Edison Parent-Teacher Organization

### Context Profile for Edison Parent-Teacher Organization

1. **Organization Mission & Cause**:
   The Edison Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) is dedicated to enhancing the educational experience of students at Edison Elementary School. Their mission focuses on fostering a strong partnership between parents and teachers to support student learning and development. They aim to create a nurturing environment that encourages academic excellence, community involvement, and cultural enrichment.

2. **Type of Activities**:
   - **Community Programs**: The PTO organizes various afterschool clubs, such as the Edison Mandarin Club, which promotes language learning and cultural appreciation through interactive activities.
   - **Fundraising Campaigns**: They conduct events like annual raffles to raise funds for school programs and initiatives.
   - **Events**: Regular events are held to engage families and strengthen community ties, including educational workshops and cultural celebrations.

3. **Tone of Voice**:
   The tone of the website and communications is friendly, supportive, and community-oriented. The language is accessible and encouraging, aiming to inspire participation and collaboration among parents, teachers, and students. The use of exclamation points and positive phrases contributes to an inviting atmosphere.

4. **Emoji Usage**:
   The organization incorporates emojis in their communications, particularly in email campaigns. For instance, they use a calendar emoji (📅) to highlight event dates, which adds a casual and engaging touch to their messages. Emoji usage appears to be moderate, enhancing the friendly tone without overwhelming the content.

5. **Key Facts**:
   - **Founding Info**: Specific founding details are not provided on the website.
   - **Scale**: The PTO has engaged in 16 email campaigns and created 5 forms for various activities.
   - **Impact Metrics**: While specific metrics are not detailed, the organization emphasizes community involvement and student engagement through its programs.
   - **Volunteer Info**: The PTO encourages parent involvement and volunteerism, although specific volunteer metrics are not mentioned.

6. **Writing Guidelines**:
   - **Style**: Use a friendly and conversational tone that reflects community spirit. Avoid overly formal language.
   - **Structure**: Keep sentences clear and concise, using bullet points for lists when appropriate.
   - **Engagement**: Encourage participation and express gratitude towards volunteers and participants.
   - **Visuals**: Incorporate emojis sparingly to enhance engagement without detracting from the message.
   - **Personalization**: Use personalized greetings in communications to foster a sense of connection (e.g., using the recipient's first name).

This context profile serves as a guide for generating personalized and effective content for the Edison Parent-Teacher Organization, aligning with their mission, tone, and community-focused activities.

LXCL:To join the PTO, you can select this option in addition to Chess Club dues. Chess Club is grateful for&nbsp;financial support&nbsp;from the PTO! PTO members will be entered into<ul class="lxcl-ul"><li value="1" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">A drawing to win 1 extra recess for your class</li></ul>Note: at checkout, you can change the optional Zeffy platform fee by selecting 'Other' from the dropdown and entering $0.

PTO Membership + win an extra recess for the class!

LXCL:If you already signed up for Chess Club in the fall of 2025, you do NOT need to sign up again. This fee is for new students joining for the winter/spring session. Chess Club dues are $125 for the second half of the school year (15 weeks of Chess Club) and include one&nbsp;<a href="https://ergc-spiritwear.checkoutstores.com/campaigns/ergc-spiritwear/products/edison-youth-chess-tee" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="lxcl-link" dir="ltr">Edison Chess t-shirt</a>.&nbsp; Note: at checkout, you can change the optional Zeffy platform fee by selecting 'Other' from the dropdown and entering $0.

Chess Club dues (Winter registration, for new students only)

LXCL:Chess Club dues are $250 for the full school year (30 weeks of Chess Club) and include one&nbsp;<a href="https://ergc-spiritwear.checkoutstores.com/campaigns/ergc-spiritwear/products/edison-youth-chess-tee" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="lxcl-link" dir="ltr">Edison Chess t-shirt</a>.&nbsp;You can order additional Chess Club shirts or <a href="https://ergc-spiritwear.checkoutstores.com/campaigns/ergc-spiritwear" target="_blank" class="lxcl-link" dir="ltr">Edison spirit wear here</a>. Note: at checkout, you can change the optional Zeffy platform fee by selecting 'Other' from the dropdown and entering $0.

Chess Club dues

LXCL:To join the PTO, select this option in addition to Chess Club dues. Chess Club is grateful for&nbsp;financial support&nbsp;from the PTO! PTO members will be entered into<ul class="lxcl-ul"><li value="1" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">A drawing to win a $50 spirit wear rebate from our new online store</li></ul>PLUS:<ul class="lxcl-ul"><li value="1" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">A drawing to win 1 extra recess for your class</li></ul>Note: at checkout, you can change the optional Zeffy platform fee by selecting 'Other' from the dropdown and entering $0.

