Dear AUS Parents,
The role of the PTSO is to help strengthen our school community. How do we achieve that? What we work on this year... what we work on next year... how we make the school a better place... it's up to us parents and your membership! There's no better cause!
We welcome you to become more involved in the PTSO and assist in our many committee opportunities. Your participation is welcomed at any level, whether it be simply becoming a member, attending a PTSO meeting, taking on a committee position or volunteering to work at a PTSO school event. The success of the PTSO relies on the consistent and enthusiastic support and involvement of our AUS parents.
"We want to make our school a great place for our kids to thrive"
The purpose of the AUS PTSO is to promote and support the educational community and the social activities of AUS. The PTSO strives to provide clear and current communication to our stakeholders. We have built strong, cooperative relationships with local area businesses as well as with our teachers and school staff. The PTSO works to enrich the educational experience for our students through a myriad of activities organized by dedicated parent volunteers.
We hope you will plan to support and volunteer at many of our events such as: Winter Wonderland, Falloween, Coffee Mornings, support to school events such as Arts Night, Field Days and other events which our students truly enjoy and help to make our school community thrive.
EXECUTIVE BOARD
THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
- PRESIDENT
- VICE PRESIDENT
- TREASURER
- SECRETARY
- HIGH SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVE
- MIDDLE SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVE
- ELEMENTARY SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVE
PRESIDENT
Khadija Alabdulmohsen
Khadijah has been an AUS parent for 8 years. She currently has 3 children in elementary, middle and high school.
Khadijah believes it takes an entire community to help children thrive and grow into successful adults. Academics are but one part of a students' educational journey. The social experiences and connections are equally important and that is where my previous role in PTSO executive council comes into play. She has hands-on experience in helping to create these social experiences that not only bring joy and connection to our students, but also the AUS community as a whole. Collaborations between home and school enable us to create well rounded students with a wealth of knowledge and skills to prepare them for their future.
Last year she had the honor to be a PTSO executive council member and was able to take all my years of volunteering at various school events to the next level. She was a part of a team that revived and brought back the social life of AUS after the tough times of Covid. She comes with an abundance of experience as she played an integral part in planning, organizing, and executing all the events and activities at the school from the signature AUS events such as Falloween, and Winter Wonderland as well as introducing new events like Movie night and the Souq Al Mubarakiya trip. She established and compiled a database for all things PTSO related. She is confident with all her experience and knowledge she is well equipped to serve as the next PTSO president who will expand on the previous year’s achievements and make this upcoming year an even bigger success!
VICE PRESIDENT
Farah Alfadhalah
Farah has been an AUS parent for 4 years. She currently has 2 children at AUS in elementary school.
She passionately believes in the power of collaboration among parents, students, and educators to foster a thriving school community. Emphasizing the significance of school-wide initiatives in creating lasting memories and enjoyable educational experiences, she sees the PTSO as a key player in uniting the school community through events. With her strong project management background, she ensures the efficient planning and execution of initiatives, contributing to the PTSO's overall success. Her organizational skills guarantee the smooth operation of events, meetings, and task management. Moreover, her adept problem-solving abilities provide innovative solutions to challenges faced by the PTSO and the school community. Her past experience as an Elementary School Representative reflects her commitment to enhancing the school experience, including implementing an online ticketing system for PTSO events and the entire school.
TREASURER
Zainab Nassrallah
Zeinab has been an AUS parent for 7 years. She currently has 2 children in the elementary school.
She firmly believes in her ability to support the PTSO mission by fostering collaboration and open communication among parents, students, and educators. Creating a welcoming, inclusive environment where everyone's voice is valued and heard is crucial. She's committed to facilitating discussions, idea sharing, and problem-solving while actively seeking feedback and involving students in decision-making when appropriate.
As a previous PTSO board member, her diverse skill set includes strong project management and coordination skills from organizing various events. She also excels in financial management, ensuring efficient allocation of PTSO resources. Her consistent attendance at events and meetings demonstrates her dedication to active involvement and open communication.
She genuinely enjoyed her role within the PTSO, eager and wholeheartedly committed to continuing her journey this year.
SECRETARY
Yasmina ElBouazzati
Yasmina has been an AUS Parent for 8 years. She currently has 3 children at AUS in elementary and middle school.
