08/04/2026
At Marie Hughes Elementary, the PTCO and Community School model work together as valued partners to support the school’s mission of creating a strong, connected, and thriving school community. The Community School Impact Coordinator works closely with the PTCO and other school and community partners to identify opportunities for collaboration, strengthen family engagement, and enhance opportunities for students, staff, and families.
The PTCO plays an important role in supporting the school through fundraising, family involvement, and volunteer opportunities. One of the PTCO’s largest annual fundraisers is the Jog-a-thon, which is a collaborative effort between the PTCO, school staff, and the Community School Impact Coordinator. Together, these partners work to organize, coordinate, and create a successful event that brings the school community together while supporting student experiences and needs.
Another important area of partnership is volunteer engagement. The PTCO works alongside the Community School Impact Coordinator to connect families and community members with meaningful opportunities to support classrooms, school activities, and student-focused initiatives. These partnerships help ensure that volunteers are matched with areas of need while strengthening the sense of belonging across our school community.
In addition to the PTCO, Marie Hughes has a Community School Council that serves as a space for shared leadership and continuous improvement. The Community School Council meets twice a month to review school data, discuss systems-level improvements, identify needs, and engage in collaborative decision-making conversations. The council is open to all stakeholders, including parents, caregivers, teachers, staff, students, and community members.
Anyone is welcome to attend Community School Council meetings and listen to the conversations. To be considered an active member of the council, stakeholders are encouraged to participate in meetings at least once a month. This commitment is different from volunteering or supporting a specific event; it is an opportunity to engage in ongoing dialogue, examine challenges and opportunities, and help shape the future direction of our school community.
Together, the PTCO, Community School Council, school staff, and community partners create a network of support that reflects the belief that schools are strongest when families, educators, and community members work together.
