2013-2014 INTEREST/VOLUNTEER SHEETS COMMITTEE DESCRIPTIONS

Codes: Time commitments vary within each committee:

Y – Year round participation

M – Approx. 1 month commitment

W – Approx. 1 week commitment

O – One time event

AH – At home (good job for working parents or ones that cannot be physically in school but might be able to devote evening hours)

C – Chairperson

V - Volunteer

AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT – Chairs organize and monitor after school enrichment programs.  Responsibilities include hiring instructors, advertising, collecting money, supervising the children during the program and coordinating parent volunteers.  Chairs must be willing to be present for any or all of the scheduled classes.  Volunteers will be assigned one day to help with signing in the children. (Y) 

ALLERGY AWARENESS- The sole purpose of this committee is to promote increased awareness of allergy issues.  Chairs may coordinate activities, disseminating information through various media, assemblies and theme days. (Y)

ART APPRECIATION – Coordinate the assignment of artists to parent volunteers in given grades.  Artists are already pre-determined for each grade and each month.  Committee helps in the distribution of assignment forms to parents and teachers.  Minimal time commitment, occurring end of September/mid October.  (M, AH)

AUTHOR-IN-RESIDENCE – Chair works closely with the Media Specialist to find an author/illustrator of children’s books to preset at MPE.  The committee plans the event from the speaking engagement date to arranging the sale of author’s books. (O)

"THE BASH" (MOM'S NIGHT OUT FUNDRAISER) - The committee arranges a onetime major fundraising event.  Responsibilities include locating a venue, deciding on a theme, preparing decorations, soliciting donations, wrapping baskets and ticket sales.  The committee is broken down by responsibility. (6M)

BIRTHDAY BOARD- Committee creates and updates school bulletin board to announce children’s birthdays.  Board is updated at the first of each month. (Y)

BIRTHDAY BOOK CLUB – Chairs are responsible for solicitation and collection of money to be used in purchasing books for the school’s Media Center.  The Media Specialist purchases books to be selected by the children, and donated to the library by parents, in recognition of their birthday.  The committee is responsible for inserting labels into the books to acknowledge the donation.(Y)

BOARD OF EDUCATION OBSERVER – Committee ensures that an MPE representative attends monthly Board of ED

BOOK FAIR – Chairs are responsible for making arrangements for a week long October Book Fair, coordinate volunteers, create book displays and work at the fair.  Volunteers will help set up prior to the event and assist children will book choices. (C, M) 

BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION –   Committee chairs and members will collect box tops from collections box in school and send in to Box Tops for school credits.  Chairs will create box top contests that run throughout the year. (Y, AH)

BUDDY SYSTEM – (Sub-group of WELCOME NEW FAMILIES) Chair will coordinate volunteers to act as big buddies for new incoming kindergarten families, as well as families new to our school.  Volunteers will make a few phone calls to welcome and answer any questions.  Calls are made in August and September.

BUDGET TASK FORCE – Chair will act as a liaison at monthly meetings between the Board of Ed and the school community to share information regarding the school budget and the April school election.  Chair will coordinate efforts with PTA president.  You may also participate in additional sub-committee activities.  *Call the president for more information.  Volunteer may also attend the monthly meetings and assist in one or more of the activities stated above. (Y)  Poll watcher will man the welcoming table set up at the polling site on the day of the April school election for 1-2 afternoon or evening hours.  A poll watcher is a person who observes voting in an election in order to check that the election rules are followed; help voters to identify their voting district based on street address and may make phone calls to remind voters to come to the polls.

BUZZ BOOK – The committee will organize and publish names, addresses and phone number of school population and solicit for buzz book advertisement.  Publication is in early fall.  Availability in late spring/summer and Excel skills are required. (2M, AH)

CLASSROOM PARENT COORDINATOR – Coordinate class parent meeting in the fall and disseminate all pertinent information to class parents.  Communication is required throughout the year. (Y)

CULTURAL ARTS – The committee is responsible to attend cultural arts showcases, select and arrange assemblies for students, coordinate with Principal to bring shows appropriate for individual building needs.  Volunteers will assist with viewing showcases, scheduling and organizing assemblies both prior to and day of performances. (Y)

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS – Chair will serve on the PT Council town-wide committee.  Plan and organize Earth Day Project with Student Council.  Disseminate information on environmental concerns to PTA. (Y)

FACT PACT – Chairs collect and organize information provided by the school office and PTA for the first day of school.  Volunteers help to assemble and collate information for new and incoming students.  Assembly of the packet is done one night in August.  Coordinate the on-line version of the Fact Pack for all returning students.   (M. AH)

FAMILY PHOTO DAY – Chair will plan and facilitate two family photo sessions.  These will take place on a weekend day during the school year, once in the fall and again in the spring.  (2O, AH)

