monthly howl

Dear Prestonwood Montessori Families,

Wow! What an incredible community we have! Thanks to your generosity and support, our Read-A-Thon raised an amazing $51,658! This incredible achievement shows just how powerful our Prestonwood community (and all the wonderful “villages” behind our students) can be when we come together with a shared purpose.

Because of your donations, students will go on more fields trips and experience more enrichment programs that inspire curiosity and creativity. We’re also excited to continue making improvements to our outdoor spaces, creating even more opportunities for exploration and play.

Thank you for believing in our mission, cheering on our readers, and helping make Prestonwood such a special place to learn and grow. Together, we make amazing things happen!

With gratitude,
The Prestonwood Montessori PTO

Montessori Moment

🌳 Curiousity in Nature

Supporting children’s natural curiosity allows them to explore, discover, and connect learning to the world around them—core Montessori values in action.

Primary (Pre-K 3, Pre-K 4, Kinder)

Take a short nature walk with your child. Invite them to collect leaves 🍃, rocks 🪨, or flowers 🌻, then sort and describe them by color, shape, or size. This develops observation skills, vocabulary, and a sense of wonder.

Lower Elementary (1st–3rd)

Encourage children to observe a small patch of your yard or a nearby park over several days. Have them record changes in plants 🌿, insects 🐞, or weather 🌤️ in a simple notebook. 📓 This fosters scientific thinking, patience, and attention to detail.

Upper Elementary (4th–6th)

Challenge older students to design a mini research project about local wildlife or plants. 🔬 They can make hypotheses, track observations, and present their findings to their family or friends. 📋 This builds independence, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

Pup-arazzi pics

📸 Pack Highlights

We captured a lot of great moments in September - check out our Pack in action!

Share your favorite photos from October school events for a chance to be featured in the November newsletter!

Email Your Photos

Read-A-Thon Fundraiser & Spirit Week

WT White Feeder Pattern Night

Read-A-Thon Read-In

Pups at the Playground

Parent Resource Workshop

La Harencia Latina & Read-A-Thon reward - Free Dress Day

Parents Night Out - Mah Jong

september's paw-some volunteer

✨ Serving the Pack with Heart and Hustle

Leidy Arzola was EVERYWHERE in September, helping with Family Game Night, the Readathon, La Herencia Latina Celebration, and supporting our Girl Scout troops. She’s the type of parent who jumps in wherever she’s needed and brings great energy every time.

We’re so lucky to have parents and caregivers like Leidy helping to make these events happen for our kids. If you see her around, be sure to thank her for all she does!

one pack ● one goal

Prestonwood Pups + Walker Timberwolves = Wolfpack Magic 🐺

All paws on deck! Our Wolfpack spans Pre-K 3 through 8th grade, and our vision is to see Pups, Timberwolves, families, and staff coming together to learn, play, and grow as a united community. Every shared moment sets the stage for new adventures as our Pups grow into confident Timberwolves. Don’t miss these upcoming opportunities to learn more about and engage with our amazing middle school, E.D. Walker!

10/3 E.D. Walker First Friday Tour @ 9am - RSVP

W.T. White Homecoming Community Pep Rally @ 4:30-6:00pm & Game @ 7pm (Loos Stadium) - Volunteer Opportunity!

10/14 E.D. Walker Homecoming Game @ 6:15pm (Loos Stadium)

Elementary students get in FREE with their PWM t-shirt! They can run the tunnel with the Walker players and join the Walker cheerleaders on the field during the first half.

10/16 W.T. White Spirit Clinic, Kinder-11th grade, @ 5-8:30pm (Loos Stadium) - Sign-Up

11/13 E.D. Walker Preview Night, 3rd Grade & Up, @ 4:30-6pm - RSVP

save the date

🎃 October

National Principals Month

National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month

Dyslexia Awareness Month

National Book Month

10/1 First Night of Yom Kippur

Shake Sack Giveback Fundraiser @ 11am-10pm (Preston Royal location)

10/1 Parent STAAR Workshop @ 4:30-5:30pm

10/2 Custodian Appreciation Day

10/3 First Friday Tour @ 8:15am - RSVP

Sticker the Kids Pup Shop Marketing @ 2:45-3:45pm - Volunteer Opportunity!

10/6 Instructional Coaches Day, Coaches Appreciation Day

10/7 SBDM Meeting @ 6-7pm (In Person)

10/8 El Dia De Los Muertos Ofrenda Photo Deadline

Dad's Club Meeting @ 6:30-7:30pm (ODD Muse Brewing Co)

10/9-10/13 NO SCHOOL for Fall Break

10/13-10/17 National School Lunch Week

10/14 Dads & Doors @ 7:30-8am - Volunteer Opportunity!

10/16 Coffee with the Counselors @ 8:30am

BFAM Meeting @ 7-8pm (Virtual)

10/17 Sticker the Kids Pup Shop Marketing - Volunteer Opportunity!

Pups at the Playground @ 3:30pm (PWM Playground)

iCode Spirit Night & Giveback Fundraiser @ 5:30-8pm (North Dallas location) - Sign-Up

10/20-10/24 Family Conferences

10/21 Diwali

10/25 Trunk or Treat @ 3-5pm - Volunteer Opportunity!

