Royal's PTO praised by those who benefit

ROYAL CITY - The parents of the Royal Schools Parent Teacher Organization recently spent an entire week thanking teachers for their efforts.

They did it under the radar, but the teachers made a point of bringing attention to the parents afterward.

"They deserve a lot of thanks. They help in so many ways," Red Rock Elementary PE teacher Brent Whitaker said.

According to teacher Sheila Ziegler, PTO parents spoiled the teachers during teacher appreciation week. Teachers were served cinnamon rolls to start the week.

First grade parapro Melanie Griffin noted the teachers then placed "goodie bags" and thank-you notes in their mail. They were treated to lunch and raffles by which they won prizes.

"The week ended with the ultimate grand prize drawing," Ziegler said.

Those prizes included gift cards, barbecue sets, plants and even airline tickets.

"Their generosity was truly overwhelming," Ziegler said.

The kindness and generosity of PTO parents isn't evident only during teacher appreciation week. It is exhibited the year around.

The PTO has helped fund and organize special classroom projects and assemblies such as the recent visit to Red Rock by the Pacific Science Center. They help with school-wide events such as Minute to Win It.

Whitaker is one of the beneficiaries of the PTO's volunteerism. Before it came along, he pretty much ran the Jump Rope for Heart Program that raises funds for American Heart Association research. It was a matter only of securing pledges in the community.

Now that the PTO is helping, the Jump Rope for Heart campaign is celebrated with a campaign-ending jump rope (and other activities) event. Whitaker estimates the PTO gives more than 50 hours to the program, about 20 at the closing event.

"Now all I have to do is motivate the kids and hand out the awards," Whitaker said. "The PTO has done yeoman duty on this the last three years."

Jump Rope for Heart raised a record $10,000 this year for heart research.

Griffin, an athlete during her Royal High days, is aided by the PTO at her little girls Royal Volleyball Camp for third- through sixth-graders. It ends with a tournament that involves 200 girls in two gyms with double that number of family and friends in attendance.

That was a lot of people to feed. Griffin went to a PTO meeting to voice her need and came up with about 15 volunteers. The PTO manned the concession stand.

Librarian Susan Piercy credits the PTO with giving the new annual Glow Run a good start with last fall's run.

"In the fall we appreciated how they started the year off with a bang by creating Loyal to Royal apparel, hosting the Carne Asada Dinner and organizing Black Out Knights," she said.

Piercy noted the PTO makes sure the concession stand is running for all games, meets and matches. PTO members have spruced up the district with eye-catching bulletin boards and hanging inspirational quotes.

This year, Piercy said the PTO helped students celebrate academic success on state testing with ice cream sundaes and Krispys for HSPs. She noted the PTO includes the community in the district's assembly to honor military veterans.

In addition to all of that, Griffin said, PTO members work in the schools at least once a week making copies and carrying out other seemingly mundane chores that benefit teachers and students.

"The Royal PTO is truly royal," high school teacher Amanda Eilers said.

"It was amazing to see how many businesses and families contributed prizes to the teachers," she added.