PTO membership + donation + win $50 for spirit wear!

LXCL:To join the PTO, select this option in addition to Chess Club dues. Chess Club is grateful for&nbsp;financial support&nbsp;from the PTO! PTO members will be entered into<ul class="lxcl-ul"><li value="1" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">A drawing to win a School Street Parking Pass: This pass allows first-come, first-serve street parking on Argyle or Ainslie. It does not permit parking in staff lots. </li><li value="2" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">1 ticket to Bright Night, our spring fundraising party</li><li value="3" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">5% off spirit wear in our online store</li></ul>PLUS:<ul class="lxcl-ul"><li value="1" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">A drawing to win a $50 spirit wear rebate from our new online store</li><li value="2" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">A drawing to win 1 extra recess for your class</li></ul>Note: at checkout, you can change the optional Zeffy platform fee by selecting 'Other' from the dropdown and entering $0.

PTO membership + donation + win school street parking pass!

LXCL:To join the PTO, select this option in addition to Chess Club dues. Chess Club is grateful for&nbsp;financial support&nbsp;from the PTO! PTO members will be entered into<ul class="lxcl-ul"><li value="1" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">A drawing to win dinner for 2 at Maple and Ash featuring a tasting menu and wine pairings (approximate value: $800, does not include gratuity)</li><li value="2" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">2 tickets to Bright Night, our spring fundraising party</li><li value="3" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">10% off spirit wear in our brand new online store</li></ul>PLUS:<ul class="lxcl-ul"><li value="1" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">A drawing to win a School Street Parking Pass: This pass allows first come, first-serve street parking on Argyle or Ainslie. It does not permit parking in staff lots.</li><li value="2" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">A drawing to win a $50 spirit wear rebate from our new online store</li><li value="3" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">A drawing to win 1 extra recess for your class</li></ul>Note: at checkout, you can change the optional Zeffy platform fee by selecting 'Other' from the dropdown and entering $0.

PTO membership + donation + win Maple & Ash dinner!

LXCL:To join the PTO, select this option in addition to Chess Club dues. Chess Club is grateful for&nbsp;financial support&nbsp;from the PTO! PTO members will be entered into<ul class="lxcl-ul"><li value="1" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">A drawing to win four Chicago Bulls tickets in section 110 (approximate value: $1200). Winner selects the game, subject to availability.</li><li value="2" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">2 tickets to Bright Night, our spring fundraising party</li><li value="3" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">15% off spirit wear in our brand new online store</li></ul>PLUS:<ul class="lxcl-ul"><li value="1" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">A drawing to win dinner for 2 at Maple and Ash featuring a tasting menu and wine pairings (approximate value: $800, does not include gratuity)</li><li value="2" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">A drawing to win a School Street Parking Pass: This pass allows first come, first-serve street parking on Argyle or Ainslie. It does not permit parking in staff lots.</li><li value="3" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">A drawing to win $50 spirit wear rebate from our new online store</li><li value="4" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">A drawing to win 1 extra recess for your class</li></ul>Note: at checkout, you can change the optional Zeffy platform fee by selecting 'Other' from the dropdown and entering $0.

PTO membership + donation + win four Bulls tickets!

