Committees & Projects
Fundraising Committee – Anita Selman and Nicole Thapa, Co-Chairs
School Carnival
The carnival is held in the fall and is the PTO’s largest fundraising event. Everything is handled through a ticket system, including concessions. Tickets are sold both presale and at the door. Games are set up throughout the school – kids win prize tickets at each game! The prize redemption area is generally held in the mini-gym, and the PTO offers a huge variety of prizes. Volunteers are needed to help secure donations (including prizes), ordering concession food and drinks, prize distribution, tickets sales, running games, set-up, and clean-up.
SCRIP (Gift Cards)
Our organization buys the scrip (Gift Certificates and Cards) from Great Lakes Scrip Center at a discount, and re-sells the certificates for full face value. The discount ‑ from two to fifteen percent or more – is our organization’s revenue.
To learn more about our scrip program or place an order, please visit the PTO Gift Cards page.
Food Nights
Generally scheduled once a month, food nights offer families the opportunity for families to dine out and local restaurants and a portion of the sales are donated to the PTO.
Original Artworks
Each student designs a picture which is reproducible on a variety of products offered through Original Works. Examples of past products include quilt squares, key chains and garden flags.
Parent/Kids Night Out
An evening set aside for kids to come and hang out with their friends while participating in a variety of activities, including movie & popcorn, while parents get the night off!
Education & Learning Committee – Jill Musel, Chair
Accelerated Reader
Students, starting in 2nd grade, participate in the Accelerated Reader Program. Kids read designated books, take a computer-based test, and earn points based on a passing “grade”. Students accumulated points which can be redeemed for prizes. Prize donations are always accepted and volunteers are needed to help distribute prizes each Friday.
Academic Nights
One night, the entire school is encouraged to come and join in academic activities. Past night include Reading night, Math night, and Healthy Living Night. The PTO offers dinner through pre-orders at a reasonable price.
For the school-sponsored Science Fair, the PTO purchases cookies.
Assemblies
The PTO sponsors two educational assemblies each year. One assembly is held the day before school lets out for Winter break. The second is held in the spring. Past assemblies include Chinese Acrobats, Zoo Animals and Birds of Prey.
Red Ribbon Week
Red Ribbon Week is held in October. An entire week is dedicated to increasing awareness for drug prevention. Each day of the week has a specific theme, and students dress up accordingly. This is a student council sponsored activity, however the PTO helps with the parade and provides each student with a red balloon.
Welcome and Teacher Appreciation Committee – Jill Musel, Chair
Registration Days
Families register for the new year in the early part of August. The PTO has a registration table set up to answer questions and recruit new members. Volunteers are needed to staff the table over these 3 days.
First Day of School
In preparation for the school year, the PTO decorates the school bulletin boards, classroom doors and hangs a banner with the year’s them outside the main entrance. In the past, the PTO has also distributed welcome back gifts to teachers and students.
Directory
The PTO distributes a student directory each year. Volunteers are needed to enter information into a spreadsheet, verify the data, print and distribute the directories.
Parent Teacher Conferences
These are held in October and February. The PTO provides snacks and lunch/dinner for the staff.
Teacher Workday (January)
The PTO provides a soup luncheon for teachers. Volunteers are needed to coordinate the lunch, make soup, salad, breads and desserts.
Social and Parent Committee – Anne John and Stefanie Bartak, Co-Chairs
Back to School/Curriculum Night
Back to School Night is held just before school starts. The PTO provides an ice cream treat for everyone who comes out.
Pastry for Parents
This subcommittee includes Donuts for Dads and Muffins for Moms. The PTO invites students and their parents to share breakfast on a specific morning. Volunteers are needed to help set up, serve and clean up.
Festival of Trees
The Festival of Trees is a fundraiser for the Bennington Public Library, usually held every other year, the weekend before Thanksgiving. Organizations and families from the area decorate trees. The event also includes shopping, raffles, lunch/dinner and Santa! The PTO decorates two trees with student-made ornaments to have on display at the Festival. Volunteers are needed to coordinate the ornaments and set-up/remove the trees.
6th Grade Graduation
The PTO puchases a t-shirt for each 6th grader, orders a graduation cake and provides utensils, plates and napkins. 5th Grade parents help coordinate graduation activities.
