Welcome Back, South Park!

Can you believe school is just around the corner? Summertime always flies by! While still enjoying these last few weeks, the South Park PTO has been hard at work! This first Penguin Press Newsletter is a big one, filled with useful information to ease you back into the school year. Take a look at the PTO CALENDAR and see what’s in store for this exciting and eventful year!

 “What is the PTO?” The PTO provides a wide range of programs, events, and fundraisers all with the goal of enriching our children’s school experience. You are ALL about to become members upon paying your PTO membership fee. These fees cover two copies of the South Park BUZZ BOOK (school directory) and will pay for your child’s holiday room parties. Do not miss out on paying your PTO MEMBERSHIP FEES .

Come join in all the fun! We need your help! Take a look at the list of PTO COMMITTEE DESCRIPTIONS . We have an enthusiastic group of officers and chairpersons who are looking for people like you to help make this another great year. There’s so much to choose from, something for everyone!

Join us for the monthly PTO meetings held the first WEDNESDAY of each month at 7:30 p.m. The meetings are usually short and always informational! Hear what is going on at school, vote on how money is spent, join in lively discussions and meet staff and other parents. The first meeting is WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5th at 7:30 in the LMC. For our new families at South Park, we invite you to come at 6:45 for a NEW PARENT MEET & GREET. Along with Mr. Sherman, we will be there to answer any questions and help you get acquainted to South Park.

Mark your calendar now and be sure to join us for our annual ICE CREAM SOCIAL on Monday, August 27th, at 6:30 p.m. on the Rosewood blacktop. Be our guest as the PTO welcomes all South Park families to enjoy ice cream while meeting teachers and mingling with friends. Looking for some awesome back to school fashions? Check out the latest SPIRITWEAR. Samples will be available for viewing at the Ice Cream Social. Don’t miss out!

The start of school is a busy time and the PTO will be offering many programs and fundraisers! Watch for the annual GIFT-WRAP SALE beginning early September and the SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR at the end of the month. Look for an email coming soon for the LUNCH PROGRAM in which grades 1st- 5th can order a variety of delicious lunch choices. Our AFTER-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM kicks off in September with many great classes being offered. SCHOOL SUPPLIES will be ready and waiting in classrooms for the start of school for those families who took advantage of this great service.

Last year, the South Park PTO introduced the online ordering/payment system called Rev- Trak. It was a huge success and we will continue to use it for everything, but ordering lunches. Lunches will remain on Net 56. Now all ordering will be as easy as 1, 2, 3 just as you do on a site like Amazon. You can always get to Rev-Trak (also known as the PTO Web Store) and Lunch ordering through the South Park PTO web page.

A HUGE THANK YOU to all the hard-working, dedicated PTO board members, committee chairpeople and volunteers who have already put in lots of time and energy this summer getting ready for a successful 2012-2013 school year! We appreciate all that you do!

This is your PTO. Please join us at monthly meetings, keep volunteering, share your ideas & suggestions and have your voice heard. Start now–we want your input! Feel free to email us your thoughts @ debikeller@comcast.net or lberk@sbcglobal.net or if you’d prefer, drop a note in the Presidents’ mailbox in the lobby. A cohesive & motivated PTO will greatly benefit our kids and our school!

Enjoy the rest of the summer!

Debbie Keller and Lori Berk PTO Co-Presidents