Bethlehem Elementary School PTO Welcomes You.

Dear BES Parents, Teachers, and Staff:

On behalf of everyone involved with our PTO we are looking forward to a very rewarding year.  Planning is in the works to build a stronger foundation for the BES PTO that will serve to enhance and strengthen our great school.  We are committed to improving our relationship and communication with our parents, teachers, and staff. 

Our motto this year is, “Parents + Teachers = Successful Students.”  We truly believe when parents and teachers work together in support of our school every child benefits.  This year we look forward to a year of new beginnings and the opportunity to build new, as well as strengthen old relationships. 

We would like to say thank you in advance for your dedication and support of BES.  We would be unable to accomplish our goals without your support and encouragement! 

 Sincerely,

Bethlehem Elementary PTO

Parents, Teachers, and Staff we need you!  There are many myths about PTO/PTA organizations and none are more wrong than the one that says, "We can do it on our own, and we are just a snobby click."   Not only do we need your support to accomplish the goals and objectives of BES but our students do too.  Please read the article excerpts from the Education Week web site:

Parent Involvement

"When schools, families, and community groups work together to support learning, children tend to do better in school, stay in school longer, and like school more."  That's the conclusion of a recent report from the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory.  The report, a synthesis of research on parent involvement over the past decade, goes on to find that regardless of family income or background students with involved parents are more likely to:

• Earn higher grades and test scores and enroll in higher-level programs.
• Be promoted, pass their classes, and earn credits.
• Attend school regularly.
• Have better social skills, show improved behavior, and adapt well to school.
• Graduate and go on to postsecondary education. (Henderson & Mapp, 2002).

If parents have a central role in influencing their children's progress in school, research has shown that schools in turn have an important part to play in determining levels of parent involvement (Epstein, 2001). Working to include parents is particularly important as students grow older and in schools with high concentrations of poor and minority students (Rutherford et al., 1997).

"When schools, families, and community groups work together to support learning, children tend to do better in school, stay in school longer, and like school more."

Report from the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory

According to the National Network of Partnership Schools for parent involvement to flourish it must be meaningfully integrated into a school's programs and community.  The network developed a framework of six types of parent involvement that schools can use to guide their efforts.  It says schools can:

• Help families with parenting and child-rearing skills.
• Communicate with families about school programs and student progress and needs.
• Work to improve recruitment, training, and schedules to involve families as volunteers in school activities.
• Encourage families to be involved in learning activities at home.
• Include parents as participants in important school decisions.   
• Coordinate with businesses and agencies to provide resources and services for families, students, and the community. (Epstein, 2001)

BES PTO Needs You!

This upcoming school year we need you more than ever.  We need parent volunteers, and we need your PTO membership.  There are a great variety of volunteer opportunities available.  We have everything from leadership roles, to set up/clean up at events.  You do not have to commit to a large number of hours.  Many events require manpower at tables, baking, and assisting our great teachers with projects.  Volunteer for as many or as few hours as you would like.  The more volunteers we have, the better quality of service we can provide.  Everything you contribute, including time and money, makes a difference in our school.