06/13/2026
As this school year comes to a close, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to serve as your Surrey Hills PTA President this past year. It has truly been an honor to work alongside such an incredible group of board members, administrators, teachers, staff, families, and community supporters who all share the same goal of loving and supporting our students.
Thank you for every hour volunteered, every donation made, every fundraiser supported, and every act of encouragement along the way. Because of this amazing community, we were able to accomplish so much this year.
One of our biggest focuses was safety and security within the school. Through your support, we were able to provide Barracuda door bars for every classroom to help protect students and teachers in the event of an intruder, as well as safety mirrors throughout the hallways at corners and intersections.
We also worked to improve the daily environment for our students by purchasing soundproofing panels for the cafeteria to soften the echoes of excited little voices during lunch and sensory paths throughout every hallway to help students regulate emotions, reduce stress, and build motor skills.
Because of your generosity, we were able to provide classroom grants for every teacher to support educational needs, purchase additional items for teachers as unexpected projects and needs arose throughout the year, and provide a special gift for every 3rd grade student as they prepared for their transition to 4th grade.
We were also able to celebrate and support our incredible teachers and staff throughout the year to show our appreciation for everything they do for Surrey students each and every day.
Your support helped fund field trips for every grade level, whether in-school for PreK, Kindergarten, and 1st grade, or off-campus experiences for 2nd and 3rd grade students. We were able to support our Specials teachers and Specialists with events including Polar Express, Sun & Splash Day, Senior Send-Off, Math & Reading Night, and so much more.
In addition, we were able to purchase on-site storage for the school to help better organize and facilitate school events, programs, and ongoing support throughout the year. Having dedicated storage will continue to benefit the school, teachers, volunteers, and future family events for years to come.
We also created opportunities for families to make memories together through events like the Surrey Hills Thunder Watch Party and our school dance. Seeing the smiles, laughter, and excitement on our students’ faces during these moments made every bit of hard work worth it.
On Thursday, June 11th, our unit officially voted to dissolve the Surrey Hills PTA and transition into the Surrey Hills PTO. So what does that mean?
It means we are becoming an independent organization separate from the state and national PTA, but our mission remains the same: parents, teachers, staff, and community members working together to support the needs of Surrey Hills students. It also means we are starting fresh. Previous board positions no longer exist, and new bylaws, procedures, and leadership structures will need to be created. The traditions, events, programs, and support our students and teachers have come to love will still need volunteers, ideas, fundraising, and community involvement to continue.
As we welcome our new principal, Mrs. Becky Oglesby, into her role, she will be sharing guidance and next steps for moving forward. I want everyone to know that I am still here to help support this transition process however I can.
Please consider becoming involved in the new PTO in whatever way works for your family. Whether you volunteer at events, help behind the scenes, share ideas, donate supplies, or simply encourage others, you are needed and welcomed. Being involved allows you to share your ideas, creativity, talents, and heart in ways that truly make a difference. Even if you only have a little time to give, your presence matters more than you know.
Some of my favorite memories have come from being involved at Surrey Hills. There is something incredibly special about seeing the excitement on little faces as they ride the Polar Express “train,” wave to Santa, dance with friends, or experience moments that become lifelong core memories. Thank you again for trusting me, supporting me, and allowing me to be part of such an amazing school community. Surrey Hills will always hold a special place in my heart.
❤️ -Keely Ellis
