PTA is no longer a NOUN.
It's a VERB - an action plan working to support your child's success. It's an invitation to every family in our school to participate because we can do more together than we can do apart.
There is NO wrong way to PTA - just as long as you are doing it for your child. You can give money by joining (Suggested Dues $7) and donating. You can volunteer your time and effort. Or you can help grow our strength and presence.
Whatever it is, we need you.
Your PTA membership can help you build a village to support your child and connect to a network that supports all of our children.
Our PTA, in partnership with the school, supports your child with education, emotional, health, and safety programs.
PTA amplifies your voice through collective impact. We can do more together than we can apart!
The Volunteers in Education (ViE) program was created in 1977 and serves to enrich education in the Rochester Public Schools (RPS) by making the time, talents, and expertise of parents/guardians, community members, and community businesses available to students and staff.
Volunteers in our schools enrich the educational programs and strengthen our school relationships with families, businesses, and the community as a whole. The education of our students takes a community effort.
What is the goal of the Longfellow Elementary PTA?
To encourage and support a positive school environment for our students, staff, families, and community as we strive to be advocates for programs and policies that nurture youth and education.
Why is the PTA important to my child’s education?
The Longfellow Elementary PTA provides educational experiences for your child and supports the Longfellow teachers with valuable resources for the classroom. The PTA serves as the fundraising mechanism that provides additional resources not available through the Rochester School District Budget.
Why should I join the PTA?
The PTA serves as a platform for parent and teacher involvement within our school. Members are needed to provide guidance regarding the organization’s priorities and goals. By joining, you get to vote on the many important decisions made by the PTA. The PTA also provides a forum for access to teachers and administration, and gives you insight on what is happening within the school.
Why do I need to pay a fee to join the PTA?
The Longfellow Elementary PTA is a not-for-profit organization that is local, but is also part of a larger state and national organization. We have to collect dues for our membership, as stated in the by-laws of the organization. The majority of your paid dues remains local and supports us here at Longfellow. A small portion of the dues goes to support the state and national organizations that work to address laws that affect our schools and our education system. However, we retain all of the money we raise within the school, and we make our own decisions regarding our budget.
How is the PTA different from VIE?
Both the PTA and Volunteers in Education (VIE) are important and represent parent involvement and volunteering in the school. However, VIE is a community-based program. Community members are allowed to volunteer in the school, but only parents and teachers are allowed to join the PTA. We need members to join the PTA, attend meetings, and volunteer for school events available to all students.
But, I’m too busy to join the PTA…
If you have five minutes to fill out a form, you are not too busy. There is no pressure to attend meetings or volunteer. If you join, you are supporting us. We would like to encourage you to start small….
Fill out a membership card
Take a tax deduction—make a donation
Attend one meeting
Read the monthly newsletter
Collect box tops or Hyvee Receipts
Volunteer once during the year