OHIO PTA ON TOUR- STOP!

Ohio PTA Region 1 & 4 FALL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Sat. 10/4/25 10:00 AM-1:00 PM

Click here to register!

Check in at 9:45

Strongsville Library

18700WestwoodDr.

Strongsville,OH 44136

Training ¨Playlist¨ to Include:

¨Lose Your Self"in PTA-Keeping your PTA on Task (1st or 2nd Gold Key Leadership)

¨Weŕe All In This Together"-Membership (1st or 2nd Gold Key Membership)

¨Rules of the Road¨- PTA Compliance (1st or 2nd Gold Key Leadership)

¨I Belong to Me¨-Reflections (1st or 2nd Gold Key Programs)

THIS Event is FREE!

Bring a donation to the Ohio PTA Scholarship Fund for a chance to win prizes!

Questions? ra4@ohiopta.org ra1@ohiopta.org

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The Voice- An Ohio PTA Newsletter

PTA's mission is to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.

PTA Values:

• Collaboration

• Commitment

• Diversity

• Respect

• Accountability

September Jam Session

Are you down with OPP?

(Ohio PTA Partnership)

The Ohio PTA Partnership is the statewide PTA for Ohio's children and teachers. Our goal this year is 100 members for 2025-2026. Add your voice to help amplify the mission of PTA.

Join today for only $10.

https://ohioptapartnerships.givebacks.com/shop

Get Funding to Host PTA Programs and Support Student Engagement!

National PTA is offering funding to over 650 PTAs/PTSAs to help conduct programs for families in the areas of digital safety, STEM, healthy lifestyles, the arts and youth and family engagement. The application period is now open. By answering a few questions, your PTA can be eligible to receive program funding to help cover expenses like food, transportation and translation services to ensure all families can participate. There are also grant opportunities specifically for high school PTAs/PTSAs to support youth engagement! No prior grant-writing experience is needed.


Visit PTA.org/Grants to learn more and apply by Sept. 24 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.


National PTA Grants

School of Excellence 2024-2026

Ohio PTA is proud of our School of Excellence Rockstars!

We celebrate our local 2024-2026 School of Excellence designees! National PTA’s School of Excellence program provides a framework for local PTAs and schools to identify and implement best practices in family engagement to strengthen family-school partnerships. Enrollment is now open for the 2025-2026 School of Excellence program. Visit PTA.org/Excellence to enroll. #PTAExcellence #PTAProud

• Ferdinand Schumacher CLC PTA Akron OH
• John Foster Dulles Elementary PTA Cincinnati OH
• Canterbury Elementary PTA Cleveland Heights OH
• Cranbrook Cougars PTA Columbus OH
• Copley-Fairlawn Middle School PTSA Copley OH
• Keystone Elementary PTA Lagrange OH
• First Step Preschool PTA Parma OH
• Pleasant Valley Elementary PTA Parma OH

We are pleased to share that National PTA will be providing grant funding to a selected number of School of Excellence PTAs to help with their membership initiatives thanks to the support from National PTA's funders. The funding provided is an opportunity to connect 20 School of Excellence PTAs with the Membership Mania initiative this year in order to help grow membership in the local unit.

Shout out to Ferdinand Schumacher CLC PTA for receiving this opportunity to grow their membership!

Your unit can also participate in Membership Mania and win prizes from National PTA! Check out this link to find out more.




Enrollment in National PTA’s 2025-2026 School of Excellence program is now open! The School of Excellence program provides a framework for local PTAs and schools to identify and implement best practices in family engagement to strengthen family-school partnerships and enrich the educational experience and overall well-being for all students. Visit PTA.org/Excellence to enroll in the program today.

Second Sunday Office Hours

All PTA Leaders are welcome to attend!

Back by popular demand for 1 night only (every month)
Ohio PTA Second Sunday Office Hours!
Everyone gets the VIP treatment when you log on and hang out with Ohio PTA! We will be on to share upcoming events, answer your questions, and share our PTA communities with one another.

September Second Sunday Office Hours will be held on Sunday, September 14th

Sign up today at bit.ly/ohioptassoh

Membership

Reflections

We are excited to get the 2025-2026 National PTA Reflections Program underway and have much information to share with you!
National PTA made significant changes to the Reflections program information this year. The Ohio PTA Reflections Committee has been diligently collaborating and processing the information to make it applicable to our state program.Ohio PTA Reflections Official Rules & Forms
Ohio PTA Reflections Local Leader’s Guide
Ohio PTA Student Packet (Category Guidelines and Student Submission Entry Form) | ColorOhio PTA Student Submission Entry Form | Color, Single Page
Ohio PTA Category Guidelines | Color, Single Page
Ohio PTA Category Guidelines | Black & White, Single Page
National PTA Reflections Student Entry Division Guidelines PacketNational PTA Reflections Student Entry Guidelines (Dance Choreography)
National PTA Reflections Student Entry Guidelines (Film Production)
National PTA Reflections Student Entry Guidelines (Literature)
National PTA Reflections Student Entry Guidelines (Music Composition)
National PTA Reflections Student Entry Guidelines (Photography)
National PTA Reflections Student Entry Guidelines (Visual Arts)
National PTA Reflections Accessible Art Guidelines
Ohio PTA Reflections Theme Search
Each of these forms contains specific information to the Ohio PTA Reflections Program, while complying with National PTA Reflections guidelines.

