Sunday, March 28, 2021

J.F. Cooper PTA Update - Week of 3/29/21

   


  • Our next virtual PTA meeting is on April 8. All Cooper parents are welcome. The agenda will be posted here soon. If there is a topic you would like discussed that day, please reach out to Shazia at vpofwaysandmeans.cooper@gmail.com. 
  • We are accepting nominations and self-nominations for PTA board roles for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years. All 3 roles will be vacant. Please see this form for more information: J.F. Cooper PTA Board Nomination FormNomination forms are due on April 16.
  • We need your photos from virtual and hybrid learning! Please see K-5 Yearbook Information. The last day to submit photos is April 23. Yearbook orders are due on May 1. Make sure to order yours through TreeRing!
  • If you have not submitted dues for the 2020-2021 school year, you can submit dues here or send a check for $10 made out to J.F. Cooper PTA to school with your contact information.

Programs & Events
  • Thank you to all of the talented Cooper Jaguars who participated in our Virtual Talent Show!
  • If you would like to join the Teacher Appreciation Week Planning Committee, please e-mail Shazia at vpofwaysandmeans.cooper@gmail.com.
  • We are seeking some parent and student volunteers. Please see this blog post on our home page for details.
  • We are now accepting small prize donations for Teacher Appreciation Week! We are looking for "prizes" for teachers (valued $5 and under). Please sign up here to contribute! Please send in donations to school by April 23 so the committee can get ready for this exciting week!

Fundraising

  • Thank you to all of the families that supported Cooper School at Chick Fil A in Marlkress last week!
  • Our next dine out is at Naf Naf Grill in Marlton starting at 4pm on Tuesday, April 13.
  • Flower Power Fundraiser - If you or your family/friends are ordering, please send in paper forms to school by April 6th with a check made out to J.F. Cooper PTA. You will be notified when orders are ready for pick up. Otherwise, order anytime you'd like to garden before May 15th online for a flat $6 to ship straight home. Please share this link with family and friends! Bulbs are guaranteed to grow.
  • Our Spring Spiritwear sale will be live in the PTA store from April 5 until April 15. Our sock sale is back too! Check it out in our PTA store.
  • Our 50th Anniversary Cookbooks are also on sale NOW until April 15!
  • Remember to use gift cards during your everyday shopping to help us fundraise. If you'd like to order physical cards instead of e-cards, your RaiseRight (Scrip) order is due on April 15. Order from the app anytime.

Thursday, March 25, 2021

Zone PTA Update - 3/25/2021


ZONE update:

  • The Zone PTA Exec Board will be meeting with Dr. Meloche virtually on Tuesday April 6, 2021.  If you have any questions you would like us to ask Dr. Meloche, please let us know. Please submit all inquiries before 12:00PM Friday March 26, 2021. 


  • Please continue to share the word about Fair Funding! We need to increase awareness regarding Fair Funding for CHPS! Here are some simple actions that can be done to keep the momentum going!

  1. Education on why Fair Funding is so important! Refer to recent press regarding Lenape School Districts loss of funding https://www.70and73.com/news/state-aid-down-1-11m-in-lenape-regional-high-school-district-taxes-expected-to-be/article_69fa5e9c-88ad-11eb-984c-57e890a840df.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share

  2. Parents should continue to send letters to our State Legislators. Please customize and send this thank you letter to the legislators listed on page 2!

  3. Familiarize yourself with the Long Range Facilities Plan Presentation by Garrison given at the March 23rd BOE meeting.  It outlines needed facilities projects across the District.  The presentation begins at about the 8 minutes mark.  

  4. See the Fair Funding for CHPS website & Fair Funding for CHPS Facebook page  

  5. Attend Fair Funding Committee meetings! The committee meets the last Thursday of every month during the school year.  The next meeting  is Thursday March 25th at 7:00pm via Zoom.  March 25th Fair Funding Meeting Flyer


  • SAVE THE DATE: May 6 at 1:30pm for Kwame Alexander’s virtual visit with our middle school communities

    • https://kwamealexander.com/

    • Cherry Hill Education Association is generously sponsoring a middle grade author event, to which we cordially invite you.  As some of you know, we were not able to book our original author, Tiffany Jewell, due to scheduling conflicts. However, we are proud to share that Corretta Scott King Honoree, poet, speaker, author, and educator, Kwame Alexander, will officially be our visiting author this spring.   

