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The PTO funds, runs, and helps with a long list of Lakewood Elementary activities. These efforts evolve from year to year based on the priorities of the people involved.
Your input has impact.
Below you will find an extensive list of activities we have a hand in. We hope this gives you an idea of what fun events and initiatives to expect throughout the year.
Please expand each activity to see where we could use helping hands! There are plenty of volunteer opportunities available across skill sets and time constraints.
EVENTS: Fundraisers
By organizing a handful of major fundraising events, the PTO is able to put on a host of other events throughout the year that are completely free to all who attend.
Food Fundraisers (Venta de comida Dia de los Meurtos)
October
Bake sales are not a thing of the past and the Lakewood PTO benefitted from a brand new event this past year – The Dias de los Muertos Food Sale. It was held in conjunction with the 2024 Fall Festival and it was a HUGE HIT. Lakewood takes pride in the diverse ethnic backgrounds of our students and their families and we try to show it off as much as possible. Last fall, our Latine parent community wanted to share their skills, time, and home recipes by organizing a food sale that featured Latin food and desserts for all to try. We got to learn about, and taste, many of the traditions of the popular Mexican holiday of Día de los Muertos.
Opportunities to volunteer: Selling and distributing tickets, baking, serving, setting up, cleaning up
Fun Run
November
This Fall event is a fundraiser for the Lakewood PTO and a great way for students to show their school spirit! The Fun Run takes place during the school day at Lakewood and family members are encouraged to attend if they are able. Each grade is assigned a time during which they take to the track to complete as many laps as they can to promote positive competition and fun within the school. Before the event, information will be sent home with students regarding how they can collect donations from family members or friends who would like to “sponsor” their participation in the run. Collecting donations is not required for participation – all students and grades take part.
Opportunities for adult volunteers: Cheering on students, donating snacks, passing out snacks, running the band-aid station, organizing grade (team) photos, helping to count laps, setting up, cleaning up
Scholastic Book Fair
Usually held in winter
As of the 2024-25 school year, the amount provided to schools by the district for library expenditures is just $3/student. That amount generally does not cover the costs of replacing missing and damaged books each year, let alone allow our librarians to update and expand the library’s offerings and media center capabilities. Every year, the PTO, along with the school’s librarians, put on a Scholastic Book Fair. Twenty-five percent (25%) of all sales from this event come back to the PTO and are earmarked for the exclusive use and benefit of the library. This event historically adds $2,000 to $2,500 to what the district provides for our library.
Opportunities for volunteers: Organizing the volunteers, setting up the book fair, helping kids during their designated shopping times to create book wishlists, manning a cash register during shopping periods, restocking the shelves, cleaning up after the book fair
Read-A-Thon
March
Read-A-Thon takes place throughout March – National Reading Month. Lakewood students are encouraged to read as much as they can in and outside of school and track their reading minutes to compete with other classrooms for the honor of being the school’s top readers! Similar to the Fun Run, Read-A-Thon is also a fundraiser for the Lakewood PTO. Information will be sent home regarding how students can track their reading time online and collect donations from family and friends to sponsor their participation (students are encouraged, but not required to participate). Families should also look out for other reading-related events occurring in and around Lakewood to help boost those reading minutes!
General Fundraisers (i.e., T-shirt sales, coin drives, Schuler’s partnership, Restaurant Nights)
Occurs at various times throughout the year
The PTO puts on a number of smaller fundraisers throughout the year. These may vary year to year, but in the past we’ve done t-shirt sales, coin drives, a Schuler’s Bookstore weekend, restaurant nights and more. These smaller events often require less time and effort from their organizers. We’re always open to new ideas, so if there is a cause or a creative initiative you would like to champion, we’d love to hear from you.
