August 2010

Dear Patwin Families,

Welcome back to all returning families and a big WELCOME to all new families.  We are very excited for the new school year and to be serving as Co-Presidents of the PTA.

This year, more than ever, the PTA needs YOUR help.  With the state budget crisis, PTA support is more critical than ever before.  The PTA raises funds to provide a wide range of educational enrichment programs for the students. Money raised through PTA membership, fundraisers like the successful Unfundraiser and the super fun Walk-A-Thon help to fund class trips, Music and Art instruction to all grades, books, classroom supplies, and much, much more. During the past years, the PTA has provided learning opportunities that may have otherwise been unavailable to our children. As the new school year begins, we would once again ask for your support so that we can continue making resource and learning opportunities available to our children.

For the PTA to be effective and truly representative of the school, everyone’s participation is essential. Many parents feel that they cannot participate in the PTA because they cannot come to meetings or be on campus during the day.  We want everyone to feel that they are part of the Patwin Community.  Whether you have 30 minutes or a couple of hours, your ideas, your time, and your talents are truly needed. We can match your time constraints and interests to needed tasks. There are endless possibilities in ways you can help.

Keep in mind that by volunteering, you will get to enjoy interacting with the kids, become friends with other parents, and accomplish things that truly make a difference. We have many ways in which Moms, Dads, Aunts, Uncles, and Grandparents can contribute to the Patwin community.  Research shows that students whose parents are involved in their education have better grades and fewer discipline problems. We promise that the time you give to the PTA and the school will be worth your while—and fun! Please consider volunteering, it really does make a difference in the lives of  all our children!

The PTA welcomes you to join our meetings to raise your concerns and contribute your ideas and talents to better our school. Meetings will be held on the second Sunday each month at 7:00pm in the school library. All meeting dates and activities will be posted regularly on the PTA school bulletin board by the multipurpose room (MPR) and in the PTA newsletter which will be emailed to you.

We would like to thank you in advance for your support.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.  Have a wonderful school year and we look forward to seeing you at our first PTA meeting, September 12th at 7:00pm.

Sincerely,

Leslie Blevins and Jennifer Chapman
Patwin PTA Co-Presidents, 2010-2011