The local Florence Community PTA carries on the mission of the Oregon PTA, which is: "to support and speak on behalf of children and youth in the schools, in the community and before governmental bodies and other organizations that make decisions affecting children; to assist parents in developing the skills they need to raise and protect their children; and to encourage parent and public involvement in the public schools of this nation". We work exclusively to improve the education, health, safety and well-being of the children and youth of our community. Florence Community PTA serves all of the schools in the Siuslaw School District, grades K-12.

The Florence PTA provides grants to teachers to enhance their classroom programs and curriculum, and a $500 college scholarship to a local senior each year, as well as sponsoring a number of events as service to our students. Florence PTA is a 501 (c)3 non profit organization. You do not have to have a child in the school system to join the PTA; everyone is welcome. When parents, teachers, and community members are actively involved in the education and well-being of our children, powerful outcomes take place. How can you become involved?

Join the Parent Teacher Association! Click Here for Membership Form.

eSCRIP

Here’s a way for everyone in the community to support our PTA and our schools – register with eScrip. When you shop at Safeway (with your Safeway Club Card), or with certain online merchants, a percentage of your purchases goes towards our PTA. You can register through the PTA (click here) or online at www.escrip.com. Be sure to indicate that you would like to support the Florence Community PTA when you register. eScrip online merchant partners include: 1-800-flowers, American Eagle Outfitters, Barnes & Noble, Best Buy, Disney, Gap, Petsmart, Target, Toys R Us, and many more! If you’ve registered in the past, you don’t need to re-register, but you may want to add the other merchants to your list.

Campbell's Labels For Education

This year the Florence Community PTA will be collecting Campbell’s Labels for Education to purchase items for the Siuslaw Alternative School program. All you have to do is save the UPC codes from the labels of Campbell’s products and their partners. Go to www.labelsforeducation.com for a list of participating products. There is a drop-off canister located at the Siuslaw Public Library, or you may drop them off at the Siuslaw Elementary School.

Box Tops For Education

Florence PTA participates in the General Mills Box Tops for Education program on an ongoing basis. We earn .10 cents for each Box Top turned in. Go to www.boxtops4education.com to see a complete list of eligible products. You can turn in your saved Box Tops in the canister at the Siuslaw Public Library, or bring them to the Siuslaw Elementary School or Siuslaw Middle School.

PTA Scholarship Awarded

Each year, the Florence Community PTA awards a $500.00 scholarship to a Siuslaw High School graduating senior who intends to pursue a career in teaching. We are proud to announce that this year’s recipient is Benjamin Daniels. Ben plans on majoring in Elementary Education and attending Corban College, a 4-year college near Salem, OR. Congratulations, Ben!

PTA Talent Show

Over 200 friends and family members came out to watch the ever popular PTA Talent Show on the evening of April 15th at the Siuslaw Middle School. The 16 acts included 30 elementary school age children. The talent was awesome! There were dancers, singers, piano and violin players, cheerleaders, poetry readers, a puppeteer, a daughter/dad dance duo, and a four-boy band. The event was coordinated by Siuslaw Elementary School Librarian, Alice Sichting, with help from Alice Holden and Kelly Kawahara of The Launderettes, a staff comedy group. Jamie Gorder and Theresa Gustafson were the evening’s emcees, and Lisa Johnson & Sons headed up the back stage crew. Wind Drift Gallery donated a one pound box of decadent chocolates, which were raffled off at the show.

Successful Carnival

This year’s PTA carnival was a huge success! It was especially impressive to see the number of families that attended the event together. Thank you to PTA member volunteer, Lori Johnson, who has headed up the event for the 2nd year. Also, thank you to the many other volunteers who helped in a variety of ways!

The newest game, the dunk tank, was especially popular. A big “bravo” goes out to those brave victims that endured freezing cold “dunks”: Mr. Dougherty, Mr. Graham, Mr. Lukens, Sam Johnson, Peter Tupua, and Sonny Tupua.

The Formula for our Future drive collected cans of formula and cash, which was donated to Florence Food Share. The winners of the raffle were Gerry and Mary Flemming. Thank you to Jennifer Waggoner for setting up this important project, and to the following for their raffle donations: Florence Event Center (tickets), Ocean Dunes Golf Links, Holiday Bowl, A Day at the Beach, Mo’s Restaurant, Cassie’s Uptown Coffee, 321 Video, Dairy Queen, Siuslaw River Coffee Roasters, Sandland Adventures, and Kentucky Fried Chicken.

The PTA wishes to thank the following businesses and organizations for their generous donations: Able Insurance, Oceanside Veterinary, Ada Grange, Abby’s Pizza, Coast Insurance, Coldwell Banker Coast Real Estate, Dairy Queen, Fred Meyer, Pizza Hut, Rite Aid, Safeway, State Farm Insurance, and Girls Scouts.

WLCF Approves Grant to Florence PTA

The Florence Community PTA applied for, and has been awarded, a grant in the amount of $2,754.00 from the Western Lane Community Foundation to purchase color block rugs for the four 1st grade classrooms and two Kindergarten classrooms. The 9 x 12 rugs will be used primarily for classroom management; however there is also educational value in that they are printed with words for colors, numbers, the alphabet letters, or bilingual words.

"I am pleased that our grant application was approved by WLCF. The PTA really wanted to support the request made to us by the first grade teachers for the color block rugs. I am proud that we were able to help make it happen through the generous support of WLCF," said PTA President, Diane McCalmont. "The Florence Community PTA and the Siuslaw Elementary School 1st grade teachers would like to express our sincere thanks to the Western Lane Community Foundation for providing this grant!"

Contact PTA at FlorencePTA@Gmail.com