PTO LETS ORCHARD GROVE PARENTS `STAY IN SCHOOL'

Orchard Grove Elementary Parent Teacher Organization president Wendy Hayes says her organization gives parents the perfect opportunity to become involved in the education of their children.

"I guess when people ask me about PTO, I like for them to see that it's a real positive organization of parents working with teachers and the school," she said. "I always like to encourage parents to take part because this is an opportunity to take part in the school and be involved in what their child is doing."

According to Hayes, the primary mission of the Orchard Grove PTO is to serve as a liaison organization between parents and the school. A part of this involves helping raise funds to provide for needed educational aids that the school's budget might not allow.

"Fund raising is not our primary objective but it does enter into the PTO," explained Hayes. "There are so many funding needs within the district and this is how we can help to provide for those needs.

"We act as a liaison between parents and teachers and try to provide the things teachers need to help our children."

At the start of each school year, the Orchard Grove PTO holds sign-ups during the first open house of the year. Parents pay yearly dues of $2 and may attend quarterly meetings and take part in PTO activities throughout the school year.

Then officers with the organization meet with members of the Orchard Grove administration and faculty to determine what the needs are for the coming year.

"That helps us identify the goals for the year," said Hayes.

Among the organization's yearly activities of course, are fund-raisers, the most important of which is an annual candy sale. The proceeds from the annual sale provide thousands for use by Orchard Grove instructors for needed items.

"People don't realize how much a teacher spends out of his or her own pocket and [fund raising] is just a way of adding to the educational tools at the school," said Hayes.

"The candy sale is a short and successful fund-raiser," she said. "A lot of people don't like their children selling candy but what I like to tell everyone is that everything the child earns goes back to the school."

Other important fund-raisers held throughout the year are those which the PTO coordinates with the Jackson Burger King restaurant. During the "Burger King Nights," Orchard Grove teachers serve at the restaurant with a percentage of the proceeds benefiting the school.

"The kids like to go to the restaurant and see their teachers there and it's a fun and successful way of getting parents, teachers and students involved," Hayes said.

Orchard Grove Principal Joe Crain said the fund raising activities of the organization are important to the elementary school.

"In many ways and in many facets of the school, the PTO helps go beyond what the school budget can provide," said Crain, adding that in the past, the organization has purchased a copying machine as well as games for use by children during rainy day recesses.

"It's not just a fund-raising organization," he said, "but if there is a need in the school, the PTO has been able to identify the need and provide for the good of the students."

In addition to fund raising, the organization conducts other activities throughout the year.

Quarterly membership meetings give parents the opportunity to go over PTO's accomplishments during past quarter and find out what is being planned for the coming one. In addition, each meeting involves an instructional program of interest to parents.

During a recent meeting, orthodontist Dr. David Crowe talked with parents about orthodontic health.

"We usually try to have a program that's beneficial and informative to the parents," Hayes noted.

In the coming months, the organization will be planning to refurbish the school's playground area and to conduct the annual "Teacher Appreciation Week" activities.

The PTO hopes to paint equipment on the playground and to provide large-scale painting of rulers and maps to provide educational opportunities on the playground.