There's no PTA at Disney, right?

[connorlevismom]

Can I ask a question about PTA? I have a son that will start kindergarten this fall and I really want to be involved with the PTA. However, I work and I am wondering how much i am really going to be able to help if I need to be at work. At your schools, are the meetings held at night when everyone can attend? Are the volunteer projects ones that everyone can do and not just during the day?

Kristine

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Can I ask a question about PTA? I have a son that will start kindergarten this fall and I really want to be involved with the PTA. However, I work and I am wondering how much i am really going to be able to help if I need to be at work. At your schools, are the meetings held at night when everyone can attend? Are the volunteer projects ones that everyone can do and not just during the day?

Kristine

I'm sure it varies from school to school, but I'll tell you about the PTOs I'm involved with.

I'm the vice-president of our elementary PTO and we have all of our board meetings during the day, usually first Tuesday of the month at 9:00 a.m. Most of the people on our board, which is comprised of four officers and 16 committee co-chairs, are stay-at-home moms. The three that do work have very flexible work hours. All of our school-wide pto meetings (three per year) are held in the evening. As far as PTO volunteers and volunteer opportunities I would say it's about 50/50 between during school functions and after school functions. We never turn a volunteer away and always try to find a place for everyone to plug in.

At our middle school PTO we have a few more working moms on the board. There are a few that have been on the board for a long time (joined prior to going back to work) and they don't want to leave the voting board, even though they don't really have time for it anymore. I have absolutely no problem with having working moms on the board (in fact, a few of them are my best volunteers), but it's frustrating when some say they will be able to help out and then can't because of work obligations. On this board we have most of our meetings right after school at 3:30 p.m. It's a little bit easier at this age to have a meeting and our kids can occupy themselves in the library and watch younger siblings. There are also more after-school volunteer opportunities for middle school parents, such as selling t-shirts and promotional merchandise at football and basketball games and working the concession stand.

So, in my experience I would say it's hard for a working mom to be part of the voting board, but there are still plenty of opportunites to serve.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

I just finished up a teacher appreciation luncheon at one of our schools. A few of our staff was less than appreciative. I am soooooo tired of school, volunteering and the PTA. Not that I need another reason to be excited, but no school!!!!! Anyone else in the same boat? If so, have a great, volunteer-free trip.

I took a year off from PTA this year since we moved in the middle of the school year (kids switched in November).

I found it refreshing and I really needed the time to recharge my batteries, PTA-wise. Have a great summer and maybe you'll feel recharged by next fall. If not, take a step back and focus on other stuff for a year

I also tried to ignore the staff that was jerky-I figure if they can't even be nice to people doing nice things for them, then what a sucky life they must be leading...


ETA: the comments about working parents not being able to volunteer-the reason working parents find it hard to volunteer is that most, if not all, of the volunteer opportunities and requirements happen during the school day.

When there's school.

When the kids are in school. What working parents view as exclusionary, the other parents view as convenient-if I can have a meeting during the day, either by taking a long lunch hour to come to the school or just scheduling the tasks of the day around it before the DH (or DW) gets home, other kids get out of school, after school activities start, and dinner happens, then yeah, that's when the meetings will happen.

If we have ten moms who can meet at 10 am because their kids are in school, those ten moms can't set up babysitting in the evening for a meeting. It's irrational. Not 'everyone can attend' in the evening.

As more and more parents went back to work over the past few years, the focus has switched from giving time to giving money. We were just as happy to have one as the other.

 

[v.t.]

Can I ask a question about PTA? I have a son that will start kindergarten this fall and I really want to be involved with the PTA. However, I work and I am wondering how much i am really going to be able to help if I need to be at work. At your schools, are the meetings held at night when everyone can attend? Are the volunteer projects ones that everyone can do and not just during the day?

