Parental Participation at Parkside School

Parkside Elementary School staff welcomes parent involvement and participation. Parents are encouraged to be active in Parkside’s educational programming. The Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) supports the parent volunteer program, headed by the PTO volunteer coordinator. This person contacts parents who are willing to volunteer and assist the education team. Parents volunteer to tutor children, read with students, prepare teaching materials, make copies, laminate instructional materials, assist with bulletin boards, chaperone on field trips, and assemble student publications for the Young Authors’ Program.

The PTO Executive Board is an active group with representation from staff, parents, teacher representatives, and building-level administration. Its role is to plan activities that will bring parents into the school in support of the students and staff. The school calendar reflects numerous such opportunities including:

	An annual school carnival that serves as a major fundraiser designed specifically to bring families together within the school setting.
	Santa’s Shop provides students with the opportunity to purchase gifts for family members and friends. Students learn responsibility in budgeting and handling money while shopping for gifts.
	Science Fair Idea and Help Nights assist parents and students in planning and preparing for the annual Science Fair.
	Missoula Children’s Theatre comes to Parkside each year through the support of the PTO. The primary goal of this theatrical program is to encourage the development of lifeskills through participation in the performing arts.

The PTO acts as an ongoing support group serving as sponsor of events in and outside the school. Specific activities include:

	Sponsorship of fund-raising activities.
	Sponsorship of the school carnival.
	Volunteering to tutor students and do clerical tasks.
	Assisting with school registration.
	Coordinating special events with and for the staff.

Other activities led by and/or supported by Parkside parents include:

	Assisting with the “Chairish the Children” fundraising event.
	Designing, building, and decorating a school float for the annual Corn School Festival.
	Coordinating a Scrapbooking/Stamping Party for parents and community members.

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