By Megan Schwenn

Sumner Elementary School Instructional Coach

Sumner Elementary School in Austin has a committee that is made up of Sumner’s teachers, success coach, principal, and parents. At many schools this committee is referred to as the “PTC” — parent/teacher committee — but Sumner chose to change the committee’s name a few years ago to promote the committee’s main focus — the kids of Sumner.

The committee meets once a month to plan and discuss fundraisers, teacher requests for funding, and family nights. The fundraisers usually consist of family supper nights at local pizza restaurants and/or a catered meal right at Sumner school. The funds from these events go towards things such as playground equipment, field trips and resources for the classrooms.

One of the biggest things the Sumner PU4K committee plans and takes much pride in is the monthly family nights hosted at the school building. Sumner is proud of the connections formed with families and wants to continue to build relationships with them to keep them involved in the children’s education.

PU4K family nights consist of board game night, movie night, reading night, Bingo night, music night, and guest readers/performance night, and more. A meal or snack is always provided. The PU4K committee also updates families of exciting things that are happening during the school day. For example, all Sumner students received binders this year to help with organization, so the PU4K explained how the binders are used with a fun presentation and skit. The family nights focus on coming together as a Sumner community and celebrating each other and the children.