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The Parent Teacher Association is a non-profit organization whose goal are to connect parents and teachers and enrich the educational experience for children. It's run by an executive board. The board is made up of teacher representative Jen Smith, the principal, Jim Girdner, and parents like you who've decided to spend a year or two working hard to improve things at Madison. If you want to make a BIG difference in your child's school, consider running for a board position. Most board members have little or no previous PTA experience.
Madison PTA provides valuable activities, services and funds to Madison through parent and teacher volunteer work. This means you! From planners to help teach organization to carnivals to have fun, PTA provides more to Madison than you may realize. Funds raised from PTA projects pay for books, field trips, money for teachers to buy supplies for the class, the Mustang Press program, the Mustang newsletter, playground equipment, carnivals, author visits, Donuts with Dad and Muffins with Mom, and much much more.
I have to add this because many parents I've talked to don't want to be stereotyped into a PTA parent image - but seriously, it's what you make it and what you bring to it. Have you met some of the other PTA parents? Pretty cool... I actually used to be a huge dork until I joined PTA, and a year and a half of being president has made me incredibly cool (think about it). Plus your kids feel really special and gain confidence from being able to occasionally go into the teacher's lounge, hidden PTA closets and many other perks.
Based on parent feedback, we've moved away from catalog based sales (where kids ask you, your family, friends and neighbors to buy products) to many smaller service based fundraisers. We sold wreaths, are selling scrip (thank you Amy Geiger!) and Hy-Vee coupon books, cleaning the Rough Rider's arena, will be collecting cans, have a hat-week, are holding the annual Walk-A-Thon and hosting a HUGE spring carnival. These need your involvement to work! Volunteering for even non-fundraising events helps others spend their time making the fundraisers more successful. Getting involved can mean helping once at an event or regularly volunteering - it's up to you. Your kid(s) will benefit from your involvement - when you're more comfortable and connected with school, they will be too.
Volunteer! Come to PTA meetings, join PTA, know what's going on, encourage other parents to do the same. Respond to fliers that come home with your child. Participate in PTA programs like scrip, coupon sales, upcoming can collection and hat day, go to school carnivals and festivals. Invite your kids to come with you to any and every PTA event - it gives your kids a sense of importance and community, and that helping can be fun. Voice your opinion - PTA represents all parents and teachers, and we need your ideas! Our PTA website will be coming soon for more information on everything PTA.
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