Parent Teacher Organization -- Committees

1200 Boulevard, Westfield, New Jersey 07090-2726

Dear Parents and Guardians:

It’s that time of year again! Attached is the PTO Volunteer Interest Finder and Form for the 2003 - 2004 school year. This form is your opportunity to let us know how you’d like to be involved with the school and your children next year. We encourage you to take an active role in the PTO committees and functions that are listed. The format of this interest finder is explained below:

Committee Descriptions: As you read through the brief descriptions, please mark any and all committees you have an interest in. Keep these marked pages as your record of the committees for which you volunteered. Occasionally, more volunteers may sign up than are needed for a committee. If this is the case, the Committee Chair will contact you.
Volunteer Interest Form: The Volunteer Interest Form, should be completed and returned to the school by Friday, May 16. This Form summarizes your committee selections. Only these pages need to be returned. Please fill out a new form this year even if you are volunteering for the same committees.
Committee Co-Chairs: Please indicate on the Volunteer Interest Form if you are interested in co-chairing any committees. Don’t hesitate to sign up; we try to place “veterans” and “rookies” together. The names of the committee chairs will be available in June. Co-chairs oversee committees by scheduling planning meetings, coordinating volunteers, providing publicity flyers and Jefferson Journal articles and maintaining communication with PTO VP’s. Each committee also receives a notebook with past information to use as an information source.
Room Parents: Please make sure to indicate on the Volunteer Interest Form if you would like to be a room parent next year. All volunteers for room parents are selected. Room parents are assigned just prior to the start of school (after class rosters have been announced).

We love new ideas! If you have any new committees, events or ideas that might work at Jefferson School, please let us know.

Please remember: activities and events can only run if we have enough volunteers! If you have any questions, feel free to call Rose Hughes or Joann Spera. We look forward to working with you next year! Thank you for your support.

ADULT NIGHT OUT (A Work in Progress)
Help plan an adult night out that will be held locally. Suggestions welcome. Sub-committees will be formed. This event is a fundraiser for the school.

ART EXPLORERS
Use prepared information and pre-selected poster-sized artwork to introduce great works of art to students in classroom workshops. Typically, the same parent brings the assigned painting to all classes in a grade.

AUTHOR IN RESIDENCE
Work with school librarian to coordinate Author presentation to students.

BEAUTIFICATION
Committee of parents and teachers who would meet a few times during the year to develop and implement plans to enhance the physical appearance of Jefferson School.

BIRTHDAY BOOKS
Publicize the donation of books given in honor of Jefferson student birthdays and other special events by placing a nameplate in their birthday book, photographing the student and acknowledging them in the PTO newsletter.

BOOK FAIR
Help organize and/or sell books during two multi-day Book Fairs - - one held in the fall and one held in the spring. The fall Book fair is a major PTO fundraiser.

COMMUNITY SERVICE LIAISON
Assist with clothing, food and possibly UNICEF “collections” during the course of the year.

CORPORATE LABELS FOR EDUCATION
Collect (from PTO box in school office), sort and count labels, receipts, etc. to obtain school products/funds through offers by various companies.

CULTURAL ARTS REPRESENTATIVES /AUTHOR IN RESIDENCE
Research, preview and select assembly programs to be held at Jefferson; attend occasional meetings with other school representatives to share ideas and opinions of programs already held and preview programs at other schools during the school day. Work with school librarian to coordinate Author presentation to students. Should be available during the day to preview assemblies at other schools in the area.

DIRECTORY
Produce the Jefferson School PTO Phone Directory. This includes assembling information, typing, proofreading, and distributing. Requires computer. Preparation begins in the spring.

ENRICHMENT PROGRAM AT JEFFERSON
Share your own interest or skill with children by teaching (or assisting) a class which will typically be held during lunchtime or after school at times and days that are scheduled at your convenience. The Jefferson Chess Club is an example of an enrichment opportunity.

FALL FUNDRAISER/GIFTWRAP SALE
Distribute wrapping paper sales brochure to students, collect money, and distribute sale items. Proceeds from this major fall fundraiser are used to subsidize class trips and fund the Cultural Arts Program at Jefferson.

FIFTH GRADE PARTY
Help plan and coordinate this evening event for the fifth graders at the end of the school year. This committee typically holds a “fifth-grade” cookie sale as a fundraiser for the party. In addition to the cookie sale, help coordinate a “fifth-grade” dessert sale which will be held during the PTO Sub and Soda Picnic.

