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Question
- Can I make a private donation to the Columbia Elementary PTA?
- How can I get involved at Columbia Elementary?
- How can I stay up to date with information regarding Columbia Elementary?
- How do you contact parents about volunteer opportunities?
- How much of my PTA dues stay at Columbia Elementary School?
- How should the BoxTops be adhered to the Boxtopoly gamesheet?
- I filled out the volunteer survey but no one has contacted me to volunteer
- I have small children at home, can I bring them when I volunteer?
- I work full time. What volunteer opportunities are available for working parents?
- What are PTA dues?
- What are the guidelines for placing the BoxTops on the Boxtopoly gamesheet?
- What can I volunteer to do at Columbia Elementary School?
- What else can I do?
- What fundraisers are Columbia Elementary participating in this year?
- What Has Columbia Elementary School PTA done for our school?
- What kind of BoxTops can be used for the Boxtopoly gamesheet?
- What kind of snacks can I send for my child and for parties in the classroom?
- When are PTA meetings?
- Why should I become a PTA member?
Answer
Can I make a private donation to the Columbia Elementary PTA?
Absolutely. Furthermore many large corporations have funds available to make a donation to your child’s school. Inquire at your work place for possible programs that are in place to make donations to Columbia Elementary!
How can I get involved at Columbia Elementary?
If you have filled out your volunteer survey, consider joining the PTA and attending a Columbia Elementary PTA meeting. These meetings are held in the mornings some months and in the evenings other months to accommodate all of our PTA families. The meetings are a great way to learn about what is going on at Columbia Elementary, meet other parents and hear about upcoming events!
How can I stay up to date with information regarding Columbia Elementary?
The Columbia Elementary PTA has the ability to send out emails keeping you up to date right here on our web site. The calendar and newsletter will be updated here monthly. Forms that you may need for school will be available here as well as a school store where you can order apparel and decals. Contact information for your PTA Board will be here as well as updated volunteer opportunities. Check out the links section for links to other important things that pertain to your child’s day at Columbia Elementary including programs, payPAMS for your child’s lunch acct and information on the FDA program that all Alabama schools are participating in. You can and should also subscribe to Listserve for important information directly from Columbia Elementary and our School district such as school closings and news from our Administration. You can do this by going to the Columbia Elementary SCHOOL website and clicking on the listserve link. Calendar, Newsletters and other PTA information will also be available through automatic emails through listserve.
How do you contact parents about volunteer opportunities?
Email is usually used for last minute requests such as photo days and vision screenings but phone calls can be made if you prefer. Make sure that you have filled out the volunteer survey and that your information is correct. If contact information has changed since completing your survey please contact Kim Baird to update your information.
How much of my PTA dues stay at Columbia Elementary School?
$1.00 is sent directly to the State PTA Organization. $1.75 is sent directly to the National PTA Organization. This leaves $2.25 at Columbia Elementary.
How should the BoxTops be adhered to the Boxtopoly gamesheet?
Tape or glue is acceptable; please do not use staples.
I filled out the volunteer survey but no one has contacted me to volunteer
Contact Kim Baird VP of Volunteers – kimbbaird@bellsouth.net to make sure that your information was put into the database correctly. She can inform you of upcoming volunteer needs and/or connect you with Chair Persons working on projects or programs that most interest you.
I have small children at home, can I bring them when I volunteer?
While there are definite instances where very small children are not appropriate to bring to Columbia Elementary School while volunteering there are volunteer opportunities where it would be acceptable to bring a well behaved younger child. Children are not allowed in any of the teacher workrooms and are generally discouraged from in class volunteering.
I work full time. What volunteer opportunities are available for working parents?
Volunteers are needed for a variety of programs and events including those that take place at night such as Family Book Fair night and Elf Store. Volunteers are needed for our Spring Carnival held on a Saturday. There are many projects that can be done in the evenings and on weekends including things like making phone calls, sorting printed materials and sorting prizes for the many Renaissance Programs. There are even Chair and Co-Chair positions that could easily be filled by a parent working full time or part time.
Currently PTA dues are 5.00 per member. Our goal is to have a 100% participation through out the school. This means one member for every child and 100% participation of the faculty, administration and support staff.
What are the guidelines for placing the BoxTops on the Boxtopoly gamesheet?
The BoxTops do not have to be trimmed, but make sure there are 25 per sheet, and that the expiration date is visible.
What can I volunteer to do at Columbia Elementary School?
There are many ways of being involved at Columbia Elementary… First and foremost please join the Columbia Elementary PTA! There are many volunteer opportunities that meet a wide range of needs. You can volunteer once a year, several times a year and even on a regular basis weekly or monthly. The media center is a great place to get started. You can become a room parent for your child(s) classroom. If you haven’t already, please fill out the Volunteer Survey form and return it to your child’s homeroom teacher (You can download the form in the forms section). Let us know if you have special skills that you would like to share.
