Listed below are brief descriptions of the various positions, committees, programs, events, and activities sponsored (in whole or in part) by the PTA. For more information please contact Sarah Mika @  sarahmikapta@aol.com.

ASSEMBLIES

PTA hosts three to four assemblies during the school year. The assemblies provide a fun alternative to education in the classroom. Previous presenters have included The Akron Zoo, Dazzling Mills Family, Heartbeats, author visits, magicians, and musicians.

AWARDS AND HONORS

Helping Hands Award – An award presented to a PTA member, who has given long and/or outstanding service to help with the educational process of students, participates in activities involving youth and is dedicated to the PTA Purpose.

Ohio PTA Achievement Award – An award presented to a PTA member, someone in a related field or a friend of the PTA who has given long and/or outstanding service to children and youth.

Outstanding Educator of the Year – This award is a way to honor an exceptional educator who encompasses the qualities and abilities that allow and encourage children to learn and develop their unique strengths and talents.

BIRTHDAY BOOK CLUB

Coordinated by our Librarian, students have the opportunity to purchase a book for the Ledgeview Library. A nameplate prominently displayed inside the front cover honors the donor’s name and birthday.

BEAUTIFICATION

This committee works with the Garden Club to maintain Ledgeview’s two courtyards and other general beautification projects around the school.

BOARD OF EDUCATION REPRESENTATIVE

Attends monthly Board of Education meetings and reports to the board and general membership the issues discussed.

BOOK FAIR

The Scholastic Book Fair is held bi-annually, typically in early November and in early spring. Each book fair includes a “Morning Preview” and a “Family Night” with contests, games, and shopping opportunities. Proceeds from the sale are used to purchase Scholastic books or materials for our students, our teachers and staff, and Ledgeview’s Media Center. Proceeds have also been used to provide students with summer reading program books.

BULLETIN BOARD

PTA maintains a bulletin board located outside the main office. The Bulletin contains relevant Ledgeview events and information, including the school calendar.

BUS SAFETY WEEK

Promoted by the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT), the National School Transportation Association (NSTA), and the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation (NASDPTS), this event is held on the third full week of October.

CARNIVAL

This family evening of games, prizes, food, raffle baskets, entertainment and activities galore is a student favorite! A major production, the carnival involves a multitude of PTA parents and staff contributing time, donations, and hard work to plan, publicize and produce this highly rewarding event.

CHILDREN’S CONCERT SOCIETY

PTA provides a donation to the Children’s Concert Society every year. They perform an informal live concert at our school. The purpose is to introduce and foster music appreciation, encourage young musicians, and create a connection between cultures and races where music becomes vividly experienced as a universal language.

FAMILY BREAKFASTS & FAMILY FUN EVENTS

These committees will arrange family events to help foster a relationship between the home and the school and allow students to socialize. PTA hopes by alternating events between the morning, evenings, and weekends we’ll be able to accommodate all families.

FAMILY TO FAMILY CONNECTION

Ledgeview’s PTA’s Family-to-Family Connection is a small group of Ledgeview PTA parents who have volunteered to offer a friendly connection to families in our Ledgeview community. They will serve as a “welcome committee” for families new to Ledgeview and will coordinate the publishing of the Ledgeview School Directory.

FIELD DAY

Directed by the Physical Education teacher, Field Day is an annual event held at the end of the school year for students in grades 1-4.

FOUNDERS DAY

Celebrated in February to honor those that founded PTA, The PTA generally hosts a visiting author and makes a donation to the Ledgeview library.

FOURTH GRADE GRADUATION PARTY

For our fourth graders who we will be graduating from Ledgeview, PTA plans and organizes a day filled with plenty of food, fun, and entertainment!

GARDEN CLUB

The Garden Club is for third and fourth grade students who want to learn about horticulture and the environment. Activities may include beautifying the school grounds, planting flowers, and learning about recycling.

GRADE LEVEL FAMILY LEARNING NIGHTS

New this year, PTA will host an evening of fun and learning for each grade level to be held on separate evenings throughout the year.

HEALTH, WELFARE, & SAFETY

This committee works with the administration to inform and promote safe and effective school procedures and policies. The committee also coordinates Bus Safety Week and Red Ribbon Week activities, helps with annual vision and hearing screenings and addresses any specific safety problems that may arise.

HOLIDAY SHOPPE

Students are invited to do all their holiday shopping. Our Holiday Shoppe is like no other! We have a great selection of gifts with prices ranging from $1.00 to $5.00. This event is not a fundraiser and all items are sold at or below our cost.

HOSPITALITY

This committee provides refreshments for Ledgeview PTA General Membership Meetings and other special programs and events as required.

LEGISLATIVE -ADVOCACY

The Legislative Representative is responsible for keeping the Ledgeview PTA membership informed on the National and State PTA legislative platform as well as local, county and state educational issues important to the membership and our students’ well-being. The representative communicates with State Representatives, Senators, and local officials and may attend meetings and state conferences.

MARKET DAY

Market Day is Ledgeview PTA’s largest fundraiser. Each month an order sheet is sent home with each student. Families only need to complete the form and return it to the school via backpack mail or place it directly in the “Market Day box” located in the main office. You then pick up your food at the school on the designated pick up day, paying by cash or check. You may also place your order online at www.marketday.com where you will have the additional option of prepaying by credit card.

MEMBERSHIP

This committee’s focus is to promote membership in PTA with a membership drive throughout the year and to encourage parents, staff, grandparents, businesses, and community members to join PTA.

