GORDONVILLE SCHOOL BENEFITS FROM VERY SUPPORTIVE PTO

Chelsea Young, a third-grader at Gordonville School, does a math problem during a class exercise last week.

With a membership total more than twice the enrollment of the school itself, you could say Gordonville School has a very supportive Parent-Teacher Organization.

Each of the 78 students enrolled in grades 1-3 at Gordonville are backed by the 150 to 160 parents and town citizens who are a part of the PTO.

"We are supported so much by the community it's unbelievable," said Gordonville PTO president Cheryl Fortner, who explained that like many rural communities, life in Gordonville centers around churches and the school.

"Even though you have a lot of working parents, you still have a lot of parents who support the school," Fortner said, adding that oftentimes, citizens continue to be involved in PTO long after their children have left for the upper grades at Jackson.

Such strong interest and support for the school has helped the PTO provide learning aids and equipment the Jackson school district might not otherwise be able to afford.

"The PTO at Gordonville has been wonderfully supportive of the needs of the students and the school," said principal Joe Crain. "They put out a lot of effort to make sure that we have any supplies or equipment or anything that is perceived as a need."

Such things as computers and computer software, air conditioning units, playground equipment and a copying machine are among the items the chapter has been able to provide for the school.

In order to raise funds for such purchases, the Gordonville PTO hosts an annual chili supper which receives phenomenal support from the community, along with a candy sale and aluminum can drives in the spring and fall, said Fortner.

The chapter is not strictly a fund-raising organization, however, volunteering many hours for classroom activities.

"They are very supportive not only money-wise, but we have a lot of volunteers from the PTO who come into the classroom and help," said Bessie Buck, a third-grade instructor at Gordonville School.

Fortner says such activities not only help strengthen educational opportunities for the children enrolled at Gordonville, but also give parents the opportunity to support their children's education and to stay in touch with what is going on at the school.

"I think it's very important to let the children know that we are excited about them being in school and let them know that we are able to get involved," Fortner said. "It also lets the teacher know that we are available to help.

"It's also helpful in knowing what's happening at the school," added Fortner. "If you're not involved in the PTO, it's hard to know what's going on in school."

In addition to volunteer services and fund-raising activities, the Gordonville PTO holds regular business meetings and hosts the Christmas pageant each year.

In April, the chapter holds a year-end potluck supper during which new officers for the coming school year are elected. Also during this meeting, parents whose children will be enrolling in the first grade are invited for a light orientation session.

In addition to Fortner, other Gordonville PTO officers are vice president Cathy Goodman, treasurer Jane Perry and secretary Donna Neal.