The Student Submission Entry Form, Ohio PTA Reflections Theme Search, and Official Ohio PTA Participation Form for Councils and Units (found within the Local Leader’s Guide) are all fillable PDFs for your convenience.

The National PTA Reflections Student Entry Division Guidelines Packet contains detailed requirements for each arts category, including an entry checklist and reminders, category tips, digital tools and technology use, and copyright and plagiarism information.

The basic arts category requirements can be found on the Ohio PTA Category Guidelines and in the Ohio PTA Student Packet.

We recommend you share the Ohio PTA Category Guidelines with families, and utilize the National PTA Reflections Student Entry Division Guidelines as a reference for someone wanting to learn more about entry requirements or to help answer individual entry questions

.
Important InformationMake sure to send any email inquiries to the Ohio PTA Reflections Committee at reflections@ohiopta.org.

To participate in the PTA Reflections program, your local unit MUST SUBMIT DUES BY November 30, 2025. There is no flexibility to this rule. If you have any questions about your unit’s dues submission status, please contact your unit’s president, treasurer, and/or membership chair.
Reflections entries moving on to the state level must be received in the Ohio PTA office by Friday, January 9, 2026 at 4:00pm.

Volunteer Certificates of Excellence

(Advocacy and Family School Partnerships)

The Ohio PTA Volunteer Certificates of Excellence were created to celebrate the efforts of our members who take part in advocacy, family, school, and community activities. Ohio PTA members can earn one or both awards by completing the listed requirements. ACE requirements are in the left column, and FSPC are in the right column. Track completed tasks on this form. When you have met the requirements, scan the QR code to complete your final application online.


Volunteer Certificates of Excellence

Your Unit & Your Stage: Ohio PTA comes to you!

Ready to rock your PTA game? Ohio PTA is on tour heading to your location with on‑site training that shreds through leadership, meeting mastery, and parent engagement. We will be bringing tailored, on‑demand sessions that deliver the skills you need right where you are whether it's at your school, community location, or via Zoom!


Book your band: Reach out to your regional advisor or contact Ohio PTA’s leadership online to schedule the “tour stop.”

It's not too early to work on your SOA!

As a constituent association of Ohio PTA and National PTA, you are required to maintain certain standards of affiliation (SOA) in addition to your duty to uphold the Mission and Values of PTA.


These nine items are things most units are already doing, and submitting your completed checklist should simply be a formality affirming that all of these required actions have been taken.

• List Officers and Committee Chairs in Givebacks (Due by July 15)
• IRS Form 990 (Filed by November 15)
• Charitable Solicitation Act Registration (Filed with the Ohio Attorney General by November 15)
• Membership Dues (Initial Payment by November 30):
• Financial Review (Completed and Filed by November 30)
• Bonding Insurance (Current as of November 30)
• Code of Ethics and Conflict of Interest Policy (Adopted by November 30
• Updated Bylaws (Reviewed at Least Every Three Years; Current as of November 30)
• SoA Checklist (Completed and Uploaded to Givebacks by November 30)

To upload your checklist from your Givebacks home page, on the left-hand menu, click Compliance Manager -> Enter Compliance Submissions, and click the button that says Submit next to Ohio PTA Standards of Affiliation Checklist. There is space to submit all of your compliance documents here, but at this time, Ohio PTA can only check and approve uploaded checklists

Ohio PTA Standards of Affiliation Checklist

Ohio PTA is ON TOUR now!

Links below to follow us on the web and on the socials.

Click Here to see the Summer Resource Packet

Join the Ohio PTA HUB (Help Understanding and Best Practices) on Facebook!

Ohio PTA on Facebook

Ohio PTA on Instagram

Ohio PTA Blog

Email us!

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Dear Ohio PTA Members,

Welcome to the 2025–2026 school year and this year Ohio PTA is On Tour! We are “Ready to Go” and thrilled to have you join us as we hit the road for another incredible year of advocacy, engagement, and empowerment for Ohio’s children and families.

PTA’s mission is to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.

From the front row to backstage, We’re All in This Together. Whether you’re a seasoned leader or a brand-new volunteer, your presence helps make this year’s tour unforgettable.

Our band of  headliners, roadies, and fans are working together to make magic happen. We can’t wait to see you at Summer Leadership, Fall Conferences, Winter Symposium, and our 119th Annual Ohio PTA Convention. There will be opportunities of intentional leadership through service, advocacy, and membership throughout the year and we want you to come along for the ride.

This year, we’re turning up the volume on our mission and living it out loud in our schools and  communities. Together We Are Family as we continue to connect, support, and elevate every voice. From local school events to state-wide initiatives, your commitment helps ensure every child gets the encore they deserve. 

Sugar we’re going down swinging and making stops all across the Buckeye State bringing energy, training, and resources to PTA units everywhere. So get ready to Come Together  with fellow leaders, Lean on Me, your fellow PTA leaders, Region Advisors, and Ohio PTA Board Members  when you need support, and Don’t Stop Believin’ in the power of PTA!

