PTO

The River Bend Elementary PTO is a volunteer organization made up of parents, teachers, and administrators.  Our purpose is to serve together to promote and provide educational and social opportunities that help create a school community that is uniquely River Bend.  

The River Bend Elementary PTO functions as a 501(c)(3) organization.  It is led by a board of elected officers, with activities chosen, planned, and implemented by the Board, the general school parent/caregiver population, and school administrators and staff.  

2025-2026 PTO Board Members:

President: Lindsay Tentindo

Vice President: Liz Ruether

Treasurer: April Inman

Recording Secretary: Alyssa McConnell

Corresponding Secretary: Emily Fiasco

 

Be a River Bend PTO Volunteer!

First thing's first...

Volunteers (not visitors) that are in contact with children without school personnel will be required to submit a volunteer application and undergo a background check through the District. The fingerprint background check remains in effect for six years. If you desire to chaperone a field trip, be a library assistant, or help set up for PTO events during school hours, you must complete this process.

Visit Parkway's Volunteer page here for the official District directions and forms.

Events and/or event times are subject to change. Please refer to Parkway's official calendar for information on early releases and school days off.

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Events Overview

Below are events and activities traditionally organized, funded, or supported by the PTO.  The PTO provides an avenue for fundraising that allows for special purchases to support River Bend above and beyond its regular budget.  PTO also facilitates activities that provide fun and memorable events for the students as part of their elementary school experience.  Volunteers are also paramount to the River Bend community, and the PTO helps to recruit and organize volunteers for both educational and social events.  

SUMMER/FALL EVENTS

Meet the Teacher

An open house event for students to meet their teacher before school starts.  Students present their leadership roles and goals, academic work, and special activities to their families.  Ways the PTO may participate is by hosting an informational booth and providing popsicles on the playground.

Possible volunteer opportunities include:

• Coordinate with staff for PTO participation
• Host PTO informational booth and pass out popsicles

Bingo Night

Bingo night is a fun, social event for the school community, and it also raises money for the PTO.

Possible volunteer opportunities include:

• Recruit volunteers
• Set up and tear down
• Shop for concession items
• Shop for, request donations, and organize prizes for Bingo winners
• Run concession booth
• Run ticket booth
• Run prize table

Read-a-thon

Read-a-thon is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and it is a fantastic way to encourage a love of reading at the start of the school year. 

Possible volunteer opportunities include:

• Become the event chair
• Decorate the school with the Read-a-thon theme for the year
• Read daily updates during morning announcements to encourage students to keep reading
• Organize prizes based on milestones

Scholastic Book Fair

The Scholastic Book Fair is a major fundraiser for the River Bend library. The funds allow the library to purchase new books and products. Volunteers work with Scholastic to organize this event.

Possible volunteer opportunities include:

• Serve as the event chair, working with the librarian and the Scholastic representative to plan event
• Recruit and schedule volunteers
• Advertise event
• Create and implement decorations
• Coordinate and/or assist with student shopping during the school day
• Restock items
• Customer service/POS
• Distribute student prizes and teacher books
• Set up and tear down

Fall Festival

Track or Treat is a fun community event where families decorate a table around the track with themed-elements and hand out candy or small toy (can be paired with a game).  Other activities also may include a bounce house, carnival games, face painting, pumpkin decorating.  Typically, the 5th grade class provides a concession stand. 

Possible volunteer opportunities include:

• Become the event chair
• Recruit and coordinate participating vehicles
• Set up the event
• Run the check-in and payment table
• Decorate table and pass out candy
• Run ticket booth
• Work at the concession booth
• Clean up after event

 Abilities Awareness Day

Abilities Awareness Day celebrates people who overcome a variety of physical, mental, or behavioral challenges to live healthy, fulfilling lives.  In partnership with the school counselors, PTO assists with inviting and hosting special guests who live with one of these challenges to share their stories with River Bend students.  The goal is to help students understand that a disability doesn't have to be mysterious or a disadvantage and to show them how people adapt to accomplish life and recreational skills.

Possible volunteer opportunities include:

• Work with the counselors to plan the event
• Coordinate snacks and lunch for guests
• Host the guest speakers on Abilities Awareness Day by escorting them to classes and assisting with their presentation needs
• Write thank you notes to guests

Veteran’s Day Assembly

The Veteran’s Day assembly is coordinated by the music teacher and honors Veteran's Day and veterans associated with River Bend staff and students.  

Possible volunteer opportunities include:

• Set up and tear down for the event
• Create display board of veterans' photos
• Shop for and layout snacks for veterans
• Host Veterans at River Bend before and after the assembly

 WINTER EVENTS

Winter Parties

The Winter Parties is on the last day of school before winter break.

