A few parting words from each of your PTO Co-Presidents:
Another school year has come to an end and for me personally, it is bittersweet. I have served on the PTO Board since 2011 and now as my middle child moves on to Hopewell Middle and my youngest enters Kindergarten, it is time for me to move on.
I have learned a lot about our educational system, how Fulton County Schools works and about our PTO over the years. I have learned so much about what a difference any PTO can make, and not just a difference to our school as a whole, but to a child individually. The PTO is so much more than selling T-Shirts, holding events and raising money to redo basketball courts, buy classroom computers and libraries and provide lunches and treats for the teachers. We purchase food for kids who will otherwise not have enough to eat during holiday breaks; we purchase school supplies for those who cannot; we pay for field trips and experiences students wouldn’t otherwise be able to have; we purchase a $5 ticket so a student is able to attend the school dance; we purchase a $5.99 book at the book fair for a student who normally would not be able to and put a huge smile on his or her face because of that new book; we purchase breakfast for kids who do not have enough at home. These are the things that truly make a difference and I am so proud to have been a part of that for all these years. I will miss being a part of that team who meets the second Tuesday of each month but I am so excited for this new Board next year and all the fresh ideas each member will bring. I believe they will do us all proud.
As for this year, we accomplished a lot! We gave the teachers $6,000 in gift cards at the beginning of the school year to purchase supplies. We purchased $24,000 worth of classroom libraries for grades 2 and 3. We (finally!) completed the renovation of the basketball courts in the front of the school totaling $22,000 through our sheet fundraiser from last school year. We purchased $1,000 worth of Publix gift cards to help some of our AES families during school holidays. We purchased about $2,500 worth of books from the two book fairs this year for our kids in need. We paid about $2,000 for some of our 4th and 5th graders to go on their class trips to Wahsega and Rock Eagle. We gave $15,000 in grant money to our staff to purchase supplies for the 2018-2019 school year. There are, of course, so many more smaller things we paid for throughout the year, but the above are the big ones. As I said, we accomplished a lot and put a lot of smiles on a lot of faces.
One program at our school near and dear to my heart, and that I am most proud of, is Watch DOGS (Dads of Great Students). I started the program in 2011 and am so thrilled with how it has grown. Our principal at the time, Mr. Maroney, was worried that we wouldn’t be able to get even one dad each week. Immediately, the days were all full for the entire year! Dads were looking for a way to become more involved in the school and this was it. It is so awesome to see all the fathers and father figures who have walked these hallways all these years and to have the opportunity to become more involved in their children’s school; for them to also have a greater appreciation and understanding of our teachers and all that goes on in the school. For all the dads out there who have been a Watch DOG over the years, I applaud you! I know it’s not always easy to get into the school with your schedules. However, know that it means so much to your children, your children’s friends and all the staff and volunteers at AES. I also applaud the five men over the years who have served on the PTO Executive Board with me, Paul Broni, Rob Rocco, Ed Laderoute, Jeremy Mayer and my current Co-President Brian Johnston. Thank you so much for all you have done and continue to do for our school over the years. I feel very lucky that our school has been fortunate enough to have so many dads volunteer countless number of hours throughout.
I am especially proud of this year’s Executive Board: Lisa Enderle, Trish Watkins, Gina Kellis, Alison Crain, Camila Salinas, Leanne Proffitt, Jeremy Mayer, Brian Johnston, Ann Schaub and Coretta Stewart. We have done amazing things.
Of course, I don’t want to leave out all the other Executive Board members, committee members and volunteers I have worked with over the years. Our school is what it is because of you. There are too many of you to name…but everyone knows who you are!! I am so proud of all the work we have done over the years and urge you to continue volunteering and making a difference at whatever school you may be, whether it’s on the elementary, middle or high school level. Keep up your work no matter how little time you may have. We really do make a difference in all the children’s lives.
Have a great summer and thank you to everyone for making this a great year.
Vicky Sanchez
AES PTO Co-President
When my eldest daughter first started out at Alpharetta Elementary, I never expected to be a significant part of the PTO. In fact, as a business owner, then father of three (and now four!), I didn’t believe I had the time or the energy to participate much in any way, outside of volunteering for a Watch D.O.G.S Dad day, stopping by at open house, or a quick visit as a mystery reader. I knew I would enjoy all of those quick, “in and out†visits, but they definitely didn’t connect me to the school. That is, until I was asked to participate as the Co-President of the PTO last summer.
Although I had never been a part of the PTO prior to my daughter’s attendance at AES, I decided it was an opportunity worth accepting...To be a part of a group that helps to shape and impact the daily lives of the kids in our community. Now, here we are at the end of the ‘17-’18 school year, and I can say that I am very thankful for choosing to volunteer with the AES PTO. I am extremely thankful for the people I have worked with on the board of the PTO, including Vicky, Lisa, Jeremy, Leanne, Trish, Camila, Alison, and Gina. These folks have taken care of our school and kids at such a high level. I was and am still so impressed at how well we worked together, how well they coordinated all of the volunteers and events, and how well we integrated the needs of the school with the resources we had to offer. I am thankful to have worked closely with all of the volunteers that make up the efforts of the PTO. We all have time constraints and family to manage, and I witnessed so many thankless hours of work and dedication to enhance our children’s learning experience and make our school better. Lastly, I am thankful for the opportunity to get to know the administrators and many of the teachers at the school. By getting to know people individually, by name, it links me back to my 1st grader (rising 2nd grader), and helps me better understand how she and her peers will grow through their years at Alpharetta Elementary
As we review our accomplishments of last year and look forward to next year, we have an exciting transition ahead of us. Most of the long term PTO volunteers from the board will be moving into less conspicuous roles. They have served their time for our children, and now it is time for them to “pass the baton†off to other volunteers who desire to make a positive impact on the school. Our hope for the new PTO Board is to continue along the same path of excellence and even increase the level of participation among members, and continue to bring about new ideas, new events, and/or new methods of managing the time and efforts of our volunteers.
As we look forward to next year, I would like to ask a few things of the parents of our school:
- If you have considered volunteering, please don’t hesitate to reach out to myself or anyone on the board. There are so many small roles where we need help (and some big roles remain as well). Our committees always need extra hands, and we would welcome yours!
- If you find yourself in a volunteering role that doesn’t fit you, your schedule, or your comfort zone, please reach out to us --we are happy to help find a role better suited to your needs or strengths.
- For those parents who don’t have the time to volunteer (and I fully understand there are many people in this category), please consider spending a few minutes cutting box tops, swiping your Kroger/Publix card (linked to AES), or adding Alpharetta Elementary as the non-profit to your Amazon account. These little actions can add up to THOUSANDS of dollars to the PTO. We would be happy to provide directions to setting this up (see the link for further directions).
I want to wish everyone a safe and happy summer. We look forward to seeing you and serving AES together in the new school year!
Brian Johnston
AES PTO Co-President
The 2018-19 Board was elected and installed in May at the general membership meeting. They will begin meeting and working hard in June. Many thanks to both the outgoing and new Board members!
President – Brian Johnston
Co-President – Martha Dinges
Treasurer – Jeremy Mayer
Secretary – Erin Hannaford
Administrator – Principal
Teacher – Melanie Morgan
VP Community Relations – Carrie Kunath
VP Special Programs – Gina Kellis
VP Student Enrichment – Camila Salinas
VP Ways & Means – Alison Crain
VP Events – Stephanie Scher
