In the month of August, thousands of parents and students headed back to school. For the majority of students, now is a time filled with excitement as they find out who their new teachers are, catch up with friends and start making new ones. For many parents, apprehension sets in as the unstructured days of summer are over and the hectic school routine is once again upon them. After meeting the teacher and getting the supply list, many parents buy spirit wear and sign up for the PTA. East Cobb has a great PTA support structure. We are lucky that parents are familiar with the PTA and are willing to join year after year. Our new families who move into East Cobb from across the state, the country, or even overseas may not always understand how powerful and important the PTA is for the benefit of each student and school.
What is PTA?
The National PTA is the oldest and largest volunteer organization in the United States. The purpose of the PTA is to promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school community and place of worship. As an advocate for all children, the PTA works to secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth. PTAs serve to promote closer relations between the home and the school, so that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the education of children. The PTA mission is to make every child’s potential a reality. In East Cobb there are 35 PTAs, corresponding to each of the 35 public schools, with over 28,000 members.
Why join the PTA?
Joining the PTA helps make you an advocate for all children at the local, state and national level. The PTA also helps provide many programs that state and county funding do not cover. In many schools, the PTA pays for teacher grants, after school programs, math and reading software, student planning agendas and educational material in school media centers — among other educational tools that support instructional goals. PTAs enrich the student learning experience and unite our school communities through websites, e-newsletters and the orchestration of events such as math and science nights, fall festivals, picnics, sock hops and holiday parties.
Why is it important for ALL families to join the PTA?
The strength of the PTA lies in its members. These are parents, teachers, school administrators, business leaders, grandparents and community members who believe that making a positive difference in the education of our children matters. Our strength in numbers empowers the PTA to partner with schools to help give each child the best education possible, despite growing limitations, which include manpower and financial resources. Involvement in PTA offers meaningful opportunities to support student academic achievement and wellbeing.
Are There Other Benefits to Joining the PTA?
Supporting education is important – as is realized by PTA members, including many of our local East Cobb businesses. To help support local PTA membership, many businesses in East Cobb provide discounts or other special values to PTA members. Some of these businesses include tutoring centers, restaurants, hair salons, gyms, a cooking academy, roller skate and ice centers and many more. These business partners understand that East Cobb PTAs and their members have a common goal of helping every child reach their potential. You can access the ECCC PTA business partners here: www.ecccpta.org/committee-news-info/membership-benefits
YOU Are Invited to JOIN PTA!
Whether you are a parent, grandparent, neighbor or local business your PTA membership helps us to continue offering all the great programs which make our East Cobb schools award-winning schools. Please think about joining the PTA if you haven’t already. To join any East Cobb PTA, just visit your local school’s website for contact and/or membership information. Thank you for being involved!
Written by Paty Holdmeyer and Amy Carroll, East Cobb County Council of PTAs, Membership Co-Chairs.
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The post You’re Invited! Join East Cobb PTAs and help make every child’s potential a reality. appeared first on East Cobber.