Burbank, California, William McKinley Elementary School

Coordinated Parent Involvement

PTA is a vital part of our school. The monthly meetings are well attended and parents are busy everyday planning, organizing and managing school events for the students. PTA annual fundraiser has been very successful so PTA is able to fund many worthwhile activities including transportation for class field trips, interesting and informative assemblies, a new parents'
orientation, family picnic nights, Reflections which encourages students in the arts, a book fair, a children's holiday boutique, and a lovely holiday program. All meetings are held in the evenings to accommodate working parents with baby-sitting provided.

Besides PTA parents participate in School Site Council (SSC) and the English Language Learners Advisory Council (Hablemos). SSC is made up of twelve elected members. Six are parent/community members with two of the seats reserved for English Language Learner Advisory Council members. The other six members are staff members including the principal, four classroom teachers and one support staff member. The group meets on a bimonthly basis. Hablemos meets monthly for parent education and discussions with the principal. It is well known throughout the district for being a very supportive and positive group.

The weekly McPanther Press, is a weekly newsletter, which keeps all families informed of the calendar of events and what is happening at school. It is published in English and in Spanish. It includes a Thank You Section where parents and teachers are recognized for volunteer work and other activities.

Our latest coordinated parent/school successes include installation of new playground equipment funded by a combination of a city YES grant, PTA/Hablemos Family Dinner, and an after school store cart and the planting of eight large, new trees donated by Warner Bros.

Tutoring is a special project, which involves parents as well as community members. Partnerships with The Walt Disney Company and the LA Times provide student tutoring on a weekly basis.