"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."
~Dr. Seuss
Volunteers are the heart, soul, and backbone of the BMES PTO. Our ability to successfully support our school is a direct result of the unparalled commmitment of the moms, dads, grandparents, guardians, friends and so many others who step up -- day in and day out -- to give so generously of their time and their talent.
In the 2009/2010 school year, with the ongoing impact of recent budget cuts, our volunteer efforts will be more important than ever before. Any contribution made is valuable -- one hour, one day. Whatever works for you.
There are several reasons why you should consider volunteering for the BMES PTO:
YOUR CHILD BENEFITS. When parents get connected to the school, children do better. Research shows children whose parents are involved get better grades, do better on tests, and have fewer discipline problems at school.
WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Our mission is to create the kind of school community where teachers and administrators can do their best work—and so can our children. We provide support for teachers in and out of the classroom. We provide resources they need. We help create learning opportunities for children. And we try to build the kind of supportive, caring atmosphere that makes school fun.
WE PLEDGE TO RESPECT AND HONOR YOUR TIME CONSTRAINTS. People are often reluctant to participate because they’re afraid they’ll get pulled into a black hole of never-ending time commitment. That won’t happen here. An hour or two a semester really makes a difference. We won’t push you to commit more than you want to or are able to.
WE HAVE FUN. Volunteer work shouldn’t be drudgery. We accomplish a lot, and not everything we do is easy. But we know we’re not balancing the national debt, either. We don’t take ourselves too seriously, and we try to enjoy ourselves along the way whenever possible.
MEET NICE PEOPLE WHO SHARE YOUR CONCERNS. We all have a common bond. We care about creating the best possible educational experience for our children. We are neighbors and peers who share many of the same experiences. Many friendships have developed as a result of those connections.
THERE'S A LOT TO BE DONE. These days, schools are asked to do more with less. Our help is needed more than ever to fill the gaps.
WE CAN MATCH JOBS TO YOUR INTERESTS AND ABILITIES. The work we do covers a broad spectrum: filing and photocopying, planning and executing events, writing and editing, working directly with children, managing a budget and cash flow, and lots more. We encourage creative ideas, and we’re thrilled to have people take on tasks that meet their skills and interests.
WE WILL WELCOME YOU. To us, there are no “outsiders.” We are people who have come together to work toward common goals. We couldn’t be happier to have you join us in working toward those goals.
WE'RE ABOUT PARENT INVOLVEMENT, AND NOT JUST FUND RAISING. In these times of tight budgets, parent groups everywhere are having to fill in the gaps, and so are we. But our number one goal is to get more parents connected to the school. That’s because more than 300 independent research studies show that building parent involvement in education is the number one thing we can do to create a great school and improve student performance.
THIS WORK IS VERY REWARDING. It’s seeing the bright light of learning sparkle in a child’s eye. It’s seeing the smile that shows we’re making school a little more fun—and a child feel a little more comfortable in a learning environment. It’s learning that test scores have risen and knowing we played a role. There are lots of rewards, both big and small, for those who get involved.
A Community of Volunteers
This page was last updated: March 1, 2010
