Would you like to share your expertise with the LASA community? Master Classes can range from cooking, crafting, cocktails to college – no, they don’t have to start with a “c”! LOL. These classes are all hosted virtually. If you have a passion for something and want to teach it to all of us, please fill out the Master Class Interest Form. We already have several amazing Master Classes in the works, so be on the lookout for announcements for purchasing tickets.
The first week of school brings the first PFLASA meeting of the year! Please join us in the PFLASA Portable on Friday, August 23rd, 8:15am!
If you can’t make it Friday, come and join us at any of our meetings. Check the PFLASA meeting schedule here.
The first week of school also brings the first PFLASA coffee of the year on Saturday 8/24 at 8am at Central Market North. This is not a meeting but an informal gathering of LASA parents. As a magnet school, LASA doesn’t have a typical geographical community so PFLASA works hard to connect parents. The perception is that most of LASA comes from Kealing and parents already know each other but I swear that isn’t true. This is a great community and if you have never had a high schooler you need other parents to show you the ropes!
Finally, PFLASA needs help. We still need a VP in addition to the other open chairs! Please email Ellen at president@pflasa.org, if interested.
PFLASA’s annual No Hassle Fundraiser (NHF) will be here before you know it. Now is the time to find out if your employer matches donations and how to do it. This is free money that PFLASA could really use. Questions please reach out to president@pflasa.org.
Who: Current parents and students of LASA High School
What: PFLASA Study Groups
When: We are slated to start on Tuesday, September 3rd. Tutors will be available to work in small groups or individually with students from 4:15pm to 6:15pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
The general schedule for subjects offered is below:
Where: LASA Library; look for the signage as you enter through the library.
Why: These started a number of years ago to give students another place to ask questions and receive support in specific subjects. Think of it as small group private tutoring—free to the student! We have seen this service help students make great academic strides when they attend regularly.
If you are new to LASA you might not understand what PFLASA is and what it does. In short, we are an independent organization that includes all of LASA (teachers, staff, parents, guardians and friends) and exist solely to support our magnet school. We do most of the things a PTA/PTO/PTSA does but without membership fees or restrictions from a national organization (LASA also has a PTSA—they are great, you should join). When teachers need things for their classroom or professional development, we try to provide it. But we also host all the appreciation weeks, hold events for students, and generally support LASA so that it can be what it is. If your kid is here, then you should understand what a special place this is and how magnets need support in an age of declining education dollars.
But just because we are not under the national umbrella of a larger organization doesn’t mean we don’t have rules. And our rules call for an eight-member board. And right now, we are short one very important member. The Vice President gets an entire year to shadow the President and run the organization that exists solely to support our school. I understand this is a large commitment but if no one steps up to run the organization it will not continue to exist.
For anyone who has the ability to attend most PFLASA meetings, this job is possible. I am a working full-time attorney. Moreover, you will not be alone, the structure of the organization provides a lot of support, and your fellow board members are a wealth of knowledge. Finally, this organization is dynamic and has the ability to change whether that is meetings on zoom or fewer meetings. But while it can change it cannot function without leadership.
If you are at all curious or think you can help, please email me at president@pflasa.org.
Regards,
Ellen Stewart-Klein
PFLASA President
Help PFLASA welcome back our teachers and staff! We welcome your food contributions and volunteer time to create a luncheon for our teachers and staff. Click here to volunteer!
School hasn’t started but PFLASA (Parents and Friends of LASA) has been busy supporting LASA as we start a new school year. In July, PFLASA’s extraordinary volunteers coordinated two new student orientations for incoming LASA students. This including ordering, picking up and serving a pizza lunch. Thank you NSO volunteers!
On Tuesday, August 6th, the new to LASA teachers get to see the size of the district on a bus tour throughout AISD. Teachers get to have breakfast and ask questions of a parent panel in South Austin. Then there’s another stop in the afternoon for lunch and a chance to meet LASA Ambassadors in North Austin. This is one of the many events that we need a chair for next year to see the tradition continue.
And we have more events to come including the August 9th Teacher Move-In Help date. And New Parent Orientation on August 15th. But PFLASA needs your help to continue. Most importantly, we need a VP to start shadowing now!
Regards,
Ellen Stewart-Klein, PFLASA President
president@pflasa.org
A reminder of a few important dates:
Welcome to the first edition of our new Raptor Report. Technically it’s still July but PFLASA needs your help now!
First, PFLASA needs a Vice President. The VP shadows the President all year and becomes the President next school year. This organization will not exist without a dedicated team of volunteers. Please reach out to president@pflasa.org to learn more.
Second, you asked us to how to support LASA’s teachers and they answered: the Teachers want move-in help. At this time we are asking for parents to sign up and you can bring a LASA student but we do not want students to come independently. Please sign up here.
Finally, mark your calendars and watch the volunteer signup page for details the Welcome Back Teacher Luncheon. The luncheon will be Monday, August 19th (the day before school starts).
Regards,
Ellen Stewart-Klein, PFLASA President