Parent Involvement Opportunities

Parent/Teacher Organization

The purpose of the PTO is to promote the welfare of ALL children and to bring into closer relation the home and school. The PTO is open to all parents, grandparents, and teachers who believe that our children are the future. We encourage each of you to participate and have a voice in the future of our kids.

Meetings for the for the 2026-2027 school year will be announced in August through our ParentSquare communication app. Officers are elected for the positions of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

The West Elementary PTO has contributed so much to enhance our school. Some of these contributions include the following over the past 28 years: (This list is not all inclusive.)

• $25,000 toward the purchase of the two current playground structures
• Multi-media system set-up for each classroom (this project included a 50” Plasma TV connected to teacher computer workstations with Interwrite Pads for interactive classroom instruction)
• $26,000 toward a $50,000 project to upgrade the above multi-media systems to Interactive Whiteboards (Promethean Boards) in all grade level classrooms
• $17,000 to pay for a set of 25 laptop computers for a new computer lab
• $32,000 to pay for iPads for students
• $500 toward the purchase of iPad apps for students
• Four flip video cameras with tripod
• Two sets of soccer goals
• Thirteen picnic tables for our picnic area patio
• Legos Mindstorm Robotics kits for our Fifth Grade Robotics Club
• Digital camera for use in our Art Program
• Over 200 Guided Reading books for our Guided Reading library
• Games for “indoor” recess
• Balls for use on the playground
• Educational gifts for each classroom at Christmas
• Funding for each student for annual field trips
• Snacks for students during special events (i.e. Play Day)
• Meals for teachers during Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences
• Organization and expenses of the Fifth Grade End of year Celebration
• Classroom budget money ($300 per grade level and specialized classes in 2013-2014 and $150 per grade level in 2014-2015) for “incidental” items
• $3000 for additional Guided Reading books during the 2014-2015 school year
• $1,000 for each grade level to help with field trip expenses in 2015-2016
• Playground equipment and P.E. equipment in 2015-2016
• $1,500 per grade level and $1,500 for the specialized team during the 2016-2017 school year to help offset expenses of classroom supplies
• $3,000 per grade level during the 2017-2018 for iPad apps and other technology resources
• Over $2,000 for replacement Guided Reading books and additional Guided Reading materials during the 2017-2018 school year
• $13,700 for our Makerspace area and materials to be used by all students/teachers at West during the 2018-2019 school year
• $1,500 per grade level/specialized team for incidental costs of supplies and other materials during the 2019-2020 school year
• $2,000 for additional iPad keyboards for each classroom during the 2019-2020 school year
• Gift Cards for Teachers to Amazon or Teachers Pay Teachers for Staff Christmas Gifts in the amount of $25 per Teacher to be used on classroom supplies
• Gift Cards for Teachers for Teacher Appreciation Week through the WamegoStrong program during the COVID-19 pandemic (gift card purchases for local businesses matched dollar for dollar by private donors through the Wamego Community Foundation) in the amount of $25. This was done to support our community and our Teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• $1,500 per grade level/specialized team for incidental costs of supplies and other materials during the 2020-2021 school year
• $50 Gift Cards to Amazon for Christmas Gifts to be used for classrooms.
• Cost for the Fifth Grade End of Year Celebration – DJ, Bowling, Pizza, and Snacks.
• $1,500 per grade level/specialized team for incidental costs of supplies and other materials during the 2021-2022 school year
• Outdoor volleyball net with standards
• Gaga Ball Pit and Gaga Balls on the playground
• $1,500 per grade level/specialized team for incidental costs of supplies and other materials during the 2022-2023 school year
• $50 Gift Cards to Amazon for Christmas Gifts to staff to be used on items of their choice
• $4,000 toward the purchase of a new water dispenser and ice maker for staff
• $7,000 toward the purchase of Epson Interactive Projectors with Whiteboards for all grade level classrooms (combined with building funds and Capital Outlay funds)
• $2,000 toward the Cinco de Mayo Assessment Celebration for all West students
• $50 Visa Gift Cards for Christmas Gift to be used for teachers.
• New swing seats
• Comfortable seating area by atrium in main hallway
•  New Glass Backboard, Adjustable Basketball Goals for Playground (and removal of old, existing goals by Riley Construction)
• New Pickleball Net/Pickleball Equipment (installation by Riley Construction)
• Additional comfortable seating area by front doorways – chairs/table
• Donation of over $9,000 to bring WES Gift Fund up to a specified amount
• $15,000 toward our new Mini Mac Computer Lab in the Technology Classroom

Volunteers for Special Events

Periodically, our PTO will send out requests for volunteers for various activities, such as help with Parent-Teacher Conference Meals, Play Day, Fifth Grade End of Year Celebration, or for other special events. Typically, PTO will use a system such as “SignUp”, which is an online tool for soliciting volunteers or donations. The school may also use a system such as this for volunteers or donations or may communicate these needs through school email or blog posts. We do try to limit the requests we make for donations and use the fundraising money to purchase items needed for special events/activities.

All school volunteers must have a signed copy of the Volunteer Code of Conduct on file at the school

West Site Council

The West Site Council, consisting of parents, teachers, and community members, acts as an advisory group in the school improvement process. The Site Council advises the school on various school concerns and monitors the progress of the USD 320 Strategic Plan. Parents interested in serving on the Site Council, as positions become available, should contact the building principal. The West and Central Site Council operate as one unit. The District organizes quarterly meetings for the District Site Council combined with Building Site Council meetings on the same evenings immediately following the District Site Council meetings. The Site Council will meet on the following dates this school year: October 7, December 2, February 10 and April 7 at the PLC Building located at 8th and Poplar from 5:30-7:00pm.