We have many volunteer opportunities at Columbia Elementary School. Whether you are interested in Chairing or Co-Chairing a committee, working on a project that requires a week long commitment, volunteering a couple times a year or doing projects from home there is something for you!
What fundraisers are Columbia Elementary participating in this year?
While we have decided to do away with “traditional” fundraisers like magazine sales and food items the Columbia PTA still needs income to provide the programming and improvements for Columbia Elementary School students. The main fundraiser this year is our Boosterthon! This is a fun activity that encourages character development as well as physical fitness! This will be not only be fun for the children and easy for the parents but a HUGE success for Columbia Elementary. While the Boosterthon will be our “main” fundraiser we will still continue to hold the popular Spring and Fall Book Fairs, the Winter Elf Store and Original Art Works. This year we also will hold a fun filled Saturday Carnival in the Spring with food vendors, inflatables, games and raffles. Other fundraisers that we participate in are Family Dine Out - evenings where restaurants give back a portion of the profits for Columbia Elementary School Families dining out on a specific evening, Supermarket cards – where supermarkets give back a portion of the profits for Columbia Elementary School Families grocery purchases, Food labels and Box Tops – where by cutting off the labels/box tops of products you use daily we are rewarded by a cash donation to our school, and finally – School Spirit Sales and membership drives.
What Has Columbia Elementary School PTA done for our school?
2004-2005
Installed and paid off the Playground
Die cut machine and die installed in teacher work room(s)
Purchased and installed Art Craft Paper and Dispenser for teacher workrooms
Funding for Columbia Elementary PTA Programs
Bus Safety, Fire Prevention, Space Week, Field Day, Red Ribbon Week
and Reflections
2005-2006
Playground mulch added
Funding for Columbia Elementary PTA Programs
Bus Safety, Fire Prevention, Space Week, Field Day, Red Ribbon Week
and Reflections
2006-2007
Installation of walking track at back of school
Purchased and installed ball field sprinkler system and sod
$10,000 donation to Media Center to meet accreditation requirements
Funding for Columbia Elementary PTA Programs
Bus Safety, Fire Prevention, Space Week, Field Day, Red Ribbon Week
and Reflections
2007-2008
Purchased 21st Century Classroom Technology
Purchased and installed playground water fountain
Funding for Renaissance Programs
A-A/B Honor Roll, Perfect Attendance, Shining Star Program and
Star Card Program
Funding for PTA Programs
Bus Safety, Fire Prevention, Space Week, Field Day, Red Ribbon Week
and Reflections
Donations to Media Center, Art, Music, and Physical Education programs
Teacher Appreciation Week Activities
What kind of BoxTops can be used for the Boxtopoly gamesheet?
ANY Boxtop can be placed on the boxes 1-25 as long as they’re not expired, or actually labeled “BONUS”
What kind of snacks can I send for my child and for parties in the classroom?
FOOD IN SCHOOL SHOULD SUPPORT CLASSROOM LESSONS< Students are taught in classrooms about good nutrition and the value of healthy food choices. However many times foods served in the classroom, in the case of a class party, are low in nutrients and high in calories. This sends children a mixed message – that good nutrition is just an academic exercise that is not supported by school administration, educators and parents and is not important to their health or education. To send the right message administrators, teachers, parents and students need to promote healthy lifestyle principles, replacing unhealthy food offerings with healthy ones. Snack ideas for school/classroom parties are listed below.
To try to better meet all parents needs we have PTA meetings both at night and during the day. Please see the calendar for specific dates and times for this year.
Why should I become a PTA member?
Member Benefits Numerous benefits are available to dues-paying units and members. All PTA Member units have access to Our Children - PTA’s flagship publication with parenting articles by experts on children's health, education, and well-being; and information on advocacy efforts; the latest news that affects children and youth. Professionally designed public service announcements (PSAs) to aid in membership recruitment. National PTA Annual Convention registration information. A Back to School kit containing recruitment ideas and other materials to get the year started. Teacher Appreciation Week ideas. Select resources developed in collaboration with PTA’s national partners. National PTA’s Membership Achievement Program. Numerous resources on parent involvement programs, fundraising, working collaboratively, and much more. Discounts and special offers from a host of PTA sponsors and community partners. Individual members have access to a number of exclusive benefits too, including: Online parenting resources including select articles from Our Children magazine. E-newsletters on parenting and legislative issues. Exclusive National PTA member benefits and sponsor offers from companies such as Office Depot and Barnes & Noble. Leadership training opportunities in-person and online. Discounted member rate for PTA’s annual national convention, magazine subscriptions, and more.