What is PTA?

The Belle Aire Parent Teacher Association is a local unit of IL and National PTA.

PTA Vision

Every child’s potential is a reality.

PTA Mission

To make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.

PTA Values

• Collaboration: We will work in partnership with a wide array of individuals and organizations to broaden and enhance our ability to serve andadvocate for all children and families.
• Commitment: We are dedicated to children’s educational success, health, and well-being through strong family and community engagement, while remaining accountable to the principles upon which our association was founded.
• Diversity: We acknowledge the potential of everyone without regard, including but not limited to: age, culture, economic status, educational background, ethnicity, gender, geographic location, legal status, marital status, mental ability, national origin, organizational position, parental status, physical ability, political philosophy, race, religion, sexual orientation, and work experience.
• Respect: We value the individual contributions of members, employees, volunteers, and partners as we work collaboratively to achieve our association’s goals.
• Accountability: All members, employees, volunteers, and partners have a shared responsibility to align their efforts toward the achievement of our association’s strategic initiatives.

The Purposes of the PTA

• To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, community, and place of worship.
• To raise the standards of home life.
• To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth.
• To bring into closer relation the home and the school, so that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the education of children and youth.
• To develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as will secure for all children and youth the highest advantages in physical, mental,social, and spiritual education.

Who is PTA? Roles and goals:

All: Be active in the PTA and encourage others to participate! Attend general meetings to hear reports from the principal, executive committee, teachers and to cast your vote for budgets, officers, new programs and new processes. We need you!

Parents: Major studies indicate that parent involvement is a key part of student success.

Read weekly PTA email and/or review the website news & calendar to stay informed on programs and attend events with your students. Help keep things running by volunteering at a single event, leading a program/event or serving on executive committee. Work with the principal to understand annual school reports and budgets. PTAs can support or oppose issues of concern before the school board and local, state or federal government.

Teachers:  Communicate upcoming PTA programs/events to students. Attend as many events as your time allows. The parents and students love to see you! Advocate for the needs of students; propose plans that would help PTA fill those gaps.

Principal: Make parent involvement a school priority. Help the PTA keep its primary focus on education rather than fundraising. The principal and the PTA can work together to solve problems and set goals that will benefit students. Help parents stay informed on current issues in education.

Parent Leaders/Chairpersons: Organize program/event with help of parent volunteers. Communicate details and parent action items regularly. Identify opportunities to improve the quality of educational programs for students.

Executive Committee: Focus on education and the best ways to work together for the benefit of students. Be alert to staff and community talents and resources. Draw on these resources for the benefit of the entire school. Handle the yearly PTA business. Officers are: President, President-Elect, Treasurer, VP of Fundraising, VP of Committees, Director of Membership and Secretary.

PTA’s National Standards for Family-School Partnerships

• Standard 1: Welcoming all families into the school community—Families are active participants in the life of the school, and feel welcomed, valued, and connected to each other, to school staff, and to what students are learning and doing in class.
• Standard 2: Communicating effectively—Families and school staff engage in regular, two-way, meaningful communication about student learning.
• Standard 3: Supporting student success—Families and school staff continuously collaborate to support students’ learning and healthy development both at home and at school, and have regular opportunities to strengthen their knowledge and skills to do so effectively.
• Standard 4: Speaking up for every child—Families are empowered to be advocates for their own and other children, to ensure that students are treated fairly and have access to learning opportunities that will support their success.
• Standard 5: Sharing power—Families and school staff are equal partners in decisions that affect children and families and together inform, influence, and create policies, practices, and programs.
• Standard 6: Collaborating with community—Families and school staff collaborate with community members to connect students, families, and staff to expanded learning opportunities, community services, and civic participation.