PTA Programs
The Sycamore Ridge PTA is responsible for many school programs and donations that continue to help make Sycamore Ridge a great school for all of our children. Keep in mind that everyone who works with the PTA is a volunteer – 100% of all money raised goes to PTA programs that benefit the students & staff at Sycamore Ridge. Please click on the "Volunteers" drop down menu tab under Programs above to see some of the many volunteer opportunities that are available.
To give you an idea of how some of the money is spent, the PTA has helped or committed to help fund the following:
The Mission of the Sycamore Ridge PTA is to build a sense of community within our student and family population, increase volunteers and parent involvement, support parent education and communication between school and home, raise money to support programs and the school, and support the education of our children by helping to provide opportunities for new experiences and growth.
Art Supplies – through the Be True to Your School program, the PTA donates to the art program.
Assemblies – The PTA provides educational and fun assemblies for all students grade K-6. Past examples include the anti-bullying assembly: "The Power of One" and assemblies that teach kids about living healthy and drug-free lives.
Boo Hoo Breakfast – a breakfast for incoming kindergarten parents.
Book Fair - A week long event that promotes reading in our youth. Funds from the fair go directly back to the library to pay for new books.
Computer Support – to help our technology lab stay up-to-date.
Cultural Ambassadors - Cultural Ambassadors are Sycamore Ridge parents who are bi-lingual (or more) who have volunteered to act as liaisons for persons whose native tongues are Mandarin, Vietnamese, Hindi, Russian, Spanish, Korean, Japanese or Persian. These volunteers are available to translate and act as liaisons for speakers of these languages, answering questions about our school programs and PTA activities.
Dad’s Club – bringing Dads (or other family member) to school for lunches and other special events with their kids
Drama Club - A lunch club which allows our kids to participate in musical theater and showcase their talent in performance.
EARS – Everyone a Reader Program that helps bring students that are reading below grade level to grade level. Last year we had a 100% success rate!
ESC (Extended Studies Curriculum) – working collaboratively with the DMSEF to achieve funds for our art, science, technology, music and PE enrichment classes
Family Nights – evenings dedicated to promoting the family unit and to help support and educate our families.
Garden Club - A lunch club where children learn how to cultivate our school garden. The PTA sponsored the irrigation system which keeps the garden growing.
Mini-Grants for each teacher to help them meet their classroom needs.
Newsletter – a quarterly newsletter, the Sycamore Ridge Round-up, to keep families informed.
Parent Education Nights – the PTA sponsors these educational evenings with psychologist Dr. Dana Fillmore and covers child care for those parents attending.
Reading Incentive Program – an incentive program to help motivate readers to expand their reading interests.
Red Ribbon Week – a week dedicated to healthy choices and drug awareness.
Reflections – an annual program to help recognize school talent in visual arts, music, writing and photography. This program is open to all grade levels and concludes with a special evening event.
RidgeRaising – The PTA’s largest fundraiser of the year, an adults-only social and community building event with silent auction and dinner
Room Parent Liaison - A volunteer organizes the Room Parents, helping them understand their role and acting as a liaison between the Room Parents and the PTA.
School Scrapbook - Our School Scrapbook is kept near the entrance to the front office. It is full of news articles, photos and information that help us preserve our memories for the year.
Sixth Grade Promotion – a celebration for our graduating 6th graders.
Spring Dance - The Spring Dance is a Dad's Club event that gives kids an opportunity to dress up and dance in a family friendly environment.
Stallion Stampede – an annual welcome back to school social gathering.
Student Directory – your must-have guide to playdates and keeping in touch with your child’s friends’ parents, as well as Sycamore Ridge teachers and staff.
Study Buddies – matching a local high school student up with a Sycamore Ridge student that needs tutoring, an extra ear or a positive role model.
Sunshine Fund – covering the costs to make sure that no child is excluded from field trips, sixth grade camp or other school activities based on lack of funds.
Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week – a week of pampering and appreciation for our hardworking and dedicated Sycamore Ridge staff.
Walk to School Day – an international program that encourages walking to school.
Web Site & E-Blasts - Check out our website at www.sycamoreridgepta.com where you can read about PTA Board Members, see a calendar of events, learn about the PTA programs and sign up for membership and bi-weekly e-blasts on school events.
Welcome Back Teacher Luncheon – a luncheon held the last week of summer to welcome the staff to a new year.
World Festival - With passports in hand, our students travel with their Villages to learn about different countries and cultures at booths prepared and staffed by parent and community volunteers.
Yearbook – keeping Sycamore memories alive for our kids for years to come
Zoo Crew - A lunch club that focuses on the care and well-being of the school's pets.
Assemblies – The PTA provides educational and fun assemblies for all students grade K-6. Past examples include the anti-bullying assembly: "The Power of One" and assemblies that teach kids about living healthy and drug-free lives.
Boo Hoo Breakfast – a breakfast for incoming kindergarten parents.
Book Fair - A week long event that promotes reading in our youth. Funds from the fair go directly back to the library to pay for new books.
Computer Support – to help our technology lab stay up-to-date.
Cultural Ambassadors - Cultural Ambassadors are Sycamore Ridge parents who are bi-lingual (or more) who have volunteered to act as liaisons for persons whose native tongues are Mandarin, Vietnamese, Hindi, Russian, Spanish, Korean, Japanese or Persian. These volunteers are available to translate and act as liaisons for speakers of these languages, answering questions about our school programs and PTA activities.
Dad’s Club – bringing Dads (or other family member) to school for lunches and other special events with their kids
Drama Club - A lunch club which allows our kids to participate in musical theater and showcase their talent in performance.
EARS – Everyone a Reader Program that helps bring students that are reading below grade level to grade level. Last year we had a 100% success rate!
