I need your help! We are in the final stages of our PTO membership drive and we have received pledges to cover only 67% of the budgeted programs and services we have planned for your children this year. The PTO conducts this one major fund raiser during the year so our budget is almost entirely dependent on this event's success.

PTO expenditures include:

• Classroom materials (52% of the budget on things teachers need to enrich their classrooms)
• Artists in Residence
• Assemblies
• Field trips
• Materials for the science lab, PE department, and Art program
• Technology enhancements
• Community building events: Fall Family Fair, Spring Picnic, Friends & Family Day, etc.)

To date, only 53% of our families have joined the PTO, but we need every one. Five dollars is the cost of membership. However, if you can, we ask that you give more. The PTO budgets and spends $250 per child so we are hoping that parents who can will support us at that level. Forms are available in the office or you may donate online at www.oakknollschool.com.

Along with the PTO, I encourage every family to support the Menlo Park-Atherton Education Foundation. Your donation to the Foundation helps pay for classroom teachers and specialist teachers for art, music, library and science. This year the Foundation funded 31 teachers, which is one out of six teacher salaries in our district! If it weren't for this funding - which comes from you -- each kindergarten through 3rd grade class would have four more students and the upper grades would have seven more students. We need all of our families to support the Foundation to preserve smaller class sizes and enriched learning at our schools. Some families may need to space their giving to the PTO and the Foundation, so you can pledge now to give later at www.mpaef.org.

Thank you so much for helping preserve the high quality education at Oak Knoll School through your support of the PTO and the Menlo Park-Atherton Education Foundation.