FIFTH GRADE YEARBOOK
Gather pictures, select publisher and edit fifth grade yearbook. Many dates with photographer and publisher need to be arranged in late summer.

FUN NIGHT
Fun Night is a night of food, games and simple crafts in a carnival-like setting. Many volunteers are needed to staff the games and crafts along with the bake sale, kitchen and prize redemption tables. This event is a great opportunity for Dads and working Moms. Meetings start in December/January for those interested in planning Fun Night. Fun Night is a spring fundraiser. The following sub-committees need one or two chairpersons, and approximately 2-12 members (depending on committee needs):

___Crafts	___Tickets	___Set Up	___Clean Up
___Prizes	___Kitchen	___Games

HOLIDAY GIFT SHOP
Held one afternoon in early December. Children can purchase inexpensive gifts for family and friends. Much help is needed to organize, set up, and assist children during the event.

HOSPITALITY
Volunteer to plan and set up refreshments for any or all of the PTO functions listed below. Committee members may also provide hospitality for other functions that arise throughout the year.
___ PTO Teachers Breakfast (held the day before school starts)
___ PTO Opening Day Coffee (the first morning of school)
___ Back to School Night
___ Evening Meetings including Back to School Night and Chats with the Principal/PTO General Membership Meetings (seven evening meetings throughout the year).
___ Field Day Ice Pops (event held in May)
___ Sundaes on Thursday (event held in May)
___ Fifth Grade Awards Assembly (event held in June)

HOT LUNCH /PIZZA ON FRIDAYS
Committee chairs are needed to coordinate weekly Hot Lunch Day (generally pizza). Orders and money are collected periodically. Volunteers are also needed to help distribute pizza every Friday (rotating schedule if necessary). The Hot Lunch program is a fundraiser popular with both parents and children!

INFORMATION DESK
Parents volunteer to take one shift every 4 weeks (a shift being 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. or 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.) to sit at our Information Desk. Each volunteer guides incoming visitors to the office to sign in and helps them find their destination. Also, keep a watchful eye on the school entrance.

KIDS STUFF BOOK
Distribute, collect payment and unsold Kids Stuff books in the beginning of the school year.

KINDERGARTEN ORIENTATION
Help prepare information package for kindergarten parents, and welcome families on orientation day.

LIBRARY VOLUNTEERS
Work in the library; flexible schedule; any amount of time would be appreciated. Library volunteers work at the circulation desk (using computerized circulation system), shelve and repair books, process magazines, organize book displays and locate books for teachers.

LOGOWEAR
Arrange for sale of Jefferson logo items. Take orders and collect money; distribute items. The sale of logowear will be offered as a service.

MARKET DAY
Ordering frozen food once a month, distribute order forms, coordinate monthly dates with company for food delivery and pick-up. Volunteers needed to distribute food once a month.

MEMBERSHIP
Collect (from PTO box in school office) PTO membership dues and PTC Scholarship Fund contributions in September.

MUSIC AND FINE ARTS COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE
Attend periodic meetings of the Fine Arts Committee with other school representatives to support and encourage these areas (e.g. Youth Art Month, District Art Show, All City Program) and to share information on programs within the schools. Report back to PTO and submit information to the Jefferson Journal when necessary.

NEW PARENT BUDDY (new this year!)
Simply assist new families to Jefferson School by being a contact and friendly face to them.

NEWSLETTER
No writing required. A dedicated committee of volunteers is needed to share the weekly job of dropping off and picking up the Jefferson Journal from a local printer and distributing it. The newsletter editor(s) should have a computer and e-mail for creating the newsletter; the editor position can be shared.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Committee meets with outgoing Executive Board Advisor in February to nominate officers for the next year’s PTO Executive Board.

OPENING DAY PACKETS
Help prepare the opening day packets that are sent home with students on the first day of school. The packets are prepared the day before school starts.

P.A.N.D.A. (PREVENTING ALCOHOL, NARCOTIC & DRUG ABUSE)
This PTC committee representative coordinates Drug Awareness Week, held in the spring. The committee meets in the early fall and again in March. Each school should provide one representative.

PTC REPRESENTATIVES
Attend General Membership Parent Teacher Council meetings held on the third Thursday morning of each month. Each school needs five representatives. PTC meetings are very informative about what’s going on within the school district town wide. The Superintendent and Board of Education members also attend these meetings.

