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FAQS FINANCIAL *. INSURANCE * GENERAL * PROGRAMS & EVENTS Financial Financial ​ Can we use Venmo or Zelle to accept payments? No. These types of apps are peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms which aren’t developed to serve groups, especially nonprofits like PTAs. A P2P platform’s primary role is exactly that — transactions between two individuals for personal means, like paying a friend back for dinner. Great for individuals, but not for PTAs. ​ Can we use a debit card to pay bills? No, you can't use a debit card to pay bills, but you can use online payment systems. All expenses must be accounted for and reported in the monthly treasurer’s reports. An Authorization for Payment Via EFT/ACH/Bank Bill Pay Services form signed by two authorized check signers must be completed for all Electronic Funds Transfer/Bank Bill Pay Service ​ A re we allowed to buy gifts with P TA money? PT A funds should not be used to purchase personal gifts, equipment for staff lounges and lunchrooms or for furnishings for principals’ offices. Personal gifts include gift cards and gifts for baby showers, Secretary’s Day, bereavements, weddings, or birthdays. If the membership determines that such items are necessary, the individual members can make personal donations to purchase the designated items. These donations should not be commingled with PTA funds. insurance Insurance ​ Are we covered by our insurance? Insurance will cover all events as long as they meet our insurance guidelines (when in doubt, call or email AIM & verify). However, per my email with AIM, “ Your policy has a pandemic exclusion. There is no coverage for covid no matter where you have the event.” Meaning no coverage will be provided for COVID related issues. It is extremely important that we are following any COVID protocols/guidelines outlined by SVUSD. ​ Will there be an online waivers/digital signing options for Parents through CAPTA? Or AIM? At this time, no, but stay tuned for more info. general General ​ Who do I contact when questions come up? When asked questions you don’t know the answer, please bring them to SVPTA President, Catherine , & she will make sure to get the answers for you. SVPTA will also continue to help communicate information to the community. Please make sure & share our posts/messaging. Can PTA create resource lists for parents & distribute them (ex/babysitters, tutors, etc)? Neither the PTA or school sites should be collecting and/or recommending these kind of resources. This becomes an endorsement/promotion of such businesses, which neither SVUSD or PTA should be doing for many reasons, liability being one of them. There are current resources that are provided through SVUSD, including TLC & the community services group/catalog. Those resources can be shared. Regarding resources, parents can always start their own FB group. However, it should be separate from your PTA Facebook group/platforms. ​ Can our PTA buy gift cards for our school staff members or volunteers? No. Giving a gift card is the same as giving someone cash. In addition, giving a volunteer cash or a cash equivalent like a gift card on behalf of the organization may cause them to be considered an employee or an independent contractor by government agencies. And the IRS considers cash gifts (including gift cards) as reportable income on the recipient’s tax filings. For these reasons, our policies and procedures expressly forbid giving gift cards purchased with PTA funds: “PTA funds cannot be used to purchase personal gifts for staff or volunteers, such as gift cards.” ​ Can PTA get the word out about GoFundMe or Meal Trains for members in the community? Yes, the PTA may get the word out about any and all benefits/fundraisers being held for individuals or families in need or about local charities who are assisting those in need, regardless of who is organizing them. The PTA may also help with a fundraiser by advertising it and encouraging volunteers, but it cannot be an official PTA activity, and all money collected must go to the organization holding the fundraiser. Checks cannot be made out to PTA, and no deposits may be made to the PTA account on behalf of another organization or family in need. Programs & Events ​ How do we get programs and events approved? Check out our step by step guide - https://www.svpta.org/presidents ​ I have questions, who can I contact? Please contact our Programs Liaison . ​ programs

Membership Joining PTA supports local, state and national efforts to improve the education of children and the lives of families. Membership provides the opportunity for individuals to raise their voices with others throughout the state and nation on issues affecting children, youth and families. PTA involvement helps build leadership, communication and advocacy skills. It provides members with opportunities to participate in an educational partnership with administrators and teachers. PTA members are a valuable community resource for starting and maintaining projects to benefit children and youth. What do you need to prepare for your membership drive? Create an information guide or newsletter to send to your parents, outlining why they should join PTA. ​ Make sure your web store is ready for your membership drive. Many units already have an online store they can use but if not, you have the option of the TOTEM system. Membership Resources Links National PTA Membership Campaign CAPTA Building Your Membership Social Media Graphics Facebook Cover Image Twitter Cover Image Small Tile Square Other Graphics Join PTA Today All Children are Our Children logo ​ ​​ 2nd VP of Membership Sarah S. membership@svpta.org

