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Show Parents, Teachers, Students "Back to School" IWROYVAN-parents and teachers of children attending at-tending Parowai Elementary School met together Wednesday Sept 18th for "Back to School Night" activities. In the joint meeting of parents and teachers at 7:30, Principal Floyd Matheson introduced the faculty and staff to parents. He noted children, noting the changing life styles and the increase in single parent homes. This puts new demands on the schools, and a need for parents to be included in the educational process. Mrs. Robinson concluded with a brief history of PTA and stated Its purposes. She cha Hanged the parents to become involved in-volved and participate in the volunteer services such as lunch hours supervision and reading assistance. Mrs. Jackie Dalley, Volunteer coordinator for the PTA followed Mrs. Robinson and discussed several volunteer programs and the need for parents to become involved. Mr. Douglas Vincent, 1st vice president conouciea a brief "needs Assessment" to establish the direction the PFA should go in spending funds for service projects. It was determined that money should be spent on a matching mat-ching basis in as far as is possible for two primary projects. Wire covers for the light fixtures in the multipurpose multi-purpose room and awnings for the bus area. Following the general meeting parents met with teachers to go over the instructional in-structional program in each class room. Refreshments were served in the lunch room to parents and faculty at the end of the evening. Reported by Douglas Vincent. the fact that he surrounded himself with the most capable people he could find, and expressed his gratitude to them and to the school. Mr. Matheson briefly discussed the advantages of small school programs. He stressed the quality of cooperation between students not only in the elementary but between high school and elementary students. He gave the school lunch program as an example where students of all ages eat together with no comflicts of teasing Matheson then went on to discuss the activites for the school year and expressed his appreciation to the P.T.A. for the school Directry, handed out to all those attending the meeting. He discussed the dress standards. He believes students behave the way they dress. Wednesday is dress up day for each week, and students are asked to wear their nicer clothes on that day. He encouraged parents to visit the school on that day to see how well the children behave. Matheson discussed the need lor parents to label the childrens coats, jackets, sweaters and boots. He stated that last year at the close of school a large number of childrens coats etc were given to Deseret Industries because they were not claimed. Dr. Roma Jensen was introduced and she was asked to report the findings of a recent survey on the reading abilities of today's youth. She reported that extensive research by competant people has proved that students are in fact, not reading more poorly as has been indicated in some news articles in the past several years. Students of today are shown by hard facts to be reading better and more comprehensively than students of similar ages in the:to's, 4()'s, SO's and (u's. When researchers who conducted this project asked for evidence to the contrary from groups who had been responsible for articles to the contrary. They did not even receive a reply. Dr. Jensen expressed the desire of the faculty to see that children continue in development of their reading skills. And she said she wished to alleviate any misconception that the modern day child is not leing taught the necessary reading skills they should have. The IT A president was introduced by Matheson. Mrs. Christine Robinson.. He expressed his ap- j preciation for her and the' PTA board. Mrs. Robinson introduced the 1977-78 board members. First vice president, Douglas Vincent; 2nd vice president, Floyd Matheson; 3rd vice president and teacher representative Tom Zaleski, secretary Beverly Lowder treasurer Margaret Stones; Individual development Anna Mecham; membership and finance commissioner Geraldine Bettridge, Health and Welfare Pearl Partner; services Barbara Buymon; Volunteer core Jackie Dalley and Historian Julie Matheson. Mrs. Robinson gave the PTA theme for this year "Parents, teachers and administrators unite for children and youth." She asked everyone to "get involved in PTA to help make changes if needed, initiate programs and strive for improvement. She stated that some teachers feel the greatest problems facing schools are parent apathy. She discussed the role of PTA in helping the school in the development of the |