Hello, Border Star Families!
As the newly elected PTA President, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the 2019-2020 school year at Border Star Montessori. Our family is starting our 4th year at Border Star with sons in kindergarten and 2nd grade. (And we have a one-year-old daughter who will start in a few years!) Whether you’re a new family or returning for the 10th year, I am so excited to have you all as a part of the Border Star community!
The purpose of the PTA is to support the faculty, staff, parents, and most especially our students. Our Mission and Vision Statements are as follows:
PTA Vision Statement
Border Star Montessori will be a first choice elementary school for Kansas City families. The PTA will support a vibrant and diverse community of students, families, and teachers by providing outstanding opportunities to foster a love of learning, practice healthy choices, and actively participate in our local and global community.
PTA Mission Statement
The mission of Border Star Montessori PTA is to:
This school year is bringing a number of changes to our school in terms of new administration and several new teachers. I ask for patience and understanding as new staff work to establish relationships and set up their own procedures and practices. An important role of the PTA is to help families feel welcome and to successfully navigate the new processes and expectations. We invite new families (or returning families who’d like a little extra info) to register to receive the New Parent emails, designed to help you understand how things work at Border Star--including the rules for spirit wear Fridays, classroom parties, the winter holiday program, and school pick-up and drop-off procedures, just to name a few. (Sign up HERE) If you ever have a school-related question or suggestion, feel free to email the PTA at borderstarpta@gmail.com. We will do our best to answer your question or forward it on to the appropriate school staff member. In addition, we try to provide parent education opportunities through the school year to help parents unfamiliar with the Montessori philosophy have some hands-on experience with Montessori lessons and materials.
We know that the support and involvement of the parents of our students, the faculty and staff at Border Star, as well as the business leaders in our community are crucial to our success. There will be several opportunities throughout the year to participate in fundraising opportunities, donate money or goods, or volunteer at events to help us fulfill our mission. Every event you choose to participate in shows our students how important their education is to you. While I certainly know how hard it is for working parents to add commitments to their busy schedules (my husband and I both have full-time jobs!), we work to make involvement in PTA activities as rewarding as possible, and we try to design them to fit a wide range of commitment levels and schedules.
One of the primary ways the PTA supports Border Star students and staff is through fundraising--and we have some really fun fundraisers! Some of the things we have provided funding for recently include:
Your first opportunity to show your support will be to become a member of the Border Star Montessori School PTA, which will allow you the opportunity to vote on the PTA budget and have a voice in the activities we sponsor and support. (Thanks to those of you who already have!) We encourage each of you to show your commitment by joining. Dues are only $5 per person, $10 for a family, and $25 for a business. You can fill out a membership form on our website (borderstarpta.org), in person at one of the back-to-school events, or by returning a paper form to the office or your child’s teacher.
We believe that it is so important that we do everything we can to enhance our children’s learning environment and to support the teachers who guide them in their learning each day. It will take all of us working together to ensure that this happens. I look forward to working with you this year!
Thanks for all you do!
Jessica Hutton, PTA President
Important Links:
New parent email sign-up: NEW Parent Emails
Email the PTA with questions or comments at: borderstarpta@gmail.com
Important Dates:
First general PTA meeting*: Thursday, September 5, 6:00 pm
Border Star Open House: Thursday, August 22, 5:30 pm
Back to School Barbeque: Friday, September 20, 6:00 pm
*PTA meetings will be held the first Thursday of the month. They are open to all Border Star families and staff. Dinner is provided at 5:30 p.m., and the business meeting begins at 6:00. Childcare is provided by LINC during the meeting for school-age children.
As the newly elected PTA President, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the 2019-2020 school year at Border Star Montessori. Our family is starting our 4th year at Border Star with sons in kindergarten and 2nd grade. (And we have a one-year-old daughter who will start in a few years!) Whether you’re a new family or returning for the 10th year, I am so excited to have you all as a part of the Border Star community!
