The Westside School Parent Organization
Welcome Back to School From the WPO
Amy Eby, WPO President 2011-2012
The WPO stands for the Westside Parent Organization, and is our schools equivalent of a PTA. Every parent is automatically a member of the WPO. Our main purpose is to build the social community of Westside, that is the community of children, parents, teachers and staff. This is done primarily through planning social activities and organizing volunteers.
WPO Leadership. The WPO is lead by a board of ten voting members who are elected in the spring:
President: Amy Eby
Vice President: Lisa Medina
Secretary: Pamela Castillo
Treasurer: Chelann Cachero
New Family Mentor Coordinator: Jackie Clough
Members at large: Paula Wilkinson, Toby Matasar, Sue Winter
Volunteer Coordinator- OPEN!
Past President: Brian Chinn
WPO Board Meetings. The board meets monthly along with a school administrator to organize our many social functions. Our meetings are posted on the school calendar. Anyone may attend to listen to our planning! Please let me know ahead of time if there is a topic that you wish to discuss in addition to the agenda items. Our bylaws are posted here.
WPO Board Meeting Agendas
WPO Board Meeting Minutes
8.16.11 WPO Meeting Minutes
9.23 WPO Meeting Minutes
WPO Event Chair Positions, 2011-2012
Admissions Process Chair: Heather Mitchell
Family Dance Chairs: Amy Carrasco, April Sunderland
Field Day Chairs: Gabby Moorhead, Paula Wilkinson
Google Groups Moderators: Kate Dee, Autumn Stensen
Halloween Fest Chairs: Roshele Allison, Callie Deegan
Movie Night Chairs: Rik Keller
Parent Education Chairs: Valerie Legler, Callie Deegan
Pizza Day Chairs: Astrid Klopsch, Jeni Bartell
Room Parents and Grade Level Representatives: See the "Teachers and Classroom" link
Scholastic Book Chair and Class Representatives: Christina Mastrangelo
Talent Show Chairs: Jackie Clough, David Koch
Teacher & Staff Appreciation Chairs: Rene Hawkes, Leslie Bratsanos
Logo Wear Chair: Sherry Cromett
Quiz Night Chair: Stephen Schoenfelder
The WPO supports the teachers and administration through organizing:
-room parents (grades PS-4) and grade level representatives (middle school-5-8)
-Scholastic Book program
-volunteers for the library
-teacher and staff appreciation activities
-parent representatives for new parent tours
The WPO supports the Parents through:
-Sponsoring parent education nights (there are three scheduled this year, the first is October 6, 7pm, childcare available)
-organizing Pizza Days, so you have less lunch to prepare every other Friday
-enhancing communication between the parents/teachers/administration
-organizing social activities so that families can get to know each other better
-sponsoring the google groups (an online forum for parent-to-parent discussions)
The WPO supports the Students through:
-funding school Assemblies (these are marked on the Westside Calendar for all students in the school, and parents are welcome to attend)
-funding and helping Donna Jornlin (PE instructor) to organize Field Day each spring
-sponsoring a Talent Show—February will be our first
The WPO supports the Westside Community’s Social Growth by planning activities for the whole family including:
-Halloween Fest
-Movie Nights (first is 9/23)
-Family Dance (spring)
-Summer Playground Socials
See the"School Events"page for details of the WPO sponsored events.
All of these many events are funded through money that we raise primarily from pizza sales, but also from Halloween Fest, and concession sales at our events. Any extra funds go back to Westside either to teachers’ grants, or other wishes (such as all of the new blinds for the new school building last year).
So by attending and volunteering at our events, you get to know the Westside community better and your support directly benefits the children. Separate age appropriate activities will be tailored to appeal to the Middle School Students as we get to know this group of children better. The WPO will be meeting with middle school student representatives as we begin to plan new social activities for them this year. Stay tuned!
Please visit the WPO link “School Events” for more information about each event. You will receive information via Friday email updates about upcoming events and for volunteering at events through an online signup.
Feel free to email me at anytime at wpo@westsideschool.org.
Amy Eby