Parent Questions- Answered by Parents!

General FAQ’s for parents

- Prepared by the Columbus School PTO 9/17/07

How can I find out about school events?

There are several ways to find out what’s going on at the Columbus.

-Notices are sent home via student’s backpacks

-Mrs. Yaeger sends home a monthly letter listing all scheduled events and dates

-Upcoming events will be posted on the Columbus website (www.medfordpublicschools.org/schools/columbus-elementary-school)

-Bimonthly Columbus Clipper Newsletter

-PTO Email Distribution List (if you would like to join, email PTOColumbus@aol.com)

What is the difference between the After School Program and the After School Clubs?

The After School Program is an after-school daycare program on-site at the Columbus School run by the Medford Schools. The After School Clubs are smaller group activities for students after school, generally meeting once a week for 4-6 weeks, run by parents, with some outside instructors. The groups are coordinated by the Enrichment Committee of the Columbus School, which also organizes many activities throughout the school year, including many that celebrate the school’s diversity.

How can I get in touch with my child’s teacher?

You can call the school, send a note with your child to the teacher, or get in touch by e-mail.   Click here to see a staff list with contact information. Often you can speak to your child’s teacher informally at the end of the day, when you pick your child up from school.

How can I get involved at the school?

There are many opportunities for parents and guardians to be involved at the Columbus School. All parents/guardians, students, teachers and Columbus School staff are members of the Columbus School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO).

An Executive Board (elected by parents) oversees the Columbus School PTO, whose primary responsibility is to plan and coordinate fundraising and social events, as well as decide on how funds are spent. The Enrichment and Welcoming Committees are two specific groups within the PTO, and throughout the school year, there are many opportunities for families to be involved. The PTO and its committees hold planning meetings at various times during the school year. Come to meetings to meet other parents and find out what is going on! In addition, there is a School Improvement Council made up of teachers, parents and administrators. Council members are elected by parents and teachers. The School Improvement Council helps to set policies and develop ideas pertaining to all areas of the Columbus school, from curriculum to safety issues, etc

Please refer to your copy of Columbus School Handbook for information on school rules, policies and procedures.

Please see the Columbus School Website for more information:

http://www.medfordpublicschools.org/schools/columbus-elementary-school

Volunteer Opportunities with Columbus School PTO

Get involved in your child’s school!

All parents and guardians of Columbus School students, Columbus School teachers, the principal and assistant principal are members of the Columbus School PTO. We welcome all to take part in meetings and PTO events.

There are many opportunities for parent volunteers at the Columbus School:

-Become a room parent in your child’s classroom

-Volunteer to help at the library (arrange with librarian)

-Perform for students at lunch

-Volunteer to help monitor the lunchroom

-Help at school assemblies

-Design and prepare flyers

-Copy and distribute flyers

-Help out in your child’s classroom (at the discretion of your child’s teacher)

-Help write for or put together newsletter

-Cut paper and/or organize lunch art boxes

-Help at PTO table at events

-Tidy parent room

-Promote community programs like Coats for Kids

-Craft Fair Committee

-Bake Sale Committee

-Help at bake sale table at events

-Prepare baked goods (with list of ingredients) for bake sales

-Scholastic Book Sale Committee

-Garden Club/ school grounds improvement committee

-Social Events Committees (Halloween Party, Movie Nights, Ice Cream Social.)

-Help at PTO table at events

-Set up for events

-Clean up after events

-Welcoming Committee:

-Take part in playgroups for incoming kindergarteners

- Enrichment Committee

-Run or assist at after-school clubs

-Help organize special events that supplement the school curriculum and celebrate the diversity of the Columbus School community

-Fundraising

-Grant Writing

-Solicit donations for Medford businesses for fundraisers

-Put together baskets for raffle (at Halloween party)

-Promote year-round fundraisers such as Box Tops/Hood Caps/Cartridges for kids or GLScrip Gift Cards program

-Collect tickets/check names at door of events

If at any time you would like to contact the PTO with a question on how to volunteer, suggestions for events or fundraisers or just a general question, email the PTO at PTOColumbus@aol.com or leave a note in the PTO Mailbox.  Also check out our website by clicking here!