Thank you for all the responses! This is such a nice forum. Kathie, your comments about academics and college applications at the HS level are really helpful. You're right, guidance counselors can't do all that needs to be done. I think we will move in that direction. Thank you for the insight you and Mykidsmom were able to give me. Kathie, I've only been co-president at the HS for 3 months. The biggest change I was able to make right away was having an administrator and staff rep. at EVERY meeting. This increased attendance dramatically from last year. As far as activities, there were no concrete annual things! Since September we've sold the usual, popcorn, cotton candy, right now, we're selling jewelry....We've made donations for a guest speaker for students and also helped to fund a field trip. That's what we're doing right now.

At my son's HS they have two groups that do community service - National Honor Society (minimal amount) and Key Club, which is a teen branch of Kiwanis International. Key Club does a huge amount of volunteer stuff. Every sport has a parent booster group as does the music group, Robotics Club, etc.

What's lacking, IMHO, is information about the academics. Since our group will just be starting, I'd like to hear about what other groups do but I don't see the purpose in duplicating what's out there. So, exactly what is it that your group does, HS Mom?

Our group serves a K-12 school and the most rewarding way we have supported the high school is by encouraging comminity service type of activites. This last week (month :confused: )was out PTO Food and Gift drive. The HS student council stepped-up to support our efforts by helping with collection, sorting, and wrapping gifts. When we go back in January, we will begin helping them Adopt a Street to clean.

I like the idea of having a student rep on the board. May really need to discuss this as we are up-dating our by-laws.

I would defintly get them into the community and volunteering. Besides, it looks great on those college apps! well....so I've heard!

We are finally starting a Parents group at our High School. I think it will be modeled on the one we have right now at the middle school where there is no fundraising. Any monies that are needed come from Student council.

The main purpose of the parents group at the MS is for information and that's why I can't wait for one at the HS. Since I've been through the HS once with my oldest child, I sort of know what to expect, who the good teachers are, what the college application process is, etc. For new parents, it's a big unknown and some important things can just slip through the cracks - like what courses are required or expected at competitive colleges, PSAT's for sophmores. There only so much that guidance counselors can do in public schools and I think parents groups can help fill in the gap as far as information goes. As president of our music parents group, I see the lack of parental interest in High School booster groups and hope for better interest with a general parents group.

Thanks, OhioMom! Unlike our middle school, the high school administration really wants to work with us, and I have to say they've been very supportive. Tell your administrators not to give up at the high school level. It CAN work and I'm going to prove it! Perhaps we need to explore changes to our overall mission to better fit into the high school. We'll probably lower our fundraising goals, etc. However, I continue to remind everyone that our group is the only opportunity for ALL parents, teachers and administrators to join together at the building level to discuss topics of mutual interest. So, instead of trying to make the school fit to a traditional PTO mold, perhaps we can change the PTO's goals to fit the high school climate. Any thoughts?

Sorry I can't offer any help--we are the PTO of the elementary and this year the middle school too. We offered to go into the high school and when it was discussed with the principal/superintendant he said they have enough groups at the high school with boosters and all--and at this time he thinks we wouldn't get much participation from high school parents. --i know when my kids reach high school age i still want to be involved as much as possible--so I say congrats on what you are doing!!