WELCOME TO BATES MIDDLE SCHOOL!!
Welcome to Wiley H. Bates Middle School and the
Bates Parent Teacher Association (PTA)! We are glad you chose to join us to work
toward our goal of enhancing the children’s middle school experience.
We hope you will find this handbook a useful
resource for PTA activities throughout the year. It is designed to provide an overview of who
we are, how we support Bates, how we raise funds, and how to keep up-to-date on
PTA activities.
Volunteers are the heart and soul of the PTA and
we hope you will find an area of the organization that speaks to your talents
and interests. As you will discover in
the next few pages, there are opportunities ranging from grant writing to
driving midshipmen for tutoring sessions.
You may decide to give time where you are directly involved with the
students by working on some of the incentive rewards such as the Honor Roll
Celebrations, the PBIS Bates Bargain Basement, or the PBIS May Flowers, for
example. Whatever your preference, rest
assured the Bates community will be grateful for your contribution.
Please contact us throughout the school year with
questions or concerns. We will be happy
to hear from you.
Sincerely,
Deirdre, Bliss, Liz and Laurie
The 2013-2014 PTA Executive Board
What is the
Mission of PTA?
The Mission Statement of the National PTA is to “To
make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and
communities to advocate for all children.”
Local Middle School PTAs, such as Bates, serve as
a type of forum where parents, teachers, administrators, and other concerned
adults discuss ways to promote quality education, strive to expand the arts, encourage
community involvement, and work for a healthy environment and safe
neighborhoods.
According to the Anne Arundel County PTA, the
purposes of PTAs are:
- 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, 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.
When one becomes a member of the Bates PTA, $3.75
of the $5.00 dues goes to the Maryland PTA and the National PTA. $100 is paid to the Anne Arundel County PTA.
Therefore, Bates PTA members belong to all of these organizations: the Bates
PTA, the Anne Arundel County PTA, the Maryland PTA and the National PTA.
How Does the PTA Support Bates?
The PTA supports Bates Middle School by
generating funds and then allocating these funds, while also organizing volunteers
and other resources throughout the school year to improve and expand
programming for students. Examples of these
efforts include:
- Promoting
an effective educational program through incentives, such as Honor Roll, field
trip funding, advocacy/advisory committees, clubs, and the “Mids for Kids”
tutoring program.
- Supporting
an active Cultural Arts program, including Art Showcases, Performances, a
Talent Show, and a Multicultural Fair.
- Supporting
the teachers and staff through special appreciation events and classroom
enrichment, and funding teacher requests for materials and equipment that are
not available due to budget limitations.
- Improving
the effective and enthusiastic learning environment at Bates MS, through
school improvement projects; facilities upgrades; extracurricular clubs;
behavior Incentives; a wellness committee and promotional ceremonies.
- Providing
a forum for parents to learn more about Bates, to network, share ideas and
provide feedback to the administration through general meetings and online
resources.
Please join us
and volunteer some of your time to help with one or more of these activities!
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Honor Roll Celebrations – A special
recognition event for students who achieve Honor Roll each quarter. Stacey
Hooper, snjhoops@msn.com
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PBIS Bates Bargain Basement – Throughout
the year students receive “Bates Bucks” as a reward for
extraordinarily good behavior or classroom performance. The Bates Bucks can be used by the students
to purchase small items at the Bargain Basement held before the
holidays. Seeking families
to donate new or gently used items for the sale in December.
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Mids4Kids –Volunteers
are needed to drive Midshipmen from the Naval Academy to and from Bates
J In addition to serving as
excellent role models, the college students help tutor students at Bates in
their classrooms and assist the teachers with other activities. Becky
Porzillo, bporzillo@gmail.com
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Hospitality –The PTA recognizes the
staff and teachers for their hard work and commitment with an August “Back to
School Breakfast”. Plus, the PTA hosts
six “Coffee with the Principal” receptions.
Deirdre
Ralph, ralphjd@verizon.net
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Teacher Appreciation Week: The PTA recognizes the staff and teachers for their hard work and
commitment with hospitality tables during November Conference Week and a May
Teacher Appreciation meal. Jeannie Bullen, jandcbull3@verizon.net
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Bates Department/Club Requests – –
The PTA funds department and club requests such as field trips, musical
instrument purchases and repairs, dance costumes, club supplies, Chess Club
teacher allotment, MD Hall rental for Talent Show, Field Day game
rentals. PTA
Treasurer, Liz del Castillo,
usakiwi2@verizon.net
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Volunteer Coordinator – The PTA
works with the Bates Volunteer Coordinator, Becki Hutchison (rhutchison@aacps.org),
to staff volunteer positions at the school.