    • Kwame is a New York Times Bestselling author of 35 books, including the Caldecott Medal and Newbery Honor-winning picture book, The Undefeated,  and his Newberry medal-winning middle grade novel, The Crossover. Kwame opened a library and health clinic in Ghana, as a part of LEAP for Ghana, an international literacy program he co-founded. Kwame is also the Founding Editor of the printing house Versify, which aims to "Change the World One Word at a Time".

    • This event is generously supported by a CHEA Pride grant


DISTRICT update: 


For CHPS information and resources, please visit  https://www.chclc.org/chclc

 

  • We Return to Learn: The latest presentation on our WE Return to Learn Plan for fall 2021, which includes 5-day, in-person learning and an option for full-remote learning (pending approval from the NJ Department of Education) is now available on CHPS website. Dr. Mahan’s presentation of the Fall 2021 WE Return to Learn plan is available at March 9, 2021 Board of Education meeting

  • Thanks to an extension of federal funds, CHPS distribution of FREE meals to ALL CHERRY HILL STUDENTS (public, private and home-schooled) continues on every Monday. Pick up 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 10 snacks per student from noon-2:00pm and 4:00-6:00pm at High School East or High School West -- no income threshold required!  

    • Friendly reminder: Please mask up when picking up FREE meals/snacks! WE want to keep you & the Aramark team safe & healthy as they hand out meals to 1,000+ cars each Monday while being unable to maintain 6 feet of distance. These are state, Cherry Hill, Aramark & CDC guidelines.

    • Meal distribution during Spring Break will be on Monday, March 29, 2021.

  • Through the summer of 2021: Any family currently receiving free wifi from the District will automatically keep it through the summer, unless their youngest/only child is a high school senior (Class of 2021).

 


Have a wonderful spring break!

Sunday, March 21, 2021

Cooper PTA Update - Week of 3/22/21

  

  • Chick Fil A in Marlkress is offering us a Mobile Spirit Night on Tuesday, March 23, 2021 from 5-8pm! See flyer for details.
  • The Teacher Appreciation Week committee met last Tuesday to discuss plans for the week of May 3 - May 7. All are excited to run this event. If you would like to join our planning meetings, please e-mail Shazia at vpofwaysandmeans.cooper@gmail.com. 
  • Get ready for the Virtual Science Fair on April 22, 2021! See the Flyer and Registration FormPlease register by April 6, 2021.
  • We are seeking parent and student volunteers. Please see our other blog posts on our home page for details.
  • Help us fill up our yearbook. We need your photos from virtual and hybrid learning! Please see K-5 Yearbook Information for submission instructions.
  • Our Flower Power Fundraiser is live. If you'd like free shipping, please send in paper forms to school by April 6th with a check made out to J.F. Cooper PTA. Otherwise, order anytime you'd like to garden before May 15th online for a flat $6. Please share this link with family and friends! http://cooper.fpfundraising.com. Bulbs are guaranteed to grow.
  • Thank you for your support by using the RaiseRight app. Remember to use gift cards during your everyday shopping to help us fundraise! Our next physical gift card order is being submitted on April 14, 2021. Order from the app anytime.
  • Our next virtual PTA meeting is on April 8, 2021. All Cooper parents (members and non-members) are welcome. If you have not submitted dues for the 2020-2021 school year, you can submit dues here or send a check for $10 made out to J.F. Cooper PTA to school with your contact information.

Saturday, March 20, 2021

J.F. Cooper PTA Board Elections


At the March 10, 2021 membership meeting, J.F. Cooper PTA elected the Nominating Committee that will be conducting elections for PTA officers for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years.


