Volunteers

Please note that most PTO slate positions involve a two-year commitment. Most jobs have a junior role (year one) and a senior role (year two). It is expected that the junior person will move into the senior role to ensure continuity. New committee volunteers are welcome each year.

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM

Coordinate the after school programs which run from October through May in 2 to 3 different sessions

Responsibilities include deciding on programs, booking instructors, registration, coordination, etc.

This position requires a fairly large time commitment multiple times throughout the year

ART ROOM

Assist the Art Room teachers in identifying and hanging students’ artwork on the bulletin boards around the school throughout the year

Assist the Art teachers in getting student art work onto the teachers’ websites

Scheduling is flexible depending on time commitments

BACKPACK INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION

Responsible for setting up the limited distribution lists for notices going home in the backpacks at the beginning of the school year so that one child per family brings notices home

Requirements include attention to detail and good organizational skills

Reports to School Communications Chair

BEAUTIFICATION

Coordinate the outside plantings, keep the school entrance “seasonal” and help improve the courtyards

Coordinate volunteer schedule

Report to Vice-Chair

BOOK FAIR

Coordinate two Ox Ridge book fairs, one in the fall and one in the spring

Responsibilities include selecting the vendor, designing and publicizing the fair

Get volunteers to set up, work the cash registers during the sale, and break down the fairs

Report to Fundraising

BULLETIN BOARDS

Ox Ridge’s bulletin boards reflect our children's accomplishments and creations

Update the two main hall bulletin boards monthly to reflect the seasons, holidays and important Ox Ridge activities.

The time commitment is flexible-- approximately 1 or 2 hours a month

Coordinate volunteers

CHILD/ PARKING LOT SAFETY/KINDERBUSSES

Prior to the first week of school, organize parent volunteers to ride the kindergarten busses during the first week of school

Work with Mr. Rechi and the PTO on other safety issues as they come up (e.g. parking lot safety)

CDSP BUDGET REP

Serves as Ox Ridge’s advocate during the annual school budget process

Attend regular CDSP (Children of Darien School Parents) meetings the first Thursday of each month

Attend regular Board of Education meetings as well as any Special Meetings of the Board of Education during the school budget season (meetings are held in the evening)

Works with budget reps from the other elementary schools to write and/or deliver a speech or speeches in support of the priority initiatives of our schools.

Serve as liaison between our school principal and CDSP during the budget season, ensuring that issues, concern and priorities are communicated and acted upon.

DARIEN ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP

Coordinate four presentations for students throughout the year

Recruit parent volunteers to present materials supplied by Connie Melvin of the DEG. These materials include instructional videos and outlines for the parents to follow.

Timing for presentations is: Kindergarten - October/November; Second Grade – October/November; First Grade in January/February; and Fourth Grade in April/May.

DIRECTORY (3 year position, 1st year as apprentice with minimal requirements)

Responsible for editing, publishing and distributing the Ox Ridge Directory in September.

Work with Administration to update School Handbook, informational pages, class lists and contact information

Work with school families to update contact information including phone and email addresses

Most of the work for the position takes place in mid-August to mid- September

General comfort working with computers and spreadsheets is a plus.

E-MAIL BLAST/THE HOOT

Maintain and update all Ox Ridge family e-mail addresses

On a weekly basis, gather information via e-mail and hard copy, consolidate information, and send it out to all Ox Ridge families

Occasionally, send more than one e-mail blast per week

Job requires computer skills and a weekly time commitment as well as late summer/early September organizational efforts

In an emergency, you may be asked to send additional emails

ENCOURAGEMENT

Coordinate two staff appreciation lunches during conference week, usually during November/December and March (includes soliciting food donations, set up, clean up and hosting the events)

Purchase, wrap and distribute birthday gifts for the staff on a monthly basis as well as other special notes and treats as deemed necessary.

Coordinate volunteers to bring in treats.

Report to Vice-Chair

FUND RAISING

Member of the Executive PTO Board

Research, develop and implement new and existing ideas for fundraising

In the past, funds have been raised through wrapping paper or note card sales, adult social events and direct contributions

This position requires a fairly large time commitment that varies based on the fund raisers selected

FIFTH GRADE COORDINATOR (one year position)

Oversee 5th Grade Activities which include Bake Sale, breakfast, picnic, slideshow, t-shirts and class gift to Ox Ridge.