These include classroom help, tutoring, photocopying and Media Center
jobs. Please volunteer! Deirdre Ralph,
ralphjd@verizon.net
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PBIS May Flowers – Students earn Bates
Bucks to spend at this
Incentive event to purchase flowers for
Mother’s Day. Seeking donations of flowers in
May for this event.
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The Bates Annual Talent Show – This
popular event is organized by Bates teachers with help from Bates parents and
PTA funding.
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Chess Club Liaison/Fundraising –
Students enjoy learning the strategies behind the game of chess from a
professional player. Club fees are
paid with a grant. Seeking Committee Members.
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Annapolis Community Boating Program/Fundraising – This course will meet Mondays and Wednesdays for 8 weeks this Fall
if transportation logistics can be addressed.
The PTA is currently seeking funding and a Chair
for Fall.
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Uniform Closet – This is a donated
supply of gently used uniforms that is distributed to the students at the
discretion of Bates staff. To make a
donation, please drop off clothes in the Bates office. Adult L and LX sizes are especially needed. Bliss
Kaye, Bliss_Kaye@hotmail.com
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Field Day Liaison – A fun day for the 6th, 7th
and 8th Grades in June sponsored by the PE Department and paid for
by the PTA. Seeking donations of watermelon
and volunteer watermelon slicers the day of the event.
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8th Grade Promotion Reception – Immediately following the 8th Grade promotion ceremony, the
PTA hosts a reception of cake and lemonade.
Seeking Committee Members.
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5K Fun Run/Walk - Bates families and
supporters participate in this event starting and ending at the Bates track. The course winds through the Murray Hill
neighborhood along scenic Spa Creek. Seeking Committee Members.
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Family Book Club – The Family
Book Club is held following the January 13th PTA meeting. Your entire family is invited to read a
book selected by a Bates Librarian and attend this discussion led by a Bates
Librarian. Andrea Sporre, asporre@aacps.org.
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How Does the
PTA Raise Funds?
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Membership – Of the $5.00 Registration fee, $3.75 goes to
the State and National PTA dues. Laurie Goodwin, ltggoodwin@gmail.com
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Cash Contributions – The Bates
PTA is a 501(C)(3)! Parents or other
Bates supporters can donate to support PTA efforts by writing a check to Bates
MS PTA or by contacting the Treasurer. Liz del Castillo, usakiwi2@verizon.net
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Grant Writing – The PTA likes to
pursue grants for many different funding needs. All grant opportunities are welcome. Seeking Committee Members.
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Fall Fundraiser – The biggest PTA fund
raising event is the sale of Otis Spunkmeyer cookies. The entire student body unites to support
this fundraiser. Don’t want to bake,
you can designate purchases be donated to local food pantries. Participating students are rewarded with a
party at Bates. Seeking Volunteer.
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Italian Dinner and Silent Auction –
Dine on pasta in the cafeteria, sway to music played by teachers and students,
and bid on items at a silent auction. Seeking
Committee Members.
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Art Auction- Plan to attend this fun
social evening in May while bidding on fantastic art items. Cindy Applegate, cindy@applesigns.com
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Restaurant Nights – The PTA is given a portion of the proceeds
collected by various restaurants during designated times that the Bates community
is invited to dine. Seeking
several volunteers to organize one or more restaurant nights.
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eScrip/Giant – Participating
merchants make contributions to Bates.
For Safeway (escrip), go to escrip.com; the Bates school ID is
6643571. For Giant, go to
giantfood.com/aplus; the Bates school ID is 01667. For Target, go to target.com/redcard; the
Bates school ID is 57334. Deirdre Ralph, ralphjd@verizon.net
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Boxtops and Labels – Turn in
your Boxtops labels from products you buy and the Bates PTA will get a refund
for the school. Kim Farcot,
farcot@comcast.net
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Promotional Items – Purchase
items though the PTA to show your Cougar pride! Look for notecards, car magnets and bags!
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