Author: Newsletter

At a recent PFLASA meeting, there was a discussion about academic dishonesty. One of the many factors brought up was the discrepancy between the relatively high percentage of students who have observed academic dishonesty and the relatively low percentage of students who go on to report the acts they observed, even though students know that cheating is “wrong.”

Here is an interesting, open-access study in the June 2024 edition of the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology entitled “Don’t be a rat: An investigation of the taboo against reporting other students for cheating.” Take a deep dive or a more superficial read of the introduction and discussion sections to get further insight into some of the nuanced reasons for the lack of reporting. It might then be interesting to ask your child for their experiences, dilemmas, and personal thoughts on this issue, which hopefully will give you some ideas about how to best support them.

PFLASA’s Raising Healthy Raptors Committee would like to pass on this open invitation from a group of LASA parents:

“PFLASA parents have formed a discussion group to discover ways to better support kids who are experiencing social anxiety and other forms of emotional distress related to the challenges of attending LASA. We’d like to invite to anyone who might feel their child is currently or beginning to confront these issues to join us – especially as we approach the upcoming Thanksgiving break and the dreaded “Wall.” We are scheduling our next Zoom follow-up and would love to see you there!”

If you are a parent/ adult caregiver and would like to be connected to this group, please send an email to the Raising Healthy Raptors Committee at wellness@pflasa.org.

I’ve been trying to explain some of our LASA traditions to those who are new. But today I want to briefly discuss something not unique to LASA but incredibly important.

Statistics show that graduation night is the most dangerous night of a high school senior’s life. Drugs, alcohol, and impaired drivers are a recipe for disaster. In the late 70’s, a community in Maine after losing multiple new graduates decided to fight this problem. They created what is now called “Project Graduation,” a nationwide effort to provide an alternative and safe haven to protect our kids and our larger communities.

LASA’s Project Graduation is a drug- and alcohol-free lock-in party held at the East Communities YMCA on the eve of graduation. The Senior Class safely commemorate their achievements with activities, food, and entertainment until the sun comes up.

Now as you can imagine such a party isn’t cheap. Senior Parents fundraise to support Project Graduation through the auction. The Auction starts this Sunday, November 3rd and will be promoted through all our channels. Bidding is not limited to the LASA community except for certain LASA experiences. Please look for the auction link in Sunday’s Principal’s Message and consider bidding on any item of interest. If you happen to see something that you think a friend, family member, or acquaintance you just met at Starbucks would like then please LET THEM KNOW!

Pay it forward underclasses your time is coming. But also consider this a donation to keeping our seniors and our entire community safe. If you know a family whose life was tragically changed by a drunk driver, then you know what I’m talking about.

Gratefully, Ellen Stewart-Klein, PFLASA President

Going not in order but in importance: First, our Appreciation Chairs reported on the Bus Driver Appreciation Event. Volunteers handed out goody bags both morning and afternoon. Apparently, the bus drivers were so grateful to be recognized that at least two drivers got out to personally thank our volunteers. This is the kind of thing that we get to do thanks to all the generous donations that I don’t think happens at many other high schools. Thank you all for making it happen!

Second, another call-out for mentoring volunteers. The training session dates are Monday, November 11, 11:30am, in person (PFLASA Portable); Tuesday, November 12, 6pm, ZOOM; Wednesday, November 13, 8:15am, in person (PFLASA Portable). There are roles for volunteers who have time to go mentor kids in person every week and roles for someone who can spare a Saturday or two in January.

Want to show appreciation for all our hardworking staff including teachers, admins, bus drivers and janitorial staff? The Thanksgiving Pie Event is coming up! What is it? PFLASA asks for donations of pies (any kind that doesn’t need refrigeration), store-bought or homemade, any size. And then on one of the last days before Thanksgiving break, we ask for volunteers to stock our pie giveaway room and staff come by to pick out their pie. Sign ups will be out soon!

Next, our Raising Healthy Raptors Chair gave an update about forming issue-based groups for parents. Check out the amazing resources we have on the site for you.

Finally, do you know what the “LASA letters are?” They are the large white, lighted, letters that are often displayed at LASA events like Showcase but are also used by a variety of school and booster groups. PFLASA acquired them several years ago. The letters are very cool, but it has been hard on the Board to manage the sharing and maintenance of the letters. We only use them once a year for Senior Salute. So PFLASA is donating the letters to LASA and they can now be kept in the school and managed by staff. Why should you care? Well now your group will need to plan with the school to use the Letters. PFLASA owns another set of letters (blue, wooden ones, now with stands), that are undergoing maintenance but will be available for check out. These letters may not be as cool, but they are much easier to transport and do not require replacing watch batteries.

Thanks for reading,
Ellen Stewart-Klein, PFLASA President

The PFLASA Application Mentoring program is gearing up for the upcoming application window and we need many volunteers. Please consider joining our team.

We provide students with access to adults who have the understanding of the application process and can help edit essay questions and discuss the COGAT. We go to Title 1 middle schools in AISD at various weekly times. Your commitment would be weekly from late-November until early Feb when applications are turned in. We will also need mentors for two Saturday Zoom sessions in January that are open to students city-wide.

There will be training offered in early November. If you are interested, please fill out this form.

Any questions, contact Emily Robson at mentoring@pflasa.org.