PTO Event/Services Descriptions Elementary
By Joan Kriete
PRAIRIE GROVE PTO EVENTS/ACTIVITIES
2008/09 Elementary
The Prairie Grove PTO is dedicated to the enrichment of our
children’s educational experience. If your child attends Prairie
Grove School, you are automatically a PTO member. Volunteering your
time and energy ensures the success of the many family/school
events and services sponsored by the PTO. Your participation also
allows for special projects, additional programs, equipment and
materials used by Prairie Grove students and faculty. In the past,
the PTO has purchased library books, band instruments, classroom
amplification systems, computers, stage lights, sound equipment,
athletic team uniforms, playground equipment, and provided money to
teachers for use in their classrooms. Our current activities and
fundraisers are listed below. Please help us by volunteering and
supporting Prairie Grove PTO. (Please note that some committees may
not occur during the year if they do not have a chairperson to run
them.)
FAMILY FUN
BEAUTIFICATION DAY On a Saturday morning in spring, along with school staff members, volunteers help to beautify the school grounds by clearing away garbage and garden debris and by planting flowers, etc. Time commitment: One Saturday morning, usually in April or beginning of May.
ELEMENTARY WELCOMING AND FAMILY EVENTS COORDINATOR - this chairperson(s) and their team would be responsible for the planning, set-up and execution of student and parent events for the ELEMENTARY students. Some of the activities could include the following: Family Dance offers a different theme each year, making this a fun and exciting evening. Committee members help choose a theme, schedule the DJ, and organize the goodies. Family movie night and family skate nights. Time commitment: variable.
FUN FAIR This event is just what it says - an entire night of fun, food, games and prizes for the whole family. Volunteers are needed to run games, sell tickets, and help children redeem their winning tickets for prizes. Time commitment: You can volunteer either to help plan the Fun Fair behind the scenes (a few meetings plus prep leading up to the event) or simply sign up for one or two shifts the night of the event.
VARIETY SHOW Do your children sing, dance, juggle, act, perform magic? Any other talents? Then the Variety Show is for them. Many volunteers are needed to help with all aspects of this great show. The Variety Show will be performed at the Prairie Grove School. Time commitment: Three rehearsals, 3.5 hours each; one performance, 3 - 4 hours. Other time commitment: variable.
FAMILY SERVICES
BOOK FAIR Each year we offer families a chance to purchase books, software and other learning-related items at our Scholastic Book Fair. This event raises money for our school with all the profit going back to the libraries and teachers to purchase children's literature and other materials. Many volunteers are needed to help with the set up and break down and to run cash registers during this multi-day event. Time commitment: Chairpersons and planning committee: 40 hours (spread over three months). Volunteers during the event: 1 - 3 hour shifts. The chairpersons work closely with the Scholastic representative in the month to two months prior to the event.
SPIRIT WEAR Prairie Grove School clothing items such as t-shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, etc. are available for purchase. Volunteers are needed to help tally orders and assist in distribution of the items. Time commitment: 2 - 4 hours.
S.H.O.E.S. PROGRAM "SHOES" is the acronym for Staying Healthy with Ongoing Exercise Safely. The SHOES program uses a web site to track the miles walked. The web site, www.peclogit.com, allows walkers to view their own progress on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis. The SHOES team selects a destination and time-frame, and then tracks the weekly progress. The SHOES team tracks the students' progress and issues a token for every 5 miles walked. In the spring, the SHOES team coordinates a walk-a-thon. Time commitment: variable.
ARTIST OF THE MONTH Each month volunteers are needed to present an artist and his or her work to students in the classroom. This is a fun event and no "art" experience is needed. Time commitment: one monthly meeting; plus 1 - 1.5 hours/classroom/month includes prep work and presentation time.
GREAT PUMPKIN CONTEST Each year in early October, students try to guess the weight of a very large pumpkin. The winner keeps the pumpkin. We provide pumpkins for both the elementary and junior high schools. Volunteers are needed to help with this event. Time commitment: 2 - 4 hours setting up/managing.
HOSPITALITY/BAKING Volunteers are needed throughout the year to supply various goodies for regular staff meetings, the Welcome Luncheon at the beginning of the school year, and the Teacher Appreciation Luncheon in May. Time commitment: variable.
LIBRARY HELPER Parents assist the librarians with shelving books, decorating and organizing the libraries. Hours are flexible to suit your schedule. No experience necessary. Time commitment: variable, 1 - 2 hour weekly or monthly shifts.
PUBLICITY Parents do you like to write or have an interest in journalism or photography? Then the Publicity committee is right for you. This committee writes press releases about events at the school sometimes they include photographs and then they are submitted to our local newspapers. Time commitment: variable.
STAFF WELCOME LUNCHEON Volunteers are needed to assist with the set-up, serving and clean-up at the annual Staff Welcome Luncheon. Time commitment: in late Aug. variable; 2 - 3 hours on the day of the luncheon.
TAP - TEACHER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM This program allows volunteers to assist the entire school staff. Hours are flexible to fit your schedule. Please see the attached form for further information. Time commitment: 1 - 2 hours weekly or monthly.
TEACHER APPRECIATION This committee plans and provides special activities and gifts for the teachers and staff throughout the year. They also plan a wonderful Teacher Appreciation Week in May of each year. Please indicate whether you would like to help for the elementary teachers, junior high teachers, or both. Time Commitment: variable. We need a CHAIRPERSON this year. Ideally, we would have two: one for elementary and one for junior high. Chairperson time commitment: average 4-5 hours/month. The weeks leading up to Teacher Appreciation week involve extra time.
FUNDRAISING
CASH FOR CAPS this committee collects milk caps from Kemps,
Swiss Valley and many other milk distributors that families can
save and bring to school or milk caps can also be picked up from
various locations that save the caps for our school. Volunteers are
needed to collect, clean and count caps.
Time commitment: variable.
GENERAL MILLS BOX TOPS PROGRAM Throughout the year, each classroom collects box tops from General Mills food products. Classroom teachers earn money for each box top that is collected. This money is for use in the classroom. Volunteers are needed to help promote, collect and tally box tops.
