September 2014 Dear Parents, The Grant School PTO would like to extend a warm welcome to all of the new and returning families of Grant School. As we kick off the new school year, we are once again asking you to join the PTO. Who can be a member? All parents and caregivers, along with school faculty, can join the PTO. Each family membership is only $15 per school year. Membership does not obligate you to volunteer. Simply by providing your membership fee, you will be contributing to our success. What does the PTO do? The mission of the PTO is to provide our school with supplemental funds, programs and resources to enrich the education of every student. To do this, we count on your membership fees and your support of the various PTO fundraisers throughout the year. Last year, the PTO raised over $16,000, all of which was put right back into the school. Cultural programs, assemblies, educational materials, classroom equipment, and fi eld trips are just a fraction of what the PTO was able to provide. Why should you get involved? Participation in the PTO is a great opportunity for you to get to know the teachers, other parents, and to be an active part of your child s Grant School experience. The PTO does a lot with relatively little, and to maintain all of our programs we need your help. We ask that you join the PTO, which only requires that you pay the $15 annual membership fee, and that you also consider becoming an active member. Membership Forms and Committee Sign Up sheets are attached. You will see that there are many ways for everyone to volunteer their time and talents. Please complete the forms and return them to the school. When is the first meeting? We invite you to join us for our fi rst meeting on Monday, September 15 th at 7:30 PM in the All Purpose Room. We look forward to meeting you. Once again, welcome (back) to Grant School for another successful school year. Sincerely, The Grant PTO Executive Board: Jamie Ketas & Janice Worner, Co-Presidents Hanh Quach, 1 st Vice President Cheryl McDonnell, 2 nd Vice President Tom Ketas, Treasurer Christine Marti, Recording Secretary Laura Keating, Corresponding Secretary
PTO Membership Form Yearly membership to the PTO is only $15 per family. You are not required to volunteer by becoming a member. All membership dues go back to Grant students and teachers 100%! Please return form in an envelope with a check made out to Grant PTO. Thank you! Parent/Guardian Name(s): Child(ren) Name(s): Teacher: Address: Phone Number: E-mail Address: (Please print neatly and list an e-mail address you check regularly)
Grant School PTO Activities Calendar Look for Monthly Calendar Handouts for Up-to-Date Info and Details! September Wednesday, September 3- First Day of School Monday, September 15- PTO Meeting 7:30 PM Wednesday, September 17 - Back to School Night/PTO Membership Drive Tuesday, September 30 School Picture Day October Monday, October 6- PTO Meeting 7:30 PM Thursday, October 9 & Friday, October 10- Scholastic Book Fair Thursday, October 23- Walkathon/Pumpkin Patch Tuesday, October 28- Rain Date for Walkathon November Monday, November 3- PTO Meeting 7PM (Key Communicator/Principal Presentation) Wednesday, November 12- PTO Bagel Sale Wednesday, November 12 School Picture Retakes Thursday, November 13- Healthy Breakfast Friday, November 14- Family Movie Night December Saturday, December 13- Breakfast With Santa Thursday, December 4th & Friday December 5th - Holiday Fun Shop January Monday, January 5 PTO Meeting 7:30 PM February Monday, February 2- PTO Meeting 7PM (Key Communicator/Principal Presentation) March Monday, March 2- PTO Meeting 7:30 PM Saturday, March 21- Variety Show Saturday, March 28 Bunny Breakfast April Monday, April 1-PTO Meeting 7:30 PM Thursday, April 23- Healthy Snack Friday, April 24 Family Movie Night Tuesday, April 30 & Wednesday, May 1 - Spring Scholastic Book Fair May Monday, May 4 - PTO Meeting 7:30 PM Tuesday, May 5- Teacher s Luncheon Friday, May 8 - PTO Spring Plant Sale June Friday, June 5-5 th Grade Picnic Monday, June 8-5 th Grade Picnic Rain Date TBA- Volunteer Luncheon/Dinner Events and dates are subject to change or cancellation due to volunteer availability.
Parent Volunteer Form NAME HOME PHONE CELL E-MAIL I HAVE STUDENTS IN GRADES: K 1 2 3 4 5 (circle all that apply) Fundraising: Volunteers & Coordinators needed. The 2nd Vice President is chair of all fundraising committees. Holiday Fun Shop Market Day Walkathon Fall Scholastic Book Fair Spring Scholastic Book Fair Fundraising Distribution Flower Sales Bagel Sales Family Programs: Family Theater Family Movie Night(s) Family Swim Family Skate Bunny Brunch Breakfast with Santa Hospitality: Pre-School Story Hour: Publicity: Board of Education Representative: Health, Safety & Rec: Yearbook: Birthday Book Club: Audit Committee: Volunteer Art Committee: Field Day: Variety Show: Lego Club: Newsletter: See reverse side of this form for Committee Descriptions. E-mail: grantpto2014@gmail.com This is a volunteer checklist for the different committees that make up the Grant School PTO. Please consider volunteering for the children and read each description on the reverse side to decide where you would like to help. The success of our PTO depends on our volunteers. All positions listed are one-year terms. Anyone participating in the PTO, in any way, must be a paid member. Volunteers entering the school and working with children MUST be HIB trained. Dates of HIB workshops will be announced at a later time. Please return the volunteer form to the school offi ce by September 26th and keep the checklist for your records. Thank you for volunteering and making our school a better place! Please, check off any committee(s) you may be interested in assisting with. A chairperson will contact you via e-mail when the committee meets.
