August 2010
Dear Peabody families,
Welcome to the Peabody community! It’s time to kick the towels and sunscreen out of the way and make room for backpacks and school supplies because the 2010-2011 school year has begun! With a new school year come new opportunities. The Peabody Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is historically one of the most active in our district. With well-respected and enthusiastic staff, parent, and family engagement, many of us have found fun and friendship as we’ve given our time and talents to benefit our school community through events sponsored by the PTO.
As we look forward to the year ahead, we are starting to see some inkling of improvement in the economy, but we’re not out of the woods just yet. This year we are expecting another round of cuts to an already deficient LPS budget. Every year, however, the PTO strives to provide Peabody with more than $60,000 additional funds for academic and technological support for the kids and accomplishes this goal through fundraising and volunteerism. Your direct contributions are critical and deeply appreciated whether you’re spending time or spending money at any of the many events the PTO hosts throughout the year. Our school needs these funds to offset drastic budget cuts and to maintain the level of support we believe our children deserve.
After a community survey and thorough assessment of the fundraising programs last year, the PTO voted to eliminate a few of the programs that either didn’t yield a high return on investment or were not aligned with our community values. With fewer programs in the works, your participation and contribution are more essential than ever before.
The PTO invites all ideas and welcomes all members. There are opportunities for deeper commitment for those who are interested. You are encouraged to get involved, on any level that you can, and to come see what the PTO is all about. You are always welcome to attend any of the community meetings or you can reach out to anyone on the PTO executive board individually. Our common goal is to serve our children and support our school.
The year is full of opportunities; your input is the key!
Warm regards,
Angela Wright, Vice President
wrighan@q.com