Today is the 122nd anniversary of the founding of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), originally formed as The National Congress of Mothers. In 1897, (before women had the right to vote!) Alice McLellan Birney and Phoebe Apperson Hearst organized what was essentially the first “PTA meeting” by bringing together more than 2,000 supporters to advocate for children’s interests in Washington D.C.

As the largest and oldest volunteer child advocacy organization in nation, the PTA has pushed for programs and reforms that still benefit our children today, including the creation of kindergarten classes, child labor laws, special education and school hot lunch programs. Amazing, right?

At the school level, the Chapman PTA works to build and support family engagement in partnership with teachers and staff. This year, we hope you have noticed:

• an increased emphasis on events that build family engagement like the Swift Family Run, Community Dinner, and upcoming parent education night, in addition to “old” favorites like the Ice Cream Social, STEM night, Art Ball and Talent Show.
• easier and more equitable access to after school enrichment classes, school-wide events and auction parties (funded, in large part, by a record-setting outreach  paddle raise at last year’s auction.)
• sustained and improved efforts to share information of interest to parents via our in-school bulletin board, PTA Coffees, new grade-level representatives, website and social media channels.
• intentional efforts to grow and expand our volunteer and member base. Our PTA waives membership fees on request because financial barriers should not prevent parents from active engagement in their school community.

We could not and can not do this without YOU! A HUGE shout out to the legions of volunteers who make Chapman a great place to be. 

A strong PTA member base helps us to:

• more effectively advocate for staffing and other resource needs.
• more broadly and accurately represent parent voices.
• more efficiently organize and hear from teachers about we can best support them and their classrooms.

We hope you will help us celebrate this important milestone in child advocacy by joining the PTA, signing up to volunteer and/or attending tomorrow’s March for Students in Salem!  On Friday, Feb. 22, please join us for a special treat along with coffee after round up! 

THANK YOU for believing that public education matters!