For MASSPTA

Blog: CCFC's November Newsletter

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:58:23 GMT

Now available at http://www. commercialfreechildhood.org/ newsletter/2008/november.htm

News featured in this issue includes:
-The CCFC Commercial-Free Holiday Guide
-Share Your Tips for Commercial-Free Holidays
-The 2008 TRUCE Toy Action Guide
-CCFC's Holiday Marketing Moratorium - You Can Still Take Action!
All of this can be viewed at http://www. commercialfreechildhood.org/ newsletter/2008/november.htm

Blog: Improv, Collaboration, and Innovation

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:10:41 GMT

Learning and Working in the Collaborative Age: A New Model for the Workplace, Pixar University's Randy Nelson explains what schools must do to prepare students for jobs in new media.
http://www.edutopia.org/randy- nelson-school-to-career-video

Calendar: I HEART THE PLANET

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:25:13 GMT

2008-11-20

November 13, 2008

Informational call Thursday on November 20 at 330pm EST about the national Feb 13 'I Heart The Planet' Green Flags event.

In just a couple months the Green Flag Schools Program will hold its first national event at all participating Green Flag schools. This is a chance for your Green Team to hold a great event right along side all the other Green Teams across the nation on the issues you care about most.

If you are interested in learning more about what this event is and how your school could participate, please rsvp below.

Yes, I want to join the call.

I can't make it this time, but I'm interested in learning more.

Thanks again for being part of the Green Flag Schools Program,

Renee

This message is brought to you by the Center for Health, Environment and Justice.
For more information visit the CHEJ homepage at www.chej.org.
To unsubscribe from this list, please click here or reply to this message with "Unsubscribe" in the subject.

Calendar: I Heart The Planet' Green Flags event

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:26:45 GMT

2009-02-13
For more information visit the CHEJ homepage at www.chej.org

Blog: Join the I Heart The Planet event

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:24:47 GMT

November 13, 2008

Hi Ellie,

I just wanted to take this moment to remind you of the informational call next Thursday on November 20 at 330pm EST about the national Feb 13 'I Heart The Planet' Green Flags event.

If you are interested in learning more about what this event is and how your school could participate, please rsvp below.

Yes, I want to join the call.

I can't make it this time, but I'm interested in learning more.

Thanks again for being part of the Green Flag Schools Program,

Renee

Calendar: Suicide Prevention Statewide Coalition Meeting

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:27:43 GMT

2008-11-17

The MCSP invites you to attend the next general meeting on Monday November 17th, 2008. Light refreshments will be served.

The Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention (MCSP) will meet at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. 93 Worcester Road, Wellesley MA from 3 - 5pm. This meeting is an ideal opportunity for new and long time members of the coalition from around the state to learn about the upcoming activities of the coalition, ways to get involved on both a statewide and local level, and for our regional coalitions, whether established or in formation, to network with other MCSP members from across Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention

www.masspreventssuicide.org

617-817-1977

Blog: Suicide Prevention Statewide Coalition Meeting

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:26:21 GMT

The MCSP invites you to attend the next general meeting on Monday November 17th, 2008. Light refreshments will be served.

Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention

www.masspreventssuicide.org

617-817-1977

Blog: High Risk at School

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:49:47 GMT

As students settle back into school, a law designed to protect their health in the classroom received a failing grade in the first report card of Act 125. Act 125 was charged with reducing environmental health hazards in schools through the creation of a voluntary program called Envision: Promoting Healthy School Environments. According to the report card released by the Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG), Act 125 has failed to protect the majority of Vermont's children and school personnel from polluted indoor air.

Under Act 125, the State was required to create a model school environmental health plan and award environmental health certificates to schools that voluntarily excelled in improving indoor air quality. Passed by the Legislature in 2000, Act 125 established a goal of having at least 50% of schools qualify for an environmental health certificate by January 2005. Only 7% of schools had received a certificate by the end of 2006.

VPIRG recommends that Vermont turn to new opportunities and solutions for creating healthy learning environments including: 1) implementing a comprehensive healthy schools program; 2) requiring schools to purchase environmentally preferable cleaning products; and 3) eliminating high-risk pesticides and establishing strong integrated pest management programs at schools.

To read the full report, click here. To read VPIRG's news release, click here.

