[CabotCommunity] Cabot PTO

Jo Doherty jcdoherty11 at comcast.net
Wed Mar 28 12:57:51 EDT 2007


Dear Cabot Families and Guardians,

You may not feel like it but we only have a few more months of school and
now is the time that we begin to look  forward to ascertain what Cabot PTO
positions need to be filled for the next school year. I know that you are
busy but we would appreciate a few moments of your time in looking at the
information below. As we progress through the school year we will continue
to advertise the positions that become vacant. This list is our initial
assessment and more information about them can be found at
<http://www.cabotpto.org/about_us.htm> http://www.cabotpto.org/about_us.htm


 

Remember that all the wonderful programs and opportunities provide to all of
our children at Cabot by the PTO are run by parent volunteers just like you.
There are opportunities for everyone regardless of their individual
situations. We want to ensure that we can maintain these wonderful
experiences for our children by filling these positions. Mary Kathryn and I
thank you in appreciation of your time and consideration.

 

Current PTO Positions Open 

-    PTO Co-President - see information about this opportunity at the bottom
of this email

-    Cabot Goods - look after merchandising and sales to community          

-    Photography Co-ordinator - ensure each Cabot event is captured and
display using a team of photographers 

-    Playground - spearhead the effort to keep our playground safe and
functional

-    Understanding Our Differences - using grade volunteers co-ordinate this
worthwhile program which provides our children with insight into individual
differences

 

********

 

Wanted: Cabot School PTO Co-President

We are searching for a PTO co-president to serve a two-year term beginning
in September 2007.  We need a creative and dedicated soul to step up to the
plate and take on this very important responsibility.  Please read the
attached job description and pros and cons (as viewed by the current
co-presidents).  If you are interested in serving, please nominate yourself.
If you know of someone who might be a good candidate for this job, please
nominate him or her.  

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any of the following
people:

Current Co-Presidents

Jo Doherty               617-332-1530
<mailto:jcdoherty11 at comcast.net> jcdoherty11 at comcast.net 

Mary Kathryn Fallon        617-244-1821
<mailto:marykathf at aol.com> marykathf at aol.com

 

Past Co-Presidents

Sally Brickell            617-527-5438
<mailto:brickland6 at rcn.com> brickland6 at rcn.com 

Margaret Hannah         617-332-6514
<mailto:marghann at aol.com> marghann at aol.com

Marguerite Ingram   617-969-8166                    <mailto:mingram at rcn.com>
mingram at rcn.com 

Carolyn Moss            617-928-0267
<mailto:megumimoss at comcast.net> megumimoss at comcast.net 

Reenie Murphy         617-332-5272
<mailto:reenie.murphy at comcast.net> reenie.murphy at comcast.net 

Betsy Nurczynski      617-964-7612
<mailto:nurczynski at comcast.net> nurczynski at comcast.net 

Janet Porcaro            617-964-9592
<mailto:janet at janetporcaro.net> janet at janetporcaro.net 

Joan Ruttenberg          617-630-0095
<mailto:jerutt at aol.com> jerutt at aol.com 

                

Please leave the following information in the PTO mailbox in the school
office, for the attention of Jo Doherty or Mary Kathryn Fallon.     

****************************************************************************
*******


I nominate

 

for the position of Cabot School PTO Co-President


Your name:

 


Phone number:

 


Email:

 

 




Cabot School PTO Co-President Job Description

 

Length of term:                                    Two years

Time commitment:                   10-12 hours per week, on average
 (some weeks as low as 6 hours, some as higher)

Necessary qualifications:         A passion for Cabot School, high energy
level, ability to prioritize (there will always be more to do than is
humanly possible to accomplish), good sense of humor, strong support network
on the home front, flexibility and willingness to do whatever needs to be
done (no job too menial!), e-mail access 

Responsibilities (shared by the co-presidents as they see fit)

Meetings
Frequency        Time of Day


Meetings with Principal Marilynne Smith Quarcoo
Bi-monthly        Daytime

New Family Welcoming Picnic (conduct school tours)     September
Daytime

Back-to-School Night PTO Open House                         October
Evening

Cabot School Council meetings
Monthly         Evening

Newton PTO Council meetings                                        Monthly
Evening

Cabot School PTO meetings
Generally 6 to 7 a year & can be at various times

PTO committee meetings
As needed         Varies

Community events (e.g., programs, dance, etc.)                  Periodic
Evening

 

Communications

*	Assist with the production/distribution of Cabot School Handbook
(September) 
*	Produce and distribute PTO Welcome information packet
(August-September) 
*	Write communication emails & oversee monthly Jabberwock (alternate
with co-pres) 
*	Keep parents informed about school events and issues via a variety
of communication channels  
*	Keep the Cabot community informed about city-wide school-related
issues 

Budget

*	Prepare annual PTO budget, including fundraising plan 
*	Oversee PTO fundraising and spending on ongoing basis to stay within
budget 

Committees

*	Recruit committee leadership  (delegate, delegate, delegate . . .) 
*	Coordinate planning, scheduling and activities across committees 
*	Assist with committee work and Cabot events as needed 

Other

*	Respond to special requests for assistance from Cabot staff and
parents 




 

Pros & Cons of being a Cabot PTO Co-President

 

PROS (or "The Ten Best Things about Being Co-President")

1.	You have the privilege of getting to know and working closely with a
dedicated, forward-thinking principal who also happens to have a great sense
of humor (Marilynne Smith Quarcoo), exceptionally capable and committed
office staff (Deb Driscoll, Betsy Nurczynski, and Margaret Hannah), and a
group of teachers and staff whose dedication to the children of Cabot is
uplifting. 
2.	You gain a much deeper understanding of and appreciation for what it
takes to keep Cabot School running smoothly. 
3.	You feel the personal satisfaction of doing your part (however
small) to keep Cabot School running smoothly. 
4.	You are given the opportunity to get to know many more Cabot
families and all the talented and caring parents who give precious time to
support the school. 
5.	Through involvement in organizations like the Newton PTO Council,
you gain insight into the Newton school system as a whole, and you have
access to decision-makers like Superintendent Jeff Young and members of the
School Committee. 
6.	You have an opportunity to influence decisions that affect our
children now and in the future, at Cabot School and throughout the Newton
school system. 
7.	You attend more meetings and PTO educational programs, and while you
may grumble a bit about arranging for childcare, once you start attending
these meetings, you discover the joys of lifelong learning and your children
take notice! 
8.	Never again will you risk missing the great fun of events like the
community supper, family dance, METCO spring dance, teacher appreciation
luncheon, and the fair-you will be there! 
9.	You have the perfect excuse to procrastinate on all your other
projects and chores.  After all, which is more important, Cabot School or a
clean basement? 
10.	You are never lonely, and you are blessed with a new buddy:  your
co-president! 

 

CONS (What cons?)

*	You might find you don't have quite as much free time as you used
to, but free time only gets you in trouble, right? 
*	It may be a few years before your children will understand that you
are doing this for their benefit, but they will come around. 
*	You can't win:  people will think you're crazy to do this job, but
at the same time, you'd be crazy not to do it! 

 

(Updated 3/28/07)

 

 

Jo Doherty

Cabot PTO Co-President

11 Leonard Avenue,

West Newton, MA 02465

617-332-1530

jcdoherty11 at comcast.net

 

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