Volunteer Opportunities

Would you like a job that you can do once a month or bi-monthly?
See items 1, 3, 7, 8, 12, 17, 24, 27, 29, 37, 38, 45, 54

Are you only available in the evening? See items 2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 21, 29, 31, 35, 37, 45

Do you need to do jobs you can accomplish with a toddler at your side?
See items 12, 15, 24, 29, 37, 40, 45, 54

Can you work once per week (for as little as one hour)? See items 7, 16, 30, 32, 34, 50, 52, 53

Do you like to do event committee work that keeps you busy for a few months of the year? See items 2, 5, 6, 9, 10, 13, 20, 21, 22, 28, 36, 42, 47

Can you be called "in a pinch" to help with a detail on something with little notice? See item 35

Are you a take-charge type, WE NEED YOU. See items 10, 17, 23, 26, 36, 46, 47, 54

Are you a "generalist", can you make coffee, set up chairs, cashier?
See item 19

WHY should you volunteer? Your school choice was based on something that you saw, heard or felt when you toured Loyal Heights. The colorful artwork in the hallways - parents are involved. The clean grounds and calm atmosphere in the building - parents are involved. Maybe you visited or heard about our Carnival/Field Day - parents are involved. You saw parents in the building reading to children or helping in the office… this school is a place you believe is good for your child and that is due in part to our strong tradition of parent involvement.

NOTE: This package is presented in committee format. Look for the bolded text in each of the descriptions, it will give you a synopsis of the job(s) to be done. The back sheet is your VOLUNTEER INTEREST FORM, please fill it out and return it to the main office.

Standing Committees

These committees perform a continuing function as approved by the general PTA body and exist to enable the PTA to support educational enrichment for all of the students at Loyal Height Elementary. The chairpersons of these committees are expected to attend monthly board meetings and are voting board members.

1. Art Docents – Give art lessons on specific topics. You may work with your child’s

teacher or another teacher, alone or with a partner. The frequency of lessons varies according to teacher preference and your schedule – generally once per month. Christine and Judy will hold an “Interest Meeting” for all those thinking about being involved in this program. Watch your kidmail for details. Training will commence sometime thereafter. Chair: Christine Ellin and Judy Peck

2. Artist-in-Residence Committee - This committee is responsible for identifying the artist in resident program, finding an artist (in Spring) and coordinating with the teachers to integrate the artist into classroom learning. This committee may also plan a culminating event for the artist and the children to show their wonderful creations. Join this exciting new committee to support this year’s artist-in-residence program, “All that Jazz”, and help give the kids an invaluable arts enrichment experience.

3. Beaver Tales (the school newsletter) – Help Miste gather materials for publication, create newsletter and return it to the office for duplication. Great chance to assist and learn from our very talented editor. Chair: Miste Chandler

4. Legislative Committee - This committee is our connection to the world of policy making at the neighborhood, city, county, state and federal levels. The committee works with the PTA Board to inform and educate the general membership regarding education and children’s welfare issues. Your job could include representing Loyal Heights to the Ballard Council, Seattle School Board or Seattle District PTA council meetings; or you could help Rob research and report on any legislation, initiatives or referendum that would effect children and schools. Chair: Rob Suarez

5. Membership – This committee focuses on renewing members and recruiting new parents to join Loyal Heights PTA. Members are entered into a computer and issued a membership card. Cass and Torrey need your help with data entry and membership recruitment. Chairs: Cass O’Callaghan and Torrey Volk

6. Enrollment – Kathleen plans and organizes our school tours for prospective new families. She works with main office staff to compile our enrollment packets. You could lead the tours in January and February or help Kathleen put the info packets together. Chair: Kathleen Marks

Special Committees

These committees are appointed as the need arises to carry out a specific task. When the task is complete the committee is done. The chairpersons of these committees are not voting board members, but must be a member of the PTA.

