PTA

This chapter of the PTA works to help West End students have a successful, productive, and fun school year; the executive board, committees, and various volunteers work together to enhance the experiences of the students of West End.
 
The Mission of the National Parent Teacher Association is to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.

PTA Values:

• Collaboration: We will work in partnership with a wide array of individuals and organizations to broaden and enhance our ability to serve and advocate for all children and families.
• Commitment: We are dedicated to children’s educational success, health, and well-being through strong family and community engagement, while remaining accountable to the principles upon which our association was founded.
• Diversity: We acknowledge the potential of everyone without regard, including but not limited to: age, culture, economic status, educational background, ethnicity, gender, geographic location, legal status, marital status, mental ability, national origin, organizational position, parental status, physical ability, political philosophy, race, religion, sexual orientation, and work experience.
• Respect: We value the individual contributions of members, employees, volunteers, and partners as we work collaboratively to achieve our association’s goals.
• Accountability: All members, employees, volunteers, and partners have a shared responsibility to align their efforts toward the achievement of our association’s strategic initiatives.

Other ways to reach the PTA:

• WE Parents Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/wepta/
• Instagram: Follow @wePTAnp 
• Email: wepta@nplainfield.org (this is the best method to reach us)
• Send a note labeled "PTA" with your child and the main office will get it to us.

If you see us, stop us in the hall or on the playground at pick up or drop off - many of us are in the school daily.

We look forward to meeting all of you!

New to West End? Whether your child is a transfer student or just starting out in Kindergarten, there might be some lingo that leaves you feeling confused or some information you may have missed. Read on to find out some of the ins-and-outs-and-all-abouts of West End Elementary School, or as we like to call it, “WE”.

WE School Parents Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/wepta

About WE - Our school mascot is the Wildcat. Our school colors are maroon and gray and the paw print is our symbol.

Absent Students - If your child is going to be out sick, that morning you need to call school at 908-769-6083 ext.7118 to report them absent.

Arrival/Dismissal - Breakfast program runs from 7:30 - 8:15am. Regular arrival begins from 8:15- 8:25am, and regular dismissal is 2:35pm. Students who are not in the classroom by 8:25am will be marked tardy. If it is a 4-hour session day, dismissal is 12:25pm. Schools open at 10am when there is a delayed opening. A map of the dismissal doors by classroom can be found on the main page of the WE website under the “Our School” tab or by clicking here.

Crosswalks & Parking - It may seem like common sense, but all students and parents must cross streets at the crosswalks and yield to the crossing guards. Likewise, it is imperative that we all park legally and safely on the streets that surround our school. Double parking, especially on Greenbrook Rd. and Harrington Ave., will not be tolerated, and the police have been known to issue tickets. Please do not block school or house driveways.

The District Calendar is a valuable resource to you and your family. Most events and activities for every North Plainfield public school is listed on this calendar including arts events, PTA/PTO meetings, Board of Education meetings, Back to School nights, school pictures, fundraisers, sports schedules, when the schools are on 4-hour sessions or closed, and so much more. It is continuously updated throughout the year, and is available on WE website by clicking the “calendar” icon on the top of the main page or by clicking here.

Genesis - A district-wide web-based program that parents, teachers and staff use to make your child’s “file” easily accessible including: grades, attendance, assessments, discipline, and more. As they travel through our school system it is also where you can view their courses, schedules and forms. It is private and requires a log in and password to be set up. Links are available on the WE home page under the “District Shortcuts” header or by clicking here.

Honeywell - It is really important to sign up to be a part of the school district’s instant alert system. This is where you will get updates on school closures, activities, events, and more. Directions on how to create an account are available in English and Spanish on the WE home page under the “District Shortcuts” header or by clicking here.

Library - WE has a wonderful library which your child will visit on a weekly basis. The focus during these classes will allow students to learn about the functions of the library, how to care for books and how technology can support critical thinking. While researching authors, genres, and themes, students will be encouraged to discover the world of reading and to explore new opportunities. Once students have received their student id cards (which remain in their home rooms), students will be permitted to take books out each week with which they will be responsible.

Maschio’s is the food service which provides our district’s breakfast and lunch programs. If you are interested in maintaining your child’s food account on-line, you can do so through PayForIt.net. If you prefer to send in cash or checks, you can send it in an envelope to the attention of “Food Service” with your student’s name, teacher’s name, grade, and school name. Checks should be made payable to: “North Plainfield Board of Education.” More about Maschio’s is available on the WE website by clicking the “menus” icon on the top of the main page or by clicking here.

