working together

Parent Teacher Organization — parents and teachers working together for a quality educational experience that reaches beyond our school's doors. BCPSA requires parent to donate two hours a month to help the school. The PTO can help you meet these requirements. Ask us how you can help.

Bay County Academy PTO

The purpose of the Parent Teacher Organization, PTO, is to help improve the overall experience in school for as many students as possible. As a PTO, we will try to bring to the school things that BCPSA students may not receive any other place in their lives. If we can offer these students an opportunity to try something new or experience something out of the ordinary, then we are enriching their lives as well as their education. We can spend all of our time, effort and finances on playground equipment (In the past two years we have spent approximately $3,000 on playground equipment,) or we can concentrate on the things that will make a difference on a different level, a difference in the futures of the kids that attend BCPSA (In two years $10,000 for an art teacher, $7,000 in- and after-school programs and much more.) The after-school enrichment programs, in-school programs and special events that we sponsor are designed to do just that. To offer experiences directly to the students.

We do not intend to be a collector of in-school problems. As individual parents, we must learn to ask questions of our teachers and administrators, not spread rumors or keep concerns to ourselves. You are certainly welcome to attend any PTO board meeting which is held on the first Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m.

TOP

PTO Operations

As a PTO, we have found a great way to get things done. You are familiar with the concern of being overwhelmed by volunteering no matter what group you belong to. At the BCPSA/PTO we hope to make it easier for all by using our heads. The old saying goes "How do you eat an Elephant? One bite at a time!" The PTO has decided that if we get enough people to "take a bite" then this "elephant" will get eaten.

Each board member is in charge of overseeing a particular area. For example, one is Academics. It is PTO Academic Directors' job to try to find a chairperson or two to oversee programs in the academics area. Then we will try to find a parent or two to take on one task, like the Spelling Bee. The Spelling Bee Chairs (Bridgett R. and Amy G.) will plan out the event based on last year and make changes and improvements based on their best efforts. When it's time for this event, they will be asking our "Parent Volunteer Coordinator to call parents to fill the spots needed to have a successful program, whether it is cookie bakes, judges, decorators or what ever. With this model we hope not to "bug" these key people again, unless they want to help on another project. This does many good things for the school, PTO and parent. We get things done, we don't overwhelm volunteers, we set up a "track to run on" for next year and we get more people involved so next year runs even more smoothly.

If you would like to get involved in this process, being a chairperson of an event or a helper/planner or just a volunteer, please let us know and say "yes" when you get that call to help. For more information about general operations please see our by laws pdf.

TOP

PTO BOARD Members

The 2005/06 PTO Board members were elected June 2005. The members are:

Linda Knepfler, President

Billie Cnudde, Vice President

Kristen Hancock-Griffith, Secretary

Michelle Therrian, Treasurer

Robin Seibert, PTO Liaison

TOP

HOW TO CONtact us

All board members have mailboxes in the office. You may also contact the board members by calling the school at (989)684-6484.

TOP

Meeting Schedule

PTO Board Meetings (approved minutes are posted):

August 28, 2006 minutes

October 2, 2006 minutes

November 6, 2006 minutes

December 4, 2006

January 8, 2007

February 5, 2007

March 5, 2007

April 2, 2007

May 7, 2007

June 4, 2007

We welcome all parents to the PTO General Meetings on the following dates:

Monday, February 5th at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria.

Monday, May 7th at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria.

TOP

PTO NEWS

If you want to know what's going on with the PTO and school, just look at the PTO Bulletin Board at the each end of the hall on the first floor or the table in front of the office. There are also board member names and numbers at these locations if you want to contact the PTO. Or click on pdf links below to view our newsletter.

August/September Newsletter

TOP

After School Enrichment

It is our intention to offer as many programs to as many students as possible. However, budgets, time and the number of participant will limit who can get involved. We just finished up with Flag Football (teacher, Mr. Phelps). Coming are Art Fair, National Geographic Bee and much more. If you have any questions or suggestions please contact us.

Please be on the look-out for registration forms coming home with your child or
check the PTO Bulletin Board.

TOP

PTO CALENDAR

September

October

November

December

January

February

March

April

May

June

TOP