El Segundo PTA Council reports reflections winners, scholarships and school fundraising successes

Cheryl Smith, representing the El Segundo PTA Council, and Mariah Cooley, Richmond Street PTA president, gave the board an update on PTA activities and student programs on Jan. 14, 2025.

Smith said each school completed reflections celebrations and that winners will advance from council-level judging to the 33rd district round and possibly state competition. “We had amazing fun with reflections,” she said.

Cooley outlined events across sites and highlighted the middle school’s successful fundraiser. “They raised over $78,000,” Cooley said, calling it “an amazing success” and noting the funds will help school programs and gifting soon.

Both speakers described family engagement events, teacher appreciation efforts and student activities: family art nights, "Daughter’s Night Out" and “Son’s Night Out,” bookfairs, talent shows and a learning garden. Cooley said Richmond Street’s treat trolley and other teacher-support programs continue to be well received, and she reported full teacher PTA membership at her site.

Smith said the council is revising bylaws, forming nominating committees and preparing for honorary service awards March 20 at the high school. She also described plans for scholarships: the council has $5,000 at the council level and will allocate four awards to the general student body and reserve at least one of those awards specifically for a student with an IEP or a 504 plan to avoid privacy concerns while ensuring inclusion.

Upcoming dates mentioned included the Run for Education on April 26 and a Young Entrepreneurs event on March 22, where students will sell items and organizers plan to convert proceeds into a scholarship for mentors. Smith and Cooley asked the board and community to support these events and to nominate community members for honorary awards.

Board members and other presenters thanked the PTA leaders for their work and noted high community participation in PTA activities.