St. Michael’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is a voluntary organisation made up of all parents and guardians of children at the school and all members of the school staff. Parent members of the PTA pay annual dues of ¥4,000 per family.

What is the purpose of the PTA? ‘The objective of the Association is to advance the education of the pupils of the school.’ The purpose of the PTA is to develop, between educators and the school community at large, united efforts to secure for all children the highest advantages in intellectual, physical, emotional, social and spiritual education. To provide a continuing channel of communication among the various sectors of the school community in order to promote an atmosphere of good will and cooperation and to bring into closer relationship the home and the school. To achieve this the PTA shall be empowered to: provide venues for the expression of views on matters of general interest to the parents, the school faculty and the students, provide services and programmes in support of scholastic pursuits and extra curricular activities of the students, make proposals to the school administration and/or School Council regarding new programmes beneficial to the students, which do not contravene the British National Curriculum, which is given the utmost priority and raise funds and exercise such functions as are necessary in the execution of the stated objectives. (From the By-Laws of the Parent Teacher Association of St. Michael’s International School Kobe, Japan, March 2001.)

How the PTA works By organising events the PTA involves parents, school staff and students in raising money to help maintain and improve facilities available in the school. This not only benefits your children at school now but also those in the future. It also provides a platform for social links between various parents and children outside normal school and playground areas. It is worth noting that all parents/guardians of children attending St. Michael’s International School are members of the PTA, as are teaching and ancillary staff. The elected Executive Committee (President/Co-President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Teacher Representative, Administrative Representative, Secretary) and the Class Representatives operate the PTA. This involves those committee members giving up some of their time, to attend meetings on a regular basis (usually once per month). They also spend further time organising and setting up, with the assistance of other parents, at various events held throughout the year.

PTA Committee and Members Without the willing volunteers who take up positions on the PTA Committee and other PTA Members who assist, the events outlined above would not happen. Without these fund-raising activities making additional cash available to the school, certain extra facilities, and some ‘essentials’ may not be available. This funding supports your child’s education, and improves on the resources and the general environment in which they work and play. Also, without such an organisation many of the relationships established between parents, and with staff would not exist as they do now. All parents and guardians are encouraged to take part in the PTA, if they feel they are able to give a little of their spare time. Towards the end of each school year the PTA holds Executive Committee Elections to replace those members whose children have left the school, or whose personal circumstances may no longer leave them with the necessary spare time. The PTA also asks for volunteers to act as Class Representatives. If you are interested in supporting your child’s education at SMIS and can spare a little time on a regular basis, want to generally volunteer to help setting up or assisting at events, or are just interested in finding out more about the PTA, please come along to our monthly meetings. (Information detailing all meeting dates, times, agendas and venues is always sent home via the students.) Please support the PTA’s efforts by attending your choice of events during the coming year.