January 22, 2009 10:07 am
—
By MICHELLE MILLER
Staff Writer
Members of the Cooperstown
Central School Parent Teacher
Organization (PTO) are anticipating
more requests for funding
because of the status of the economy
and projected budget cuts.
During an annual report to
the Board of Education last week,
co-presidents Peg Odell and Annmarie
Bascio said that the PTO
has already seen an increase in
requests and can only anticipate
that the demand will increase.
For example, Odell said the
second-grade class goes to see the
Nutcracker performance at the
Stanley Theatre in Utica each
year, but were told the trip would
have to be cancelled this year because
the district could not afford
it. Odell said the PTO stepped in
so students could continue the
tradition.
The PTO recently received a
request from the fifth-grade class
for its annual trip to the local biological
field station, according to
Odell. The class was told the trip
would have to be cancelled because
of lack of funds, so the PTO
is looking into helping make that
trip possible as well, said Odell.
``We would like to see every
grade be able to go on at least one
field trip each year,’’ said Odell.
Another way the PTO is trying
to save money while still providing
students with additional academic
opportunities is by working
more closely with the
Fennimore Art Museum. Bascio
and Odell told board members
they have already started talking
to staff at the museum about having
a closer partnership and plan
to implement some ideas by next
year.
``We are proud of our kids and
our staff and are looking forward
to giving as much as we can given
the economic status,’’ said Odell.
Odell said the PTO’s biggest
fundraiser of the year is the Crayon
Carnival. She said organizers
are planning to spice up the community
event this year— making
it El Carnival de las Crayones.
Along with the customary bouncy
rides, carnival games, a raffle,
music and food, the event will
take on a new twist with the addition
of an international walk of
nations. Kids will receive passports
and will be able to enjoy
learning about eight different
countries in a fun interactive atmosphere,
said Odell.
This year’s festivities will take
place Saturday, March 21
from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Odell said the PTO typically
raises about $15,000 a
year, which goes right back
to the three schools— elementary,
middle and high
schools. According to the
annual report, the PTO
raised $15,561 during the
2008 calendar year.
Odell and Bascio said
the group is always looking
for new and creative ways
to raise funds and help support
academics.
This year, the group has
been selling more products
such as facial cream and
cookie dough in order to
raise money.
The cookie dough sale,
which was done on a volunteer
basis by students, was
a huge success, said Bascio.
She said the fundraiser
brought in $3,000.
The PTO recently held a
Family Fun Night as part
of its annual book fair.
Odell said it was a neat
event because students got
a chance to read stories
they had created in front of
other students and parents.
According to Odell, funds
raised went to benefit the
elementary library. She
said teachers were also able
to select books for their
classrooms.
During the annual report
to the board of education,
the co-presidents told
board members that the
PTO is looking to bring
more writing enrichments
to the district.
As part of the district’s
2010 initiative, The PTO
wants to recruit volunteers
to match with students who
are interested in writing
and creating their own stories.
``We have a lot of kids
who like to write in our
school and we want to promote
that and give them
more opportunity,’’ said
Odell.
According to Odell, the
PTO has asked interested
students to sign up for
Scholastic Kids as Authors,
which is a contest where
kids write and illustrate a
book together, then submit
it. She said the PTO is also
bringing awareness to programs
such as Reading
Rainbows. Reading Rainbow
also sponsors a contest
for young writer and illustrators.
However, the contest
is for work done by students
individually.
The Cooperstown PTO is
a group of parents, teachers
and other interested persons
who support andáinvolve
themselves at many
levels, through every
grade.
Throughout the year,
the PTO provides funding
and manpower for a variety
of activities that support
the academic environment,
such as book fairs, Parents
as Reading Partners, language
clubs, tutoring, concerts,
Project Prom, school
supplies and books, Crayon
Carnival, an annual holiday
breakfast, funds for
field trips, volunteer, coordination,
monies for playground
equipment, school
supplies for needy families,
and staff appreciation
events. The PTO meets on
the second Tuesday of every
month and all are welcome.
Odell said the PTO is
very grateful for the support
of local businesses, and
the many volunteers who
make the organization’s
work possible.
``Especially given the
difficult financial situation,
helping out our schools, encouraging
our kids, and
supporting our teachers is
all the more important,’’
she said.
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