Category: PFLASA

Hello, Raptor Community!

I’m Anna Land, and I am honored to serve as your incoming PFLASA president for the 25-26 school year. As a mother of a rising sophomore, my family feels fortunate to be a part of LASA. I’m genuinely excited to serve our students and our school in the coming year.

This school year, I served as the PFLASA Vice President under our current President, Ellen Stewart-Klein. Ellen is modest about her achievements in her term as President, and thus… will you indulge me in singing her praises?

Under Ellen’s leadership, and with that of countless volunteers under her presidency term, PFLASA had a tremendous year. Some of this year’s accomplishments include:

• We raised more money than ever before with our No Hassle Fundraiser.
• Countless of you parents answered our every call, volunteering for school events, AP exams, and new parent welcoming opportunities.
• We funded and coordinated student support services throughout the year, including tutoring, stress busters, and AP breakfast and snacks.
• We hosted Find Your Fit, New Parent Coffee, and Summer New Student Orientations for incoming Raptor families.
• We also welcomed and supported LASA teachers with the New Teacher Bus Tour, teacher professional development grants, and instructional materials.
• We hosted Great Gatherings, held Master Classes, and facilitated the College Board Accommodations Parent Panel.
• And although Ellen won’t take credit for it, under her leadership, PFLASA launched the new Raptor Report which has really expanded our communication abilities.

When I asked Ellen what she believed her legacy as President would be, she mentioned “transparency” and “more inclusion” as the most important markers of her term. I believe we can all agree Ellen has been tremendously successful in achieving these goals.
As I step into this role, I would like to make “sustainability” the watchword of my term, ensuring that the initiatives and successes of the past leaders – including Ellen and our immediate past president, Nicole Truelock – continue to thrive and evolve.

And in that vein, I’d like to ask for your help on a few last projects that we need your help with:
Project Graduation is an all night lock-in for seniors on the night of graduation. This year, the event is Tuesday, June 3,10 pm – Wednesday, June 4, 5:30 am at the East Communities YMCA. PFLASA hosts this event each year and requires an immense amount of support to make this event happen. We ask for parents of all grade levels to volunteer because (1) many senior parents may have family in town/may be exhausted from the whirlwind senior events/may not be able to volunteer; and (2) freshman, sophomore and junior parents will gain knowledge and experience towards planning their own senior Project Graduation events. Let’s make this a fantastic night for our graduates!

Please sign up here to volunteer:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084DA9A629A7FCC52-56033829-lasa#/

PFLASA is also planning the “Final Lunchdown” of the year on Thursday, May 22. This annual event gives us one last opportunity to show teachers and staff just how much we appreciate all that they do for our students and families. Please help us make this event a success! There are lots of opportunities to help make the lunch extra special. Do you like to cook? Drop off your favorite dish for the staff to enjoy! Are you looking to get your activity points in your Apple Watch? We need help setting up tables and chairs! You can find the sign up below. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F084DABAE2AAAFE3-56091009-staff

On behalf of the entire PFLASA board of directors, we want to thank each and every one of our families for making LASA the special community it is. We cannot carry PFLASA’s mission without you. We appreciate you!

Anna Land
2025-26 PFLASA President
president@pflasa.org

Whew! We are almost through AP’s! And we still have our biggest events ahead! But this Friday is our last PFLASA meeting (with PTSA) of the year. Although my term officially ends July 1st, it is time to pass the proverbial torch to the next President and Board. I’m very excited about some of the planned innovations for next year and I can relax knowing I’m signing off with a group of dedicated and thoughtful volunteers.

I must start with an apology for failing to mention that an incredible group of volunteers rolled wagons filled with goodies to every classroom and office in the school to celebrate our staff and teachers after last week’s meeting. In addition, everyone got a gift card of their choice. But this isn’t the only way PFLASA shows appreciation. In between AP’s and Finals, between Coffeehouse and Senior Celebrations, we have our last Teacher & Staff Luncheon. And we need help! If showing teachers how much they mean to your kids is your jam, then this is the event for you! PFLASA provides the main dish, but we are asking for donations of sides, fruit, drinks, and desserts to make this event truly amazing. We also need volunteers to set up, serve, and clean up. Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F084DABAE2AAAFE3-56091009-staff#/

And since I’m asking for help, I’m also going to mention we desperately need help for Coffeehouse ticket sales: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050945A9A922AAF94-56535523-coffeehouse#/

Coffeehouse: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0D4FACAA2A1-56696198-coffeehouse#/

And Project Graduation: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084DA9A629A7FCC52-56033829-lasa#/

You were amazing at AP Snacks and Volunteering! We just need a little more of that energy to push us over the finish line!

Now, I want to take time to say thank you and try to summarize all that we accomplished this year. Everyone who donated funds, did the work to get those employer matches, dropped off food donations for students or teachers, or volunteered for literally anything is what made all that PFLASA does possible. And this year we truly exceeded expectations! We raised more money than ever before with our No Hassle Fundraiser. We paid for hundreds of hours of science tutoring. We helped LASA recruit and provide support for those most disadvantaged applicants. We welcomed future Raptors and their parents with our Find Your Fit events, New Parent Coffee, and Summer New Student Orientations. We also welcomed new to LASA teachers with the New Teacher Bus Tour. We celebrated teachers and staff in many ways including the beloved Thanksgiving Pie Event. But we also worked to bring together our community. We hosted Great Gatherings, held Master Classes and the College Board Accommodations Parent Panel. We launched the fabulous new Raptor Report to streamline communications! And with the school at full capacity, we found new venues to host our expanded population for both Senior Salute and Coffeehouse. Last but not least, we were again able to donate staffing funds! Thank you all for making all this possible and for making LASA the truly special place that it is!

