The Bowen PTO is the parent-teacher organization of the Bowen Elementary School, one of fifteen public elementary schools in Newton, Massachusetts. All Bowen parents and teachers are members of the PTO.
Activities
Major initiatives of the Bowen PTO include:
- Communications with parents via email notices and this website
- Student/family directory
- Room Parents – Room Parents’ Guide 2011-2012
- Faculty and staff appreciation events
- Creative Arts and Sciences program
- Parent community events
- Improvements to school building and grounds
- Providing supplies for classrooms
- Library support and book sale fundraising
- Acquisition of information technology for classrooms
- Year-end activities.
Budget
Each year in May, the PTO Board develops and approves a budget for the upcoming school year. Any PTO member may make recommendations to the budget.
2011-12 Budget – Proposed vs YTD (12/16) 2010-11 Budget – final 2009-10 budget finalHow You Can Help
The Bowen PTO is a volunteer organization. Without the financial support and time contributed by Bowen families, none of these activities would be possible.
Annual Contributions: The Bowen PTO relies on annual contributions made by families early in the school year and on fundraisers throughout the year. To continue to succeed, we ask for broad participation by most families and generous contributions above the suggested minimum from all who can make them. Please contribute either online at the PTO website or by check made out to “Bowen PTO” and sent to the main office with a Direct-Campaign-letter (PDF) that is distributed to families in the back-to-school packet at the beginning of the school year.
Volunteering: There are many ways in which parents can provide valuable support to Bowen on a short-term or ongoing basis, both at the school and from home. Please let us know how you can help with: teacher-appreciation events, parent community events, speaker series, library support, NewtonServes Day renovations, year-end activities, communications, or whatever time or expertise you can provide, etc.
Board Members
Co-Presidents: Maria Arvelo and Shirley Harris
Email address: bowenpto@gmail.com
Treasurer: Laurie Utstein
Committees
| Committee | Committee Chair(s) 2011-2012 | Committee Members 2011-2012 |
| Back-to-School Letters/Donation Letter(s) | PTO | |
| Back-to-School Picnic | ||
| BASCP Liaison | Debby Carr | |
| Book Fair | Amy Less, Elizabeth Dowd | |
| Book/Game/Puzzle Swap | Eileen Sweeny | |
| BowenNotes Classifieds | ||
| BoweNotes – Editorial | Ladan Mestchian | |
| BoweNotes – Email Distribution | Ladan Mestchian | |
| Bowenotes PTO letter | PTO | |
| Budget | Treasurer | |
| Color Day | Susan Amster, Jodi Riseberg | |
| Copying Helpers | ||
| Creative Arts & Sciences Programming | Portia Durbin, Anne Sperry | Rachel Sarvey |
| Crisis Committee | PTO | |
| Directory (need two) | Holly Howe, Minda Moshe | |
| Directory Ad Sales | Angela Halliwell | |
| Distribution of Money to teachers | Amy Less | |
| Election Day Bake Sale | Thea Perez | |
| Email List Manager | Minda Moshe | |
| General Mills Box Top Collection | Elizabeth Dowd | |
| Gifts – Principal, Nurse, Administrators (May) | PTO | |
| Going Green (new for 2009/2010) | Pam Frorer | |
| Incoming Kindergarten Picnic | PTO | |
| International Pot Luck Dinner | Janie Ho, Kathe Bassett and Trish Loiselle | |
| Kindergarten Registration – Parent Greeters (3 mornings) | Jean Fulkerson | |
| Landscape | Ruth Goldman, Jenni Acosta, Elizabeth Bernhardt | Susan Barnhurst |
| Library | Jean Fulkerson, Brooke Herrell | Rachel Sarvey, Elizabeth Dowd |
| Lobby Displays | Jenni Acosta | |
| Lost and Found | Brooke Herrell | |
| Mini-grants | Lisa Terrezzi | Brooke Herrell |
| Halloween Night | Susan Barnhurst | |
| NewtonServes | Ruth Goldman, Jenni Acosta, Elizabeth Bernhardt | |
| Office Supplies Coordinator | Laurie Utstein | |
| Parent Coffee (first two mornings of school) | ||
| Progressive Dinner | Sue Flicop | Rachel Sarvey |
| Refreshment Committee (Curriculum Night, Kindergarten Info Night, Kindergarten Registration 3 mornings in March, Supplies Coordination) | Susan Barnhurst | |
| Room Parent Coordinator | Shara Ertel | |
| Social Action Committee | Jane Quinn | Angela Halliwell |
| Shopping Days (Learning Express, Whole Foods, etc) | ||
| Spring Fling | ||
| Spring Raffle | ||
| Staff Appreciation Lunches | Enid Levangie, Jennifer Heberlein | Elizabeth Dowd, Rachel Sarvey |
| Treasurer | ||
| Traffic & Safety | Sean Roche, Adam Peller | |
| Understanding Our Differences – 3rd grade | ||
| Understanding Our Differences – 4th grade | Susan Barnhurst | |
| Understanding Our Differences – 5th grade | ||
| Web Site (keep it updated w/latest forms and online calendar) | Thomas Materdey, John Sarvey | |
| Weekly Calendar/Email Announcements | PTO |