At the June 3, 2021 membership meeting, J.F. Cooper PTA will be electing new officers for the following positions for a term of two (2) years. The following positions will be vacant:


VP of Programs & Events

  • Schedules events with the board for the school year

  • Leads the following committees/chairs under Programs & Events to keep on schedule: Assemblies, Talent Show, Valentine’s Day Event, Science Fair,  Fall & Spring Family Events 

(if any). Events are subject to change each year.

  • Collects flyers and information from chairs for monthly communications to parents

  • Performs the duties of the President in the absence of that filled position


VP of Ways & Means 

  • Schedules fundraising activities with the board for the school year 

  • Leads the following team of chairs in charge of fundraising to keep on schedule: Dine Outs, Fall/Spring Fundraiser, RaiseRight, Spirit Wear, Fall & Spring Family Events (if any)

  • Requests/updates flyers from chairs for monthly communications to parents

  • Keeps track of fundraising goals & reports progress at each PTA meeting

  • Performs the duties of the President in the absence of that filled position


Secretary

  • Keep minutes from all PTA General Membership and Board meetings

  • Keep attendance records from all meetings 

  • Present prior minutes for approval at all PTA meetings 

  • Maintain a copy of current bylaws, standing rules, and a current membership list


We are seeking candidates who are focused on serving the Cooper Community with a common goal.


All of these roles rely on a sense of responsibility, dependability, a positive attitude, a sense of organization, the ability to work with a team, and excellent communication skills


NJ PTA training and guidance will be provided for each role. Please see the JF Cooper PTA Bylaws and NJ PTA Leadership Guides for more details about role expectations/requirements. 


You can read the NJ PTA Nominating Committee Handbook to understand the process of how candidates are selected. The committee is required to seek out the best candidates available. 


You must be a PTA member to submit nominations, run, or volunteer for office. If you have not yet submitted dues, please visit our PTA store online from this website.


Apart from nominating others, you are permitted to nominate yourself if you are interested in a position. Please complete either of the following forms:

You may submit more than one form if you are nominating more than one person. 

If a nominee is not selected by the Nominating Committee after their confidential deliberations, that nominee is still allowed to run. The nominee will simply need to reach out with the intent to run for the position at least 5 days prior to the election so that a ballot can be prepared.

If you have any questions about the roles and their expectations or time commitments, contact Shazia Ansari at vpofwaysandmeans.cooper@gmail.com

If you have questions about nominations, contact Bridget Moore, Lindsay Emple, Ramona Hamill, and Josie Hong at jfcooperptaelections@gmail.com.


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

(Source: NJ PTA Nominating Committee Handbook)

Nominations from the Floor

Q:    What if a person who wants to serve in an office is not nominated by the nominating committee?


A: Every qualified person has the right to be nominated from the floor in the event she or he wantsto run for an office and is not on the nominating committee’s slate of candidates. This is a protection which assures that if any member feels the nominating committee ignored the best qualified candidate for a position, that person can still be nominated and run for office. The choice of who is elected rests, as always, with the members. In order to run for election for a local PTA, candidates must be a member of this PTA at the time of elections. They must also send notification in writing, by the prescribed date listed in your bylaws (Article 6, Section 8) to the President, Secretary, and Chairman of the Nominating Committee.


Q: What if the nominating committee is unable to find a candidate for a position?


A: The nominating committee should submit its nominating committee report on time withthat position left blank. It is better to find a qualified nominee rather than submit the name of someone unable to fulfill the duties of the position. When the election of officers is being held the president will solicit nominations from the floor as occurs with all of the positions. If there is still no one to fill the position,

the board of directors (see your bylaws) has the authority to elect someone to the position.


Purpose of the Nominating Committee


Q: Why is the nominating committee elected?


A: This committee is elected to seek, on behalf of the members, the best qualified candidates for future leaders of the PTA. Election by the membership to the nominating committee is a very high honor. This is the one committee on which the president is not an ex officio a member.


Q: What is the duty of the nominating committee?


A: The responsibility of the committee is to identify, recruit and nominate the best qualified candidate(s) for each elected position. To do this, the committee members must be committed to PTA; be willing to invest time to make it the best possible association; and be capable of holding candid discussions about the potential nominees, knowing that all conversations are confidential.