August 20, 2011

Dear LaSalle Families,

On behalf of the LaSalle Language Academy PTA, I would like to welcome all of you to the 2011-2012 school year. It is my privilege to be serving as the President of the PTA and Friends of LaSalle. Our PTA serves as a resource for families and teachers and as an advocate for the education and well being of all students. I am looking forward to serving the school in this capacity, to reconnecting with many of you, and to meeting many of you for the first time.

I hope that each one of you will consider getting involved in the PTA this year. Not only does volunteering your time and talents help the teachers and students, but it pays benefits to you as well. By volunteering you will connect with other LaSalle parents, many of them the parents of your child’s friends, but you will also gain satisfaction in knowing you are helping to build and foster the kind of school we are all proud of. One of the things that makes LaSalle great is the level of parent involvement in the school. We often have more than 50 different parents each week who donate their time and talents. You can contribute in many different ways, from coaching after school sports to serving on a PTA committee, putting up bulletin boards, supervising the café and playground, reading to students, and organizing classroom projects. Some volunteer opportunities involve a year-long commitment, while others are intermittent. Some require your presence at school while others can be done from home. As the year gets started, please think about what contribution you might make this year.

We are excited to have our second Outdoor Movie Night on Tuesday, August 30th. Families are encouraged to bring a picnic at 6:30 and enjoy a free showing of the movie, Ratatouille, outdoors on the playground beginning at 8:00 pm. Please join us at this community-wide event for a chance to connect with old friends and make new ones!

Also, save the date for the LaSalle Open House which will be on the evening of Thursday, September 22, 2011. I hope that all of you will attend and become acquainted with your children’s teacher and classroom. The Open House also begins with an opportunity to come a little bit early to the gym and meet representatives from all of our PTA committees to learn what the PTA does at LaSalle, to ask questions, and to help decide where your time, talents and interests best fit. Also, be sure to stop by the PTA membership to become a member. During the school year, be sure to check the PTA bulletin board for our meeting schedule and events, and browse the LaSalle website regularly for articles of interest, important dates, and announcements. I want to remind everyone that all PTA meetings are open to all parents and encourage you to find at least one meeting to attend this year!

I look forward to working with each of you to continue to help make LaSalle Language Academy the best elementary school in the city!

Warm regards,

Allison Harris
PTA President