Welcome!
Atkinson Elementary in southeast Portland, Oregon, has a very active PTA with dozens of activities that support our kids, our school, and our community. The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is a non-profit organization of parents and educators, students and community members active in our schools. To read more about the PTA, visit our parent organizations: Oregon PTA and National PTA.
Join the PTA!
The Atkinson PTA supports our local families and community with a range of programs and activities. The state and national PTA organizations support all schoolchildren and their parents with information, aide programs, and political lobbying at the state and national levels. Membership dues for Atkinson PTA are annual using a sliding scale. All are welcome to PTA meetings; to have a vote in Atkinson's PTA, you need to become a member. Print out this form with simple instructions on how to become a member.
Contact list: 2010-11 Atkinson Volunteer Positions & Activities
Atkinson is special because of the time donated by our volunteers - over 400 are registered this year! CLICK HERE for activity descriptions. *Please see your school directory for contact information or email the Volunteer Coordinator below if you have questions or would like to volunteer. The following are subject to change.
PTA Officers
- President - Karla Zirbes
- Vice President - Anne Myrthue
- Treasurer - pending
- Secretary/Membership - pending
PTA Board, above officers plus:
- Volunteer Coordinator - Jennifer Povich
- Outdoor Learning Gardens (OLG) Chair - Denise Dekker
- Outreach Committee - open
- Fundraising Chair - open (see Jennifer Povich)
- Communications Coordinator - Gretchen Dursch
- Teacher Representative - open
- Member at Large - open
- Immersion Parent Representative - Beth Gebstadt
Community Representatives
- Tabor Commons - Traci Sullivan
- Office - Jeannie Curtis
- Stand for Children - open
Jobs
- 5th Grade Parent Coordinators – open
- Book Room – Amy Mooney
- Communications - school FYI list serve: Gretchen Dursch; yahoo list serve: Heather Rickson; Web site - PTA: Karla Zirbes; OLG: Nathan Hinkle (Em Scateragia's son)
- Directory – Mark Mason & Elizabeth Connolly
- Laminating - open
Fundraisers
- Auction – Jean Hansen and Karla Martin
- Chinook Book – Anne Myrthue & Molly Gartrell
- Escrip - Gretchen Dursch
- Gift Wrap – Anne Myrthue
- Greeting Cards - Meredith Baker and Sue Kass
- Run for the Arts – Traci Sullivan
Activities & Community Events
- Basketball – Claudia Adams & Mike Johnson
- Book Fair – Amy Mooney
- Carnival – Julie Montagne & open
- Chess Club - open
- Community Care Day - outside: Sean Connolly, inside: Jennifer Povich
- Dia de los Reyes Magos – Queta Chapa & Lydia Hernandez
- Field Day – pending
- Grandparents & Special Friends Day – Gayle Meier
- Ice Cream Social – Rachel Belcher
- Library Helpers/Readers – Amy Mooney
- Lunar New Year – pending
- Outdoor Learning Gardens (OLG) additional positions - curriculum committee chair: Nikki Schulak, multicultural garden: Jen Pultz & Janet Cowal, pollinator garden chair: Meg Ruby, native habitat garden steward: Sean Connolly, Americorp staffer: Misha Capecchi
- PTA Clothes Closet – Jennifer Povich
- Picture Day - Holly Boime
- RIF (Reading is Fundamental) Distribution – Amity Bell & Julie Hastings & Rachel Belcher
- Running Club – pending
- Safer Routes to School - Molly Haynes
- Staff Appreciation Week – 1st & 2nd Grade Classroom Representatives
- Spelling Bee – Gayle Meier
- Talent Show 3-5 – Amy Mooney
- Talent Show K-2 – Laura Neck & Renee Carter
- Walk and Bike to School (Fridays) – Laura Neck
- Winter Sing-Along – Anne Myrthue
- Year Book – Paige Battle & Cindy Boune
Our Mission Statement:
To support and speak on behalf of children and youth in the schools, in the community and before governmental bodies and other organizations that make decisions affecting children; to assist parents in developing the skills they need to raise and protect their children; and to encourage parent and public involvement in the public schools of this nation. The Atkinson PTA is an independent body composed of family members and the staff of Atkinson Elementary School. Our mission is to promote student achievement and the success of ALL our children by encouraging and supporting family involvement. We embrace and support the diversity of language, culture and background found in our students, families and school.