Dear Lake Shore Parents,
It is Staff Appreciation season! We celebrated May 11-15 with a different theme each day for our amazing staff. We are NOT ASKING for any donations for Staff Appreciation week - this is fully funded by PTO memberships and donations to the Raider Fund.
Instead, we are asking that you consider chipping in to make our teachers' everyday work day a little more comfortable and welcoming.
The PTO normally budgets $5000 each year for a gift to the school. We have not actually purchased a gift for the past two school years.
At the May PTO meeting, members voted to spend up to $13,500 on all new furniture for the Lake Shore Staff Lounge. Many of the staff do not actually spend a lot of time in the lounge - maybe some pictures will help you understand the current status. It feels like a hodgepodge of leftover furniture.
We have the money to do this, but we also want to give a little cushion to next year's PTO Board. We are hoping to raise about $4000 by June 7.
The PTO would like to make this a space where all staff feel comfortable to eat, socialize, and gather for events such as meetings over a meal, baby showers, birthdays, etc. These are events that build teamwork, collaboration, and lend to a supportive working environment. We believe Happy Teachers = Happy Students, and the PTO is excited to show our appreciation for all staff members in this way.
We plan to purchase the following: 4 low tables with 16 chairs, 3 high tables with 9 chairs, a couch, two side chairs, two end tables, coffee table, and 2 height adjustable long tables as an expanded countertop. The new furniture would be accompanied by an updated sink and fresh paint, paid for by the school. We are also hoping to have a small area rug, two table lamps, and student art on the walls. Teachers that have heard about this plan are very excited!
Middle school is hard. Let's join together to give a long lasting gift to those that spend all day, every day with middle schoolers. They deserve all the thanks we can give!
Other ideas for gifts to the school are percolating - with your continued membership and investment in the PTO, we plan to research and move forward on a gaga ball pit next year! https://www.gagacenter.com/nyc/about/what-is-gaga/
THANK YOU!
The PTO Board
