Hello Parker PTO!

Can you believe December is already well underway? We have had a remarkably successful fall season here at Parker. Since we last saw each other at the November PTO General Meeting, we hosted PTO Spirit Events with Tomfoolery Toys & Books, Los Tios Meyerland, Bricks & Minifigs Meyerland, and Fajita Pete’s Bellaire. Your overwhelming support for these local businesses (some of whom are also PTO sponsors!) and Parker’s PTO has been truly inspiring. Thank you!

We also hosted this year’s Family Bingo Night, which was an absolute blast! The laughter, the excitement, and the sense of community were so heartwarming. We can't wait to bring you more fun-filled events like this in the future.

December will be a quieter month from a PTO-event standpoint, especially since we will not have a PTO General Meeting this month; however, we have LOTS of exciting stuff to cover with you this month. 

In this newsletter, you’ll find three calendars for December: 

• the PTO Event Calendar in List View
• the School Calendar with a link to download the file for printing
• the school’s Holiday-Spirit Days Calendar.

Our students rocked their Apex Fun Run Fundraiser, and we have an exciting update on the funds raised this year.

We also have details for you to plan for:

• Faculty and Staff Favorites, just in time for the holidays
• 2025 Spring Afterschool Club
• 2025 PTO Gala and Silent Auction details
• How to get your kid’s stuff back from the Lost and Found

Sending you my warmest wishes for the holiday season,

Jeanette Mueller, Parker PTO President

president@parkerpto.org

This is a reminder that we will NOT have a December PTO meeting, but don't worry—a PTO-free dress day will still be available. Be sure to purchase if you still need to.

THANK YOU, everyone, for getting those donations and supporting Parker PTO. Our profit is just over $65,000!!! You will begin to see that being used in the spring semester—a special shoutout to Coach Chili for leading the pack. Thank you, Nurse Gorski, for keeping us safe, and to all our volunteers...we couldn't do it without you! 

The holidays are just around the corner, and you may wonder what your teachers like, what they have too much of, and what different ways to make their holiday. We have you covered! Teacher favorites for all teachers (including Creative Core Rotation teachers!) and Amazon Wish Lists can be found on the Faculty and Staff page of the PTO Website.

As part of our We Heart Parker funds, the PTO is also putting together gifts for other staff members, such as our crossing guards and aftercare workers.

Fall Afterschool Clubs are one of Parker's favorite offerings from the PTO, and we are so excited to kick off Spring Afterschool Clubs. Mark your calendars for these upcoming dates:

• January 21: Clubs will be announced
• January 28 - February 11: Clubs will be available for purchase
• February 24: Clubs begin

The Afterschool Clubs Page of the PTO Website will be updated with Spring Afterschool Clubs on January 21 or sooner. 

We are so excited about the 2025 PTO Gala and Silent Auction on Friday, February 21st from 6:30 - 10:30 pm. This year's theme is Viva Las Vegas! Here's what you need to know:

• Early bird tickets will go on sale December 19th
• We will also have sign-ups to volunteer for the event
• You can sign up to donate an auction basket or donate toward discounted teacher tickets

With the cold weather coming in, we're seeing a significant increase in lost-and-found items. To make it easier for kids to identify their lost items, we have made a few updates:

• Starting in January, we will have one rack for jackets and sweaters in the Community room and one near the orange stage
• Water bottles and lunch boxes are near the cafeteria
• All items will be donated by the last day of school. 

Volunteers led by Amanda Go have been working with the Student Council, who has been working one recess a week to help return clearly labeled items to their owners.

Please remind your students to check these places if they have lost items. Help us return items by labeling them with FIRST and LAST names.

Interested in advertising your business to Parker families and supporting the PTO?  🔗Click here to learn more about Business Sponsorship opportunities or email us at businessdevelopment@parkerpto.org to learn more!