Opportunities for volunteers: Organizers, varies based on event
EVENTS:
Non-Fundraisers
Meet Your Teacher Event (aka Popsicles on the Playground)
Usually the Wednesday before the first day of school
This August event kicks off each new school year at Lakewood. One evening (traditionally Wednesday) during the week before school starts, all Lakewood students and their families are invited to enjoy complimentary popsicles and meet their new teachers for the upcoming year. This is a great time to see old friends and meet new classmates before the big First Day. Students and their families will each have a moment with their new teacher to introduce themselves, ask questions, and let their teachers know what they are most excited or concerned about for the next year. This is an outdoor event (weather permitting) that is held on the grassy area in front of the school. Additional information will be sent via email before the event providing the time, day and how to locate your teacher. This is also when teachers share with parents their classroom wishlists, how to best communicate with them, and opportunities for parents to get involved in the classroom. There are no required materials parents need to purchase for their kids to start school. Many classroom supplies are purchased out of the teachers’ discretionary funds, provided to them by the PTO and our fundraising efforts. At the event, the PTO will have a table where families can learn more about the school, the PTO, and how they can be involved in our community throughout the year. Everyone is encouraged to attend! Siblings are welcome and spending time on the playground afterwards is encouraged.
Opportunities for volunteers: Assisting with setup, manning the PTO table, handing out flyers and directing parents, and cleaning up afterwards
Fall Festival
October
This late October event celebrates not only the changing seasons, and the multitude of significant cultural holidays throughout this time of year, but also the excitement of really being into the new school year. This is an evening event where students and their families are invited to Lakewood to participate in outdoor games, do some “trunk or treating”, and enjoy soup, cider, and donuts – on us. This also gives students a chance to show off their costumes, as they are not allowed to wear them during the school day. Every aspect of this event is free to attendees. (For clarity, last year, we also added a Dia de los Meurtos food sale fundraiser alongside the Fall Festival, in which items could be purchased).
Opportunities for adult and teen volunteers: Helping facilitate games, handing out prizes, making and/or serving food, decorating your vehicle trunk & passing out candy, and assisting with setting up, cleaning up
Summer Celebration
Last week of school
One of the last events of the school year, Summer Celebration, celebrates the accomplishments of Lakewood students, teachers, and staff members throughout the school year as we prepare for Summer vacation. Similar to the Fall Festival, students will be able to participate in a variety of outdoor games and other fun in the sun! Unlike the Fall Festival, this is a fundraiser. The event features a massive raffle with a multitude of themed prize baskets. Every student is allotted a number of game/food tickets and raffle tickets for free. More can be purchased prior to and at the event. The Kona Ice Truck is another feature of the event (they only accept cash & credit cards). Proceeds from ticket sales go to the Lakewood PTO.
Opportunities for adult & teen volunteers: Facilitating games for students, selling tickets, manning the food & drink table, and setting up, cleaning up
5th Grade Promotion
Last week of school
As our students’ fifth grade year comes to a close, we celebrate the milestone with a graduation-like event. We typically ask the parents of 4th graders to put on this event so our 5th grade parents can revel in the moment.
Opportunities for volunteers: Organizing, prepping, decorating, taking photos, attending to the food, cleaning up
Kindergarten Round Up
February
Kindergarten Round Up is the first interaction many students and their families have with Lakewood! Typically occurring in January or February, this evening event allows incoming Kindergarten and Young 5s students and their families to visit the school, learn more about the classrooms, curriculum, PTO, and meet our amazing Kindergarten and Young 5s teachers. The event begins with a presentation about Lakewood followed by time in each kindergarten classroom and the Young 5s classroom (if desired), then a tour of the school. Kindergarten and Young 5s teachers describe what a typical day is like for their students, expectations for incoming students, and what to anticipate throughout the year. It is a great time for new young students to get a feel for the school and to prepare with their families for the transition. It is also an opportunity for parents deciding between Kindergarten & Young 5s, or which school to attend, to ask questions and gather more information to aid in making their choice.