ESC (Extended Studies Curriculum) – working collaboratively with the DMSEF to achieve funds for our art, science, technology, music and PE enrichment classes
Family Nights – evenings dedicated to promoting the family unit and to help support and educate our families.
Garden Club - A lunch club where children learn how to cultivate our school garden. The PTA sponsored the irrigation system which keeps the garden growing.
Mini-Grants for each teacher to help them meet their classroom needs.
Newsletter – a quarterly newsletter, the Sycamore Ridge Round-up, to keep families informed.
Parent Education Nights – the PTA sponsors these educational evenings with psychologist Dr. Dana Fillmore and covers child care for those parents attending.
Reading Incentive Program – an incentive program to help motivate readers to expand their reading interests.
Red Ribbon Week – a week dedicated to healthy choices and drug awareness.
Reflections – an annual program to help recognize school talent in visual arts, music, writing and photography. This program is open to all grade levels and concludes with a special evening event.
RidgeRaising – The PTA’s largest fundraiser of the year, an adults-only social and community building event with silent auction and dinner
Room Parent Liaison - A volunteer organizes the Room Parents, helping them understand their role and acting as a liaison between the Room Parents and the PTA.
School Scrapbook - Our School Scrapbook is kept near the entrance to the front office. It is full of news articles, photos and information that help us preserve our memories for the year.
Sixth Grade Promotion – a celebration for our graduating 6th graders.
Spring Dance - The Spring Dance is a Dad's Club event that gives kids an opportunity to dress up and dance in a family friendly environment.
Stallion Stampede – an annual welcome back to school social gathering.
Student Directory – your must-have guide to playdates and keeping in touch with your child’s friends’ parents, as well as Sycamore Ridge teachers and staff.
Study Buddies – matching a local high school student up with a Sycamore Ridge student that needs tutoring, an extra ear or a positive role model.
Sunshine Fund – covering the costs to make sure that no child is excluded from field trips, sixth grade camp or other school activities based on lack of funds.
Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week – a week of pampering and appreciation for our hardworking and dedicated Sycamore Ridge staff.
Walk to School Day – an international program that encourages walking to school.
Web Site & E-Blasts - Check out our website at www.sycamoreridgepta.com where you can read about PTA Board Members, see a calendar of events, learn about the PTA programs and sign up for membership and bi-weekly e-blasts on school events.
Welcome Back Teacher Luncheon – a luncheon held the last week of summer to welcome the staff to a new year.
World Festival - With passports in hand, our students travel with their Villages to learn about different countries and cultures at booths prepared and staffed by parent and community volunteers.
Yearbook – keeping Sycamore memories alive for our kids for years to come
Zoo Crew - A lunch club that focuses on the care and well-being of the school's pets.
Put in the words of the California State PTA, the mission of the California State PTA is: to positively impact the lives of all children and families by representing our members and empowering and supporting them with skills in advocacy, leadership, and communications.
In addition to providing financial support for programs and the school, the PTA aspires to bridge the gap between home and school and help unify the school community through volunteer efforts, educational support for parents and social and fun events for the entire family.
The question seems to be raised so very often, “Why so many fundraisers????” What really needs to happen for good understanding is the distinction between the fundraisers. While it may seem like going to a family night at Souplantation, Rubios, Pat & Oscars, Red Robin or Barnes and Noble is geared toward raising money for the PTA, the real focus of these types of events is growing our connections as families and allowing the children to see each other and their teachers in a fun environment. The actual funds raised at these types of events are minimal. The true fundraisers, where the majority of our funds are derived, are RidgeRaising, Sally Foster sales and the annual Jog-a-thon. We try to minimize the need for too many fundraisers and have instituted some simple programs like Boxtops for Education. Through this program you just cut the Boxtops off many of your regularly purchased products and turn them in to the school office, and the PTA handles the rest. We submit them monthly and for every 10 Boxtops submitted, the PTA earns a dollar. eScrip is another program that is effortless. By registering with the program and patronizing stores like Vons, automatic monthly donations are made directly to the PTA just by making your weekly grocery run!
In addition to providing financial support for programs and the school, the PTA aspires to bridge the gap between home and school and help unify the school community through volunteer efforts, educational support for parents and social and fun events for the entire family.
The question seems to be raised so very often, “Why so many fundraisers????” What really needs to happen for good understanding is the distinction between the fundraisers. While it may seem like going to a family night at Souplantation, Rubios, Pat & Oscars, Red Robin or Barnes and Noble is geared toward raising money for the PTA, the real focus of these types of events is growing our connections as families and allowing the children to see each other and their teachers in a fun environment. The actual funds raised at these types of events are minimal. The true fundraisers, where the majority of our funds are derived, are RidgeRaising, Sally Foster sales and the annual Jog-a-thon. We try to minimize the need for too many fundraisers and have instituted some simple programs like Boxtops for Education. Through this program you just cut the Boxtops off many of your regularly purchased products and turn them in to the school office, and the PTA handles the rest. We submit them monthly and for every 10 Boxtops submitted, the PTA earns a dollar. eScrip is another program that is effortless. By registering with the program and patronizing stores like Vons, automatic monthly donations are made directly to the PTA just by making your weekly grocery run!
Sycamore Ridge PTA Donations
Due to the incredible generosity of our Sycamore Ridge families, staff and local community, the PTA was able to donate $6,192 to Sycamore Ridge school to replace the sound system, 4 docucams and 4 projectors, as well as $11,128 to the DMSEF to support ESC education of music, art, technology & science. Your support of PTA fundraisers such as RidgeRaising, Jog-a-Thon, and Restaurant Nights is much appreciated and is directly benefiting our students. Throughout the year, the PTA sponsors many other programs at Sycamore Ridge. Thank You! We could not do it without you!