What is Three For Me?

What Counts

Welcome/Welcome Back 2006

 Dear St. James Families:                            

This is an exciting time and we are looking forward to another great year!

We are the St. James PTL.  We work within the school to implement many programs that all of the students and parents enjoy, such as Three for Me, and we coordinate family activities including Family Fun and Games Night, Father-Daughter Dance, Mother-Son Date Night, Christmas Shoppe, and our annual Spring Carnival. We are able to do all these things through our fundraising activities throughout the year, which are primarily the fall fundraiser and our Spring Carnival, which includes a silent auction for gift baskets.  One of the things that we want to share with you is that “this is not your mom’s PTL”.  The PTL has changed since you were a student. Many working parents feel that they cannot be included in the PTL because they cannot come to every meeting or be on campus during the day. As a board we’ve spent some time recapping the previous year’s activities, brainstorming events and looking at the endless possibilities of the year ahead. Our conclusion is that “WE NEED YOU”!  We need your ideas and energy to make this a successful year.  We hope that this letter will help you find a place to serve our students and staff.

Perhaps one of our most important goals this year is to increase parental involvement in our school. Research shows that the most accurate predictor of a student’s achievement in school is not income or social status, but the extent to which that student’s family is able to become involved in their children’s education at school and in the community. When schools, families, and communities work together to support learning, children tend to do better in school, stay in school longer, and like school more. Whether you have 30 minutes or a couple of hours, your time, your ideas, and your talents are needed. We can match your time constraints and interests to needed tasks. We have many ways in which Moms, Dads, Aunts, Uncles, and Grandparents can contribute.  Please consider volunteering, it really does make a difference in the lives of our children!

After signing your Three for Me promise card, you may be wondering how to get “plugged in” to your school. In this folder is the Volunteer Form.  This form tells us of your interests and talents, and allows us to help you find your niche for volunteering. 

You will also find a Committees and Description page that informs you of the undertakings of each committee.  As the year progresses and the committees come together, if you have volunteered for a committee, you will be contacted by phone, a letter sent home and/or e-mail from the chairperson. We have many committees that are active at different times of the year and require various levels of commitment.

For further assistance, you will also find in this folder a PTL Events Calendar, a PTL Board Member Contact sheet, and a What Counts for Volunteer Hours? sheet.

The success of the St. James PTL and Three for Me is dependent upon people who are enthusiastic about volunteering at our school. Parents who work with computers might help by doing electronic committee work, (e.g. emails, faxes, copying) while parents with time during the day might come to the school to help out with a committee (e.g. Christmas Shoppe, fundraiser distribution.)

Whatever your own level of flexibility, St. James PTL always appreciates their parent volunteers, as do our teachers and staff. 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.

 Please return the Volunteer Form, or fill it out online, by September 15. 

As a bonus for returning volunteer form by September 15, your family will be entered into a gift certificate drawing!

 See you at school,

We look forward to seeing you at our Family Fun and Games Night: September 6, 2006 in the gymnasium @ 6:00 pm! This event is FREE and so much fun!   If you have a concern, or are interested in joining us, 2006-2007 PTL meeting dates are: •11/01/06 •01/10/07 •05/02/07 Meetings are from 6:00 – 8:00 pm.

 

Lauren Ahlersmeyer

Volunteer Coordinator

St. James PTL

(school) 742-6464 (my home) 474-5061

(email)  lahlersmeyer@insightbb.com

COMMITTEES AND DESCRIPTIONS

Communication Committee:  This committee is instrumental in completing the communication bridge between school, parents, and the PTL.  They will be responsible for the monthly PTL newsletter, as well as reminders and thank you notes to volunteers and the community.

Fundraising Committee: This committee will be instrumental in organizing events for fundraising for school/student use.

Grant Writing Committee:  This committee of dedicated people will research, pursue, and complete grants applicable to St. James School.

Hospitality Committee:  This committee will have the important task of making all who come to St. James feel welcomed.  This will be achieved through people greeting, refreshments, decorations, introductions, and encouragement.

Parent Volunteer Committee:  This committee will work with Lauren Ahlersmeyer to ensure that parents and the Three for Me program help continue to make St. James a great place to learn.

Publicity Committee:  This committee will be responsible for displaying to the community through a variety of media all of the wonderful things St. James has to offer, as well as its accomplishments.  This committee will also work to create visual reminders of St. James events.

Athletic Dept. Fish Fry:  (September 26) – Work with Kris Ripke to provide a fish fry dinner to raise funds for the athletic department.

Book Fair:  (November 13-17) - Work with Mrs. Trautmann, our librarian, and Scholastic Books to bring fairs into the school for students to purchase books and other educational materials.

Box Tops for Education:  (Throughout year) - This committee encourages all school members to collect various cereal box top labels and send the labels to school.  The committee submits the labels to the respective company for redemption.  

Christmas Shoppe: (December 13-14) - Coordinate with vendors and schedule parent volunteers to run a gift shop for students’ Christmas shopping.

Eighth Grade Graduation:  (May 23) – Help with the celebration to honor our eighth grade graduates.

Family Fun and Games Night: (September 6) - This evening is designed for the school community to get together, make new friends and have fun.  It’s completely free for St. James families.

Father-Daughter Dance:  (February 16) – Organize a fun-filled evening of music, dancing and refreshments for fathers and daughters to share together.  This takes place in the cafeteria.

Grandparent’s Day: (October 13) - A special day for the students to show their Grandparents their school and introduce them to their teacher.  We will have a chapel service and luncheon on this day.

Ink Cartridge Recycling: (Throughout the year) - Encourage St. James families and community businesses to recycle its empty laser, inkjet and toner cartridges at the school in the designated bin.  This year-round collection aids in funding the PTL.

Mother-Son Date Night:  (January 19) – Organize an evening filled with music, dancing, karaoke, and refreshments for mothers and sons to share together.  This takes place in the cafeteria.

Putt For Funds:  (October 20) - Work with Kris Ripke to organize and display putt-putt holes as a fund-raiser for the 8^th grade trip.

Science Fair: (January 17) – Help Dr. Campbell to prepare fair displays in the cafeteria for family viewing in the evening.

Scrip: (Year Round) – Work with Kathy Carter and committee to continue to develop and implement the Scrip program.

Social Studies Fair:  (April 18) – Help Amy Dombkowski to prepare fair displays in the cafeteria for family viewing in the evening.

Spring Carnival: (March 16) - Help Brandi Shaw coordinate an evening of fun, games, activities and food for the whole family. Volunteers, teachers, and students run activities.

Teacher Appreciation Luncheons: (December 19 and May 25) - Arrange luncheon for teachers and staff as a thank you for all of their hard work.  Luncheons are in the fellowship hall.  Also, coordinate fun activities to involve the students in showing their teachers their appreciation.