PTA Rewards & Recognition

PTA Membership Award (2012-2013)

Vandenberg PTA was recognized for outstanding membership recruiting efforts. The award was calculated based on the total number of 125 PTA memberships for the 2012-2013 school years. This membership total was the highest it had been in many years past.

PTA Educator of the Year Award (2012-2013)

Vandenberg PTA nominated Teri John for the Educator of the Year Award. The nomination included all of the accolades from both Vandenberg Parents and School Staff. The nomination was ranked up against all other nominations received from MI Parent Teacher Associations and the award was given to our principal for the 2012-2013 school years. Teri John was recognized for transforming Vandenberg World Cultures Academy into a school where parents, schools, and communities work together to achieve student success. The standards followed to achieve student success included:

  • Standard 1: Welcoming all families into the school community-Families are active participants in the life of the school, and feel welcomed, valued, and connected to each other, to school staff, and to what students are learning and doing in class.
  •  Standard 2: Communicating effectively-Families and school staff engage in regular, two-way, meaningful communication about student learning.
  • Standard 3: Supporting student success-Families and school staff continuously collaborate to support students' learning and healthy development both at home and at school, and have regular opportunities to strengthen their knowledge and skills to do so effectively.
  •  Standard 4: Speaking up for every child-Families are empowered to be advocates for their own and other children, to ensure that students are treated fairly and have access to learning opportunities that will support their success.
  • Standard 5: Sharing power-Families and school staff are equal partners in decisions that affect children and families and together inform, influence, and create policies, practices, and programs.
  • Standard 6: Collaborating with community-Families and school staff collaborate with community members to connect students, families, and staff to expanded learning opportunities, community services, and civic participation.

 PTA Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Art Grant (2013-2014)

Vandenberg PTA was the recipient of the Mary Lou Anderson Grant, a grant which provides funding to local PTAs to support in-school and after-school arts enhancement programs within their communities. The grant allowed PTA to collaborate with the school to offer the Inside Out Project to the entire student population at no cost. The self-portraits of over 400 students with personal notes and well-wishes from parents are still posted at the school as our wall mural, showcased to the Southfield community.

Target Early Childhood Reading Grant (2013-2011)

Vandenberg PTA was awarded the Target Early Childhood Reading Grant and such funds were utilized to start the very first Parent-Child Book Club. The book-club is purely designed and operated by PARENTS during after-school hours. The 10 week book club offers extended reading time for Vandenberg students, book talks, informal reading assessments, and support from parents that are invaluable. All of the reading activities offered as part of the book club supports reading fluency, word recognition, and improved reading comprehension. The book club also promotes increased parental involvement, where each parent commits to volunteering at least 3 of the 10 weeks, attends the field trips, and participates in the culminating event. The Parent-Child Book Club is now a staple at Vandenberg and is offered annually to parents and students.

PTA Membership Challenge Award (2013-2014)

 Vandenberg PTA was recognized for achieving the Membership Challenge of 100% staff participation and growing its membership from 125 PTA memberships to 150 memberships.

PTA Diversity and Inclusion Award (2014-2015)

Vandenberg PTA was the recipient of the PTA Diversity and Inclusion Award, recognized for demonstrating outstanding achievement in the areas of diversity and inclusion. We understand and embrace the uniqueness of all individuals, appreciating that each contributes a diversity of views, experiences, cultural values and preferences. Vandenberg PTA respects differences yet acknowledge shared commonalities uniting our school community, and then develop meaningful priorities based on that knowledge to gain strength and effectiveness through increased volunteer and resource support.