CAZENOVIA — This spring semester, the Cazenovia High School Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) is presenting multiple fundraisers and outreach programs to help support all aspects of the high school (grades 8-12) community.
Cazenovia Central School District is a member of the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA), the oldest and largest child advocacy association in America.
According to the district website, the mission of Cazenovia’s elementary, middle, and high school PTA programs is “to support and speak on behalf of children and youth in schools, to assist parents in developing skills they need to raise and protect their children, and to encourage parent and public involvement in the public schools.”
Historically, the PTSA has funded and organized the After Prom and After Ball Parties, two events held in late spring to provide a safe place for 11th and 12th graders to continue celebrating after the school-sponsored dances have ended. The organization also offers teacher appreciation events, provides gifts to the high school faculty, and provides financial support to various student groups.
According to PTSA President Kathleen Benedict, the association previously funded the academic decathlon’s travel costs and purchased yearbooks for students who lacked the funds.
This school year, the PTSA is raising funds in a few ways, including a shoe drive. Through March 31, the organization is asking community members to donate their clean, gently worn, used, and new shoes. The amount of money raised will be determined by the total weight of the shoes collected.
“We feel this unique fundraiser is perfect for anyone with unwanted shoes that still have some life left in them, and for keeping perfectly good shoes out of our landfills,” said Benedict. “All donated shoes will be redistributed to microenterprise partners through Funds2Orgs, a for-profit social enterprise, and used in developing nations for impoverished people to start their own businesses.”
Shoe donation boxes are in the high school portico and at multiple locations throughout the village, including Buyea’s True Value, Pewter Spoon, Tops, Kinney Drugs, and local churches.
The PTSA is also running a spirit wear sale to support the activities of the association.
The online store (scholasticsportssales.chipply.com/cazenoviaptsa) features apparel in adult, ladies, and youth sizes, and accessories. Orders will be accepted through March 7 at midnight.
“Many members in the Cazenovia school community have been asking for a spirit wear sale like this, and we are thrilled to be offering it,” said Benedict.
According to Benedict, the PTSA also has several outreach programs in the works for the spring.
On March 8, Prevention Education Specialist Katie Byrd, of BRiDGES, Madison County Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Inc., will deliver a presentation to parents on substance abuse and vaping.
“Her colleague will be hosting another program that evening for the teens about how vaping and smoking is pervasive in our media,” said Benedict. “On April 26, Aubrey Curly, of Madison County, will be presenting to our parents about internet safety. We are bringing these programs to Cazenovia to increase awareness about issues facing today’s youth. We hope to offer more as well.”
As in-person events become more prevalent, the organization also hopes to offer activities, such as sports, trivia, and movie nights, to increase student engagement at the high school.
According to Benedict, who leads the PTSA with executive board members Lisa Berson (vice president), Teresa Marris (vice president), Tricia Groff (treasurer), and Lainey Kalin (secretary), the association was nearly dissolved in 2021 due to a lack of leadership.
“Molly Hagan, the high school principal, put out a request last fall for participation in the PTSA,” Benedict recalled. “I decided to go to a meeting and discovered that the PTSA had so little membership and had not elected an executive board for 2021-22 that it was in danger of being dissolved. . . I have a strong commitment to educating and fostering our community’s youth and felt that the high school PTSA had the potential to do just that. This is why I stepped up to serve as president. Other parents at that meeting stepped up as well and our work began.”
The PTSA is accepting new members through the month of March. A small membership fee supports the organization but does not obligate individuals to volunteer. Any teacher, student, or community member can participate in PTSA activities without becoming a member.
Students and teachers are welcome to attend any PTSA meeting.
“Many teachers and students are members of the association but not all members attend each meeting,” noted Benedict.
Information on membership, meetings, upcoming events, and fundraisers is available at cazhs.memberhub.com.
Contact the PTSA via email at [email protected].
