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PTSO

PTSO LEADERSHIP 2023-2024
On behalf of the Charlotte Lab School PTSO, we would like to WELCOME you! Parent involvement plays a vital role in the success of our school. The first step to building a relationship with Lab is to become involved. 
 
What is the Charlotte Lab School PTSO?  
The Charlotte Lab School PTSO is a self-guided organization composed of parents (P), teachers (T) and students (S). We are volunteers who want to share a skill, be an active part of the school community, and foster relationships between parents, staff, and students. All families and staff are encouraged to actively participate in meetings, events and activities. We do not have a membership fee, as we feel that PTSO should include all families and not just those who can afford it.
PTSO Mission: The overall purpose of the PTSO is to...
  • Provide support to the classroom and various programs that benefit all students,
  • Be a relevant resource for families and the Lab school community, and
  • Assist in planning events that not only help to raise money for the school, but also enrich and promote the Lab School culture. 
PTSO Values: Collaboration, Inclusivity, Commitment, Accountability, Respect 
What does the PTSO do? The PTSO supports the school and Lab community in a variety of ways, from staff appreciation, campus beautification and support, family event planning and fundraising.
Where do I find information about PTSO? Information about PTSO can be found on the Charlotte Lab School website under the “Community” section. 
How do I get in touch with someone from the PTSO? Email [email protected] to ask a question or find additional information about a topic. Please remember, this mailbox is monitored by volunteers. We do our best to respond as promptly as possible.
How do I get involved? If you are looking for ways to get involved at school, we can help! Any amount of time you can give during the year is appreciated, and each campus will have specific needs. During the first weeks of back-to-school, a volunteer survey request will be sent to all parents/guardians. This will give you the opportunity to tell us about your interests. In the meantime, please email PTSO with any questions or comments: [email protected].
Do I need to become a member of the PTSO? No! We encourage all families and students to participate and volunteer with the school and PTSO events. The PTSO does not charge a membership fee, as we feel money should not be a barrier to feeling included.
How do I know when volunteer opportunities arise? There will be a need for volunteers just about every month during the school year. A description of the event will be included in the school’s weekly newsletter and/or other communication methods (SeeSaw, school website, parent Facebook page, etc.). Most of the volunteer sign-ups during the year are done through Sign-Up Genius (often referred to as SUG). This is a free online tool/app that we use to organize events and keep track of volunteers.
How does the PTSO raise money? As a PTSO, we feel it is important to minimize the constant requests for money and materials from parents/guardians. Therefore, our fundraising policy is fairly simple; the PTSO focuses on one major fundraising campaign each year, which is Boosterthon. Please note that this is separate from the school’s Innovation Fund campaign.
Why does PTSO have a fundraiser that is separate from Lab’s Innovation Fund? What is the difference between them? As a parent/guardian, if you decide to participate in only one school fundraiser a year, we strongly encourage you to support the Innovation Fund campaign. The Innovation Fund supports core operational needs. PTSO fundraisers raise money for the “nice to haves” such as staff appreciation, classroom and playground supplies, refreshments for social events, etc.
What is Boosterthon? Boosterthon helped Lab raise much-needed funds for our school and over 1000 other schools across America this school year. The eight-day Boosterthon program  promotes three specific values during the fun-filled experience: FITNESS, LEADERSHIP, and CHARACTER.  From 2019-2021, Boosterthon has helped the PTSO to raise over $100,000 to help fund staff appreciation, family events, campus wishlists and more.
How else does PTSO raise money? PTSO does have partnerships with a variety of companies who donate a % of money spent back to the school. These include BoxTops, Harris Teeter, Publix, Edukit, and St. John’s Photography. A small portion of money is also earned through spirit wear sales.
How does the PTSO spend the money it raises? The money raised by the PTSO goes to supporting the staff, classrooms and community building. A proposed budget will be shared with the school community during the first semester and budget updates are shared at each PTSO General Meeting.
What is the role of the PTSO Leadership Board? The PTSO Leadership Board is composed of dedicated parents who lead overall PTSO towards specific goals chosen in conjunction with school leadership. The board meets monthly to help to set the vision for the PTSO, create a budget and fundraising plan, appoint committee and event chairs, plan social and community-building events, and conduct trimester General Meetings with the broader school community. Board members try to be the “eyes and ears” for the school community and use feedback to better support all students, staff and classrooms. 
We hope you will consider participating with PTSO during the year in support of our school!