FAMILY PICNIC – The chair will coordinate all aspects (such as food & entertainment) of our annual fall Welcome Back Picnic for all MPE families.  (O)

FIELD DAY – The committee will plan and organize with the teachers, and event of team building and non-competitive activities.  This is a spring event held during school hours. (O)

FIFTH GRADE COMMITTEE – The committee will coordinate, organize and participate in fundraisers (including Half Day activities) to defray the cost of special fifth grade activities.  Plan with teachers the year-end event for the 5^th grade class.  Attendance on class trip is not guaranteed. (Y)

GRANT COMMITTEE – The committee will act as a liaison between faculty and PTA.  Compile list to be presented to and voted on by membership. (Y, AH)

GT REPRESENTATIVE/PARENT ADVOCAY GROUP FOR EXCELLENCE (PAGE) – Chairs are responsible to attend four (4) evening PAGE meetings during the year and report back to the PTA.  PAGE is dedicated to enhancing the education of our students through the G/T Academic, G/T Art, G/T Music and school-wide enrichment programs K-8. (Y, AH)

HELPING HANDS – Chairs will coordinate with volunteers to discretely assist families who are in need and are seeking assistance within the school and community.  Volunteers are needed to help carry out the assistance needed by these families such as assist with means, carpools, clothing, etc.. (Y, AH)

HOBBY HOUR – The committee will arrange various hobby classes to be run after school for four weeks, usually on Friday afternoons in January.  Responsibilities involve selecting classes, collecting funds, creating flyers, coordinating parent volunteers and supervising the children during the program.  Volunteers will help out with taking attendance and watching over the children prior to the class.  Attend 1-2 town-wide meeting.  (2M, 4W)

HUMAN RELATIONS/MOUNT PLEASANT MAKES A DIFFERENCE– Work hand-in-hand with MPE Student Council.  Representatives will be available from all grades.  Chairs will coordinate several events for drives during the year to emphasize service to the community.  Volunteers will assist in the planning and execution of these events.  Former SENIOR LUNCH committee will be incorporated into this committee. (Y)

INDOOR WINTER RECESS ACTIVITIES COORDINATOR – Chair will coordinate indoor activities during the winter months when students may prefer to stay indoors at recess.  Activities may include art, crafts, and games among others. Volunteers will help to run these activities. (Y)

KID STUFF BOOK – Committee will organized sale and distribution of discount coupon books. (2M)

LEGISLATION – Chair will review and report on any state and/or federal legislation pertinent to the education of our children.  Coordinate under the guidance of the PT council.  Volunteers will assist in all efforts. (Y, AH)

LUNCH PROGRAM – Chairs are responsible for collecting order totals from the coordinator, ordering the food, and setting up, confirming volunteer schedule, help serve lunch weekly and process the bills from the food vendors.  This committee requires char persons for each day of the week.  At the beginning of the school year, a volunteer sheet will be sent out for parents to help serve the food to the children.

LUNCH PROGRAM FOOD COORDINATOR – Chair is responsible for communicating lunch sign up via the weekly update, process all on-line orders, collect all checks and ensure all payments are on time.  Email vendor orders to lunch program chairs and close out each month by adding up all checks and filling out treasurer report. (Y, AH)

MEDIA CENTER – Chair will coordinate with volunteers to help out in the media center to assist in keeping our library in order.  Mrs. Piccoli would like volunteers for an hour (or so) at the end of each morning. (10:45 – 11:45) and the end of each afternoon (2:00 – 2:50) to assist in re-shelving books, stamping new ones and helping to get ready for special events. (Y)

MEMORIAL DAY PARADE – The committee will organize and supervise the participation of students and parents to march in the Memorial Day Parade. (O)

MPE APPAREL/SCHOOL SPIRIT – The committee will organize spring/fall MPE clothing and novelty sale.  This includes designing, ordering and distribution of MPE school spirit items.  Obtain samples and man a table at Back to School Night. (2M)

MULTICULTURALISM – Chair will attend several town-wide meetings and encourage the recognition and appreciation of the divers cultural traditions represented in our school.  Volunteers will assist in all efforts.

MULTICULTURAL NIGHT – Committee will plan a onetime event to appreciate MPE’s diverse population.  Committee will coordinate volunteers, scheduling food/display tables, communicating the event and purchasing goods needed for the event. (O)

NOMINATING COMMITTEE – The committee will gather nominations for open positions on the Executive committee to be presented to membership for a vote in the spring. O)

HCHY (Nutrition/Healthy Community Healthy Youth) – Chairs attend town-wide meetings to promote nutrition, health and wellness values through theme days, calendar activates, articles or programs.  Committee will coordinate activities for National Nutrition month in March.  Volunteers will assist with all activities.

