PTA OFFERS LESSON IN DEDICATION; VOLUNTEERS AT WESTLAKE HIGH WIN TOP HONORS IN 7-STATE REGION.Byline: Teresa Teresa of Ávila, St. religious contemplation brought her spiritual ecstasy. [Christian Hagiog.: Attwater, 318] See : Mysticism Jimenez Daily News Staff Writer Pat Phelps had a busy but typical Wednesday as president of the Westlake High School Westlake High School may refer to:
Then she was off to a bowling session in Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. , participating in an areawide Parent-Teachers Association league. By noon, she had returned to Westlake High to stuff envelopes for a school function and prepare the parent group's newsletter. She'll be back again today. The school needs her. That's the kind of dedication that earned the Westlake High PTA the regional Advocates for Children Award, a honor As a verb, to accept a bill of exchange, or to pay a note, check, or accepted bill, at maturity. To pay or to accept and pay, or, where a credit so engages, to purchase or discount a draft complying with the terms of the draft. given to the top parent organization in a seven-state area that includes California California (kăl'ĭfôr`nyə), most populous state in the United States, located in the Far West; bordered by Oregon (N), Nevada and, across the Colorado River, Arizona (E), Mexico (S), and the Pacific Ocean (W). . As winner of the regional award, the Westlake High PTA will compete against seven other school groups for the national Advocates for Children Award. The winner will be announced June 19 at the national conference in Kansas City Kansas City, two adjacent cities of the same name, one (1990 pop. 149,767), seat of Wyandotte co., NE Kansas (inc. 1859), the other (1990 pop. 435,146), Clay, Jackson, and Platte counties, NW Mo. (inc. 1850). , Mo. ``This is the highest honor,'' said Debbi Johnson, chairwoman for the state PTA's Advocates for Children Award. ``As far as what the PTA aims for - representation for children, activeness in the community - this award recognizes all of that.'' Phelps said the success of Westlake's PTA has come from dedication and creativity. The PTA boasts 200 active volunteers, and while most schools have only a handful of parents at monthly meetings, the Westlake meetings draw a group of 30 to 40 parents, Phelps said. ``The volunteers proctor tests, work in the counseling office, the athletic department office, the principal's office,'' Phelps said. ``There are always parents on campus.'' And they quickly respond to problems or concerns. When students complained that too many teens were smoking in the bathrooms, the PTA created ``Potty Patrol.'' Several times during the day, a volunteer parent stops by each of the bathrooms to make sure errant er·rant adj. 1. Roving, especially in search of adventure: knights errant. 2. Straying from the proper course or standards: errant youngsters. 3. students aren't breaking the rules, Phelps said. Now, the bathrooms no longer smell of smoke and graffiti graffiti Form of visual communication, usually illegal, involving the unauthorized marking of public space by an individual or group. Technically the term applies to designs scratched through a layer of paint or plaster, but its meaning has been extended to other markings. has almost disappeared, she said. When teachers said they didn't have enough time in the day to help students after school, the PTA stepped in. The parent group created the Homework Assistance Center, which helps students one day a week after school, a Scholastic Assessment Test review program before the college-entrance test and regular tutoring sessions. Teachers welcomed their efforts, Phelps said. By then, the parents had their trust, Phelps said, and teachers were willing to let PTA members do more than just staple 1. (language) STAPLE - A programming language written at Manchester (University?) and used at ICL in the early 1970s for writing the test suites. STAPLE was based on Algol 68 and had a very advanced optimising compiler. 2. fliers together. ``In three years, this has all happened,'' Phelps said. ``Everything we've tried has worked. It just keeps growing.'' Phelps, who has been a member of the Westlake High PTA for 10 years, said the parent group became an active force on campus about three years ago thanks to a decision by the school principal, Curt Luft. School officials had not allowed parents to work on campus because of liability concerns, Phelps said. But Luft three years ago lifted the restriction, she said. The parents jumped into action and haven't stopped. ``The award is well-deserved,'' said Laverne Mullen, vice president of the Westlake PTA. ``The PTA was functioning before, but we've tripled the number of volunteers in three years. Whenever someone needs help, we say, `Let us know. We'll be there.' '' CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: (ran in CONEJO edition only--color) Some of the Westlake High School parents, who won the regional Advocates for Children Award, work at stuffing envelopes. Phil McCarten/Daily News |
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