Q&A: Get Involved with Your PTO!
As many look for ways to get involved with what their kids are doing in school, PTO is a natural opportunity for parents and teachers to partner and collaborate with educators. This Q&A with Kaitlyn Rowzee, who is involved at northeast Mississippi’s Alcorn Central Elementary, will provide a deeper look at what PTO might also be doing at your child’s school.
Q: Kaitlyn, what is the PTO?
A: The PTO is a group of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and teachers. All types of family members, really, who all have the same goal in mind. We want to enrich our campus with educational and supplemental items, tools, and/or necessities for all of the children, whether elementary through high school. We want to embrace, and also enhance, the camaraderie that we – our school – shares.
Q: What is the function and importance of the PTO, and why is it something parents should hope to be involved with?
A: The main function of the PTO is to raise money for the school’s necessities, or extra things that would enhance our students’ learning experience. The school is allowed a budget each year, and we know that the budget may not be enough to give back in every single area, fully. We also love to provide opportunities for families to come together and enjoy our school campus and to see where – and what – our funds that we have raised, are going towards. Parents and all family members should hope to be involved, because honestly, why not? We’re helping to better our campus for our children. We’re helping to give back, so that more can be poured into our kids. At the same time, we are also providing opportunities for families to come together, and even multiple families to come together and fellowship. We love seeing new members join the PTO and make lifelong friendships with other parents. Also, with our kids seeing us working hard to raise money and to give back to our schools, it may allow them to have the same mentality of giving back and working hard for something that is of importance to them. I personally love being involved, because with the activities that we host, I am able to see my child having fun and enjoying the fruits of the PTO’s labor so to speak. That, in itself, is priceless to me.
Q: What kind of activities do you put on?
A: We help with and host a plethora of activities. We do t-shirt sales, the Cub Cart where kids can buy little toys on Friday mornings before school. We currently sell yard cards. We host the elementary’s Fall Festival, and we help with the school pageant. We hosted a “Picnic in the Playground” event this past fall, where families all fellowshipped together, brought a picnic, and enjoyed a movie together right on the playground. We help with Field Day, such as helping with concessions, games, and so forth. There are so many activities that we try to help or host, that I could go on and on and on!
Q: Where does the money from the fundraisers go?
A: The money from the fundraisers is poured right back into the school. This year, for the elementary school, our main goal is to raise money for an outside classroom and tables for our Pre-K students to have on the playground. We regularly supply water for the school nurse, and during Teacher Appreciation week, we recognize all of the staff in the elementary school, in different ways.
Q: What are ways we can get involved?
A: At Alcorn Central, we have PTO meetings every third Thursday of the month at 5:30 p.m. in the elementary school cafeteria. This is where we go over the past meeting, talk about upcoming events, discuss possible future events, and how to volunteer for those as well. Anyone can get involved, and we would absolutely love for more people to join us!
There you have it! As parents, friends, and family…you can support our schools, our teachers, school staff, and our kiddos’ educational development, by being an involved community member. Join the PTO and help create better fun, engaging opportunities for our school-aged children in the community. Help support – and partner with – the efforts of teachers and educators, for the good of the kids!
Katie Frost is a Boy Mom of two beautiful boys, and lives in Corinth with the rockstar love of her life, Dave Frost. Together they parent and live crazy-artist lives. She’s an actress, blogger/author/playwright and singer/songwriter. Katie is passionate about cultivating a beautiful family life – one in which everyone can live out their dreams and thrive.
