Saratoga News

Letters & Opinions

Speak Out

Parents should
join their PTAs

Soon our children will be going back to school.

There will be a boatload of information about events and programs coming your way in a short period. It can be overwhelming to new kindergarten families. One way to learn how the school operates and what resources are available is to join your school's Parent Teacher Association and attend meetings.

The meeting schedule is posted on a website, sent out by e-mail or on a notice that is sent home with your child.

Some PTAs, like mine, provide free babysitting during meetings, and the principal typically attends, giving you a chance to hear about priorities.

If you cannot attend, visit your PTA website, find the list of officers, then contact one of them and introduce yourself.

Read the information about the PTA programs and events. Attend back to school night. Ask questions every chance you get.

And if you really want to make a difference, volunteer. Man a table at a fundraiser, help teach art, music or gym class, sort books, do computer work from home, donate dollars during the annual campaign, or sign up for the effortless programs such as eScrip (www.escrip). That's where a percentage of money you spend at the grocery store is donated to your school. (Safeway donated $9,260 to Marshall Lane programs and equipment in 2006 through this program.)

Remember that the more you put into your child's education, the more he or she will get out of it.

I look forward to seeing you at our Pumpkin Walk event on Oct. 27 at Marshall Lane!

Michelle McIntyre

Casa Blanca Lane

Michelle McIntyre is the president of the Marshall Lane Elementary School PTA, and a first-grade mom.