary Schools PTAs

Parental Involvement

All Pro Dads- Tony Dungy is the “head Coach” for this national organization.

Dedicated to helping fathers to be better men and more involved with their children’s education.  Bryan Davis is the director in Florida, and can be reached at www.allprodad.com   There is also a new organization called Imom, and this can be viewed at www.Imom.com.

Call Me Once List- Have a list for parents who are only willing to be involved in one day at their children’s school.  This might grow into a greater commitment.  This could be a Call Me Once Club!

Father/ Daughter, Mother/ Son Dance- have it at the school with flowers and photographers

Poetry Night- Have the students read poetry they have written for school- Make it a night with an Ice Cream Social also.  “Reading Under The Stars!”

Real Men Read/ Mentors and Tutors for each child- encourage one on one involvement with struggling students

Have a Health Week and do a Jog A Thon with it.  Have the parents included in the running with it taking place ½ hour before school starts.  Have water bottles for all the participants with the school name on it. 

FCAT and Your Child- What parent does not want to help their child with FCAT?  Show the DVD from the Department of Education and then have parents and their students do sample problems at tables- let the children teach their parents.  The Your Child- Your Public Schools can be obtained from the Department of Education, State of Florida.

School Landscaping/ Plant a Tree- Every School can use some new trees, particularly as we are “going Green” in Florida.  Invite parents and students to come to an “Arbor Day” for your school. 

Computer Night/ Internet Safety- Have the children take turns teaching Mom and Dad what they are learning on computers.  Then break into a parents group for an internet safety program, and a coloring contest for the children.

Promise Day- In September this is a great day to sign up new members but also a day for having a “Meet and Greet Night” for parents to learn about PTA.  Host a spaghetti dinner to welcome them and have the children sing!

Safety Programs

Gun Safety- A good source for this is the NRA at www.nrahq.org or call at (800) NRA-3888.  Calling the local police department would also be an option for a presentation.

Safe Walker Program- The annual “Walk Your Child To School Day” will be October 3, 2007.  To learn more go to www.allkids.org or call 800-756-7233.  For materials about safe walking programs go to www.walkssafe.us  The Walking School Bus is also a program that is gaining national recognition.  Never have a child at a bus stop alone!!!

Water Safety-   The American Red Cross has many programs and has a chapter in most cities.  For information please go to www.usa.safekids.org/water   Another program could also be done about pool and hot tub drain s safety.

Play Safety- This could cover playground safety, athletics safety, and home safety.  This can also be found at www.safekids.org  Remember that most accidents happen in the home, so a home inspection sheet might be in order

Escape School- This is a wonderful program that teaches children how not to be abducted by strangers. For information please go to www.DignityMemorial.com  or call #727-562-2038.  This program can also be offered in Spanish. 

Bicycle Safety-   Bicycle Helmets are the law for all children 16 and under.  Why not ask the police to assist in having a Bicycle Rodeo to teach children bicycle safety.  There is also a National PTA Program called “Be Cool Follow The Rules” that can be used for educating children.  This could also be coupled with protective gear for skates and scooters also.

Car Seat/ Seat Belt Safety-   Many hospitals have a program for this as infants cannot be taken home without a car seat.  Why not partner with the local hospital?  For an example go to www.allkids.org which is the website for All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg , Florida.

Internet Safety-   Most police departments will have a person who can teach this, but many school  systems have a person in the Safety Department who can do this.  Another site would be www.connectwithkids.com or 1-888-598-5437.  Another site is www.isafe.org or the National PTA at http://www.pta.org/archive_article_details_1117655691078.html

Sexual Predators-   Have your legislator come and speak about the most current legislation that has been passed.  There is also a deputy from Pinellas County who has put together a program on this and is willing to travel for larger groups.  Her name is Corporal Denise Nestor, and she can be reached at the Pinellas county Sheriff’s Office at 727-582-7768.  Check the FDLE website for the list of sexual predators in the area.

Sun Safety-   Contact the American Cancer Society to advise children how to use SPF safe products.  Possibly a local dermatologist would assist you in this and bring sunscreen samples.  The PTA could have visors printed for the school to protect the children’s faces during recess.

Community Outreach

Babysitting Classes- Fifth grade children may begin to babysit.    The American Red Cross has a program on babysitting.  Local hospitals also may have education departments and may offer this.  All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg offers such a program.  For details please call 1-800-756-SAFE.

Health Insurance- Many of the students might not have health coverage.  Why not have these forms available for signing children up.  This is called the Healthy Kids Insurance.  Contact the Department of Health in your area.  These forms also come in Spanish.  Hold a Multi-cultural Night and have the forms available.

How To Speak To The Press-  Why not have a representative from one of the TV or local radio stations come and address your group on how to talk to the press.

How to Speak in Public.  Why not have a “Speech Contest” for the students, maybe the fifth grade.  Also host a program to teach the parents how to speak in public.  Contact the local Toastmasters Organization to assist with this at www.toastmasters.org

CPR- Why not have a class to instruct the parents in CPR to help to protect the children?  Also most schools have AEDs, and people need to know how to operate these.  The American Red Cross, or the local Fire Station can provide instructors.

Community Night at Your School-  Have the police come with a SWAT team and drug dogs, have the fire department have a fire engine, have a rock climbing wall and be creative.  This is a great night for all involved.

Reflections Program- All schools should be participating in the National PTA Reflections Program.  For details please go to the state PTA website at www.floridapta.org  Have a night to show off all the artwork and invite some of the high school students come and play in a stringed quartet to make it special, or ask some from the local symphony to come.  Involve community people to be the judges for the program!

Libraries- Please use the local libraries to assist the local unit in programming.  Many quality programs are offered locally at the libraries, and they may be willing to partner with PTA.

Health Programs

Obesity and Children- The obesity epidemic is a national concern with diabetes rising among children.  Have a local pediatrician come and speak to the parents about diet and exercise.   Also, the National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity (NANA) is a coalition of 330 organizations that advocate for healthy eating and activity.  For information, contact Joy Johanson at the Center for Science in the Public Interest at #202-777-8351 or jjohanson@cspinet.org 

Head Lice- The Life Solutions Resource Network has put together information on this subject, and can be accesses at www.licesolutions.org 

Diabetes and Children- Contacting the American Diabetes Association in your area would be a good start for this program, but also contacting a local pediatrician would be a good start.

The Florida Hospice website, www.stateofflorida.com lists programs for grieving children in the various Hospice Care facilities throughout Florida.   Contact the local Hospice Chapter to avail your local unit of the programs offered.

Drug Abuse- Students are never too young to learn of the horrible problems with drugs.  The DARE officer at the school can assist with this, and the Guidance Counselor is also a valuable resource.   This can be coupled with a program on smoking, and the American Lung Association has a great deal of literature on this.

Student Social Issues

Bullying-  See National PTA’s archives at www.pta.org./archive_article_details_1117639656218.htm 

Preparing Students for Middle School- This is a difficult transition and one that can be made easier.  Invite Middle School Students to come and give 5^th graders a talk and possibly a fashion show to better prepare them for what lies ahead!  This might be followed by the same type of meeting for parents of soon to be middle school students!

Latch Key Kids- Have the School Resource Officer speak to children,  to teach them what to look for if they are entering the home alone in the afternoon.  There is a program in Pinellas called the Front Porch Project.  For more information, contact Priscilla McFadden at 727-552-2290.

Cliques and How to Deal with Them- Often times children are excluded from groups with very damaging results.  This is particularly evident with girls.  Invite the Guidance Counselor to address this with the PTA