Be sure to join the PTA! The nominal membership fee gives you a voting voice in our programs and activities and helps with the funding of all our events and programs. In addition, PTA members have access to free online training, newsletters, bulletin boards and more. Check out the PTA website at www.pta.org/member/benefits for benefits and resources to paid PTA members. Most important, however, joining PTA gives you a voice on important education issues on the state and national level. The membership fee to join Ledgeview PTA is only $5 for individuals and $25 for businesses.

MINI-GRANTS

On an annual basis, as funds permit, Ledgeview PTA awards mini-grants to teachers and staff to be used for the benefit of the students of Ledgeview Elementary. These mini-grants are used for activities, materials, projects, and programs that will enrich and enhance the education and welfare of the students.

NEWSLETTER

Did you miss that PTA meeting and want to know what’s going on? Read our newsletter. The newsletter is generally distributed on the Friday following our meeting and contains a vast array of important information needed to reach our students and parents. Our newsletter is also available online at our PTA website.

PUBLICITY

Responsible for notifying appropriate local media regarding announcements and events related to Ledgeview Elementary upon approval by the administration.

REFLECTIONS

Sponsored by the National PTA, the Reflections Program offers students the opportunity to create works of art for fun and recognition. Students are encouraged to give thought to the annual theme and express themselves through photography, visual arts, literature, or musical composition. Ledgeview PTA will recognize each student’s entries. Their works may move on to compete at the district, state, or national level. Please encourage your children to participate.

SCHOLARSHIP

Ledgeview PTA awards a $500.00 scholarship to a graduating Nordonia senior who attended Ledgeview Elementary. A Scholarship Committee is responsible for reviewing scholarship applications and determining a winner.

SCHOOLKIDZ KITS

SchoolKidZ is a program in which parents can order their child’s school supplies for the next school year. Every SchoolKidZ kit is customized to each grade level. The kits come complete with all the supplies needed for the year in a handy box that can be used at home as storage for your child’s papers and artwork. This program is provided as a service to our parents and students of Ledgeview. PTA does not raise any monies from the sale of SchoolKidZ kits.

SCIENCE PROGRAM(S)

PTA coordinates at least one Science based program during the year to help our students meet the Ohio Science Standards. In the past, PTA has sponsored Science-To-Go, a series of one-hour, hands-on presentations that brings the Cleveland Museum of Natural History to our classrooms and COSI.

SCHOOL PICTURES

This committee helps with school picture day. These volunteers help our Ledgeview children put their best smile on for their school picture.

SPIRIT WEAR

PTA occasionally sells “spirit wear” items that generally consist of Ledgeview and Nordonia T-Shirts, Hoodies, and Polos.

SPIRIT WEEK

Spirit week is a week for our students to have fun and show their school spirit. Special days during the week may include: Crazy Hat Day, Patriotic Day, Inside-Out Day and many others. Friday is usually reserved for Green and White Day to show their spirit for Nordonia Hills Schools.

SUNSHINE

The Sunshine Committee brings a little sunshine into the lives of Ledgeview students and staff. They also recognize each teacher and staff on their birthdays.

TEACHER / STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK

Celebrated during the first full week of May, PTA hosts a week of meals, treats, gift giving and fun to honor Ledgeview’s teachers and staff.

THREE FOR ME

Three for Me, where a little Means a Lot, is a National PTA Program designed to effectively involve parents/guardians and families in support of children and their education. Three for Me welcomes all families into the Ledgeview school community and lets them know that their support is valued and, whatever their contribution, they can make a difference! Three for me is a promise you make to a child and to Ledgeview. A promise to volunteer three hours of your time at or on behalf of Ledgeview school. For more information on the Three for Me program please contact any PTA board member, VAST chair, or VAST coordinator.

VOLUNTEERS ASSISTING STUDENTS & TEACHERS (VAST)

The Volunteers Assisting Students & Teachers (VAST) program is the PTA’s largest program and serves an important role in helping Ledgeview students receive a positive educational experience. At the start of the school year and throughout the year, teacher/staff needs and volunteer interests and availability are identified and the VAST coordinator at each grade level (or VAST chairperson) helps match volunteers with teachers.

Volunteer assignments fall into four basic categories: (1) “In the classroom” (2) around the school (3) at home or (4) special projects. “VAST”ing in the classroom involves helping the teacher where needed including assisting students with academics, reading to the students and making copies. Typical assignments consist of a few hours or less, one day a week. “Around the school” assignments may involve assisting at Kindergarten orientation, stuffing back to school folders, helping with bus duty, assisting at lunch/recess time, or a school assembly. “At Home” assignments may involve checking papers, covering books, etc. and are on an as needed basis. “Special Project” assignments may include assisting for special activities or programs in the classroom, providing special cultural and careers day glimpses or acting as chaperones for field trips. NOTE: Please remember to sign in and sign out in the main office whenever you are visiting the school.

WEBSITE

For those families with internet access, PTA maintains a website with all materials and information that is published and distributed through PTA. Items include PTA contact sheet, PTA meeting minutes, newsletters, etc. Our PTA website can be accessed through the Ledgeview Elementary school link at our district website (http://www.nordoniaschools.org/) or at http://www.teacherweb.com/OH/LedgeviewElementary/LedgeviewPTA/.

YEARBOOK

Each year, PTA members take candid photos of our students and staff to be printed in Ledgeview’s annual yearbook. In addition, students are encouraged to submit a drawing for the cover of the yearbook. One winner at each grade level is selected to have their drawing published in the yearbook and from those winners an overall winner is selected for the cover. PTA Council judges the contest. Parents may purchase a yearbook for approximately $15.00 each. Our students look forward to receiving their yearbook to see where their picture appears on the many beautifully colored pages.