Hope Valley PTA Kicks Off School Year with New Committees, Initiatives
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The Hope Valley Elementary PTA is off to a dynamic start for the 2024/2025 school year, launching several new committees and organizing initiatives to enhance support for students, teachers, and staff. With a focus on student advocacy, diversity, and providing resources for teachers, the PTA is calling on the community to get involved and make a difference.
New PTA Committees
The following new committees have been formed to address various needs in the school:
- Access Committee
- Co-Chairs: Lindsay Marjoram and Evie Jespersen
- Advocacy and Student Support
- Co-Chairs: Melissa Price Kromm & Marty Triggs
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Chair: Tony Chamblee
- Fundraising Committee
- Chair: Ofek Devinney
- Outdoor/Grounds Committee
- Chair: Seth Crabtree
- Teacher and School Support Committee
- Chair: Katie Stokes
PTA’s Recent Initiatives
The PTA has been busy working on several ongoing projects aimed at supporting the school community:
- Providing snacks for students in need, currently two days per week, with plans to expand.
- Collecting refreshments and supplies for teachers.
- Maintaining a stash of clothes available for students who need them.
- Submitting grant applications, including one for Latinx outreach spearheaded by Norma Andino, PTA Board Member at Large.
- Additional grant applications in the works through the Advocacy and Student Support Committee.
How to Get Involved
It’s not too late to join a PTA committee! The PTA encourages community members to sign up and help with various projects throughout the school year.
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
- Crayons 2 Calculators Supply Drive
- Date: Thursday, Sept. 12
- Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- Volunteers are needed to shop for free school supplies for teachers at the Crayons 2 Calculators storehouse (808 Bacon St., Durham). Teachers have submitted supply requests, and volunteers will gather these items.
- Sign up to help here. The sign-up sheet also includes future shopping dates for the school year.
- Treats for Teachers
- Date: Tuesday, Sept. 10
- The PTA is providing snacks for teachers and staff during their Professional Learning Community meetings. Community members can drop off snacks in the car line or at the main office, clearly labeled as “Treats for Teachers.”
- Sign up here to donate snacks or use the Amazon Wish List to ship treats directly to the school.
Treasurer’s Update
PTA Treasurer Ben Mudrak reported on how PTA funds have been allocated:
- $15,000 rolled forward from last year to support the transition to year-round schooling.
- Funds used for:
- Weekly student snacks (~$280 per week)
- Mailchimp (email service) and Zoom accounts
- Spanish interpretation for PTA meetings
- Upcoming disbursement of funds to teachers and staff for classroom supplies.
Earn Money for Hope Valley While You Shop
Community members can support the school while doing their regular shopping:
- Link your Harris Teeter VIC card to Hope Valley Elementary (school number: 3555) at this page. Cards must be linked every year, and you can link to more than one school.
- Download the Box Tops for Education app and scan grocery receipts from any store to earn cash back for Hope Valley Elementary. Instructions can be found on this website.
Upcoming PTA Meetings
All PTA meetings are held on Zoom at 7:00 p.m., with live Spanish interpretation provided. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 11. The full schedule of upcoming meetings includes:
- Sept. 11
- Oct. 9
- Nov. 13
- Dec. 11
- Jan. 8
- Feb. 12
- March 12
- April 9
- May 14
Volunteer Reminder
All volunteers for Hope Valley Elementary must complete the DPS volunteer application each year.
PTA Board Members for 2024/2025
- President: Jocelyn Dawson
- Vice Presidents: Melissa Price Kromm and Katie Stokes
- Secretary: Seth Crabtree
- Treasurer: Ben Mudrak
- Members at Large: Norma Andino, Ofek Devinney, and Marty Triggs
- School Administration: Principal Miller, Assistant Principal Whitaker, and Teacher Representative Tanner Halm
The PTA is grateful for the strong community support so far this school year and encourages everyone to get involved to make a positive impact on Hope Valley Elementary.
For more details on how to get involved, visit the PTA’s website or attend the next Zoom meeting!
