Raptor Report

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.

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:

• August 6, 7, 13 & 14 | Check for times – TCBE (taking care of business early for returning students) get a chromebook, student ID, etc.
• Thursday, August 15 | 6pm – New Parent Orientation
• Monday, August 19 – Welcome Back Teacher Luncheon (more to come)
• Tuesday August 20 – First day of school
• Friday August 23 | 8:15am – First PFLASA meeting (location: PFLASA portable)

Subscribe to LASA’s calendar