William J. McGinn Elementary School
PTA Handbook
2012-13
Welcome To McGinn PTA
The PTA is an organization of parents and teachers working together to enhance the learning experience for all our children. By hosting programs and events throughout the school year, we provided both educational and fun experiences for the McGinn community.
The McGinn PTA is a member of the National Congress of PTAs, the New Jersey State PTA, the Union County PTA, and the Scotch Plains-Fanwood PTA Council. As such, we accept the following objectives:
- To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, community, and place of worship.
- To raise the standards of home life.
- To secure adequate laws for the care and the protection of children and youth.
- To bring into closer relation the home and the school so that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the education of children and youth.
- To develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as will secure for all children and youth the highest advantages in physical, mental, social, and spiritual education.
The Membership
Anyone - parents, teachers, relatives, or friends - may join the PTA at any time during the year and are welcome to attend any or all of the meetings described. The dues are $7.00 per person per year.
We rely totally on volunteers to ensure the success of PTA programs. We are always in need of new members to contribute ideas and take part in the planning and executing of events. WE NEED YOU!!
There is something to fit every parent’s schedule - daytime or evening, weekends, weekdays, on-site or at home.
There is something to fit every parent’s interest - fine arts and performing arts, physical science, computer science, fund raising and administration, school and district issues, etc.
The rewards of being an active member of the PTA include:
- Assuming a more active role in your children’s education by contributing your ideas, talents, and time;
- Sending your kids the message that education matters;
- Gaining first hand information on McGinn and district happenings;
- And meeting new people and making new friends.
Please feel free to contact any officer for further information on how you can become a part of the McGinn PTA team.
McGinn PTA Facts
- Money raised by the PTA has funded teacher grants programs benefiting students, classroom libraries, assemblies & cultural arts events, author visits, outdoor equipment, indoor recess, reading programs, hardware/software for school media center and classrooms, assignment books for grades 3-4, homework folders for all students, an art kiln and clay, and special school projects including Earth Day and Super Science Saturday.
- Our Membership goal for the 2012-13 school year is 100%
- We have a website located at
- Elementary school children love seeing their parents helping with school activities.
PTA Meetings
There are two types of PTA meetings:
- Regular Board meetings are held monthly at McGinn. These are the business meetings during which officers and committee chairpersons report on various topics and vote on pertinent matters. Everyone is invited to attend. If you are interested in seeing who’s making the decisions and how they are made, this is the meeting you should attend. If you are interested in becoming an active member, join us.
- General PTA meetings are held twice a year (fall and spring) so that the entire membership can approve the PTA budget and elect officers.
PTA Meetings for 2012-13 are as follows:
Wed, Sept 12
Thurs, Sept 27 / 7:30 pm7:30 pm / Regular
General, budget approval
Wed, Oct. 24 / 7:30pm / Regular
Wed, Nov. 14 / 9:15am / Regular
Wed, January 9 / 9:15 am / Regular
Wed, February 6 / 7:30 pm / Regular
Wed, March 13 / 9:15 am / Regular
Wed, April 10 / 7:30pm / Regular
Thurs, May 23 / 7:30 pm / General
Thurs, June 6 / 7:00 pm / General (at Terrill)
Wed, June 12 / 7:30 pm / Joint PTA Meeting
William J. McGinn 2012-13 Officers
President………………………………Jennifer Power
Honorary Vice President……………Dr. Sasha Slocum
1st Vice President – Programs……..Barbara Heifetz
2nd Vice President – Fundraising…Domenica O’Brien
Recording Secretary……………….Connie Hoyos-Nervi
Corresponding Secretary…………Jessica Cerino
Treasurer……………………………Tina Schmidt
McGinn Website:
Scotch Plains-Fanwood PTA Council
The Scotch Plains-Fanwood PTA Council is comprised of representatives and principals from each of the elementary and middle schools and the high school, as well as liaisons from the administration, Union County Council of PTAs, Fanwood-Scotch Plains governing bodies, the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Education Association, Resolve, and the Board of Education. Each district committee chairperson is also a member of the Council and reports to the Council about his or her committee’s activities. Objectives of the Council are:
- To provide a forum for the officers and representatives of PTA, school administrators, and representatives of the Board of Education affiliated with the public schools of Scotch Plains-Fanwood.
