Kootenai Tribe gives funds for playground

The Kootenai Tribe of Bonners Ferry helped Valley View Elementary Parent Teacher Organization pay for improvements on the school’s grounds this summer.

Jim Pannell, Valley View’s life skills teacher, and several students from Northwest Academy volunteered to assist with the project.

These improvements were added to the new playground equipment the PTO purchased and installed at Valley View four years ago.

The PTO bought new basketball nets and improved the existing basketball courts.   The group purchased benches, trash cans, teatherball poles and added more stations.  Concrete was poured for all the new and existing teatherball stations, and new poles and ropes were installed.

“The kids would end up playing in mud holes in the winter,” said Angela Hittle, president of the  PTO.  This means no more mud holes and the teachers, students and parents are pleased with that.”

Just prior to the beginning of school, the PTO provided a semi-truckload of wood chips and several loads of gravel, which were spread on the grounds.

Wooden cubbies the PTO purchased for the hallways were installed in the main building.  The PTO was pleased to have Jim Bace and his crew install these for students to place hats, coats,  shoes, boots and  lunches.

“I would like to recognize the Kootenai Tribe for their generous gift this and every year.  They have enabled us to do these projects at Valley View,” said Hittle.   Without the amount they give us none of it would have happened.”

The PTO’s goal is  to provide interaction between students, parents and teachers through organized activities promoted by the group.

 Some of these events are Scholastic Book fairs, Fall Carnival, Eagle projects, Boundary County Fair, Open House and PTO Basketball.

Funds the PTO raises through events and others are then spent on items or activities that directly benefit the students at Valley View.  The PTO looks for ways to fulfill those needs that aren’t in the budget.

The PTO also spends $1,000 or more every year on books for individual classroom libraries and the school library.

The PTO organizes field trips when needed, and provides student and classroom rewards, classroom supplies.

The Fall Carnival will be held 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday Oct. 22, in the Valley View gymnasium.

Anyone interested in joining the PTO, should call Angela Hittle at 290-1068.