Yasmina is deeply committed to furthering the AUS PTSO mission, actively engaging as a dedicated parent. Her hands-on approach and proactive involvement reflect her dedication to fostering community partnerships and communication. She firmly believes that the school community's success directly impacts children's well-being, and she actively supports this through her participation in the AUS PTSO.
As a member of the AUS PTSO Executive Board and a mother of three, Yasmina brings valuable skills and a positive disposition to the board. She has consistently volunteered with enthusiasm and passion, investing her time and creativity in PTSO's signature events. Her contributions extend to collaborating with the board on the decorating committee and shaping the success of numerous events. Yasmina's optimism and vision for elevating AUS PTSO to new heights promise a remarkable and enriching educational journey for everyone in the upcoming academic year.
HIGH SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVE
Mijbil Alayoub
Mijbil has been an AUS parent for 8 years. He currently has 3 children attending AUS in all three divisions.
With a long-standing commitment to the PTSO as both a dedicated volunteer and former President, he pledges to wholeheartedly uphold AUS's mission. Collaborating closely with the President and fellow PTSO members, he aims to strategically achieve the organization's goals and align them with the school's mission.
Drawing from his past role as PTSO President, he brings a wealth of knowledge to bolster school and PTSO initiatives. His 28 years of experience in PR and Communications further equip him for effective and efficient participation in the PTSO. His history of giving time and effort to ensure the happiness of AUS students and teachers through PTSO events and initiatives will persist into the upcoming school year, should he be selected, as he remains committed to this endeavor.
MIDDLE SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVE
Aseel Almonaies
Aseel has been an AUS parent for 10 years. She currently has 5 children at AUS in all school divisions.
As a former PTSO member (2022-2023), she is determined to uphold the PTSO mission by building on the excellent work of past Executive Councils and fostering stronger communication among students, parents, educators, and administrators. With a decade of involvement in the AUS community, she is enthusiastic about continuing her contributions.
In her role as an Assistant Professor at Kuwait University with a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering, she recognizes the dedication of AUS administration and educators in nurturing students academically and socially. She values teamwork, a crucial component of the PTSO council, and believes that collaboration between administration, educators, and parents creates the optimal environment for AUS students. Leveraging her teaching skills and academic background, she intends to support the ongoing efforts of the AUS community. Her passion for volunteering extends to offering technical assistance for PTSO activities like website maintenance.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVE
Reham Abdelazim
Reham has been an AUS parent for a year. She currently has 3 children at AUS in all school divisions.
Rehams believes she will be able to support the AUS PTSO mission by making a positive impact on society. This mindset pushes her to always deliver her best effort , as she feels a sense of responsibility towards our Community.
Skills Reham holds that will serve as a value to the PTSO are; communication, time management, problem-solving, listening. critical thinking, collaboration.
She brings with her previous experience as a school board co-chair in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Additionally, last year, she was the Middle School Representative. She’ll be thrilled by the opportunity serving as a PTSO board member.
BYLAWS
THE BYLAWS
Article I:
Name
The name of the organization shall be American United School Parent/Teacher/Student Organization (PTSO).
Article II:
Mission Statement and Purpose
1. The Mission of the PTSO
“Taking education to the next level through commitment, collaboration and communication among parents, students and educators”
2. The Purpose of the PTSO is :
A. To foster and nurture relationships among parents, educators and students for the benefit of the school community.
B. To develop a closer connection between school and home by encouraging parent involvement in the promotion of student welfare.
C. To recruit and coordinate volunteers, provide special recognition in awards ceremonies or through other activities, organize parent education events.
D. Support in lieu of a Booster club, music, foreign language club, sports, theatrical productions and much more.
Article III:
Membership
Members of the PTSO are all students, parents and guardians whose children are students in the school. Members also include staff and administration of the school as determined by the School Director.
Article IV:
Executive Council
There shall be an Executive Council (ExCo) that will serve as the administrative arm of the PTSO. The ExCo will meet once per month. A quorum will consist of at least four (4) ExCo officers (non-school employees).