Opportunities for volunteers: Setting up the event, directing participants, manning the PTO information table
Field Day
May
This is an outdoor event (weather permitting) held near the end of the school year during the school day. It is a day of physical activity and fun. The physical education teacher puts together a list of events, games, and challenges that PTO parents help run. We also supply funding for any necessary equipment and snacks.
Opportunities for volunteers: Setting up, facilitating activities, supervising, cheerleading, cleaning up
Disability Awareness Workshop
April
This is a very popular activity amongst the kids and a staple of the 3rd grade experience. It’s a workshop put on and paid for by the PTO that helps kids understand the daily life and many hurdles encountered by folks with various disabilities.
Opportunities for volunteers: Lead organizer, day-of facilitators
International Night
April
This event gives students and their families a chance to go around the world in one evening without leaving Lakewood. Individual families, groups of families, and classrooms create tables and displays that represent a country they might have special ties to or just wish to learn more about. Tables and displays include information about the country’s people and cultures and often include traditional foods or crafts to share. Students may dress in clothing that represents their culture or country of origin/heritage if they wish to do so. The night may also include live performances of music and dance from around the world. This is a most favored event for families.
Opportunities for volunteers: “Hosting” a country table/display, assisting with set up, clean up
VIP Breakfast
January or February
This event is an opportunity for Lakewood students to bring a “very important person” to school for breakfast. Breakfast items (e.g., muffins, fruit, juice, etc.) are served to students and their VIP grown-up in the Lakewood multipurpose room before school starts. This event usually coincides with the Scholastic Book Fair, giving students an opportunity to visit the book fair with their VIP.
Opportunities for volunteers: Providing food donations, assisting with setting up, cleaning up
NAAPID
February
*this is a school led event*
NAAPID (National African American Parent Involvement Day), founded here in Ann Arbor in 1995 by a retired AAPS Principal, Joseph Dulin, is the result of his experiences attending The Million Man March. Every “man” was challenged to go to their community and promote African American unity and family values, thus giving birth to NAAPID. At Lakewood, we embrace the sentiment of Mr. Dulin’s goal by inviting all parents into the school to share hands-on time in our kids’ classrooms and highlight for them what the students have been working on.
EVENTS: Student & Staff Organized
The students and staff are at the heart of Lakewood’s uniqueness. Throughout each year the student council, staff, and administrators go above and beyond organizing events and initiatives, often after school hours. The PTO remains ever ready to aid in any way needed, but usually play a peripheral role in these activities.
Title I Events
Various nights throughout the year
Lakewood is a Targeted Title I school. This designation is made to schools that meet certain guidelines, most notably, that at least 40% of its students qualify for free or reduced lunch based on household income. The federal funding for this provides additional resources to ensure all children receive a high-quality education, close educational achievement gaps, and build capacity for parent involvement. One way Lakewood supports this purpose is by putting on events, like Hispanic Heritage Night and Family Game Night. These free events are organized by the school and many are open to all students and their families. The PTO helps with these activities in whatever capacity is needed.
Family Game Night is a Title I-sponsored, free event for all Lakewood students and their families. One evening after school, students are invited to bring their families to play a range of educational games –board games, card games, puzzles, etc.. Complimentary pizza is also served prior to initiating game play. To continue the fun and learning, many of the games are also available for purchase. Students who RSVP ahead of time for the event are given a voucher for a discount on one of these games.
Opportunities for volunteers: Helping facilitate games, setting up/serving pizza & drinks, and assisting with other tasks
Hispanic Heritage Night is another example of a Title I-sponsored, free event. It is held on an evening during October, which is Hispanic Heritage Month. Like International Night, students and their families have a chance to taste traditional foods, learn about Hispanic culture through music, games, and a costume show.
Opportunities to volunteer: This event is organized and ran by our Latine families and school staff
Robotics
Year Round
The robotics program used to be a voluntary club for 5th graders that has since been rolled into the PLTW (Project Lead The Way) class curriculum for all 5th graders. The teacher organizes a day of robotics challenges for the students to test their builds and show them off to the other grades – sometimes these challenges are coordinated with other area schools. The program and challenge days are mainly run by the PLTW teacher. Sometimes the PTO is called on to provide funding for the program.
