About

Welcome to the Carmel High School PTO for the 2026–2027 school year! The CHS PTO is dedicated to supporting our students, teachers, staff, and families while helping create a positive and connected school community. Through volunteerism, fundraising, and collaboration, we work to enhance the high school experience for all Greyhounds.

From Homecoming and After Prom to Senior Celebration, Teacher & Staff Appreciation events, Distinguished Grads, student grants, and more, the PTO helps make many of CHS’s most memorable traditions possible. We also support programs and initiatives that directly benefit students, staff, and families throughout the school year.

In addition, the CHS Backpack Program provides nutritious food for food-insecure students to take home on weekends and school breaks. Programs like these, along with many PTO-sponsored events and activities, are made possible through the generosity of our families, community partners, volunteers, and annual fundraising efforts.

The PTO is always looking for parents, guardians, and community members who want to get involved, share ideas, volunteer, or help support CHS programs and events. Whether you can volunteer occasionally or take on a larger role, there are many ways to make a difference and help strengthen our school community.

Thank you for supporting the Carmel High School PTO and investing in the success and experiences of our students, teachers, and staff. Go Greyhounds!

PTO MEETINGS — ALL ARE WELCOME!

The Carmel High School PTO hosts open meetings throughout the school year and welcomes all CHS parents and guardians to attend. Meetings provide an opportunity to learn more about PTO events, volunteer opportunities, fundraising efforts, and ways we support students, teachers, and staff at CHS.

CHS administration, staff members, and counseling staff often join meetings to share updates on school news, student programs, scheduling, testing, activities, and other important information impacting CHS families.

PTO meetings are also a great way to connect with other parents, ask questions, share ideas, and get involved in the CHS community.

COMING SOON

2026–2027 Open PTO Meeting Dates & Locations

Follow the CHS PTO on social media and check back soon for updated meeting dates, times, and volunteer opportunities for the 2026–2027 school year!

CHS PTO Board and Committee Members

President

Patrice Dawson

Vice President

Bre brickel

Secretary

michele kirby

Treasurer

open position

Assistant Treasurer

Open Position

Communications Director

Amy Reuter

Backpack Program Chair(s)

Lisa Wagnes & Jami debosch

Senior Celebration Chair

AfterProm Chair

open position

Homecoming Chair

Teacher/Staff Appreciation Chair

Membership Chair

Distinguished Graduates Ceremony Chair

CHS Back to School Items

The PTO All-Grades "Back to School" pop up Spirit Wear shop closes in August (see spirit wear website for due date). All orders will process when the store closes. Orders can be picked up at 185 Promotions located in Carmel, IN. Or, for $8 you can choose to have the items shipped to your home.

Spirit Shop also includes SENIOR/CLASS OF apparel.

This is only spirit wear shop that benefits ALL of the students and staff of CHS! A portion of the proceeds of the sale of Spirit Wear purchased through our vendor supports PTO:

Shop CHS Spirit Wear

Yearbook Ordering Information

PINNACLE YEARBOOK ORDERS:

Most current information can be found at carmelyearbook.com

To order this year's yearbook, head to www.yearbookordercenter.com (search for order #17177). Be sure that you have selected "Carmel High School * Carmel, IN * Job#17177"

Please note that we expect to distribute books at school in May. Any changes to this, other updates and information will be sent out in this School Messenger format and advertised on Pinnacle social media channels. All yearbook sales are final.

Senior Yearbook Photo & Ads Information

SENIOR YEARBOOK PHOTO DEADLINES & REQUIREMENTS:

All information can be found at www.carmelyearbook.com

To appear in the CHS Pinnacle yearbook and senior composite, seniors must have their photos taken by Prestige Portraits, the official CHS photographer. Students must choose their yearbook portrait by provided deadlines, as well, so plan accordingly!

To schedule an appointment, contact Prestige Portraits at 317-564-2592 or visit https://booknow.appointment-plus.com/yclxq4j4. Additional information can also be found at prestigeportraits.com. Senior yearbook headshots must be taken at their studio location, and the $15 sitting fee will be waived through the month of August; other photos may not be used in place of senior portraits. Students are required to adhere to the CHS dress code for their yearbook pose.

Please note: While Prestige Portraits offers expanded portrait session packages, they do not require students to purchase photos and students may take additional portraits elsewhere. The yearbook headshot, however, MUST be taken by Prestige Portraits.

Prestige Portraits is located at 2325 Pointe Pkwy. #140; Carmel, Ind.

Student All-Sports Pass Ticket Order Form

carmel high school athletic tickets are now available on gofan!

How to buy in 6 EASY steps:

Visit gofan.co/ CarmelGreyhoundson your computer or on the free GoFan App on your mobile device.
Browse all available events and select "Buy Now" to add tickets to your cart.
Create an account with an email address and password.
Select "Buy Now" to enter payment information and complete your purchase. Tickets available for purchase are:
- CHS Student All-Sport: $40
- Football Season Ticket (includes reserved seat for football): $40
- Adult All-Sport (does not include reserved seat for football): $70
Purchased tickets can be found under the "My Tickets" section the GoFan app.
Enjoy the Game!

