At King Springs, our school support organizations try hard to show our hard-working teachers and staff how much we appreciate them!  In addition to the PTA's appreciation efforts, both the PTA and Foundation have designated funds for classroom and teacher support.  Here's a quick summary of our efforts to support KSE's teachers and staff!

Appreciation Events
The PTA coordinates holiday and end-of-year gift funds for our teachers and staff. Families send in donations in any amount they wish, and the PTA purchases gift cards for each KSE employee. The gift cards are presented with a hand-written note of appreciation. New this year, holiday and end-of-year gifts for classroom teachers will be handled through the PTA's school-wide fund, instead of through room parents. Instead of giving money to your class's room parent, families can donate to this fund and the gift will be spread among all of our employees. (Room parents will still coordinate celebrations for their teacher's birthday and other special events in the classroom.)

PTA hosts all-staff meals several times a year, including during pre-planning in July, Conference Week in October, and post-planning in May. We are thrilled to be able to treat our teachers and staff to delicious breakfasts and lunches during some of their busiest times of the year.

Our annual Staff Appreciation Week in May is a week-long celebration of those who work so hard to make KSE the wonderful school it is!  With special treats each day, goodie bags, and new surprises every year, we love this opportunity to say THANK YOU!!

Classroom Support
PTA sent 12% of our Springer Sprint proceeds straight to our classroom teachers.  Every grade-level, ESOL, EIP, and Target classroom teacher received $50 for the start of the year.  In addition, Foundation gave each classroom teacher a $30 gift card and provided start-up funding for our Specials teachers.  These funds help our teachers with all the expenses that come with running a classroom.  Although the district allots teachers some money for that purpose, it simply isn't enough.  We are happy to be able to supplement.

In addition to providing "start up" funds for our classroom teachers, the KSE Foundation devotes a majority of its budget to purchasing the resources our teachers need to provide an enhanced curriculum for our students.  These resources include:

• Supplies for quarterly STEM Day project-based learning activities.
• Over $17,000 in grade-level grants, to allow for innovative and creative STEM-based lessons. These projects have included chickens, worms, root gardens, robots, coding tools, iPad microscopes, petri dishes and curriculum.
• Funding for our Specials rotations. Purchases have included a plethora of art supplies, Sphero robots, digital microscopes, headphones, music curriculum and equipment.

Teacher Support
Foundation offers stipends for teachers who attend continuing education training over the summer.  This year, Foundation paid $3,800 toward this effort!

Foundation also pays the salaries for our two technology coordinators.  These experts help our teachers bring innovative technology into their classrooms.  They also teach Computer Lab as part of our Specials rotation.  This means that our traditional classroom teachers can spend more time working on their reading, writing, math, and content lessons, and can plan with their grade-level team once a week.

How can families help?
Of course, one great way to help support our teachers and staff is to be active in the KSE PTA and Foundation.  Lend a hand when you can!

You can also do things on your own! Check your teachers' wish lists, pick up a small token of appreciation (be sure to check the "Favorite Things" document on the PTA website), or send a simple thank you note or email.

Thank you for joining us in celebrating and supporting all of the phenomenal folks who work at KSE!