Grab your backstage pass, wear your PTA pride like a tour tee, and let’s Get the Party Started because this year, we’re headlining change, and the encore belongs to our kids because they are Simply the Best.

With Love and Memories,

Nicole Lesnick
President, Ohio PTA 2025-2027
#OhioPTAOnTour2527

 

 

Know! To Help Young People Manage Election Stress It’s no secret that politics and elections are stressful for many Americans. More than two-thirds of registered voters in the United States say politics is a “source of stress” for them.1 Young people, even those who aren’t eligible to vote, are not excluded from feeling stressed about politics. Almost half of young Americans report that politics and news media have had negative impacts on their mental health.2 Uncertainty about upcoming elections, political polarization and vitriol, inundation with intense information in the news and social media, and political disagreements with friends and family can all contribute to stress and anxiety for young people. As we approach the presidential election in November, check in with the young people in your life and use the tips below to help them manage any political stress they feel. Check in with their emotions The uncertainty of elections can fuel fear and anxiety, which can be overwhelming if ignored. Encourage the young people in your life to practice identifying, processing, and releasing their emotions. It might be helpful to acknowledge feelings aloud, saying something like, “Right now, I’m feeling anxious. The anxiety feels like tightness in my chest. Now that I’ve felt my anxiety, I am letting it go.” By intentionally checking in, we can remind ourselves that emotions are temporary and consider the tools we have available to cope with difficult feelings.3,4,5 Monitor and limit media consumption Young people can quickly become overwhelmed with the constant influx of political information via social media and news. It’s important to help young people set boundaries with their political media consumption. Work together to set up phone-free periods and use those times to do something you and the young person enjoy, like going on a walk or playing with a pet. You can also encourage using apps that limit screen time or require you to pause before opening certain apps.   Remember that not all news and political content online is necessarily trustworthy. Sit down with your young person to watch a video or read an article about a current issue, and work together to practice finding sources for the information shared. Websites like PolitiFact and Factcheck.org can help you determine whether a claim is truthful.3,4,6,7 Practice mindfulness The uncertainty of election season can pull you out of the present moment and into worries about the future. Mindfulness helps us stay grounded and connected to what’s going on around us. Work with your young person to brainstorm activities that help them stay in the present moment. Creative activities like drawing and journaling or physical activities like playing soccer with friends or taking a nature walk are examples of what a mindful activity might look like.   You can also encourage young people to check in with their emotional state and consider the impact of their words before discussing politics. Acknowledge that feeling afraid, anxious, or angry makes sense if you perceive your values being threatened or trivialized during a conversation. Remind young people that it’s always okay to opt out of or walk away from unproductive conversations.3,4,6,7 Find meaningful ways to get involved Getting involved in meaningful ways can also help alleviate election stress. Feeling powerless can contribute to anxiety, but young people can take action to make a difference. Civic engagement -- such as volunteering with an organization they care about, encouraging others to vote, or voting if they are eligible -- benefits youth mental health. Outside of civic engagement, even just helping a family member or doing a random act of kindness can help youth find purpose amid uncertainty. 3,4,6,8 Stay curious Encourage young people to respond to disagreement with curiosity rather than defensiveness. Model curiosity by asking questions like “I wonder what about that person’s background, culture, and life experiences influences their way of thinking?” and “What can we learn from people who have different opinions than us?” when you hear a political opinion you disagree with. Demonstrating curiosity can help young people embrace differences, find common ground, and prevent stress or anger.6 Prioritize Self-Care During stressful times, it’s important to make time to take care of yourself. Start by helping your young person recognize what sets off political stress for them. Do feelings of anxiety come up when they see a certain TikTok account or type of content? Do discussions of politics amongst friends and family increase their stress? Work together to create a plan for self-care, which might include unfollowing negative accounts or listening to their favorite music after a stressful conversation. By recognizing and addressing these triggers, young people can better manage their political stress and maintain their well-being.3 Resources Tips for Stressful Election Conversations | The Jed Foundation How to Combat Misinformation and Find Reputable Sources Online | The Jed Foundation Self-Care | Young People's Mental Health | YoungMinds Healthy Self-Care for Teens: 4 Ways Families Can Help - HealthyChildren.org Sources 1. National survey by USF researchers shows voter opinions on inflation, impact of politics on mental health, election distrust and social media use | USF News   2. 43rd Edition - Spring 2022 | The Institute of Politics at Harvard University   3. Election Stress: Tips to Manage Anxious Feelings About Politics | The Jed Foundation   4. How to manage election anxiety : Shots - Health News : NPR   5. How To Cope With Election Anxiety | Text ELECTION to 741741 (crisistextline.org)   6. 7 Tips for Coping With Election Stress | UCI Counseling Center   7. Manage Election-Related Stress Information | U-M Counseling and Psychological Services (umich.edu)   8. Elections Are Stressful, But Civic Engagement Is Good for Youth Mental Health | The Jed Foundation We can all help prevent suicide. The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States. For more information, click here.