Coordinate efforts of Room Mothers to facilitate each of the above activities.

GRADE LEVEL ENRICHMENT

Work with teachers to develop and identify quality programs that are specific to the curriculum

Responsible for the implementation of enrichment activities for each individual grade throughout the year as well and tracking budgets for each grade

Other tasks include recruiting committee members at the beginning of school to facilitate each grade

Reports to School Education Chair

GINGERBREAD HOUSES

Order gingerbread houses and icing from local bakery

Order and sort candy from vendor, purchase all necessary supplies

Coordinate volunteers for each decorating day

Assist children in decorating houses

Organize publicity, registration of children, and facility use

HOSPITALITY

Coordinate Staff luncheon on the day before school opens

Supplies coffee and snacks for the class coffees and new family coffee at the beginning of the year

Provides coffee and snacks at PTO meetings throughout the year

Hostess approximately two teacher/staff breakfasts during the year

Report to Vice-Chair

JUNIOR GREAT BOOKS

The Junior Great Books (JGB) coordinator runs the JGB program, which is available to grades 2-5. Classes meet weekly from January through March.

In the early fall, the coordinator identifies parent volunteers to teach the classes and arranges for these volunteers to attend a training session

Flyers for classes need to be completed before Christmas break so that books may be ordered in time

KID’S CARE CLUB COORDINATOR

Work with volunteers to implement community service projects

The goal is to work with the Ox Ridge students to get the children involved with community service projects throughout the year

Organize fundraising to support Kid’s Care initiatives (ie. Bake sales)

LEVEL BOOK ROOM

Coordinate with designated teacher/staff volunteers to: identify and categorize reading levels for books, maintain a master list of books in room (by title, author, genre, level) and number of copies available, provide teachers with tools and systems to check out and return books, update as needed to include new additions to the inventory, and establish a schedule to maintain the room.

LIBRARY

Coordinate parent volunteers to work in the library throughout the school year and for library “clean-up” in January and June

Most of the work involves scheduling and takes place in September

Coordinate with librarian on any ad-hoc support (author visits, etc)

Report to School Education Chair

MUSIC FOR YOUTH - OX RIDGE REPRESENTATIVE

Collect donations, deposit them and writes thank you notes to donors over $100

Meet the performers one hour before to help set up, take photos and provide food or drinks, as needed

Report to Community Relations Chair

MUSIC ROOM

Assist the Music teacher with any typing or video support he may need

This job is very flexible and no musical talent is needed

NOMINATING

Member of the Executive PTO Board

Responsible for filling up to 80 positions on the Ox Ridge PTO Board

Slating process begins in December and carries through to March

Responsible for the Volunteer Fair, which takes place in January

OX RIDGE OUTFITTERS

Select and order all appropriate merchandise to bear “Ox Ridge” name

Sell merchandise to recipients at class coffees and family picnic

Distribute merchandise to recipients

Starts in the summer with the selection of merchandise and ends in the late fall

Reports to Fundraising Chairs

PARENT AWARENESS

Act as a liaison between Ox Ridge and the YWCA Parent Awareness Board and attend monthly meetings

Report monthly at the PTO meetings on upcoming parent focused programs/developments

Attend and promote Parent Awareness programs and assist in the set-up and coordination, especially if Ox Ridge is hosting

Participate in Parent Awareness fund raising activities and liaise with the PTO treasurer

PTO WEBSITE COORDINATOR

•Coordinator is responsible for the design and maintenance of the Ox Ridge PTO website.

• Website coordinator relies on the various PTO committees and/or the Co-Chairs for the actual content, which includes calendars of events, school flyers, important announcements, and PTO minutes.

• Once approved, this information is sent to the coordinator for posting.

PORTRAITS OF AMERICA (4th Grade- one year position)

∙ This program ties into the 4th grade social studies program.

∙ Coordinate parent volunteers to present artwork from a region of the country the children are currently

studying. There are five presentations each year in each class- 2 parents do each presentation.

∙ Provide presentation materials and an overview of the artwork prior to each round of presentations.

∙ Potentially investigate adding to artwork in various regions.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Take pictures for our school yearbook

The yearbook is submitted to the publisher before Christmas; Yearbooks are distributed in the spring.

