Advocacy
McDougle Elementary School PTA is heartbroken by the events at Robb Elementary this week. We are steadfast in our commitment to our teachers, staff, and students at McDougle, and stand with you to create a safe learning environment. No educator or child should feel unsafe when they come to school in the morning. We send our heart felt condolences to all the families in Uvalde, especially those families, students, and teachers who lost loved ones and friends.
As we collectively continue to process the tragedy at Robb Elementary, the NC PTA and the National PTA have shared resources addressing ways to take action on gun violence as well as resources related to caring for and discussing the mental health of our families, students, teachers, and community.
Message from National PTA: Ways You Can Take Action On Gun Violence And Resources to Care for Your Mental Health
The mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on Tuesday is the deadliest school shooting since 2012, when 26 children and adults were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. Our association has challenged Congress over and over again to address this issue. Parents are scared to send their children to school, teachers are worried about how to protect their students, and our children are now singing new lyrics to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star: "Lockdown, lockdown, Lock the door, Shut the lights off, Say no more, Go behind the desk and hide, Wait until it's safe inside."
We are, as civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer once said, sick and tired of being sick and tired. But we are not going to go numb. PTA has been the conscience of this country on issues affecting children and youth for over 125 years, and we're never going to stop advocating for every child with one united voice.
We urge you to join us in demanding change—and to take care of yourself and your family, too.
Ways to Take Action on Gun Violence
Contact Your Members of Congress: Use our VoterVoice system to send an urgent message to your members of Congress today to insist they work across the aisle to pass sensible gun safety and violence prevention policies that ensure our children are protected from harm. Start now.
Use Our Gun Violence Prevention Policy Brief: PTA is all about the power of collective action: We can do anything together, because we can be everywhere at once. Use our policy brief on gun safety and violence prevention to demand change in your community.
Join Us on Capitol Hill June 14-15: PTA advocates from across the country are heading to Capitol Hill to meet in-person with their members of Congress and advocate for the health & safety of every child during the National PTA 125th Anniversary Convention. Will you join us?
Resources on Mental Health, Grief and Loss
Healthy Minds: PTA believes that mental health should be an everyday priority, but it becomes even more important in crisis. So, we've created tips and resources for families at any stage of the journey, including grief and loss.
Managing Stress: Our friends at the American Psychological Association have resources to address the aftermath of a mass shooting, including ways to help children manage distress and ways to manage your own distress. Please use and share them!
Addressing Trauma: The National Child Traumatic Stress Network has resources including a "Psychological First Aid Kit for Schools" and "Grief Tips for Caregivers." Please use and share them!
Message from the President of the NC PTA, Francelia Burwell
For far too long, children have been taken from us because of unexplainable and senseless violence. Every time, we witness in horror as firearms are again used to cause catastrophic devastation, loss, and trauma to our families and our communities. No parent should lose a child to gun violence and no parent should fear for the safety of their child once they leave home. School must be a safe and welcoming place for every child, and we will fight to make sure that is so. If we can't protect our children from gun violence, how can we help them reach their full potential?
The time is long overdue for Congress to adopt measures that ensure our children are protected from harm and support schools in their efforts to create safe and welcoming spaces for every child. It's time we come together and immediately enact real solutions to save lives and make our schools and communities safer.
Contact your Members of Congress today to insist they work across the aisle to pass sensible gun safety and violence prevention policies that ensure our children are protected from harm. We are well beyond enough is enough and it is past time to take action to protect the lives of our children and families.
Equity Advisory Council and the Office of Equity and Inclusion
The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School District has a long-standing awareness of the importance of creating an equitable learning environment for all students and staff and developing collaborative partnerships with families and stakeholders that represent our diverse community. The Office of Equity and Inclusion will work to eliminate inequities by disrupting systems that have historically marginalized students through student empowerment and district support.
Gifted Program Advisory Council
GPAC Purpose
To advocate for students who need differentiated approaches for advanced instruction in order to meet their academic and intellectual needs.
To improve the overall quality of gifted programming for students in K-12.
To foster clear and constructive communications among parents, schools, and the school district.
GPAC Function
To provide direct support for implementation of the focus practices of the 2019-2022 Plan Cycle.
To provide feedback to the parent and educational communities regarding the status and implementation of gifted programming at respective schools.
To recommend strategies for improving services and opportunities to students in K-12.
To serve as a liaison for sharing of programmatic successes and constructive feedback among the district, school and parent groups in our community.
Special Needs Advisory Council
The Special Needs Advisory Council (SNAC) strives to represent the interests of Exceptional Children (EC) students, with the goal of helping to improve the educational experience of EC students and promote inclusion and awareness to benefit all students in the CHCCS district. A full discussion of SNAC, including its purpose, meeting calendar, and Bylaws, are found at http://snac.chccs.k12.nc.us/home
What is SNAC and how does it help children with special needs?
SNAC is a group of parents, district staff, and community professionals working together for the continuous improvement of the CHCCS Exceptional Children's program. Our purpose is to influence district policy on EC issues and promote inclusion in our schools. If your child currently has (or recently had) an IEP, a 504 plan, is medically fragile or has learning differences, then it is in your interest to get involved with SNAC.
What Does SNAC Do?
Serves as a link between EC parents and the district by sharing information, identifying concerns, and improving collaboration
Makes recommendations to the Superintendent and Board of Education on desired improvements
Studies areas of concern related to the education of exceptional children
SNAC at a Glance
Download the SNAC brochure in English or in Spanish.
Have General Questions Related to EC or Community Resources?
Please explore our Resources Page and feel free to contact your school SNAC rep (see Representatives Page for list) or SNAC leadership at snacofchccs@gmail.com
Take a look at our SNAC Calendar Page for a complete list of meetings times and locations this year.
Join our SNAC email list to be kept up to date on SNAC activities - email us at snacofchccs@gmail.com
Like us on Facebook to find out about local activities.