Missouri PTA Announcement

Hello Missouri PTA Members,

In response to the health information and recommendations related to the coronavirus outbreak, many school districts have closed and suspended building access to groups that utilize their facilities. Missouri PTA knows this combined with the CDC guidelines for meetings/gatherings creates many concerns for our PTAs across the state.

I would like to address our nominating and officer election process. The March 31 deadline for providing officer information to our state office is set in our bylaws and is a requirement of good standing. This date cannot be changed without a bylaws amendment approved at our state convention. We understand that units/councils could be delayed in completing their election process and forwarding this information to the state office. Please be assured that Missouri PTA is sensitive to these extenuating circumstances and will support our units and councils every way
we possibly can. Once officer information is received, units’ and councils’ good standing status will be updated accordingly.

Good standing is a factor when verifying eligibility for awards, recognition, scholarships, grants, etc. The Missouri PTA Executive Committee has voted to exempt applications from the 2020-2021 officer information submission deadline of March 31. This exception will end on September 1, 2020.

An update regarding the status of the 104 th Annual State convention scheduled for May 1-3 is forthcoming. We appreciate your patience in the meantime.

This is an unprecedented situation filled with lots of questions and uncertainty for all of us especially our students. I hope that we, as PTA members will see this as an opportunity to find ways to work with our education partners to support our families.

Susan Rupert
President
Missouri PTA

Child Mind Institute – Supporting Our Kids Through the COVID-19 Crisis

With more and more schools and workplaces closed and public life suspended, parents everywhere are wrestling with how to keep children healthy and happy while confined to home. Many of us are struggling to juggle childcare and remote work, even as we manage our own anxiety about COVID-19.

At the Child Mind Institute our experts are coming together to offer guidance about how we can most effectively support our children’s well-being — and our own — during this crisis.

Today we offer their suggestions for structuring this time at home, modeling a calm and positive approach, and engaging kids in ways that will help them build resilience.

We’ll be offering more tips for supporting kids in the coming days and, as the situation evolves, continuing to create new resources to help families everywhere stay strong.

Information from Action for Healthy Kids and Active Schools

Action for Healthy Kids and Active Schools understands the challenges schools and parents are facing right now and the concerns they have about COVID-19 (Coronavirus). Your safety and that of your families, students and their families is our highest priority. View our full statement here.

School closings and restrictions on large gatherings are likely impacting the work you or your school may currently be doing for kids’ health, so we have modified many of our plans for the rest of the school year and compiled some resources for you.

Resources for Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Emotional Health

Keeping kids active and nourished at home is especially important right now, so view some of our favorite at-home activities, as well as our list of resources from partners and other organizations to help schools and families stay healthy and informed.

School Grants & Every Kid Healthy Week

We have extended the deadline for grant applications until May 1, 2020. If you have questions or concerns, contact us through our online contact form and select School Grants. We will be reviewing grant applications on a rolling basis, so if you are able to submit your application before the extended deadline, please do so.

While Every Kid Healthy Week remains on the calendar (this year April 20-24, 2020), we are not encouraging or expecting schools to host events, even if the schools are open. We advise you to follow the guidance from your schools, districts and states and recommendations from the CDC and federal government. That said, we encourage you to bring the celebration home! You can find activity ideas on our Every Kid Healthy Week resource page, in our Game On Activity Library, and in this curated list of at-home activities.

Questions?

View our full list of FAQs around COVID-19 here, or reach out to us at contactus@actionforhealthykids.org.

Yours in health,

Rob Bisceglie
CEO
Action for Healthy Kids