10/27 Winter Basketball Registration Deadline - Interest Form

10/27-10/30 Red Ribbon Week

10/31 Book Character Day

🦃 November

Native American Heritage Month

Military Family Appreciation Month

Family Literacy Month

11/2 Dia De Los Muertos

End of Daylight Savings Time

11/3-11/7 Children's Book Week

11/4 NO SCHOOL for Election Day

11/5 Parent Resource Workshop @ 5:30-6:30pm

11/8 National STEM/STEAM Day

11/11 Veterans Day

11/12 Chipotle Giveback Fundraiser @ 4-8pm (Preston Road Location)

11/13 World Kindness Day

Morning Community Event

Preview Night

11/14 Pups at the Playground @ 3:30pm (PWM Playground)

11/17-11/21 American Education Week

11/19 Education Support Professionals Day

11/20 Parent Involvement Day

BFAM Meeting @ 7-8pm (Virtual)

11/21 Substitute Appreciation Day

Dads & Doors @ 7:30-8pm - Volunteer Opportunity!

Fall Picture Retakes

11/24-11/28 NO SCHOOL for Thanksgiving Break

11/27 Thanksgiving Day

PACK-POWERED FUNDRAISING

🎉 Fueling Fun, Learning, and Growth

From Read-A-Thon to givebacks, our Pack finds creative ways to “fetch” funds and supplies for student experiences, staff appreciation, community support, campus improvements, and free school-wide events all year long!

It takes the whole Pack to power these programs—choose a way to contribute below whether it's a donation, fundraiser, or both. Every bit counts!

The Pup Shop Fundraiser

Your go-to spot for all things Prestonwood spirit! From cozy gear to fun accessories, every purchase shows off your school pride and supports our school community. Whether you’re staff, a student, or parent/caregiver, you’ll find something to wear, share, or gift that celebrates our Pack. The shop closes October 19!

Orders should be ready before Thanksgiving Break and will be placed in your child's backpack.

Shop Now

El Dia de los Muertos Ofrenda Donations

Celebrate culture and community! Help bring our El Día de los Muertos Ofrenda to life by purchasing or providing items from our Amazon Wish List by October 17— every candle, flower, and photo frame helps our Pups honor tradition in a beautiful way.

Purachase Supplies Now

PTO-Sponsored Lunch Donations

Help us create a delicious sandwich bar for our school staff during Family Conferences Week on October 22! Jimmy John's on Preston Road is generously donating sandwiches, and we need parents/caregivers to bring chips, drinks, desserts, and sides like pasta and potato salad.

Sign-Up Now

Trunk or Treat Donations

The Candy Monster has returned to the foyer, and he is hungry! Feed him his favorite things, so we have lots of goodies to hand out at Trunk or Treat. He likes: nut-free candy, snacks, treats, and toys.

Stock the Lounge Donations

Did you know our wonderful teachers stay almost every Thursday after school for a significant amount of time to participate in Professional Development? To show our appreciation, we want to provide healthy items, snacks, and drinks for the rest of the semester for them to enjoy while they learn and work to continue supporting our students!

Sign-Up Now

Shake Shack Giveback Fundraiser

Gather your family and friends for a delicious meal and help our Pack at the same time! Every bite counts—on Wednesday, October 1 Shake Shack will donate a portion of your total back to the PTO. Eat, enjoy, and give back—what could be easier (or tastier)?

iCode Spirit Night & Giveback Fundraiser

Drop off your kiddos for a night of fun, games, and coding at iCode—and give yourself a little free time too! Even better, on Friday, October 17 a portion of each registration comes back to the PTO. Fun for the kids, peace of mind for parents, and a win for the Pack!

Sign-Up Now

Chipotle Giveback Fundraiser

Gather your family and friends for a delicious meal and help our Pack at the same time! Every bite counts—on Wednesday, November 12 Chipotle will donate a portion of your total back to the PTO. Eat, enjoy, and give back—what could be easier (or tastier)?

Read-A-Thon Update

Thanks to the dedication, generosity, and joyful spirit of our community, we are thrilled to announce that we not only met—but exceeded—our $50,000 Read-a-Thon goal! These funds will support enrichment programs, outdoor additions, field trips, and so much more. Field trips across grade levels are already being confirmed, directly supported by the first round of Read-A-Thon funding, $4,452, with more to come throughout the year!

Every pledge, share, and bit of encouragement helped turn the joy of reading into real opportunities for our kids to explore, discover, and thrive. We had our Free Dress Day Reward for the entire school on September 26, and we can't wait for the other rewards and experiences your generosity and hard work have made possible.

Congratulations to our individual and class winners, as well as all of our students!

Thank you again to our Read-A-Thon Sponsor, Half Price Books!

Keep the reading momentum going—stop by the closest store, less than 2 miles from PWM at 13388 Preston Road, Dallas, TX 75240.

