| What is PTA? |
What is the PTA??
We have had several parent’s express to us that they really don’t know what PTA is and what PTA does to benefit the student’s at our school. They also ask, “Why does PTA want my membership?”
This message is designed to give you a basic understanding of your Mary Helen Guest PTA.
As a local unit at MH Guest, we are working to provide programs and services that our students would not be able to receive if it were only left to public education funding.
This year, our primary financial focus is to help the families in our school that have been severely impacted by the financial crisis. While we are all experiencing the negative impacts, we do have some families that are in a dire situation. We are committed to making sure that the students from those families are still able to participate in all school activities and get the most out of their education in the Walled Lake Schools. We provide school supplies, assemblies, backpacks, scholarship money for field trips and any other assistance that we possibly can to at least level the playing field for all students here at school.
We assist our teacher’s and staff. We provide classroom materials to support the current curriculums. We provide assistance in preparation as well as help in the classroom.
We also provide programs that are designed to bring families together with each other as well as events that bring our families together as a school community.
It has been thought by many and spoken by a few that the PTA only wants your money. The only reason we fundraise is to provide the above programs and services for OUR kids and families. The PTA is 100% volunteer. We do ask for your membership. Our goal for membership is 100% participation. Having 100% participation shows our commitment to our school and our students. It also makes us stronger as a school community. Your membership does not require you to attend any of the monthly meetings. It doesn’t require you to help at any of the events but, your membership dues do help contribute to the budget that we use to support our school. We are a non-profit organization. Every cent we earn goes back into our school in some way. We offer membership to everyone. If the membership dues are a hardship for anyone they can go to our school administrators and let them know that they would like to be active members and those arrangements will be made.
Another very important goal is to be advocates for our students. We advocate as a unit at the local level as well as a district and state unit at the state and federal levels. PTA has been around for 130 years nationally. We also work tirelessly to make sure that any public policy that affects our children is truly in the best interest of our kids.
We encourage your input and everyone is always welcome at our monthly meetings. During the evening meetings child care is provided. Please see the schedule of meetings for the rest of the 09/10 school year on our website WLCSD.org/maryhelenguest.cfm
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about the MH Guest PTA. You can contact me by phone or email.
Serving our Students,
Erica Kochevar
President
MH Guest PTA
H (248)926-0201
C (734)717-6067
1655 Decker Road Walled Lake, Michigan 48390
Phone: (248) 956-3300 ::
georgeculbert@wlcsd.org
