PTA Happenings
​​Thank you  to all PTA members who have participated this year - both in raising funds to enrich the learning of all of our kids, and in continuing to build the supportive and involved community of Spruce Street's families and staff.

And what a year it has been!
  • Our gross profit for the year was the highest in our school's history, and 20% above our original budget. With a predicted large drop in support from corporate sponsors this year, we were projecting a very different end result last Fall...
  • The Direct Appeal, which is the single highest source of PTA income, raised close to $175k; 46% higher than projected. And our push to raise our family contribution rate beyond a previous average of around 30%, resulted in us achieving 48% in the last two weeks. In a maturing school, this is something we are really proud of.
  • With early budget pressures, the chairs of our major events pulled out all stops, reducing expenses and increasing revenue, while still delivering on all the fun expected by our fortunate Spruce St community - Gala made 22% above budget ($130k), Spooktacular was 89% above budget (earning $13k), and Carnival was 46% above budget (at just over $6.5k).
  • As well as improving the efficacy of a range of fundraisers, we added additional ones - with the standout being the Readathon, earning $12.5k.
Congratulations to every involved PTA member - that's all of you! - for such fantastic results.

Next year will be bigger still... 

We'll be the largest school we've ever been, with our first 8th grade. We'll be looking at new enrichment programs for all, and particularly the lower elementary school, as well as more social fundraising events aimed at our older middle school students.

We'll continue to seek the help of the whole parent body, whether in contributions of money or of time, to reach these higher goals next year.

Some dates to note for PTA Events:
  • September 7 - Welcome Back to School Breakfast, 8:40 am
  • September 14 - Cheese and Wine at Spruce 6:30 pm
  • October 21 - Taste of the Seaport
  • October 28 - Spooktacular
  • Week of December 4 - Book Fair
  • February 10 - Middle School Dance
  • February 14 - Friendship Day
  • March 24 - Gala
  • Week of May 21 - Read-a-Thon
  • May 19 - Spring Carnival (K-5)
  • TBD - Yearbook Signing Party


If you'd like your contact details available to other parents in the school - be it for arranging playdates or being invited to birthday parties - remember to click here to fill in your details.  Once you're done for this year, we won't ask you to resubmit again unless your details have changed. Remember you can withhold any specifics you don't feel comfortable sharing, and we'll all need a link or password to access the finished directory - no public access.​

PTA General Info

All parents, legally appointed guardians, persons in parental relation to students currently attending Spruce Street School, and teachers are automatically a member of the Spruce Street School PTA; no membership form is necessary.​

Meetings

The PTA holds a monthly meeting (General PTA Meeting - see schedule) where all are invited. The meetings have a report from Principal Nancy, a financial report of the PTA, and address current issues concerning the school & PTA. Attendance is encouraged to stay in the know about happenings at the school and to meet with other Spruce parents.

Governance

The PTA is governed by the Spruce PTA by-laws, written/updated by the PTA Executive Board (EB) and filed with the Department of Education (DOE) of the State of New York. The PTA EB are volunteer parents elected to perform the roles needed to run the PTA, a Delaware 501(c)3 Nonprofit.

Elections for the EB take place at the end of the current school year for next fiscal year.  
​Elected EB members begin their one year roles each July 1st (PTA fiscal year is: July 1 - June 30).

Events

​The PTA runs many events throughout the year with 2 main objectives:
  1. To enhance, foster and grow the Spruce community
  2. To raise funds for PTA budgeted programs & expenses
To be involved in an event, volunteer to join an event committee here.

Communication

The PTA sends announcements by: 
  • Your child's school folder 
  • Via email
  • Posts to the website
If you aren't receiving PTA communications please contact the school to make sure your contact information is up to date.

Funding

​The PTA spends hundreds of thousands of dollars every year on programs and events for every child in every grade. Many of the activities and programs would not be possible without the funding from the PTA. There is no obligation on the part of parents to donate to the PTA, however, the PTA can only exist with your support.

Involvement

Get involved. Volunteer your time. Come to meetings. Read the minutes. Fill out an SLT card giving your thoughts. Jump in and help. Ask questions. Donate when you're able. The PTA makes wonderful investments in our children and our community.

Resources