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News
& Review
The
Monthly Newsletter of Harford County Council of PTA, Inc.
Highlights
and News Briefs
September/October
1998
At
this time of year, with the year quickly coming to a close, we tend
to focus on the past and "endings." But, we in Harford County are
actually facing several "beginnings" as 1998 comes to an end.
Harford
County Public Schools have recently promoted Mrs. Jacqueline Haas
to the position of Superintendent of Schools. As she begins her term
as the leader of our system, parents and students can anticipate a
true partnership in the education process.
A
new County Executive and County Council have begun their terms of
office. Mr. Harkins, Mr. Hersch, and other Council members have a
huge undertaking in front of them. Each of these government officials
promised, during their campaigns, to keep education a priority in
this count's budget. Parents throughout the county will be watching
to see that these promises are kept for our children.
The
HCPS Board of Education is beginning their annual Operating Budget
process for the 1999-2000 school year. This is an arduous task; one
that they all take quite seriously. Your input and participation in
this process is welcome and vital.
Parents
of Harford County Public School students are beginning a time of increased
parental involvement in their children's school lives. You have the
opportunity to effect the formation of the school systems' budget
and to influence the amount of funding appropriated by the county
government for this purpose. If you sit back and allow, or expect,
others to speak for you, you may well be very disappointed and uncomfortable
with the decisions made. Take the time to speak up for your children.
If you don't...who will?
So
as you celebrate this holiday season with your loved ones and make
plans to begin the New Year, make a resolution to become more involved
with your children's education. Begin with the budget hearings held
by the Board of Education and then by the County Executive and Council.
See you all there!
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Congratulations
to HCCPTA Treasurer Bruce Butz nominated by the Harford County Council
of PTA, Inc. for the position of Maryland State PTA Treasurer.
MCPT
will hold a special election for this position during its Winter Boards
to be held in February.
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Vacancies
exist on the Citizen Advisory Committee to the Board of Education
of Harford County on Family Life Education. The committee participates
with the school system's Family Life Education Committee in decisions
regarding materials to be used in the kindergarten through twelfth
grade education program on Family Life and Human Development, and
HIV/AIDS prevention.
Committee members serve a three-year
term and may apply for a second three-year term. Regular attendance
is important in maintaining the continuity and effectiveness of
the committee.
Any Harford County resident interested
in applying should send a letter of interest and a biographical
sketch to the office of the Director of Public Information, HCPS
System, 45 East Gordon Street, Bel Air, MD 21014. Letters of interest
should include name, address, phone number, and background information
containing: children and the school they attend, membership in community,
social, and civic groups; occupation; level of schooling; availability
to attend evening meetings; and information explaining why the applicant
wants to become active on the committee.
Deadline for applications is January
15, 1999. It is anticipated that the Board of Education will receive
recommendations at its March 8, 1999 meeting, with appointments
being made at the April 12 meeting. Applicants will be notified
of the results following the meeting.
For more information, call Charles
M. Jensen 410-588-5274.
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HCCPTA
welcomes the newest members to the Board of Directors:
Becky
Kennedy - Hospitality Chair. Look for Becky to make contact
with your PTA President to arrange refreshment donations for
upcoming HCCPTA meetings and events.
Chris Moore - Regional Coordinator for the North Harford
Area.
It is with regret and sincere thanks for his efforts over the
years on behalf of the Fallston area, that HCCPTA has accepted
the resignation of Mr. Ira Goldman, Regional Coordinator for
the Fallston region.
Regional
Coordinators Positions Open
Regional
Coordinator vacancies remain in the Joppatowne and now Fallston Area.
If there is a member of your PTA interested in serving as a Regional Coordinator
for these areas, please contact Mike O'Hern at 410-679-8783 or elementis@aol.com
for a description of duties.
by
Leslie Riden
The
MIC on ADHD was held on November 13-14, 1998 at the University of
Maryland. This conference was convened to provide professionals and
parents an opportunity to receive the most up-to-date information
about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in school age children
in Maryland. The conference furthered the mission of the Task Force
to Study the Uses of Methyl- Phenidate [Ritilin] and Other Drugs on
School Children [House Bill 971, signed into law on May 8, 1997].