HOLIDAY FUN SHOP: A holiday shop is set up in school so students will have a chance to shop for their friends and family. Volunteers needed to bring craft ideas and know how to supply homemade crafts to sell at the Holiday Fun Shop. Volunteers are also needed to set up, help students shop and for clean up. MARKET DAY: A retail program that offers nutritious and affordable groceries. Order forms are sent home via backpack. A percentage of all purchases go back to our school. Volunteers are needed to help out once a month with the Market Day delivery on a scheduled day to be determined by Market Day Coordinator. WALKATHON: One of the PTO s biggest fundraiser of the year. Children will get a chance to get a great work out, while raising money for their school. A pledge sheet will be sent home prior to the event where students ask sponsors to donate money in exchange for walking. As a special treat for their hard work, the PTO awards the student with a visit to the pumpkin patch (on school grounds). Volunteers are needed to organize Walkathon. Responsibilities include ordering pumpkins and setting up pumpkin patch and to help with set and clean up. FALL AND SPRING SCHOLASTIC BOOKFAIR: Held for two days in the fall and spring. Volunteers are needed to help children shop for books during book fairs. FUNDRAISING DISTRIBUTION: This committee will help by sorting and distributing products from our catalog fundraisers. Volunteers are needed to help sort and distribute catalog merchandise. SPIRIT WEAR: Responsible for establishing merchandise with the Grant School logo to be use as a mean of fundraising for the school. Volunteers are needed to help organize production and sales of Spirit wear. FLOWER SALES: Coordinates the mums (in the fall) and spring plant sales. A Coordinator to order fl owers and organize sales. Volunteers are also needed to help during the sales. HOSPITALITY: This committee provides refreshments to various Grant School Functions (outlined in the PTO Standing Rules). Also responsible for planning the Teacher s Appreciation Luncheon and End of the Year Volunteer Party. Volunteers needed to bake or bring items to various school functions. You may also be called upon to assist with set-up, serving or cleanup. PRE-SCHOOL STORY HOUR: An 8-10 week program for children who will be entering kindergarten the following school year. The purpose is to familiarize incoming students to Grant School. Volunteers needed to assist. PUBLICITY: Photograph special events at Grant school and PTO activities for submission to local newspaper in order to promote public awareness of events being held at Grant School. Volunteers needed to assist. BOARD OF EDUCATION REPRESENTATIVES: Attends all Board of Education meetings and gives a report at our PTO meetings. Brings concerns of our association to the Board of Ed. meetings. Volunteer/Coordinator needed to attend Board of Ed Meetings and report monthly to PTO. HEALTH, SAFETY & REC: Provides information and promotes awareness to issues relating to health and safety to the school population through information and programs. Volunteers/Coordinators needed to organize activities and work with Mrs. Vinci on coordinating Healthy Breakfast and Healthy Snack days and you may also be called upon to assist with set-up, serving or cleanup. YEARBOOK: Volunteers needed to take pictures during school events and assist with design of yearbook page layouts. BIRTHDAY BOOK CLUB: Serves to enhance the Grant School Library by accepting donations on behalf of individual students and using those donations to purchase new books. FAMILY PROGRAMS: Responsible for bringing family fun and educational programs to the children, parents and local community. FAMILY THEATRE: Families enjoy a fantastic performance by the talented actors at the Bergen County Players. Volunteers needed to purchase tickets, advertise event and distribute purchased tickets to families. FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT: Grant School families come together and enjoy a great family movie. Held in November and April. Volunteers needed to organize the event. FAMILY SWIM: A nice break from the winter drag. Held in January. Volunteers needed to organize the event. FAMILY SKATE: An enjoyable morning skating at the rink. A family favorite year after year! Volunteers needed to organize the event. AUDIT COMMITTEE: Verifi es the accuracy of the Treasurer s records and reports to the Executive Board. ART COMMITTEE: Our Art Teacher, Patty Brower organizes the Annual Art Show in April. Volunteers are appreciated to help with set up. Volunteers are also needed during the night of the Art Show to help students with crafts. Volunteers needed to help with set up and crafts. VARIETY SHOW: A showcase of our talented Grant School Students. Volunteers to assist with the scheduling, setup, coordination and production. BUNNY BRUNCH: Families enjoy a brunch with the Easter Bunny while also creating beautiful spring crafts. Volunteers needed to coordinate a brunch and crafts with the Bunny. BREAKFAST WITH SANTA: Enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast as well as a visit from Santa! Volunteers needed to coordinate food, crafts and activities. LEGO CLUB: Plan and organize membership and meetings for the Lego Club. Volunteers needed to coordinate and assist during club meetings. NEWSLETTER: Editor creates the monthly Grant PTO newsletter, which is bought home via backpack and is a major form of communication between the PTO and parents. Volunteer needed to collects articles from committee chairpersons and put together monthly newsletter.