- To promote unity, acquaintance, and good will among the local public school associations.
- To afford local educational leadership and opportunity to exchange ideas with the representatives of the different associations.
2011-2012 PTA Council Officers
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President
Vice President
Corresponding Secretary
Recording Secretary
Treasurer
Marci Bowman
Jeannine Viscardi
Pam Duthie
Dennise Fleck
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Council Website
McGinn PTA Committee Descriptions
Apparel Sale-Coordinates sale and distribution of McGinn Apparel. Event: Fall & Spring
Beautification – Plan and implement planting flowers in front of McGinn. Coordinate with Girl Scout troops to get help with planting. Plant in Fall and Spring.
BINGO Night – Organize this free evening of family BINGO. Get prize donations and provide refreshments. Preparation: December-January; Event: Evening in January.
Board of Education- Attends Board of Education meetings and reports to PTA. Acts as liaison between our Executive Board and Board of Education. Duration: school year.
Book Fair - Sets up and works at 2 Book Fairs. Duration: November & May/June
Box Tops for Education
Collects labels and redeems for merchandise for school from “Box Tops for Education” program. Duration: school year
Chemical Dependency Awareness
Plans and executes Think Purple Week (Drug & Alcohol Awareness) activities. Jobs include recess activities, cutting ribbon, distribution and display of Hearts & Hands project and caring candles.
Meetings: 1st of the month from Nov.-April; Events: March & June
Craft Fair – Stations are set up where children make crafts for gifts or to keep themselves. Responsibilities include determining and developing crafts to be sold, purchasing materials, assembling craft kits and coordinating volunteers. Preparation begins in June, Event: Saturday in November.
Cultural Arts
--In-School Programs
Previews, arranges for and attends assemblies for our children’s education. Duration: school year
--Young People’s Theater
Attends showcases, selects and attends performances. Acts as McGinn liaison to the District’s YPT Committee. 2 people needed. Duration: September-March
District Legislative Team (DLT) – Attends district meetings and reports to PTA on bills concerning education. Receives, reviews and reports to PTA on information from Trenton and Washington D.C. regarding PTA concerns. Duration: school year.
Education Enrichment Foundation Liason – This person attends foundation meetings and helps communicate information to McGinn families. Helps advertise fundraising events to our school. Duration: miscellaneous meetings throughout the school year.
Family Directory
Creates McGinn Family Directory on computer. Collects and organizes the information and makes any necessary corrections. Duration: August-October
Family Heritage
Organize an evening of food, games and dances from various cultures and ethnic backgrounds.
Event: Evening in October
Fourth Grade Activities
Committee of 4th grade parents who are interested in planning the end of the year fourth grade activites including Celebration of Learning, Fourth Grade Picnic, T-shirts, and Memory Books.Duration: March-June
Garden Project – Members of this committee support the growth of fruits & vegetables planted by students. Duration: year round.
Health and Wellness - Organizes Walk to School Day in October. Attends district meetings to support the planning of a district 5K event that funds scholarships. . Duration: 2 or 3 meetings per year, held during the school day.
Hospitality
-September Staff Luncheon –Organize and act as host at annual Staff Luncheon scheduled for the 1st week of school.
-Staff Appreciation – Arranges and provides for various activities to celebrate Staff Appreciation Week. Activities include staff breakfast and/or luncheon, little treats throughout the week. Event: May.
-Staff Valentine’s Day Breakfast – Organizes and acts as host. Assigns people various breakfast dishes and baked goods to be donated.
