PTA / PTO / PTSA

Message From The President

Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year. I wanted to take a moment and introduce myself. My name is Kari Devine, and I believe that by working together within our school’s parent-teacher groups and the District 123 Council, this school year will exceed your expectations.

What makes our parent-teacher groups so different from others is our clear recognition of the importance of parents and teachers whose cooperative work improves the lives of children. Our parent-teacher groups spend many hours planning educational, entertaining, and just plain fun events for your children throughout the school year. Each and every event is meant to engage our families and create memories in our school district that will last a lifetime.  I cannot express enough how rewarding and valuable it is that you play an active role in your child’s educational experience and this includes these “extra” activities/events hosted by your local parent-teacher organizations. We need YOU! No matter how much time or how little you can give YOU will make a difference in the life of a child.

Additionally, without the financial support of parents, teachers, administrators, staff and community members, the PTA/PTO/PTSA’s cannot bring these worthwhile programs to our schools. Financial support, along with membership in your local parent-teacher group is essential to our survival. It should be no surprise that parent-teacher groups depend on financial resources to bring the best programs to our children in District 123. Along with membership, your continued support of fundraisers and other activities provide a plethora of opportunities to create memories with your child. The objectives of the Illinois PTA, in common with the purposes of the National PTA are:

• To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, community, and place of
• To raise the standards of home life.
• To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth.
• To bring into closer relation the home and the school, that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the education of children and youth.
• To develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as will secure for all children and youth the highest advantages in physical, mental, social, and spiritual

This website is an invaluable resource to keep you informed about both local parent-teacher group activities and the District 123 Council. Meeting dates are listed for all groups and I encourage you to attend as many of these as possible -- all are open to everyone, however, to vote on any matters, you must be a registered and current member of your local organization.

PTA/PTO/PTSA meetings are a wonderful way to keep up-to-date on activities and involvement. Through your membership, creative ideas, volunteer time, and continued efforts towards common goals we will see all of our children flourish this school year.

Have a great year and I hope to meet each and every one of you at an upcoming event!  You can make a difference!

Kari Devine
District 123 PTA Council President

Local Presidents

Covington PTO

Barbara Dorencz - covingtonschoolpto@gmail.com

Hannum PTA

Lauren Evitt - yourhannumpta@gmail.com

Hometown PTA

Bridgette Parla - d123hometownpta@gmail.com

 

Kolmar PTA

Sarah McCormick - kolmarpta@gmail.com

Sward PTA

Jamie Wiora - swardptaonbrandt@gmail.com

OLHMS PTSA

Delecta Harris - olhmsd123ptsa@gmail.com

 

Council Officers

To reach the PTA Council please contact: ptacouncild123@gmail.com

President

Kari Devine

Vice President

Anna Gatch

Secretary

Lauren Evitt

Treasurer

Delecta Harris

Ronald McDonald House Chair

Unfilled

Scholarship Chairs

Unfilled

Helen Whalen Scholarship

The Oak Lawn-Hometown PTA District Council will award three $1,000 scholarships in honor of Helen Whalen, a dedicated volunteer in District 123 schools and the PTA many years ago. Students who meet the following criteria may apply:

• Graduating high school senior 
• Ranks in the upper 50% of their graduating class at the end of the first semester of senior year 
• Plans to attend a community college, university or trade school 
• Has attended at least four school years in District 123