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Check the PTO SchoolNotes page here.
The Magnet School PTO is an integral part of the educational experience. The primary objectives of the PTO are to promote the welfare of our children in school, home, and community; to serve as a communication link and mutual support system among parents, teachers and administration; to encourage multicultural awareness within our community; and to promote a united effort among parents, educators, legislators, and the general public to secure for our children the greatest advantages of a multifaceted education. All parents who become members of our PTO join in the effort to reach these objectives.
The PTO sponsors the open house at the beginning of the year, a welcome back pizza party, Family Astronomy Night, Book Fairs, Family Science Night, Parent Education programs and other cultural, scientific and social events. Money raised through the PTO fundraisers go to support books, technology and special projects in the classroom and for the Japanese program, supplies and storage structures in the Science Lab, and numerous other learning supplies and activities that cannot be covered through the school budget.
All parents and teachers of the Magnet School are eligible to become voting members of the PTO upon the payment of dues. The PTO membership elects an Executive Board, which is responsible for conducting the business of the PTO as directed by the PTO membership. The PTO Executive Board also oversees, directs and approves the business of the standing committees, transacts business between organizational meetings, selects the parent representatives for the Advisory Committee and presents an annual budget for the PTO general membershipís vote and approval.
Membership dues are $5.00 per family per year. Dues and contributions constitute a significant portion of our operating budget. Since the Magnet School is relatively small and since so much of the school's funding comes from State and Federal grants, parent support through the PTO is critical to the school's success.Please join and support YOUR school.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE PARENT REPRESENTATIVES - attend all Advisory Committee meetings and report back to the PTO. (Further information on the Advisory Committee's function is provided in the following section entitled ADVISORY COMMITTEE.) There are six parent representatives, three from East Hartford and three from Glastonbury. The PTO elects parent representatives for a two-year term with a maximum of two terms.
Baby-Sitter Coordinator
Is contacted by parents who require babysitting services for any PTO sponsored event. The coordinator maintains a list of available baby-sitters and will arrange for a sitter to be present if parents have contacted her beforehanded and requested a sitter. NOTE: Babysitters will not be automatically present at PTO meetings and functions and YOU MUST contact the coordinator prior to an event to request and/or reserve for this service. This will ensure that we have an appropriate number of sitters present for any event and that we are not paying for the services when they are not needed.
Classroom Representatives Committee
Headed by the Executive Board's VP to coordinate the classroom representatives. A classroom liaison and, usually two representatives are solicited from and assigned to each class. The responsibilities and expectations of the classroom representatives vary with each teacher and are worked out on an individual classroom basis. Responsibilities may include coordinating classroom parties, preparing materials for and assisting with special projects, helping out with class field trips, etc.& (PTO membership not required, but encouraged.)
Community Outreach Committee
Identifies opportunities for Magnet School families to help the larger community in which we live. The committee fosters awareness of our place in the world and our responsibilities as members of society. Projects include Food Drive, holiday toy collection, Clothing Drive, etc.
Computer Committee
Works with the Education Technology Specialist and classroom teachers to coordinate computer usage at the school. This may include helping instruct teachers/students with new software, researching applicable web sites, helping restore 'crashed' machines and assisting with overall computer usage at the school. This committee will work closely our Education Technology Specialist, and with the Science and Technology Committee. Volunteers on this committee can research information at home and/or be involved in the classrooms. Please contact Hiroe Vestergaard, Ed. Tech. Specialist, if you can help out!
Environmant Committee
Is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of plantings on the school grounds as well as other environmental issues faced by the Magnet School Community.
Executive Board
Consists of the elected officers of the PTO. These are President(s), Vice-President(s), Treasurer, Recording Secretary (records minutes at the Executive and General meetings), Corresponding Se cretary (publishes the Magnet Newsletter), Ways Means (coordinates fund raising activities), and the UPTC and PTSO Representatives (East Hartford and Glastonbury PTO umbrella groups). The Executive Board meets monthly.
Global Awareness Committee
Promotes multicultural awareness among our children, parents and the community at large. It works to provide cultural activities within the classroom and brings cultural programs to the school. The committee works with the PTO membership and the teachers to ensure the activities are appropriate and in keeping with the educational intent and mission of the school.
Helping Hands
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rovides meals and/or support to Magnet School families facing challenging times in their home lives. Committee members will help coordinate preparation and delivery of meals.
Hospitality Committee
Provides and/organizes refreshments for Open House, Science Night, Japanese activities and other school functions. This committee may work with other committees when special events are planned.
Image Committee - is responsible for planning and coordinating efforts to promote the image of the Magnet School in our local communities. We are seeking innovative members who can help develop ways of enhancing awareness of our school in East Hartford and Glastonbury. This committee needs several people who can focus on different avenues: photo taking and publicity in local newspapers; alerting the news media of special events at the school; improving communication with both townsí Board of Education representatives; informing parents in both towns about the school (at the nursery school level and for new parents moving into the towns); and lots of new ideas still in your head!
Japanese Committee - support the Magnet School Japanese Program by helping chair, plan and carry out major Japanese related events such as Shin Nen Kai (New Year's Celebration), Undokai (Field Day), Family Origami Night, Parent Study Nights and others. Volunteers would also help Japanese teachers in construction and display of Japanese materials and in the classroom with special projects such as cooking, crafts or end of term projects. No Japanese language ability is necessary, only a desire to support our Japanese language program.
Library Media Center
This is not a committee but a volunteer opportunity to work in our school's Media Center. Volunteers assist the students in locating library materials and assist the Media Specialist with the checking out, return, shelving, and binding of new and used books. Please see Jean Moore, Media Specialist, if you are interested in volunteering in the Media Center.
Magnetic Attractions
Is our after-school enrichment program. Volunteers are needed to help set-up classes, administer the running of the program, and work with the faculty. If you have a special talent that you would like to share with students, this is the perfect opportunity to teach a small class!
Nominating Committee
Is responsible for assembling a slate of officers for the PTO Executive.
Publishing Center
Volunteers in the Publishing Center work with the students and classroom teachers to take the students' writing, type it and work with the author to turn it into a published book. This Center needs lots of volunteers - both at home and at school - to make it a success. At home typists need to have access to a Microsoft Word compatible software program (no printer is needed). We will supply you with everything else you need (including training). We also need parents to prepare book covers at home - all supplies and instruction provided! Parents who can spare time during the school day are needed to work with the authors in proofing their work, scanning artwork and drawings, and helping bind the finished creations.We published close to 750 books last year and the authors were so proud of their work. This is a wonderful area to get involved in and help promote a lifelong love of books and writing in our students.
Science And Technology Committee
Plans and presents a number of programs and activities for the children. These include Family Astronomy Night, Family Science Night, and the take-apart lab to name a few.This is a wonderful committee, which recruits people interested in assisting children in the areas of "hands-on" science and technology. Volunteers are involved in fostering liaisons between business and industry, finding presenters or equipment donations, setting up curiosity stations, and staffing the science labs. Any parent who works in or has an interest in a science related field is encouraged to join this committee.
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