7. After School Clubs: We have a very comprehensive clubs program at LH and Miste takes over as coordinator this year. Watch backpacks for sign-ups and further information. Miste is looking for help with chess club and our new pottery club. Chess Club needs parent help 1 day per month and Pottery Club will need parent helpers for each of several 6-week sessions. You can specify which club you want to help with on your attached INTEREST FORM and Miste will contact you with the details. Chair: Miste Chandler

8. Art Docent Assistant - This is a fun job. You will assist an Art Docent with the monthly Art project in your child’s, or another, classroom. Hand out supplies, clean up, hang artwork in the hall, etc.

9. Auction Committee - The Auction is our highest grossing fund-raiser of the year and a very fun evening, once you get there! The chairs of the various sub-committees meet throughout the year up to the event, usually held in March. There is a subcommittee for silent auction, live auction, entertainment, procurement, etc. Watch for notices as the year progresses as each sub-committee looks for help. We will also need countless volunteers to actually “run the show”. So please sign up for the Event Volunteer Pool on the VOLUNTEER INTEREST FORM if you can help set up, decorate, cashier, etc. Chairs: Sue Verduin and Peg Radford

10. Back to School Social and Dessert Night - This event is usually held in conjunction with our first general PTA meeting a few weeks after school starts. Bakers are recruited to bake their special favorites and we solicit donations from area bakeries. This event is also used to inform the community of various PTA activities as well as special curriculum programs; the lunchroom is lined with information tables! This year’s event is almost here, but you can demonstrate your interest in chairing this for next year, or help next year’s chair to coordinate cashiers, servers and set up.

11. Ballard and Greenwood Market Receipts – Maryann collects and returns receipts to the stores. The stores donate 1% back to our school. You could help Maryann publicize this so we can collect more receipts. Chair: Maryann Firpo

12. “Bodacious Beaver” – This is the name of a student earned, teacher generated, monthly award given to recognize outstanding academic improvement, classroom citizenship, etc. The award is given to 2-3 children from each classroom each month. Sign-up to be on Anne Marie’s caller list so that we can reach the families of the recipients. This gives families a chance to plan to be at the assembly when their child receives the award! Chair: Anne Marie Peterson

13. Book Fair – Lori will set a date, arrange for building space (usually in the Gym), and make arrangements with a book company to come in, set up and take down. We try to coordinate this with an evening event and the fair is usually set up for 3 days. Lori will need cashiers for several shifts during the book fair. Chair: Lori Peterson

14. Box Tops for Education – We have a drop off bin in the main hallway outside the office for General Mills tops. Don will collect the box tops and send them to General Mills. They return a percentage in cash to the school. You may help by publicizing this program to bring in more cash! Chair: Don Hawley

15. Child Care Team – This is new! We are forming a team that will provide care for our children during evening events that require the full attention of our parent community. These include PTA meetings, Curriculum Night, etc.. Sign up to be on a call list so that Susan can easily put together a team as each event approaches. Chair: Susan Titan

16. Classroom Assistant – This is a very rewarding and important job at the school. Our very talented and experienced teachers need your help to read with students, photocopy, lead a lesson in something you are expert in, grade spelling papers, assist kids on computers, and other jobs that vary according to teacher preference. These volunteers should be reliable to the best of their ability as the teachers include this help in their planning. This is not a PTA sponsored activity and is completely up to the discretion of each teacher. If you want to be in your child’s classroom or any classroom, speak to the teacher.

17. Coffee Lady or Gent: You know about “popcorn lady” but what is this? Well, it is very simple really. The adults in our community love to drink coffee and we like to provide it at all of our evening events: PTA meetings, science fair, art walk, etc. We need a chair to be responsible for picking up the “tanks” at your favorite coffee shop and delivering them to the lunchroom before the event. You do not have to be available to attend every one of these events – just get the coffee there! We will also need a few back-up ladies and gents. Chair: OPEN

18. Display Case - The display case across from the main office is decorated throughout the year with a new design approximately each month. It may be full of interesting creations by one of our classrooms or used as promotion for an upcoming fundraiser. The PTA sponsors the case about 3 times per year and our very talented designer Amie takes charge. Help Amie gather the materials to put in the case and share ideas about the design. Chair: Amie Crook

