Wednesday, October 5th marked International Walk to School Day. Florida State University Schools celebrated the event with 43 student walkers, numerous parents, and some very special guests. Tallahassee Mayor, John Marks, and his wife, Jane led us in some pre-walk stretches. Leon County Commissioner, Kristin Dozier, joined us, along with employees from the Florida Department of Health and our very own FSUS Principal, Neal Trafford!

Two FSU Campus bicyclist police officers escorted our walkers as we left Southwood’s Town Center and headed toward FSUS. Firemen from Tallahassee Fire Station Number 6 were displayed their fire engine. Local CBS affiliate, WCTV, captured the excitement which was aired on the local 5:30pm evening news. If you missed it, here is a link to the aired segment:

 http://www.wctv.tv/floridanews/headlines/Hike_it_Bike_it_Like_it_131174808.html

Don’t forget – although we celebrated International Walk to School Day in October – the PTSA sponsors monthly WALKING WEDNESDAYS as part of our on-going Health and Safety programs. The Walking School Bus or “Walking Wednesday” takes place on the FIRST WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH.

Please join us this Wednesday, November 2nd for FSUS Walking Wednesday. We will depart at 7:30am from the parking lot behind The Wharf Express Restaurant (Four Oaks Blvd. & Merchant’s Row). You are able to drop your child off at 7:15am, the Walking School Bus will depart promptly at 7:30am in order to arrive to school on time. Parents and siblings are welcome to join the fun!

If you have questions, please contact PTSA Programs Vice-President, Dawn Jiménez at (850)321-3569.

Our first Donuts for Dads event was a huge success.  Thank you to the Dads and other father figures who brought their children to participate in the early morning event.  We’ll plan at least two more of these morning events during the year and hope to see everyone again.

The next Dads program is called, “Me and My Dad Reading Night”.  Geared toward fathers and children in the elementary grades, 2nd – 4th,  this event is an interactive type reading program that should get kids excited about reading. Dads are encouraged to “get into” the story and encourage creativity within their groups. This isn’t quiet reading time at the library. We are expecting for things to get loud once everyone has a chance to read their books. The FSUS PTSA will provide food and drinks for a cost of $5 per family. PTSA members will pay $3 per family for food. Each participant is also encouraged to wear (or bring) long tube socks to the event–preferably clean…  If there is time at the end of the night we’ll finish up with a “Knock your Socks off” game. Mark your calendars for Tuesday, November 8, from 6:30 – 8 p.m.  The event takes place in the FSUS Tomahawk Café. For more information, please send an email to leonpta1@yahoo.com.

What is “PTA MORE”?
Organizations in PTA’s Men Organized to Raise Engagement (MORE) alliance are dedicated to raising the level of engagement between children and the important men in the lives.

The mission for Coalition members of PTA MORE is to serve as a conduit for greater father and significant male involvement, resulting in positive outcomes and successful relationships for children, parents, schools and communities. PTA MORE helps PTA leaders and units:

• Work with schools and communities to provide programs that engage fathers and positive male figures in the educational and social development of children,

• Develop male leaders who work with fathers and male role models to enhance positive male parenting and involvement with youth,
• Act as a resource for families, communities and schools on fatherhood initiatives and issues,
  
• Increase the visibility and outreach of the quality programming of the coalition members.

For MORE information, please visit http://www.pta.org/pta_more.asp to find out about coalition members and organizations.