Kristine

Our school welcomes all volunteers, even DADS!!!! My PTA board is about half-n-half working (for pay) and working (not for pay) parents. (All Moms work hard 24/7). We have our board meetings as well as general membership meetings in the evening. We get high school students who need volunteer hours to baby-sit the kids while we have our board meetings. But that is what works for us. Every year we get together and decide what we as a group need to do. If your PTA does not welcome you, run for president and change it! If that doesn't work, write your teacher a note, explain that you work but would love to help out in any way you could. I am sure she would have several things to be done at home, cut-outs, stapling, organizing the parties, etc. Don't let a job keep you from volunteering. It shows your son that even though you are not there, he and his school are very important to you.

 

[connorlevismom]

I took a year off from PTA this year since we moved in the middle of the school year (kids switched in November).

I found it refreshing and I really needed the time to recharge my batteries, PTA-wise. Have a great summer and maybe you'll feel recharged by next fall. If not, take a step back and focus on other stuff for a year

I also tried to ignore the staff that was jerky-I figure if they can't even be nice to people doing nice things for them, then what a sucky life they must be leading...


ETA: the comments about working parents not being able to volunteer-the reason working parents find it hard to volunteer is that most, if not all, of the volunteer opportunities and requirements happen during the school day.

When there's school.

When the kids are in school. What working parents view as exclusionary, the other parents view as convenient-if I can have a meeting during the day, either by taking a long lunch hour to come to the school or just scheduling the tasks of the day around it before the DH (or DW) gets home, other kids get out of school, after school activities start, and dinner happens, then yeah, that's when the meetings will happen.

If we have ten moms who can meet at 10 am because their kids are in school, those ten moms can't set up babysitting in the evening for a meeting. It's irrational. Not 'everyone can attend' in the evening.

As more and more parents went back to work over the past few years, the focus has switched from giving time to giving money. We were just as happy to have one as the other.

Wow - no need to jump down my throat about it. I was simply asking how it works since I have never had a child in school and would like to be involved as much as I possible can. I am sorry you took it as an attack on SAHM's. Again, I was just wondering how it works and what I can expect when I get to this stage.

Kristine

 

[connorlevismom]

Our school welcomes all volunteers, even DADS!!!! My PTA board is about half-n-half working (for pay) and working (not for pay) parents. (All Moms work hard 24/7). We have our board meetings as well as general membership meetings in the evening. We get high school students who need volunteer hours to baby-sit the kids while we have our board meetings. But that is what works for us. Every year we get together and decide what we as a group need to do. If your PTA does not welcome you, run for president and change it! If that doesn't work, write your teacher a note, explain that you work but would love to help out in any way you could. I am sure she would have several things to be done at home, cut-outs, stapling, organizing the parties, etc. Don't let a job keep you from volunteering. It shows your son that even though you are not there, he and his school are very important to you.

Hopefully my son's PTA is like yours and you decide AS A GROUP what will work best for you guys. I like that idea. I will be really put off if people act as if they are going to do what works best for THEM and screw the rest of you. It is nice that everyone has a voice in your group.

I love the idea of sending his teacher a note letting her know that I would love to help in anyway I can. I will most likely do that. I do want my son to know that I care about his school and will attend what I can during the day. But that is not always possible and he knows that. I cannot attend all of his fieldtrips for daycare but I have gone on a couple and taken vacation days off work for them. I know he enjoys that.

Kristine

 

[connorlevismom]

If we have ten moms who can meet at 10 am because their kids are in school, those ten moms can't set up babysitting in the evening for a meeting. It's irrational. Not 'everyone can attend' in the evening.

As more and more parents went back to work over the past few years, the focus has switched from giving time to giving money. We were just as happy to have one as the other.

I have two more things to say about this.

#1. what about moms who have little ones at home still? Are they excluded too? I mean, you say it is irrational for SAHM's to arrange a sitter in the evenings but are mom's with kids still at home supposed to arrange a sitter during the day? That to me would be equally irrational using your example.

#2. with more and more parents both going back to work, it means that they need that money to make ends meet so giving money may not really be an option for those people. Just because two people work instead of one does not mean they all of a sudden have extra money to give.

