Ida Middle School PTO

Dear Friend of Ida Middle School,

Many people think of parent groups as being all about bake sales and fundraisers. They may think of power-tripping moms ruling their domain, like Desperate Housewives and Harper Valley PTA. Well, that's good TV but- it's not us. We offer many different ways to make our organization stronger.

Ida Middle School PTO is about men and women working together toward a common goal. That goal is creating a better school and a better educational experience for our children. We will strive to create an atmosphere where teachers and administrators can do their best work-and so can our children.

Our goals this year are:

• Aiding teachers by providing needed classroom supplies and teaching aides
• Help build literacy by organizing and running the Book Fairs
• Improve the school atmoshere by cleaning, painting and planting
• Enhancing the school community by organizing and running family events and fun nights
• Maintain the school library by donating books and supplying volunteering librarians
• Raise the funding needed to make this the best year yet

There's a lot more to be accomplished and we need your help. Despite what you might see on TV, our parent group is not a bunch of crazed, power-hungry moms. We are moms and dads, uncles and aunts, grandparents and friends who care about children and education. We are welcoming and friendly. We are your neighbors- and we share the same concerns you do.

But that's not the only reason to take part. There have been more than 500 independent research studies about parent involvement. The results are startling. When parents get involved in their children's education, grades go up, test scores go up, children become more likely to pass and to attend better schools after high school. They have fewer discipline problems and they're less likely to use drugs and alcohol.

Volunteering doesn't mean a huge time commitment. An hour or two a semester makes a big difference. We have jobs to fit your time schedule and interests. We even have tasks that don't involve coming to the school at all.

Won't you join us?

Sincerely,

Ida Middle School PTO Board Members