PUBLICITY

Coordinate volunteers to promote the great happenings at Ox Ridge School

Articles and photos are be submitted to the local newspapers on a regular basis

Job includes a little writing and some photography

Reports to Community Relations Chair

ROOM MOTHER (one year position)

Coordinate volunteers to serve the classroom needs of the teacher, attend PTO meetings and disseminate PTO information.

Serve as the class coordinators for the PTO – room mothers will be called upon as needed

Position includes a "co-room mother" to work with you throughout the year

Overseen by Vice-Chair

SECRETARY

Member of the Executive Board

Records and distributes minutes of all Executive PTO meetings as well as regular PTO meetings

Responsible for distributing all PTO related mail to appropriate committee heads

SCHOOL-WIDE ENRICHMENT

Design and execute programs to enrich and enhance students’ academic experience (e.g. Math Olympics, Bookworm Project, etc.).

Generally theme based Science, Math, Geography, etc.

Some degree of creativity is necessary, but work done via committee.

Programs are designed to use parent volunteers to complement curriculum without putting an undue burden on teachers or taking away from classroom time.

Work closely with Principal and teachers to implement programs in and out of the classroom throughout the school year.

Report to School Education Chair

SOCIAL

Volunteers are needed to help plan and execute school wide social events throughout the school year

Some past events include a school picnic, talent show, DJ event, magician, bingo night, etc.

Send flyers, get responses, plan, get volunteers, order food and activities, etc.

Report to Vice-Chair

SOS COMMITTEE

This committee is designed to help families in need by delivering meals, driving, and carpooling

The time commitment is difficult to predict as you are on-call all year,

Maintain a list of volunteers so if there is a need, you can contact volunteers and create a schedule of suitable helpers

Reports to Community Relations Chair

TLC REPRESENTATIVE

The TLC Representative serves as a liaison between the TLC parents and the Ox Ridge School PTO

Represents the TLC as it relates to the greater Ox Ridge School community

Duties include monthly attendance at Executive Board meetings and general PTO meetings and dissemination of PTO information to TLC parents, as necessary

TREASURER

This two year position does not require a financial background but great attention to detail

Responsibilities include maintaining the PTO accounts via Quicken, providing funds to the various PTO committees as needed, assisting with the mid year appropriations of PTO funds and with the budgeting process at the end of the year

This position has a fairly large time commitment

The Treasurer is a member of the PTO Executive Board and is expected to attend all meetings

ASSISTANT TREASURER

This two year position does not require a financial background but must be detail-oriented and have good organizational skills

Primary responsibilities are receiving all monies for deposit from the various committees, confirming the deposit amount with both the specific committee head as well as the Treasurer, and depositing the funds into the PTO checking account

The Assistant Treasurer is a member of the PTO Executive Board and is expected to move into the Treasurer position after fulfilling this job

UNICEF

The Ox Ridge representative distributes teacher information on UNICEF and orange UNICEF boxes.

After Halloween, collect boxes and deposit funds

Run the Boo Gram sales with the help of the student council

Job requires time commitment in the Fall

WELCOME DESK/KID CALL COORDINATOR

Coordinate and manage the list of volunteers who man the Welcome Desk/Kid Call at the front of the school

Send out weekly email reminders to volunteers and weekly sign in sheet to school secretary

Good organizational skills and an interest in getting to know many parent volunteers are necessary

WELCOME DESK/KID CALL

Man the welcome desk and/or Kid Call(during 1st shift only) to welcome and monitor visitors to our school

Kid Call –only required during 1st shift of Welcome Desk. Receive and record the absence phone calls and make sure they match the actual reported absences.

Shifts are 1½ hours long and are scheduled on a five-week rotation

WELCOMING COMMITTEE

Welcome new families to Ox Ridge by making phone calls, attending new family coffee in September, and organizing a informational town resource welcome packet

Contact new families that move in throughout the school year to welcome them and deliver a welcome packet to them

Report to School Communications Chair

YEARBOOK

Coordinate the design, production and sales of the annual Ox Ridge Yearbook

Volunteers are needed to coordinate taking candid pictures for each class and information to be sent for publication in January or February

Job requires computer skills; comfort with photography/photo layout and graphic design a plus

Report to School Communications Chair

If you have any questions, please call Victoria Bieler (656-3096) or Jill Stute (655-8274).