A Letter from the Parent Teacher Organization Council

Dear Parents:

On behalf of all parents in the West Chester Area School District, we welcome you to our district and this website.

Our district has a proud and long-standing tradition of active parent participation in the educational process through each school’s Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO), sometimes called the Home and School Association. On all grade levels, from kindergarten through high school, PTO volunteers give of their time and talents in myriad ways. If you walk into any of our buildings when school is in session, you’ll find parents working quietly behind the scenes or in visible roles as participants/organizers of school-wide and classroom enrichment activities. On weekends and during after-school hours, you’ll find parents as well, directing or coordinating fundraising and fun-raising activities such as school fairs and holiday workshops.

All of these events are coordinated through the separate school organizations. We have concerns in common, however, as well as a desire to share programs successfully implemented at the school level. We are able to share this information through the Parent-Teacher Organization Council, or PTOC, which meets monthly during the school year in the Spellman Administration Building.

Each school organization elects a representative to the PTOC. At our monthly meetings, we discuss what is happening in our schools. Equally important, we are able to meet with the Central Administration, advising them of issues or concerns that have arisen. At the same time, the Administration updates us and solicits our input on new initiatives and programs.

At times, we may be asked to appoint a representative to an advisory committee appointed by the School Board to look into a specific issue or program. We may also independently approach the School Board with a proposal or concern of district-wide importance.

At the end of every school year, a new chair or chairs for the PTOC are elected. In 2005-06, we are proud to serve as co-chairs. Between the two of us, we have children at Penn Wood Elementary School, Stetson Middle School, and East High School

Together with all the parents in the district, we look forward to the challenges and opportunities that the 2005-06 school year will present. As individuals and as members of our school and district-wide parent-teacher organizations, we share a relationship of mutual respect with the district staff and the School Board. Working together, we maintain and strengthen our children’s educational program. We invite all parents to join with us in this effort.

Sincerely,

Joann Ormont, 2005-06 co-chair, PTOC (Home phone: 484-875-9232)
Gina Lombardi, 2005-06 co-chair, PTOC (Home phone: 610-692-2199)