PTO SUB & SODA PICNIC
Organize sub & soda picnic held on a Friday in early October. Jefferson families and teachers come together for the first social of the school year. Many volunteers are needed to help make this social event a huge success.
___Set-up ___Serve food ___ Organize games/activities ___ Clean up

PUBLICITY
A committee is needed to photograph assemblies and happenings at Jefferson; a schedule of events to photograph will be provided. Submit pictures and descriptions to newspapers with pertinent information. Keep album of all publicity and display photos on the wall at school. Camera and money for film are provided; supply of film should be maintained at school.

ROOM PARENTS
Help plan and supervise two class parties (Halloween and Valentine’s Day); telephone parents in your child’s class regarding school closings, delayed openings or special events. Make sure to sign up now if you’re interested in becoming a room parent next year! If you have more than one child attending Jefferson, please indicate if you have a grade preference. (Note: Class trip chaperones are chosen at the teacher’s discretion and room parent position does not give preference).

SAFETY COMMITTEE /B.R.A.K.E.S REPRESENTATIVE
Attend two annual meetings with other school representatives to this PTC committee; issue Child Safety Shields; help with bicycle registration in May.

SCHOOL PICTURES
Volunteer(s) needed to distribute information regarding student and class photos and assist with “Picture Day” typically held in September.

SCHOOL STORE
Assist Jefferson school staff member in overseeing the school store, including ordering supplies and keeping inventory. Fifth graders primarily run the school store.

SKATING PARTY
Organize and sell tickets for this family event to be held in the spring, such as roller-skating or ice skating, This year it will be held on a day off.

SPECIAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES
Attend periodic meetings with other parents interested in or involved with all aspects of special education; report back to PTO. This committee is part of the PTC.

TEACHER APPRECIATION DAY
Coordinate a special, school-wide teacher appreciation project to take place in early May. Also help arrange the Teacher Appreciation Luncheon.

THEME SUPPORT COMMITTEE
Work with PTO Board and Principal to implement activities related to the school theme. Activities may include ordering theme T-shirts, and assisting during special “theme” events.

THEME SHOW - “JEFFERSON JUBILEE”
Be a part of this exciting Jefferson School show! The show takes place in the spring; planning begins in September. The Jubilee is designed as a major fundraiser. Please indicate any specific interests in the following committees on the Volunteer Interest Form:

____	Directors: Work in-groups of two (approx. 36 needed in total). Responsibilities include: selecting song from producer’s list and providing music, planning the number, designing and providing costumes and small props, working with the children one afternoon per week for approx. 6-7 weeks of practice, attending directors’ meetings, contacting parents with relevant Jubilee information, attending mandatory dress rehearsal and supervising children for both performances. Participation in the “Directors’ Number” is optional but fun!
The following committees need one or two chairpersons, and approximately 2-12 members (depending on committee needs):
____	Playbill/Program: Design the program for the show, which includes listing all numbers and performer names, organizing the advertisements (both personal and business), typing and copying the completed playbill and distributing the playbills at the two performances.
____	Tickets: Design and arrange printing of tickets and various sales of tickets (i.e., to directors, faculty, public and at-the-door).
____	Backstage: Organize performers to go on-stage and arrange scenery, props and curtain. Responsible for attending dress rehearsal and the two performances.
____	Art/Scenery: Create the backdrops and scenery to be used for both acts in the show.
____	Refreshments: Purchase and sell refreshments to be sold during show intermissions.
____	Babysitting: Since this service was so popular last year, we would like to offer it again next year for the directors. Responsibilities would include organizing parents and qualified girl scouts to care for children every practice day after school for the 6-7 weeks involved for 1-1/2 hours per day.
____	Flowers/Balloons: Take orders, distribute and sell at Westfield High School 2 evenings.
____	50/50 Raffle: Sell tickets 2 nights at Westfield High School.
____	Clean-up: After show to ensure Westfield High School is left presentable.
____	Balcony Ushers: Monitor and aid groups in the balcony during the show.

WEB TEAM/MASTER
Help update Jefferson School’s Web site. Inputting can be done from your home computer using software available from the school. Training sessions will be available if necessary.

WINTER READING PROGRAM
A joint Parent/Teacher committee that helps plan and carry out the reading incentive program held during the winter months.

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