Hello Charger Families! Welcome to the first edition of the 2022-2023 PTO weekly newsletter, "This Week In The PTO". 

Normally this newsletter is sent to only those families who have purchased a PTO membership but for our first newsletter, we wanted all of our MCES families to be able to see one of the perks of being a PTO member.

Each week the information and content will change but the general layout will be the same:

1) PTO Recap

2) Upcoming Events

3) PTO Activities

4) Volunteer Opportunities

5) Fun & Extra Content

6) Calendar & Quick Links

Who is the PTO? We are a volunteer organization made up of parents, teachers, administrators, and support staff dedicated to the successful education of our children. You can check out our website to learn more about our Board Members and their positions.

What does the PTO do? The MCES PTO works hard to help make the school year both enjoyable and exciting for students, teachers, and parents. We use our resources, both manpower and monetary, to support the staff's efforts and provide learning and enrichment opportunities for our children.

What does the PTO need from you? 

1. Your Membership: Your $20 family membership helps with all the monetary needs of the school and students. Join here!
2. Get Involved: Volunteer your time. Come to meetings. Read the minutes. Give us your thoughts. Jump in and help. Ask questions. Donate what you can. Many hands make the job easier.

Let’s make this a wonderful year at Mill Creek!

Sincerely,

Michelle Organ

MCES PTO Communications Chair

Join the PTO today! Your $20 family membership helps to support MCES students and staff. There are perks to being a PTO member:

1) Be the first to know about PTO events

2) Have first access to volunteer opportunities

3) Receive the PTO weekly newsletter

4) Get access to the online directory, and don't forget your 

5) Free gift for joining 

Join the PTO by visiting our website.

Our fall spirit wear sale is currently underway. Lots of items to choose from: field trip shirts, t-shirts, headbands, & water bottles. The sale ends soon, so don't forget to grab some new swag! 

The sale ends 8/21. To order visit our Gandy Spirit Wear Store

Don't forget to visit our PTO Spirit Wear Store and pre-order your MCES spirit bows! Sale ends 8/21

Teacher & Staff Favorites Lists are now updated and live on our website. Please take time to look these over. Several new categories have been added this year so there are lots of goodies to choose from. Let's spoil all our teachers and support staff! You can view the Favorites Lists here.

The PTO is currently looking for room parents. Everyone should have had the opportunity to sign up as a possible room parent at their parent orientation night. If you were unable to attend the orientations or just missed the sign-up, please check with your child's teacher to see if the need for a room parent is still there. If chosen as a room parent, there will be an in-depth information meeting in the coming weeks that will answer any questions and prepare you for your role.

Please note, that being a room parent is more than just helping plan a party or two. As a room parent, you are an extension of the PTO, and PTO membership is required to be a room parent. In addition to helping with the 2 class parties other responsibilities include but are not limited to:

1) Distributing information from the PTO to your classroom parents

2) Contacting your classroom parents to: Organize monthly appreciation gifts for the teacher and support staff(s) which also includes celebrating them on their birthdays or other special occasions

4) Organizing Teacher Appreciation Week for your teacher (this takes place in February)

5) Helping the teacher with various classroom needs

6) *NEW* If you are chosen as a 4th Grade Room Parent, you will be responsible for helping to plan, decorate and run the 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony. This is your gift to the 5th-grade students, parents & teachers, and the following year you will get to enjoy the hard work of the 4th-grade room parents as your 5th grader is promoted. 

The date for this event is 5/23. Our Projects Chair Person, Mindy Chipkevich, will be heading up this event and will guide the 4th-grade room moms to success. 

If you have questions about being a room parent, please reach out to our room parent liaison, Amie Cooke mcesptovolunteers@gmail.com

We currently have two cafeteria volunteer needs that need to be filled:

1) Food Line Server

2) General Lunch Room Helper

You can read more about each of these roles and also sign-up to help by visiting the Lunchroom Volunteers Sign-up. 

As the year progresses, more and more volunteer needs will arise. If you are interested in volunteering please take a moment to fill out our "Volunteer Interest" form.

This year the PTO added a Beautification Committee to our board. The purpose of adding this committee is to fill in the gaps of campus upkeep that the school district is not contracted to do. Unfortunately, edging is one of the items that is not included. We are looking for volunteers who wouldn't mind giving up a couple of hours to edge the front of our campus. Check out our Bi-Monthly Edging Sign-Up for more information or to volunteer your time.