Taking Significant Action
The purpose of the program is to recognize the accomplishments of units and councils across the state that present programs, projects, and activities that show significant originality, involvement, potential, usefulness, and results.
2009 Recipients
1st Place - Beaver Lake Middle School PTSA (2.6.33)
DATA Week - Research shows that students face a major increase in exposure to alcohol, tobacco and drug use when they enter middle school. Supported by the school staff, parents and community, this proactive PTSA initiated a week long program designed to bombard middle school students with “Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco Awareness.” This year’s theme, “I Tune out Drugs”- students viewed a ‘crashed car,’ participated in activities like using straws to simulate what breathing is like with lung disease and wearing ‘fatal vision glasses,’ watched a demonstration by Officer Copper – a drug sniffing dog, and attended a presentation by the ‘Organ Lady.”
2nd Place - Jefferson Elementary PTA (12.5.5)
Math Masters - Launching and running any new program in a low income school on a shoe-string budget is a daunting task, but this PTA was up to the challenge! With the release of the state’s new math standards, their objective was simple: support and motivate students in grades 1-5 in mastering the basic math facts in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Their three (3) pronged approach includes (1) a lunch recess program with games that directly support learning and memorization of math facts; (2) an awards program that provides incentive for mastery of milestones at each grade level, and (3) teacher collaboration and support for classroom math fact drills using PTA purchased “Flashmasters.”
3rd Place - Penny Creek Elementary PTA (7.3.142)
Frogs “Go Green” - In an effort to minimize their ‘frog footprint,” this innovative PTA took going green to a whole new level! Not only did they create a recycling program, they reduced paper waste by creating a PTA website, utilized the WSPTA membership email system to send out weekly “Frog Flash” emails as well as e-copies of their newsletter, provided a Month at a Glance calendar, and employed a ‘green’ approach to fundraising using fundraisers that have minimal or no impact on our environment like eScrip, Albertson’s Community Partners, and General Mills Box Tops for Education.
Honorable Mention
Clyde Hill Elementary PTSA (2.3.27)
Academic Challenge - As parents and volunteers, we know that students are motivated to succeed when they are awarded for their efforts. With that in mind, this PTA challenged its elementary students to earn a trophy if they completed 4 of 6 PTA sponsored programs, including: Reflections, Science Fair, Cultural Fair, Book Reviews, Key Boarding and/or Math Whizz. Numbers don’t lie: over 30% of their student population has participated in at least one of the challenges, including a 64% increase over last year of students participating in Reflections!
Honorable Mention
Endeavor Elementary PTSA (2.6.20)
Math Blasters - Following the adoption of a new math curriculum, this pro-active PTSA responded by providing a program to encourage student and parent involvement in having fun with math at home. Conceptually similar to school and home-based reading programs, students are incented to utilize the Everyday Math games online and offline. Their success is evident: of the 674 students attending K-5, 606 students participate in Math Blasters, and 588 participants have met their minimum minute grade level requirements!