PHE PTA is just a group of parents, like you and me, who volunteer some of their time and skills to work together to provide some extra educational supplies, family events, and school perks to help our school and our students succeed.  It definitely takes a village to take care of our students and school during the school year, and these programs NEED YOUR HELP to keep them available to our kids.  Please let us know if you're able to help us out in any way!  There are plenty of jobs, big and small.  PTA works to build a positive community within our school family.  PTA programs promote funding for education, home and school cooperation, children's well-being, parent education, and community betterment.  Your membership dues, donations, and volunteer efforts contribute to these PTA enrichment programs.  If you might be interested in helping organize any PTA programs or events, please email president@portolahillspta.org and we can get you connected to the other volunteer parents.  Our school and our kids would love you have you help out!

Classroom Enrichment: 

At the beginning of the year, our PHE PTA gives some of our funds that we've raised to each PHE teacher to use on classroom enrichment materials.  Throughout the year, there are classroom contests or "rewards" that can give classrooms even more funds.  Sometimes, PTA funds a particular grade-wide or school-wide project that is the focus of the year.   PTA fundraises to help the teachers and students have the classroom supplies they need, then votes to make sure those funds are used directly for PHE students.  

Imagination Machine: 

Imagination Machine is a well-loved program that turns our students into playwrights.  Our students create short plays, with classic story structure, characters and dialogue.  The Imagination Machine actors read the scripts and choose the favorites from each grade.  They will perform some of the short plays in front of the school assembly, using costumes, props, and funny voices.  Credit is given to the young playwrights whose scripts are performed.  https://www.theimaginationmachine.com/  Too often, the arts are minimalized in school budgets, so PTA promotes programs that encourage the arts and creativity in our kids.

Kids Run the OC:

Kids Run the OC is a training program associated with the OC Marathon that promotes an active and healthy lifestyle. During the 10-12 weeks prior to the big race, the kids have weekly practice after school, where they run and play for the equivalent of 1-2 miles of running each week.  They accumulate a total of 25.2 miles of exercise through fun play activities over the weeks. They run the last mile of the "marathon" on the day before the OC Marathon in a big race at the OC Fairgrounds and receive a medal and a t-shirt.  https://kidsruntheoc.org/  PHE PTA organizes the volunteers to help coach the weekly exercise program, to promote safety and sportsmanship.  

PBIS Store: 

For 2023-2024, PHE  was awarded with statewide recognition of implementing PBIS at the SILVER level.  To add to the overall vision for PBIS at PHE, Mr. Mac asked the parent volunteers at PHE PTA to support the PHE PBIS program by setting up a “PBIS Store” to reward students for earning the Compass Coupons for good behavior.  This small element of the PBIS program is a way for the parents to help build a supportive school community and it is the one that generates the most excitement for the students.  The PHE PTA has scheduled one PBIS Store per month, per class.  The students can pay for fun trinkets with their hard-earned Compass Coupons, or save them for a future store later in the year. PTA often needs volunteers to help prepare or run the store.  

Performing Arts Assembly: 

PTA organizes an interactive performing arts assemblies for the students to enjoy. Past assemblies include the very popular Imagination Machine and Disneyland Band.  

Reflections:

Reflections is a National PTA Art Competition that recognizes student achievement in visual art, photography, music and literature.  PHE is renowned for its large participation.  Our school has consistently had the largest participation of any of the SVUSD schools.  The PHE Reflections judges choose winners to move on to the SVUSD District Competition.  Winners at the local level can advance up to the state and national levels.  PHE hosts an Art Show to recognize all participants from our school.  https://www.pta.org/home/programs/reflections  This program needs many PTA volunteers throughout the year for judging artwork in all six categories, organizing artwork, preparing awards, and running the PHE Student Art Show in the spring.  

Science & Engineering Fair: 

The Science & Engineering Fair is open to 2nd through 6th grade students and encourages students to creatively apply the scientific method to conduct independent research and experiments.  PTA needs volunteers to pass out display poster boards, set up and run the Science Fair, and to organize the certificates/prizes.  6th grade students have the opportunity to compete at the regional level.  

Staff Appreciation Week:

The PTA coordinates this week with the classroom Room Parents to show our teachers and staff how much they are appreciated. The culmination is a themed luncheon provided by PTA volunteers.  

STEAM Program:

The STEAM Program with Mrs. Chan engages students in every grade level with a curriculum designed to enhance hands-on understanding of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. The STEAM program is 100% funded by money raised by PTA.

Yearbook:

The PHE Annual Yearbook is designed and produced annually by the PTA Yearbook Committee.  It is offered to all students at the cost to produce it and includes the year in review for all grades.  PTA needs volunteers for organizing class portrait pages, editing page layouts for school events, uploading pictures, and notifying the PTA committee about school events that could be included in the yearbook.