As we dive into a new semester, there's a buzz of excitement in the air, even if the kids might wish for a few more days to play and relax at home. The PTA is thrilled to announce our upcoming "State of the School" event on Jan. 21, where Principal Aaron McAdams will share insights and plans for the year ahead. This event will run alongside our next PTA general membership meeting, offering valuable tips from teachers and parents. While the grown-ups engage in discussions, students can enjoy fun and games in the gym. Mark your calendars for the end of the month as we launch our biggest fundraiser of the year: the "Clara Love Texans Dancing Makes you Glow" event. This promises to be a fantastic opportunity for our community to come together, supporting our shared mission to realize every child's potential. We can't wait to partner with you in making this semester a success!

Celebrate the start of the new school year with an easy meal at Panda Express. Enjoy a quick lunch, pick up a family meal or join your Clara Love friends for a fun evening out. Clara Love Day at Panda Express goes from 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday at the location near Tanger Outlets. Save the photo below to your phone to show at the restaurant or order online at PandaExpress.com or in the Panda Express app. Use code 375876 for online orders. Panda Express will donate 20 percent of the proceeds to Clara Love PTA for our student and family programs, teacher treats, and support of the school.

We are gearing up for our biggest fundraiser of the year to support PTA programs, students, teachers and the campus. We are having a dance-a-thon in the gym with our partnership with Booster. We will encourage all students to at least register on the Booster online dashboard. Students can earn prizes for pledges. And everyone will be able to participate in a fun event!

This year, PTA will take on more of aspects of the fundraiser so that we retain 75 percent of the funds we raise.

We will need some volunteers to get our students excited and hand out prizes each day. We hope the activities inspire students to have fun with dance to exercise. Be looking for more details as we get closer to the kickoff.

Each fall, our campus conducts the Big Kahuna fundraiser. Those funds go directly to the school and not to PTA.

We use our funding for our family nights and other activities to support students, teachers and the campus. Did you know PTA provides funding for Field Day? We provide snacks for students taking S.T.A.A.R. tests. We award a scholarship to a senior who attended Clara Love in Elementary School. We provide treats for teachers and celebrate their efforts in a big way during Teacher Appreciation Week. We also assist with the needs of the campus. Last year, we purchased special tablets to improve student engagement in writing and added a gaga ball pit to the large playground. PTA relies on membership dues, fundraising and donations for all of these activities.

In Northwest ISD, we are advocating for our legislators to prioritize public school funding and to increase the Basic Allotment (the funding mechanism for all Texas public schools) to $7,500. The topic of public school funding and the debate over school choice and private-school vouchers is expected to continue into the 89th Legislative Session.We encourage you to contact your local legislators, thank them for their service, and share your stance on Texas public schools. The 89th Legislative Session may not begin until January 14, 2025, but bills are already being written and plans are being made now. As we strive to build a culture of engagement in Northwest ISD, we encourage you to engage your voice and contact your legislators.

Email: loveespta@gmail.com

On Facebook: @claralovepta