About the Rachel Carson PTA
As it says in our tagline, the RCES PTA has been supporting our students since the school's founding in 1990. We've grown a lot since those early days and are now an active, integral partner in the education of the children at RCES.
Our Mission
The mission of the RCES PTA is to achieve educational excellence by encouraging parental involvement, building strong teacher-parent relationships, enabling academic enrichment programs, and providing academic, fun, and family-oriented activities which promote learning and strengthen our community.
Our Objectives
Coordinate Parent Volunteers
RCES parents volunteer in the school in many capacities. Examples include: working with children in the classrooms, serving as lunch and recess aides, staffing Field Day and book fairs, creating bulletin boards, and assisting the school nurse and librarian.
RCES parents also volunteer outside of the school and after hours. Examples include: organizing the Spring Fair, Variety show, and monthly family nights; planning and implementing new playground equipment, baking for various PTA events; and staffing an evening copy service for the teachers.
Finance School Programs
Our operating budget is $80,000 - $100,000 per year. Major projects funded last year included new items for the media center and school; reimbursement of teachers for classroom items; a discretionary fund for the principal; a scholarship fund to help defray the costs of field trips for those who are unable to pay; teacher appreciation events; and family nights.
Organize Academic Enrichment Programs
The PTA sponsors extra-curricular school programs, including: Mad Science, Adventures in Art, Chess club, Group Piano, Drama Kids, and French and Spanish language classes. Several school assemblies featuring the arts were funded as well.
The PTA also organizes "International Night", "Science University Night", “Math night” and the Spring Variety Show.
Foster a Sense of Community
The PTA sponsors Family Nights throughout the year which are held at the school. Themes this year include: Pizza dinner/Bingo night, movie night, chorus and instrumental music concerts, and a Valentine's Day dance.
We also undertake outreach activities to those in need. This year RCES PTA will continue to sponsor a Linkages for Learning School in Wheaton Maryland. Last year, we were able to supply baskets of food at Thanksgiving, gently used costumes for children to wear at Halloween and Holiday gifts.
Each year the children do a "Walk for the Homeless" for Gaithersburg Help and collect food to feed RCES families in need at Thanksgiving as well as toys and clothing gifts for the winter holidays.
We have a very active Hospitality Committee that sends food, flowers, balloons and more to people in our school community who have recently experienced a loss of loved one or have themselves needed some extra attention.
How We're Organized
According to our Bylaws , the RCES Executive Board is comprised of the following:
A president elected every spring and serving a term from July 1 - June 30 Two vice presidents (VP Ways & Means is responsible for fundraising activities, VP Social is responsible for organizing social activities) A treasurer A secretary
See Officers & Committees for names and contact information for the Executive Board and Committee Chairpersons.
When We Meet
Normally, the PTA meetings are held on the first Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM in the RCES All-Purpose Room.