Ithan Elementary’s PTO receives national recognition
The Ithan Elementary Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) was recently honored nationally for its outreach to multicultural parents throughout the district.
PTO Today magazine honored Ithan Elementary School with the 2009 Outstanding Outreach to a Multicultural Parent Base award and noted the honor in the magazine’s September 2009 issue. The Radnor Township School District PTO is one of ten PTO and PTA (Parent Teacher Association) organizations throughout the nation recognized this year.
Chris McNicholas, an Ithan Elementary parent and the most recent former PTO president, said the entire PTO was honored to receive the award and to be nominated by Ithan Elementary School teachers.
“It was really great to be nominated by the teaching staff. We are always trying to work with the teachers to do the best that we can and help them achieve what they need.
For them to take time out of their schedules to nominate us is an honor,” she said.
According to McNicholas, the PTO has not yet decided upon how to use the $1,000 award. She said a vote will take place at the first PTO meeting in September.
In addition to fundraising efforts, PTO members regularly greet new parents and non-English speaking parents to help them feel welcome in the district and to encourage involvement.
“We really encourage participation from all of our families. The Ithan family really sticks together and we have a great community of parents,” McNicholas said.
Each year, the Ithan PTO holds a multicultural celebration and showcase called International Week for students that features guest speakers, food, dancers, costumes and cultures of different countries.
“It is a way to reach out to our students and have them be exposed to different cultures,” she said.
The Ithan PTO organization also regularly holds multicultural potluck lunches to welcome non-English speaking parents into the school during the school day in their homes.
“We want all parents to feel more comfortable in the school and we want to let them know they are an important part of the community and district,” she said.
Along with the cash award, the magazine has given Ithan Elementary School PTO a DirecTV system that can be sold as a fundraiser to benefit the school.
PTO Today is a national magazine available to PTO organizations that offers ideas and advice on fundraising opportunities and school-building activities.
Though Ithan’s PTO, a nonprofit organization, does not have influence on the district’s school board, it can raise funding for school purchases throughout the year.
“Items purchased by the PTO are generally things that would benefit students at every grade level or items that the district simply can not purchase in these rough economic times,” said McNicholas.
Previously the Ithan Parent Teacher Organziaton has worked closely with principals, teachers and staff to find out the schools needs in order to decide on fundraising projects for the school.
McNicholas has served on the PTO for seven years and has been on the executive board for three years.
The PTO also sponsors an endeavor referred to as the “Ithan Publishing Company” for elementary school students.
The company, run by parents, binds homemade books created by students and encourages them to illustrate the pages.
Throughout the school year, the PTO also holds a book fair and family fun nights, and plans school spirit activities. One of the PTO’s largest fundraisers is the Spring Thing fair held at the end of the school year where students and their families come to the school’s campus to play games and enjoy amusement rides.
PTO Today magazine honored Ithan Elementary School with the 2009 Outstanding Outreach to a Multicultural Parent Base award and noted the honor in the magazine’s September 2009 issue. The Radnor Township School District PTO is one of ten PTO and PTA (Parent Teacher Association) organizations throughout the nation recognized this year.
Chris McNicholas, an Ithan Elementary parent and the most recent former PTO president, said the entire PTO was honored to receive the award and to be nominated by Ithan Elementary School teachers.
“It was really great to be nominated by the teaching staff. We are always trying to work with the teachers to do the best that we can and help them achieve what they need.
For them to take time out of their schedules to nominate us is an honor,” she said.
According to McNicholas, the PTO has not yet decided upon how to use the $1,000 award. She said a vote will take place at the first PTO meeting in September.
In addition to fundraising efforts, PTO members regularly greet new parents and non-English speaking parents to help them feel welcome in the district and to encourage involvement.
“We really encourage participation from all of our families. The Ithan family really sticks together and we have a great community of parents,” McNicholas said.
Each year, the Ithan PTO holds a multicultural celebration and showcase called International Week for students that features guest speakers, food, dancers, costumes and cultures of different countries.
“It is a way to reach out to our students and have them be exposed to different cultures,” she said.
The Ithan PTO organization also regularly holds multicultural potluck lunches to welcome non-English speaking parents into the school during the school day in their homes.
“We want all parents to feel more comfortable in the school and we want to let them know they are an important part of the community and district,” she said.
Along with the cash award, the magazine has given Ithan Elementary School PTO a DirecTV system that can be sold as a fundraiser to benefit the school.
PTO Today is a national magazine available to PTO organizations that offers ideas and advice on fundraising opportunities and school-building activities.
Though Ithan’s PTO, a nonprofit organization, does not have influence on the district’s school board, it can raise funding for school purchases throughout the year.
“Items purchased by the PTO are generally things that would benefit students at every grade level or items that the district simply can not purchase in these rough economic times,” said McNicholas.
Previously the Ithan Parent Teacher Organziaton has worked closely with principals, teachers and staff to find out the schools needs in order to decide on fundraising projects for the school.
McNicholas has served on the PTO for seven years and has been on the executive board for three years.
The PTO also sponsors an endeavor referred to as the “Ithan Publishing Company” for elementary school students.
The company, run by parents, binds homemade books created by students and encourages them to illustrate the pages.
Throughout the school year, the PTO also holds a book fair and family fun nights, and plans school spirit activities. One of the PTO’s largest fundraisers is the Spring Thing fair held at the end of the school year where students and their families come to the school’s campus to play games and enjoy amusement rides.
