Parent/Teacher Organization

The JDS-PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) is a very active organization. Throughout the school year we sponsor various activities including the Back-to-School Barbeque which is held on the evening of the first day of school and the ever-popular Lag B’Omer Field Day in the spring. We also help pay for field trips, purchase classroom items that are requested by teachers, provide holiday gift bags for the students, and much more. We hold fund raisers during the year to support all of this.

The PTO is a great way to be involved at the JDS. We organize volunteers for many different jobs throughout the year. We are always looking for people to help organize and run fundraisers and events; make phone calls; and assist with large jobs, such as helping students and parents shop during Book Fair and/or keeping an eye on the activities during field day. Last year we started a new opportunity with our Cafeteria Volunteers…..every day we have one volunteer assisting with final-preparations and serving the school lunch – this new opportunity has been a big hit with both our volunteers and our students.
Volunteering for the PTO is easy. Volunteer forms are sent out in a PTO Summer Packet before the start of every school year. Also – volunteers are solicited either by phone or through email and flyers distributed on an as-needed basis. Anyone wishing to volunteer at any other time can simply send their name, phone number (and/or email address), and what they would like to assist with to the JDS office in an envelope marked “JDS-PTO Volunteer”. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles – anyone interested in the JDS – are all welcome to volunteer.

The PTO also provides many extras for our students by giving holiday treats to each student (or family) throughout the year and providing “wish list” items requested by teachers for their classrooms. In recent years we have purchased several items that are used by most (or all) students and teachers: basketball hoops sized for the younger grades; a Die Cutter machine and shapes (used to cut out Letters and Shapes that teachers use for display boards and projects); a new kiln for the art room; and sponsoring food for the Yom Haatzmaut celebrations. The PTO also paid the balance for the weather station at the JDS that is becoming a teaching tool for every grade.

Fundraisers are held throughout the year to pay for all these exciting programs and items. The PTO tries to offer varied items so that everyone can find something they like. While we never require participation in any of our fundraisers we do hope that if an item we are selling interests someone that they will purchase it from us so that OUR CHILDREN benefit. Donations are also welcome at any time.