Blog: Tell Toy Marketers: Target Parents, Not Kids

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 20:37:16 GMT

As families struggle to cope with the growing economic crisis, they won't be getting any relief from the toy companies that bombard children with ads during the holiday season. Even though experts predict parents will spend less on toys and gifts this year, marketers are still planning their usual holiday ad blitz to kids.

It's never fair for corporations to bypass parents and market directly to children. But with parents everywhere worried about making ends meet, it's especially cruel to bombard children with ads for expensive toys and electronics. That's why we're launching a campaign to urge major toy companies and retailers to market to parents, not children, this holiday season.

Please visit http://salsa. democracyinaction.org/o/621/t/ 6914/campaign.jsp?campaign_ KEY=26139 and tell toy marketers to target parents, not kids, this holiday season.

Even in better economic times, holiday gift-buying can be a considerable strain on family budgets, with many parents carrying credit card debt for months or even into the next holiday season. Given the strains of this economic downturn, it's imperative that companies refrain from exacerbating family stress by flooding children with ads for holiday gifts that their parents may not be able to afford.

We understand that manufacturers need to create awareness of their products. But they can do so by advertising directly to parents instead of enlisting children as lobbyists for their holiday gifts. Since parents will be making the difficult purchasing decisions this holiday season, they should be the targets of any commercial appeals. A barrage of holiday marketing aimed at children too young to understand the economic crisis will create unrealistic expectations and make parenting in these uncertain times even more difficult.

Today, CCFC sent a letter to the CEOs of twenty-four toy manufacturers and retailers calling for a moratorium on holiday advertising targeted at children. Now they need to hear from you. Please take a moment to tell marketers to leave kids alone this holiday season by visiting the following link http://salsa. democracyinaction.org/o/621/t/ 6914/campaign.jsp?campaign_ KEY=26139.

And please, share this message with family and friends.

The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood
www.commercialfreechildhood. org

P.S. This campaign is just one of the ways we're reclaiming the holidays from corporate marketers. In the coming weeks, we'll be sending tips from leading experts how to celebrate meaningfully without buying into the commercial frenzy.

Blog: Focus on Absenteeism

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:40:28 GMT

Spotlight on chronic absenteeism in NYC elementary schools
"While New York City has long struggled with attendance problems in the high schools and middle schools, problems at the elementary schools have been largely overlooked until now," says the Center for New York City Affairs at the New School in releasing a report about chronic absenteeism in the lower grades. Last year, according to the report, more than 90,000 children in grades K-5 -- more than 20 percent of enrollment -- missed at least one month of school, and the proportion approached one-third of the students in high-poverty neighborhoods. The report details how chronic absenteeism at an early age can signal "much more serious problems in a family, such as domestic violence, child abuse, mental illness, and criminal justice system involvement, all commonly associated with child welfare involvement." It calls for attacking the problem with strong partnerships involving public schools, community organizations, and other institutions, and it suggests an approach for "targeting schools with the greatest need, including a possible structure for supporting practical assessments."
Read more at http://www.newschool.edu/ Milano/nycaffairs/ strengthening_schools.html
See the report at http://www.newschool.edu/ Milano/nycaffairs/documents/ StrengtheningSchoolsOct08.pdf

Blog: Susan Linn in Brookline

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:05:51 GMT

CCFC's Director, psychologist Susan Linn, will be speaking at the Edith C. Baker School this Thursday, October 16, to discuss the effects of commercialism on childhood and what you can do to prevent the exploitation of your children by the advertisers who target them. This talk is free and open to the public, so please help us grow our movement by letting friends and family know about this great event.

When: Thursday October 16, 7:00PM

Where: Edith C. Baker School
205 Beverly Road, Brookline

For more information please paste the following link into your web browser: http://www. commercialfreechildhood.org/ pdf/We%20sell%20to%20your% 20kids1.pdf

Calendar: Susan Linn in Brookline

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:05:30 GMT

2008-10-17
CCFC's Director, psychologist Susan Linn, will be speaking at the Edith C. Baker School this Thursday, October 16, to discuss the effects of commercialism on childhood and what you can do to prevent the exploitation of your children by the advertisers who target them. This talk is free and open to the public, so please help us grow our movement by letting friends and family know about this great event.

