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New PTO to Promote the Excellence of Easthampton Schools
EASTHAMPTON, MA -- A newly formed and energetic Parent Teachers Organization has
emerged to tout the many virtues of the education offered by Easthampton Public Schools,
provide outreach to families, and lend support to teachers.
If the last few months are any indication, the group has hit the ground running with an ambitious
agenda to raise the profile of Easthampton Public Schools, as well as make schools more
accessible and efficient.
The goals of the PTO are to support Easthampton schools and the families associated with them;
to be a resource to parents and families in the school system and those who are deciding where to
send their children to school; raise funds to help finance enrichment programs, field trips, teacher
appreciation events, and other school needs; and to recruit volunteers to assist teachers inside and
outside of the classroom.
PTO Co-Chair Rachel Achmad, who has two nine-year-old girls in the fourth grade at Maple
Elementary School, said she and the committee are enthusiastic supports of Easthampton Public
Schools. She said the school department has terrific, dedicated teachers and a top notch
curriculum.
“For me, we’ve been very, very happy with our kids’ experiences in Easthampton schools,”
Achmad said. “Our teachers have been fantastic. Every year we’re amazed.”
The PTO serves parents and families with students in kindergarten through the fourth grade.
Besides Achmad, PTO officers are, Co-Chair Peter Dopp, Secretary Gina Wyman and Treasurer
Tenaya Read. Committee chairs are Megan Frazier, volunteer coordinator; Rebecca Belcher-
Timme, outreach; Lei Fay, publicity/communications; and Amy Dopp, 501c3 renewal
committee.
The group held its first meeting in July and has had monthly meetings since. The PTO will
continue to meet monthly at Easthampton High School and the public is urged to attend.
“To become a member of the PTO all you have to do is attend a meeting,” Achmad said. “It’s
very easy to join. We’ll meet either the first Wednesday or Thursday of every month.”
Child care is provided at the PTO meetings by Tiny Tots program, made up of EHS students in
the early childcare program.
“We want our meetings to be as accessible as possible,” Achmad said.
The PTO got right to work this summer organizing four play dates for kindergarteners and their
parents to meet and ask questions of teachers, principals, and PTO members. The events were
held on three Thursdays in August at Maple and Center/Pepin schools, and turnout was terrific.
“The parents were very appreciative that we had the play dates,” Belcher-Timme said. “We got a
lot of feedback and it was a bit of community-building. It was very low key and parents asked
some very good questions. People were really interested in meeting the teachers.”
Belcher-Timme said teachers and principals were grateful that they were involved in planning
the event and enjoyed meeting the families.
“It was a great event for the community and successful all around,” Belcher-Timme said. “We’ll
definitely do it again.”
The PTO is hoping to host a forum for parents of students in preschool to get information about
enrolling in kindergarten. Belcher-Timme is aiming to schedule the forum for January before
school choice season.
“Parents can hear about the curriculum and ask questions,” she said of the forum. “We want
people to find out about why Easthampton Public Schools is a good choice. We want people to
feel welcome.”
The PTO is also planning a number of other events in the coming months, including a bake sale
on September 27 in the parking lot of Easthampton Savings Bank on Main Street. The event will
also be a good opportunity for parents to meet PTO members.
An art fundraiser that will double as a holiday sale will be held later this fall. Students will create
a work of art and send it to SilverGraphics Studios, Inc., where the image will be transferred onto
items like magnets, mugs, iPad covers, tote bags and much more. These personalized items will
then be sold to raise money for the schools.
“This is a great way to do your holiday shopping,” Belcher-Timme said.
In February, the PTO is going to host a pajama pancake breakfast. An April Read-A-Thon is also
in the planning stages. Plans are also underway for the 2nd Annual Apple-a-Day 5K, a fundraiser
to be held on November 2 to purchase technology upgrade for the elementary schools.
For more information about the Easthampton PTO, check out their Facebook page or website,
www.easthamptonpto.com.