19. Event Volunteer Pool – We need a large pool of people to provide day-of-event support to run our critical fund raisers, like Jog-a-thon and Auction, as well as our evening dances, meetings, field day, book fair, etc. We need volunteers to set-up, count laps, serve food, decorate rooms, run child-care, cashier, clean up, make coffee, etc. We hope most of you will sign up for this pool on the attached VOLUNTEER INTEREST FORM and we will call you as and when needed. You will not be expected to work every event and we will get additional volunteers as each event approaches via notices sent home for specific shifts and jobs.

20. Family Fun Nights – This umbrella covers the events we sponsor just to have fun together, no fund raising or math to learn! We have a wonderful chair and crew that worked together last year on the best family dance ever and they also helped our field day chairs with a fantastic end of year bash! Join in the fun and help plan these events. Chair: Leanne Brown

21. Family Phone and Address Directory: This is a big job! This phone directory will become a fixture in your home and Janet needs your help to compile, revise and edit. Each family will receive a copy when it is done. Chair: Janet Hanson

22. Field Day – This is a one-day, outdoor activity event during school hours, usually near the end of the year. Be a committee member and help plan events, do publicity, or help coordinate volunteers for the day. Chairs: Mia Cisek and Lori Monlux

23. Finger Printing - New! We need you to work with a company to come to our school and fingerprint the kids. Parents can purchase a kit with DNA samples, recent photos and fingerprints. We will get day-of volunteers to help you. Chair: OPEN

24. Giving Chest – There is a wooden chest in the hallway outside the main office where we collect items needed by the homeless and deliver them to the Ballard Food Bank. Help Barbara to publicize this so that our families know how, when and where to donate. You may also help her with gathering the items and delivery to the food bank. Chair: Barbara Sinn

25. Giving Tree - Help the office prepare and deliver gifts to local families. This is a moderately busy job for November and December.

26. ID Tags – This is a service that we have provided in the past to our school families and we hope to do so again this year. We need a chair to send a form to all families (in early October) to ask whether they would like to purchase an ID tag. You would then collect the forms, place an order and distribute the ID tags when they come in. Chair: OPEN

27. Information Center – Kathleen sets up the bulletin board and table in the front hall in the beginning of the year and makes sure that the posted items are timely and organized throughout the year. Help Kathleen keep the area up-to-date. A great job for the organizer! Chair: Kathleen Marks

28. Jog-a-thon - This is one of our most successful fundraisers and a very fun and straightforward event – but it requires a lot of manpower. The planning started last June! This committee publicizes the event, organizes prizes for kids, plans the pizza dinner, and supervises the “field”. If you can help with the countless jobs the day of

Jog-a-thon let us know by checking Event Volunteer Pool on your attached interest form and watch for shift sign-up notices in your “kidmail”. If you want to help at the committee level for next year, be specific on your attached INTEREST FORM. Our fundraising chairs will be in touch by the end of this school year. Chairs: Sue Eriksen and Lori Monlux

29. Landscape, Building Grounds – Be part of this committee and keep our flowerpots, containers and garden beds looking bright and sparkly. We have a newly formed committee that can use more willing hands. Laura will schedule a work party to clean up our school grounds around the building; but, she would also like a standing crew that can work beds on their own schedule. Chair: Laura Blumhagen

30. Library Assistant - Help in our newly decorated library with re-shelving, mending and putting new books out. Help is also needed for book check-out. You can work out a schedule with our wonderful librarian, Mr. Harvey. Chair: Sean Harvey

31. Loyal Heights Merchandise – Help Debbie as she works with a vendor to provide cool Loyal Heights emblazoned blankets, t-shirts, sweatshirts and hats and then help sell them at various events. This is fun for the retailer at heart! Chair: Debbie Ulrich

