PTA Programs and Projects

Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.--W. B. Yeats

The Hunter PTA prides itself on the programs and projects that we undertake and a love of learning that will last a lifetime. We are committed to the success of every child in our school and strive to promote a positive working relationship with faculty and staff.

The following is a list of many of our ongoing PTA programs and projects. If you would like to volunteer to assist with any of these programs, please contact the committee chair or Becky Shermer 2009-10 Volunteer Chair (rshermer@bellsouth.net [1] 845-1147).

ALP (Accelerated Learning Program) A county-wide program designed to support children who may need additional instruction to meet grade level objectives. Typically students have attended Saturday morning sessions staffed by Hunter teachers during the spring semester. The PTA helps organize snacks as well as "power night" sessions for students and their parents.

Author Visit PTA brings a nationally recognized children's author/illustrator to Hunter Elementary for several days to work with students at all grade levels. Historically, visits have been scheduled every other year. This year we are having Robert Sans Souci, March 13-14.

Awards: PTA organizes our nominations for specific awards through the WakeCounty PTA.. This includes soliciting people to submit awards and then submitting them to the Wake Country PTA

Book Exchange: A swap event where students donate their outgrown, gently used paperback children's books. Kids can then select "new" books to call their own. This event is held just before the Read-a-thon to get books to all students who want to read.

Book Fair: A weeklong book sale held at Hunter to promote excitement and enthusiasm for reading. The primary purpose is to put good books in the hands of all students and to supplement classroom libraries through use of teacher wish lists.

Building and Grounds: This year-round committee works to maintain and improve the school grounds including the courtyard and the playgrounds. Parents plan and carry out landscaping projects in collaboration with the PTA board and the Principal as well as organize grounds clean up days in fall and spring. The newly painted front hall and entrance of the school are courtesy of this committee. As well as helping with the many facility improvements we have planned.

Bus Driver Appreciation: Many Hunter students are bus riders. More than 40 buses come through the Hunter bus loop each day. The Health and Safety Committee organizes a special event to recognize the important contribution of our school bus drivers.

Cultural Arts: This PTA committee arranges for our kids to encounter the rich and varied cultural offerings in our community and especially our downtown capital city neighborhood.

Donuts for Dad: A project of the PTA Hospitality Committee. Dads, granddads, uncles (and other special men) are invited to come out to the Hunter cafeteria and enjoy a light breakfast with their Hunter student. This year it will be in June.

Eagles Nest: The PTA runs a school store that sells school supplies and various spirit items. Open most Fridays from 8:45 to 9:15 am near the bus entrance. The intent is to provide children with opportunity to manage small amounts of money.

Grants: Help the teachers find grant opportunities and acts as a resource as they write grants for funding of special projects and needs.

Health & Safety: Special programs around preventative health and safety and provide first-aid supplies for the school.

Hospitality: The PTA provides food and refreshments for various teacher, staff, parent and student functions throughout the year.

Hunter Heritage: Hunter's school festival.

Labels and Offers: Passive fundraising activities (i.e. Grocery Store Cards, Boxtops for Education/Campbell's soup labels/, etc.)

Legislative: Organize voting activities associated with Kids Vote. Keep PTA informed about relevant issues coming out of the School Board or County Commissioners Office.

Media Center PTA parent volunteers assist our media specialists with the ongoing operations of media center. The Hunter Media Center Foundation seeks grants and other contributions as we work to enhance our media center.

Muffins for Mom A project of the Hospitality Committee, this May event is a time for moms, grandmothers, aunts and other special women to enjoy a light breakfast with their Hunter students in the cafeteria.

Membership: The PTA membership comittee manages enrollment of both parents and teachers. Encourages membership in PTA through information tables at all events during the first several months of the school year.

PTA News: Weekly PTA newsletter that goes home in the Monday folder.

Radical Reader: The Hunter PTA organizes and implements a summer reading program that encourages all kids to READ over the summer. Recording sheets go home in the late spring and participants are recognized soon after students return to school in the fall.

Read-a-Thon: Annual pledge-based fundraising event that encourages students to read outside the school environment. All students who participate receive a certificate and prizes are awarded for the classrooms and individual with the most reading time.

Reflections Hunter PTA promotes the annual student art showcase sponsored by National PTA encompassing visual art, music, literature and photography.

Room Representatives: PTA coordinates and provides support to Room Representatives for each classroom.

School Directory: The PTA develops and distributes a school directory as a service to all Hunter families and staff. This helps us all keep in touch with other Hunter families.

School Spirit: PTA works closely with Hunter art teachers and students on the design and sale of Hunter T-shirts. Each year brings a unique design. In addition this committee organizes and implements several fun school spirit/pride events throughout the year.

Student Services: PTA works with CIS staff to help meet identified material needs of Hunter students. Past examples include soliciting school community for donations for food pantry at Hunter, clothing, household items to aid families. This committee also helps maintain and organize the Lost and Found and works with the staff to organize a holiday gift program for students in need.

Study Circles: Hunter parents, teachers and staff participate in small group discussions that bring together people of diverse backgrounds to discuss race relations and cultural diversity and how to work together for action and change at our school and in our community.

Teacher/Staff Appreciation: The Hospitality Committee plans and carries out a number of events throughout the year to recognize the extraordinary faculty and staff at Hunter. Events include a Welcome Back Breakfast, Teacher Lunches, Teacher Appreciation Week, End of Year Breakfast, Custodian Appreciation and Secretaries Day.

Teacher Mini-grants: Teachers can apply for and receive funding for specific needs as PTA budget permits.

Website: The Hunter website is maintained by an ongoing collaboration between the PTA and Hunter staff.

Ways & Means: The PTA Organizes Hunter's major fundraising effort, the annual Phantom "Reach for the Stars" Fundraiser, which is launched in September. Also organizes the annual spring art magnets sale, coordinated with our Art teachers.

Yearbook: The PTA produces the school yearbook. This committee also works with the school photographer to assist on school picture days. Individual student pictures are taken in the fall while both class and individual pictures are offered in the spring.

YWCA Study Circles For the past several school years, Hunter Elementary parents, teachers and staff have participated in YWCA study circles. Study circles are small group, participatory discussions that bring together people of all colors and backgrounds to discuss race relations and racism and how to work together for action and change. Hunter PTA has collaborated with the Powell Elementary PTA to help expand these circles into the public schools.