Welcome to the Winfield School District 34 PTO! We look forward to getting to know you and your child(ren), and welcome the opportunity to answer any questions you may have about our school community.
Perhaps one of our most important goals this year is to increase parental involvement in our school. Research shows that the most accurate predictor of a student's achievement in school is not income or social status, but the extent to which that student's family is able to become involved in their children's education at school and in the community. When schools, families, and communities work together to support learning, children tend to do better in school, stay in school longer, and like school more. Whether you have 30 minutes or a couple of hours, your time, your ideas, and your talents are needed. We can match your time constraints and interests to needed tasks. We have many ways in which Moms, Dads, Aunts, Uncles, and Grandparents can contribute.
With this in mind, we are pleased to present the following descriptions of PTO, Winfield Education Foundation and school wide volunteer opportunities available for the 2006 - 2007 school year. In addition to the opportunities listed in this workbook, look for opportunities to volunteer in your child(ren)’s classroom(s) on curriculum night. Please consider volunteering, it really does make a difference in the lives of our children!
Please take a moment to review the volunteer opportunities outlined in this pamphlet and complete the worksheet at the end. Record the items you have chosen on your new school calendar. Then, either detach the worksheet and return it in the envelope provided by Friday, August 25th, or go online to http://winfield34.ptomanager.com to sign-up as a volunteer and register your interests. The chairperson from a chosen area will contact you to set up exact times or confirm your volunteer assignment. If you have questions about the information in this booklet, contact Mary Schramer, PTO Volunteer Coordinator, at 784-0058 or theschramers@sbcglobal.net.
Please return Volunteer Worksheets in the large white envelope provided with this packet by Friday, August 25th, 2006 or go online to http://winfield34.ptomanager.com to register as a volunteer. You can also download the entire booklet as a PDF or print out just the Volunteer Worksheet.
Classroom, Band, Music, Sports, Clubs & Activities
Room Parents and Room Parent Helpers – Pre-K thru 8th Grade
A parent (or two) is needed for each classroom to organize three classroom holiday parties and the end-of-the-year class picnic. You don’t do all the work yourself – just get the ball rolling and ask for help from other parents in your class. Also, you may be asked to help with special events during the year. Additionally, parents are needed to assist Room Parents. If you like to help, but aren’t fond of “being in charge”, your room parent would love to hear from you! A Room Parents/Helpers orientation meeting will be held on Thursday, August 31st at 2:30pm in the Primary School gym.
6th-8th Grade Class Picnic Coordinator – 6-8th Grade Parents
A 6th, 7th or 8th grade parent is needed to organize the end-of-the-year picnic scheduled for June 1st for students in these grades. This parent is responsible for organizing the meal portion of the day which is held in the Central School Cafeteria. Each class of students is assigned various items to bring to make a complete meal while you arrange for the main course (i.e. hotdogs, burgers, pizza, chicken, etc.). Planning also includes recruitment of 2-3 volunteers from each classroom involved, written communication to these classes, and organizing the set-up. Previous year’s guidelines (well-detailed) are provided. Staff members coordinate activities for the rest of the day.
Calling Tree
Each year, a calling-tree is created for use in the event of a school closing. Numerous volunteers are needed to call 4-6 families each in order to ensure every family in the school is notified of the closing. You would be contacted about the issue and in turn, you would call your designated families.
DARE Graduation – 4th & 5th Grade Parents
A 5th Grade parent is needed to organize a reception for the 5th Grade students who complete the DARE program. In addition, 4th Grade parents are asked to bake cookies and serve the refreshments that day. The reception itself is usually held in November or December each year, and is very simple, consisting of cookies, cake and punch.
8th Grade Springfield Trip – 8th Grade Parents
One or two parents are needed to coordinate a simple fund-raiser for 8th grade students only, which will help offset the cost of their trip to Springfield, Illinois. Moms and Dads are also needed to chaperone this overnight field trip scheduled for February 27th & 28th.
Graduation Reception - 7th Grade Parents
One or two 7th Grade parents are needed to coordinate this event, while seven or eight more parents are needed to act as committee chairs. Many others are needed for set-up, decorating, serving, and clean up of the reception that follows the 8th grade graduation ceremony on Monday, June 4th, 2007. Every 7th grade parent is needed to help in some way with this very important event.
8th Grade Graduation Dance - 8th Grade Parents
8th Grade parents are needed to coordinate a “low-key” dance for the 8th grade graduating students. The dance is held in the Central School Commons Area, immediately following the graduation ceremony and reception. Planning will need to begin in March or April. You will need to schedule a DJ (names provided), snacks and parental supervision from 9-11pm.
