PTO Handbook for ISA Families 2019-2020 - International ...
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PTO Handbook for ISA Families 2019-2020
1
Table of Contents
President’s Message……………………...................................................................3
The Parent Teacher Organisation (PTO )...............................................................4
PTO Members ..........................................................................................................5
Enrichment Programme…….…………………………………………………………...6
Social Events………………………………………………………………………………7
Funds and Fundraising............................................................................................8
Volunteer Information .............................................................................................10
Volunteering Opportunities……..............................................................................11
Spirit Wear.................................................................................................................14
Bison Booster ……...................................................................................................15
2President’s Message
The International School Aberdeen’s Parent Teacher Organisation consists of parent volunteers
working to promote school spirit and close relationships with parents, faculty and students.
Once your child has been enrolled at ISA, you become a part of our organisation.
The PTO works closely with the ISA Administration to support our children’s education in
several different ways. With help from parents, we raise funds to enrich classroom support,
organise fun-filled family socials and encourage school spirit. By organising these key
programmes and events throughout the year, we create a strong connection in the ISA
community.
Our “Buddy” family programme helps families adjust to living in Scotland, and provides a
smooth transition into your new school. Please fill out the Buddy form or send an email
to pto@isa.aberdeen.sch.uk for more information.
The best way for your child to have a successful school year is to get involved. Our volunteer
form indicates the ways in which you can get involved and gives our Volunteer Coordinator an
indication of who might be interested in volunteering for each event. For additional information,
please contact our PTO Volunteer Coordinator at ISAPTOVolCoord@gmail.com.
All parents are invited to attend our monthly meetings. Check out the PTO page in the Thistle
Talk for dates and times. Please feel free to contact any member of the PTO if you have any
questions or suggestions. We look forward to meeting you and welcoming you to your new
community!
Warmest Regards
Melanie Kinch Cutler
PTO President
3The Parent Teacher Organisation (PTO)
What is the PTO?
The Parent and Teacher Organisation (PTO) of The International School Aberdeen (ISA)
is a volunteer organisation made up of all parents, guardians and teachers at ISA.
The PTO at ISA exists in order to provide positive support towards educational excellence, while
celebrating our cultural diversity and fostering a spirit of community.
What does the PTO do?
The PTO:
1) Supports and organises community spirit building activities that foster a strong sense of
community by promoting a cooperative and supportive relationship among students, parents,
teachers, ISA administration and staff and the ISA School Board. This is done through parent,
teacher and family events / socials.
2) Supports educational activities that supplement/complement the school curriculum and
activities through the enrichment programme. Examples include funding a visiting artist to work
with the students, sponsoring science demonstrations that are both fun and educational, funding
sporting uniforms and the purchase of equipment used by the Fine Arts and IT departments.
3) Supports and organises culturally diverse celebrations and activities by helping out at
the International Flag Parade and encouraging country groups to share their traditions,
particularly at assemblies.
Additional PTO Objectives:
● support the transition of new families to life at ISA,
● promote an understanding of our host city and country,
● encourage family involvement in the ISA community.
4PTO Members
PTO General Members
All parents and teachers at ISA are members of the PTO! All general members are welcome to
attend both General PTO meetings (twice a year - one to approve the PTO budget in October
and one to elect PTO Board members in April) and PTO Board Meetings, which are held once a
month.
PTO Board Members
The PTO Board members meet once a month at Board meetings to deal with ongoing planning
of social events, discuss issues raised by General PTO members and vote on enrichment
requests as and when appropriate. Board members are elected by the general members and
serve from June to June.
ISA Administration
The ISA administration consists of the Head of School, Elementary Principal, the Middle and
High School Principal and the IB Coordinator.
The Head of School, the Principals and the Assistant Principals are invited to report to the PTO
Board meetings to share information with the PTO Board about what is happening and to
answer questions from the PTO Board members.
Please note that any student specific or personal questions or concerns should be raised by the
individuals rather than directed through the PTO.
5Enrichment Programme
As detailed under our objectives, the PTO works to raise funds to support the enrichment
requests submitted by our ISA community. Teachers, staff and parents are welcome to make
an “enrichment request” to the PTO for the part or full sponsorship of their project, activity or
item. The application form and guidelines for application, can be found on the school website
at: www.isa.aberdeen.sch.uk/pto.htm. The PTO seeks to support as many worthwhile activities
as reasonably possible.
Enrichments funded by the PTO in recent years include:
● Camera & mics for The Queen Elizabeth Theatre for recording events
● Artist in Residence
● Author visits and workshops
● Digital cameras for use in classrooms
● Spheros for IT
● Band music
● Eco Club garden tools & signage
● Duke of Edinburgh
● Additional playground materials for Pre-School and Elementary School
● Laptop computers for Learning Support
● Sports Uniforms
6Social Events
In addition to supporting the Enrichment Programme, the PTO hosts or supports a number of
social events throughout the year which aim to foster a sense of community while celebrating
the cultural diversity within the ISA family.
