Co-Chair* – There shall be two co-chairs responsible for presiding at DHSPA and Executive Board meetings. This includes establishing the calendar of, and organizing these meetings. The co-chairs are the primary link between the DHS administration and the parents. They ensure communication occurs on any appropriate matters through the use of the DHSPA meeting announcements, Principal’s newsletter, DPN and DHSPA website. The co-chairs sit on the Appropriations Committee, the Guidance Advisory Council and the DHSPA Budget Committee. They also serve as representatives of DHS on the Council or Darien School Parents (CDSP) and the Darien Coalition Against At Risk Behaviors (DCAARB). At least one co-chair attends Board of Education meetings when high school matters are to be discussed. Lastly, they work with the Administration and the CDSP budget reps to support the proposed DHS budget requests.

Secretary* - The Secretary will take detailed notes including attendance, write and distribute minutes for all executive board, DHSPA and any other special meetings. They will send periodic e-mail blasts for the DHSPA and its committees and communicate with the DHSPA Association Board regarding announcements for upcoming DHSPA meetings.

Treasurer* - The Treasurer will keep financial records using Quicken and Excel. The Treasurer is responsible for preparing and dispersing budget letters to Committee Chairs at the beginning of the school year. During the year, they will pay bills, reconcile bank accounts, prepare monthly financial statements and help with annual audit. The Treasurer serves on the Budget Committee and the Appropriations Committee. As such, they are responsible for proposing, preparing and presenting the annual DHSPA budget for review and approval.

Beautification – The beautification committee’s job is to enhance the school’s appearance and beautify the grounds, including filling outdoor containers with flowers, planting daffodils and helping with floral decorations for the Parent Open House. This committee is in operation throughout the year.

CDSP Budget Reps –The CDSP budget reps job begins in November and concludes in March, with a majority of the work falling in the Jan/Feb timeframe. The budget reps work closely with the DHS Principal and the DHSPA co-chairs to help prioritize and develop rationale in support of the DHS budget requests to the Board of Education for the upcoming school year. CDSP budget reps write and give speeches at Board of Education meetings in support of the DHS requests. These meetings are in the evening and meetings with the Principal can occur early mornings, so feasible job for working parent.

Clubs and Activities Fair – This committee, working with Administration, plans and executes an Activities Fair in the fall of the school year to introduce students to the many Clubs and Activities open to them at the high school. The event is held during lunch periods. Planning begins in September and event is in October.

College and Career Programs (iZone)* - The IZone Committee supports activities of the College and Career Center. There is a chair and at least 3 committee members. The primary focus of this committee is to provide the junior and senior class with workshops on aspects of the college application process such as interviewing skills, essay writing, resume writing, etc. The IZone committee also maintains responsibility for the Speakers Bureau, which provides the faculty with access to community guest speakers. The chair of this committee sits on the Guidance Advisory Council as well as the Executive Board.

College and Career Center Volunteers* - The CCC Committee trains and schedules college and career center volunteers. There are two co-chairs and approximately 15 committee members. They maintain the center, ordering water and give-aways for the college reps, updating the web page and filing materials. They provide support to the guidance department. The chairs of this committee sit on the Guidance Advisory Council as well as the Executive Board.

Communications:
Communication Chair * - This chair oversees the Directory, Website and email newsletter ("DPN").

Directory – In the spring, this committee of at least 3, gathers information on incoming 9th graders and other new students for the directory, and updates the student database. They then follow up with telephone calls as required. In August, they put together directory information for all four grades and faculty, and update other text as needed. They then arrange for the printing of the directory. This committee also has ongoing responsibility for updating the student database and publishing changes as needed. The directory is produced in Word and Excel.

Website –This volunteer serves as the webmaster of the DHSPA website.

Newsletter (DPN) – This committee of at least 3, gathers information and sends out a weekly email newsletter to parents of students. The DPN is currently written in gmail, and editing duties are shared among three editors. In the spring, update the DPN Google Group for the parents of incoming freshmen. This committee also has ongoing responsibility for managing and updating parent subscriptions to the DPN.

