REESE ROAD WINS NATIONAL PTA GRANT
The National PTA recently
sponsored a nationwide grant program centering around the theme "Take Your
Family to School." There were 350 applications, and 32 grants were awarded.
The Reese Road PTA received one of three grants given in Georgia.
Representatives from the National PTA and the sponsoring company will
present a check for $1,897 to Reese Road during “Take Your Family to School
Week,” observed nationally February 11-15.
Pictured above:
Front Row: Morgan Podger, Reese PTA, VP, Membership; Heather Colwell, Reese
PTA VP Fundraising; Janie Ross, Reese PTA Treasurer
Second Row: Angela Stillwell, AXA Foundation; Sherida Brannan, Reese
Kindergarten Teacher/Grant Writer; Betsy Tomblin, Reese Assistant Principal;
Jeanella Pendleton, Reese Principal; Fife Whiteside, MCSD School Board; Jan
Hart Domene, National PTA President; Melanie Harmon, Reese PTA Secretary;
Mike Baker, Columbus City Councilman; Tammy Murphy, Reese PTA President.
PTAs nationwide introduced Take Your Family to School Week to
connect families with their children’s school experiences and to
strengthen parent-school partnerships. PTA leaders intend to work
with principals and teachers to plan special events throughout this special
week to motivate parents to step away from the daily grind and into their
children’s schools.
Several activities have been collaboratively planned by the Reese Road's
PTA, faculty, and community members. The theme for the week is "Stories from
the Heart." Students from every grade level will be asked to write a story
about a special time in their lives using the Georgia Performance Standards.
Parents will also be asked to write something special about their children
and send this information to the classroom teachers. The students' and the
parents' stories will be displayed outside each classroom door for parents
to read when they visit the school.
A parent workshop is also planned during the week. On Friday, February
15, a culminating activity will feature singing storyteller Eric Litwin's
program, "I Hear America Singing," which celebrates America's history and
cultural diversity through interactive songs and stories.
Reese Road Elementary teacher Sherida Brannan says, “We are a very
culturally diverse school. We have a number of military families as well. We
are keenly aware of the need for every child's parent or guardian to feel
welcomed and included in the educational process.”
