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PTO / Volunteer

Rutherford PTO Mission Statement

The Rutherford School Parent Teacher Organization (Rutherford PTO) is an organization that strives to work in collaboration with parents, teachers, and school administration to promote the welfare of our students across home, school, and the community. Our mission is to create a sense of community, to foster wellness, ensure health and safety, and to identify and build upon the strengths of our school community so that all students feel safe, welcome, and confident in their ability to succeed. We aim to provide support and resources so all students obtain skills for responsible citizenship and those promoted by Rutherford Elementary—to be honest and to do their best, to show respect for others, and to make good choices, accepting the rewards and consequences of those choices.

We are a non-profit all-volunteer, parent-run organization dedicated to enhancing and enriching the educational and social experiences of our student body by:

  • Fostering communication between parents, teachers, and school administration through monthly meetings and family engagement activities
  • Providing educational and enrichment opportunities for students and their parents, such as field trips, stimulating presentations, and sourcing & sharing parenting resources
  • Demonstrating commitment to and appreciation of our educational and school staff through staff appreciation events and/or provision of items on teacher wish lists
  • Bridging the financial gap to provide resources to Rutherford Elementary for the support and education of our students, families, and teachers that are not otherwise sufficiently provided or otherwise supplied

Our 2021-2022 objectives include:

  • Increasing parent participation and involvement in PTO meetings and activities through the use of multi-media announcements and communication forums, monthly meetings, and flyers or publications sent home with students; incentives for parent participation; providing volunteer opportunities; and fee-free, obligation-free membership to the PTO.
  • Providing information and support for parents in the areas of technology, mental and physical health, and various modes of learning as we continue to navigate challenges related to COVID-19 and other world changes.
  • Fostering student motivation and demonstrate teacher support by helping provide PBIS rewards/prizes, purchasing items for classrooms, hosting staff appreciation events, promoting spirit wear sales, and providing support for the Student Advisory Committee (SAC) activities and needs.
  • Raising funds which help support efforts to provide equitable provision of educational resources and improve our school campus and community with activities.
  • Promoting and organizing parent/teacher/student activities which may include, but are not limited to bookfairs, May fair, End-of-School-Year celebrations, classroom and holiday parties or social events, or family engagement activities.