PARENT EDUCATION – Chair will work with the district-wide chair, assistant superintendent of curriculum/instruction and/or director of guidance, parent/school community, and broader community organizations, create and attend educational programs to support parents’ understanding of district-wide curriculum and instruction goals and/or parenting skills related to social emotional awareness/learning; attend meeting as appropriate.  Volunteer will assist in coordination with committee chair, establish communication with parent community, participate in the planning and implementation of all programs; and attends meetings as appropriate.

PPEC (PARENTS AND PROFESSIONALS FOR EXCEPTION CHILDREN) – Chairs are responsible for attending the town-wide meetings, help organized 2-3 programs a year for parents and teachers, and participate in the scholarship program for graduating seniors.  Opportunities to serve on the PPEC board are available to interested chair people.  Any parent may attend the town-wide meetings which are open to the public.

PUBLICITY/PHOTOGRAPHER – The committee is responsible for taking pictures at school events which will be published in the weekly Tribune.  Committee needs to obtain the principals approval and submit to the Board of Education office weekly.  This takes about 1-2 hours per month for volunteers.  The committee also maintains an MPE scrapbook from the pictures taken around the school and the publicity items that run in the West Essex Tribune.  The scrapbook is given to the media specialist at the end of the school year.  Committee is also responsible for maintaining the bulletin board.  Photographers will also be responsible for taking pictures throughout the school year for the yearbook.  (Y, AH)

READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY – The committee will work with the media specialist in developing fun, education activities to celebrate reading and Dr. Seuss birthday. (O)

RED RIBBON WEEK – The committee will coordinate town-wide effort to distribute Red Ribbon Week material to the school in October.  Volunteers will distribute red ribbons and other related materials to each class.  (O)

S.A.F.E. (SAFETY) – Chairs serve on the PT Council town wide safety committee.  The committee will participate in 2 safety walks with the Principal at the beginning and end of the school year.  The committee will help develop and enforce safety rules and educate parents and children about safety issues.  Volunteers will assist in reporting and resolving safety issues. (Y)

SCHOOL FAIR – The committee will help plan and execute the school fair in the spring.  The committee will coordinate booths, raffles, food, entertainment and parent volunteers.  This event takes place at the end of May or early June.  (Working at the school fair is mandatory for all executive board members, classroom parents and all committee chair-people.) (3M)

SCHOOL SHOW – The committee will coordinate all aspects of the show, including locating the venue, scheduling previews, organizing rehearsals, ticket sales and decorations.  Committee will assist in coordination of the Fifth Grade Act. (3M)

SCHOOL STORE – The committee will purchase inventory and keep stock-up-to-date.  Committee will coordinate volunteers to work at the store during lunch hours once a week and prepare schedule. (Y)

SCHOOL SUPPLIES/TOOL BOX – Committee will work with vendors and teachers to create supply lists for next school year.  The committee will collect orders in the spring and distribute supplies in the fall.  End of summer commitment. (2M)

SIXTH GRADE NOMINATING COMMITTEE – Committee representative will sit on the Nominating Committee for MPMS.  Together, representatives from each elementary school will collaborate to identify 11 people who will make up the MPMS Executive Board.  The representative is responsible for advertising the positions and soliciting interested people from MPE School.  People who would like to hold a position on the MPMS Executive Board are not eligible to serve on the Nominating Committee.  This is for fifth grade parents only. (O, AH)

SUNSHINE COMMITTEE – Committee will purchase and send cards and/or gifts to member of MPE schools families and staff as needed. (Y, AH)

TEACHER APPRECIATION/RECOGNITION LUNCHES - Committee will coordinate all aspects of Teacher Appreciate and Recognition Lunches.  The committee will order food for lunches and will recruit volunteers to help serve lunch to the teachers.  The first lunch is the day before school starts in September, the second lunch is in the spring and the last lunch is in June.  The committee will also conduct other appreciation activities as needed, including teacher appreciation week. (3, O)

WALK-A-THON – Chairs will coordinate volunteers, send home pledge forms, and will provide water and snacks to the children.  Volunteers will help on the day of the event to mark checkpoints and encourage the children.  Occurs in early fall. (O)

WEB WIZARD – Under the direction of the co-Presidents, maintain the PTA web pages, Update content with important PTA related information and events as requested.  Coordinate with the PT Council Website Sector Manager. (Y)

WELCOME NEW FAMILIES – Committee with involve new families that come into our school throughout the school year, beginning with Kindergarten Prep in June, making calls via the Buddy System at the end of the summer and a  plan a Newcomers continental breakfast in the fall.  (Y)

YEARBOOK – The committee will design, type and layout the pages for publication using a web-based photography/yearbook company.  New this year the committee members will be assigned a grade (they have chosen) and they will be responsible for taking pictures of that grade for various pages throughout the book and the grade page itself.  Pictures should be taken starting with the first day of school.  (Y)