Publications & Sites 
PTA re-establishes itself at Scott School
Hilda Favela, PTA vice president of membership, adds a gummy worm to a bottle of water for Scott School fourth grader Damaris Delvalle 10, during the PTA's Halloween Happenings event. | Michael Jarecki ~ for Sun-Times Media
Article Extras
Updated: December 2, 2012 6:17AM
MELROSE PARK — Scott School students put on costumes, guessed how much a pumpkin weighed, danced and played games during the school’s Halloween Happenings.
Scott hosted the party Oct. 26. But it was an event that didn’t take place last year at the Mannheim District 83 school, as the school’s Parent-Teacher Association had dissolved.
“We call it going dormant,” Principal Carrie Novak. “You don’t want to see it happen.”
The PTA organizes and fundraises for events through the school year. This year’s events will include Halloween Happenings, a technology fair in April and possibly a New Year’s welcome meeting and a health fair.
In past years, it has also included assemblies, dinner with Santa, bingo night and sending participants to help at a district-wide literacy night.
Last school year there was difficulty recruiting people to the Scott PTA’s five-member board, Novak said.
“We did a lot of recruiting, but it wasn’t anything people felt they could commit to,” Novak said, adding she suspects it was too much for families where both parents work.
Hilda Favela, Scott PTA vice president for membership, believes there is a misunderstanding among potential PTA members.
“With events, it’s just a few hours a month,” Favela said. “I think a lot of parents have the misconception that it takes a lot of time.”
This year the PTA signed up 78 members at its open house in September. “It’s a great number,” Favela said.
Part of that might be due to the latest board members being bilingual.
“We’re able communicate fluently with other parents,” Favela said. “Given that Scott School has a high bilingual population.”
In any case, Novak is glad to see the PTA reestablished. While the PTA typically puts on about five events a year, last school year, teachers were only able to do two – a health fair and a technology night.
“People really miss all the events the PTA does and the kids miss them,” Novak said. “You don’t want to see that happen.”
