PTA
The Kester Parent Teacher Association (PTA) plays an active role in your child’s school experience. Did you know that funds raised by our PTA pay for our art programs, physical education, buses for field trips, science lab instructor, classroom materials, emergency supplies, part of the nurse’s salary, as well as many more items as they’re needed?
The PTA also coordinates our parent and community volunteers. Please consider giving your time and expertise to the school this year. We welcome your creative ideas and energy! During these challenging budget times for our public schools, parent involvement at all levels is critical to developing our kids and our community.
Kester’s PTA is a part of a national organization that promotes parent participation in public education. We urge you and your relatives and neighbors to become members of our PTA by joining in the beginning of the year. Membership is only $10.00 and helps us to continue our good work and to be represented by the national PTA on federal education issues. You can join any time—please ask your child's teacher or the Kester staff for information.
Mission
The Kester Avenue Elementary PTA’s goal is to encourage education of the whole child. As a community we want to continue to nurture and inspire our children to believe in themselves not only through academics but through physical and emotional education. We strive to encourage our children to engage in activities that will develop their mind but also create a positive attitude towards physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle.
Monthly meetings
Kester PTA meetings are open to all. We try to alternate meeting times from morning to evening each month. Generally, on odd months PTA meetings will be on Tuesday mornings at 8:00am, and on even months they will be held on Tuesday evenings at 6:30pm. Check the calendar for specific dates.
First Friday table
On the first Friday of each month, parent PTA volunteers are available outside the front office with Kester t-shirts, fundraiser items, and complimentary coffee. They can answer your questions and concerns and will accept volunteer sign-ups. Each First Friday event will have a sponsoring business, so you have an opportunity to learn about services in our community. If you are interested in sponsoring a First Friday PTA Table, please contact the PTA. (As a bonus, sponsors also appear on our Sponsors page.)
Email newsletter and group
The PTA Communications Committee uses email to send bi-weekly announcements to Kester families, staff and teachers. By signing up with our Google group, you may view Kester newsletters on the web or have group emails sent directly to your inbox. The list is also a forum for discussions special to the Kester community. Please sign up using your usual email address (does not need to be a gmail account).
2011/12 PTA board members
| President | Andrea Chasek |
| Vice-president | Bevanne Upperman |
| Vice-president | Krishna Barratt |
| Treasurer | Tobey Kaplan |
| Secretary | Michele DeMauri |
| Financial secretary | Tyna Rodriguez |
Room parents
A room parent is a class-parents organizer and a liaison between the PTA and the parents in a classroom. The room parent compiles a class roster, informs parents of upcoming events, and assists the teacher with various tasks depending on the teacher’s needs (organizing food sign ups for class parties, collecting money for teacher gifts, etc). Ask your child’s teacher about being a room parent or about other ways you can assist in the classroom. For more information please contact Paulene Harrison at paulene_1215[at]sbcglobal[dot]net.
Contact
Please email PTA@kesterelementary.org with any questions or issues related to the PTA. Your email will be forwarded to the appropriate person.