Kristine

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

Wow - no need to jump down my throat about it. I was simply asking how it works since I have never had a child in school and would like to be involved as much as I possible can. I am sorry you took it as an attack on SAHM's. Again, I was just wondering how it works and what I can expect when I get to this stage.

Kristine

Not jumping down your throat, it's just the way it is, and it can get frustrating when parents who work 9-5 get pissed when they can't sign up to do a science experiement in their kid's classroom because the time frame is at 10 am. Or who want to do the Student of The Month and get mad when told you need to be here at 9 am to take all the pictures of the kids each month.

It's just a fact that if you cannot leave the work you're doing to come in and volunteer, then you can't volunteer for most of the things that PTA/PTO is in charge of.

It's not some exclusive club you can't get into, it's just time-dependent school functions. Most PTA members would KILL to have more help, if we could just get people to show up!

And lest this turn into one of those endless work for your kids vs work for the man arguments, I DO work, nearly full time. I just have a job with a very flexible schedule so I can work in those science experiments (diet coke and mentos as a demo of a chemical and physical reaction anyone?).

If you have a job where you can't commit to be at the school or you have newborn triplets at home, then don't sign up and don't feel bad about it. Find other ways to help.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

I have two more things to say about this.

#1. what about moms who have little ones at home still? Are they excluded too? I mean, you say it is irrational for SAHM's to arrange a sitter in the evenings but are mom's with kids still at home supposed to arrange a sitter during the day? That to me would be equally irrational using your example.

#2. with more and more parents both going back to work, it means that they need that money to make ends meet so giving money may not really be an option for those people. Just because two people work instead of one does not mean they all of a sudden have extra money to give.

Kristine

#1. Most moms can and do bring a younger kid/baby to the meetings. The moms that have a younger kid/baby will avoid volunteer positions like stocking the shelves in the library, which requires quiet and concentration. Other positions work better with a baby in tow. The moms that have more than one toddler or baby usually wait until their youngest starts school and then volunteer. Other moms will do volunteer time when their baby is in a "mother's morning out" care. Gives them a chance to have some grownup interaction . One baby in MMO care is *considerably* cheaper than 2 or more kids being babysat in the evening.

#2. It doesn't mean you have more money to give. It doesn't mean you have less to give, either. We never considered donating to the PTA "extra", we considered it direct help for the quality of life our children participated in in school. We gave money, and we saw the positive effects it had. One meal out at a good restaurant-that money sent to the PTA instead can do a lot of good for all the kids.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Wow - no need to jump down my throat about it. I was simply asking how it works since I have never had a child in school and would like to be involved as much as I possible can. I am sorry you took it as an attack on SAHM's. Again, I was just wondering how it works and what I can expect when I get to this stage.

Kristine

I'm sorry, but I don't think she jumped down your throat at all. She just stated her experience with her PTO.

 

[rodeo65]

Last year and the year before I was heavily involved in the PA, in fact last year I was the VP. This year we changed our children's school and I decided I had burned myself out (not to meniton DH's complaints about all of the time I spent on various projects), so I didn't get involved in anything. I also wanted to watch for a year since this is a MUCH larger school with a MUCH larger PA - it was kind of intimidating.

I was, however, able to volunteer in the library and went on every field trip and to every class event possible. This was more what I had wanted anyway, rather than all of the event planning at the last school. There are maybe four large events at this new school rather than the 2 per month previously.

I think after having observed for a year I may be able to handle AN event next year. I have enjoyed not being "on call" this year, though.

And I'm still looking forward to the end of the year and our upcoming Disney trip!

 

[badblackpug]

Not jumping down your throat, it's just the way it is, and it can get frustrating when parents who work 9-5 get pissed when they can't sign up to do a science experiement in their kid's classroom because the time frame is at 10 am. Or who want to do the Student of The Month and get mad when told you need to be here at 9 am to take all the pictures of the kids each month.

