We did it! We all survived the first week of school. My second grader enthusiastically supported the district's call of early dismissal on Tuesday and Wednesday, and believes half day school is a good idea. I fell asleep on the couch before 9pm on Friday night. We all have our ways of adjusting.
In the coming weeks, you will see me begging for volunteers at Back to School nights (I already did at Kindergarten orientation). I get nervous speaking in front of large crowds, but it's important to me to get the message out. The PTO needs help. We are a great group of people, but 10 people can not compensate for a school of over 570 kids.
I recently read an article in the Wall Street Journal touting the benefits of parents that volunteer at their kids' schools. "Fewer parents are volunteering at their children's schools, just as new research reveals it yields broader benefits for students than previously believed. These range from higher student grades and test scores to more positive peer relationships in middle school and lower rates of depression in high school."
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We have many opportunities that can be done from home, so if you are a working parent that can't help during school hours, we have you covered. We have opportunities that are ongoing, and some that are a one time only event. Please click here to learn more. Have questions? Email our VP of volunteers, Shilpa Gupta at vpvolunteers@vfespto.org.
In addition to begging for volunteers, you will see me soon begging for money. Again, we have over 570 kids. The PTO provides all of the cultural arts programs and assemblies, almost all of the technology in the classrooms, we supply the school upgrades like the refillable water filtration fountains. We supply all of the planners that the 3rd and 4th graders receive. And these are just a few things that we provide. We are changing our fundraising model this year, in the hopes that fewer asks of funds will result in a bigger opening of wallets when we do. Because honestly, without the funding, there isn't much we can do to provide the school experience your child has grown to expect and love at VFES. Want to get a jumpstart on donating? Click here.
Our first PTO meeting of the year is this Friday morning, at 9am, in the large group room. We welcome you all to attend. If you aren't a member of our Facebook page yet, I invite you to join, please answer the questions asked, as it is a closed group. And come out for our Back to School Social on Friday, September 14, from 5:30-7:30 and enjoy some Kona Ice, courtesy of the PTO.
Only 282 more days until the last day of school. We got this!
Kind regards,
Heather McConnell
1. Shellenbarger, Sue. "Parents Volunteering At School Should Tailor Skills to Different Stages." The Wall Street Journal, 1 August 2018. www.wsj.com/articles/parents-volunteering-at-school-should-tailor-skills-todifferent-stages-1533134808
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