Social events sponsored or supported* by the PTO include:
● PTO Welcome Coffees at the start of each semester
● Back to School Social
● Hike and Coffee
● International Night Buffet
● NHS Trunk or Treat*
● Volunteer Appreciation coffees
● Elementary School Ceilidh*
● Around the Fireplace*
● Cairngorm Reindeer visit*
● Winter Family Social
● Staff Appreciation Lunch
● Annual Adult Social Event
7PTO Funds and Fundraising
The PTO is funded through donations from ISA families, school events/activities, and matching
funds from sponsoring companies. We raise funds to support our three goals:
a) provide funding for learning opportunities and resources that enhance and extend our
students’ development,
b) foster an active sense of community between all participants in ISA,
c) promote awareness of our cultural diversity.
How you can support your PTO
You may contribute to your PTO by making a donation and/or by participating in fundraising
events/programmes. We have many easy ways to contribute:
Most Spirited
Purchase Spirit Wear throughout the year.
Show your ISA school spirit and Bison team pride with T-shirts and other ISA logo items. Visit
the pop up store in The Street after school every Wednesday, or see the school website for an
order form.
Most Surprising
Your company may make your donation even more valuable!
Maximise your donations of time and money through the “Matched Giving” programmes
operated by many of the companies with an interest in the school. Contact Human Resources to
find out if your company does this.
Most Enterprising
Advertise your business through the PTO Advertising Programme. Contact the PTO
on pto@isa.aberdeen.sch.uk for further information.
8Most Fun
Attend our fundraising or social events, we have a wide range of activities, something for
everyone!
Most Expedient
Make a monetary donation at the beginning of the school year.
You have the opportunity to make a VOLUNTARY donation during the PTO Welcome Coffee or
at the PTO Back to School Social. Or you can place a cheque in an envelope and put it in the
PTO box at the east entrance to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
Most Complimentary “free money”
Use one of our rebate programmes at no extra cost to you!
1. easyfundraising.org.uk sign up at www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/isa/
2. Stikins Name Labels, order Stikins name labels using ISA’s unique code: 35395
Easyfundraising.org.uk
The PTO can benefit whenever you shop online. To register and shop with more than 2,000 well
known retailers like Amazon, Argos, M&S, eBay, and many more, just visit:
www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/isa/
Whenever you buy something, the retailer makes a donation to “International School of
Aberdeen – Scotland, UK” (our online name). They’ve helped other causes raise more than 2
million pounds so it really does work. It won’t cost you a penny extra to shop through
easyfundraising.org.uk, and you can even save money with special offers and voucher codes.
Stikins Name Labels
For more information, visit: www.name-labels.com/?PARTNER=35395
The PTO receives 25 per cent commission from all sales generated AND you get your lost items
back.
9Volunteer Information
The PTO offers you a rewarding opportunity to further enrich your child’s education and to get
involved in your child’s school. There are many opportunities to get involved, whether you prefer
to volunteer in the classroom, with fundraising, the arts or in sports, there are many ways to get
involved. We would welcome your help either on a regular basis or just occasionally as your
schedule permits.
On the following pages you will find Descriptions of Volunteer Opportunities which provide
information about the various needs of the teachers, staff and PTO. There are many ways to
contribute your time, and we hope you will find something that interests you. This is a great way
to meet and build relationships with the parents, teachers and staff members, while also
learning more about ISA and being actively involved in the school life of your child.
Opportunities to volunteer in your child’s class on a regular basis or at individual events will be
explained during the Class Coffees organised by the Class Event Coordinators (CECs) held
during the first couple of weeks of each semester.
For more information, please contact our PTO Volunteer Coordinator
at ISAPTOVolCoord@gmail.com or pto@isa.aberdeen.sch.uk
Volunteers are not paid
not because they are worthless,
but because they are priceless
~ Wolfgang Riebe ~
10Volunteering Opportunities
PTO Board
The PTO Board members meet once a month to oversee the ongoing planning of social events,
discuss issues raised by General PTO members and when appropriate, vote on enrichment
requests. Our elections take place each year in April, but from time to time we do have
positions available outside of this time and we are always interested to hear from interested
General members. If you are available to commit to a coordinator or associate position on the
Board, please get in touch and tell us what your interests are. Even when we have a full Board,
there are many PTO events throughout the year that require sub committees or simply require
assistance and or ideas. For more information, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator
at pto@isa.aberdeen.sch.uk
Class Event Coordinator
For each grade level one or two Class Event coordinators (CECs) are required. The main CEC
tasks vary from grade to grade and at the discretion of the grade teachers, however
requirements include:
● maintain the class contact lists,
● reach out to incoming students and their families,
● communicate with/assist classroom teachers with upcoming events,
● communicate and promote upcoming events to parents,
● solicit and organise parent volunteers (at Class Coffee Mornings),
● work alongside (and with the full support of) the PTO ES, MS and HS Reps.
