Post by slt on Oct 30, 2009 7:24:09 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/lifestyles/1854517,2_5_AU30_TATARCOL_S1-091030.article
(published version wound up cut way too much and I'm really disappointed about that, full version below)
For those of you who have children in school, do you spend any time volunteering in that school? If not, why not?
We have all heard the excuses. Too busy? So is everyone else. Most people can find at least a couple of spare hours sometime during the year to help out.
Are you are at work during the day? So are many other volunteers. They help outside of work hours, or use flex hours or vacation time.
Do you have younger children who can't accompany you when you volunteer? Some solutions would be volunteering for things you can do at home during your own time, or trading off babysitting with another parent in a similar situation.
Do you feel that language or cultural barriers make it difficult for you to volunteer in a school that may be quite unlike the school you attended? Your willingness to volunteer would be welcomed despite these perceived barriers. The teachers and parent groups would be happy to help you get started with something you'd be comfortable doing.
Do you have a child with special needs? That is all the more reason to be involved in PTA, so you can advocate for your own child as well as others.
If you don't know where help is needed in your school, ask your child's teacher or ask someone from your PTA or similar organization. Watch for your school's e-mail and newsletter publications that let the school's families know where help is needed.
Some feel that the PTA is a clique and that newcomers are treated like outsiders. The reason for this is that the PTA in many cases is made up of people who have spent many hours volunteering at school and therefore know each other well from working together over the years. Believe me, these groups are thrilled to welcome additional help.
District 204 has 34 local PTA and PTSA units. There are 3 high school, 7 middle school, 21 elementary school, and 1 preschool unit. There are also two district-wide units. One is the Indian Prairie Special Needs (IPSN) PTA and the other is the newly formed Project Arrow PTA. Membership in these 34 units totals close to 20,000. The funding and countless volunteer hours provided by the PTAs benefit all students throughout the district.
When you join PTA your membership dues are put to good use benefitting schoolchildren. In most cases you will also receive a school or PTA directory simply for joining. The National PTA website says “As the largest volunteer child advocacy association in the nation, National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) provides parents and families with a powerful voice to speak on behalf of every child and the best tools to help their children be safe, healthy, and successful - in school and in life.”
School volunteers provide for a wide variety and incredibly large number of activities and events both during and outside the school day. These include things like classroom parties, assemblies, field trips, picture parent, LMC volunteers, school greeters, bank at school, school store, Reflections, mini courses, writers' workshop, school newsletters and directories, staff appreciation, community service, and peer tutoring.
In the upper grades there are also vast opportunities to volunteer with additional school-related organizations such as the sports boosters, theatre, band, choir, and orchestra parent associations, and other opportunities related to specific extra-curriculars or events such as Waubonsie’s annual auction and Senior Sailabration and Neuqua’s Senior Spectacular. Chaperoning field trips and longer trips can also provide invaluable experiences for parents.
Your time and efforts will be rewarded with your child's appreciation and your knowledge that you have done something to benefit your school community. You may also enjoy getting an inside look at your child's school and getting to know other parents, teachers, and the school's administration.
Lori Price, president of the IPSN PTA, says of her PTA members “Because we all have children with special needs, there is a commonality that exists already. We all serve as a support system for each other simply because we understand what that parent is going through. Despite the fact that our parents have special needs children, I continue to be amazed at the volunteers we continue to get. We've built some enthusiasm in our group - AND we've built our group itself. I think people want to be a part of that enthusiasm and growth. “
Don't wait for someone to approach you, get started now by contacting someone at your school. This can be the beginning of making some great friends and wonderful memories.
SherryTatar@ameritech.net
(published version wound up cut way too much and I'm really disappointed about that, full version below)
For those of you who have children in school, do you spend any time volunteering in that school? If not, why not?
We have all heard the excuses. Too busy? So is everyone else. Most people can find at least a couple of spare hours sometime during the year to help out.
Are you are at work during the day? So are many other volunteers. They help outside of work hours, or use flex hours or vacation time.
Do you have younger children who can't accompany you when you volunteer? Some solutions would be volunteering for things you can do at home during your own time, or trading off babysitting with another parent in a similar situation.
Do you feel that language or cultural barriers make it difficult for you to volunteer in a school that may be quite unlike the school you attended? Your willingness to volunteer would be welcomed despite these perceived barriers. The teachers and parent groups would be happy to help you get started with something you'd be comfortable doing.
Do you have a child with special needs? That is all the more reason to be involved in PTA, so you can advocate for your own child as well as others.
If you don't know where help is needed in your school, ask your child's teacher or ask someone from your PTA or similar organization. Watch for your school's e-mail and newsletter publications that let the school's families know where help is needed.
Some feel that the PTA is a clique and that newcomers are treated like outsiders. The reason for this is that the PTA in many cases is made up of people who have spent many hours volunteering at school and therefore know each other well from working together over the years. Believe me, these groups are thrilled to welcome additional help.
District 204 has 34 local PTA and PTSA units. There are 3 high school, 7 middle school, 21 elementary school, and 1 preschool unit. There are also two district-wide units. One is the Indian Prairie Special Needs (IPSN) PTA and the other is the newly formed Project Arrow PTA. Membership in these 34 units totals close to 20,000. The funding and countless volunteer hours provided by the PTAs benefit all students throughout the district.
When you join PTA your membership dues are put to good use benefitting schoolchildren. In most cases you will also receive a school or PTA directory simply for joining. The National PTA website says “As the largest volunteer child advocacy association in the nation, National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) provides parents and families with a powerful voice to speak on behalf of every child and the best tools to help their children be safe, healthy, and successful - in school and in life.”
School volunteers provide for a wide variety and incredibly large number of activities and events both during and outside the school day. These include things like classroom parties, assemblies, field trips, picture parent, LMC volunteers, school greeters, bank at school, school store, Reflections, mini courses, writers' workshop, school newsletters and directories, staff appreciation, community service, and peer tutoring.
In the upper grades there are also vast opportunities to volunteer with additional school-related organizations such as the sports boosters, theatre, band, choir, and orchestra parent associations, and other opportunities related to specific extra-curriculars or events such as Waubonsie’s annual auction and Senior Sailabration and Neuqua’s Senior Spectacular. Chaperoning field trips and longer trips can also provide invaluable experiences for parents.
Your time and efforts will be rewarded with your child's appreciation and your knowledge that you have done something to benefit your school community. You may also enjoy getting an inside look at your child's school and getting to know other parents, teachers, and the school's administration.
Lori Price, president of the IPSN PTA, says of her PTA members “Because we all have children with special needs, there is a commonality that exists already. We all serve as a support system for each other simply because we understand what that parent is going through. Despite the fact that our parents have special needs children, I continue to be amazed at the volunteers we continue to get. We've built some enthusiasm in our group - AND we've built our group itself. I think people want to be a part of that enthusiasm and growth. “
Don't wait for someone to approach you, get started now by contacting someone at your school. This can be the beginning of making some great friends and wonderful memories.
SherryTatar@ameritech.net