Upcoming Event Reminder (slight time adjustment from prior save the date)
Wed, Feb 26th 6:15-7:30pm | Yarborough Library
PFLASA’s Raising Healthy Raptor’s Committee is so excited to invite you to join Dr. Mandy Menzer, Licensed Clinical Psychologist (and LASA Parent Alum), as she explains effective tools for handling difficult emotions using clips and concepts from the Inside Out movies. Please RSVP so we can have a rough idea how many will be in attendance to wellness@pflasa.org.
No meeting to recap but we are holding our joint meeting with PTSA and will welcome the Trustees. It’s really nice for them to get a sense of how involved our parents are so even if you don’t normally come, if you can, I highly encourage it. And we are stuffing acceptance envelopes afterwards! Say it with me now: Friday 2/21 @ 8:15am in the PFLASA Portable by the tennis courts.
In the spirit of transparency and inclusiveness. I’d like to highlight some other needs for next year. First, we need a Vice President for next year. The structure of the board is that the VP shadows the President and takes over the following year as President. Freshman parents I’m looking to you. You’ve had a year to acclimate to LASA and get some idea of all that PFLASA does to support your child’s education. The VP job is really fun and being President also has some unique joys. I love passing on praise that we get to our hardworking volunteers. I know it is a big commitment, but the organization will not run without a chief officer.
Did your kid love the petting zoo? Did holding a hedgehog or bunny melt their pre-finals stress away? We need two co-chairs to host this event next year. This is not a big-time commitment because it only requires being at the school the day of the event. And former chairs are still here for questions and it comes with a checklist made by past chair Geeta!
Finally, we have no takers for the PFLASA webmaster spot. This is an excellent job for a techy dad who doesn’t have the ability to make it to school. Again, expressing interest does not commit you to anything. Email me at President@pflasa.org
Again hoping everyone keeps water and power to survive the cold!
Ellen Stewart-Klein
PFLASA President
Please join us on Saturday, March 8th, 2024, 6:30pm-10pm, for a fun Mexican-themed party to meet other LASA parents, have fun, laugh, celebrate, and eat and drink delicious food & beverages!! There will be games, margaritas, tacos, tamales, music, and surprises!!
All details and tickets for purchase to be found in the PFLASA store.
Show Your PTSA Some Love & Help Earn the XOXO Award!
February is the perfect time to share the love—and what better way than supporting your PTSA? Help us earn the XOXO Award by joining our PTSA today. We need to recruit 14 new members during the month of February to qualify for this award. Students, Teachers, Parents, Grandparents, Uncles, Aunts, Friends, and Community Members are all welcome to join our PTSA.
Already joined? We still need about 25 facility memberships! Please consider showing some love to your facility by donating a membership! To donate, add adult faculty membership (s) to your cart and put donation in the name and email fields.
Texas PTA Rally Day is Monday, February 24th and we want you there!
Rally Day is a day spent at the Capitol talking about Public Education and meeting with Legislators about supporting Public Education. We usually have a large contingent from LASA and we’d love for you to join us! If you can’t make it, please consider donating to or joining our PTSA. We will be providing lunches to the students attending through the LASA PTSA legislative program and your membership helps amplify our voice when talking to legislators.
Join or donate: www.lasaptsa.org
The Austin Council of PTA’s has been preparing our communities for the 89th Texas Legislative session, where they debate big issues (like school funding, school security, accountability, support for our LGBTQ+ youth, etc).
More info: www.austincouncilpta.org/advocacy
If you are planning to attend, you email Sarah Romo de Vivar at president@lasaptsa.org so we can meet up.
First, I want everyone to know that the next PFLASA meeting (2/21) with be a joint meeting with PTSA AND afterwards volunteers are needed to help stuff LASA Admission Acceptance Letters. PTSA is bringing in two AISD Board Trustees including newly elected District 2 Trustee LaRessa Quintana. LASA is in District 2. Also Trustee and former LASA parent, Lynn Boswell, will be there. This is an excellent time to ask questions about the budget and the process as AISD seeks to cut millions of dollars from the budget. These decisions will affect every student in AISD so this in an excellent forum to become more informed.
Second, in one of the most fun PFLASA activities of the year, volunteers will stick around after the meeting (so save an extra 30 minutes or so) to stuff acceptance letters. You might remember getting that special envelope with confetti and an invitation to the New Parent Coffee (set for 3/29—signups coming shortly). This is your chance to prep those letters for next year’s freshman class. And no this will not give you inside information on who is admitted because the acceptance letters are not personalized, they will be addressed by LASA staff. The sign up will be out soon but I want everyone to have the chance to participate if they want.
Next, the PFLASA meeting was kind of fun with a lot of parent questions and answers. We know there are a lot of acronyms (WHAP, IEP), confusing requirements, things to do over the summer (PE camp, Garza Health online) and PFLASA meetings are an excellent forum to get some answers. We also heard about new and upcoming Master Classes, a new event from the Raising Health Raptors committee, the upcoming Meditation Great Gathering (for all classes) (details on or to come to our website pflasa.org). And PFLASA considers Great Gatherings to be community building more than fundraising events. The money and the motivation are nice, but we really want people to interact. If that appeals to you, then fill out this form.
After we concluded our meeting, we had a presentation from Ms. Cherry on AP exams. This year LASA is set to administer over 4000 AP Tests! That’s a lot. And the mechanics of administering that many tests, finding the number of rooms, having enough proctors and monitors, is also a lot. Here are three really, really, really important things to know about AP exams.
This is the part where I ask for help but I’m going to highlight a variety of tasks and events that need volunteers. As mentioned above, the New Parent Coffee is March 29th. We need lots of parents to answer the questions from the parents of “baby Raptors.” You might think you don’t know enough about LASA to answer questions, but you know so much more than those incoming parents. Also if your student has an interest (math) or activity (band), you know about that. I promise its also okay to not know and to tell them to call the counselors or talk to another parent. Sometimes new parents need the “permission” to contact the school. It’s a fun time and is so helpful for our Raptor Community.
Finally, I’m going to highlight an open chair position. We need two co-chairs for the Appreciations Committee for next year. This is a fun and flexible job where you get to show teachers, staff, bus drivers, everyone who works for LASA how much they are appreciated. The good news is that the former chairs will be here next year for advice. Please write me at president@pflasa.org for more information.
Happy Valentines and Three-Day Weekend,
Ellen Stewart-Klein
PFLASA President
Senior Class Panoramic Picture Day is Friday, February 21st at 9:45am.
Join us tonight for How Do I Know if I Should Hire a College Consultant at 6pm.
UPCOMING CLASSES
MASTER CLASS DATE CHANGES
Questions? nicole.truelock@gmail.com
We have a new Master Class to offer. Join Laurie Filipelli and Irena Smith for Help Build A Successful College Application Story on Tuesday, March 11 at 7pm.
Class Description:
In our comparison-driven culture, applying to college can be overwhelming. As parents and guides, we can ease the pressure by reframing the narrative and helping our students shine on their own terms. Through this interactive presentation, we’ll help families cut through the frenzy—How many APs? Which extracurricular activities are the best? Should my child get a summer internship?—as well as identify their own core values and support their students in becoming their best, most authentic selves. Come find useful advice, practical application tips, and a broader view of success.
LASA Dance Team Audition Meeting