`BACK TO SCHOOL' MEANS PARENTS, TOO

When students at Jackson's Primary Annex recently returned to school following the Christmas break, many of their parents returned to school, too.

Members of the Primary Annex Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) believe their involvement with the group is one of the best possible ways to take an active role in the education of their children. As a result, when school is in session at Primary Annex, parents are often as involved as their children.

"The PTO is a valuable link in the total success of the educational program," said Joe Crain, principal of Primary Annex School. "The members provide many services and materials beyond and above what the school district could normally provide and volunteer many hours of their time in working with students and teachers."

With a total membership of around 280, the organization is a very visible part of the school, working to inform parents on news and issues relating to their children, providing programs and assemblies of benefit to students and helping fund the purchase of learning aids and educational materials that the school district budget can't normally fund.

PTO treasurer Connie Ressel said PTOs are often wrongly perceived as being strictly fund-raising organizations. While fund-raising is an important part of the group's work to provide educational materials, such things as student and parent assemblies and other types of programs are also among the PTO's activities.

"Fund-raising is one facet of PTO but we're really here to support the teachers and students," said Ressel, who is assisted by three other officers.

Marilyn McLaughlin and LaDonna Petzoldt are PTO vice presidents. Cindy Bromley is a chairperson of the group's calling committee, which ensures that all members are informed of coming PTO events. McLaughlin also serves as secretary. The group's president resigned earlier in the school year in order to devote more time to a new job.

Bromley feels that, as an officer in the PTO, she is fortunate to preside over a particularly cooperative membership.

"The parents are so good about helping out," she said. "When you call about help, they'll say, 'Sure, when do you need it."

Sponsoring puppet shows and other types of educational assemblies is one way the organization tries to provide support to students and teachers.

The group also seeks to support parents through monthly meetings during which instructional speakers discuss issues relevant to parenting and education. Recently a dentist spoke to the group about proper dental hygiene for children. Other speakers have included Sgt. Howard Hammers, a Jackson police officer who coordinates the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program in Jackson schools, as well as nurses who spoke on proper care and nutrition for children.

The members volunteer a great deal of their time assisting with various school projects including school parties and other events. The Primary Annex PTO recently sponsored their "Breakfast with Santa" event which let children give their Christmas wishes to Santa Claus and have breakfast with their parents and old St. Nick.

Of course, fund-raising is an important part of PTO, helping the organization fund the services it does provide. A variety of money-making projects are conducted throughout the year with proceeds going for such things as the purchase of carpeting in classrooms and books to be given to children in order to encourage reading.

The Primary Annex PTO is currently working to host a PTO night at the Jackson Burger King restaurant with a portion of the proceeds from the sale of food going to the PTO.

Not only do parents benefit from the knowledge they gain about the education of their children. Crain feels that the school district also derives a number of important benefits from having the PTO involved in the school.

"The school can be a complex place," he said. "As administrators and teachers, we find that working with the PTO helps us in guiding the children in the way the community feels is best.