Spirit Wear

School Pictures Ordering

CHS Counseling Dept. Updates

Greyhound Gazette

the greyhound gazette is a newsletter put together by the pto that includes pertinent information that is emailed to all parents of Carmel high school.

NEWSLETTER DEADLINES

The Greyhound Gazette is published by the Carmel High School PTO five times a year, once in the late summer and four times during the school year. The newsletter will be available online on the Carmel High School PTO web page. chsptovicepresident@gmail.com.

February 2023

November 2022

August 2021

January 2021

November 2020

August 2019

November 2019

September 2019

PTO NEWS AUGUST 2023

Staff Treats

Spiritwear Shops

CEF Partnership

Carmel Education Foundation (CEF) is one of the oldest foundations of its kind and was created to help Carmel Clay students achieve their full potential. As a partner of Carmel Clay Schools, CEF works closely with school leaders to align programming and grants with district goals and learning objectives.

The CHS PTO supports CEF and in 2024 officially partnered with the organization for the CHS Career Ignite event. The event at CHS during school hours, allows students to network with local businesses and offices about their industry, company, jobs in demand and skills needed for future job opportunities.

PTO Forms

Backpack Program

2025-2026 Backpack Program Summary

Bags Packed:

1^st Semester: 16 packs, 775 bags total, average 48/week (up from 569/36 last year)

2^nd Semester: 18 packs, 725 bags total, average 40/week (up from 560/31 last year)

Total bags for year: 1,500 (1129 25-26 year, 1187 24-25 year, 996 22-23 year, 473 21-22 year)

Gift Cards:

43 students for Fall Break (38 last year), 51 students for Thanksgiving Break (42 last year), 55 students for Winter Break (47 last year), 42 students for Spring Break (34 last year), and 50 students for Summer Break (30 last year). 33 additional gift cards were distributed to staff.

101 gift cards were donated to the program this year.

Donate Now

Download CHS Calendar

Follow Us on Socials

PTO Bylaws

PTO-Supported Events

Homecoming Dance

PTO sponsors and runs the Homecoming Dance, held the Saturday after the Homecoming week.

Students can come and dance in the Fieldhouse with a DJ, play cards or ping-pong in the Greyhound Cafeteria, or enjoy refreshments and hang out with their friends in the Freshman Cafeteria. Parent volunteers sell tickets during Spirit Week and volunteer at the event. This dance has great support and supervision of the CHS staff and teachers. This is also great way for parents, guardians and grandparents to volunteer. The Homecoming Dance is the primary fundraiser event of the year for PTO.

AfterProm

The PTO After Prom team creates a fun event for students to continue celebrating after the official Prom concludes. Volunteers are needed to set up earlier in the day and to be at event to help games and food run smoothly. Typically 500 students attend for the late night games, activities and food. Event held on the first Saturday night of May, after Prom from 11pm-1:30am.

Distinguished Grad

The CHS Distinguished Grads Ceremony is an annual recognition in collaboration with the PTO in recognition of academic excellence. Distinguished Grads recognizes students in grades 10, and 11, and 12 who have earned excellent grades. This year's Senior Distinguished Grads Ceremony will be held in April. The in-person event will be limited to seniors, their two guests, honored mentors, and school administrators. Sophomores and Juniors will be recognized separately for their achievements.

Teacher Appreciation

Teacher APPRECIATION

The PTO Staff & Teacher Appreciation Team works with the Assistant Principal to create a special week for Teachers in May! Past examples include McAlister's Potato Bar, Pizza lunch, ice cream bar, etc.

Volunteers are needed to help set up and serve food items during school hours.

The PTO Staff & Teacher Appreciation Team works with departments within CHS to give monthly Treats to each throughout the year. Parents are asked to donate the Treats of their choice to help celebrate staff of Carmel High School.

Senior Celebration

PTO Sponsored Student Grants

Carmel High School PTO Student Grants

● Beginning Spring 2025 the Carmel High School PTO launched PTO
student grants with the goal of supporting the mission of the PTO and CCS by enabling
all students to realize their potential in an ever changing world.
● Any student or group of students from a club, sport, or activity can apply for this PTO
grant. Students will indicate a CCS teacher/staff mentor on the application. This mentor
must be aware and approve of the grant application. Grant funds will be paid by the PTO
to the Extracurricular Club Activity account or can be reimbursed to the approved
student with proof of receipts.
● Where necessary, all student activity/club applications, forms and parental permissions
must be confirmed and approved by mentors and families.
● PTO Grants cannot support food/consumables/parties or student/teacher compensation.
As a tax-exempt organization the PTO can also NOT reimburse any sales taxes paid.
● Up to $500 can be requested for the grant but is subject to reduction by the PTO.

APPLICATIONS FOR 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR OPENING SOON!

PTO committee members and parent volunteers will review applications.

We look forward to continuing these PTO student grants with a cycle of one in the Fall and another in the Spring during the school year. Keep gathering your creative ideas.