PTO Today

Parents at Galway Elementary in Silver Spring, Md. may not always speak the same language, but they all want the best possible education for their children. That’s why the PTA started the Galway Guides program, in which parents mentor families whose first language is not English. The guides help families navigate the school and the community, arranging translators for parent-teacher conferences and informing families about ESOL classes and other services. What a great way to build involvement by all parents, no matter what language they speak!

Just stumbled across this great series on parent involvement by the New Haven Independent. The paper is following three families through the academic year to observe the different ways that schools involve parents.

In addition to the accounts of parent group events, there are some moving descriptions of family life. The series follows a widowed mom who works the night shift and volunteers at her daughter’s parochial school on only three hours of sleep. And a single dad whose work schedule conflicts with PTO meetings at his children’s public school. The third family formerly homeschooled their son, and now all three are learning the ins and outs of the charter school he moved to this year.

Just for fun, here’s an item from the Hollywood gossip mill about the Baywatch star stopping traffic at her children’s school. It’s not the first time Pam has done crossing guard duty; she talked about the gig while promoting a film at Cannes earlier this year. You gotta hand it to her–she doesn’t let a crazy work schedule, a turbulent love life, or even the California wildfires keep her from pitching in at school.

What’s better than a parent group? A parent “supergroup”!

Parents from five elementary schools in West Springfield, Mass. have formed a new group that “transcends school boundaries,” The Republican newspaper reports. As one of the leaders explained, each school PTO will continue its own work, but by coming together they “can do a lot of great things.”

The increasing pressure on schools to promote healthy lifestyles has put many parent groups in a bind. Keep selling delicious (and high-calorie) treats, or find new ways to raise money?

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that a number of area schools are moving to fundraisers that burn calories instead of selling calories to others. The fundraising events include a 5K race, a schoolwide olympics contest, and a math-a-thon. While healthy and fun events sound neat, the big question remains: how do they work as actual fundraisers?

Talk about an educational partnership. A Fayetteville, Ark. elementary school is teaming up with the University of Arkansas to build an outdoor classroom. The PTO raised the money, and students from the School of Architecture will handle the project through construction. What a great way to support students of all ages!

Their kids are all grown up now, but these North Dakota grandparents and retired school employees haven’t retired from the PTA. The senior citizens formed their own group — the Golden Oaks PTA.