Advocacy PTA at its heart is an advocacy organization. Recently on a phone call, National PTA President Anna King discussed advocacy and the importance of parents' decisions in their student's education. ​ Please remember that advocacy is respectful. If you want to be heard and enact change, it needs to be done in a kind and respectful manner. We’ve seen many people on all sides struggling with the impact of this pandemic on their children. As we continue to move forward & towards more normalcy for all of us, let’s do everything we can to reunite our school communities and our families. With ADVOCACY at the forefront of our organization, here are resources supporting the importance of parent involvement in schools, as well as contact information to assist you in advocating for your child through local representatives, state representatives & various agencies. 01 The Power of Parents Research underscores the impact of parent involvement in schools. Power-of-Parents-Feb-2014.pdf (edsource.org) 02 PARENTS' RIGHTS - Did you know that parents and caregivers have legal, guaranteed rights to school and student involvement? ​ It’s true: These laws and rules were created and put into effect by families, teachers and concerned community members and groups like the PTA who want the best for our kids. Parents' Rights - California State PTA (capta.org) ​ ​ 03 Proposed Legislation from the CA Assembly & Senate (if you have concern or support of certain bills, here is where you can go to provide your feedback) https://calegislation.lc.ca.gov/Advocates/ Legislator Contacts* *Please note, if you are writing your legislators, you cannot use your PTA title or position on any statewide issue. You must write them as a parent from their district. Senator Dave Min Website Email (949) 223-5472 ​ District Map ​ ​ Senator Catherine Blakespear Website Email (949) 598-5850 ​ District Map ​ Assemblywoman Kate Sanchez Website Email (949) 459-7170 ​ District map ​ Assemblywoman Diane Dixon ​ Website Email (949) 459-7170 ​ District Map ​ Contact the Governor ​ You may contact Governor Gavin Newsom by mail at: Mailing address: Governor Gavin Newsom 1021 O Street, Suite 9000 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: (916) 445-2841 Fax: (916) 558-3160 ​ Submit a comment online - https://www.gov.ca.gov/contact/ ​ ​ Any PTA district, council or unit may recommend action on legislation to the California State PTA Board of Managers. PTA districts, councils, and units are responsible for taking action on local issues originating in school districts, cities, regions, or counties. ​ Laws enacted by local, state and national bodies are primary sources of public policy. Securing adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth is one of the purposes of the organization. Therefore, PTA maintains an active legislation program. PTAs can and must participate actively in the process through which public policy decisions are made. Legislative Chairman ​ PTA is a child advocacy association. Its legislative mission is to speak on behalf of all children and youth at the local, state and federal levels. One of the Purposes of PTA is “to secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth.” PTA promotes and encourages legislative advocacy for the education and welfare of all children and youth. ​ Role of PTA legislation ​ As local officers of the largest grassroots child advocacy organization in the state, PTA legislative advocacy chairs are responsible for demonstrating leadership on children’s issues at the local level by educating PTA members, community members and elected officials about PTA’s issues of concern and legislative priorities and goals. ​ The California State PTA takes positions on issues/legislation based on position statements in the California State PTA Toolkit, California State PTA convention resolutions, California State PTA Legislation Platform and National PTA positions and convention resolutions. ​ The unit, council or district legislative chair provides PTA members with information about PTA positions on current legislation and issues. ​ ​ Advocacy Resources Advocacy Communicator PTAs Nonpartisan Policy OC Voting Information Election Campaigns & the role of PTA Sacramento Safari Current Legislation CAPTA Resolution Process How to Make a Study 1st VP of Advocacy Michele S. advocacy@svpta.org

Award Winners We are part of an incredible community in Saddleback Valley. Our PTA’s play a vital role in engaging our families, supporting our school sites, advocating important issues & being a VOICE for ALL CHILDREN! On behalf of 4th District PTA (serving all of Orange County) & Saddleback Valley PTA, we are so proud of Melinda Heights PTA for being recognized with the Outstanding Unit Award & to Trabuco Hills High School teacher, Lisa Lotito-Byers, for the Outstanding Teacher Award. Melinda Heights Outstanding Unit Award Lisa Lotito-Byers Outstanding Teacher Trabuco Hills High School