Finally, I hope to see all of you at this week’s meeting (Friday 8:15 am in the portable) or at Coffeehouse. We all deserve to celebrate another incredible LASA year!

Gratefully,
Ellen Stewart-Klein
PFLASA President

Hi LASA community!

PFLASA is planning the “Final Lunchdown” of the year. Please help us make the Teacher and Staff Appreciation Luncheon a success.

There are lots of opportunities to help make the lunch extra special. You can find the signup below and thank you for always helping us appreciate our Teachers and Staff at LASA!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F084DABAE2AAAFE3-56091009-staff

Thanks for signing up!

Sincerely,

Sarah Romo de Vivar & Nicole Truelock
Teacher & Staff Lunch Coordinators

Do buy your tickets now, they are not sold at the door: https://pflasa.org/coffeehouse-on-season/
Don’t wait because they usually sell out!

Do support our food trucks! (JP’s pancakes (sweet and savory options), Craigo’s Pasta, Wholly Cow Burgers and Daughter’s Coffee -electronic payment recommended)
Don’t bring or order food (no outside food or drink & it’s not allowed inside the venue).

Do bring an empty water bottle (there are fountains and water available).
Don’t bring lawn chairs as the venues are inside with seating!

Do bring cash to buy Coffeehouse T-shirts!
Don’t bring vaping or smoking (this will get us kicked out!)

Do volunteer: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0D4FACAA2A1-56696198-coffeehouse#/
Don’t ignore bad behavior! All adults need to step in and we have security personnel to intervene!

Don’t forget this is a school sponsored event and we will be representing LASA.
Finally, do come to Coffeehouse because you don’t want to miss this LASA tradition and the amazing talent!

Coffeehouse is coming, and we need a few volunteers to help sell tickets in person at LASA before school and during lunch Wed-Fri, May 14-16.

Sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050945A9A922AAF94-56535523-coffeehouse#/

These are just 1-hour shifts. Please sign up if you can!

You guys are amazing! We are normally begging and pleading to get AP volunteers but this year everyone has stepped up in a big way and we have most spots covered. The president’s role is varied, but the hardest part is getting volunteers and money. You guys have really made my job so much less stressful this year on both fronts. But we do still need help! We have a few more spots to cover mainly for our Junior heavy tests like Physics 1 & 2. Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050945A9A922AAF94-56426193-apexam#/

Our 5/2 meeting centered really on two things. Getting volunteers for all of our big events and Coffeehouse!! While there has been a huge response to our AP needs, Project Graduation isn’t doing as well. I get that a weeknight super late-night commitment is a big ask, but it is important, meaningful, and potentially lifesaving. Keeping celebrating grads off the roads and away from drugs & alcohol saves lives. And I know there’s a belief that the LASA kids are too smart for that, but smart kids die for really stupid reasons, including being hit by other drunk drivers out late. And there’s a cumulative effect to these events, if most area high schools have them, and most kids go, and they happen every year, the culture around celebrating graduation changes. But keeping this event going means we need volunteers. And senior parents, you aren’t totally off the hook! We ask that the bulk of the working volunteers come from the other grades, but senior parents fill the leadership roles. Please don’t make me beg! Sign up to volunteer with Project Graduation.

Finally, Coffeehouse. Hopefully, you know what that event is (if not, great descriptions on the Facebook page and in Sunday’s Principal’s Message). Our fantastic Coffeehouse Chair showed up to talk about this year’s new venue and how exciting it is that this venue is bigger, very centrally located, has parking, and has two indoor stage areas. But there will also be food trucks and social space outdoors (see the Coffeehouse post for more info). If in doubt, err on the side of going (and getting tickets because they sell out), even if you are a freshman parent whose kid didn’t take any AP’s, even if you don’t know any kids performing, even if you are an introvert. This is a chance to see LASA at its best, and you don’t have to take my word for it.

Because the real star of the meeting was Mr. Snyder, the songwriting class teacher, who talked to us about how important this event is. How not every LASA kid is set to become an engineer. How this is a chance to perform their music in front of a large crowd on a real stage with light and sound equipment. How truly life-changing this event can be. And how this is the thing that LASA does that is cool. It makes their Austin/Bowie/McCallum/etc friends really jealous because it is so cool. The only regret I’ve ever heard about Coffeehouse is that people didn’t go every year.

And this wouldn’t be one of my May posts without one more volunteer ask. Coffeehouse needs volunteers to sell tickets, and will need event volunteers. Sign up for Coffeehouse ticket pre-sales.

No meeting this week, last meeting of the year and Joint PTSA meeting 5/16!

Wishing everyone good AP vibes,
Ellen Stewart-Klein
PFLASA President