PS 397 Spruce Street School NYC PTA

What we do

Spruce Street School is a New York City Public School. It means it gets its funding from the Department of Education (DoE) of our city, like all public schools - that is, from the taxes we all pay. Unfortunately, DoE funds do not cover all the expenses that the school needs to be such an amazing learning community. And that's where we jump in.

Professional development for teachers? That’s on us.
Librarian and library equipment? Yup, that’s us.
Student enrichment such as chess and dance? You guessed it.
What about recess staff, lice checks, IT support, and all sorts of supplies? Still the PTA.
Events for teachers? Workshops for parents? Same again.
Financial support for families in need? We fund it through the school Parent Coordinator.

And there's more. So much more it wouldn't fit on this page.

How we fund what we do

OK, so all that is pretty amazing, but it's also expensive. We invest hundreds of thousands of dollars every year, for every child in every grade. We organize fundraisers (which aren't just fundraisers - they are also sensational community-building events) and we campaign for donations from our families and corporate sponsorships. If you can, please donate to the PTA. It makes all the difference.

How to get involved

All parents (or legally appointed guardians or persons in parental relation) to students currently attending Spruce Street School, and all Spruce Street School teachers are automatically members of the Spruce Street School PTA. No membership form is necessary. Just click here to know more.

So just jump in and help. Volunteer your time. Come to meetings. Give your thoughts. Ask questions. Donate what you can. The Spruce Street PTA makes wonderful investments in our children and our community, but we only can do that if we do it together.

We hold a monthly meeting (General PTA Meeting - see schedule) where all are invited. We usually have a report from the school Principal, a financial update on the PTA and updates on all issues concerning the school and activities organized by the PTA. It's a very good place to start.

While you're at it, you could also follow us on Facebook and on Instagram.