The new leadership behind Hawthorne Elementary’s PTO mapped out monthly packages to send to families as a way to remain connected and show their support this year.
They planned the themes of the packages with the school administrators, dedicating their first one to a topic parents said they needed support with: stress management.
And with all the stress and anxiety their teachers and staff are feeling this year, the PTO responded by creating “staff survival kits.”
“The kits from the PTO allow us to support our Hawthorne community in a safe way,” said Stephanie Gooden, the school’s attendance clerk who also serves as the PTO treasurer. “We care about everyone's mental health and want to help in any way we can.”
On Wednesday, Gooden and PTO President and fifth-grade teacher Sarah Ward surprised teachers and staff with snacks and the survival kits, which include tumblers filled with lotion, hand sanitizer, tea bags, candy, earplugs, antacid and Tylenol. The PTO also purchased multiple UV light sanitizers to help teachers and staff sanitize devices.
Last week, Gooden and other members of the PTO assembled stress kits for families that included coloring books for kids and adults, crayons, fidget devices as well as information on breathing techniques and positive affirmations.
“We wanted to do the stress kits early in the year, especially during this time when the weather is dreary,” Assistant Principal Kristen Millet said. “There’s so much unknown. It’s such a changing landscape. We wanted to put together some activities for families to step away and have a moment of mindfulness and calm.”
She said the school surveys parents multiple times a year to better understand how they can support families. In the most recent survey administered last spring, many parents said they were interested in receiving materials to help with stress management.
The idea behind the stress kit came as a way to help calm parents and students who both were frustrated with online learning at the start of the year, Millet said.
The PTO raised money last year to support events this school year. With the pandemic halting any plans for events, the PTO wanted to dedicate those funds to engage with families.
“We can’t have them in the buildings or hold events so we’re sending home things to keep them involved,” Gooden said.
Once the school was ready to assemble and distribute the stress kits for families, they invited parents to sign up for a package. More than 100 requested stress kits.
The themes for kits the PTO plan to distribute to families include a family game night, STEM, camp out and crafts. The group is also planning a virtual bingo night and a virtual cooking class.
“We take care of each other and we work hard,” Principal Ernest Clinkscale said. “That’s something we believe in here and it’s good to see our PTO feels the same way.”