MYTH: PTO meetings are long, drawn out affairs filled with boring agenda items.
FACT: PTO meetings last one hour and are filled with useful information for parents. Lead by the PTO President and Committees, Principal Russo, School Admin and community partners give updates on what's happening throughout the school -- news you won't hear anywhere else. You can ask questions and voice your opinions. And you can help decide how to raise money for the school and, even more importantly, how to spend it.

MYTH: PTO members are a tight-knit social group that is hard to break into. The PTO has the same volunteers year after year and everyone knows each other. 
FACT: While we are fortunate to have dedicated volunteers who return, we also welcome new ones every year. We do strike up friendships and enjoy getting to know one another. This year, we already have several new Committee Chairs and volunteers and we love welcoming new members and fresh ideas! PTO members are there for one reason: To help Rancho Sienna Elementary students and the school succeed. It is a collective, team effort and members work together to do what is best for the school and students.

MYTH: If you are a PTO member, you have to commit to hours and hours of volunteer time.
FACT: You can volunteer as little or as much as your schedule allows. If you are worried about the time commitment, you can sign up for a specific activity or committee, if you desire. Whatever you do will be greatly appreciated! 

MYTH: Money raised through the PTO goes toward paperwork and other useless expenses.
FACT: All money raised supports student enrichment, campus improvement, and staff appreciation and support, to name a few. Click here to see what Rancho Sienna PTO funded for the 2023-2024 school year. 

MYTH: Joining PTO means I have to volunteer. I’ll get roped into volunteering for something if I go to a PTO meeting.
FACT: You do not have to give lots of hours of your time to be a member of PTO! There are always opportunities to get involved and the PTO and school both need a lot of volunteers. We have to ask for volunteers and help, but there is no pressure to sign up if you don’t want to volunteer or are unable to. The simple act of attending PTO meetings is valuable to our school and helps us all to advocate for our children! 

MYTH: The PTO is for stay-at-home moms with nothing better to do.
FACT:  Your fellow PTO members are parents, guardians and community members who want to support the school. Most members are juggling jobs, household chores, kids, sports and homework. Most members of the PTO Executive Board and Committee Chairs either work full-time or part-time jobs outside of the home. A strong, vibrant PTO needs the support of moms and dads, step-parents, aunts and uncles, teachers and school staff, community members and business leaders. 

Anyone who cares about children belongs in PTO.

MYTH: PTO has all the help they need. My participation will not make a difference.
FACT: This is the biggest myth of all. We need your help and participation. We have board, chair, and committee positions that need to be filled. Even if you cannot commit to filling a board or chair position, we need your help! We need volunteers to help at all of our events. If you choose to volunteer, you get to decide your time commitment. 

MYTH: PTO volunteers need to be at the school during the day.

FACT: Much of the PTO work can be done from home on your own schedule, or at events at night or weekends. Yes, there is volunteering during the school day if you are able to do so. But no one does it all, so choose what works best for you.

MYTH: PTO mainly does events during the day Monday-Friday and I work during the daytime.
FACT: During the school year, we hold multiple events for families in the evenings. We always hold our general membership meetings in the evening!