PTA Programs and Committees from A - Z
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Every year the OMS PTA runs many programs that help support student learning and builds bridges between school, home and the community. Of course, these programs could not be offered without the generous support from parent volunteers, teachers and the community. Our fundraising helps to finance these programs and some monies come to us through "passive fundraising". Passive fundraising allows you to conduct your usual shopping or clip labels while letting that local business do the donating to our School.
Where does your money go?
Well, just read through the list of programs below to see the plethora of programs and services that the PTA sponsors each year. These programs directly benefit all our students and staff.
Club 26.2 – Students join this after school activity and walk the halls with the goal of walking 26.2 miles, a full marathon. Parent volunteers are needed to chaperone and prizes that inspire health or cash donations are also needed.
Arts in Education - Arts in Education is a program that brings artists, authors, storytellers, bookmakers, musicians, dance groups and more directly into our schools. They will work with the school's administration and BOCES for event discounts.
Audit - This 3-person committee meets per PTA Unit By-Laws to audit the PTA financial records for the previous school year. Members examine the financial transactions and the procedures to assure both the membership and the board that the funds of the PTA have been properly administered and that good financial practices have been followed.
Building Council Grade-Level Representatives - Work with teachers, administrators, staff and other parents on important issues such as health, safety and character education. Members then communicates this information to the PTA. Click here to view the Building Councils Goals and Minutes, and 2010 O’Rourke Middle School Building Council Retreat Minutes.
Bulletin Board – Create and maintain the PTA bulletin board with PTA news and events. This bulletin board is in the main hallway of the school opposite the office.
By–Laws – The By-Laws committee meets every 3 years to review and update our PTA by-laws. The next revision will be due Winter of 2016.
Eighth Grade Class Night - This event occurs at the end of the school year but requires preparation ahead of time. Parents work with school personnel and students to plan the award ceremony. There is also an eighth grade class night dance.
Fundraising - Fundraiser(s) finance the many PTA programs that run over the course of the school year. The chair of this committee will work with the PTA officers to plan the fund raisers and to meet the financial goals of the PTA. Since 1978 the Craft Fair has served as a significant fundraiser. This year we will be holding a spring fundraiser selling Gertrude Hawk products.
Marquee Board - PTA is responsible for updating the sign in the front of the school relative to PTA news. All letters and numbers are kept with the chairperson and can be done at the leisure, nights and weekends.
New Student and Family Luncheon - Provides a wonderful atmosphere and a delicious lunch to welcome new to the district students and their family to our school community.
Nomination - This 3-person committee (with one to serve as Chair) is responsible for securing nominations for each office for the following school year. The committee is active generally February through April. Members find the nominees for PTA openings and administer the annual election at the May PTA meeting.
Odyssey of the Mind - Work with small groups of students to help them learn creative problem-solving methods while having fun in the process. Teams will compete against local schools and have the potential of going to a national level.
Recreation Night (Rec Night) - These events occur on Friday evenings throughout the school year to provide social interaction between students. These Rec nights are for 6th grade and 7th grade students - separately.
Reflections - This is a National PTA arts program with the intent for children to use their creative talents by expressing themselves through their own original works. Students may enter the competition with works in the following categories: Photography, Visual Arts, Literature, Musical Composition, Dance Chorography, and Film/video production.
Scholarship - In the Spring, this committee reviews the applications of and holds interviews for graduating BH-BL high school seniors who apply for a scholarship funded by the OMS PTA.
School Directory - This is a publication that gathers, prints and distributions student contact information in the form of a directory. An electronic copy is provided to families in early October.
School Pictures- The chair coordinates volunteers to assist the photography staff with the taking of individual pictures.
Staff Recognition Luncheon - This program allows our PTA and parent volunteers to show our appreciation for the dedication and talent that the school staff shares with our children every day by providing a luncheon in the spring in a fun, theme based environment.
Teacher Representative - The chair is always held by a teacher who acts as a liaison between the faculty and the PTA. This individual talks with faculty about classroom and instructional needs, either monetary or volunteer hours and proposes the requests to the PTA.