How can PTAs help this year?

[minzy]

Our PTA board met on Zoom yesterday to sketch out the upcoming year. We are looking at hybrid or 100% virtual schooling at the moment. Obviously from a PTA perspective, things will look different than years’ past (i.e., I think I can safely say the grandparent breakfast is a nonstarter). Our president still needs to meet with the principal, but we think we will prioritize 1) social and emotional health of students and staff and 2) raising money to do #1. We are thinking of trying to enlist room parents to help facilitate social class calls (maybe play games like Kahoot?) and doing as much as possible to support teachers and staff (food, supplies). But we’re open to more ideas. If you’re a teacher or admin (or on a PTA, or anyone with an idea), what would you want from us this year? Basically, how can we best help?

[lemoncupcake]

What about supporting lower income students who need technology (device or WiFi hotspot) or supply assistance?

[W.T.Faulkner]

Jul 9, 2020 7:50:03 GMT -5 lemoncupcake said:

What about supporting lower income students who need technology (device or WiFi hotspot) or supply assistance?

This.

[W.T.Faulkner]

Another thing that doesn't cost any money is just a phone call or tet to every parent asking them how they're doing and what they need. Teachers won't be able to do this by themselves but maybe the PTA could split it up. I did this for my 9th grade students and the parents were extremely touched by it. It helped set up the lines of communication for the rest of the quarter for distance learning and alerted me to any home situations that were particularly challenging. Building a relationship with new parents will be v. difficult with remote instruction in a new academic year.

[outnumbered]

Do the children have assigned classrooms and teachers yet?  If so you could set up an Amazon wish list for each teacher and parents could help by purchasing things the teachers need.  Things like cleaners and tissues will be tough to get so if each parent could donate one or two directly to the classroom it would be very helpful.   In our school parents can buy their supplies through a company called 1st day school supplies.  It is customized for each grade and a box is delivered to the students classroom. The PTO is buying these for children in need.  Ask what the specials teachers need to have a successful year.  In our school they will have to go to each classroom this year.  What do those teachers need to make this easier?

[minzy]

These are great thoughts, keep them coming.

I think we will be 1:1 with devices this year for the first time. The county school board discussed WiFi hot spots and it sounds like that was successful last spring and they think they will have that covered for fall. Kids don’t have class assignments yet but the supplies lists are out and we had the kit option. There always seems to be a plea or two a year to parents for wipes and tissues and I know the PTA has covered certain supplies in the past. We will try to focus on the specials teachers. I love the idea of attempting to touch base with parents... we will explore that.

[jssymom14]

I know as a teacher, seeing other school’s having put up signs in yards/driveways/windows of their staff saying something like proud teacher at __________ looked really nice. I was jealous anyway and their might be a local sign company that could donate that.

Teachers would appreciate Amazon or teachers pay teachers giftcards, additional cleaning supplies, gloves for cleaning, extra masks and maybe face shields. I know it would nice to have a box of disposable masks for the kids to have access too.

Help getting information distributed, packets/worksheets out to students and brought back if that’s what is expected. I think that was a huge issue with our elem school is that they couldn’t continuously get physical materials to students so it was one time in March and all and the teachers were fairly limited to what they had sent home for 2 months. There was no expectation of turning in worksheets or anything at my elementary school but sending in some pictures of their work randomly to see if they had been doing it. I am worried about my daughter’s 1st grade classmates because I am sure they didn’t do a lot of the work and might be really far behind.

[formerlyak]

I think asking the admin and teachers what they need is the best bet. Maybe, since room parents may not have their traditional jobs in the classroom this year, they can be the liaison between the PTA and each teacher. Also using room parents and PTA volunteers to help distribute packets of materials to households that maybe don't have a printer - that could be a huge help for both parents and teachers.

[Poeticxpassion]

In our district they are not allowing any volunteers, visitors or non staff in the building. I’m a new PTO president so I’m trying to figure out virtual ways to support our families. We are doing 100% in school 5 days a week or 100% virtual.

[pinkdutchtulips]

Jul 9, 2020 7:50:03 GMT -5 lemoncupcake said:

What about supporting lower income students who need technology (device or WiFi hotspot) or supply assistance?

