The PTA works to facilitate the goals of the New York City Department of Education and to exceed them.
The Department of Education’s core goals of preparing students to meet grade-level standards in reading, writing and math act as a baseline. But the PTA operates on a broader mandate: it is committed to fostering a creative learning environment, pursuing academic excellence and developing students’ skills across the curriculum. Those goals do not come cheap.
To date, PS 8 has benefited greatly from PTA contributions. But the challenges are ongoing. DOE resources are scarce, and the PTA must continue to lend its financial support and human resources to make up for the shortfall. If not, PS 8 will suffer the consequences.
No one in the PS 8 community wants to give up our hard-won accomplishments. Nor does anyone want to stand in place. For PS 8 to excel the entire community must organize its efforts and partner with the school’s principal and leaders.
To that end, the PTA will devote itself to helping parents help PS 8. Its focus will be three-fold:
- Connecting the PS 8 community to news, views and each other. Our community is better equipped to collaborate when families know one another, are well informed and share a common sense of purpose. Parents can help by taking an active role in the communication and by volunteering for community events.
- Raising funds and marshaling resources. Parents can volunteer to raise money in the community and/or pool their varied talents and passions to facilitate fund-raising goals.
- Deploying resources to the right place at the right time. Parents can offer input on how and where resources can be best deployed.