Elementary School CECs are chosen by the ES staff. Middle and High School CECs are
selected by the MS and HS PTO Representatives. For more information, contact your school
representative, grade level teacher or the PTO pto@isa.aberdeen.sch.uk
11Getting Involved
Please check your areas of interest on the form titled “PTO Volunteer Registration Form” on the
download section of the PTO webpage at: www.isa.aberdeen.sch.uk/pages/about/people/pto
and return the form to the PTO box located next to the east entrance to The QE Theatre or
email to our Volunteer Coordinator at ISAPTOVolCoord@gmail.com
Casual volunteering opportunities
Your Class Event Coordinator will contact you throughout the year to ask for your help with
events such as:
● Staff Appreciation Lunch
● Monthly Teacher Treats
● PTO supported events
● Sports Days
● Elementary School Ceilidh
● Booster events
● Field Trips
● Classroom / Grade Level Parties
Buddy Programme
Existing ISA families can volunteer to be a “buddy” to new families at ISA. This role involves
being available to answer questions that a new family may have and to provide support as they
make the transition to their new community. To get involved or for more information, contact our
Buddy Coordinator at pto@isa.aberdeen.sch.uk or complete the Buddy Programme Application
available in the PTO downloads section of the ISA website.
12Library
Library volunteers work with the School Librarian, Josie Crimp, to provide full services to library
patrons. Some of the opportunities include: running the circulation desk, shelving books,
covering new materials, working on library displays, helping to improve cataloguing records and
helping library patrons to locate library materials. For these opportunities, you can volunteer on
a weekly or bi-weekly basis for an hour, a half day, or a whole day. We also have times of the
year when we need help for special projects, such as stocktaking or book fairs. For more
information, contact Josie Crimp at josie.crimp@isa.aberdeen.sch.uk.
Appreciation
We recognise all volunteers with a Volunteer Coffee Morning in December and a Volunteer
Appreciation Breakfast in May.
13Spirit Wear
What is Spirit Wear?
While ISA does not have a compulsory school uniform, we do have ISA logo T-shirts, fleeces,
team jackets, hoodies and other items including our school tartan. Spirit Wear brings all our
students together to create a sense of community and school spirit. It also helps spread the
word about The International School Aberdeen during sport and other cultural exchanges, from
Pre-K to Grade 12 seniors. Funds raised from the sale of Spirit Wear are used for school
enrichments and PTO events/activities.
ISA celebrates school spirit every Friday, when all students and staff are encouraged to wear
Spirit Wear, or the school colours of red and black, to show their school spirit.
A Spirit Wear T shirt or sweatshirt is required for each Elementary School student to be worn on
most field trips.
Purchasing Spirit Wear
Spirit Wear items can be purchased at all PTO social events and after school every Wednesday
at our pop-up store in The Street. Alternatively you may contact the Spirit Wear team
on spiritwearisa@gmail.com or download and complete the order form (available on the ISA
website) and return it in an envelope marked "Spirit Wear" and place inside the PTO box at the
east entrance to The Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Although we try to keep items in stock, there
are times when an order will have to be placed. Your patience is appreciated under these
circumstances. Payments may also be made by bank transfer, please see our Spirit Wear
Coordinators for details. Please make your cheques payable to the ISA PTO.
Order forms can be downloaded here:
www.isa.aberdeen.sch.uk/pages/about/people/pto
14Bison Boosters
Bison Boosters
The PTO Boosters Coordinator reports to the PTO and is responsible for supporting the PE and
Fine Arts departments as well as academic competitions. The Coordinator actively recruits
volunteers to assist with running the servery during sporting tournaments as well as providing
goodie bags for students travelling to represent ISA elsewhere.
Getting Involved
For more information, contact our Booster Coordinator on pto@isa.aberdeen.sch.uk.
Some of our activities include decorating lockers, fundraising and allocating the funds for
extracurricular needs, assisting in the servery/ concession stand, making banners and housing
visiting athletes for tournaments.
Since ISA is a small school, it takes the help of all families in order for these events to take
place. Our children travel to various locations and are housed by the hosting schools for their
events. ISA may not host for the activity in which your child is involved but housing a visiting
student for the events ISA hosts is a great opportunity to get to know kids from visiting schools
and return the hospitality our kids are shown when they travel.
PTO Forms
For further information on the PTO or to find all of our PTO downloads please go to
https://www.isa.aberdeen.sch.uk/pages/about/people/pto
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