Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents.
- What does my money go toward?
- Can grandparents join PTA?
- Does PTA spend money on fluffy pencils for teachers?
- How many layers are there to PTA?
- How can I get involved?
- What counts for volunteer hours?
- Why do we count volunteer hours?
- Where do we log in our volunteer hours?
- Who do I contact if I would like to volunteer?
What does my money go toward?
The PTA pools money from membership sales and fundraisers to provide the
school with additional tools necessary to enhance your child's education -
above and beyond what is allocated by the school board.
Can grandparents join PTA?
Anyone who cares for the education of our children can join PTA -
grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, teachers and businesses!
Does PTA spend money on fluffy pencils for teachers?
Absolutely not. All purchases made by the PTA are carefully screened and
voted on by the board and, at general meetings, by the entire PTA
membership. Fluffy pencils do not further any child's education and will
never make it to the floor for a vote.
How many layers are there to PTA?
Your school's PTA board consists of an executive board and several
committees, each headed by a chair to coordinate efforts. This board will
meet monthly with three general meetings incorporating the entire PTA
membership - all PTA members are welcome at board meetings, however! The
next level up is the District PTA, then State and finally National, all with
similar board structures. Your school PTA meets regularly with the district
boards and has access to the state and national levels through conferences,
telephone and internet.
How can I get involved?
Volunteer! Ask any PTA member you see and they can direct you to a volunteer
opportunity within PTA, or you can email us at cypresscovepta@yahoo.com!
Board positions and committee chairs are positions nominated and voted on
every year - again, contact any PTA member or email us for information on
what a position entails. There are so many ways to help, and all you need is
a spare hour or two to really make a difference! We encourage everyone to
join PTA with your membership, but also JOIN PTA with your heart and your
time!
What counts for volunteer hours?
1. Formal and informal PTA planning/organization time: officer activities,
committee member activities; all planning, organizing and discussing PTA
work.
2. Attendance at all PTA board and general meetings, Volunteer teas, etc.
3. Parent supervision of students homework counts as volunteer hours.
4. Driving students to extracurricular activities and chaperoning them.
5. Chaperoning any school-sponsored activities, field trips, competitions.
6. Any participation in Parent/Teacher conferences, IEP conferences.
7. Parents providing time anywhere on campus working in the office or
library, helping in the classroom, tutoring, helping with talent shows,
working concession stands, taking tickets, belonging to Band Boosters,
Athletic Boosters, etc.
8. Involvement in any on-school, or school-sponsored, activity in which
parents participate, attend, or supervise.
9. At lower elem. level, participation in Reading or Math nights at school.
10. Serving as playground or lunchroom monitors (unpaid).
11. Telephoning, working on phone trees, planning sessions at home.
12. E-mailing from home, planning activities, etc.
13. Setting up and maintaining websites.
14. Baking, making decorations or favors at home.
15. Driving to retail store and time spent shopping for such items.
16. Student volunteer hours after school, in the classroom, helping a
teacher.
17. Student volunteer hours tutoring others, if after school, even if part
of Beta, National Honor Society or other organization that requires
volunteer hours.
Why do we count volunteer hours?
SACS (Southern Accreditation for Colleges and Schools) Accreditation teams
for both the individual school, and the entire district, look carefully at
documented volunteer hours.
Potential candidates for the PTA School of Excellence award must have
documented hours.
National and State PTA look at individual school volunteer hours.
Parental pride at the school level in the number of volunteer hours
accumulated.
The St. Tammany Parish School System computes a dollar amount of all
schools volunteer hours ($3,446,019.50 for 2003-2004) and recognizes the
District PTA each fall for this service.
Where do we log in our volunteer hours?
You may sign on the Volunteer Sheets at the front office.
Who do I contact if I would like to volunteer?
We would love to have you volunteer with our students and teachers at Cypress
Cove. Feel free to send an email to Wendy Byrd, President, at cypress
covepta@yahoo.com, or leave a note for Kim in her "Volunteer" in box in the
copy room.
Thank you for your willingness to be involved in your child's education by
providing your time and talents!