GET INVOLVED

Meetings

The monthly meeting is your one-stop-shop to make connections, share ideas, and help shape PTO decisions. At our meetings, we plan events, organize fundraisers, approve teacher grants, and discuss how to best support our school community. Attending is a great way to stay informed and make a direct impact, but it is never required. If you enjoy being a part of the conversation, we'd love to see you there!

Curious about what to expect? Take a look at our quick reference guide: PTO 101

Fundraisers

We aim to keep our fundraising low-impact and inclusive so all students can participate and all families feels that their contributions are valued. Donations are always optional, and always appreciated! Due to your amazing support, we can fund classroom grants, building improvements, and community events - let alone major projects such as our new playground in 2022, and upgraded smart board technology in 2024. Here's how you can help:

• Fun Run (Fall) - Our biggest fundraiser, the Fun Run provides over 80% of PTO funding each year. This event keeps our programs running and often supports big goals such as the playground project. Volunteers are essential for passing out prizes in the weeks before and counting laps on the day of the run.

• Original Works (Fall) - A holiday favorite, this fundraiser lets families purchase items featuring their child’s artwork just in time for winter break. Volunteers help with stuffing order packets and organizing art to send home.

• Dine Out Nights (Year-Round) - Partnering with local restaurants, these events help us to raise funds just by taking your family out for dinner or a treat. If you own or know a local business that would be interested in participating, please reach out to us at info@chiefcharlopto.org.

• Box Tops (Year-Round) - Gone are the days of clipping Box Tops off of your cereal box - they are now online and easier than ever! Get the Box Tops for Education app to earn money for our school with your weekly grocery trip.

• Food Fundraisers (Spring) - Typically held around Spring Break, this fundraiser has featured treats like Butter Braids or Béquet Caramels in the past. This fundraiser depends largely on our funding needs for the current school year and volunteer availability to collect orders and distribute products.

Community Events

We love to host events that bring our school together! Family nights are a chance to meet your child's friends and teachers, enjoy free or low-cost entertainment, and build the strong community connections that make our school special. Family events are often the highlights of the year - and they thrive because of volunteers. Even an hour of your time makes a big difference.

Here's what we have planned, and how you can help:

• Trunk or Treat (Fall) - A fun stop before Halloween with music, candy, and creative trunk designs. We need lots of decorated trunks, plus volunteers for fun extras like cider pressing, games, and any other new activity ideas you'd like to bring to life! 

• Santa Watch Party (Winter) - Gather on the playground for a cozy night of hot cocoa, cookies, and family bonding while we await the famous Missoula Santa Flyover. Help is appreciated with setup, refreshments, and cleanup.

• 80s Bash (Spring) - Our biggest event of the year. A modern twist on our long-running Sock Hop tradition, families enjoy games, music, and snacks with a retro atmosphere - while raising funds for their teacher's classroom. This event is all hands on deck - bring your friends, bring your booster club, bring your mom! We need volunteers for ticket sales, booths, concessions, decorating, chaperoning, and more.

• ... and more! From Bingo to Movie Night to Dodgeball, these events happen when volunteers make them possible. Have a fresh idea, or want to see your favorite event make a comeback? Grab a buddy, join a committee, and we'll help make it happen.

Beyond PTO-sponsored activities, many school events rely on parent support to succeed. Favorites like STEAM Night, Field Day, the Book Fair and more make space for hands-on learning experiences and fun outside the classroom. We love to support events of all shapes and sizes, so stay tuned on social media and in meetings to learn about all the ways you can participate.

Staff and Student Support

In addition to our big events, the PTO loves to sprinkle a little magic into the school day to brighten students’ and teachers’ lives. When teachers feel supported, students thrive - here are some of the ways you can help during the school day to show our school some love!

• Staff Meals - Help our staff keep the energy up during conferences and back-to-school season by contributing to potluck meals on their longest days. Watch emails and social media for sign-up opportunities.

• Picture Day Volunteers - Help students get to and from the photographer on time so that everyone can get that perfect shot for the grandparents.

• Teacher Wish Lists - Want to get your teacher a gift, but not sure what they need? Each year we create a holiday Wish List full of items your teacher requests.

• Teacher Appreciation Week - A full week in May dedicated to showing teachers our gratitude with meals, games, prizes, and more fun. Volunteers and donations make it all possible, and a fun theme is chosen in our Spring meetings each year.

• Woot Woot Wagon - During assessment season or for some extra holiday cheer, these mini care packages bring smiles to our teaching staff. Look for donation opportunities via email and social media.

• School Store - When volunteer capacity allows, our school store offers students low-cost toys and trinkets - perfect for keeping them excited for school during the last weeks of Spring.

• Classroom Volunteering - Help in your child’s classroom, the library, or other areas via the district volunteer portal. Your time in the classroom is always appreciated!

Committees

We form committees each school year according to which events and fundraisers the community is interested in supporting. If you would like to join the committee for any of the activities mentioned above, or if you have a great idea for a new committee, email us at info@chiefcharlopto.org.