Or visit the Dallas Public Library table at Trunk or Treat on October 25 to register your Pup for a free Library Card, available to all Dallas ISD students! Then visit the closest branch less than 3 miles from PWM at 5626 Royal Lane, Dallas, TX 75229.

pack-powered impact

💫 Together We Make It Happen

Your support powers everything from playground equipment to teacher treats—helping our Pack learn, grow, and thrive in every corner of the PWM community!

Outdoor Additions - Athletic Equipment

Thanks to PTO support, our students and athletes now have brand-new soccer goals to enjoy during recess and Pup Athletics! From impromptu games to organized practice, these goals are helping our Pack stay active, have fun, and score big—on the field and in teamwork.

Staff Support - Lounge Restock

Thanks to PTO support, the staff lounge was fully stocked with snacks, drinks, coffee, and more! From quick bites between classes to a mid-day pick-me-up, your contributions help keep our teachers and staff energized and appreciated every day.

Join the PTO

📢 Your Voice Matters

Become a PTO Member

What is a PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) anyway?

Think of us as the school's hype squad. We're a group of parents/caregivers, teachers, and staff who roll up our sleeves (and sometimes roll out the merch tables) to make sure PWM students have the best experience possible. From fundraising to family fun nights, enrichment programs to school-wide events—we're the bridge between home and school.

Why join the PTO?

Because kids do better when their grown-ups get involved. Research shows that parent/caregiver involvement boosts grades, social skills, and behavior. Translation: when you show up, your kid shines a little brighter.

The fine print (spoiler: it's good news).

Membership is free and open to all! We do suggest a $10 donation per member to help us hit our fundraising goals, but it’s totally optional—think of it as “pay what you can.”

lend a paw

🐺 Find Your Spot in the Pack

Being part of the PTO doesn't have to mean a huge time commitment—every little bit helps. Whether it's an hour of time, a skill to share, a supplies purchase, a Board role for the year, or just a willingness to pitch in, there's a place (and a need!) for you in supporting our Pups and the entire school community.

Volunteer Interest Form

Email the PTO President About Volunteering

Donate to the PWM PTO

Ways to Get Involved

🦾 Show Up & Support

Attend events
Volunteer for events (assemble materials, set up, break down, or pitch in during the fun)
Take photos for the PTO at events
Organize supplies, swag, uniform resale, or PTO storage

🎨 Get Creative

Decorate for events
Graphic design or digital content

💰 Fundraising & Resources

Donate supplies
Donate funds on behalf of your family and/or business
Ask your employer about corporate matching
Join the fundraising team
Partner with our Fundraising Director to reach out to businesses for donations or sponsorships

🗂️ Plan & Lead

Help plan events
Coordinate or chair an event or committee
Serve on the General Board or Executive Board

Open Board Positions

General Board

🐾 Angel Tree Chair

🐾 Bridging Ceremonies Chair

🐾 Business, Corporate, In-Kind Donation & Sponsorship Chair

🐾 Charitable Giving Chair

🐾 Community Engagement Chair

🐾 Diaper Drive Coordinator

🐾 Room Parent Coordinator

🐾 Social Chair

🐾 Spring Fundraiser Chair

🐾 Sunshine Committee Co-Chair

🐾 Teacher Appreciation Week Chair

🐾 Thanksgiving Meals Coordinator

🐾 Trunk or Treat Chair

🐾 Wheelie Fun Night Chair

🐾 Winter Market Chair

🐾 Wolf Den Coordinator

Got a skill or idea we haven’t listed?

Email the PTO President—we’ll find the perfect spot for you.

Want to volunteer on campus?

Step one is getting VOLY approved through Dallas ISD for the 2025-2026 school year. (It's quick, easy, and has to be done each year!) Start here: dallasisd.voly.org.

budget in action

The Executive Board met on August 19, 2025 to review the budget line-by-line. The PTO budget was voted on and approved at the September 2nd Meeting.

💰 Beginning of the Year Forecast

Beginning of year balance = $66,264.17

Planned income = $79,700.00

Planned expenses = $125,747.92

Projected end of year balance = $20,216.25

Allocation of Funds

NEWS you need

📧 Get the PTO Newsletter

Email PTO Communications to add or update your email address.

Email PTO Communications

📱 Get the PTO Texts

Opt-In to PTO updates with Remind (via App or Text).

PWM PTO Announcements (announcements only)

PWM PTO Forum (open forum)

📋 Get the PTO Meeting Slides & Minutes

PTO September 2nd Meeting Slides

PTO September 2nd Meeting Minutes

PTO Affinity Groups

BFAM

BFAM GroupMe

BIPOC Family Alliance for Montessori (BFAM) – Centering the voices and experiences of Black, Indigenous, and Families of Color. This group works to create a more inclusive community for our children and to celebrate cultural pride and identity.

Dad's Club

Dad's Club GroupMe

A place for dads, grandfathers, and father figures to connect with each other, get more involved in school life, and create fun opportunities for our children both inside and outside the classroom.

Familias Hispanas

Familias Hispanas GroupMe

A community for Hispanic and Latino families to celebrate language, heritage, and culture. This group also serves as a support system for parents/caregivers and a way to create culturally rich experiences for our children.