It's just a fact that if you cannot leave the work you're doing to come in and volunteer, then you can't volunteer for most of the things that PTA/PTO is in charge of.

It's not some exclusive club you can't get into, it's just time-dependent school functions. Most PTA members would KILL to have more help, if we could just get people to show up!

And lest this turn into one of those endless work for your kids vs work for the man arguments, I DO work, nearly full time. I just have a job with a very flexible schedule so I can work in those science experiments (diet coke and mentos as a demo of a chemical and physical reaction anyone?).

If you have a job where you can't commit to be at the school or you have newborn triplets at home, then don't sign up and don't feel bad about it. Find other ways to help.

Exactly! My point was that the people who have the time to be involved should not harass the ones that don't. Not everyone can be the class mom, or chaperone the trips, parties, field days, etc.

 

[taitai]

I am very involved in our PTA and this is what we do.

As I have stated in other posts, our school has very strong involvement. Some parents just really only want to be in the classroom and so that is where they volunteer and that is great. Others want to be on committees. We have a LOT of activities throughout the year. So, you can be on a committee or a chair. We have about 50 different positions in which you can be a chair of co-chair...so, that is about 100 people. Then, we have our Board which is 6 people and the principal.

The way we do our meetings is to rotate. One month the meeting is a pizza lunch at noon and the next it is an evening event. During both we provide child care for any parent who needs it. That way there are lots of choices for people with different family situations to make a meeting.

However, as I said, as there are so many different events and committees, you don't have to go to the actual PTA meetings to get involved. There are other avenues that might fit your schedule better.

 

[wdwmaw]

I am at school right now and our school staff just fed our PTA and volunteers that have helped so much through out the year. We are having our field day for the kids and have only 3 days of school left. It takes so much support and time to make everything happen.

For those of you that feel like no one helps, you need to start small. I mean you have to teach the kids to give of there time and show them that others do give their time. We are a new school and we have increased our volunteering every year we have been open. We have designated our school as a community school and each grade level (K-5) picks a community partner (food bank, Humaine Society and so on) and works on projects to help. Our kids work and take trips to there partner to donate things made or collected or the community partner comes here to show how the kids have helped. Our hope is that our kids will grow into givers of there time.

We also look outside the box for volunteers in the community. We call womens groups, retirees, church youth groups, middle and high schoolers like Beta Club, Foreign Language clubs read to our minorities and so on. The sky is the limit to all that you can think of. Many business (ex. in our community are Toyota, Lexmart, and Kohl's) offer pd. time off for employees that volunteer, someone just has to make the contact and do the paperwork.

All of these ideas have taken a few years but the investment is starting to pay off for us.We have many families that both parents work full time and it is very difficult to just ask of another thing.The youth and seniors of our community need and want to help, they just need someone to ask. We have implemented a program that does a back ground check on anyone that wants to volunteer so that we get no one that should not be here. We run adds in the paper seeking volunteers and have sign ups at some of our local chain stores for an out reach.Our carnival this year is allways in need of volunteers but this year we had so many we did not know where to put everybody. We had 120 kids from our High School Beta Club alone. It can be done and I hope someone here takes this idea and puts it to work at there school. Your Principle can help you make some of the contacts you will need.

Sorry so long, just had to add and wanted to say thank you parents for all that you do for your child and all the others that need you.

 

[Leajess99]

How do you know that?

Because in our school the teacher's kids get placed in whatever the teacher's want them in regardless of whether they qualify or not. Just like no one other than teachers can request who they want as a teacher for their children. I have a friend who is a teacher at another school and her son goes to school with my daughter and she has even had issued with what is going on at our school. We had a child molested in my daughter's class and the principal left the kid in the class until the parent called CPS on it. Had it been a teacher's child as the victim the child assaulting him would have been moved so fast. My older daughter is now finished with this school and we have seen what has been going on for the past 6 years. My older DD was always in the advanced math class and had a couple of teachers' kids in there with her through the years and watched the struggles these kids had with the math but yet they kept sticking them in the advanced Math class.