Hi <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{firstname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip" fr-original-style="" style="background-color: rgb(248, 248, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255); border-radius: 4px; color: rgb(42, 42, 196); padding: 1px 8px; font-size: 11px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: anywhere; user-select: none; box-sizing: inherit;">First name, ♔WELCOME TO EDISON&#39;S CHESS TEAM! ♕ Edison&#39;s state and city championship-winning chess program is a pillar in our school&#39;s vision of developing global citizens through learner-driven experiences. Almost 1/3 of our student body enrolls in Chess Club. As members of this all-ages team, students nurture relationships with friends across grade levels. No prior chess knowledge required! ♖What&#39;s Next?♗ Chess Club meets every Tuesday after school at Edison, with pickup at 4PM. Chess Club runs from Tuesday, September 9th through May 19th.&nbsp; There is one final step to complete your student&#39;s registration. Attached to this email, you will find a three-page form from <a fr-original-style="text-decoration-color:initial;-webkit-user-select:auto;box-sizing:inherit;" href="https://cpschess.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color:initial;-webkit-user-select:auto;box-sizing:inherit;" target="_blank">CPS Academic Chess</a> that requires your original (non-electronic) signature. Please complete and email to <a fr-original-style="text-decoration-color:initial;-webkit-user-select:auto;box-sizing:inherit;" href="mailto:chess@ergcpto.org" style="text-decoration-color:initial;-webkit-user-select:auto;box-sizing:inherit;">chess@ergcpto.org</a> prior to your student&#39;s first day at Chess Club. Parents can volunteer anytime after obtaining <a fr-original-style="text-decoration-color:initial;-webkit-user-select:auto;box-sizing:inherit;" href="https://9jwhpbyab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001Lsykw1iUmnyH5JpU_WSi3hl2iMOqFAtpPFDq4oshwwOIef91Cwtd3ht6q7GYLWR46jp9aWJGDmbI6hX3ccHFlS4xMPc0htEmlHLD545kyLp-yWSIH513fVIQJTIg8yHT_f27rYrzOgZdgjEpK4Q7VV6sv0XnHwid_jJ111vAhDQb4z0H1ARJvXC9xP52m1d6sL9_-aWBCZVx8ihTck1mPx_ygbqhTolb&c=DUG8sRbRU38gz-3LsUunancOq9Gb_U-Slf5xHD9B_gY1W0qX9qjGRg==&ch=ZXj_RhiMzyAiI7kwic9Z8Lc7lEx5CporZUp-dd9GaXlbVPxiJEx6wQ==" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color:initial;-webkit-user-select:auto;box-sizing:inherit;" target="_blank">CPS volunteer clearance</a>. Email Edison Chess to let us know you&#39;d like to drop in on any Tuesday (level I or level II clearance). Level I clearance is needed for chaperoning official tournaments. If you have questions about the volunteer process, email our school clerk, Veronica Santos, at <a fr-original-style="text-decoration-color:initial;-webkit-user-select:auto;box-sizing:inherit;" href="mailto:vsantos1@cps.edu" style="text-decoration-color:initial;-webkit-user-select:auto;box-sizing:inherit;">vsantos1@cps.edu</a>. ♘About Club Fees♙ The fee to participate in Chess Club at Edison changes from year to year due to variable allocations from multiple sources. Thanks to engagement from families like yours, in 2025-2026 Edison Chess will be funded by parent support. Additionally, our school&rsquo;s OST (out of school time) funds will enable us to compensate an Edison staff member for their oversight of Chess Club students and operations.&nbsp; The full investment required to run Edison&#39;s very large chess program each year is substantial. This year, families will be paying approximately $8 per class. Chess programming at comparable CPS schools often ranges from $18-30 per class. Breaking down the total operational expenses of the club on a per student basis varies based on how many students enroll. The parent fee was calculated assuming the same number of students sign up at the start of the year as last year. The fee can be broken down to 74% (~$157-$186) allocated to staff stipends and nominal thank you gifts. Approximately 10% (~$22-$26) is needed for supplies such as chess equipment or team t-shirts. The remainder (~$31-$41) supports things like our traditional end of the year awards banquet with dinner for your whole family and a trophy for each student. Fee waivers are available for families needing financial support. <a fr-original-style="text-decoration-color:initial;-webkit-user-select:auto;box-sizing:inherit;" href="mailto:chess@ercgpto.org" style="text-decoration-color:initial;-webkit-user-select:auto;box-sizing:inherit;">Email</a> to request a full or partial fee waiver. Any unspent funds are rolled over for next year&#39;s club. <a fr-original-style="" href="mailto:chess@ergcpto.org">Email</a> if you&rsquo;d like to learn more about the Edison Chess budget. Looking forward to seeing your student at Chess Club on Tuesdays!&nbsp;Send any questions to Edison Chess at <a fr-original-style="" href="mailto:chess@ergcpto.org" rel="noopener noreferrer noopener noreferrer noopener noreferrer noopener noreferrer noopener noreferrer noopener noreferrer noopener noreferrer noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">chess@ergcpto.org</a>. Be sure to add that email address to your contacts to receive key information.&nbsp; Lamar Lockett, head coach (708.785.7641)&nbsp;Mara Winston Grigg, parent organizer (773.308.4300) JOINING EDISON PTO:If you have already joined Edison PTO, THANK YOU for your support! &nbsp;If you still need to become a PTO member, you can do so <a fr-original-style="text-decoration-color:initial;-webkit-user-select:auto;box-sizing:inherit;" href="https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/edison-pto-2025-26-membership" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color:initial;-webkit-user-select:auto;box-sizing:inherit;" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;

