By Violet Hassler, Staff Writer
Jessica Henson once faced one of the hardest tasks of her life, one that still affects her day-to-day life even 10 years after she accomplished it — she took her firstborn to school.
“I hardly could bear to send her ...” Henson said of her daughter, who now is a sophomore at Enid High School.
So Henson did what many parents do after the school bell rings and they walk to their cars alone — she got involved in the school’s parent association, and she never has stopped being involved.
Currently the president of Waller Middle School Parent-Teacher-Student Association, Henson also is an active member of Glenwood PTA and plans to get more involved with Enid High School PTSA now that her duties at Waller are settling down.
With children in all three schools, things can get busy, but Henson said her involvement with PTA groups never has been overwhelming.
“Once you are involved, there are just so many things to do,” she said. “There’s always something you can do.”
‘Don’t be afraid ...’
Founded in 1897 as National Congress of Mothers, PTA was created to better the lives of children.
It is an aspiration still being attained today by the thousands of PTA or PTSA groups across the nation.
“The goal of it is to support the entire student body and faculty,” said Faith Sarver, president of Enid High School PTSA, which she says “continues to get active.”
Like Henson, Sarver has been involved in parent groups since her child entered kindergarten.
And she hasn’t slowed down since.
But both women said volunteering in the many project associated with the parent groups is not a requisite of the groups, and just having solidarity with a strong membership often is enough when it comes to involvement.
“Don’t be afraid to be a member in that you have to volunteer,” Henson said. “We usually find the volunteers.”
The first year for parents always is a little tough because the groups usually are already up and running — the first and last months of the school year being the busiest — but it doesn’t take long to get into the ring, she said.
Becoming a member not only presents a strong local front but boosts the state and national organizations, which benefit through the dues of the chapters.
In Enid, those dues vary among chapters, but most amount to $3 to $5.
“That can go on and help Oklahoma PTA be strong, so they can turn around and represent the state (strongly on the national front),” Henson said.
The national motto — every child, one voice — illustrates the importance of becoming a member on the local level to “just be informed” and ensure the best educational system possible for the children it serves.
It gives “parents a way to be more involved in student academics,” Henson said.
‘Parental involvement’
Enid Public Schools organizations work closely with the school buildings they serve to ensure needs of the students are being met, Sarver said.
For the high school group — which involves students and teachers as well as parents — it’s important all involved work together.
Sarver said her group works closely with the school’s officials to ensure students are getting what they need to succeed.
Their projects range from after-graduation events to goody bags on test days.
Focus points are as varied as the needs. One important push recently for Waller, Henson said, has been SMART board purchases, since the district’s foundation has matched the board purchases.
Other PTA projects include new playground equipment, teacher materials, air conditioning, reading materials and beautification work.
Groups work and raise money to provide teacher appreciation activities and fun days for students.
“Parental involvement is noticed by the students,” Henson said. “You provide extra things and activities for those students, and that makes it a better experience.”
