About Us

We would like to take this opportunity to welcome each of you and your families to Pleasant Ridge Elementary School. As Pleasant Ridge PTA board members, it is among our responsibilities to talk with you about our organization, enroll you as a member, and very importantly, encourage you to get involved in your school. But first, since this may be the first time at Pleasant Ridge, for many of you, it is important for us to explain what the PTA is all about.

What is the PTA and who can be a Member?
Our PTA is part of both the national and Michigan Parent Teacher Association that strives to enhance children’s educational experiences. Being part of these organizations, we must pay annual dues. To offset these dues, every year, we have a membership drive. Becoming a member does not mean you automatically sign up to volunteer, it just means you support our group and believe in what we’re doing. All parents and caregivers, along with school faculty can be members, for only $10! Please enroll or renew your membership for 2011-2012 and help us achieve our membership goal!

Why Join the PTA
What is PTA? Why join PTA? The number one reason to join the Parent Teacher Association is to benefit your child. In doing so, you also help your school. But there are many more PTA advantages:

* Get Connected. There’s no better way to know what’s happening in your school.

* Discover Great Resources. The PTA offers a variety of programs designed for parents as well as students.

* Tap into a Network. PTA functions are opportunities to meet other parents and teachers, building rapport and discussing issues that are on your mind. You an share ideas, concerns, and experiences.

* Watch Yourself Grow. By volunteering with your PTA, you put your skills and hobbies to use for a noble cause—your child and all children in the community.

* Speak Up. PTA can be a way for you to more effectively suggest change at your child’s school.

* Witness Improvement. By getting involved at your child’s school you’ll be part of the solution, helping make positive changes. Local PTAs play an important role in fundraising to provide building improvements, curriculum-based programs, and social events.

* Be a Role Model. By becoming a PTA member, you’ll be demonstrating to your child the importance you place on education.

* Enjoy Substantial Benefits. Individuals and local units can take advantage of a host of benefits from PTA membership including discounts and offers from member benefits providers and sponsors, magazine subscriptions, leadership training, e-newsletters and much more.

For less than 3 cents a day, you can become a PTA member, joining more than 5 million other people who share your interest in issues affecting children. Everyone—parents, educators, students and other citizens active in their schools and communities—is invited to join our not-for-profit parent association.

PTA Programs & Fundraising
Our primary objective as a PTA is to provide our schools with funds, programs, resources and services that will enrich and maximize the education of every child. To meet this important objective, and afford services that are no longer covered by our school budgets, we must fundraise. Though it may not be our favorite responsibility, it is a necessary one. Our school community must raise money if we want to provide our children with the field trips, author visits, student planners, playground equipment, ADD math books, and other fun assemblies that we have in the past. We are excited about several new programs for this coming school year! Our PTA website details all of the programs we sponsor and support.

This year, our Walk-a-Thon, and a Market Day catalog will be our major fundraisers. If all goes well, the PTA plans to give $10,000 to our schools, to help pay for new swings for our students. We will hold our annual Book Fair, movie nights, will continue collecting BOX TOPS and Campbell Soup labels, along with bringing back our monthly Market Day food sales.

Our Walk-a-Thon will be held on September 30. More information will follow by the end of this week. Look for your shoe to come home to be decorated! Volunteers will be needed for this yearly fun event!

VOLUNTEER
As you can see, we are a busy group. This is where you can come in! We need your help, and so do your children. Over 500 independent studies on parent involvement show that when parents get involved in their children’s education grades go up, test scores improve, children are more likely to attend better schools after high school, they have fewer discipline problems and they’re less likely to use drugs and alcohol. Get involved TODAY!

Please look at the PTA volunteer sheet, indicate what events/activities interest you, and we’ll contact you to discuss it further. Volunteering doesn’t have to mean a huge time commitment. We understand it is increasingly more difficult to find time to give, but please, whatever your time schedule allows, we have need of you. We even have tasks that can be performed in the evenings, during the day or that don’t even involve coming to the school at all.

PTA Discounts

Hertz
We're at the Airport and in your Neighborhood. The world's largest airport general use car rental brand, operating from approximately 8,500 locations in 146 countries worldwide is proud to offer PTA members benefits like:
- Savings of up to 20% off rentals
- Special promotions in addition to your discount
- Fee Waived Hertz #1 Club Gold® enrollment—a $60 savings! Earn free rental days and receive expedited service on all your rentals.
[members only site]

MetLife Auto & Home®
MetLife Auto & Home has worked with PTA to bring PTA members a group insurance program that comes with special savings and benefits. This program includes competitive benefits and superior discounts for members. [members only site]

OfficeMax®
Now, PTA members can save on supply essentials and more at OfficeMax, a Member Benefits Provider. You’ll find everything from notebooks, binders and pens to paper, art supplies and furniture. You can even make copies and print flyers and student presentations—all in store at the OfficeMax ImPress® Print Center. Ready to shop and save? Get the current deal now and check back often for exclusive savings throughout the year. [members only site]

Sharp Electronics Corporation
Sharp Electronics Corporation is offering PTA members special purchase opportunities on AQUOS liquid crystal televisions and other audio, video, home appliance and home office products. Sharp is a world leader in the liquid crystal television category, and is pleased to offer these state-of-the-art flat panel TVs and their other products at extremely attractive discounts. [members only site]

T-Mobile
T-Mobile and PTA have partnered together to bring PTA members exclusive discounts on wireless mobile service and equipment. All PTA members receive special discounts on selected promotional devices, exclusive discounts on monthly service charges and waived activation fees on T-Mobile products and services. [members only site]

And as always, children are welcome at our monthly meetings. Two of these monthly meetings will be held at 7pm; Oct. 20 and Feb. 23. This is a great way to get involved, have fun and meet new friends. See you there!