The SLE Teacher Lounge got a fresh paint job and coffee/tea center with help from the newly formed Parent Teacher Club. There are plans for a table and more chairs.
New energy and ideas from school parents has resurrected the Parent Teacher Club(PTC) at Seeley Elementary School(SLE).
"Fifteen years ago there was a Parent Teacher Club at the school," said Michelle Dunn, current PTC president. "As happens, those parents moved on as their kids grew up and the PTC languished."
Dunn and her family, including two children now in 7th and 8th grade, moved to Seeley Lake in 2020 from Potomac. As part of the organizing committee of the Potomac PTC for five years and helping develop their winning yearly Bingo Night, which netted more than $27,000 in 2022, according to the May 19 issue of the Pathfinder, Dunn wanted to bring the PTC back to Seeley Elementary.
"I saw how the PTC was a real benefit to the teachers and kids in the Potomac school," said Dunn.
"I have been pretty frustrated over the years seeing how the budget deficits are affecting the teachers and the kids programs."
The Seeley PTC had its first meeting in October 2022. Non-profit status was established in February 2023. Officers are President Michelle Dunn, Vice-President Kayla Binder and Secretary-Treasurer Andi Bourne. Currently there are about ten members.
"The mission of the PTC is to facilitate programs and provide resources to support educational opportunities for our students, teachers, school and community that the school budget doesn't allow," said Dunn. "Our goals are to provide financial support for needs inside and outside the classroom, assist with school-wide projects through volunteering and financial assistance and demonstrate appreciation for SLE teachers and staff."
Funding for the PTC will come from fundraising events. The first successful fundraiser held October 2022 was a raffle that sold over $3900 in raffle tickets and netted $2,175 for the PTC account. Raffle items were purchased at cost from Heritage Outdoors and they supplied all the advertising posters and raffle tickets.
"We are thankful for the support from Heritage Outdoors," said Bourne. "With the earnings we were able to provide $1500 to the music program at SLE. SLE Music Director Janet Morgenstern used the funds for instrument repairs and individual floor mats for games and seating."
The teacher's lounge received a new coat of paint and coffee station through the labor of PTC members. Funding and donations for the teacher's lounge were provided by Rovero's Ace Hardware and school building funds. Area businesses provide funding for coffee and tea supplies in the lounge, this month's sponsor is Cory's Valley Market.
Recently Blackfoot Telephone awarded a $500 Community Award to the PTC.
Future fundraisers are a community garage sale held at the school April 1 10 - 1pm, and a fun run. The Summer Fun Run "Run With the Wild" is awaiting Forest Service land use approval for the Nordic Trails area. A logo contest for the run was held with over twelve submissions from students. The winning logo will be used for t shirts for the race. Races of 1K, 5K and 10K are planned, followed by a barbeque and live music July 22.
Future plans include a Teacher's Kindness Fund to support school staff and teachers during hard times and good times such as unexpected illness, new babies and similar situations. Ultimately a winter Bingo Night will be part of regular fundraising.
"It would be great to get the eighth graders involved in helping at PTC events," said Dunn. "We're hoping to make the connection that students will be benefitted by helping out if we're fundraising for an eighth grade trip, for example."
Currently the PTC is planning for Teacher's Appreciation Week May 8-12, 2023.
"After Covid and all the separation, we hope that the PTC can be a bridge for parents to get to know teachers and the school better," said Dunn.
"We love our teachers and our staff and anything we can do to help them give a better educational experience for kids is worth it," said Bourne.
Anyone who wants to support the school is invited to join the PTC, said Dunn. There are no membership dues. Meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month at 5:15 pm at the Barn and posted on the school calendar. For more information find Seeley Lake Elementary PTC on facebook or call Michelle Dunn 406-210-9241/email sleptcmt@gmail.com
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