Collection Activities (Coat Drives, Cereal collection)
Various times throughout the year
organized by the student council
Much like our general fundraisers, these are collections for items to meet a goal are spearheaded by Lakewood’s Student Council. Most years we organize a winter gear collection. Last year, the students collected cereal boxes to create an over-sized domino effect (the cereal was then donated to food pantries).
Opportunities for volunteers: Varies based on event
Spirit Days
Several times a year
Organized by the student council
Throughout the year, Lakewood has many opportunities for students to show their school spirit, creativity, and, in some cases, just be silly. These “spirit days” encourage students and staff to dress in a unique way. Past spirit days have included pajama day, school colors day, favorite book character day, sports day, and heritage day. Spirit days are always optional and always fun!
Initiatives & Activities
The PTO supports a wide range of activities that provide student and cultural enrichment. Within this list, there are ample opportunities to volunteer; these take up a vast range of time and effort. Many require little commitment and are very flexible, but without such volunteers, they couldn’t happen.
Field Trips & Field Trip Busing
Throughout the year
The PTO funds 100% of the costs associated with Lakewood Elementary field trips. Like assemblies, without the funds we provide, field trips wouldn’t be possible for the entire student body. Currently, we provide $40-$80 per student dedicated specifically to field trips. This amount covers bussing, admissions, and other costs. The “where” and the “when” are chosen by each teacher based on their class’s curriculum and interests. Classes are often able to do multiple field trips per school year.
Opportunities for volunteers: Chaperones
Assemblies
Several times a year
PTO fundraising pays for 100% of the special assemblies held each year. These range in topic and guests. and are selected by the staff and principal of Lakewood. Examples include The NED Show, Basketball Jones, the “See Us Bloom” author assembly, and The Circle – Native American Assembly. Without PTO support, these incredible learning opportunities would not be available to our students.
First Day of School: Lunch for Staff
First day of school
The PTO likes to welcome new and returning staff and make the first day of school as seamless as possible. To show our gratitude, we provide buffet-style lunch for everyone on staff on the first day of school from a local vendor.
Opportunities for volunteers: Ordering, organizing, and delivering of the food
Main Display Case
Several times a year
Ever wonder who makes the incredible displays in the main case at the entrance of Lakewood? It’s often PTO members. When the principal or staff don’t have a specific need for the display case, the PTO fills it with fun, informative, and uplifting exhibitions.
Opportunities for volunteers: A creative mind, crafty hands and a few hours of time
Science Olympiad
January thru MaY
The Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad (WESO) is an after school program run and funded by the PTO. It’s a large program that takes place across several months – generally students meet with their coaches once or twice a week depending on the event they are preparing for. Washtenaw County’s program is the largest elementary Science Olympiad in the nation. Students prepare for their chosen event by learning various physics and engineering concepts and testing a multitude of solutions to problems they may encounter on the event day. Parents act as coaches leading up to the event, but on the actual day of, the kids enter the challenge space on their own. Thirty to sixty students from grades 2-5 participate. For more details, check out our WESO page.
Opportunities for volunteers: Head Coach, Co-Head Coach, event coaches, parent helpers for the event coaches, a key volunteer (a required role to participate), and day-of volunteers.
Book Bonanza
Usually in conjunction with March Reading Month
This is an exciting event to promote the love of books and reading. It’s run in conjunction with National Reading Month and helps kick off our yearly Read-A-Thon in March. Students are invited to “shop” the book bonanza during the school day. All available books have been donated by members of the Lakewood community and are available at no cost to students! PTO members collect and sort the books by reading level and topic. Students can keep whatever books they want.
Opportunities for volunteers: Book collection leading up to the event, book sorting, assisting with book shopping
Staff Appreciation Week
Usually May
We love our Lakewood educators! We celebrate our amazing staff and their hard work with a staff appreciation week each spring. We give gifts, decorate doors and sidewalks, and organize as many displays of our affection as we can come up with.