Possible volunteer opportunities include:

• Lead parent to coordinate planning and logistics
• Plan games, snacks, and craft
• Participate on the day of the party to help the kids do crafts and games.

Ice Skating

A community event at Chicken 'N Pickle in St. Charles to enjoy ice skating, games inside, and food.

Possible volunteer opportunities include:

• Organize pre-registration for the event
• Organize indoor games/activities
• Set up and tear down for the event

SPRING EVENTS

Used Book Fair

The PTO hosts a Used Book Fair in the spring.  This provides an opportunity for students to purchase reading materials inexpensively (~0.50).  This helps provide families with access to books during the summer months, and the funds go to the PTO.  Used book donations are collected throughout the year. This year two of the days will be paired with Donuts with Grown-Ups (an opportunity to eat donuts with your child/grandchild before school).

Possible volunteer opportunities include: 

• Plan and publicize event
• Plan a book drive to collect donations from the school community and the local neighborhoods
• Collect and manage book donations
• Coordinate shopping times with teachers
• Organize books by reading levels/interest
• Volunteer to work at the fair
• Set up and clean up

Fun Run

This event is a partnership with the RB PE staff.  The goal is to promote a healthy lifestyle and provide an opportunity for RB families to give back to a health/medical-related organization.  The PTO works closely with the PE staff to plan the event and recruit volunteers.

Possible volunteer opportunities include:

• Plan event (get volunteers and work out logistics with PE teachers)
• Publicize event
• Recruit volunteers
• Collect registration forms and fees
• Coordinate t-shirt design and purchase
• Coordinate logistics for the run with the neighborhood and police department
• Shop for and distribute snack items after the race
• Work registration table
• Volunteer along run route
• Set up/clean up event

Field Day

During the last month of school, students participate in a Field Day, with fun outdoor/indoor activities organized by the school staff.  Students play/participate in a variety of challenges and games.  The PTO supports this day by providing snacks, snow-cones, and a sack lunch.

Possible volunteer opportunities include: 

• Serve as the event coordinator
• Assist with field day games
• Lunch supervisors
• Set up/clean up

 ALL YEAR

Fundraising

All PTO activities are funded through donations and fundraising events.  Each year, we create a budget based on our current assets and fundraising goals.  This dictates the extent of support we can provide to the school community.  We have limited our fundraising efforts to the Read-a-thon, event-specific fees/tickets/concession sales, and restaurant night fundraisers.  We also continue to promote Box Tops for Education.  

Possible volunteer opportunities include: 

• Coordinate Read-a-thon
• Coordinate school restaurant nights
• Coordinate Box Tops for Education
• Plan other fundraising opportunities (pizza sales, trivia night, sponsorships for specific items/event)
• Publicize events
• Recruit volunteers for specific events

Yearbook 

Every year, the River Bend PTO helps create a yearbook capturing memories of students and special events from the year.

Possible volunteer opportunities include: 

• Volunteer as Yearbook captain
• Coordinate with school for picture days
• Take pictures for the yearbook
• Help with the layout of the yearbook
• Coordinate yearbook sales
• Partner with a student leadership team to coordinate yearbook content
• Sort and distribute the yearbook

Staff Appreciation

The PTO says thank you to our teachers and staff throughout the year with special treats, goodie bags, and other small gifts.  We recognize staff during special days of the year, such as School Nurse Week, and for celebrate them during Teacher Appreciation Week.  The PTO also gives a gift to staff who are retiring or moving to a different job opportunity.

Possible volunteer opportunities include: 

• Coordinate treats for the teachers and staff for special recognition days and work days
• Plan food for conference night or Teacher Appreciation Week
• Donate food and help set up Teacher Appreciation Week lunches or conference night food
• Shop for end-of-year gifts
• Coordinate other treats or gifts, such as Holiday Baskets, thank you cards, etc.

Chalk Artist

Chalk art on the outdoor sidewalks and patios is one way that the PTO celebrates students and staff on special days, as well as advertises events.  

Possible volunteer opportunities include: 

• Recruit volunteers to decorate 
• Chalk in various areas for events and activities (first day of school, Book Fair, 5th Grade Celebration, etc.)

PTO Board

The PTO is overseen by a group of volunteers who serve as executive board members in the roles of President, Vice-president, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, and Treasurer.  Each role has a two year term. The Board provides oversight and leadership for PTO events, fundraising, and school support.  They promote volunteerism, parental involvement, and staff-to-parent partnership.  They provide financial support to the school's academic and enrichment programs.  They also provide opportunities for students to experience fun and memorable events and activities during their elementary years.

2025/2026 School Year

February 

January

December

November

October

September

July

June

February

2025/2026 School Year

Current By-laws

Venmo: @RBTigersPTO

Square: https://river-bend-elementary-pto.square.site/

Email: RBtigerspto@gmail.com

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