Category: PFLASA

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.

1. AP Exams start at 8am (school starts at 8:15), every year students get locked out of test.
2. Many kids have two exams on the same day and with testing periods running over sometimes those kids don’t have time for lunch. PFLASA provides breakfast every morning and grab & go snacks, so these kids (and all the stressed out kids) have something to eat.
3. PFLASA subsidizes tests for those who need and ask for it. This is one of the things I’m proud that PFLASA does, and no student or financial information is ever given to PFLASA. LASA Admin oversees this, so it is confidential. The tests are very expensive especially if taking multiple tests. Please ask for help if you need it.

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

No meeting to recap this week but we are meeting Friday at 8:15am in the PFLASA Portable (next to the Tennis Courts). Come join us!

The next few months will get busier and busier for PFLASA. And after spring break is a mad rush into AP Testing & Breakfast, Coffeehouse, and celebrating with our Seniors at Senior Salute and Project Graduation. We will also need to prepare and vote for next year’s budget and elect a new board. So this is where I beg you to help us. Not just for these upcoming events which requires masses of volunteers but also to take over the various roles that PFLASA needs to function for next year.

Yes, we need volunteers for the Board which requires a two-year commitment. But we also have much smaller roles that are entirely virtual or only require a few hours total. We have shadow positions where you help and observe an event before running it. One example is that PFLASA needs its own webmaster. Our dedicated, long-time volunteer needs a well-deserved break. This job is entirely online and involves updating the website with new content. But we also have roles in recruiting, events, and community building. Yes, PFLASA needs money to accomplish its goals but one of things that makes PFLASA so effective with that money is the number of talented and dedicated volunteers. Every year parents “graduate” with their LASA student and we need to replace them. NOW is the time to find your role before the expertise walks out the door. Whatever your job, talent, or interest PFLASA has a role for you. Because the truth is that public schools need volunteers to function at their best. So email me now at president@pflasa.org (no commitment required).

Please help!
Ellen Stewart-Klein
PFLASA President

This is an early save the date that the February 21 PFLASA meeting will be a joint PTSA meeting where PTSA has invited AISD Trustees to attend. After the meeting, PFLASA will also stuff envelopes for acceptance letters for LASA Admissions which is fun time. More info to come!

Our second January was even shorter than our short meetings so that the Board could gather to vote and discuss multiple important issues. I’m pleased to announce that the board approved, and I have signed the venue contracts for two of our biggest events!

Coffeehouse is the LASA music festival that helps celebrate the end of AP testing weeks. As the school (and the city) have grown finding an affordable venue and getting the necessary equipment has proven challenging. But the volunteer efforts of our longtime PFLASA volunteer have paid off! We have signed to have Coffeehouse at LifeAustin Events Mueller. Not only does this new venue fit our space needs but it has parking, is centrally located, and will include the equipment rentals necessary to host the show. This project is a labor of love for the LASA staff, kids, and volunteers who work hard to make it happen every year. More information to come BUT for right now mark your calendars for Friday, May 16th! And explain to your student that this venue has an extremely strict anti-vaping (and smoking) policy. Our sincere hope is that that this venue will become Coffeehouse’s home for many years to come.

We have also signed with a new venue for Senior Salute. That is a special ceremony for graduating seniors where they receive the magnet endorsement. It started when LASA was still part of LBJ to have something to distinguish them from the very rigid requirements of the AISD graduation ceremony. But now it is a beloved and meaningful tradition that more kids attend than graduation. The new venue is Austin Ridge Bible Church and our Senior Salute Chairs are so excited about this space. Don’t have a senior? This is actually good news for all classes. Just like the problems with finding a larger, affordable venue for Coffeehouse, LASA has struggled to find one for Senior Salute and the past venue the Long Center is prohibitively expensive. This beautiful space meets all our needs and again we hope will become the long-term plan for this event.

If it isn’t obvious both venues are churches. I understand that some people might object to that. This is not something that I take lightly because we want both events to be welcoming to all people. It is my understanding that these are not venues with a lot of Christian iconography. And these venues not only meet our spatial and parking needs, but they offer significantly lower rental rates than are otherwise available. PFLASA is always working to be the best stewards of your donated funds. The cost savings from both venues will allow us to put more money towards things that directly affect your child’s education while preserving important and valuable LASA traditions.

I realize that the signing of contracts may not seem to be exciting, but both signed contracts are the result of hundreds of hours of volunteer time. I am again inspired by the dedication and hard work of our parent volunteers and the commitment to finding long-term solutions.

At the extra-short meeting we recapped the success of the Showcase Teacher Dinner, upcoming master classes and had a treasurer’s report. PFLASA has also wrapped up the four Find Your Fit Panel events held during the COGAT admission testing. These have been a big success from all reports.

Our next meeting is Friday, February 7th at 8:15am in the PFLASA Portable. As always if you have feedback on anything above or anything in general, please write me at president@pflasa.org.

Hoping everyone enjoyed the four-day weekend,

Ellen Stewart-Klein
PFLASA President