Parking lot - For insurance purposes, the lot is reserved for WE teachers and staff only. Please do not park there - especially at drop off and pick up times. It can be tempting to park in the lot when you can’t find a spot close to the building, but the Board of Ed. asks that you do not.

Spirit Sticks are embroidered tabs awarded by teachers, staff, and the PTA to students for good deeds, good citizenship, good grades, improving one’s self, etc. There are also “fun” ones, for sale at the School Store, which feature things like LEGO, Minecraft, Harry Potter, Disney, etc. Spirit Sticks can be collected and hung on a ring on your child’s backpack - the kids love them.

Student Elementary Handbook - Want to find out even more about our schools? Visit the link for additional information. www.nplainfield.org

Walk to School Wednesdays - The first Wednesday of every month, even in the winter, parents and students are encouraged to walk to school to promote healthy choices and pedestrian safety.

Westies are a small piece of paper with a paw print and the word “Westie” on it. They are used to reward good character or for other reasons such as supporting the school, for a student's birthday, and good academics. Students write their name and teacher’s name on the back, then put them in grade level boxes outside the main office. Tickets are pulled several times a month for each grade level, and the winning students will then have the opportunity to pick a “West End School Spirit Prize” from the treasure box.

WE PTA is a group of volunteers who work together to enhance the experiences of the students of West End. WE parents, teachers, and staff can join as a member of our chapter of the national PTA organization (a paying membership of $5 gives you voting rights), or as a volunteer who helps out whenever time permits. You do NOT have to be a member to volunteer. The WE PTA organizes, sponsors and supports many events and activities at WE including:

• Family Fun Nights
• Student Assemblies
• Book Fair
• School Store & Gear Sales
• Fundraisers
• School Fair
• Box Tops for Education
• Field Day treats & water
• Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week
• and so much more!

General PTA Meeting Schedule 2023/2024

PTA meetings are held typically on the second Tuesday of each month
10/27-at trunk or treat 
11/14- Virtual Meeting - 
1/9- Meeting in Community room 
2/13- Virtual Meeting 
3/12- Virtual Meeting
4/9- Meeting at 7pm 
5/14- Virtual Meeting
6/4- Final Celebration meeting 

Events and Activities
9/28- School Gear Sale begins
10/27 - Trunk or Treat 
12/1- Holiday Family Fun Night
4/19 Spring Dance-
3/23- Basket Auction 
5/18- School Fair 

 

West End PTA Volunteer Opportunities

Please contact the PTA if you are interested in volunteering. Volunteers are needed throughout the entire school year! Let us know by email at wepta@nplainfield.org.

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WE PTA Request for Volunteers                                         

Volunteering for your child's school is simple, it doesn’t cost you anything, and we really need your help. Below is a list of committees and events sponsored by the PTA at West End School.     

Homeroom Representative – Every classroom needs a representative! Help your child’s teacher with the holiday parties (Halloween, Winter Holiday, Ice Cream Social and End of Year) by requesting party items via flyers from the parents in that homeroom. Attendance at the parties is helpful but not a necessity. You will also coordinate collection for a classroom basket to be auctioned off at the Basket Auction. If more than one person is interested in this position, teachers may choose to have them share duties. Please note: Only Homeroom representatives will be allowed in classrooms for holiday parties.

Family Fun Nights – Themed activities where WE families can get together outside of school for some night-time fun. Most Family Fun Nights are free or have a minimal charge depending on the activity. Snacks will also be sold for each Family Fun Night event. Volunteers will help set up activities and/or help run that evening’s festivities.

Annual Basket Auction – The PTA’s largest fundraiser! Help is needed to solicit donations for the basket auction, pick up donated items, and organize baskets. Volunteers are needed during the basket auction as well to sell tickets, distribute prizes and clean up. The auction typically occurs every year in the spring.

Book Fair - Help set up in the evening before it all kicks off or run the cash register and assist the children with the selection of books during the school day. 100% of the profits from the book fair go back to the school in the form of books and other materials for the classrooms and library.

School Fair – The PTA’s largest event! Dozens of volunteers are needed to make this a fun family day! Help is needed in planning the various aspects of the fair, from food to rides to games. Volunteers are needed before the fair to help set up games, arts & crafts, and food. Additional volunteers are needed to staff all the games, crafts, ticket tables, etc. during the fair. We also need helpers after the fair to assist in the clean-up. Also looking for fresh ideas, and construction help to rejuvenate for some of our carnival games! 

Fundraisers & Gear Sales - Fundraising provides money for cultural arts programs, field day, the school fair, and the many other goodwill activities that PTA undertakes. Help with collections and distribution of orders.

Teacher & Staff Appreciation - Help organize a week of thanks for our teachers and staff. This includes decorating the school, food, treats, and give-a-ways!