CAPTA & 4th District ​ Running Your PTA 4th District Leadership Tips CAPTA Tips for Leaders CAPTA Forms 4th District Forms Building Membership ​ ​ Financials CAPTA Finance Resource Page ​ Insurance Coverage and Service 2023 Guide ​ ​ Advocacy CAPTA Advocacy for PTA Leaders 4th District Advocacy Communicator 4th District Advocacy/ Legislation ​ ​ ​ Parliamentarian Parliamentary Procedure Bylaws & Standing Rules Nominations & Elections ​ Social Media Guidelines for PTAs in California Advocacy Chart Guidelines for PTA Leaders and Members in California ​ ​ Training Videos CAPTA Virtual Summer Leadership Academy President, Part 1 & Part 2 Secretary Treasurer, Part 1 , Part 2 , & Part 3 Parliamentarian Basics Audits Reflections Membership Basics Legislation & Advocacy ​ ​ 4th District Training President General Financial Secretary Parliamentarian Auditor Membership Membresia (Spanish Membership) Reflections ​ ​

College & Career Fair This event is being brought to you though partnership with SVPTA, SVUSD, and all of our high school PTSA & PTSOs El Toro PTSO, Laguna Hills PTSA, Trabuco Hills PTSA and Mission Viejo PTSO. October 11, 2023 ​6:00 - 8:00 PM @ MVHS ALL SVUSD STUDENTS INVITED ​Registering is free and easy! A few weeks before the event you will get an invitation to officially register on StriveScan. This will create your unique identifier that will be used to check in to the event. Then download the App to have it ready to go. Register Here

SVUSD School Board Trustee Candidate Forum Tuesday, September 27 7-8 pm SVUSD Board Room Moderated by The League of Women Voters ​ ​ Meet the Candidates Trustee Area 1 Mr. Greg Kunath gregkunathforthekids.com Candidate Information Sheet Mr. Dan Walsh danwalshforschoolboard.com ​ Candidate Information Sheet Trustee Area 5 Ms. Jenny Richter jennyrichter4schoolboardsvusd.com ​ Candidate Information Sheet Mrs. Barbara Schulmann barbaraforschoolboard.com ​ Candidate Information Sheet Basic Ground Rules for the Candidate Forum There will be no substitutes or stand-ins for the candidates Any news releases about the debate will be handled by the sponsoring organization(s) and sent simultaneously to all the candidates. No campaign banners, signs, literature, handouts, buttons, tee shirts, or other campaign paraphernalia will be allowed in the debate hall until after the forum has concluded. The audience will be asked to refrain from applauding or in other ways demonstrating support or nonsupport for a candidate. There will be no audience reaction shots during the debate, although panning of the audience before and after the debate may be allowed. Candidates will be introduced by full name. Thereafter, "Mr." and "Ms." will be used. The candidates will remain seated at all times during the debate. The candidates will not use props, but may bring notes and use a note pad and pens for taking notes during the debate. Time limits on responses will be strictly observed. A timekeeper will hold cards, visible to the speaker, indicating how much time remains. When the "stop card" is shown, the speaker must end his/her speech within 10 seconds. The moderator will have the responsibility for enforcing time limits. The moderator also will have the authority to interrupt the proceedings to enforce the ground rules and format that were agreed to by the candidates. Questions from the audience will be submitted in writing. The moderator will read the questions. The moderator may restate the question. The candidates will not interrupt one another. No flash cameras and no motor-driven cameras will be used during the debate other than those authorized by the sponsors. Photographers and the press will be placed at a reasonable distance from the candidates and microphones to reduce distractions. Candidates are invited to remain after the conclusion of the forum to speak with audience members.

Resources Conflict/Whistleblower Form Find up-to-date information on running your PTA For SVPTA Presidents ​ Training Videos ​ SVPTA Forms ​ CAPTA & 4th District Resources ​ Frequently Asked Questions ​ Important Links ​ Meeting Docs