NOTE: If you already signed up for Chess club in the fall of 2025, you do NOT need to sign up again. This form is for new students joining in the winter/spring only.  ♔WELCOME TO EDISON'S CHESS TEAM! ♕Edison's state and city championship-winning chess program is a pillar in our school's vision of developing global citizens through learner-driven experiences. Almost 1/3 of our student body enrolls in Chess Club. As members of this all-ages team, students nurture relationships with friends across grade levels. No prior chess knowledge required! Chess Club members will be admitted in order of registration date and time. The club quickly fills to capacity and additional students will be added to a waitlist. We will do our best to accommodate as many students as we can! If you need to register more than one student, please submit this completed form for each student separately. ♖What's Next?♗Chess Club meets every Tuesday after school at Edison, with pickup at 4PM. Class runs from Tuesday, September 9th through May 19th. To complete your registration, you will be emailed a three-page <a href="https://cpschess.org/" target="_blank">CPS Academic Chess</a> form that requires your original (non-electronic) signature. Please email your signed form to <a href="mailto:chess@ergcpto.org" target="_blank">chess@ergcpto.org</a> before your student's first day at Chess Club. Parents can volunteer anytime after obtaining <a href="https://9jwhpbyab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001Lsykw1iUmnyH5JpU_WSi3hl2iMOqFAtpPFDq4oshwwOIef91Cwtd3ht6q7GYLWR46jp9aWJGDmbI6hX3ccHFlS4xMPc0htEmlHLD545kyLp-yWSIH513fVIQJTIg8yHT_f27rYrzOgZdgjEpK4Q7VV6sv0XnHwid_jJ111vAhDQb4z0H1ARJvXC9xP52m1d6sL9_-aWBCZVx8ihTck1mPx_ygbqhTolb&amp;c=DUG8sRbRU38gz-3LsUunancOq9Gb_U-Slf5xHD9B_gY1W0qX9qjGRg==&amp;ch=ZXj_RhiMzyAiI7kwic9Z8Lc7lEx5CporZUp-dd9GaXlbVPxiJEx6wQ==" target="_blank">CPS volunteer clearance</a>. Email Edison Chess to let us know you'd like to drop in on any Tuesday (level I or level II clearance). Level I clearance is needed for chaperoning official tournaments. If you have questions about the volunteer process, email our school clerk, Veronica Santos, at <a href="mailto:vsantos1@cps.edu" target="_blank">vsantos1@cps.edu</a>. ♘About Club Fees♙The fee to participate in Chess Club at Edison changes from year to year due to variable allocations from multiple sources. Thanks to engagement from families like yours, in 2025-2026 Edison Chess will be funded by parent support. Additionally, our school’s OST (out of school time) funds will enable us to compensate an Edison staff member for their oversight of Chess Club students and operations.  The full investment required to run Edison's very large chess program each year is substantial. This year, families will be paying approximately $8 per class. Chess programming at comparable CPS schools often ranges from $18-30 per class. Breaking down the total operational expenses of the club on a per student basis varies based on how many students enroll. The parent fee ($250) was calculated assuming the same number of students sign up at the start of the year as last year. The fee can be broken down to 74% (~$157-$186) allocated to staff stipends and nominal thank you gifts. Approximately 10% (~$22-$26) is needed for supplies such as chess equipment or team t-shirts. The remainder (~$31-$41) supports things like our traditional end of the year awards banquet with dinner for your whole family and a trophy for each student. Fee waivers are available for families needing financial support. Email <a href="mailto:chess@ergcpto.org" target="_blank">chess@ergcpto.org</a> to request a full or partial fee waiver. Any unspent funds are rolled over for next year's club. Email <a href="mailto:chess@ergcpto.org" target="_blank">chess@ergcpto.org</a> if you’d like to learn more about the Edison Chess budget. Looking forward to seeing your student at Chess Club on Tuesdays!Send any questions to Edison Chess at <a href="mailto:chess@ergcpto.org" target="_blank">chess@ergcpto.org</a>. Be sure to add that email address to your contacts to receive key information.Lamar Lockett, head coach (708.785.7641)Mara Winston Grigg, parent organizer (773.308.4300) About Zeffy:Zeffy is a free fundraising platform, so 100% of your dues go to the Edison Chess Club, with all funds managed by the PTO. <ul><li>During checkout, Zeffy will suggest an optional contribution to their platform; these funds do not benefit the Edison PTO or Edison Chess Club. To adjust the suggested donation, select 'Other' from the dropdown under 'Summary' and enter your desired amount (or $0).</li></ul>The Edison PTO is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your donation may be tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Please consult your tax advisor for further information. If you have any questions, feel free to email our <a href="mailto:EdisonPTO@CPS.edu">PTO general inbox</a>.

Edison Parent-Teacher Organization

Edison Chess Club 2025-2026

Chess Club dues (Winter registration, for new students only)

$125