Dear 2012-2013 New and Returning Butler Families,

The Butler PTA welcomes you to a new school year! We want to introduce you to the invaluable role that we play in supporting Butler and your child’s education, and strongly encourage you to become a member.

Top 10 Reasons to join the Butler PTA:

1. Help your child. Research shows that children whose parents are involved in their school perform better academically and have fewer disciplinary problems.
2. Improve the school. Last year the PTA donated $20,000 to the new playground, $3700 in books for the school library, $1200 for principal’s priorities, and $1200 for the drop off attendants.
   We also provided a teacher/staff appreciation lunch.
3. Get connected. At PTA meetings, you’ll hear all about important school and student issues from Principal McAllister, teachers, PTA volunteers, as well as community leaders.
4. Make friends. The PTA is a diverse group of parents unified by strong interest in enriching their child’s education. We make great friends!
5. Improve your school IQ. Do you know the Principal, the School Nurse, School Psychologist or the Guidance Counselor? Each made presentations at recent PTA meetings.
6. Be heard. The PTA is a great forum for exchanging ideas to improve our school. In 2011 the PTA voted to allocate $8000 for interactive white boards to bring state of the art technology to our classrooms.
7. It’s Fun! You’ll be a big hit with the kids when you are the PTA representative handing out popsicles, a scoop of ice cream, or a free book.
8. Be a role model. You'll show your child the value (and fun) of giving back to the community at events like the school yard clean up and electronics recycling day.
9. It’s Flexible. There are many ways to contribute. Joining does not obligate you to volunteer or attend meetings, although we hope you will!
10. We need you! Without you and your financial support, there will be no Library Nights, Talent Show, Movie Night, or Color Day. Last year, the PTA spent more than $8500 on in-school enrichment activities for our students, including Habitat presentations, Sled Dogs, Blue Hills Observatory kite making, as well as field trips to Davis Farm, the Zoo, the Nutcracker, Plimoth Plantation, the State Capitol, Museum of Science, Harvard Museum of Natural History, and more.

The Butler School is known for its great sense of community. The PTA helps create that spirit with the events it sponsors. As Principal, Mike McAllister stated:

"Some of the highlights of our year are the direct result of the PTA: the Art Show where our students are able to showcase their creativity, the Talent Show where we see a display of incredible abilities, and the International Fair where the entire community comes together to celebrate the diversity of this small school. We are appreciative of the opportunities the PTA provides to celebrate what is special about the Butler School community."