The mission of the Cambridge K-12 PTO is simple: To enhance the educational and extracurricular experiences for all children in the school district. One way in which we do this is through advocacy. The PTO provides a collaborative “voice” for parents, teachers, and students of our district to ensure quality school experiences in the face of tightening school budgets. We work together with the school board, administrators and teachers to advance education for elementary, middle, and high school students. In the past year, we have been actively involved in efforts to promote small class sizes, to address underage drinking in the school community, and to support changes in nutrition and wellness within the school. We have provided advocacy and financial support for the New Teacher Mentoring Program, an effort which is extremely valuable in light of the large number of new teachers hired within the district in the past two years. The PTO also has created a scholarship fund to assist high school students who seek to continue their education following graduation. 

In addition to advocacy, the PTO’s mission involves raising money to support well-balanced educational experiences. Through productive fundraising, we have been able to provide a number of opportunities that would otherwise NOT exist in our district. Imagine what the school year might be like without the Artist-in-Residence program, all-school assemblies, class trips for enrichment, or the opportunity for Cambridge students to attend state and local educational competitions. The Blue Jay Choir (CES), involvement in Science Olympiad and Fine Arts Weekend (CHS), Young Authors Day (CES), Project Succeed (CHS), Starry Nights (CES), and the Camp Lucerne trip (NMS), are just a few of the experiences that PTO has supported in the past year. The PTO’s efforts reach all levels of our schools, from hosting the Kindergarten Meet and Greet, to providing safe options for post-prom and homecoming events at the high school. Finally, the PTO has helped pay for equipment and other educational resources, which will “stay” with the school for years to come. Such items include books for the IMC, CES art display boards, the climbing wall at the middle school, Spirit Squad uniforms, and the improvement of the fields on the middle school grounds. None of these things would be possible if not for our fundraising efforts.

While there are many fundraising and advocacy groups within the district, there are few who achieve such a broad mission and affect as many students as we do. This accomplishment does not come without lots of parent-power and strong financial support. We ask that as a parent or guardian of a child in the district, you become involved to ensure the continued success of the PTO in our school.

If your child attends a Cambridge school, you are automatically a member of the Cambridge K-12 PTO, and can attend any meetings and provide input into the workings of the PTO. Our executive committee meetings are held monthly on the third Monday of the month at 5:30 pm at the CHS cafeteria. In this meeting, committee reports are presented, fund requests are discussed, and the monthly financial report is approved. Please help support PTO in any way that you can, by volunteering a few hours of your time, or providing a donation to the Cambridge K-12 PTO during the school year.