The Cupertino Courier

PTAs Þll in the gaps to help local schools

By Katherine Petersen

Schools need a lot more money than they get, and Parent-Teacher Associations fill in a lot of the gaps.

This year, PTAs celebrate their 100th birthday. The Collins School PTA funds music and P.E. programs, pays for library assistants and buys computers.

"Our principal gives us a wish list, and we do what we can to fulfill it," said Lavanya Noor, president of the Collins PTA.

Collins' major fundraiser this year will be a walkathon held on Oct. 25 at the school. Kids, siblings, parents and grandparents get sponsors for a certain amount of money per lap, and then they walk.

"The kids go like Energizer Bunnies, and there's no stopping them. It's a carnival-like atmosphere," she said. The PTA rents snow cone and cotton candy machines as well as selling donated drinks, pizza and baked goods, Noor said. The Collins PTA raised $20,000 at last year's walkathon.

The PTA's goals are not all financial. This year, one of the goals is to increase school spirit, Noor said.

"We have intra-class activities planned that will involve the whole school," Noor said. "We've planned things that would put kids in competition with one another in a healthy fashion." Some of the ideas include debates and spelling bees.

Kids are encouraged to buy Collins School T-shirts and to wear them on Fridays and on field trips, Noor said. The PTA doesn't profit from T-shirt sales, but the member hopes that they will help kids feel a "greater sense of belonging."

The association is always looking for volunteers to do a range of things.

"We need help stapling and photocopying in the office and tutoring children in reading and math. If you think of it, there's an area of need. We want to have as many people as possible inquire about our needs, and we'll take over from there," Noor said.

The Collins PTA will hold its next meeting on Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. at the school, 10401 Vista Drive. For more information on this PTA, call Lavanya Noor at 343-3811.

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