Band & Music Department Volunteers
The Music Department needs your help. Extra hands are always welcome to help with odds and ends at the concerts. Concert programs need to be edited and copied, music needs to be cataloged, equipment needs to be moved and concerts can be video taped. Let us know where you can help.
Sports & Clubs
There are numerous opportunities to be involved in this very exciting part of your student’s education. Sports include: Soccer, Volleyball, Girls and Boys Basketball, Cheerleading and Track. Activities & Clubs may include: Art Club, Bowling, Chess Club, Chorus, Drama, Library Club, Newspaper Club, Spanish Club, and Student Council. If you are interested in any of these areas, please check Sports or Clubs on the worksheet and note your area(s) of interest.
Service Programs & Fund-raising Opportunities
Our successful fund-raising events are a direct result of the many parents who volunteer their time and talent. Many of the fund-raising activities listed below offer the opportunity to volunteer for a one-time event rather than an ongoing commitment. Profits generated from these events go directly into programs, equipment and educational materials at Winfield Schools. In September, the PTO votes on whether additional fund-raising programs (other than the ones listed below) will be scheduled for the year. Your continued help and support of our fund-raising events is deeply appreciated.
Fall Book Fair – Coordinator: Rita Grady
The Scholastic Book Fair will be held on Thursday and Friday, September 7th & 8th in conjunction with the PreK - 5th grade Curriculum Night. Volunteers are needed to set up the book fair Wednesday afternoon (3:15 to 5:00 pm), to work in 2 ½ hour shifts the days of the sale and to clean-up at the end of the sale. Parents of older students are needed to work at the Book Fair on Thursday evening from 6 to 9 pm during Curriculum Night presentations.
Gift Wrap Sale – Coordinator: Susan Rylowicz
This October fund-raiser brings high quality gift-wrap to the Winfield community. Students are asked to sell to family and friends only. Volunteers are needed to collect orders and distribute the completed orders to the students.
Greenery Sale – Coordinator: Patty Peletis
The Greenery Sale is an opportunity to purchase fresh, high quality wreaths, swags and garland at a reasonable price. Volunteers are needed to help with delivery for a couple of hours on Friday, November 17th. If you have a van, pick-up truck or an SUV, this one’s for you.
Spirit Wear – Coordinator: Cheryl Griffen
Winfield School students and families can proudly support their school by sporting Winfield School Spirit Wear, (especially on Tiger “T” Days–see your school calendar for specific dates). Volunteers are needed in the Spring and Fall to help collect and distribute orders for this high quality sportswear.
Box Tops for Education – Coordinators: Kristin McHenry
General Mills Cereal provides an easy fund-raiser to any registered school. Just purchase specially labeled General Mills products, clip the box top labels and return them to school. PTO submits the labels and receives cash back. Volunteers are needed to help count and bundle labels 2-3 times per year when we hold collection contests.
Recycling Program – Coordinators: Patty Peletis
We collect printer cartridges (both ink-jet and laser), along with no longer needed cell phones in order to earn cash. We need people who are willing to approach businesses (local or not) to ask them to participate in the recycle program.
Campbell’s Soup Labels – Coordinator: Terri Moore
Similar to the Box Tops program, we collect labels from Campbell’s food products. These labels are then redeemed for items to be used in our classrooms. Volunteers are needed to help bundle labels in the convenience of your own home and to distribute prizes at school to students who have turned in labels.
Winter Concert Bake Sale – Coordinator: Linda McNamara
Homemade baked goods are sold at the festive Winter music program, December 15th. Volunteers are needed to bake special treats and help with set-up, sales and clean up the night of the sale.
Family Movie Night– Coordinator: Linda Mullins
Several times per year PTO will sponsor a free Family Movie Night where a family-appropriate movie will be shown. Refreshments will be offered for a nominal fee. Volunteers are needed to assist in setting up the cafeteria and concessions, selling concessions before and during the movie and cleaning up after the movies scheduled for November 3rd, January 26th and April 27th.
Chili Fest 2007 – Coordinator/s:
Each year we put together some sort of fun family event. Chili Fest was so well received last year that we have opted to try it again. We need coordinators, committee chairs (Auction, Fun Fair, Chili Venders, Kitchen Coordinator, Volunteers) and many other volunteers to make this a success. Tentatively scheduled for February 10, 2007.
Market Day – Coordinators: Amy Jo Wierenga & Patty Soutar
Each month Market Day offers over 150 restaurant quality food items for your purchase, earning a minimum 10% profit for the school. Market Day profits provide a major portion of the operating budget for extra-curricular activities including clubs, interscholastic sports, intramural sports and clinics. About ten volunteers are needed to unpack, set-up, and fill orders from 1-3:30pm (we are often done by 2:30) on the following Wednesdays: 9/6, 10/4, 11/1, 11/29, 1/10, 2/7, 3/7, 4/11, 5/9, 6/6. If you can help with one or more dates, check Market Day on the volunteer worksheet and a coordinator will call you.
