newsletter_OCT_2025

October Newsletter

A Letter from PTO Treasurer Siobhán Twomey

Dear New Albany Families,

I’m Siobhán Twomey, Treasurer of the New Albany PTO, and I want to thank you for being part of our first year as a fully unified PTO.

After almost a year of preparation all five school buildings are now working together as one PTO and just 4 months into this newly merged organization, we are already seeing the positive impact we hoped to achieve. Thanks to your generous support membership dollars and donations are being used in a more efficient and equitable manner, ensuring every student benefits.

In the first 10 weeks of school your support has already helped bring meaningful experiences to students in all five buildings with scholarships for the Middle School Washington, D.C., Intermediate School Fall Festival, paying in full for 4^th grade field trip to ‘The Works’, sending a much needed ‘pick me up’ lunch and coffee to staff at ELC, teacher grants across all buildings, to name but a few. And we’re just getting started!

Further down in the newsletter is a chart showing our goals for this year, we couldn’t do any of this without you. If you’ve already joined or donated — thank you. If you haven’t yet, or would like to contribute further, you can do so anytime through Membership Toolkit.

So excited to see what the rest of the year holds for PTO and how we can continue to impact our students and staff each day. If you have any questions about PTO and how you can be part of this wonderful organization I am always happy to chat or grab a coffee to discuss and answer your questions, or hear suggestions — newalbanyptotreasurer@gmail.com.

Kind regards & best wishes,

Siobhán Twomey
Treasurer, New Albany PTO

Fundraising Season is in Full Swing

Explore Our New MTK Fundraising Page

To make it easier for all families to stay informed, we’ve launched a new fundraising page on Membership Toolkit (MTK). It’s open to every family — not just PTO members — and includes all current and upcoming fundraising opportunities in one convenient place.

👉 Visit: newalbanypto.membershiptoolkit.com/fundraisers

Reading, Rewards & School Spirit — The Read-A-Thon Is Live!

On October 20, the ELC, Primary, and Intermediate Schools officially kicked off this year’s Read-A-Thon — a fun fundraiser that inspires kids to read while supporting our schools.

This year’s incentives include:

Pizza party for the top class in each school with the most minutes read and the most money raised (that’s 2 winners per school — 6 total!)
$100 gift card to the student with the most minutes
$100 gift card to the student who raises the most money

Thank you for supporting literacy and our schools!

Watch the Read-A-Thon kickoff — our Eagles are shining!

Holiday Cards That Give Back

Order your holiday cards, gifts, or stationery through Minted using our exclusive PTO code and enjoy 20% off your purchase — plus Minted will donate 10% back to support our schools. It’s an easy way to check something off early and give back!

Code: FUNDRAISENAPLPTO

Feel free to share the code privately with friends and family — but please note, if it appears on public coupon sites, it will be deactivated.

Fall Highlights Powered by PTO & Families Like You!

From school celebrations to community fundraisers, this fall was full of joy thanks to the incredible support of our PTO members and volunteers. Whether you donated your time, energy, or financial support — thank you. These moments happen because of you.

Here’s a look at what your contributions made possible

Fall Festivals Brought Big Smiles & Big Fun

Every year, students at the Intermediate School look forward to Fall Fest — an unforgettable day filled with a DJ, inflatables, games, and pure joy.

This year, we hosted a Fall Festival for each grade, and they did not disappoint. The excitement was off the charts, and the smiles said it all.

Students Danced the Night Away at Tropical Fall Dance

Another beloved PTO event — the Middle School Fall Dance — returned with a tropical twist this year. Students enjoyed Kona Ice, snacks, and a live DJ, and they truly danced the night away.Thank you to the parent and staff volunteers who helped create such a fun and safe night for our students.

Fall Mums Fundraiser — A Blooming Success!

We held our first-ever unified Mums fundraiser across the ELC, Primary, Intermediate, and Middle Schools — and we’re thrilled to share that it was a success!

A huge thank-you to the volunteers who spent the day at Village Hall on September 18 helping with pickup. It was truly an all-day effort, and we’re so grateful for your time and teamwork.

The Power of Your PTO Membership & Giving

Every dollar directly supports students, teachers, and classroom experiences.

Thank you for making this possible!

Meet the Difference Makers Behind Our PTO

Member Spotlight

Kristen Pietro first got involved with the PTO when her oldest — now in 11th grade — was in Kindergarten, serving as a Head Room Parent and later joining the Hospitality teams across all five school buildings. Over the years, she has helped plan countless events that support and celebrate teachers and staff.

As a parent who moved to the area without family nearby, Kristin found deep connection through volunteering — gaining meaningful classroom moments, building lasting friendships, and making teachers feel appreciated every step of the way. She’s grateful for the opportunity to give back and is excited to continue supporting the newly unified PTO.

Get to Know Your PTO Leadership

Julie McCarter serves as the PTO’s Business Membership Chair, leading fundraising efforts with local businesses and partners across New Albany. She’s excited to support the newly unified PTO and help create an incredible year for all our students—while strengthening the community connections that make this district so special. Mom to Max (2nd grade) and toddler Eden, Julie recently launched her own consulting firm after 25 years in corporate retail. Max says she "cooks amasin food,” and she’ll always choose hot coffee and salty snacks over anything sweet.