PTO

WHAT DOES THE HIAWATHA PTO DO

The purpose of the Hiawatha PTO is to create enhance educational opportunities for students. How do we do this?

1) We offer a monthly science program, called Four Winds, in all K-3 classrooms at Hiawatha. Four Winds (formerly ELF, “Environmental Learning for the Future”) is a program that trains parent volunteers to present monthly classes on science and nature themes in all Hiawatha classrooms. Volunteer workshops are held once a month, with training and activities provided by the Four Winds Nature Institute. Once trained, parent volunteers coordinate monthly presentations in their children’s classrooms.

2) We support an Artist-in-Residence program, which takes place in the spring, involving all PreK-3 classrooms. Our anticipated Spring 2010 Artist-in-Residence is Jon Gailmor, a local Vermont musician. He was previously our 2008 Artist-in-Residence and a huge success at that time, and we are bringing him back by popular demand. His agenda includes spending a week at the school, writing songs with the students in each class, and culminating in a school-wide concert and CD for every child in the school to take home. Previous artists-in-residence have included Vermont writers Tracey Campbell Pearson and David Martin; jazz musicians Jenni Johnson & Company; the Jeh Kulu Dance & Drum Theater.

3) The PTO also supports an Odyssey of the Mind program. Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities from kindergarten through college; kids apply their creativity to solve problems that range from building mechanical devices to presenting their own interpretation of literary classics. They then bring their solutions to competition on the local, state and world level. Our first OOTM team participated in the state competition in 2008; in 2009 we were able to send two teams to the state competition.

The PTO also provides family-friendly, wholesome, fun, safe and FREE activities such as ice cream socials, movie nights, potlucks, bingo nights, ice skating events, etc. These community-building events allow Hiawatha kids and their families to socialize and have fun together in healthy ways. This year we hope to create a family hiking event on a fall weekend. We encourage your family to attend as many of these activities as you feel reasonably possible. Students have enjoyable, meaningful experiences as a result of your involvement, and see the importance that you place on the school and Hiawatha community.

Every parent or guardian of a child at Hiawatha is considered a member of the PTO. We are not a PTA which requires members to pay dues and attend meetings. Instead, we recognize that most parents wish to be actively involved in their child’s school experience, but can’t always attend the monthly PTO meetings. Don’t worry - you can be an active supporter of the school in a myriad of ways: as a once-a-month volunteer in the classroom for Four Winds; by assisting with set-up and clean-up on a movie night or ice skating event; by volunteering to be an Odyssey of the Mind coach; by making a healthy treat for the school staff members to enjoy on a long day of parent-teacher conferences; by donating money to the PTO to support our science and artistic programming, either through a direct donation or by participating in a fundraiser.

Raising money allows the PTO to provide the enrichment activities described above as well as other events that enhance our children’s experience at Hiawatha. A number of fundraisers will be held throughout the year. We hope that you will participate to the extent that you can, but never feel that you are under any obligation or pressure to make purchases. Raising money is not the primary purpose of the PTO - creating educational opportunities and community building are the PTO’s goals.

The PTO meets on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, at 6:30 p.m. Meetings are usually one hour. Childcare is provided and is free! Remember, you don’t have to attend PTO meetings to be actively involved at Hiawatha.

President: Aimee Cronin 878-0255

Secretary: Tina Yates

Treasurer: Jenah Friend 879-5182