It’s not unusual for schools to have friendly rivalries, but two high schools and their unit and council PTSAs are taking intermural competition to a fun, feisty and engaging level.

The city of Downey features two high schools – Downey and Warren – both of which have active PTSAs supported by Downey Council PTA (Thirty-Third District PTA). And even more than that, the two high schools also maintain an active yet happy matchup between their respective Vikings and Bears. So when the PTSAs and council came up with a membership idea building on that companionable competition, it proved to be a real winner.

As Downey Council PTA Membership Chair Claudia Cano reported, the two schools’ PTSA and council volunteers hit upon using the California State PTA high-school scholarship – exclusively for PTA student members — as an incentive for seniors to join their PTSAs and apply for the awards. But there was more to the plan than just increasing membership rolls.

“Our greater goal was to inform the seniors on specific details pertaining to the scholarship and its requirements,” she said. “It gave us an opportunity to put the ‘why’ in joining PTSA.”

So helping the students was definitely the “why.” As for where, when, who and how, the volunteers reached out to a local museum – the Stay Gallery – conveniently located (on “the perfect neutral-ground space”) right between the two high schools for a January 19 event. The museum took the effort to heart, creating a special graphic flier that was distributed far and wide via social media by volunteers, teachers, district staff and even by the local paper and Downey Mayor Alex Saab.

“Everyone who could help get the word out did and that, to me, showed that we are one united community,” said Cano.

While a huge rivalry soccer game happened to be scheduled for the same evening as the “Battle of the PTSA Memberships,” students and their parents still came to sign up for memberships and get all the details about the California State PTA scholarship program and more helpful PTA news and information. What’s more, those who were not able to make it due to the Vikings/Bears soccer game were made so aware by the pre-“Battle” promotions that the PTSAs are continuing to get emails and calls asking to join.

“The exposure of this event has created a lot of buzz in our community, and the membership numbers are increasing,” said Cano. “This all-in-good-fun experience has been so rewarding in so many ways – people are really starting to notice the PTA presence in our city!”

Does your unit have a unique membership campaign? Do you know an amazing PTA program or volunteer? Let us know, too! Share your story with socialmedia@capta.org.

Shoes pinch; socks get holes; pants hit the high-water mark – it’s time for new clothes for growing kids. But when families can’t afford items for their children, the Sacramento Council of PTAs (Third District PTA) is there to help, as it has for more than 60 years.

Since 1950, the Sacramento Council of PTAs Clothes Closet has helped more than 1,000 children a year get ready for back-to-school time – and any time September through June – with free clothing, socks, underwear, backpack supplies and more. Operated in partnership with the Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD), the chock-full facility is open to district-enrolled students ages 3 – 18 who can each receive a shopping trip once a semester.

Council President Laura Rios said PTA units and volunteers always have played a major role in the closet’s services.

“Unit leaders would donate their time to keep the clothes closet organized, including washing donations,” she said. “Families appreciate having access to the free clothing.”

But recent budget cuts – especially the elimination of a part-time district-funded position to coordinate appointments, staffing and donations — have created challenges. Nevertheless, community and PTA volunteers have risen to the occasion as they always have to make a difference for the closet – and for district families in need.

“The Sacramento City Teachers Association holds a ‘Tush and Toes’ drive where they challenge schools to donate and the one donating the most getting a special treat,” said Rios. “Our council also recently participated for the first time in the SHARE Fair at Cosumnes River College (CRC), with two high-school students working on their service project collecting donations of socks and undies from CRC college students and staff.”

Rios also reports that the council currently is working on a grant to further strengthen the closet’s services, and that SCUSD’s Family and Community Engagement Department has been very supportive in helping serve local families.

“When families receive uniforms and clothing, it gives more opportunity for our children to stay and be successful in school,” said Rios.

Inspired by this story? Know an amazing PTA person or program? Let us know! Share your story with socialmedia@capta.org.

PTA volunteers and members are a dedicated group, as Terri Arredondo shows each and every day.

Terri has been employed as a parent liaison and supervising assistant at Evergreen Elementary School (Whitter Council PTA, Thirty-Third District PTA) for five years, recently earning an Employee of the Year Award from East Whittier City School District.

In addition to her everyday career of dedication to children and families, Terri also is Evergreen PTA’s treasurer where she serves that office, and so much more.

“She is an amazing person and goes above and beyond for our kids,” said Evergreen PTA President Patricia Serban. “Terri is always asking if anyone needs help – she is always offering and doing.”

As Patricia shared, some of Terri’s many efforts for children and families include starting and maintaining a school community closet. “Spikey’s Closet” – named after the school’s dragon mascot – is funded by the PTA and filled with gently-used clothing and shoes plus new underwear that Terri has gathered, and even laundered herself. Terri also started recycling bins in the teachers’ lounge to help fund the effort.

“If a kid says their shoes are too tight, Terri takes them to Spikey’s Closet to look for shoes,” said Patricia. “She encourages families to volunteer and to take what they need.”

Terri also encourages all families and staff to be involved in Evergreen PTA, asking everyone in person as the most effective engagement tool. In addition to establishing a PTA Teacher Liaison to get educators’ feedback on programs and needs, she also asks the school’s English-learner parent classes to get involved.

“I let them know that they have the opportunity to make changes and be a role model for their children,” she said.

Patricia emphasized that Terri does things out of love for the kids, love for the Evergreen families and for the community.

“I love working and volunteering at Evergreen Elementary!” added Terri.

Do you know an above-and-beyond PTA volunteer or member like Terri? Let us know: Share your story with socialmedia@capta.org!

PTA’s amazing members and volunteers truly are the heart of our organization — you are the ones who make a difference for all our children every single day.

Reda Rountree is one example of our many dedicated volunteers and members. She began volunteering at Mt. Washington Elementary PTA (Highlands Council, Tenth District PTA) when her twin girls Ann Elise and Grace started kindergarten. She currently serves as the PTA’s vice president of programs, where she develops, implements and involves students in enrichment classes and events to meet the wide range of interests of the school’s 431 children.

“Being involved isn’t just important – it’s necessary,” said Reda. “It takes involved parents and community members to create and sustain an enriching educational experience, and the PTA provides that opportunity to schools.”

She credits her own involved teachers and parents as well as her grandfather – who spent more than 50 years in education – as setting her own personal example of engagement.

“The impact volunteering can make in a kid’s life is enormous,” she said. “Being there for a child, listening, offering love and support whenever he or she needs it – there is no better reward.”

Reda’s many efforts for Mt. Washington’s children do not go unnoticed: PTA President Bryan Irwin recently wrote a moving tribute about Reda’s giving heart for their school community.

“The human heart beats on average 100,000 times per day — it’s what we choose to do with all those beats that makes them important,” he wrote. “There is one person on our campus who gives theirs away to our children every single day: Her name is Reda Rountree.”

Bryan shared how he worked with Reda on the school’s fall carnival, which she chairs as one part of her office. But it’s not just the tireless work she put in on the carnival and the fall memories she helped create for kids, he wrote – it’s what she constantly gives of herself to the children and school.

“When Reda is on campus, children run to her to share a story, ask a question and – most importantly – get a hug, a laugh or a sweet word of encouragement,” he wrote. “Reda, thank you for showing us how wonderful life can be when you live it through your heart – a lesson you share every day with our kids and one that many adults, myself included, need to remember.”

Thanks, Reda, for all you do – and to all our amazing members and volunteers. You are the heart of PTA!

Do you know an amazing PTA volunteer or member like Reda? Let us know: Share your story with socialmedia@capta.org.