There's always room for one more volunteer

Do you volunteer in your children's school?

We have all heard the excuses why many parents don't. Too busy? At work during the day? So are many other volunteers. They help outside of work hours, or use flex hours or vacation time.

The National PTA Web site says, "As the largest volunteer child advocacy association in the nation, National Parent Teacher Association provides parents and families with a powerful voice to speak on behalf of every child and the best tools to help their children be safe, healthy, and successful -- in school and in life."

When you join PTA, your membership dues are put to good use benefitting students. In most cases you will also receive a school or PTA directory simply for joining. Indian Prairie has 34 local PTA and PTSA units. There are three high school, seven middle school, 21 elementary school and one preschool units. There are also two districtwide units. One is the Indian Prairie Special Needs PTA and the other is the newly formed Project Arrow PTA. Membership in these 34 units total close to 20,000. The funding and countless volunteer hours provided by the PTAs benefit all students in the district.

Lori Price, president of the IPSN PTA, says of her members, "Because we all have children with special needs, there is a commonality that exists already. We all serve as a support system for each other simply because we understand what that parent is going through. ... I continue to be amazed at the volunteers we continue to get. We've built some enthusiasm in our group -- and we've built our group itself. I think people want to be a part of that enthusiasm and growth."

If you don't know where help is needed in your school, ask your child's teacher, or ask someone from your PTA or similar organization. Watch for your school's e-mail and newsletter publications that let the school's families know where help is needed.

School volunteers provide for a wide variety of activities and events during and outside the school day. These include classroom parties, assemblies, field trips, school store, mini courses, writers' workshop, school newsletters and directories, staff appreciation, community service and peer tutoring.

Your time and efforts will be rewarded with your child's appreciation and your knowledge that you have done something to benefit your school community. You may also enjoy getting an inside look at your child's school and getting to know other parents, teachers and the school's administration.

Get started by contacting someone at school. This can be the beginning of some wonderful memories.

Sherry Tatar can be reached at SherryTatar@ameritech.net. Also visit www.statar.blogspot.com .