PS 3: Parent Participation

PS 3 LINKS: AfterSchool Program Antiquarian Book Fair

PARENT PARTICIPATION SUPPORT SYSTEMS

Fund-Raisers

Family Socials

School Governance & Parental Involvement

PTA Committees

School Leadership Team

Fund-Raisers
PS 3's music and clay programs and many of its community-building social events depend entirely on funds raised by the Parent Teacher Association or PTA. As a result, the year is marked by fund-raising rhythms, launched each year with the Direct Drive, in which each family is asked to make a contribution to help fund the year's activities, particularly the enhanced arts curriculum. The gala Fall Festival, a remarkable effort on the part of many hard-working parents, follows in November. In February the school hosts the industry-renowned Greenwich Village Antiquarian Book Fair, followed in March by our Silent Auction and the Scholastic Book Fair. A variety of smaller projects such as magazine and pie sales fill out each year.

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Family Socials
The school hosts several gatherings that are strictly social. One highly successful new tradition is the fall Parent-Teacher Pot-Luck Supper in the Auditorium. Each April the school holds a Friday night Square Dance complete with dinner and professional caller and musicians. This event welcomes neighborhood residents as well as the school community. In June, incoming families are invited to join current families for a rooftop picnic. Fourth-grade parents host a party for the class of graduating fifth graders, providing students with an opportunity to wish their classmates well as they head off to middle schools around the city.

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School Governance and Parental Involvement
With dwindling budgets from the DOE, parent participation can be what makes a good school into a great school. At PS3, we have an active PTA which works to support and enrich the academic and social life of all the students. All families, teachers and staff are automatically members of the PTA and are encouraged to attend meetings which take place 8 times throughout the school year and volunteer as much as they are capable in school events, fund raisers and programs sponsored by the PTA. Dates and times for meetings are posted in the monthly school newsletter, the Parent Coordinator's weekly e-mail note, the Community Room and on numerous posters at the school as well as on the PS3 website. Child care for school-aged children is available during the meetings.

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PTA Committees
Here is a brief summary of each committee's work. For meeting dates and contact information, refer to the bulletin boards in the lobby and outside the Main Office and Community Room.

Arts: Works with faculty and the administration to develop and support art, music, dance and drama programs in the school and to maintain and program the rotating computer-monitor exhibit in the lobby.

Building: Works to improve physical facilities and makes recommendations regarding the need for and use of space in the building.

Class Parents: Consists of one or two parents from each class who have volunteered to assist teachers with in-class fund-raising, administrative and other tasks as needed. The committee serves as liaison between the classes and the PTA.

Budget: Assists the PTA in organizing and auditing its budget on a regular basis.

Fund-Raising: Promotes and coordinates the annual fund-raising events and investigates new fund-raising ideas.

Grant-Writing: Works with other committees to coordinate applications for grants and to research grant opportunities; writes and submits grant proposals, and performs related administrative tasks. Also develops relationships with foundations and corporate-giving departments.

Library: Assists the librarian in maintaining, expanding and enhancing the school library and its programs, including the annual Writing Festival.

Lunch/Recess: Works to enhance lunch and recess by providing additional activities, organizing volunteers and improving physical facilities of the Lunchroom and Gym.

Newsletter: Writes, designs, produces and distributes the monthly newsletter.

Outreach: Coordinates efforts to spread the word about PS 3 to families of pre-schoolers in the zone and throughout the city, and establishes relationships with local businesses and politicians.

PS 3 'til 6: Oversees and manages the afterschool program.

Website: Monitors the design, content and functionality of the school website so that it meets the needs of the community.

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School Leadership Team
Each public school is required to establish a School Leadership Team whose tasks involve developing an annual Comprehensive Educational Plan (CEP) and reviewing the budget to ensure that it supports the plan. The SLT consists of five staff members including the principal, guidance counselor and UFT union representative; two classroom teachers, and five parent representatives including one co-president of the PTA and four elected parent members. It meets regularly, posts minutes from its meetings and reports on its activities at each PTA meeting.