Parent Involvement

You are missed!

Do you have children in school who participate in sports or activities?

Do you belong to any PTSA groups or Booster Clubs?

If so, do you attend the meetings? 

If your answer to that last question is "no", why not?

I understand how busy life can be and that it is difficult to attend every meeting. I, myself, belong to 2 PTSA groups and 3 Booster Clubs.  I have missed quite a few of the Hilltop PTSA meetings this year due to other events such as band concerts, swim meets, my daughter's Confirmation, and a couple of times a conflict with the Middle School's PTSA meeting ( of which I am currently serving as President ) being the same night.

I can see how you may just have so much going on and you just don't want to go out to a meeting that night. You might see the long list of members in the email reminders and think there are enough other people and that you won't be missed. I am telling you, you are missed!

Hilltop Elementary is a large school. I am not sure what the numbers are for our PTSA membership this year. When I have attended the meetings, there has been on average about  15 people. This includes the principal, officers, a few teachers and the same group of parents every month.

Meanwhile at the Middle School PTSA meetings, even though we have about 150 members, our group consists of the principal, 4 officers and sometimes 1 or 2 additional members. I am concerned whether we will have a PTSA in the years to come. We are currently in need of a Treasurer and Secretary for the 2013-2014 school year and will need a President and Vice President for the 2014-2015 school year as our children are moving up to the high school. If we can't get our members to attend the meetings, who will be there to keep it going?

I have attended a few of the Swim Boosters meetings but that seems to be a night that other things always seem to come up. The meeting is for both the boys team and the girls team, but the majority of the parents attending are from the boys team. We need more parents to represent the girls team. The Booster Club is there to help both teams but if parents aren't there taking an interest in decisions, the girl's team may miss out on opportunities.

I attend the Band Boosters meeting every month. I didn't really know much about or take an interest in them until my daughter started Marching Band in 9th grade. They do a lot more for the band program than just coordinating marching band. Every parent of a band student should check it out!  They help coordinate the Solo and Ensemble Competition, hold a fundraiser dinner to support the B.E.S.T. Foundation's Band Scholarship, help support the 5th grade band by providing snacks at their Spring Concert rehearsal, and coordinate the marching band uniforms and parade volunteers. Did you know students can actually join the marching band when they are entering 8th grade? We are currently trying to plan a weekend trip nearby at the end of Band Camp this year and also a trip to Florida in October 2014, so current 6th and 7th grade students should start planning now!  In order for more students to be able to join us, we are trying to offer as many fundraising opportunities as possible. All of this is difficult when we only have 10 parents total, including officers, attending the meetings and making the decisions for everybody. 

Every year parents are moving on as their child moves onto the next school or activity. We need more parents to be there, ready to take their place,  in order for these groups to continue for years and students to come! Yes, I do understand life is busy, but I also know if I want my children to be able to participate in activities, then I need to help make things happen. If you can make the time, please attend these meetings, because we do miss you when you aren't there!