LETTER FROM DR. WALDRIP
Dear PTA Members,
We’re a full month into a new school year, and you can see signs of a busy year to come
everywhere you look. From football and volleyball action to marching band practice and
classroom learning, our students have hit the ground running.
As we welcomed students back to our campuses this year — including two new schools,
Wortham Intermediate and Wilkinson Middle — safety has been a top priority. Every campus is
now equipped with a video-monitored doorbell camera, and every visitor must show the camera
their ID before being buzzed into a secure vestibule within the school.
That’s a big way we’re keeping your kids safe at school. One way you as parents can help is to
remind your kids that Frisco ISD takes all threats seriously, even if a child says they were just
joking. It will be worth your time to watch a video from one of our campus SROs who recorded a
message for students about the importance of their words, even on social media.
Down the road a bit, we will launch a Community Survey, inviting the public to weigh in on the
district’s priorities and future projects. Our district is grateful for the support of our Frisco
community, and we value the feedback we receive from stakeholders on a regular basis.
Dr. Mike Waldrip
Frisco ISD Superintendent
LETTER FROM COUNCIL PRESIDENT
Welcome to the 2023-2024 School Year!
It is hard to believe that we have been in school for over 5 weeks already! We hope that y’all have had a good start to the school year! This time of year always proves itself to be busy, fast and full of activity! We are extremely thankful to all of our local PTA’s that work tirelessly on their campuses to support each and every student. You are making a difference and we look forward to celebrating all your successes!
As a Council Board, this year, our motto is “Together We Shine”. We truly could not do what we do without our PTA members and volunteers and we certainly could not do it without the tremendous partnership we have with FISD. Our goal is to do our best to ensure that every PTA Board Member, Volunteer and Member in our community feels supported, celebrated and appreciated. You are making a difference on your campus and as a result, the community, and that in itself is remarkable!
PTA is the oldest and largest child advocacy association in America. It is a voice for YOUR child and the more members, the louder our voice! If you have not yet joined your local PTA or renewed your annual membership, please consider joining, your membership truly matters and will make a difference on your campus. Our kids are our future and we want EVERY CHILD’S POTENTIAL TO BECOME A REALITY and we can do this as a CommYOUnity!
We do want to take this time to thank our very own Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney, his wife, Dana, Dr. Waldrip, Nikki Kirkwood and Sandy Tutwiler for becoming Advocate Members and joining ALL 73 PTAs in Frisco ISD. We are extremely thankful for their support and we would love more community members to join PTA. If you do not have a home campus or would love to become a member of one or several campuses, you can join as a Mission Supporter through our website.
Lastly, Council just launched our “Be Kind. Be Inclusive. Be the Difference” shirts that promote a message of inclusion and acceptance throughout our district. Please consider purchasing one of these shirts. The proceeds will help us provide District-wide educational programs, community engagement opportunities, grant scholarships to 24 Graduating Seniors (12 of those being Horizon Scholarships given to students with a 504 or IEP), and support Frisco Threads, our clothes closet that provides clothing to the economically disadvantaged in our district.
Thank you for being part of our PTA family and please let us know if you have any questions!
Joyfully,
Cyndi Arakas
President, Frisco ISD Council of PTAs
ANNUAL COMMUNITY FAMILY FAIR
Frisco ISD Council of PTAs
9th annual Community Family Fair is coming up in OCTOBER!
Business owner? Have a non-profit? Want to get involved as a vendor? We’d love to have you! Join us at our event to showcase your business at a vendor table.
https://tinyurl.com/vendors2023
Please contact Ryon Orendain with questions at vendorfair@friscopta.org
We are working hard to plan a wonderful event.
Please mark your calendar to attend!
International Day of Sign Language - September 23rd
The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed 23 September as the International Day of Sign Languages, in order to raise awareness of the importance of sign language in the full realization of the human rights of people who are deaf.
The International Day of Sign Languages is a unique opportunity to support and protect the linguistic identity and cultural diversity of all deaf people and other sign language users.
How many different sign languages are there?
Around the world, there are over 300 different sign languages in use. They differ from one country to the next. Even in nations where the same language is spoken, regional accents in sign language can cause slight differences in people’s use and interpretation of signs.
Sign languages are fully fledged natural languages, structurally distinct from the spoken languages. There is also an international sign language, which is used by deaf people in international meetings and informally when traveling and socializing. It is considered a pidgin form of sign language that is not as complex as natural sign languages and has a limited lexicon.
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recognizes and promotes the use of sign languages. It makes clear that sign languages are equal in status to spoken languages and obligates states parties to facilitate the learning of sign language and promote the linguistic identity of the Deaf community.
How to observe the international day of sign languages?
Learn a few sign language expressions: Learning sign language is one of the greatest ways to commemorate this day! Learning to welcome someone in sign language may make a huge impact. Consider how fantastic you might make someone feel by simply going out of your way to learn their language and greeting them in a way that they can comprehend.Here’s a good place to start. More resources available here.
Join in creating awareness: Raising awareness is another way to commemorate International Day of Sign Languages! Many individuals are unaware of the many sign languages. They are also unaware of the number of people who rely on sign languages throughout the world. On this day, take it upon yourself to educate others.
International Week of the Deaf - September 19th to 25th
International Week of the Deaf is an initiative of the World Federation of the Dead (WFD) and was first launched in 1958 in Rome, Italy. It is celebrated annually by the global Deaf Community on the last week of September each year and draws attention to the accomplishments of people who are deaf and also promotes their rights.
International Week of the Deaf strives to promote the human rights of deaf people and highlight topics that merit attention. This year’s theme is ‘Building Inclusive Deaf Communities’.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports around 466 million people worldwide to have disabling hearing loss (1). Of those, 34 million are children. 60% of childhood hearing loss is due to preventable causes. The WHO estimates 1.1 billion young people between 12 and 35 years of age at risk of hearing loss due to exposure to noise in recreational settings such as music concerts.
Here are some ways to observe this week
Recognize achievements of deaf people and those who were instrumental in their advancement. Notable figures include bodybuilder/actor Lou Ferrigno, actress Marlee, actor Leslie Nielsen, Girls Scouts of America founder Juliette Low, inventor Alexander Graham Bell, Guitarist and songwriter Pete Townshend of The Who.
Visit the website World Federation of the Deaf.
Learn more about what does it mean to be deaf
Use #WeekOfTheDeaf or #IWDeaf to follow on social media.
Read a book about deafness
Frisco Council of PTAs
Email: technology@friscopta.org
Website: www.friscopta.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FriscoPTA/
Twitter: @FriscoPTA