Why is the PTA necessary?

While basic public education in the United States is “free,” it cannot be sustained without families, teachers and members of the community committed to supporting the educational needs of students. Our educational system relies heavily on the support of parents and others through the community through volunteering as well as financial support. Without the PTA we would have far fewer books, supplies, no fine arts program or art teachers, no science labs, no spelling bee and no curriculum support for teachers which covers many educational supplies that students use every day. Simply put, without the PTA our school would look and feel very different.

Why should I join?

Joining the PTA benefits your child. Research shows that students do better when their families are involved both at home and at school. Being active on the PTA is also a fantastic way to get to know teachers, staff, and other parents. Our events are funded annually, so your child will directly benefit from your support.

When you join you receive several benefits including access to the online Sunny Hills student directory, emergency shelter supplies for your child and discounts at local, state & national businesses.

Part of your membership fee is also directed to the state and national PTA which is the main source of advocacy at the government level for our children.

I joined last year – do I need to join again?

Yes. All parents and teachers/staff need to renew their membership each year as we run our PTA programs on an annual basis.

Does joining mean I’m required to volunteer or attend meetings?

Nope. Joining does not obligate you to do anything more than being a member of the PTA. You are not required to donate, volunteer or attend PTA meetings but we always welcome your help and input.

Volunteering with the PTA is a fantastic way to get to know teachers, staff and other parents. You can volunteer in many ways, it does not have to be during the day and in class. You can volunteer by making copies, doing work at home for teachers or helping with events in the evening, among other opportunities.

What if I’ve already joined PTA at my other child’s school? Do I need to join twice?

Each school runs their school PTA separately and independently of each other. So, it is helpful and important to join the PTA at each school you have a child attending, thereby having a voice at each school.

I already have a PTA login id – have I joined?

While your PTA login id remains with you each year you still need to renew your PTA membership annually. 

Why do I need to pay to renew?

Our membership dues cover the cost of the Washington State and National PTA and help offset some administrative costs. PTA programs at Sunny Hills are made possible through fundraising efforts, not membership dues.

What if the cost to join/renew is outside my budget?

If joining the PTA is a financial burden, we can provide assistance. Please contact our Membership Director for assistance. All inquiries are kept confidential.

I already donated or plan to donate to the fundraiser – is this the same as joining PTA?

Thank you for your support. The yearly fundraisers are separate from membership dues and are the primary source of funding for all our programs each year. We ask that each family purchase a PTA membership as well as donate to the fundraiser as much as their resources allow.

More questions?

Please contact Lauren Stephenson, Sunny Hills PTA President.