Greynolds Park Elementary PTA
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Mari Beth Ojeda, President
Wanda Padilla, First Vice President		Marilyn Rivera-2nd Vice-President
Tracy Lin -Secretary	Pam Kwan-Treasurer	Barbara Wells, Recording Secretary
Committee Chairs: Laura Gardner, Judy Rogoff, Cheryl Dusek, Theresa Ordonez, Barbara Coster

As a nation, we have become an island-the young isolated from the old, the school from the community, children from their parents. The growing isolation felt by many in society is reflected by our schools. Few adults, including parents, spend much time in schools, and schools rarely reach out in positive ways to encourage support from parents or other community members. Schools need to do more than hold an open house or contact parents when something is wrong. Too many schools don't put out the welcome mat for their students' families and simply overlook the great value of getting families involved.

On the other side of the coin, Greynolds Park Elementary encourages and supports family involvement in education. Greynolds Park is place where families feel welcomed and valued. Recognizing that research shows that when families take an active, direct role in their children's education, children get better grades and test scores, graduate from high school at higher rates, and have greater enrollment in higher education, Greynolds Park took chances and changes were made in order for our entire community to have a more vibrant and hopeful future. Just as the transformation from the caterpillar to the butterfly is a process with many stages, the modification of the learning environment at Greynolds remains an ongoing process with each stage gaining strength from the previous stage. Partnerships and Networks include parents, teachers and administrators at all levels, and other adults who have a direct and indirect investment in the learning process. They are directly involved in focusing on the needs of all of its members-learners and facilitators alike. They are part of the active Greynolds Park Community that solves problems, building from what they know to what they need to know. Led by a dynamic PTA, Greynolds Park's parent partnerships have separated the novelty of doing something high profile and trendy from the long-term commitment needed to achieve the goal of improving the quality of life for all children.

At Greynolds Park, it is the hope of parents and caregivers to encourage his/her child to move beyond what he/she deems possible. Consequently, the following are some ways in which Greynolds Park Elementary supports family involvement in education:

-Ensures that lines of communication are open.
-Translates educational jargon into language which parents can understand.
-Reaches out and communicates with parents in a clear way.
-Listens to what both sides have to say; Arbitration and understanding are key.
-Ensures that all parents have access to information, written material is concise and easily readable.
-Makes Greynolds Park parent-friendly.
-Encourages regular contact through telephone calls.
-Holds evening meetings, conferences and parent inservice classes to accommodate families' work schedules.
-Requests parental participation in school improvement efforts. Includes parents at every stage of the process to get their input
and to give them a sense of shared responsibility.

The P.T.A. always assists in meeting the needs of the children. If a child needs glasses or medical care or a school uniform or assistance to participate in a field trip, the P.T.A. is there to help solve the problem and meet the needs. No social service need is ever neglected.

Grateful that Dr.Quarles always finds the very best people to bring onboard as teachers and staff, the P.T.A. is always willing to support her efforts to express appreciation to the teachers and the staff for their hard work and dedication. Whether it is with a gift, a breakfast or luncheon, knowing that faculty and staff do their part, P.T.A. willingly, gratefully, and with pleasure extends themselves in whatever way is necessary.

The P.T.A. is proud to do its part to assist and support excellence in education and the healthy learning environment at Greynolds Park Elementary School.

Updated 02/26/2007