Hospitality – Set and/or clean up refreshments at various events throughout the school year including Family Fun Nights 

Field Day - A one-day event in which the entire school participates in a day of physical fun. Help distribute water in the morning and/or ice pops after the event.

4th Grade Committee Liaison- This person is a communication link between the PTA and the 4th Grade Committee (preferably someone with a 4th grader), which is an independent group from the PTA. The committee plans special year-end events and raises funds for the 4th graders moving up event.

Community Liaison- If you are fluent in more than one language and would like to assist other parents in our community to communicate their needs or questions, please let us know. If you are interested, please let us know what language(s) you speak and if you are also available to translate documents and flyers.

Help from Home - Perfect for those that cannot attend events but are willing to help from home 

Undecided- We can contact you as volunteer opportunities arise.

Box Tops for Education

Check your groceries and office supplies for the Box Tops for Education symbol.  Download the BoxTop App and select the West End PTA as your recipient.  Scan your receipt to the app. They will automatically apply the funds to the West End PTA 

boxtops4education.com

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AmazonSmile

When shopping on Amazon, start at smile.amazon.com instead and Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to West End.

West End's school ID number is:18592

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Goodsearch & Goodshop

We have partnered with Goodsearch and Goodshop so that now you can feel great about your online searching and goodshop shopping! Search the Internet through Goodsearch and they will donate about a penny for nearly all searches to our school. Goodshop gives you the best coupons for thousands of stores like Target, Apple, Amazon, Petco and more AND a percentage of what you spend on virtually every purchase is donated to our school! Plus, with the Goodshop app for iPhone and iPad, you can shop, save, and give on the go.

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Why Do We Have Fundraisers?

Money raised by the PTA from our fundraisers pays for the following:

• Cultural Arts Assemblies
• Author's Day and Author's Workshop
• Reading Incentive Program
• Summer Reading Program Celebration
• PTA Scholarship
• Teacher Appreciation
• Teachers' Special Projects
• Classroom Parties
• Hospitality for school events
• Refreshments for Field Day
• End of the Year Awards for Physical Education
• Spelling Bee/Vocabulary Bee
• Support of Character Education
• Service Learning Projects  ...and more!

Every classroom needs a representative! Help your child’s teacher with class events and class communication via flyers or email from the parents in that homeroom. If you are interested in being your child's homeroom representative for the remainder of this school year please contact the WE PTA at

Email: wepta@nplainfield.org
Subject line "Homeroom Representative"
Include your name, your child's name, your child's teacher and homeroom number.

Homeroom Representative Duties:

• Obtain Classroom Contact Information
• Assist PTA with Teacher Appreciation Week
• Assist PTA with Beth's Basket Auction
• End of Year Class gift

To find additional information on the above duties and more click the link below:

Homeroom Representative Guide

Forms to Keep You Informed & Involved Any of these forms can be printed out and sent in to school in your child's back pack. WE PTA Volunteer Form   Forms for PTA Members and WE Teachers & Staff Request for Funds (Teachers & PTA Member - please submit form and wait for approval prior to purchases.) Reimbursement Form (For PTA members - must be submitted to the Treasurer within 30 days of purchase)

Teacher Appreciation Week is celebrated during the first full week of May each year.

There are lots of ways you can show Teacher Appreciation:

1. Applause parade. Have students line the hallway one morning during Teacher Appreciation Week and clap as the teachers enter the building.

2. Class song. This requires a little rehearsal. Have a class parent work with students to sing a simple song like “You Are My Sunshine.” Rehearse during a recess time shortly before Teacher Appreciation Week. Set up a special surprise performance for the teacher during the week.

3. Thank-you announcements. Have one or two children from each class join the morning announcements (perhaps do five to 10 classes each day) to say one nice thing about their teacher.

4. Class cleanup. A class parent can oversee daily classroom cleanups with the children. This could be done after school, or the teacher may allow a few minutes before the end of the day or at the start of the day to help make this happen.

5. Thank-you notes. Have the children each write a handwritten note about what makes their teacher special.

6. Recess coverage. Work with the principal to set up recess coverage with a group of volunteers so teachers can take extended lunch breaks.

7. Lounge cleanup. Bring in a few volunteers to clean the teachers' lounge.

8. Social shout-out. Post a thank-you with photos on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to tell your teachers how much they mean to you.

9. May I carry your books? Line up a few student volunteers to carry the teacher’s books or school bag to her car after school.

10. Kudos from the PTA leaders. Make a point to have your board members say thank-you to teachers. An in-person, sincerely expressed thanks could be the best gift of all.