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Parent Teacher Organization – Opportunities for Involvement

Creating a partnership between parents, staff and students [graphic]

Volunteering provides opportunities to interact with other parents and develops a greater sense of investment in the educational experience of our children. One of the primary sources of volunteer opportunities is through the Parent Teacher Organization.

The purpose of the Parent Teacher Organization is to enhance the education and enrich the environment of our students and the staff in a variety of ways. The Parent Teacher Organization coordinates the following areas, all of which benefit from the efforts of volunteers:

• Staff Support
• Hospitality
• Hot lunch program
• Extracurricular activities
• Field trip funding

All parents are encouraged to attend PTO meetings, which are held four times a year. Dates and times of these meetings are published in the Ada Connection. Please refer to the school calendar for the dates of PTO events. A summary of committee heads is listed in the directory.

Realizing the vital partnership that exists between home and school, our teachers always welcome parental involvement and assistance.

We encourage you to share your specific gifts to benefit the school community.

FUNCTIONS/ACTIVITIES

Functions and activities of the PTO include the following:

1. Extra Curricular: Throughout the year, Ada Christian hosts events that celebrate the gifts of students in the areas of music, drama, science, and history. If you wish to assist in any of these events, sign up will be available at the Open House, which is held before the beginning of the school year.

• Music Boosters assist the music staff by providing assistance with programs and concerts. Specific areas of help include set-up, providing refreshments, and costume design.
  
  
• The Fine Arts Committee sets up enhancement activities for students, such as museum trips and guest artists. They also work to plan the Fine Arts Night, which is held on the fourth Thursday in April. Student artworks and World Fair projects (6th grade history) are displayed throughout the building. The orchestras and bands demonstrate their abilities throughout the evening.
  
  
• ACS has been awarded a grant from the Grand Rapids Symphony for the 2002-03 and 2003-04 school years. The goal of this Artist in Residence program is to increase awareness of the role that music can play in our lives in a variety of ways. Students will be able to experience orchestral concerts by the Grand Rapids Symphony throughout the year. Symphony musicians will visit the classrooms, and students will learn about specific instruments Through the Symphony's Discovery program.
  
  
• A parent volunteer compiles a monthly calendar that includes special events and hot lunch menus. This calendar is distributed with the Ada Connection.
  
  
• Parent volunteers design and create bulletin boards which feature student birthdays and other school activities.
  
  
• Grades 5-8 participate in annual Spelling and Geography Bees. Winners and first runners up proceed to the regional competition. Other programs funded by PTO include Science Olympiad for middle school students (Dec. – March) and Odyssey of the Mind for elementary students (Nov. – March).

2. Foodservice: Hot lunch is served every day except Friday. Some meals are prepared in school, but most are supplied by local vendors. Many volunteers are needed. This is a great way to meet people! Sign up at the Open House and specify the day that you would like to help.

Hot lunch order forms are sent home monthly with each student. The Ada Connection will include reminders of when these forms are to be returned to the classroom teacher. Specific questions about hot lunch can be directed to coordinator Lynn Vanderberg, at 682-0162.

Milk can be ordered for your child as well. The office will attach a form for each family to the Ada Connection twice a year. On this form, chocolate or white milk can be ordered for the entire semester for a reasonable cost.

3. Fundraising: Careful consideration is given to the amount and types of fundraisers in which the school participates.* The limited amount of fundraisers have proven to be very successful because of excellent family participation. Proceeds are used in a variety of ways. Classroom funds are furnished to be used toward field trips, supplies, and teacher gifts. Funds are also contributed for the purchase of 3rd grade Bibles, the Water Safety Program, and extracurricular programs. Sign up to assist in specific ways at the Open House or on the Parent Volunteer Opportunity (PVO) form which is mailed in August.

• The Sally Foster gift-wrap sale occurs within the first weeks of school. Products arrive in November, at which time help is needed in preparing and distributing individual orders.
  
  
• A Rummage Sale is held every fall and spring, and is always well attended! You can help by donating clothing, sporting goods, toys, and household items. Volunteers are also needed to set up on the Friday before the sale, and to assist at the actual sale which is held on Saturday.
  
  
• The Scholastic Book Fair is held for a week in October. Help is needed to set up the displays, to monitor the sales, and at the checkout table.
  
  
• Campbells labels are collected all year long and redeemed for equipment.
  
  
• General Mills boxtops are collected all year long and redeemed for $0.10 per boxtop.
  
  
• Spartan UPCs are collected all year long and redeemed for $0.02 each.
  
  
  
• The Birthday Book program is also run by PTO volunteers. Students are sent a letter in the month of their birthday asking if they would like to purchase a book for the library. Their name and birthdate are placed on a sticker inside the new book.

* In addition to PTO fundraisers listed above, the Middle School runs a magazine sale and sells entertainment books in the fall. Proceeds from these sales are used specifically for Middle School events.

4. Hospitality: Many events are held throughout the year. These are enjoyable for the students and parents and are a great way to get to know other members of our school community.

• School Parties: Ice skating, roller skating, swimming, and skiing parties, as well as a Whitecaps ballgame outing are scheduled for the next year. The school usually receives discounted rates. The school calendar and the Ada Connection will have information about these scheduled events.
  
  
• Grandfriends Day: This event is usually held in the beginning of May on a Friday morning. Students may invite their grandparent or another friend to attend school with them for the morning. A special program is planned each year. Help is needed on the planning committee as well as on the day of the event.
  
  
• Winter Carnival: This event is usually held in the beginning of March. Parents are assigned to work a shift at one of the games, a refreshment area, or at the ticket table. Assistance is also needed on the planning committee.
  
  
• Volunteer/Bus Driver Appreciation Coffee: This coffee is held in May for all those who have volunteered at ACS in any way throughout the year.

5. Staff Support: Sign up for these opportunities at the Open House.

• Room Parents, Grades K-5: Each classroom will be assigned one contact room parent, who will be the liaison between the teacher and several other room parents for that. This contact room parent will meet with the teacher, organize parent volunteer forms, organize playground duties, and administer the classroom fund. Room parents assist in planning classroom parties, driving for selected field trips, and assisting in other ways as directed by the teacher. In the 5th grade only one room parent is assigned to the class to communicate needs of the teachers to other parents.
  
  
• Staff Appreciation: We choose one week to honor the ACS staff for their contributions to the school. Support for the staff can be shown in any way throughout the year, but in the designated week the PTO provides treats and a special luncheon. Specific ways to show support to the teacher are decided by the room parents. Recess duty is often covered, and some lunches or dinners are provided for the teacher.
  
  
• Playground duty: Each classroom is assigned three weeks out of the year to cover recess duty on Monday and Wednesday noon recess and Friday morning recess. Half-day kindergarten is not included in recess coverage.
  
  
• Moms in Touch: A group of ACS mothers gets together weekly to pray for our school, teachers, and students. If you are new to the school, this is a great way to serve the school and to get to know other moms! See the Ada Connection for meeting days and times, or call Linda VanderVeen.