When: Thursday October 16, 7:00PM

Where: Edith C. Baker School
205 Beverly Road, Brookline

For more information please paste the following link into your web browser: http://www. commercialfreechildhood.org/ pdf/We%20sell%20to%20your% 20kids1.pdf

Link: Healthy Kids: The Key to Basics

Sat, 14 Apr 2007 18:30:31 GMT

Link: Fulling Our Mission as Advocates for Children

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 02:06:32 GMT

Calendar: THE NEW LATINO STUDY FROM UMASS BOSTON

Mon, 12 May 2008 20:41:39 GMT

2008-06-12

THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2008

12 NOON - 1:30 PM

Citizens for Public Schools

18 TREMONT STREET SUITE 320 Boston

BROWN BAG LUNCH FORUM

RECENT RESEARCH BY GASTON

INSTITUTE ON LATINO STUDENTS IN MA

GUEST: EILEEN DE LOS REYES, AUTHOR OF THE REPORT

Calendar: The Cost of Healthy Food

Wed, 14 May 2008 16:59:29 GMT

2008-05-13

A forum sponsored by MPHA's Food & Nutrition Section, the West Suburban Community Health Network Area (CHNA) 18, and Healthy Waltham

Thursday, June 12, 2008, 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Waltham Public Library, 735 Main Street

The forum will address the challenges of making fresh, healthy food available and accessible to all communities.

The roster of speakers currently includes Will Bullock, with the Trustees of Reservations, Mary Joan McClarney, Director of Food Service for the Somerville Public Schools and Meg Cloward, Executive Director, Waltham Fields Community Farm.

For more information, please contact Terry Mason at MPHA: 617-524-6696, ext. 103; tmason@mphaweb.org.

Calendar: "Two Angry Moms"

Fri, 09 May 2008 22:54:37 GMT

2008-05-17
"Two Angry Moms" is a movie that follows the story of two mothers working to improve school food. It focuses attention on the history of the school lunch program and the impact of government policy and private interests on children's health. At its core, this inspiring film is about taking action for positive social change.

Friday, May 16, 2008 7:00 pm
Media Education Foundation
60 Masonic Street, Northampton
Free and accessible. Refreshments and information beginning at 6:30 pm

Calendar: Partnership Resources

Thu, 08 May 2008 13:52:09 GMT

2008-09-08
Building the Parent-Teacher Relationship: Part I

Anne T. Henderson and Karen L. Mapp, authors of Beyond the Bake Sale: The Essential Guide to Family-School Partnerships , answer readers' questions on balancing the parent-teacher dynamic and engaging parents to create a happier and more productive classroom.

Media: kaplan and pink.jpg

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 01:31:00 GMT

Media: MassPTA meets with Davida Walsh for Rep Delahunt.j

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 01:29:20 GMT

Media: Elie and Ruth meet with Joe Racalto Wash DC 08.jpg

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 01:29:19 GMT

Media: Joseph Racalto and Kim Hunt Wash DC 08.jpg

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 01:29:18 GMT

Media: Ellie, Dee and Ginny Wash DC Feb. 08.jpg

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 01:26:49 GMT

Media: MaryAnn Ruth and Kim Supreme Ct 08.jpg

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 01:26:11 GMT

Media: MassPTA meets with Carolyn Blaydes.jpg

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 01:23:23 GMT

Media: Ruth, Ellie Jan, Kim and MaryAnn with Senator Kenn

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 01:23:23 GMT

Album: MassPTA at Legislative Conference Wash DC Feb 08

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 01:21:24 GMT

Link: Care For Youth

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:39:05 GMT

Link: SPEDwatch

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 13:25:43 GMT

Album: PTA Photos

Tue, 19 Jun 2007 14:12:35 GMT

Link: MA Suicide Prevention Coalition

Fri, 08 Jun 2007 13:45:32 GMT

Link: Massachusetts Federation of Teachers

Mon, 07 May 2007 14:51:26 GMT

Link: Massachusetts Teachers Association

Mon, 07 May 2007 14:51:11 GMT

Link: Massachusetts Dept. of Education

Mon, 07 May 2007 14:49:51 GMT

Album: My Tunes

Tue, 11 Apr 2006 21:09:40 GMT

My audio files