Conference
attendees heard from many nationally recognized authorities in the
field of ADHD. On Friday, Peter S. Jensen, M.D. [Associate Director,
Child and Health; Chief Developmental Psychopathology Research Branch,
National Institute of Mental Health] reviewed results of multi-modal
treatment studies for for ADHD which have compared psycho-social and
medical treatments alone and in combination. Doctor Jensen's team
worked with 579 ADHD children and their parents over 24 months and
with 28 sessions for parent training. The study had an incredible
96% retention of participants. Findings of importance to parents of
ADHD children included; combined and medical treatments did not differ
significantly statistically, though combined treatments provided improvement
in social skills and the degree of medical compliance improves treatment
outcomes. In plain English, the use of medication and counseling offer
the ADHD the best treatment. Parents can contact their school guidance
department and/or their pediatrician to learn about appropriate counseling
and support services for the ADHD child and family.
If
you are interested in obtaining more information, please contact Leslie
Riden at 410- 893-1925.
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K.I.S.S
Kids in Safety Seats
Kicks off Inspection Programs
February
13, - MVA Bel Air
1-5:00 p.m.
May 15 - Target Bel Air
10 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
July 10 - Susquehanna State Park
12 - 4:00 p.m.
For
more information contact Lisa at (410) 836.1282
For
more information about receiving money for After Prom Parties, please
contact Lee Ann Candon, Highway Safety Project Coordinator at 410-638-4924
MADD
will introduce .08 legislation again this year, this time as a 1 tier
system. Please call you legislators to voice your support of .08.
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HCCPTA
would like to thank the following businesses and individuals for their
support and contribution to the HCCPTA Scholarship Basket Bingo held
in November:
Thank
you one and all!
| Aberdeen
Fire Department |
Kefauver's
|
| Baltimore
Blast |
Klein's
|
| Baltimore
Orioles |
Learning
How |
| Baltimore
Symphony |
MacPhoto
|
| Bel
Air Athletic Club |
Pepsi
|
| Bob
Evans |
Ravens
|
| Chuck
E Cheese |
Red
Lobster |
| Confidence
Studios |
Ring
Factory Elementary- Green Mountain Bakers |
|
CPI Photo |
Ronnie
Chenowith |
| Dr.
Jeffery Kessler |
Russell
Associates, Inc. - LIsa Breece |
| DuClaw's
|
Scholastic
|
| Einstein
Bagels |
Sears
Optical |
| Family
Recreation Products |
Shear's
Hair Studio |
| Genesis
Builders, Inc. |
Starbuck's
|
| Gertrude
Hawk |
Sue
Hesselton |
| Giant
Foods |
Target |
| Harford
County Public Schools |
Teri
Larson (CCE) |
| Japan
House |
Western
Auto - Art Helton |
| Jeanne's
Gourmet Cookies & Coffee |
World's
Finest |
|
Joe Corbi's |
Yorktowne
Sports |
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-
Approximately
50 delegates attended - representing 14 Harford County Schools
- Lois
Jean White, National PTA President attended the convention and addressed
the delegates.
- The
delegate body did not approve the proposed $.75 per member increase.
Instead, a motion was presented by the Harford County delegation proposing
an incremental increase of $.25 per year over the next three years.
The motion was carried and the delegates approved the motion for incremental
increases of $.25 per member per year over the next three years. This
increase will take effect beginning with the 1999-2000 school year.
- Minor
changes were approved to the state bylaws. The most significant was
the vote to charge the Maryland PTA Nominating Committee to present
all candidates for each position - not a slate of officers.
- Several
Harford County PTA's were presented with membership increase awards
and four (4) received Maryland PTA Achievement Awards.
- Maryland
PTA Officers for 1999 were elected as follows:
President - Debbie Bostian
1st V.President - Rosemary Mortimer
V.P. Leadership - Minnie Pearson
- The
Harford County Delegation also made a motion which was approved to amend
the Maryland Legislative Program to include "safety restraints and seatbelts
on special needs buses".
Harford
County PTA's were well represented and active participants in all aspects
of this convention. Whether working in the PTA store, welcoming registrants
to the convention, meeting as a council, making motions, and initiating
compromise and discussion during General Sessions, and of course, networking
with each other, this was a busy group of delegates. HCCPTA was well represented
and made the other county councils aware of the continued commitment and
dedication we all know so well.
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