Last summer, your CTSD PTA was optimistically planning a full year of events and activities for our students. We had no idea if there could be a typical schedule, so we planned for all contingencies, aiming for flexibility and as many normal PTA experiences as possible.

We began the year with our full schedule of Welcome Back activities - the PMG Ice Cream Social, RVS Pizza Party, and the CTMS Dance. It was a wonderful feeling to see our students enjoying each other's company again!

October was a busy month with our Scholastic Book Fair, including our Sensory Shopping and Family Nights. It was a huge success! We started Gallery Time lessons for grades 1-5 - the first of seven art enrichment lessons taught in-school by PTA parent volunteers. We also held our 2nd annual Scarecrow Trail Contest with a new CTSD Staff category. It was a great community building event. We rounded out the month with our Pumpkin Carving & Glow Night and our PMG/RVS Fall Celebrations. 

Our fall fundraisers included Charleston Wrap & More, the fall clothing drive, our Loveable Labels partnership, and school branded masks. Our year-round, online PTA store featuring membership, student directory, print calendar, note to school pads, family portrait certificates, and community discount cards provided both useful products to our district community and benefited the general fund of the PTA.  

As winter approached, Covid levels increased. We were just able to run our Holiday Secret Shoppe before having to make adjustments to our schedules. Gallery Time lessons continued in December, but were delayed in January before resuming in February. PMG/RVS Winter Celebrations were planned by room parents and run by classroom teachers. We were also able to pivot and host virtual bingo nights for PMG/RVS and CTMS, with great prizes and a fun evening for our students. 

A Pizza My Heart home pizza kits, in partnership with Harper's Table, came back again in February as a great family activity. We added Pencil Grams as a new way for parents and kids to send a little love to students and staff. In addition, the PTA gave every student a pencil to wish them a Happy Valentine's Day and to "Be Awesome, Be Amazing, Be YOU!" Over 3,000 pencils were gifted in all!

In March, PMG/RVS celebrated Read Across America, and the rescheduled CTMS Winter dance was held. The RVS Talent Show returned after two years, and the auditorium was electric with excitement from the students and audience! The 5th grade class also got a start on their "Class Of" fundraising by running the talent show snack bar. 

Our major spring general fundraisers included Gertrude Hawk chocolates and the spring clothing drive. The Tricky Tray, benefiting the current 7th grade class, was held at the end of April and had many great prizes. 8th grade continued their "Class Of" fundraising this year with a graduation lawn sign sale and an art sale. 

In May we lavished our CTSD staff with a week of heartfelt appreciation, including grab 'n go snacks, treats, a luncheon, and prize raffles. Our 5th and 6th grade students enjoyed the annual Move Up Dance, also back after a 2-year absence. 

Throughout the year, the PTA also funds the educational and cultural enrichment of our students by paying assemblies and author visits to all schools. One of the PMG highlights was a virtual visit with Eric Litwin, author of Pete the Cat. There was singing and storytelling, with messages of joy, kindness, and loving reading. RVS welcomed Stuart Gibbs, author to several great series, including Spy School, Funjungle, and Moon Base Alpha. CTMS had Tod Olson, author to popular survival books such as the Lost series, How to Get Rich series, and Into the Clouds.

CTMS also had a science assembly about climate this spring. Jared Campbell, a musical artist, visited the district to share a positive message about being who you are and celebrating differences through music. All three schools experienced a virtual assembly by BMX master Matt Wilhelm, whose exciting BMX tricks capture students' attention as he delivered empowering character messages about friendship, determination, and anti-bullying.

In addition to our major events and activities, the PTA allocates money to cover families and students with financial need so that they may become PTA members, get books at the book fair, participate in the Holiday Shoppe, etc. It is our goal that all students can take advantage of what the PTA offers to our district. The PTA also has funded internal school programs such as RVS Reading Olympics, CTMS Book Club, and CTMS field trip t-shirts. We always are willing to consider applications for school programs/activities. This year we also allotted each school up to $1,500 for discretionary purchases of an educational nature. This included, among other items, headphones for the theater/music class and an outdoor speaker for CTMS, recess equipment at RVS, and recess, art, and butterfly habitat/environmental science themed supplies for PMG. 

As we round out the year, the PMG/RVS PTA Field Days were completed, and CTMS students celebrated with yearbook signing days. The 8th grade class has had their PTA Boardwalk Dance to celebrate the end of their CTSD Middle School experience and took a PTA sponsored class field trip to end the year. The PTA also contributes towards graduation and also recognizes top 8th grade students and top CTSD alumni seniors at North with financial awards. Congratulations to our GRADUATES!

We are already busy planning and preparing for the 2022-2023 school year with our annual boxed school supply program, on sale NOW through JULY 5, and have added Pre-K and CTMS this year to the program! We are setting our calendar of events and preparing our transition to the new fiscal year and the start of our new executive board members as well as our coordinators for next year. 

This year couldn't have been so successful without the thousands of volunteer hours given by our PTA members annually and the support of our fundraisers by all of the district's families and staff. We appreciate you all as we work to enrich the social and educational needs of the Clinton Township School District children!