What We Do

The goal of the Catoctin Elementary School PTA  is to advocate for our students and school, communicate efficiently and effectively to our families, provide funding to enhance our students' learning experiences and support the Family-School Partnership through our community events. All our school-wide events are FREE to our school community! Listed below are some of the things we strive to do each year! 

Advocacy

  • The Catoctin Elementary School PTA Executive Committee attended the Virginia PTA Annual Meeting and Advocacy Conference in January of 2019 in Richmond. Part of the conference included attending VAPTA Day at the General Assembly, where your executive committee spoke with elected officials about making educational funding a statewide priority and shared stories about the needs of our teachers, staff, students and schools. 
  • We are currently working to open a dialogue with the LCPS School Board to address a list of concerns regarding the age and infrastructure of CES. The list of concerns can be found here.

Assemblies

  • The PTA budgets for school-wide assemblies every year to encourage learning in a fun and exciting way. Past assemblies have included: Brent Daniels:Music Technology,  STEAM Museum, Brian Curry Assemblies, Wildlife Ambassadors and many more. 

Back to School Luncheon

  • The PTA sponsors a luncheon for the teachers and staff before school starts.  This is a very busy time for teachers as they are setting up their classrooms, attending meetings & meeting new students at the Open House.  This luncheon is a chance for them to know how excited we are to be starting another great year at Catoctin!  

​Faculty Mini-Grant Requests

  • Each year, the PTA asks and encourages faculty members to submit specific requests that will enhance the learning experience of our students. The PTA has provided new classroom library books to grades 3-5, developmental reading books to accommodate kindergarten reading programs, Virtual Field Trips, STEAM materials and flexible seating options for classrooms to name a few. 

Family Game Night

  • The Catoctin Elementary School PTA won a National PTA STEM + Families Game Night, sponsored by ThinkFun in 2018.  ThinkFun provided over 40 games to the 50 winning PTAs, including several junior versions of their best-sellers. ThinkFun was designed to create “fun learning games that challenge your mind.” Every family who participated was given a raffle ticket for a chance to win a game to add to their home collection.  
     

Harvest Festival

  • Fall Harvest Festival is an evening of fun for Catoctin students and their families. In the past, families have enjoyed carnival-style games, visited the haunted stage, jumped on the moon bounce, gotten pictures taken with a festive autumn backdrop and taken a chance to win one of the many awesome raffles that are donated each year. We'll have refreshments for sale & if you are lucky you may also leave with a whole jar full of prizes from our   'jar walk'!  Students are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes. We ask that students do not wear masks on their faces or bring any weapons for everyone's safety.  

Ice Cream Social

  • The Ice Cream Social is the first school community event of the year. It is a free social event with ice cream and LOTS of topping choices! Don’t miss this opportunity to socialize with other members of the Catoctin Community.

Inclusive Schools Week

  • “PTAs are uniquely qualified to address and honor the diversity of our communities and play an important role in helping ensure that all families are equipped with the tools to support their child and improve the school.” -Nathan R. Monell, CAE, National PTA executive director. 
  • Inclusive Schools Week is an annual event sponsored by the Inclusive Schools Network (ISN) and Stetson & Associates, Inc.,  which is held each year during the first full week in December. Since its inception in 2001, Inclusive Schools Week has celebrated the progress that schools have made in providing a supportive and quality education to an increasingly diverse student population, including students who are marginalized due to disability, gender, socio-economic status, cultural heritage, language preference, and other factors. The Week also provides an important opportunity for educators, students and parents to discuss what else needs to be done in order to ensure that their schools continue to improve their ability to successfully educate all children. (https://inclusiveschools.org)

Spaghetti Dinner

  • The annual Spaghetti Dinner & Basket Raffle is a fun community event for all Catoctin families. A traditional spaghetti dinner is served at no cost to families--in the school cafeteria, served by CES STAFF and our parent volunteers! It's always an exciting opportunity for students to see their teachers in a different atmosphere!  After dinner, families are invited to enjoy dessert and coffee in the gym where they can also buy raffle tickets for a chance to win one of the themed baskets full of goodies created by each class with donations from families. Winners are announced on Facebook following the event!

SpiritWear

  • Each year, the PTA offers a new t-shirt design for purchase to show our Cardinal spirit! This year's t-shirt design was created by our first-ever T-Shirt Design Contest Winner Jake B! Shirts will be available to purchase at the Ice Cream Social (and throughout the year) for $11. Catoctin Cardinal car magnets are also available for purchase ($6). 

Staff Appreciation Week

  • Staff Appreciation Week is a special time of year where we take time to thank all of those who help to make Catoctin so special.  Each year the activities differ a bit, but the message is always the same!  "We appreciate you!"  The Hospitality Committee decorates the school, coordinates special treats for staff and bus drivers throughout the week and provides ideas for students to share their appreciation. 

Bingo Raffle Night!

  • Come to play Bingo with all your family and friends at Catoctin for a chance to win BOOKS and other prizes!!! The PTA provides bingo cards and crayons to mark off your numbers.  We play traditional Bingo, Diagonal, Four Corners and even a "C" game. We have at least 3 winners for each game. Concessions are available. There is always a great selection of books available for Kindergarten through 5th-grade reading levels. BINGO!!

VIP & Me Breakfast

  • Returning for the 2023-2024 school year, we are hosting a VIP & Me breakfast in May/June to celebrate the special people in our students' lives. 

​Variety Show

  • The Catoctin's Got Talent! Variety Show gives students the chance to have fun and perform for the school community. Traditionally, it is held at J.L. Simpson Middle School, to accommodate our amazingly abundant audiences. Snacks are sold during intermission. Look for Updates as this event takes shape!

Join the Catoctin PTA here!