Riverside School’s Parent-Teacher Organization (P.T.O.) is a vital part of education at Riverside School. Parents work with teachers to help our children receive the best education possible.

Over the past years, the P.T.O. has equipped each playground with a super structure designed for the specific age of those children using the equipment. Volunteers also helped to install these structures to insure our children’s safety. This past year, the PTO funded the building of an outdoor education facility and an elevated walkway where outdoor education will take place. The P.T.O. has also enhanced the atmosphere by organizing and funding numerous landscaping projects. Inside, the P.T.O. has funded the development of a technical network of computers both in the IMC and various units. Our P.T.O. feels very strongly that for students to achieve their future goals, it is imperative for them to understand and be able to use computer technology. During the past few years, Riverside PTO has donated thousands of dollars towards upgrading and installing computers and software for the use of all grade levels. We hope to continue this trend. Mini-grants are also available to each teacher, on a request basis, for various projects they are involved in with their students. The Book Bug Program in the IMC also receives funding to purchase the trophies, shirts, and other awards the students receive for reading achievements.

The P.T.O. also has a committee that coordinates parents who wish to volunteer time either during school hours or evenings to help with specific teacher projects. Many parents assist teachers during school hours with copying, small projects, or one-on-one student help. Fathers have come to the aid of teachers by creating back-pack racks for classrooms, small chalkboards and puzzle boards, as well as volunteering to read to Kindergarten & 1^st grade students in our "Dads are Dynamic Storytellers" program. We were extremely pleased to have over 150 parents volunteer each school year.

The Riverside P.T.O. is made up of four main elected officers: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. These officers are chosen in early May. Assisting the officers are our committee personnel. We appoint committee people in May who work on various projects throughout the year.

Any Riverside parent is welcome to join our P.T.O. Board or Committees. Even though the officers are elected in May, you may join a committee at any time throughout the year. All parents are encouraged to attend our monthly planning meetings that are held on the 3^rd Monday of every month at 6:30 PM in the IMC. We vote on various funding issues at these meetings and do some overall planning for special events. Most committees have their own meetings to discuss issues so that our monthly meetings usually last only 1- 1-½ hours. One of the best ways to show your children that you truly care about their education is to become involved at their school. Riverside P.T.O. is a great way to get involved.