Ditto what CC said but this is a strange time of year. Every other time I go in the school I know I'm right there with the staff, but this time of year when all the parties, exchanges and get togethers are going on amongst the teachers and staff I always feel left out. Of course I realize that they cannot invite parents to these sorts of things (they deserve to be able to let their hair down too) but it is weird not being part of the "fun" when I feel like they are my co workers and knowing how much I personally "work" for the school.
I guess it is perhaps just that...so speak first, smile and know that someone is going to ask "Who brought the cookies" and someone else will say "The PTO"...and one person at least will think "How cool is that"!!!!
All of the teams I've been involved with have always had very positive relationships with the staff. That said, there does from time to time, seem to be a small group of trouble makers on one team or the other that is set on causing problems. They're usually a small, manageable group that doesn't bring the rest of us down.
I guess I'd be very curious to know what is the cause of the negativity at your school. It sounds like your group is showing a great deal of respect and gratitude if you're in there the week before Christmas setting out cookies!
Is there a history of tension between staff and parents or staff and PTO? Could a teacher liason or perhaps even the principal lead an ad hoc committee to address whatever underlying issues are there?
I would probably continue to do the nice things you're doing because it's always a good idea to take the high road. But I would also work on finding out what the issues are.
Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same."
"The ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory or defeat but in the true perfection of one's character."
What sort of relationship does your PTO have with teachers and staff? Do you get the cold shoulder and the hushed voices when you walk into a room? Does it put you on alert when someone starts being nice?
I'm very frustrated right now. I was up at 5:30 this morning making cookie trays for the teacher's lounge. Collected baked goods from parents all over town. When I walked in with 4 trays this morning, there wasn't one "Good Morning" or acknowledgement that I was even there putting goodies out for them. They wandered over, took a treat and left. It's getting very difficult to do nice things when that's the way we get treated DAILY.
Is it time to face facts and only do what we need to?