Back to School Fair
PTO would like to plan a fun social event to kick off the 2007 - 2008 school year. Ideas include an ice-cream social, hotdog lunch, etc. with invitations to local organizations such as the fire department, police department and Central DuPage Hospital to provide booths that are fun and educate children and parents about relevant safety issues. Such issues may include bicycle safety, booster seat laws, stranger danger, walking to school safely, etc. It would also provide a forum to introduce parents to the many opportunities to help at the school. We need an event coordinator and committee chairs to begin planning this event March or April with the event to be held in August or September.
General Volunteer Opportunities
Hospitality Committee
Several parents are needed to help with writing thank you notes to businesses, individuals and groups who support our PTO and school functions and to volunteers whose time and talents are so crucial to our success. This can be done from the comfort of your own home, in your spare time, or get a group together at school or Heidi’s Deli. Someone from the PTO Executive Board will contact you with details.
Library Help (ongoing)
We need your help in our school library. Volunteers are needed for a variety of duties. If you enjoy a quiet work environment, consider helping our excellent library staff. Schedule is flexible.
Ad Hoc Grant Committee: Chairperson: Mary Schramer
The Winfield Education Foundation is seeking parent or community volunteers interested in researching and writing grants for our district to support literacy programs in reading, mathematics, geography, health and wellness and other programs. Much of this work can be done from home if you have internet access and can be done on a flexible schedule. Meetings of the committee will be on an as needed basis.
Copying (ongoing)
Volunteers are needed to be trained in the operation of the school copiers.
1. Student Quarterly Newsletter – This is a newsletter created by students involved in the Newspaper Club. A staff member coordinates the club and needs a parent to help make copies & distribute them. It takes about 1.5 hours near the end of each month (October, December, February and April).
2. Tiger Prints School Newsletter (Weekly) - The School’s “Tiger Prints” Newsletter is distributed to school families every Friday (Thursdays during a short week). A volunteer is needed to create a schedule of volunteers. One volunteer is needed each week for about 1 to 1.5 hours on Thursday or Friday mornings to make copies and distribute the newsletters to the teacher’s mailboxes. A rotating schedule will be set up to assign one person to each week. If we have at least 5 volunteers, no one will work more than once a month. Training is provided.
Fall School Pictures
Fall Picture Day is October 12th this year. Six to 8 volunteers are needed to work 1-2 hour shifts to bring the students from their classrooms and assist where needed. Two to three volunteers are needed in November for picture re-take day.
Spring Class Pictures
Class pictures are taken outdoors each Spring and are scheduled for April 3rd this year. Volunteers are needed to work 1-2 hour shifts to bring the students from their classrooms and assist where needed.
Spring Book Fair – Coordinator: Suzi Hinrichs
The Reading Specialist organizes this book fair each spring. Volunteers are needed to help set-up, assist students with purchases, and clean up at the end of the sale. Proceeds are used to purchase more books for classroom libraries & the Literacy Closet. The Spring Book Fair is scheduled for April 17th, 18th and 19th.
Staff Appreciation Luncheon – Coordinator: Cynthia Voss
Each spring, the PTO coordinates a luncheon for all teachers and staff of Winfield School. Volunteers are needed to prepare dishes, set-up, serve, clean up, and help create gift baskets to give to the staff members. This is a great way to show our gratitude for a job well done. This year it will be held on April 18th. If your family or business would like to donate something for the gift baskets, you can note it on the attached worksheet in the space provided.
Babysitting
During the school year there may be situations where the school or PTO wish to offer babysitting for parents with younger children to enable these parents to participate in daytime activities. An example is during Parents Sit Share & Talk (PSST!) Workshops offered to parents of Pre-K and kindergarten students. Babysitting occurs at the school and parents using the service remain on campus. Dates are to be announced and usually involve one or two hours of your time. If you love to work with children check the time of day you are available under Babysitting on the attached worksheet and the volunteer coordinator will contact you with further details as events are scheduled. And yes, it is okay to bring a couple of your own charges if that makes it easier to volunteer.
Publicity
Volunteers are needed to help with designing, editing, copying and distributing the PTO Newsletter. A volunteer to write news releases for PTO events and send them to the appropriate local papers is also needed. Other publicity activities include the PTO web page and bulletin boards. If you would like to help with any or all of these areas, check publicity on the worksheet and write in your area of interest. Much of this work can be done from home and on your own schedule.
