What does the
Maple Hills PTA do?
Programs and Events
Making It Happen: The Maple Hills PTA provides many programs, events, funding and services to further enrich the education and well-being of our children. The PTA also focuses on improving communication with families about district issues, local issues, and parent education. The PTA activities directly enhance the lives of the students of Maple Hills through the work of the many volunteers who make it all happen, and the generosity of our community.
Art Docent: Volunteers with an interest in art willing to spend 30-45 minutes in the classroom each month to conduct a mini art lesson or assist the teachers on special projects.
Auction: Primary fundraising event for the PTA held every other year. Items auctioned include classroom projects as well as items and services donated by families and community businesses.
Awards: PTA's annual Golden Acorn Award and the Eagle Award, are for volunteers who have given exemplary service to children in our school community. The Outstanding Educator Award is awarded each year, staff members who have been recognized by families and staff for contributing to the excellence of education are recognized with a plaque and gift.
Book Fair: Scholastic Book Fair is held in the Fall and in the Spring. The School library and Eagle Reader program receive Scholastic credit from the book sales.
Bus Greeter: During the first of week of school, volunteers who can help students find their classrooms in the morning and assigned buses when school is dismissed.
Classroom Enrichment: The PTA provides each staff member a budget for purchasing materials for their classroom. This is the largest PTA budget item, directly impacting each classroom.
Computers/Technology: The PTA contributes money to the school technology funding to cover some expenses not covered by state or federal funding. An example is ink cartridges, but can also include software or other PC-related expenses.
Eagle Reader: This is a reading incentive program held October through April. For a minimum amount of minutes read each month, students can choose a book to keep.
Eagle Sales: Sweatshirts, t-shirts, pencils, and other items with the Maple Hills Logo. Sales occur during school events and through order forms sent home with students.
Emergency Preparedness: Maple Hills has an emergency container, stocked with supplies to care for staff & students for 3 days.
Field Day: Event held at the end of the school year with various outdoor and indoor stations for tug of war, hurdles, sack races, etc.
Field Trips: The PTA contributes money each year to the school to defray some of the expenses for field trips, thereby reducing the cost to families.
Fifth Grade Camp: Each Fall, fifth graders have the opportunity to attend Camp with the 5th grade staff for a fun and educational 3 days. (This is a PTA supported program.)
Fifth Grade Celebration: Celebration for 5th graders at the end of the year before they move on to middle school.
Financial Review: Consists of a minimum of three PTA members who review the PTA's books and records once each year using a financial review checklist provided by the State PTA office.
Garden Docent: Volunteers work closely with April Stevens, our staff garden liaison, and help plan classroom projects involving the garden.
Humanitarian: Works with the school district representative to provide humanitarian projects with the intention of creating humanitarians within our school.
Ice Skating Party: An evening of fun for Maple Hills families at Castle Ice.
Issaquah Schools Foundation: Works with other district ISF volunteers to help raise funds for Issaquah schools. Represents Maple Hills and brings information to the Board of Directors as needed. PTA makes an annual donation to the Foundation whose money benefits all students in the Issaquah School District.
Kindergarten Round-up: Each spring volunteers register incoming kindergartners with the assistance of the Maple Hills office staff.
Legislative Representative: This person monitors legislative issues that affect our children and encourages voting participation on such issues at the local level.
Library Docent: Organize volunteers to assist the librarian.
Math Club: Works with volunteers to organize and run math activities before or after school.
Math Team: One team each from the 4th and 5th grades. Work with students and faculty to prepare a team of students for local, regional, or state math competitions.
Music Enrichment Program: A grant was made by the George C. Clark Foundation for the purchase of musical instruments to be used by all students in their music classes at Maple Hills.
Nominating Committee: Solicits nominations for the PTA Executive Committee for the following year.
Operational costs: These are required for the day-to-day expenses of the PTA, they include: photocopying, supplies and postage, insurance, bank service fees, past president pin, regulatory filing fees, humanitarian needs, internet and website fees, and auction pay.
Passive Fundraisers: PACE, eScrips, Box Tops, Issaquah Press, fundraising with no fuss. Please visit our website to find information on how to sign up.
Parent Education: PTA-sponsored presentations, materials, classes, etc for the education and welfare of parents and families. PTSA Council also sponsors Parent Ed. for the district.
Patrol: 5th grade students have the opportunity to keep other students safe by performing Patrol duties at the start and end of each day, helping students safely cross streets and the school bus lane. This is a PTA supported program.
Pizza & Bingo Night: Fun Spring event for families and staff to enjoy pizza, play bingo and win prizes.
Popcorn: Volunteers sell popcorn at lunch on Fridays, generally every 2 weeks. Popcorn is 25 cents.
PTA Newsletter: Monthly newsletter updating families on PTA and school activities. Newsletter Editor coordinates with Committee Chairs and Board Members to provide a PTA informational Newsletter to the students, family, and community members of Maple Hills Elementary. Photocopies are made available for pick up at the school.
Available online at www.maplehillspta.com.
PTA Conventions and Training Conferences: Throughout the year, WSPTA, Issaquah Council PTSA, and our local unit sponsors conferences and conventions that provide training, as well as educating parents about education related issues in our state and district.
Reading Zone: Money is donated to the school for additional support in the classroom.
Reflections: National PTA program promoting students of all ages being involved in the many art forms. PTA Council Representative communicates with our PTA on yearly theme, accepts entries and submits them to district level.
Science Enrichment: Volunteers with an interest in science spend 30-45 minutes per month in the classroom conducting experiments or assisting the teacher with science projects.
Science Fair: Students who wish to do science experiments display their project. In the evening PTA invites science-related organizations to come present and share with families.
Site Council Representative: This representative is a member of the PTA and provides PTA representation on the Maple Hills Site Council. The Council meets monthly to discuss school issues.
Sock Hop: Fall event of fun to kick off the new school year.
Spring Dessert: This Spring event is held in conjunction with the Art Walk, offering treats to all who come.
Staff Appreciation: Annual week set aside in the spring to recognize our hardworking staff. Possible events include breakfast for staff, lunch for staff, washing staff cars, goodies for staff, posters around school, flower bouquets brought by students, etc.
Student Art Murals: Each year a handful of students’ artwork is nominated by the staff to be framed and displayed in the school hallways. The PTA covers the expense for framing.
Student Directory: Student directory containing pertinent school information as well as the names and phone numbers of families who have joined PTA.
Student Enrichment: Quality guest performers, school assemblies, or evening speakers to enrich the student’s education. Pacific Science Center comes every other year for 2 days of hands-on science fun and learning.
Variety Show: Students audition and perform their many talents for their peers, family and friends at an evening performance.
VIS Liaison: VIS, Volunteers for Issaquah Schools, is a local non-profit organization that works to raise awareness of bond and levy activity in the Issaquah district. The PTA liaison coordinates all bond / levy campaign activities for our PTA, which may include: communicating the issues of the levy to the PTA; doing a PTA mailing; recruiting volunteers for phone banks, mailing prep, sign posting, poll watching, honk & wave or possible doorbelling; help with fundraising; and attend VIS meetings. www.visvote.org An annual donation is made by the PTA.
Volunteer Recognition: PTA hosts a small party to recognize the many volunteers who make all the PTA programs and events possible at the end of the year, as well as thank you notes and appreciation gifts throughout the year.
Walk-A-Thon: Fundraiser for PTA held every other year, if needed. Students raise pledges, and walk laps around the school.
Yearbook: School yearbook coordinated and sold by PTA.
Young Authors: Pay for an author to visit our school one day during the school year to give workshops on writing. Coordinates with Poetry month.
