MEMORIAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PTO
OUR MISSION
The Memorial PTO is dedicated to providing enrichment opportunities for our children and enhancing community involvement. Our goal is to provide funds that enhance the education of students through cultural arts programs, assemblies, technology, etc. We also aim to foster a relationship between families, students, and staff through Family Fun Nights and staff appreciation days.
WHAT WE DO
In addition to hosting Family Fun Events, like August's Kindergarten Playdate, October's Spooktacular, December's Story Time with Santa, January's Parent Night Out at Rushford and Sons Brewhouse and March's Spirit Night at Urban Air and Teddy Bear Toss at the P-Bruins game, we host a variety of in-school activities, too! During the 2023-2024 school year, we were able to host two Scholastic Book Fairs, multiple Cultural Arts presentations for the entire student body, the 4th Grade Send-off, and Field Day!
We assisted in many school programs, providing support to the Library's Read Across America Event, the 4th Grade Chorus' Concert party, the Booster's Pizza party, and Memorial's Holiday Food Drive. We also organized Trax, the Worcester Railers mascot, to visit our campus and offered fun incentives for reaching fundraising goals during our fall fundraiser with Raise Craze, and our winter fundraiser with Square 1 Art.
We led the way for the Outdoor Classroom Initiative in the 2021-2022 school year. In addition to multiple tables, umbrellas, and rolling outdoor teacher carts filled with supplies, we hired landscapers to pour fully accessible walkways and pathways leading to multiple areas around our campus. During the 2022-2023 school year, we poured a large concrete slab and raised money to build a pavilion so that our Outdoor Classroom space can be used all year long, by all students, no matter the weather.
We continue to support and celebrate the faculty and staff at Memorial. In the 2023-2024 school year, we were able to fulfill countless Teacher Requests for classroom and recess supplies, student prizes, books, furniture, and more. Other faculty and staff surprises included monthly Appreciation Gifts, materials and manipulatives for 32 calm down areas around Memorial, a full revamp of Memorial's Lost and Found area, December's Adopt A Teacher event and Cookie Craze, May's Teacher and Staff Luncheon, and June's Surprise Catered Breakfast.
HOW WE DO IT
We host a variety of fundraisers to be able to support the children, Faculty and Staff at Memorial Elementary. In the 2023-2024 school year, these fundraisers included Raise Craze, one Memorial School Night at the Worcester Railers Hockey Game, and one Memorial School Night at the Providence Bruins Hockey Game,"Cook's Night Off" events at local restaurants like Red Heat Tavern, Dairy Queen, and Pizzeria UNO and a Fire Truck Ride Raffle, a Police Car ride raffle, and a Principal for the Day raffle!
Some other ways the Memorial PTO raised money was through selling Spirit Wear, Notes From Home Pads, Square 1 Art, School Supply Kits, and by making and selling the 2023-2024 Memorial Elementary School Yearbook. All of these fundraisers allowed Memorial PTO to earn a little bit of money from each purchase.
We could not do what we do without parent, teacher and community support. We understand that many families cannot, or do not wish to, participate monetarily in fundraisers. So, we also have multiple opportunities to give back to Memorial PTO from your everyday household and lifestyle purchases. Some of our retail partners are through Shutterfly, Name Bubbles, Box Tops For Education and Coca-Cola Gives.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Come to a meeting! You can participate as much or as little as you're comfortable with -- and you can even come just to listen and observe. We meet once a month in the Memorial School Library at 6:30PM.
Participate in any fundraisers that excite you! Make direct donations to the PTO... any amount of money is appreciated and makes a difference. Come to our PTO-sponsored events! Spread the word about our organization! Like, comment and share our social media posts with family and friends.
And, volunteer! You can read more about our volunteer initiatives here.
PTO BOARD
Memorial PTO has a Board that meets once a month. Made up of volunteers, our Board for the 2024-2025 school year is:
President: Erin Valcourt
Vice President: Kristy Bradley
Treasurer: Kevin Vaillancourt
Recording Secretary: Cat Wallace
Corresponding Secretary: Jasmine Duffy
Volunteer Coordinator: Erin Padula
Cultural Arts Chairperson: Aimee Osterhus
Fundraising Chair: Ashley O'Connor
You can reach out to Board members at MemorialPTOUpton@gmail.com