Welcome back! I hope all of you had a wonderful summer.  I would like to introduce myself.  I am Kim Torrance and this is my first year as president of your PTA.  I have a wonderful husband and am a proud mother of two terrific daughters.  My oldest is a freshman at Hayfield Secondary and my youngest is a second grader here at Hayfield Elementary. I feel very privileged to be part of this wonderful community and look forward to serving with each of you.

The PTA has some great plans for this year.  As usual we will purchase an agenda for each child, provide funding for the yellow school buses for local field trips, contribute to various staff development activities, and assist with purchasing supplies the teachers use with your children.

We are very excited to share with everyone that this year we will be turning our fundraising focus to purchasing new playground equipment for our students as well!  It is our goal to purchase equipment in phases so that our students can enjoy the expanded playground quicker.  We will be sharing the plans with everyone at our Back to School Night on September 15.

It is not all work for us! We also organize the most happening event of the year! The annual Hayfield Happening is coming up on October 28.  This is a huge night for Hayfield Elementary.  There will be games, food, fun and friends, and as if that was not enough, you can wear costumes! Every grade level covers two games so we need many helpers to make this event the fun night it has always been.  Please look for opportunities to help out during this wonderful evening.

I’m sure many of you are asking yourself right now, how can I help the PTA?  It is simple!  In your Back to School Packets, you received a membership form.  Please fill out the form and send it in with your membership dues as soon as possible so that we can put your money to work in our school.  And remember this is not just for parents.  Grandparents, aunts, uncles and neighbors can also be members and help support Hayfield.

On a final note, we are always looking for volunteers.  I know everyone’s lives are very busy and it is difficult to imagine yourself finding time to volunteer.  Please look at the volunteer form that came home in the Back to School Packets.  I bet you will be able to find something that fits your schedule.  There are several opportunities that do not involve volunteering during school hours.  When you attend Back to School Night on September 15 at 6:00 p.m. please look for opportunities to help your child’s classroom teacher.  They will have a list of different areas where they need your help.  Please take a minute to sign up.

While we are talking about volunteering, we still have a position on our PTA Board this year that we need to fill.  Please consider joining our Board today! I have listed the position with a short description below.  If you are interested, please let me know and I will help you get started.

After School Programs – If your kids like to play sports, love to cook, or, maybe try their hands at pottery, dance or acting then this may right up your ally.  There are already a number of organizations that have held these programs at Hayfield in the past.  You will connect with their coordinator, decide when you would like to hold the sessions and which days you would like to offer the class. 

Thank you for all of your help and for caring about your child’s education.  I look forward to seeing you soon!

Kim Torrance

PTA President