Section 1
The ExCo shall include a President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Parent Representative (one from each level: Elementary, Middle School and High School), one Teacher from each level, one Elementary Student, one Middle School Student Council member, one High School Student Council member and Princi- pals of Elementary, Middle School and High School.
Section 2
A. All ExCo officers, except the Principals and Teachers, shall be elected at an annual meeting held in the first two months of each school year.
B. Election of ExCo officers shall be by ballot except when there is only one nominee for an office.
C. The ExCo officers shall be elected to serve for one school year.
D. Their term of office shall begin following the election after a one month transitional period of hand over.
Section 3
The Teacher representatives will be selected for a one-school year term by and from among the AUS teachers in the school.
Section 4
No ExCo officer shall hold more than one office at a time.
Section 5
There shall be no limit to the number of consecutive terms an ExCo officer may hold the same position.
Section 6
Vacancies on the ExCo will be filled as soon as possible by majority vote amongst ExCo officers.
Section 7
When an ExCo officer fails to attend without adequate excuse or if the ExCo officer is not fulfilling his/her responsibilities as prescribed in the by-laws, the officer may be replaced by the ExCo, by a vote of at least four (4) officers (non-school employees) and the position may be filled according to Article IV Section 5.
Section 8
ExCo officers should not also be members of the School Advisory Board, except the PTSO President and the Principals. However, the PTSO President should always serve on the School Advisory Board.
Section 9
Before an ExCo officer or spouse accepts a position from the school with any remuneration, full disclosure shall be provided to the PTSO in order to disclose the relationship.
Article V:
Duties of the ExCo and its members
Section 1
The President shall preside at all PTSO meetings and shall ensure that all tasks undertaken by the PTSO are completed.
Section 2
The Vice President assists and shall serve in the absence of the President including filling in when there is a vacancy amongst ExCo officers.
Section 3
The Secretary shall keep a record of all PTSO meetings and any required correspondence (including minutes, briefs, etc.). Minutes should be circulated within one week following PTSO or ExCo (or other) meetings.
Section 4
The Treasurer will keep the PTSO’s financial records and books in good order and will be primarily responsible for all financial transactions. The financial books will be kept on a monthly basis and shall be made available, upon request, to the general PTSO membership. Any commitment to spend or actual expenditure will be signed by the Treasurer and either the President or the Secretary.
Section 5
The Teacher representatives shall be present during PTSO meetings. The Teacher representatives serves as liaison between PTSO and staff and keeps PTSO members informed of staff concerns or ideas.
Section 6
The Principals shall be present during PTSO meetings. The Principals provide the PTSO with information on administrative developments in their respective schools.
Section 7
The Students representatives shall be present during PTSO meetings. The Students representatives serve as the liaison between PTSO and student council and keeps PTSO members informed of students concerns or ideas.
Section 8
The Parent Representatives of Elementary, Middle School and High School keep PTSO members informed of parent concerns and/or ideas.
Article VI:
Meetings
Section 1
PSTO meetings will be held a minimum once a quarter, preferably on a fixed day each month (e.g., 1st Tuesday, 2nd Wednesday, etc.). PTSO meetings will be open to all members.
Section 2
Special PTSO meetings shall be called by the President and/or two or more ExCo officers with adequate notice.
Section 3
A quorum will consist of those present. There will be one vote per PTSO member. Unless stated other- wise, PTSO decisions will be decided by majority voting.
Section 4
Executive Council (ExCo) meetings are for the elected ExCo members only. Others may attend by invitation only from an Executive Council member.
Article VII:
Committees
Section 1
Committees, standing or special, will be appointed by the ExCo as and when required.
Section 2
Each committee will make reports to the ExCo and will submit a written report on its annual activities.
Article VIII:
Amendment of By-laws
Section 1
Proposed amendments should be forwarded to the Secretary of the ExCo, who will include it on the agenda for deliberation and voting at the next PTSO meeting. These by-laws can be amended at a board meeting and approved at a general meeting of the PTSO by a simple majority vote of the quorum as defined in section IV of the by laws.
Section 2
Copies of these By-laws will be available on the school PTSO website.
Article IX:
Dissolution
In the event of dissolution of the PTSO, any funds that have accrued to the PTSO’s account will be placed in a school account which will be held until a new parent organization is established or as determined by the School Director and Advisory Board.