Your McKinley PTA

About PTA

The national Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is the oldest and largest volunteer child advocacy organization in the United States. Established in 1897, the overall purpose of PTA is to provide a powerful voice for all children, be a relevant resource for families and communities, and serve as a strong advocate for the education and well-being of every child.

Your McKinley Elementary PTA serves as a forum where parents, teachers, administrators, and other concerned adults discuss ways to promote quality education, strive to expand the arts, encourage community involvement, and work for a healthy environment and safe neighborhoods. McKinley PTA implements and supports many programs and activities to help our children have the confidence to succeed, encourage them to be creative, and to demonstrate the importance of character, including:

• Reflections contest
• Science Fair
• Enrichment program
• Chess Club
• Outdoor Classroom
• International Dinner
• Book Fair
• Talent Show
• Light Up the Holidays
  
  

We work together because we believe our children benefit when parents and teachers support each other and our school. Together we can provide resources, programs, and information that help all students, all teachers, and all families.

How you can get involved

• Volunteer
  
  There are many events, activities and functions at McKinley throughout the school year. All of them need people to plan, coordinate and staff them. Please consider how and where you can fit in. See the PTA Committee Chair Descriptions for more information. Complete the McKinley Elementary Volunteer Form at the beginning of the school year or check in with Volunteer Coordinator Beth Newman at newmaninva@comcast.net. 

• Come to your McKinley PTA meetings
  
  PTA membership is open to all members of our school community.As a member of PTA, you are invited to attend all meetings and vote on all matters before the membership.Each month you can expect snacks, childcare ($3/child; $5/family), door prizes and informative and interactive sessions. Topics to be covered during the 2010-11 school year include nutrition and school lunches, McKinley's exemplary arts program, the family life curriculum, the FLES program and technology tools (Blackboard).
  
  

Meeting dates for 2011-12

Wednesday, September 7
Tuesday, October 4
Tuesday, November 1
Tuesday, December 6
Tuesday, February 7
Tuesday, March 6
Tuesday, April 10
Tuesday, May 1
Tuesday, June 5

More of a morning person? Bring your coffee and come to the PTA Recap (non-voting) meeting the morning following a scheduled PTA meeting. PTA Recap begins at 9 a.m. in the multipurpose room unless otherwise announced.

• Stay Informed 
  
  Sign up for APS School Talk to get a weekly e-mail update from your principal and your PTA. "Cardinal Notes" is a news bulletin to keep you updated regarding school matters, events, and PTA activities. Through this electronic publication, subscribers will also receive issue notice of the McKinley Monitor PTA online newsletter. APS School Talk is a service of APS and "Cardinal Notes" is provided by McKinley Elementary.
  
  You can also join the McKinley PTA listserv, for information on school and community issues affecting students and families in the McKinley community as well as updates and information on local activities and programs of interest to families.This listserv is moderated by the McKinley PTA.
  
  
   
• Contribute
  
  Help provide needed financial assistance to your school through:

  
  

  • Everyday purchases at the grocery store, at Target, and online. Register your cards to benefit McKinley.
    
  • Box Tops for Education. Look for the Box Tops logo on hundreds of products, clip and send them to school. Each one is worth 10 cents for McKinley.
    
  • McKinley fundraisers.McKinley earns up to 40% profit from sales with Sally Foster, one of the premier catalog fundraisers for schools, offers gift cards for sale for gift-wrap, gifts and home decor, gourmet edibles and more and with Mother Earth Fundraising, a web-only fundraiser that features eco-friendly products.You can also support McKinley with purchases at our annual Book Fair in October and with your contribution during our check writing campaign in the spring.