 

[Leajess99]

That's why we only do one fundraiser a year. Sure, about 1/3 of our kids live in new subdivisions with large houses, but more than half our students get free lunches, too. We don't have grand plans, we pay for play costumes and area rugs and weekly reader subscriptions. Our parents don't feel pressured, and our kids get the extras the school system doesn't have in the budget.

Next year is my first year as an officer, and I think we are all on board with staying low key and supportive.

I wish our school would do this as well. It is neverending with fundraisers which would not be an issue but there are so many kids that are on free and reduced lunches who can't particpate. Well then they add to teh fundraiser by saying if you sell this much you get to do this special activity (last year it was an afternoon playing on bouncies) and you could tell how it affected the kids who couldn't afford to do it or whose family did not have enough people to help them do it.

 

[Leajess99]

Wow - no need to jump down my throat about it. I was simply asking how it works since I have never had a child in school and would like to be involved as much as I possible can. I am sorry you took it as an attack on SAHM's. Again, I was just wondering how it works and what I can expect when I get to this stage.

Kristine

Kristine, at my daughters' school they had many evening opportunities for helping with PTA activities. Also the teachers would have things needing to be cut out at home as a way that parents who worked could help volunteer and not take time from work. Talk to your child's teacher and see if they have ways you can help as well. I am a SAHM and I do volunteer in the school but I know many parents who just do what they can with PTA and with maybe cutting things out in the evening.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Because in our school the teacher's kids get placed in whatever the teacher's want them in regardless of whether they qualify or not. Just like no one other than teachers can request who they want as a teacher for their children. I have a friend who is a teacher at another school and her son goes to school with my daughter and she has even had issued with what is going on at our school. We had a child molested in my daughter's class and the principal left the kid in the class until the parent called CPS on it. Had it been a teacher's child as the victim the child assaulting him would have been moved so fast. My older daughter is now finished with this school and we have seen what has been going on for the past 6 years. My older DD was always in the advanced math class and had a couple of teachers' kids in there with her through the years and watched the struggles these kids had with the math but yet they kept sticking them in the advanced Math class.

So the teacher's children took the test to be placed in the advanced classes, failed the test and were placed there anyway?

This sounds like a bunch of gossip and rumors.

The gossip is one of the reasons, I've had to limit the amount of time parents spend in my classroom. Most are there to help but there are those that are only interested in adding to the playground gossip mill.

 

[StephMK]

Can I ask a question about PTA? I have a son that will start kindergarten this fall and I really want to be involved with the PTA. However, I work and I am wondering how much i am really going to be able to help if I need to be at work. At your schools, are the meetings held at night when everyone can attend? Are the volunteer projects ones that everyone can do and not just during the day?

Kristine

Our school is very working parent friendly. PTO meetings are held 1 night a month w/childcare. There are fundraisers & volunteers needed to take care of things during the day but there are a ton of opportunities to help after hours. There is usually a sign up sheet at Back to School night for classroom parent volunteers for art, Jr. Achievement, class parties & field trips.

They do an annual sock hop w/basket raffle, movie night, school dinners, Teacher Appreciation week, etc. & always need planners & volunteers. I have not attended many meetings because they conflict w/Scout meetings but we get lots of flyers sent home to donate baked goods, volunteer for shifts at the evening events, etc. It's easy to sign up to help even if you don't attend meetings. They also have a good mix of working & at home during the day moms that run & plan events.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

So the teacher's children took the test to be placed in the advanced classes, failed the test and were placed there anyway?

This sounds like a bunch of gossip and rumors.

The gossip is one of the reasons, I've had to limit the amount of time parents spend in my classroom. Most are there to help but there are those that are only interested in adding to the playground gossip mill.

I don't know about the other posters experience, but in our school system the teachers are given preferential treatment as to what classes their children are placed in. It's common knowledge, not gossip. I have had a number of teachers tell me that it is one of the "perks" of the job.