This x 1000 !!!! This pandemic is highlighting the differences between the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ further widening the educational divide.

[tiptoetulips]

Investing in reusable masks if a student forgets or needs one

[waverly]

I would reach out but once they are in person I was thinking PPE.

[sandandsea]

Also creating a list of tutors for parents to pod with or a list of parents looking to pod would be helpful for distance learning. Basically helping to build the community and group kids/parents for distance learning and a list of resources for those of us not able to facilitate distance learning (dual careers, single parents, educational inability, not able to work at home, etc) and for kids unable (too young, need guidance/help/etc) to do it themselves.


ETA. I didn’t explain this well. But it’d be nice to have a list of ds’s classmates who are in a similar situation to us so we could partner with them and split the cost of a tutor among 4 families.

[vamoose]

I’ve been thinking about this as well. Normally at our school, room parents primarily plan class parties and teacher gifts. I’m wondering how room parents can still fill that role of adding some extra fun and joy to the classroom. Right now it feels like school is frankly going to be a bit of a bummer - masks and staying away from your friends and no playground and no specials, etc. Obviously class parties are way, way down on the list of priorities, but I am hoping we can think of some ways to inject a little fun and levity into the classroom.

[sandandsea]

Jul 9, 2020 14:59:37 GMT -5 vamoose said:

I’ve been thinking about this as well. Normally at our school, room parents primarily plan class parties and teacher gifts. I’m wondering how room parents can still fill that role of adding some extra fun and joy to the classroom. Right now it feels like school is frankly going to be a bit of a bummer - masks and staying away from your friends and no playground and no specials, etc. Obviously class parties are way, way down on the list of priorities, but I am hoping we can think of some ways to inject a little fun and levity into the classroom.

Yes. Ideas to help room parents with this would be good too. We did a scavenger hunt at the end of year but coming up with ideas is hard so sharing that info would be helpful!

[notsopicky]

Do you have an online forum/discussion board on your school or PTA website, or some other place (social media, although I am not a fan of that) where the parents of your students can communicate? That's what our PTA was debating tonight. (FTR, I am a PTA officer and a school system employee.) The principal requested a way for parents to come together virtually to share online learning tips, get recommendations for resources, make suggestions for childcare, etc. I went hard in the paint for them not to use social media for this purpose, but alas, I lost.

They are *eventually* going to add a disc board/forum to the PTA website, but in the immediate future, they are going to use a private Facebook group. I just don't think that Facebook really captures the exact function that they are looking for, ergo my hardy support of an online forum via their website.

[ellipses84]

I think the moderating social calls between small groups of kids would be a huge help. My 9 year old was so frustrated and disappointed they were always being told to mute in zoom class and he never got to talk to his friends. You can set a theme, like wear a silly hat and let everyone have a turn saying something about their hat, etc. like show and tell, or you could play games.

Also, supporting families who need it with supplies and resources. Do a book donation drive and then distribute the books. Send out a list of all the free little libraries in the neighborhood and make sure they are stocked, assist people with getting public library cards, see if there’s a way to do remote library check in/out with the school library. Kids are getting so much screen time, it’s good for them to have books. Book fair and Fun Run are big fundraisers for our school. See if there’s a way to do them remotely. I wish our school did the monthly scholastic sales ads because I could always get cheap books that way, and I know teachers who would ask for donations for the $1 books so they could buy each kid in their class a book each month (and people were always eager to donate).

For all fundraising, I’d note an option for sponsoring anonymously. So those who have jobs and can afford to donate for their own child can also donate to those who are struggling right now.

[minzy]

Jul 9, 2020 22:17:27 GMT -5 notsopicky said:

Do you have an online forum/discussion board on your school or PTA website, or some other place (social media, although I am not a fan of that) where the parents of your students can communicate?

We do have a website (the incoming officers just did a lengthy training on it) but it did not have a discussion feature... I will mention that. There is also a parents Facebook page and a PTA Facebook page, where many of the details tend to be discussed by parents. You’re right, though, that those would not capture people who don’t use Facebook.

[tiptoetulips]

My daughters school hosted a virtual spring fair with daily suggestions (and directions if needed like a field day) they closed with a family zoom bingo night.