Our PTO serves a vital function at John Paul II Catholic School: it provides many of the benefits our children, parents, and teachers enjoy.  We are not merely a fundraising machine; rather, we strive to create a stronger community, an enriched experience for our students, and a more pleasant environment for our teachers and staff.  Here is a sample of the programs and activities we organize, staff with volunteers, and/or support financially:

• Ambassador Family program and its welcoming Ice Cream Social for new JPII families
• Hands-on student programs, such as Art-a-La-Carte, grade-level Book Clubs, and the Community Garden in our JPII courtyard
• Fun, student-focused activities like the annual Pumpkin Patch, After-school Skate Parties, Birthday Recognition, Class Christmas Parties, Snacks with Santa, Run with the Saints Kids’ K, & Fun-in-the-Sun Day
• Community support through our Bread Basket, to assist JPII families in difficult times
• Room Parent support and Library Aides to assist our teachers during the school day
• Lunch Bunch service to give our teachers a lunch break on most Fridays
• Volunteer assistance with Mass and religious events through our Altar Society
• A continuous supply of delicious food for the staff and faculty at monthly Faculty Meetings, First Friday lunches, and themed, catered Staff Appreciation Luncheons twice a year
• Our Spirit Store, offering JPII logo-embossed items and apparel to show school spirit, and which donates numerous items for school events, such as the Gala and Grandparents’ Day
• Teacher and staff gifts given at back-to-school time, Christmas, our bi-annual Staff Appreciation Luncheons, and the end-of-the-year “thank-you” gifts
• Monthly Teacher Wish List drawings, awarding 3 teachers each month with $200 to use for their classrooms or to purchase supplies that benefit our students’ education
• Hospitality service at numerous school functions, like Grandparents’ Day, New Student Testing, New Family Registration, PTO coffees, and many others
• Box Tops and Labels for Education programs, which provide funds and useful school items to help improve our children’s educational experience
• Special-occasion functions, like organizing and publishing our “JPII 25^th Anniversary Cookbook” this year to celebrate our school’s wonderfully diverse community, and helping organize events like the “Late Night Catechism” production

Perhaps one of the PTO’s most well-known roles is to organize, staff, and fund our children’s most-beloved school day:  “Fun in the Sun Day.”  This fun, exciting field day and carnival each spring was first begun in 1992 and has become our most involved and biggest PTO fundraiser.  The money we raise is donated directly back to the school to support our children’s education.  And our children have a blast in the process!

Who does all this work?  Our generous, resourceful parents and supporters:  YOU DO!  Through initiative and hard work, the PTO has grown into a thriving group of volunteers who are generous with their time and resources.  We are grateful for every involved member.  No contribution of time and energy goes unnoticed, no matter how small.  I would like to extend a personal invitation to every parent to get involved and support our wonderful Catholic school.