The purpose of the PTA is to support the faculty, staff, parents, and most especially our students. Our Mission and Vision Statements are as follows:
PTA Vision Statement
Border Star Montessori will be a first choice elementary school for Kansas City families. The PTA will support a vibrant and diverse community of students, families, and teachers by providing outstanding opportunities to foster a love of learning, practice healthy choices, and actively participate in our local and global community.
PTA Mission Statement
The mission of Border Star Montessori PTA is to:
- Make all Border Star families feel welcome and valued
- Support teachers’ classroom projects, field trips, training, and other needs to ensure students have the best learning opportunities
- Foster the involvement and support of our local business and civic leaders in our students’ success
- Shine a light on the benefits and opportunities available within the Kansas City Public School system
This school year is bringing a number of changes to our school in terms of new administration and several new teachers. I ask for patience and understanding as new staff work to establish relationships and set up their own procedures and practices. An important role of the PTA is to help families feel welcome and to successfully navigate the new processes and expectations. We invite new families (or returning families who’d like a little extra info) to register to receive the New Parent emails, designed to help you understand how things work at Border Star--including the rules for spirit wear Fridays, classroom parties, the winter holiday program, and school pick-up and drop-off procedures, just to name a few. (Sign up HERE) If you ever have a school-related question or suggestion, feel free to email the PTA at borderstarpta@gmail.com. We will do our best to answer your question or forward it on to the appropriate school staff member. In addition, we try to provide parent education opportunities through the school year to help parents unfamiliar with the Montessori philosophy have some hands-on experience with Montessori lessons and materials.
We know that the support and involvement of the parents of our students, the faculty and staff at Border Star, as well as the business leaders in our community are crucial to our success. There will be several opportunities throughout the year to participate in fundraising opportunities, donate money or goods, or volunteer at events to help us fulfill our mission. Every event you choose to participate in shows our students how important their education is to you. While I certainly know how hard it is for working parents to add commitments to their busy schedules (my husband and I both have full-time jobs!), we work to make involvement in PTA activities as rewarding as possible, and we try to design them to fit a wide range of commitment levels and schedules.
One of the primary ways the PTA supports Border Star students and staff is through fundraising--and we have some really fun fundraisers! Some of the things we have provided funding for recently include:
- New PA system for the auditorium, which Mrs. Heironemous uses for the children’s school programs
- Funds for teachers to buy supplemental classroom supplies
- Reimbursement for certain teacher professional development opportunities
- Field trips
- A spirit wear t-shirt for each student, provided free-of-charge
- Funds for the 6th grade Model Montessori UN trip to New York
- Outdoor play equipment such as tetherball poles and soccer goals
- Teacher appreciation activities and special staff recognitions
Your first opportunity to show your support will be to become a member of the Border Star Montessori School PTA, which will allow you the opportunity to vote on the PTA budget and have a voice in the activities we sponsor and support. (Thanks to those of you who already have!) We encourage each of you to show your commitment by joining. Dues are only $5 per person, $10 for a family, and $25 for a business. You can fill out a membership form on our website (borderstarpta.org), in person at one of the back-to-school events, or by returning a paper form to the office or your child’s teacher.
We believe that it is so important that we do everything we can to enhance our children’s learning environment and to support the teachers who guide them in their learning each day. It will take all of us working together to ensure that this happens. I look forward to working with you this year!
Thanks for all you do!
Jessica Hutton, PTA President
Important Links:
New parent email sign-up: NEW Parent Emails
Email the PTA with questions or comments at: borderstarpta@gmail.com
Important Dates:
First general PTA meeting*: Thursday, September 5, 6:00 pm
Border Star Open House: Thursday, August 22, 5:30 pm
Back to School Barbeque: Friday, September 20, 6:00 pm
*PTA meetings will be held the first Thursday of the month. They are open to all Border Star families and staff. Dinner is provided at 5:30 p.m., and the business meeting begins at 6:00. Childcare is provided by LINC during the meeting for school-age children.