PTA Membership, Meetings & Support
- What does the PTA do?
- How do I join the PTA?
- Why should I join the PTA – don’t my dues just get passed on to the National PTA?
- Do I have to attend the PTA meetings to be a member?
- What happens at a PTA meeting?
- How do I make a contribution to the PTA
- How do I get a school directory?
- How do I purchase a yearbook?
- Does everyone get a yearbook, or just the 5th graders?
- How do I purchase spirit wear?
What does the PTA do? The SGES PTA provides support to the students, teachers and administration at Shady Grove Elementary School. Among other things, teachers receive annual financial support for purchasing classroom supplies, cultural arts programs are brought into the school for all grade levels, upper grade students receive homework notebooks each year, the PE/recess carts are restocked annually, and the Cardinal’s Nest (our school store) is open for business. Our programs, including After School Enrichment classes, monthly parent/child programs, the annual Reflections art program, the annual Rock-a-thon, are described in more detail on the SGES PTA website. We also provide opportunities to purchase SGES spirit wear and yearbooks. We are very lucky to have tremendous support from our families for our fundraising efforts, which are also described in detail on the website. We have been fortunate enough in the past several years to be able to provide to the school several Promethean boards (smartboards), 30 iPads, STEM lab supplies and materials, musical instruments, and a tremendous book room for teachers to provide more differentiated reading instruction in the classroom.
How do I join the PTA? It’s very easy! If you will be here for Open House the week before school starts, you can join then. If not, join and/or donate to the PTA.
Why should I join the PTA - don’t my dues just get passed on to the National PTA? The SGES PTA is part of the National PTA, which is the oldest and largest child-advocacy group in the US. The PTA speaks up with lawmakers for family engagement language in education; safe, healthy, and technologically advanced schools; and equal opportunity for all children, regardless of their socioeconomic background. We pass along $3.75 per member to the Henrico County, Virginia State and National PTA organizations to help them support our children and teachers. As a member, you will be supporting these child advocacy efforts, and when you join the PTA, you will also receive discounts offered by the National PTA!
Do I have to attend the PTA meetings to be a PTA member? Meetings are not mandatory, but they are a great way to connect with the school community and to find out what is happening at Shady Grove.
What happens at a PTA meeting? SGES PTA meetings are always combined with a school activity, like Back-to-School Night, or a performance, like the annual 4th Grade Virginia History Play. Most of the meetings are in the multi-purpose room in the school. The business meeting is brief, and includes discussion about budget issues, announcements and relevant reports from committees. Meetings are governed by parliamentary procedure, so at times you will be asked to vote to approve things like budget changes or changes in PTA leadership. There is always something to talk about, be we know your time is precious, so we keep the meetings short and spend more time on the activity or performance.
How do I make a contribution to the PTA? Thank you for supporting the PTA! Please click here to join and/or donate to the PTA. You can also contribute the to the PTA through wonderful support programs.
How do I get a school directory? If you become a Cardinal Donor through your contribution to the PTA (see the Join/Support PTA section of the website for more info), you will receive a directory free of charge. If you are not a Cardinal Donor, directories may be purchased here.
How do I purchase a yearbook? Click on the Yearbook section of the website to obtain the order form or to order online.
Does everyone get a yearbook, or just the 5th graders? Most families purchase at least one yearbook, and there are opportunities during the last week of school for children to sign each other’s yearbooks. There are occasionally some extra yearbooks for sale in the spring, but they sell out quickly, so the best way to ensure your child will have his/her own yearbook is to order in advance.
How do I purchase spirit wear? Spirit wear is sold at Open House in the fall, and sometimes in a second order during the year. Click on the Spirit Wear section of the website to find out more about what will be offered this year.
How do I join the PTA? It’s very easy! If you will be here for Open House the week before school starts, you can join then. If not, join and/or donate to the PTA.
Why should I join the PTA - don’t my dues just get passed on to the National PTA? The SGES PTA is part of the National PTA, which is the oldest and largest child-advocacy group in the US. The PTA speaks up with lawmakers for family engagement language in education; safe, healthy, and technologically advanced schools; and equal opportunity for all children, regardless of their socioeconomic background. We pass along $3.75 per member to the Henrico County, Virginia State and National PTA organizations to help them support our children and teachers. As a member, you will be supporting these child advocacy efforts, and when you join the PTA, you will also receive discounts offered by the National PTA!
Do I have to attend the PTA meetings to be a PTA member? Meetings are not mandatory, but they are a great way to connect with the school community and to find out what is happening at Shady Grove.
What happens at a PTA meeting? SGES PTA meetings are always combined with a school activity, like Back-to-School Night, or a performance, like the annual 4th Grade Virginia History Play. Most of the meetings are in the multi-purpose room in the school. The business meeting is brief, and includes discussion about budget issues, announcements and relevant reports from committees. Meetings are governed by parliamentary procedure, so at times you will be asked to vote to approve things like budget changes or changes in PTA leadership. There is always something to talk about, be we know your time is precious, so we keep the meetings short and spend more time on the activity or performance.
How do I make a contribution to the PTA? Thank you for supporting the PTA! Please click here to join and/or donate to the PTA. You can also contribute the to the PTA through wonderful support programs.
How do I get a school directory? If you become a Cardinal Donor through your contribution to the PTA (see the Join/Support PTA section of the website for more info), you will receive a directory free of charge. If you are not a Cardinal Donor, directories may be purchased here.
How do I purchase a yearbook? Click on the Yearbook section of the website to obtain the order form or to order online.
Does everyone get a yearbook, or just the 5th graders? Most families purchase at least one yearbook, and there are opportunities during the last week of school for children to sign each other’s yearbooks. There are occasionally some extra yearbooks for sale in the spring, but they sell out quickly, so the best way to ensure your child will have his/her own yearbook is to order in advance.
How do I purchase spirit wear? Spirit wear is sold at Open House in the fall, and sometimes in a second order during the year. Click on the Spirit Wear section of the website to find out more about what will be offered this year.
