Central Road students enjoy benefits of PTA grant

Students at Central Road Elementary School in Rolling Meadows enjoyed events focusing on safety at home and at play last month thanks to a $500 grant the Central Road PTA received as part of PTA Take Your Family to School Week.

The PTA was one of 100 nationwide to receive the grant, which aims to increase family engagement and safety awareness.

The special week, which took place Feb. 18—22, encouraged PTAs across the country to open their doors to families so that they can be engaged in their child’s education and overall well-being.

“Decades of research continues to link family engagement and student achievement,” National PTA President Betsy Landers said. “Take Your Family to School Week reinforces that link and reminds parents that being engaged is not only important during back-to-school time but year-round.”

Central Road School hosted several safety related events for families on the evening of Feb. 21.

The gathering began with a presentation from Safe Kids about car safety, fire safety and poison look-alikes, followed by the presentation of a gift to the school by a representative of the AXA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company.

That was followed by the Street Smarts course taught by the Palatine Park District. Finally, students participated in games with their parents in the gym with reminders to be safe when playing.

“We are thankful to the National PTA and AXA to be a grant recipient,” said Jen Towsey, president of the Central Road PTA. “Kids’ faces light up when their parents join them at school; so we are excited to plan an evening of education combined with fun.”

In addition, the National PTA Take Your Family to School Week program aims to raise awareness of dangerous safety risks, like riding a bike without a helmet, being exposed to dangerous toxins and not knowing how to recognize concussions.