11.16.20 | HPS District PTO Update

Dear HPS Families,

Many different groups support the Holland Public Schools community. The Holland Public Schools Parent Teacher Organization (HPS PTO) is one of these groups. The HPS PTO exists in each of our elementary and middle school buildings to:

• Engage and empower parents, guardians, families, and staff in the HPS school community.
• Collaborate, support, and advocate for education that is equitable and inclusive of
• all students.
• Enhance and support the educational experience of Member Schools.
• Develop a closer connection between school and home by encouraging parent interest, involvement, and participation in school events.
• Improve the environment at our schools through volunteer and financial support.

Hopefully you are familiar with the PTO in your child’s building. There is no cost or special obligation to join your child’s building PTO. Just by being a parent/guardian and expressing interest in PTO you are a member. If you are new to your building, welcome! We hope you will find ways to feel included and involved!

Each building PTO is part of the HPS District PTO. We are all one organization. Although the District PTO has had phases of being more or less involved in supporting the building PTOs (which we call Member Schools), we have been in a renewed phase of collaboration and support over the past year or so. As a group, we are seeking ways to ensure that our teachers, staff, students, and families feel supported with similar and equitable experiences across the district.

In a typical year, building PTOs sponsor and support many different activities and programs including field trips, book fairs, assemblies, room parents, classroom cash, box tops, carnivals, and field day. To support these programs the building PTOs hold fundraisers. As with much of life, PTO activities will look different this year. Even as we acknowledge this reality, we still aim to support teachers and students in robust and meaningful ways.

Toward that goal, this year the District PTO has decided to support the following programs and activities in each building:

• $100 Classroom Cash per teacher to reimburse for personal expenditures that support student learning. (K-8)
• Recess equipment bags for each classroom (K-5)* and classroom document cameras (6-8)
• Scholastic or Time for Kids news magazine for each child (K-5)* and literacy materials (6-8)
• Teacher and Staff appreciation (K-8)

• Box tops (changing to an App- stay tuned for more information!)

•  

District-wide “Read-a-Thon” fundraiser to be held during March is Reading Month (K-8)

*These items were purchased with funds typically allocated to field trips, assemblies, and large group events, which will not be possible this year.

Although we may add more to the list as the year goes on, these are the priorities we have
outlined for now. If you would like to be more involved in organizing and planning at either the
building or district PTO, please connect with your building PTO Coordinators. They will help you
get involved!

We hope you are settling in to the new and different routines of the 2020-2021 school year. We
look forward to a successful partnership with you this year!

The HPS PTO District Board,

• Executives: Amy VanderMeer, Director and Cheri Compton, Treasurer (T)
• Middle School: Ortencia Bos (coordinator) and Candis DeBoer (T)
• Holland Heights: Stephanie Marino (coordinator) and Hope Ward (T)
• HLA: Toni Rice (coordinator) and Stephanie Brown (T)
• Jefferson: Sarah Starr (coordinator) and John Ferguson (T)
• West: Katherine Zimmer and Tiara Johnson (co-coordinators) and Alicia Pattullo (T)

p.s.You may also know us by another name, the Parent Participation Committee (PPC). PTO
and PPC have always been the same group, just known by different names. We decided to
return to PTO for simplicity. We found ourselves always saying, “PPC- it’s what our school calls
our PTO.” Shakespeare said it best in Romeo and Juliet , “What’s in a name? That which we
call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”

No matter what you call us, come join us!

One last thing: If you just can’t wait for the spring Read-a-Thon to donate money to support PTO activities across the District, you’re in luck! You can donate a check anytime! Please make checks payable to “HPS PTO” and mail them to our Executive Treasurer who receives official
PTO mail at Jefferson Elementary School. Tax receipts upon request. Thank you for supporting HPS teachers and kids!

HPS PTO Attn: Cheri Compton
Jefferson Elementary School
282 W. 30th St.
Holland, MI 49423