Opportunities for volunteers: Gift purchasers/preparers, door decorators, idea makers, thank-you distributors, and anyone with a little time to give that week
Great Ideas
We try to support student initiatives whenever called on. At one time, we had a grant application process for students who had a great idea that required funding. It was called “The Golden Apple Award”. When fundraising allows for it, we set aside money for this purpose.
Garden
Throughout the year
Lakewood has gardens nestled between the classrooms that the PTO is in charge of maintaining. When in season, the teachers utilize the garden for lessons and for outdoor activities. Due to time constraints, it’s unfortunately been neglected over the last few years and could benefit from a group of dedicated gardeners to breathe life back into it.
Opportunities for volunteers: Gardeners, eager workers
Yearbook
Throughout the year
Each year, the PTO aims to provide every student with a free copy of the yearbook. A PTO volunteer (or two) are tasked with collecting, editing, and arranging photos, as well as creating the blurbs and design used for the yearbook. Families are invited to donate photos. This initiative is run exclusively by volunteers.
Opportunities for volunteers: See description. Additional volunteers are needed as photographers at events
Facebook Communications
We do our best to keep parents informed on the latest. While folks these days tend to use a variety of communication sources and apps, Facebook is still the number one social media platform used by parents. Outside of our website, we try to maintain a Facebook presence for those who prefer to communicate this way. We’re looking for a parent to take the lead in this. It’s helpful, but not required, for the person charged with maintaining our Facebook messaging to attend our monthly meetings.
Grants
We are ALWAYS on the lookout for opportunities to give our students additional enrichment. After all, it’s in our mission. Searching and applying for grants can play a critical role in filling a void in our existing funding or potentially providing the resources required for an entirely new idea or initiative.
Opportunities for volunteers: Grant researchers/seekers and grant applicants
Expenditures
We’re often asked, “What does the PTO spend the money it raises on?”
Below you will see a list of the kinds of things we spend our time and money on that are not associated with an event or outward activity already listed above. These occur behind the scenes and make up about 50% of our expense budget.
Staff Discretionary (Classroom supplies & more)
It’s imperative to the members of the PTO that all students receive an equal opportunity in education, whatever their financial means. In order to achieve this, we set our fundraising goals to ensure that all teachers and staff have access to the supplies they need for their students to succeed. By working hard and meeting these fundraising goals, we aim to make sure that individual Lakewood families are never required or pressured to provide supplies for their children at any time throughout the year. We issue discretionary funds to the teachers, as well as the teaching assistants, support staff, office personnel, and administrators. Discretionary checks are by far the greatest expenditure made by PTO – between $12,000 and $20,000 per year – followed closely by field trips, which are also free for students due to PTO fundraising.
Outdoor Learning Space
Last spring, students who participated in the March Read-A-Thon earned money for a specific goal. They collectively raised $10,000 for the building of an outdoor learning space on the school grounds that can be utilized on our better weather days. It is slated to be constructed in the spring of 2025 and will be made up of hammocks, shade sails, and picnic tables for our students and teachers to enjoy.
Opportunities for volunteers: Carpentry, painting, work day volunteers, lending of tools
Fine Arts Funding (Art, Music, Orchestra)
The Fine Arts Fund exists as a supplement to the Specials classes’ supply and curriculum needs. The fund provides the instructors of art, music, band, and orchestra money to use as they see fit. This pays for instruments, music books, art supplies, play supplies, microphone equipment, storage and furnishings for their rooms, and more. It’s also used to pay for unique field trips related to the fine arts, like this past year’s 4th and 5th grade trip to see “Newsies”.
Gym, Recess, and Lunchtime Supplies
The PTO provides discretionary funds for each of these areas for the staff to spend, usually on equipment, as they see fit.
