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East School Parents Help Raise Funds

From getting smart boards for classrooms to repairing a school stage, Kelly DeFrancesco and Michele Salmini lend their helping hands to East School. The two are co-presidents of the East School Parent Teacher Committee, playing active roles within the elementary school so the students can do their best.

Salmini is in her first year as co-president of the East PTC and fourth year as a member. She wanted to be involved with the education of her three children: Bridget, 9; Sophie, 7; and Matthew, 5. The PTC has also been a good place to make friends in New Canaan. Those involved with the PTC have a lot of pride in the community, she said.

"I love being part of the school environment. I've always wanted to be part of the schools and the whole process," Salmini said. Although it is a lot of work for the stay-at-home mom, "it's fun because our board is fun," she said.

The PTC's biggest accomplishment in recent years was raising $25,000 to repair the school's stage. "A lot of people don't realize the amount of fundraising we do," Salmini said.

DeFrancesco, serving as co-president for a second year, has been in the PTC since her eldest daughter, Maggie, 11, was in kindergarten. Now she gets to see her son Jack, 10, on an almost daily basis at school. "It just kind of evolved into the next step," DeFrancesco said of becoming co-president. "I got involved because the PTC is such a great organization at East. It does so many things for the school and the kids."

Working with other parents has been very enjoyable, she said, especially with the annual Fall Fair that's coming up later this month.

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