PTA in need of new volunteers

The new school year is now upon us and everyone is filled with excitement. In addition to buying new school supplies and shoes, parents should be thinking about joining the Whitefish School District Parent Teacher Association.

This local organization is active in forming a partnership between home and school and is open to any parent and educator who wishes to become involved. Just in the last school year, the Whitefish PTA did many things:

? organized the fifth-grade orientation potluck before school began.

? organized and provided treats for all open houses at three schools.

? raised several thousand dollars with the Sallie Foster gift sales and Springhetti.

? teacher luncheons and a week of teacher appreciation in May.

? purchased books and pizzas for the high school readers club.

? purchased a gym floor covering and sponsored a high school dance.

? organized a book swap at Muldown School.

? provided money to purchase new benches and handicap-accessible playground equipment at Muldown.

? provided funds to pay for buses to take third graders to the skating rink.

? with the aid of Soroptomists, Montana Expresso and Swank Enterprises, provided money to purchase new cross-country equipment for Muldown.

? provided room volunteers to organize Halloween and Valentine's parties at Muldown.

? provided money to purchase new picnic tables at Central School.

? provided money for students in need at all three schools.

? provided money to pay for teacher wish-list items, such as new die-cut stencils for Muldown and Central, easels for the art department and New World Book Enclopedias for the alternative school.

? provided funds to provide additional art instruction from Stumptown Art Studio.

? provided three scholarships for the high school and alternative school.

? provided funds for the date auction dinner for the high school student council.

? helped decorate for the junior prom.

? provide money for the Arts in April program at Muldown.

? corporate sponsor for the O'Shaughnessy Theatre Company, which provides visiting theatre productions in the schools.

? organized and provide prize money for the Reflections Arts Contest which allows gifted students in music, writing, art and photography to go onto state and national PTA contests.

? organized an arts education program providing children's theatre and art classes after school. This has been aided by the Whitefish Theatre Company, the Soroptomists and Stumptown Art Studio.

? helping to box up and move library books at Central.

In order to provide these services, we need your help. Please join the Whitefish PTA and make an active contribution to your child's education.

It has been proven that one way to improve your child's attendance, grades and self-esteem is to become more involved in his/her school. This is a great way to do that.

There are membership tables at all open houses in the three schools. Not only do we appreciate your membership dues, but we really need your active participation.

Please volunteer for anything you can help with, such as fund-raising, cooking and baking, reading help with classrooms, art projects, book swaps, etc. If there are any questions, please feel free to call any PTA volunteer coordinators. Have a glorious school year.

Barb Sorenson, 862-8882; Sue Lagrandeur, 862-0942; Kristin Ebbert-Moore, 756-1862; Beth Kramer, 862-8916; Lori Forde, 863-9421; Diane Marsh, 863-9801; Wendy Lengstorf, 862-9246; Lynn Grossman, 863-9542.