Hey, did you know we have a PTO?!?

The Shenandoah Middle School PTOs most important goal is to help our students, teachers and administrators excel at their jobs and when ever possible have fun doing it!  We know that every parent out there wants their child to be happy and successful at school.  Getting involved with the PTO is one way to work towards that goal.

Don't believe it? According to PTO Today.com, the statistics are overwhelming. Noted experts Anne Henderson and Karen Mapp, found in their compendium of research A New Generation of Evidence: The Family Is Critical to Student Achievement, dozens of studies all scientifically support the same conclusion:

"Programs designed with strong parent involvement produce students who perform better than otherwise identical programs that do not involve parents as thoroughly, or that do not involve them at all. Schools that relate well to their communities have student bodies that outperform other schools. Children whose parents help them at home and stay in touch with the school score higher than children of similar aptitude and family background whose parents are not involved. Schools where children are failing improve dramatically when parents are called in to help."

Even with the undeniable benefits, we know how tight time can be these days!  The thought of adding another obligation to your calendar doesn’t sound that fun and the fear of the dreaded volunteer black hole looms large.  But please, fear not.  Involvement doesn’t need to mean endless meetings or chairing the committee charged with creating the fundraiser to end all fundraisers.  What it does mean is having a place to voice your complements and concerns regarding the school, having the opportunity to really meet and connect with teachers and administrators who are having such an impact on your child and picking up manageable volunteer opportunities where you can have fun and connect with other parents who are also approaching the sometimes scary “teen years”.

That doesn’t sound so bad – does it?  We hope not.  Not when you consider the benefits of involvement to your child, yourself and your community.  Please think about joining the PTO and adding your support to creating an excellent school through a strong school community.