Family Emergency Fund
Much like the principal fund, this is a flexible discretionary fund set aside for emergencies that can be tapped by any staff member who feels there is a particular, pressing need for a student or family in our Lakewood community. It first came about during the beginning of the COVID pandemic, and has since remained, though to a smaller extent, for anyone experiencing a shortage of food or clothing, or needing support during a mental health crisis.
Principal Fund
As a group, we realize that the principal has their thumb on the needs of all Lakewood students and no amount of planning can accommodate all issues that arise during the school year. For this purpose, we provide the principal with additional discretionary funds to use as they see fit for their students, staff, and facilities.
Teacher Conference Supplemental Funds
We don’t want small expenses to get in the way of a teacher’s professional growth. This fund is earmarked for expenses related to travel for conferences or admission fees themselves.
Staff Gifts
Occasionally, we have reason to celebrate with the staff at Lakewood. This might be a retirement, a new baby, or a personal achievement that we acknowledge with a gift.
Building Improvements & Equipment
(i.e., book room, rock wall, painting of the walls, conference room improvements)
It’s not news that schools have limited funds. At times the students and parents of Lakewood Elementary identify helpful improvements to the school’s facilities or desired equipment that could not otherwise come out of the school’s budget. The PTO steps up in these moments to provide funding and extra hands to bring about these improvements.
The PTO Website
Do you have any interest or background in web design and creation, or specifically WordPress? Our website plays a critical role in communication with Lakewood parents. It needs to be regularly updated to ensure the most accurate information for parents to reference. Work on the website can be done in your own time from your home computer. It’s helpful if those who are charged with maintaining it are in attendance at our monthly meetings.
ROLES
Maybe you can’t commit to leading an event. That’s OK. The positions below are crucial to the organization and many of which only require a commitment to attending the monthly meetings. Your opinion, your ideas, and you enthusiasm is all it takes to make a massive difference.
Executive Board Officers
Annually elected positions: (elected in May and serve July 1 – July 30)
– President
– Vice President
– Secretary
– Co-Treasurers (a two year commitment)
– Volunteer Coordinator
Non-Elected Positions:
– Lakewood’s Principal
– Teacher-Representatives
– Committee Chair Persons
*There are three positions that are always required to be filled to maintain 501(c)3 status. They are: the President, Secretary, and Treasurer roles
Committee Chairs or Committee Members
Committees vary from year to year depending on the interests of the community. If you see a need, speak up! Past committees have included:
– Fundraising Committee
– Garden Committee
– Yearbook Committee
– Mamas de Lakewood
-Cultural Representatives
-and more!
Paired Planners
Kids grow up and parents graduate from elementary school with them. In order to ensure knowledge transfer from year to year, the PTO tries to pair a second person with an event organizer or committee chair that is looped into the communications and documentation of our events in their planning phase. We hope that this person gains the knowledge and confidence to run the event the following year, but that is by no means required. This role’s most critical function is to maintain the passing of knowledge between event planners from year to year.
Grade Representatives
These positions foster information sharing between the students, teachers, parents, and the PTO.
Financial Auditors
In an effort to maintain accurate financial records and ensure transparent spending within the organization, the PTO has someone (usually the Co-Treasurer) review and reconcile the accounts monthly. We also require a committee of at least three to do an annual review of the previous year’s books. This is an excellent way to gain insight into the PTO’s activities. You do not need to have a financial background to participate, simply curiosity, diligence, and an eye for the details.
The annual audit takes place in late July or early August after the closing of the PTO’s fiscal year.
General Members
That’s YOU. If you are a parent or guardian of an enrolled Lakewood Lizard or a Lakewood staff member, you are a voting member of the PTO.
Volunteers
You don’t have to be a PTO member to help. Our community extends beyond our building. We need help with lots of tasks and projects throughout the year, from organizing books in the library to working an event.
**If you’re interested in volunteering onsite or at a school function, you must submit a background check to the school’s office administrator at least several days prior to the event to allow time for processing.
Background checks must be submitted each year, regardless of past participation.