Kids Care/Community Outreach – Encourages kids to explore ways they can make a difference in our community through food drives, kids care club and special activities. Duration: School year.
Kids Kreations – Work with art teachers to coordinate student artwork. Organize order forms, submit artwork and distribute products once they arrive. Event: Spring.\\
Membership
Organizes PTA membership drive, collect dues, and distributes membership cards.
Duration: September – October, March
Newsletter-The Dispatch
Edits, types, and distributes monthly newsletter. Duration: school year
Outdoor News Sign
Changes information on signs on the front and back of the school as needed.
Duration: school year
Parent Social – The McGinn Mingle – Coordinate date and details with a local restaurant//hall to gather McGinn parents. Send communication out to families. Event: 2 times during the school year.
Parents for Safety – This committee monitors & communicates traffic and safety issues as they arise that effect our school. Attends district meetings that cover safety issues. Liason to SP & F police departments. Duration: school year.
Party on the Blacktop – Plan a family movie night to be held on school grounds. Coordination of food vendors and a/v provider. Event: one night in June.
Pie Sale – Coordinate order forms and pie distribution. Event: November
Plant Sale – This program offers a pre-sale to families as well as plants for students to purchase the day of the event. Work with local nursery to negotiate a price, collect & place orders, coordinate logistics on the day of the sale. Event: Friday before Mother’s Day, pre-order forms to be sent out in prior weeks.
Pretzel Sales – Held the first Friday of each month on School Spirit Days. Host pretzel sale on the blacktop after school. Place pretzel order, coordinate cash box and tables.
Purchase Programs – Investigate and present various programs to earn money for McGinn. Send out communications to McGinn families.
-Dine Outs: Identify local restaurants that provide a portion of proceeds to our organization.
-Hershey Park Discount Tickets: Send out flyer, organize ticket sales and distribute tickets. Event: Spring.
-Parker Garden Petals for Profit: Send our flyer to notify McGinn Families of this program. Event: Fall & Spring.
Reflections Art Program – Communicate this district wide program to McGinn students. Duration: September-November.
Respect and Tolerance
Address issues ofbullying, respect, equality andconfidence.Duration: school year.
School Photographs - Publicizes, prepares & schedules student’s class pictures. Helps the photographers on days when pictures are taken. Responsible for the 4th grade composite distribution. Event: September.
Scholarship - Reviews High School seniors’ scholarship applications and score them based upon provided criteria checklist. Involves reading approximately 100 applications.
Schedule: spring.
Scouts
Act as liaison for Boys Scouts, Girl Scouts and the McGinn PTA.
Duration: school year.
SEPAG (Special Education Parent Advisory Group) -
This is a group through which parents can effect positive changes within the system to better the services to all children participating in special education.
The group is run by parents - for parents and meets approximately every other month.
Super Science Saturday
Plans & organizes this event. Both scientific & non-scientific people are necessary. Jobs include developing “hands on” scientific experiments, publicity, food & drink, volunteer organization and purchasing supplies.
Preparation: January-March; Event: March
Vendor Boutique (off rotation)
Recruit, organize, and manage independent sales people. Volunteers needed at event for set up and clean up.
Preparation: October-December; Event: December
Variety Show
Children are grouped by grade to participate in this musical event. Jobs include: directors, publicity, costuming, and coordinating volunteers.
Preparation: begins in June; Event: April.
Walk-a-thon
Coordinate communication and pledge collection. Shop and set up food concessions. Volunteers needed the day of the event.
Preparation: September-October; Event: October
Walk to School Day – Communicate and encourage participation in this day held in schools nation-wide. Coordinate police presence. Event: Early October.
Winter Indoor Fun - This parent-run program provides children with interesting and fun activities (crafts, word and board games, stories, etc.) during the half-hour they would normally spend in their classroom during the winter lunch break. Many parents are needed to help plan and/ or supervise the activities, organize daily volunteers, etc.
Meeting: December; Event: January and February
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