The Penn Wynne Home and School Association (HSA) seeks to benefit Penn Wynne Elementary School and its community of families by supporting educational, social and fundraising programs. We also provide a forum wherein parents can learn about and get involved in their child’s education, the school district, and issues relevant to today’s families. Parents, guardians, teachers, and our principal, Shawn Bernatowicz, collaborate to provide the best educational experiences for our children.
HSA meetings are held at school several times a year at 7:30pm. All parents are invited and encouraged to attend as often as possible. Meetings include planning for upcoming HSA events, information about issues affecting our school and our district, and the opportunity to discuss issues and programming that affect our children. The following is a list of dates for 2007-2008:
- Tuesday, September 11th New Parent Tea 7pm; HSA meeting 7:30
- Wednesday, November 14th 7:30pm
- Wednesday February 6th 7:30pm
- Wednesday May 7th 7:30pm
Representatives from the HSA provide Penn Wynne’s voice in district-wide committees by attending and taking part in meetings of the Lower Merion School Board, the Interschool Council (ISC), and the Committee for Special Education (CSE). These parent representatives convey the Penn Wynne HSA’s particular concerns to district-wide committees and return to the HSA to keep us informed about issues vital to our children’s education.
Our fundraising enables us to support our school’s programs, facilities, and our own HSA programs. Each and every child and family benefits from the money raised and the programs offered. Some examples include:
- The HSA pays for most of the cost of field trips for every grade.
- The artist-in-residence program which brings an accomplished artist to school each spring to work with all the children with a special focus for the third grade. In recent years, our children have learned about Shakespeare, music and the making of instruments, weaving, and mosaics. Look for permanent additions to the campus left by previous artists!
- Annual gifts to the school, chosen in concert with the teachers and principal. In recent years, we have purchased new, lower basketball hoops, board games for recess, cordless microphones, and a video camera.
- The Penn Wynne Publishing Company is entirely parent run and HSA funded, giving our children the opportunity to see their stories published and available for other children to read in the school library.
- Grade level socials each fall which give families the chance to get to know each other and their child’s classmates.
A subcommittee of the HSA is the Fifth Grade Committee. These fifth grade parents hold numerous fundraising events over the course of the year in order to fund the fifth grade class trip, graduation party, and class gift. Support their efforts and show your school spirit by ordering from their t-shirt sale. Come out to Bingo Night in February and bid on items in the silent auction. Look for other fundraisers over the course of the year.
Whatever your interest, talent, or time available, there is an HSA committee that can benefit from your participation. There are many ways to get involved. Attending HSA meetings is the best way to stay informed and to sign up to help. The first HSA meeting of the year is an especially important time to sign up. HSA Updates will be available via event flyers in the Thursday envelopes, on this site, through the monthly school calendar and on the HAS bulletin board at school. We also plan to have an efficient, user friendly list serve running soon. Finally, event chairpeople are listed on this site and in the directory and can be contacted directly to volunteer. |