32. Lunchtime Helpers – Ms. Codd needs a team of smiling faces to assist at lunchtime with all the little things that come up. You may help open food containers, release kids from lunch when they are done, answer the assorted questions that kids ask, like “Whose mom/dad are you?” and “Do you like pb&j?”. Clover will work out a schedule with whoever signs up. Chair: Clover Codd

33. Nurses Helper - Assist Nurse Julie with health screening in September and October. You would work approximately ½ to 1 full school day. This is a fun and easy job. Chair: Julie Kaloper

34. Office and Teacher Administrative Assistant – This is a NEW committee. The goal is to create 2 teams. One to provide general support to the office staff on an “as needed” basis (filing, copying, answering phones). The second team would provide reliable, regularly scheduled administrative support for the teachers. The teachers can use help with copying homework packets, organizing field trips, etc. What a great way to support our wonderful teachers. Mary Slater will create a call list of office helpers for the office staff to call in a pinch. Sue Rauda will work with those interested in becoming a teacher’s administrative assistant, you may work with 1 teacher or be present in the office on a reliable schedule for ALL teachers to drop off basic office work. On the attached interest form you may specify which team you are interested in. Chairs: Sue Rauda and Mary Slater

35. Pinch Pool – Do you like to work on the fly, in the 11^th inning with no time to spare? Can you be called without much notice to help with a detail for a project or event? For instance, we are 2 days from Auction and we realize we do not have enough help to decorate the hall. Could you help? Or maybe you would be asked to pick up the pizzas for Jog-a-thon at the last minute because the pizza-picker-upper got the flu. Can you? Show your willingness to be part of this pool on the VOLUNTEER INTEREST FORM.

36. Plate Design - This is a great one to do before Christmas or Mother’s Day. Send home order forms, collect, order materials, organize classes to participate and distribute the finished product. This would keep you moderately busy for 1 month. Chair: OPEN

37. Playfield Maintenance Committee – Thanks to the vision and hard work of our Playfield Project group, we have a wonderful park at the south end of our site, but we need you to help keep it green and lovely. The community is the steward for this park – not the City or the School District. Please sign up to help weed and maintain the field and its adjacent boxes and beds behind our school building. This year Kathleen is hoping to find a LAWN EXPERT among us! Chair: Kathleen Galloway

38. Popcorn Lady (or Gent) – Sue has been the envy of us all as she is ever-so affectionately known as the “Popcorn Lady” to the kids! Every other Friday is Popcorn Friday, you will realize this as you come to pick-up your children on Friday afternoon, the kernels are everywhere! Nancy has now also learned the ropes and they would love to train another back up or two. It is easy to be the most popular parent at school. Chairs: Sue Gedosch and Nancy Haugaard

39. Publicity - Write press releases and feature articles for the Ballard News-Tribune and other local publications. This will help to promote special events and activities at Loyal Heights. Chair: OPEN

40. Reader Board Keeper – Trish and Dan are taking over the fun task of updating our reader board and they will do a swell job! They would love to train a back up if you would like to help. Chairs: Trish and Dan Lepse

41. Reading Calendar Board – Each month your child receives a reading calendar to keep track of their reading time at home. If the calendar is turned in the child’s name is “advanced” on the board. Help Amie to keep the record straight and get all kids who turn in a calendar on to the board. This job requires about ½ day once each month. Chair: Amie Crook

42. Reflections - (The National PTA Arts Commission). This is a national arts competition sponsored by the National PTA. Help Lori to promote this event, advertise the theme, and create incentives for kids to participate. She will also need help to collect the Artwork and submit it to the local PTA unit for judging. This would commence in October and you would be finished in January. Chair: Lori Monlux

43. Room Parent - This is one of the most important and fulfilling roles you can undertake, and the kids love you for it! Work with your child’s teacher to organize parties, coordinate volunteers for special class projects, work with chairpersons for special events such as Auction and Teacher Appreciation Week. This is a yearlong commitment. Show your interest in this job by coming to the 1^st room parent meeting of the year on Thursday, September 23^rd at 9:30 in the lunchroom. We need at least 1 volunteer per classroom. Chair: Dianne Carlson

