As the 2024-25 school year is rapidly coming to an end, the Edmonds Woodway High School Parent Staff Organization has an important online meeting on Thursday, June 12 which will set the tone for the future of the PSO as we head into the next academic year.
As some of you may be aware, the PSO has struggled with participation this year and we find ourselves lacking enough volunteers to potentially keep the PSO operating into next year. At minimum, we are in need of five regular volunteers who can help us with the following tasks so we will be able to continue our mission to serve the students staff and community of Edmonds Woodway High School.
What does the Parent Staff Organization do?
We are a “PTA” with a different name… our mission is to:
Support Our Students
We complement the Athletic Booster Club (supporting our student athletes) and the Music Boosters (supporting our student musicians) with support of the Associated Student Body (ASB) with donations and volunteers. We also support some student clubs, class organizations and other initiatives needing the backing of a charitable foundation & nonprofit in order to operate within the school district.
Support Our Staff & Teachers
We coordinate and host regular appreciation events for the staff & teachers of the high school especially during the most challenging weeks of the year. We also provide funding and volunteer support for special projects, specific needs and field trips which simply cannot be covered with limited district funds.
Build Community
We also work to build community through our events and meetings, helping parents get to know each other and connecting with staff and administration to be sure questions are answered and concerns are addressed when they arise.
Sharing Strength
While so much of our community enjoys strength and prosperity, many of our students and their families struggle economically and with basic needs. Whenever possible, we look to identify opportunities to help the students enjoy a more stable & rewarding journey at Edmonds Woodway High School through our “Joy of Giving” campaign during the holiday season, as well as supporting nutrition programs & scholarship/funding support for tutoring, field trips and other needs.
What do we need?
At minimum to continue to operate in an appropriate manner meeting our charter and bylaws, we need five volunteers to serve on our board and assist with administrative activities.
Truthfully, while you can spend an endless number of hours volunteering and making a difference, serving on the board practically only requires:
1 to 3 hours a month in “background” activities, depending on your role,
attending a monthly PSO board/membership meeting on the third Thursday of the month either in person or virtually.
We need volunteers to serve the following roles:
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Communications
We would love to have volunteers who can help us coordinate some of our major projects during the year as well:
Joy of Giving – annual holiday fundraiser to support students in need
Welcome & Welcome Back Social – an August event welcoming incoming freshman and their families, as well as celebrating a new academic year with upperclassmen and their families.
Teacher Appreciation – hosting 5 to 6 teacher appreciation events each year with the support of PSO volunteers & contributors.
Spring Fundraiser – our fundraising initiative to provide support for the grants and other activities we take on every year. If we can find support, we would love to host one or more bingo nights this coming year to make fundraising a bit more fun & social.
What will happen if we do not get support & volunteers?
Quite honestly, we do not know. Maintaining our 501(c)(3) foundation has specific requirements for leadership and organization, and without sufficient membership we may not be able to meet these requirements.
In short term, we will likely take a hiatus to regroup and wait until we can rally the sufficient support within the community to run the PSO effectively. If after 6 to 12 months we are not able to find sufficient support, we may need to consider dissolving the PSO, or folding it into another organization within the booster community for Edmonds Woodway high school.
What can you do?
If you have any interest in becoming part of the leadership or active community of the PSO, please reach out to us with your questions and interest. You can also attend our upcoming virtual meeting this Thursday, June 12 at 6:30 PM.
EWHS Parent Staff Organization 