A LETTER FROM OUR PTA PRESIDENT, ANDREW KROWNE
It is with tremendous excitement that I welcome back all of our returning families as well as offer a great big “Topeka Roar” to all of our new Topeka Tigers! I am very excited to start the new school year! Our theme for 2017-18 is “Love Our School.” We have a strong bond in our Tiger community and without your continued support we will not be able to accomplish our goals for this year. I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to our outgoing President, Morgan Saffari. Morgan, in conjunction with a group of amazing parents and staff, worked tirelessly to ensure the absolute best for all of our Topeka students. We wish Morgan and her family all the best.
Your 2017-18 PTA board is comprised of a great blend of new board members as well as some solid veterans. This group has set some lofty goals for this year and we can’t wait to get started! Tiger Fund, our annual direct ask campaign, has a goal of 100% participation. No donation is too large, or too small. 100% of the money given to Tiger Fund stays at Topeka, so it is our most important and most effective fundraiser. All contributions to Tiger Fund are tax deductible (please consult with your tax professional for specifics). Just as financial support via Tiger Fund, Jog-A-Thon, candy sales, and other various fundraising efforts is important, your TIME is just as critical. Whether you can help out for 20 minutes as a safety valet, make posters, stock supplies, write letters or work on a spreadsheet, anywhere you can volunteer is appreciated. Our school community thrives because of our generous and committed parents. The PTA plays a vital role in making up the funding deficit schools face today. The fact is that LAUSD and the State of California come up about $125,000/yr short in the funding Topeka requires to provide all amazing programs we offer. This is where the PTA steps in. Here are just some of the ongoing programs and improvements your donations directly support:
• Replacing and maintaining the computers in the computer lab as well as in the classrooms.
• Providing computer lab instruction, psychomotor (PE) instruction, purchasing equipment/supplies for the office, and providing funds for new library books and computer programs.
• Providing transportation for field trips.
• Organizing the safety valet, movie nights, family events, dine-outs and YMCA nights to help bring our school family together.
• Hosting our Third Annual Hoopfest, an awesomely fun night out watching our staff vs. staff basketball game. Leading up to this night is Spirit Week and Pep Rally, where the students cheer on their favorite team! It is a blast!
Our goals for this year include bringing in more instruction in the arts and sciences, increase the technology available in the classroom and providing more assemblies for students. Big goals we can only accomplish, together. We want everyone to be informed with the goings-on of the PTA. Therefore, we will continue to alternate the monthly meeting times from morning and evening (with complimentary childcare provided), in the hopes of being able to reach more families. It is my sincerest wish that over the course of the year we see every one of our parents at our meetings. When attending isn’t an option please look for updates on the school’s website (www.topekadrive.com).
My email is always “open” and I look forward to connecting with as many families as I can. If there is something you would like to see the PTA help with or provide, would like to volunteer, or just have a question, let us know. This is your PTA and we are here to work together with you. Again, I am very excited to start the new school year and look forward to working with all of you to accomplish the many great things we have planned. I urge you to participate in the process and attend our meetings; the first association meeting on Tuesday, August 22 at 6:30 pm in the Auditorium! Andrew Krowne, President Topeka Drive PTA ptapresident@topekadrive.com
