Cloverleaf Elementary PTA takes top honors at summer seminar

 

For the first time in history, the Cloverleaf Elementary School Parent Teacher Association (PTA) was honored with two prestigious state awards at the Texas PTA Summer Leadership Seminar in Austin, Texas. Cloverleaf Elementary PTA took home the Health Concerns Award and the Parent Education Award.

“This is a big honor,” Rose Mary Parra, PTA president, Cloverleaf Elementary, said. “These awards show how hard everyone in our PTA works to improve our community.”

Since the 1940s Cloverleaf Elementary PTA members have been dedicated to serving their students, parents and families in the community. The Health Concerns Award is a reflection of that dedication. Over ten years ago, Cloverleaf Elementary PTA began a health program to meet the needs of its students. Through the program, 975 students receive immunizations, hearing and vision tests, instruction on proper dental hygiene, and information on other health care related concerns in English and Spanish each school year.

According to Becky Godell, Cloverleaf Elementary membership chairperson, the health program has an impact on daily attendance. “Our attendance has improved because our students are healthy and receiving the medical attention they need,” Godell said.

In conjunction with promoting good health, Cloverleaf Elementary PTA also works to educate parents through its parenting program. Under this program the school counselor coordinates with local agencies to visit the campus to provide resources and services to parents. Parents participate in a 12-week program where they are educated about the importance of assisting with homework assignments, developing good parenting skills, nutrition, and health issues.

“This program makes parents more aware of what is available to them and teaches them new skills,” Godell said. “It also gets them involved with other activities at the school.”

Texas PTA Board Member Sharon Goldblatt commended Cloverleaf Elementary PTA for their dedication to uphold the principals on which PTA was founded. “Their parents are better prepared to cope with the issues facing their children because of the quality information presented to through these programs. Texas PTA salutes Cloverleaf PTA as a model for all local units across the state.”

 STATE WINNERS. First row from left, Ofelia Garza, principal; and Rose Mary Parra, PTA president. Second row, Becky Godell, Cloverleaf membership chairperson; Esmeralda Perez, publicity chairperson; and Janet Scholar, Cloverleaf PTA treasurer.