I am Andrea Wiltrout, Secretary of the New Albany PTO. As we head into the holiday season, I’ve been thinking a lot about what our schools mean to my own family. These buildings truly feel like an extension of our home—places where our kids learn, grow, laugh, and find support every single day. And during this season of gratitude, I’m especially reminded of how much our teachers and staff do to make that possible.
This fall has been full of energy and new beginnings as we continue our work as a newly unified PTO. We’ve tried exciting new initiatives—like our first Minted fundraiser and our inaugural Gift Wrapping Drive—and have loved seeing families jump in with such enthusiasm. We are excited about the success of these fundraisers and the support they allow us to provide through teacher grants, student scholarships, and more.
In December, we’re looking forward to gathering together for our annual holiday lunches. It’s one of my favorite moments of the year—an opportunity to bring warmth and celebration into each building before everyone heads off to enjoy the magic of the season with family and friends.
And, of course, there is so much more ahead. Thank you for being such a meaningful part of this journey. I’m grateful for each of you and for the way you show up for our schools. As we turn the page into January, we’re excited to continue building traditions, trying new ideas, and creating opportunities that strengthen our community. If you ever have an idea on how to make the PTO even better or just want to chat, please feel free to reach out to me at andrea.wiltrout@gmail.com.
With gratitude,
Andrea Wiltrout Secretary, New Albany PTO
Hospitality Highlights
Fueling Our Fantastic ELC Teachers & Faculty
We stocked the Teacher Lounge at the Early Learning Center for Parent/Teacher Conferences, and our staff truly felt supported. From snacks to sips to little pick-me-ups, every item made a difference during those long days.
We’re so grateful for your generosity, your partnership, and the way you consistently show up for our teachers and staff. Thank you for helping us care for the people who care for our kids!
Seasonal Surprise for the Primary Teachers & Faculty
An apple and toppings bar was set up for Primary teachers in November. It created a small moment of fall joy during a very full season.
Fundraising
Spirit Wear with 643Spirit
Over Thanksgiving break, New Albany PTO teamed up with 643SPIRIT to host a Holiday Spirit Wear virtual pop-up shop! Families had the chance to shop cozy sweaters, fresh designs, and Eagles gear for all ages, perfect for the holiday season.
Orders are now being fulfilled and should arrive just in time for the holidays. We can’t wait to see our community showing their Eagle pride!
Read-A-Thon Recap & Class Winners
On October 20, ELC, Primary, and Intermediate Schools kicked off this year’s Read-A-Thon, inspiring students to read while supporting our schools. Our Eagles brought incredible energy to this fundraiser, and we’re grateful for the strong support from our families and community.
Congratulations to our class prize winners! At the ELC, Fulmer & Hill won a Pizza Party, while Sweetin & Thornton won an Ice Cream Party. At the Primary School, McCloud & Saunders took home the Pizza Party, and Clouse & Bodman earned the Ice Cream Party. At the Intermediate School, Dolchin & Fender won the Pizza Party, and O’Keefe & Scheiderer earned the Ice Cream Party.
Two $100 Barnes & Noble gift cards were also awarded to individual student winners. For privacy reasons, those families will be contacted directly.
Thank you for helping make this year’s Read-A-Thon a success and for supporting literacy and school spirit across our schools.
Minted for the Holidays and Beyond
Thank you to all the families who have already used our Minted discount code to save and give back. We love seeing our community support the PTO in such an easy and creative way.
Our Minted fundraiser continues and you can use our exclusive PTO code for holiday cards, invitations, stationery, gifts, and more. You will receive 20 percent off your purchase and Minted will donate 10 percent back to support our schools. Some exclusions apply.
Code: FUNDRAISENAPLPTO
Feel free to share the code privately with friends and family. Please note that if it appears on public coupon sites Minted will deactivate it.
Volunteers in Action
Decorating for Veterans Day
Thank you to the volunteers who helped create balloon arches and decorate Intermediate School for Veterans Day. Your time and creativity helped make the day extra special for our school community!
Head Room Parents Spotlight
At the Early Learning Center and Primary School, our Head Room Parents (HRPs) help bring joy, connection, and celebration to classrooms all year long. From coordinating birthday shoutouts and sharing teachers’ “favorite things” to planning unforgettable classroom parties, HRPs play a big role in creating positive, memorable experiences for students and staff.
At the Early Learning Center, HRPs help plan three classroom parties, while at the Primary School, HRPs help plan two classroom parties each year. These celebrations are filled with games, snacks, crafts, and lots of smiles and are made possible through teamwork with parent volunteers. It takes nearly 400 parents across ELC and Primary to pull off these amazing events, and HRPs help keep everything organized and running smoothly.
HRPs also serve as a friendly link between teachers and families by helping share information, coordinate volunteers, and support school-wide efforts like Teacher Appreciation Week, where they help celebrate the incredible staff who support our children every day.
Get Involved
Volunteer
Holiday Gift Wrapping
We’re looking for volunteers to help make our Holiday Gift Wrapping Drive a success! Join us at 6650 E Walnut St, New Albany to wrap gifts, tie ribbons, and spread some holiday cheer.
Whether you can help for a short shift or multiple days, we’re grateful for your time. Thank you for supporting our PTO—we couldn’t do this without you!
Looking for another way to support our schools? Monetary donations of any amount help New Albany PTO fund programs and experiences for students across the district. Friends, relatives, and neighbors are welcome to give too.
