Get involved with your child’s school through PTO
COSHOCTON COUNTY – Joining parent teacher organizations is a great way to get involved at your child’s school.
“Parents can assist us in any way, shape or form,” said Charlotte Foster-Bantum from the Conesville Elementary PTO Board. “To help with PTO doesn’t mean they have to attend any or all meetings. The various activities that PTO is involved in does take a lot of work and assistance from parents. It is always a win-win situation when you can be involved with your children as well as at the school they attend. The teachers are seeing you there assisting with the benefit being your children see you there also. This seems to always keep them on their toes.”
Conesville Elementary PTO usually meets monthly.
“Any parent can reach any of us if they see us outside of school or on the school grounds,” Foster-Bantum said. “Our numbers are posted in a handout given at the beginning of the year so they may call at any time to volunteer or with any questions.”
Warsaw Elementary PTO hasn’t set its first meeting date, but when they do, information will be sent home with students. The group is currently looking for a president and has several committees, such as grandparents days, Veterans Day, fall fundraiser, gift shop and teacher/staff appreciation week, that need leadership positions filled. Parents and grandparents are encouraged to sign up to help.
Parents of River View students also can help at Union and Keene Elementary schools.
“Union has an awesome PTO,” said Krista Sibert, a Union Elementary parent. “They go above and beyond to try to get more parents involved and make sure they know how to get involved. They welcome new ideas whole heartedly and honestly I have never been around such a responsive PTO. The kids have had field trips and fun days that the PTO funded last year that were some of the first in years for some of the grade levels. Getting involved is so easy and it keeps parents connected to things going on in their children’s school lives.”
At Keene Elementary parents are kept informed of how they can help with events like: Popcorn Fridays, Harvest, Valentine’s and Christmas parties and candy grahams. Officers are usually elected at the first meeting of the year in September and meetings in the past were on the first Wednesday of the month.
Ridgewood Elementary PTO also welcomes the help of more parents to assist with cookie dough sales, which run Friday, Sept. 4 through Friday, Sept. 18, Santa Shop, kindergarten registration, book fairs, carnival and other activities throughout the year.
“Volunteer sheets will be sent out shortly with students,” said Denise Thompson, the PTO president. “Just fill out the days when you are available to volunteer and we will be calling.”
Ridgewood Elementary PTO will meet at 2:45 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month in the school’s library.
“The money raised for the Ridgewood PTO goes back to the students by providing assemblies for the students, playground updates and equipment and field trips, to name a few things,” Thompson said. “Everyone is welcomed to attend meetings. You can look us up on Facebook also.”
Coshocton Elementary PTO welcomes new volunteers, especially ones who are open minded and creative with ideas for fundraisers. The group meets from 7 to 8 p.m. the second Monday of each month in the school’s library and the first meeting will be on Monday, Sept. 14. However, you don’t have to attend every single meeting to help. Even just a few hours assisting with special projects or events is greatly appreciated.
“You can make phone calls during your spare time in the evening or volunteer time at Secret Santa or our book fair,” said Seanda Ramsey, the PTO president. “We have those events every single year and never seem to have enough volunteers.”
The group also is planning its second annual game night on Friday, Nov. 6, at Lake Park Pavilion. Last year this event raised more than $3,000. Fundraisers like this help the PTO plan fun activities for the students, purchase items for the school, build a scholarship fund and much more.
“Game night takes a lot of time and volunteers, but you don’t have to give 20 hours a week every day until the event. You can just help here and there.”
Moms, dads, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles and even interested community members are welcome to participate in PTO. The group handed out a newsletter and pens at the school’s open house, but you also can find information about Coshocton Elementary PTO on its Facebook page.
josie@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
Category: Education
