Cooperstown PTA Benefits the Community at Large

By ARYA PATEL
COOPERSTOWN

The Cooperstown Parent Teacher Association was established in 1954 and has been making valuable contributions to students’ lives ever since. The PTA is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that aims to help all students, from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Traditionally, the Cooperstown Central School PTA holds the annual Pancake Breakfast and Holiday Market, where different clubs and businesses can purchase a table to promote their products and causes. Some of these tables are strictly informational, but many include activities and interactive elements for all ages. For example, the CCS Quiz Team holds mini-competitions to raise awareness about the club.

The Cooperstown School District benefits greatly from the work of the PTA, which also supports various other programs, such as Student of the Month awards, 6th-grade graduation gifts, and National History Day regional registration costs, as well as science awards.

The PTA not only directly helps students, but helps the community as well, assisting with the annual Halloween Parade in downtown Cooperstown and hosting an annual Bingo night.

Furthermore, they offer summer music lessons and organize the Scholastic Book Fair for students. The PTA assists in sponsoring visiting authors, to help students to grow their knowledge and love for literature. To highlight the importance of teachers, the PTA also hosts a luncheon to recognize school faculty and staff in appreciation for all their support to the district’s students during Teachers’ Appreciation Week in May.

Volunteers are always needed to support PTA events and activities, as evidenced during the recent Crayon Carnival. Students also play a pivotal role in the success of the PTA and their events.

Senior Jerienne Aviles volunteered at the Crayon Carnival this year and said, “I volunteered as a member of Battle of the Books and did face painting for the kids. What I loved most about face painting for kids is that moment their faces light up with joy when they see the design they asked for—it’s like turning their imagination into a smile.”

Thirty-seven students volunteered at this year’s Crayon Carnival to help the cause.

Battle of the Books advisor Michelle Hitchcock stated, “Events like the Crayon Carnival do not happen without the support of the community. We are grateful for all the students, school, and community volunteers who helped make this year’s event a huge success.

“Crayon Carnival is just one of the many activities the PTA sponsors to raise money to help our students. All the students and teachers benefit from the support of the PTA,” Hitchcock said.

Current PTA officers are President Shelby MacLeish, Secretary Katie Morris, Treasurer Shilpa Ketharaju and Teacher Representative Michelle Hitchcock. They meet the second Tuesday of the month in the library at the Cooperstown Elementary School.

Those interested in learning more about the PTA can reach out at cooppta@gmail.com.

Intern Arya Patel is a junior at Cooperstown Central School.