44. Safety Committee – Work with our own Safety Czar, Janet Cartwright, to keep the building and grounds safe for all of us. Help put together student comfort kits in the beginning of the year. Chair: Janet Cartwright

45. School Photographer – If you like taking pictures this is a great way to contribute your time to the school. Our chair, with event calendar in hand, will make sure that all school events have a photographer in attendance. She will also coordinate distribution of photos to our Beaver Tales editor and help create and update the photo event board in the hallway next to the office. Chair: Vera Paas

46. School Spirit - This is a fun activity! Create school wide spirit with ideas such as hat day, backwards day, button day, create a Loyal Heights fight song…this can be as involved and inspired as you make it. Work with the student council as they make their school spirit plans. Chair: OPEN

47. Science Fair – We need a chair and team to work with our very own John Hamel (teacher in 15/16) to put together what has become a very popular and fun evening. You would send out a notice and reminders to the parent community about the fair and what is required of children who want to enter a project, coordinate set up and clean up the night of, and provide ribbons and certificates for each entrant. Chair: OPEN

48. Science Kits - National Science Foundation (NSF) Science Kits are received three times during the school year, September, December and April. A pre-inventory count is taken prior to sending the kits into the classroom and a post-inventory count is done before the kits are returned to the warehouse. This job is done in the front hall, so you get to watch all the comings and goings of the children and meet the entire staff as you help deliver and pick up kits. Chairs: Cass O’Callaghan and Andrea Cash

49. Soup Labels – Kathy sends out information to the school community about collecting Campbell’s product labels which are redeemable for points to spend on helpful school equipment from the Campbell’s catalog. Teachers choose items, the order is placed in February and the purchases are noted in the Beaver Tales. Help Kathy to publicize this program so we can get more great school equipment and supplies! Chair: Kathy Hendricks

50. Spanish Program Volunteers – Kris is looking for parents who want to be in the Spanish room to assist with materials preparation, set-up for activities, reading to the children, etc. The program can use your help whether you speak Spanish or not. Chair: Kris Collingridge

51. Staff Appreciation Week – Help Lynn and Jenny to organize classroom sponsorship of “treats” for staff to let them know how much we appreciate them. The chairs also coordinate a monthly scrumptious lunch for the entire staff. There are many ways to help with this very important job. Chairs: Jenny Youngman and Lynn Frothingham

52. Student Banking – Washington Mutual sponsors a Tuesdays bank day for children during the lunch break. Help Cass and Mia set up the bank each Tuesday, collect the children’s money, hand out prizes, etc… You can volunteer on a weekly or monthly basis. Chairs: Cass O’Callaghan and Mia Cisek

53. Tutoring: Volunteer one hour a week to work with our students that need a little extra help. Tutoring can be during school hours or after school at the homework club. No experience necessary, just a love for helping kids! This is a very rewarding job. Chair: Kathy Katzen

54. Volunteer Appreciation Board - New! Help us recognize volunteers in a colorful and noticeable way. This is brand new so you decide where and how it should be. You could update it as often as you want. We would help with suggestions of outstanding contributions worthy of this special recognition. Chair: OPEN

As you have read we have opportunities for you to volunteer from home, to work at night, to work a little or a lot. You could assist a teacher in the classroom or work “behind the scenes”, planning events that fund our music program, our art program, and our teacher mini-grants for field trips and special projects. Whatever jobs you choose, the children know that your time invested in support of their learning is truly a labor of love.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

We encourage you to present any new ideas to us at any time! Each one of the programs described herein exists because a parent believed in its value, brought it to the PTA and a “special committee” was formed. Your PTA Board of Directors is here to receive and act on your suggestions.

governslater@mail.com and dianne@northbeachdesigns.com
LOYAL HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Please return to the main office by September 30^th. Please complete even if you are returning to a committee this year.

I am interested in helping with the following (remember you can talk to the chair about how and when you can contribute):

Name of committee: ____________________________________________

Do you have a special skill or equipment you want to tell us about: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________