Distance Learning ​ Read Aloud & Listening Story Time from Space Storyline Online (Stories read by Famous Actors) [PK-5th] Common Sense Media, The 25 Best Podcasts for Kids [All Ages] ​ ​ E-books & Online Reading Internet Archive (Open Library) Starfall [PK-3rd] Teach Your Monster to Read (requires parent login) [PK-1st] Wonderopolis [All ages] Scholastic Learn at Home [All Ages] ​ ​ ​ Writing Read-Write-Think - Parent After School Resources [K-12] Story Bird (requires parent login) Story Jumper (requires parent login) ​ ​ ​ Math You Cubed Math Tasks [K-12] Robert Kaplinsky Math Lessons [K-12] 3-Act Math Lessons [K-7] National Council of Teachers of Mathematics - Brain Teasers [6-12] National Council of Teachers of Mathematics - Interactive Math Games [PK-12] Open Middle Math Problems [K-12] ​ ​ ​ Science California Academy of Science Webcams (all ages) Exploratorium - Read, watch, experiment (All ages) Monterey Bay Aquarium Webcams (all ages) Mystery Science (K-5) PBS Crash Course - Science and History/Social Science (9th-12th) PBS NOVA Wonders (6th-12th) San Diego Zoo Webcams (all ages) ​ ​​ ​ History/Social Science PBS Learning - News Depth [4th-7th] PBS Kids - Let’s Go Luna- Travel the World [K-2] PBS Kids - World Cultures [PK-5th] PBS - Above the Noise [6th-12th] PBS Learning - Crash Course - Science and History/Social Science [9th-12th]​ ​ ​ ​Visual/Performing Arts Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems Sketchbook Melody Prompts (9th-12th) PBS Art School (6th-12th) PBS Spark - Short videos of artists (Various ages) PBS Sound Field - Videos on all types of music (6th-12th) PBS Classical MPR Class Notes (1st-6th) ​ ​ ​ ​English Language Development Biblioteca Virtual Infantil BrainPop en Español Colorín Colorado CommonLit Duolingo Khan en Español Nasa Ciencias en Español Newsela en Español Tween Tribune Español ​ ​ Take a Virtual Field Trip​ Museums with Virtual Tours Virtual Museum Tours 20 Virtual Field Trips to Take With Your Kids 33 National Park Tours You Can Take From the Comfort of Your Home San Diego Zoo Yellowstone National Park tour Planet Mars 360-degree tour Monterey Bay Aquarium live animal cameras Atlanta Zoo panda cam Houston Zoo webcams Georgia Aquarium beluga whale cam Farm Tours from FarmFood360 Experience Polar Bears on the Tundra Great Wall of China Boston Children’s Museum Virtual Tour Google Museum Collections 30 Virtual Field Trips 10 Tips for Parents ​ Set up a daily family routine, including healthy eating and sleeping habits Provide a place and time at home for homework Check on assignments, homework and projects Talk each day with your child about his/her activities Promote literacy by reading to your child and by reading yourself Limit and monitor TV watching, gaming, social media and computer time Express high expectations and standards for your child’s learning Attend parent-teacher conferences, Open House and Back-To-School events Participate in decisions that affect your child’s education Tap into community resources with visits to a library, museum, zoo or theater and encourage participation in after-school clubs, sports and art activities ​

Is your child struggling? When your school-age student is struggling, it can be difficult to figure out what is going on and what to do. We have gathered some resources on this site that we hope you’ll find helpful. Do you suspect that your child might have a disability or learning difference? When your child has difficulties learning or participating in school activities, he or she may have a disability. Learning differences or disabilities can emerge or be identified at any time. Issues are commonly identified around Kindergarten age, but learning disabilities are often identified much later. ​ Red flags that your child may have a disability that impacts his or her ability to access education include (but are not limited to): difficulty reading, writing or spelling, difficulty with math, refusing to go to school, difficulty getting along with teachers or other students, difficulty following directions or paying attention in class, difficulty with transitions, or physical conditions that make it difficult for the student to learn, sit or participate in school. First Steps If you suspect that your child may have a disability or learning difference, here are some good first steps: ​ Talk with your child’s teacher. (The teacher should also notify parents if there has been a noticeable gap in academic performance, possible learning difficulties, or problems with attendance or behavior, but if they haven’t it doesn’t mean there’s not a problem). Talk with your child’s doctor. They may refer you to appropriate specialists or suggest other interventions. Call the Selpa SOC SELPA Director, Rae Lynn Nelson (949) 580-3394 RaeLynn.Nelson@svusd.org Talk with another parent. The PTA has parent volunteers who can help with navigating the process while respecting your privacy. (Please note that we are not experts and cannot provide medical advice.) Contact Us: specialed@svpta.org Possible next steps The teacher may suggest trying some strategies in the classroom or ask that a Student Study Team (SST) evaluate your student’s academic, behavioral and social-emotional progress. The SST may propose additional strategies. ​ If progress is still a concern the SST may recommend an assessment to determine eligibility for special education and related services. Some families may also choose to have a private assessment. ​ Important: You as the parent can also request an SST evaluation at any time. You don’t need to wait for the teacher or school administration to propose this. You can also request that an assessment for eligibility for special education be done at any time. The assessment process does not have to be initiated by the school. How to request an assessment.- https://youtu.be/GoBSv0FdPYo Learning More To effectively advocate for your child you need to learn about your child’s needs. It is also important to learn about the process and your rights as a parent. There many good resources, testimonials and simulations online like Understood , AutismSpeaks , Disabilityrightsca.org , Undivided and many others. ​ You can also read the SELPA Parent Handbook . ​ Don’t despair! The right intervention or support can be different for every child and can take time and patience to identify. SVPTA Special Education Liaison Kris S. specialed@svpta.or g