On Feb. 17, the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), the nation’s oldest volunteer child-advocacy organization, will celebrate Founders Day — 114 years of helping and working on behalf of children and families.

Each Northshore school has an active PTA/PTSA, with a combined total of 8,000 members who work to promote the welfare of children and to provide support to schools in many ways: health and safety education, parent education, teacher grants, after-school enrichment activities and classes, family events, the Reflections art program and school events.