What is the PTA?

 Dear Ridgeway Families,

 As you know, our school prides itself on fostering a caring community, and one way it does that is through the Parent Teacher Association. The PTA is vital network of families and teachers who give our caring community a voice and the resources it needs to enrich the educational experience of ALL Ridgeway students. We hope that ALL Ridgeway families can to join and help us make this a great year for our kids. To help you become familiar with the PTA, here are answers to the most common questions you may have.

I signed up last year; do I need to re-­join and pay dues each year?

YES. In order to be an active (voting) member of our PTA, you must sign up and pay dues each year for the current school year.

What does the New York State PTA (NYSPTA) do with my $3.50 dues?

$1.75 of the dues goes to the State PTA and $1.75 goes to the National PTA.

What is the money I contribute used for?

All of the money that you donate (less the $3.50 dues) is used to benefit our children. PTA pays for assemblies and programs, class trips, new equipment, and community events (such as the Global Dinner), the Kindergarten Round‐up program, and many other functions.

 I want to join, but don’t have time to attend PTA meetings or volunteer, etc.

While we welcome and encourage volunteering and participation from parents at any and all of the events at Ridgeway, there is NO obligation to do so. By joining our PTA, you are simply indicating that you are committed to our school and our children.

 Did you know that there are other benefits to being a PTA member?

Membership cardholders can obtain discounts for certain services from T-­‐Mobile, MetLife Auto & Home, Southwest Airlines and Parenting magazine, to name a few. For a complete list of participating organizations, go to http://www.pta.org/members/content.cfm?ItemNumber=3409

Does membership give me greater access to information about upcoming events at the school?

Yes. When you sign up, you are asked to provide us with an e-­‐mail address (this is not shared with any third parties), and members receive regular updates about current happenings at Ridgeway. In addition, PTA meetings are forums that allow parents to hear from teachers and administration about what’s happening at school and to ask questions and share ideas, concerns, and experiences.

Are you convinced that the PTA needs you? We hope so! If you have other questions or concerns that have not been addressed, please feel free to contact us at wpridgewaypta@gmail.com Thank you so much for your support. Together we can truly make a difference in our children’s school experience!

Sincerely,

Ridgeway PTA