Every student is provided the opportunity to go a field trip in each grade. The Hilltop PTSA provides each grade level a budget of $1,500 for field trip costs and busing. Some examples of field trips are: The Science Museum, The Dodge Nature Center, The Works, and The Fire Department.

Our community is full of experts who have passion and knowledge to share with our learners. The PTSA helps to cover fees (between $0 and $1,000 typically) for community experts to come to the building to provide additional experiences for students. Some examples are: 3M Visiting Wizards, The Works, Climb Theater, Authors in Residency, and Artists in Residency.

Each year the PTSA supports and shows appreciation the Hilltop staff during back to school week, conferences, and staff appreciation by providing meals, snacks, and treats.

The PTSA strives to organize and support a variety of events throughout the school year to connect our community and families. Funds are used to purchase food and pay for activities.

A small portion of the the PTSA budget is set aside to help Hilltop support families in crisis. This fund will be for small, quick purchases that will really help a family in need where we cannot wait for charitable or government supports (ex. A student needs a cab ride because the family car broke down, a student needs a pair of shoes, a grocery card because a parent lost a job, etc.).

The district provides all the resources necessary to teach our curriculum. The PTSA provides funds and mini grants to allow teachers to supplement and go beyond our curriculum with innovative resources such as 3D printers, code-able robots, and classroom library enhancements. These extra resources can spark innovation and create unique experiences for our students. Mini grants are typically awarded up to $200 per teacher and large purchases are brought to the PTSA board. The last two years the PTSA funded a 3D printer ($2,500) and a class set of Sphero Robots ($3,000).

This is a great question – We fundraise to provide additional opportunities to the students and families at Hilltop. Fundraised money is used to fund opportunities above and beyond our normal operating budget.

We have used fundraised money to pay for field trips, in-school residencies, special events, and additional program enhancing equipment and supplies.

Last year funds were used to further support our goal to increase STEAMM education at Hilltop and helped to fund two 3D printers. This year funds are covering the costs for 100% of students to be able to attend field trips (ex. Dodge Nature Center, Children’s Theater, etc.) and family social gatherings.

The Hilltop parents do - When you participate in a school fundraiser you are actually contributing first to the Hilltop Parent-Teacher-Student-Association (PTSA) which votes on how to spend the money raised to benefit the students at Hilltop.

The Hilltop PTSA sets priorities each year in collaboration with the principal and teachers to help impact our school and also receives requests to consider throughout the year from the Hilltop staff towards projects, opportunities, and purchases that will impact the students at Hilltop.

Joining the PTSA is an excellent way to provide voice and empowerment to our families in what opportunities they want for our students at school. I strongly encourage our families passionate about this to join the PTSA.

Our fall fundraiser is by far our largest fundraiser. There are several smaller fundraisers that the PTSA hosts at different places throughout Inver Grove. There will be upcoming fundraisers at B52, Chipotle, and IGH brewery in which purchases will help to benefit Hilltop. They are very small compared to the fall fundraiser and are more about getting our families out and together.

In December, we will also be hosting a coin drive where proceeds will be used to continue to support our emergency fund for Hilltop families in crisis. This fund will be for small, quick purchases that will really help a family in need where we cannot wait for charitable or government supports (ex. A student needs a cab ride because the family car broke down, a student needs a pair of shoes, a grocery card because a parent lost a job, etc.).