Faculty Luncheon – Beginning in May, this committee organizes a luncheon for the faculty to take place in mid-June.

Fundraising Committee* - This committee consists of a chair and several volunteers. Their purpose is to design and implement a fundraising event or a non-fundraising event to raise money for the DHSPA. In recent years this event has been in the fall and the job is completed before the end of the calendar year. The chair sits on the Executive Board.

Grade Level Chairs* – The main job for the grade level chairs is to call on parents to provide food for the DHS Open House, provide refreshments for the fall coffee and locate a private home and provide refreshments for the spring coffee. Each grade level chair sits on the Executive Board.

Graduation Party – The primary job of the graduation party is to plan the after graduation party for the DHS Senior Class, including overseeing the identification of location, finances, insurance, decorations and invitations. Typically a small group of senior parents plan this event. This group’s responsibilities are also to oversee the planning for the activities, music and prizes for the night of the party.

Graduation Reception – This group’s purpose is to plan and arrange food for the graduation reception, held after the graduation ceremony. There are two parents of 9th, 10th or 11th graders in charge of this event.

Holiday Luncheon – These volunteers are responsible for hosting a mid-December luncheon for the faculty and staff, including catering food, soliciting donations of food from parents, decorating the room with plants and overseeing the event.

Hospitality – The hospitality committee provides refreshments at the seven DHSPA meetings, work with the grade reps and administration to organize and set up refreshments for the Parent Open House and organize the Old Board/New Board coffee or early evening party held at the end of May.

JOBS Office – The JOBS office is staffed by parent volunteers. The main function of the JOBS Office Chairs is to post jobs that come in from local businesses and soliciting help from volunteers to staff the office for student access. There are two JOBS Office chairs.

New Parent Reception – This group of volunteer parents is responsible for hosting the New Parent Reception, including purchasing paper goods and fruit, ensuring the high school staff sets up coffee and attending the reception.

Nominating Chairs* - It is the job of the Nominating Chairs to fill the slate of the DHSPA Association Board and present the slate for approval at the DHSPA meeting in March/April. The chairs sit on the Executive Board,

Nominating Reps – Two nominating reps from each grade assist the nominating chairs.

Parliamentarian* - The Parliamentarian’s job is to resolve any questions relating to points of order and voting procedures for the DHSPA business meetings and the Executive Committee meetings.

Parent Awareness –Two parents with youth at DHS are nominated to serve on the YWCA Parent Awareness Committee. They attend monthly Parent Awareness meetings and periodic programs. The high school reps meet over the summer with the co-chairs and the high school Administration to seek out program ideas. The reps are also responsible to communicate/advertise the selected programs which are relevant to the high school parent population.

Programs* - The Programs coordinator’s job is to work with the co-chairs and the Administration to plan and arrange programs (speakers) for DHSPA meetings. This person sits on the Executive Committee.

Public Relations – This committee’s role is to publicize school news not normally covered by the local papers. Typically each committee member covers events for two months of the year.

Student Life* - This committee acts as a liaison between the DHS Administration, Community Council, class advisors and student representatives in establishing, organizing and implementing dances and social activities chosen by the students. The two co-chairs will recruit two parents to represent each grade level to form their committee. The chairs attend Community Council meetings as needed and meet with entire Student Life committee twice each year. These volunteers sit on the Executive Board.

Student Wear – The role of the Student Wear committee is to order and sell the DHS “spirit wear” clothing and novelty items. They are responsible for maintaining the inventory housed in a storage closet at the school and organize specific sale days throughout the school year.

Volunteers Coordinator – Using the DHS e-mail blasts, the DHSPA meetings and the spring MMS e-mail blasts, build and maintain a list of parent volunteers to be contacted, usually by e-mail, as the needs of the school arise. Coordinators are contacted as needed by an either an Assistant Principal or Administrative Assistant at DHS.

* denotes Executive Committee members.