On behalf of the Pomfret Community School Parent Teacher Organization, I am pleased to write a sincere thank you to the entire Pomfret Community for your generous support of our Minds Alive! enrichment programming at Pomfret Community School this year. We certainly have had a remarkable year!  The PCS PTO is a 100% volunteer, not-for profit organization with the singular mission of going above and beyond in supporting and enhancing teaching, learning and community at PCS.  Our enrichment programming is independent of the school budget, and because of this, we rely solely on the generosity of our community to make our programming a reality. 

This community’s vigorous support of our fundraising campaign exceeded our expectations.  It is truly humbling to see a community come together to support the learning of its youngest members.  Your contributions helped us provide a broad and exciting range of enrichment programs to every student at PCS; programs that lit kids’ imaginations on fire, and helped kids make extraordinary connections.  Your generosity, in this capacity, is what sets our community apart from most.

A few assembly highlights were Adam Battelstein’s LOCO*Motion and David Zucker’s Poetry in Motion.  LOCO*Motion was a gravity-defying performance that combined the concepts of balance, stability, force and motion with dance and acrobatics. Additionally, David Zucker brought classic children’s poetry to life with dramatic presentation and mime, leaving each child captivated and wanting more! After David’s shows our school librarian, Mrs. Durand, informed us that there was a rush on poetry books in the library! I think that tells us that PCS Minds really ARE Alive!

Your generosity also provided every grade and special subject with a workshop and/or classroom grant used to complement the classroom curriculum. For example, the fourth grade used its grant to finish the purchase of SMART document cameras for each classroom. These cameras allow the teachers to place any document or object under them and project the magnified image on the wall for the entire class to see. Because of you, this year, every teacher has a similar story; whether it was through equipment, supplies or a hands-on classroom workshop, every teacher at Pomfret Community School had the opportunity to enhance the learning that happens in their classroom. 

Although our Minds Alive! enrichment programming is a large part of our budget, I would be remiss if I did not mention all of the generosity that goes into making our community events a success.  We extend a thank you to all the PCS families, local businesses and town organizations that have contributed both time and talent to our events, making them memorable and fun both for our children and for our Pomfret families. 

Please take a look at the complete list of all of the Minds Alive! enrichment programs, teacher workshops, classroom grants and community events that the PCS PTO has brought to the teachers and students at PCS this year. I hope you are very proud of what YOU were able to accomplish for our kids! 

We look forward to your continued support and even more enriching year in 2010-2011!

Sincerely,

Melissa Zahansky, President

© 2010 Pomfret Community School PTO, All rights reserved.