VOLUNTEER OPPURTUNITIES
for
COUNTRYSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Sponsored by the PTOChairpeople for 2008/2009 are in red. Please contact them with questions or for volunteer opportunities.
All SCHOOL PARTY – The All-School Family Party is held at the end of October. Chair coordinates publicity, arranges music, decorations, refreshments, and volunteers. Volunteers are needed to assist with arrangements and staffing the party.
Megan Stone 952-928-7054 thestones3@yahoo.com Kim Stratton 952-924-0419 kim-mattstratton@comcast.netART EXPLORERS – An enrichment program sponsored by the Community Resource Pool in conjunction with the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Coordinator recruits and schedules volunteers. Volunteers give oral presentations and provide a supporting art project for classroom students. Six presentations per year, approx. 30 minutes each. Training and support materials are provided.
Annie Schilling 952-926-1617 annieschilling@msn.comBACK TO SCHOOL EVENT – This event provides students and families with an opportunity to familiarize themselves with classrooms, get acquainted with classmates, deliver supplies to school, and meet other Countryside families. The Back-to-School Chair works with the New Family Committee on promotion, signage, light lunch, set-up, and volunteers. Volunteers are needed at the event to greet families and answer general questions.
Michelle Lohrding 952-285-1313 m.lohrding@earthlink.net Kristen Karpinsky 952-945-0364 kakarpinsky@hotmail.com
BRAVO MUSIC – (Half-day Kindergarten only) An enrichment program that introduces musical masterpieces to classroom students on a monthly basis. Coordinator recruits and schedules volunteers. Volunteers make presentations. Approx. 30 minutes apiece. Supplies and training are provided.
Annie Schilling 952-926-1617 annieschilling@msn.comCARNIVAL – The school’s major fundraising event which is held in the spring. School community gathers for fun, games, and food all in a carnival atmosphere. Co-Chairs coordinate and recruit volunteers to head up various sub committees. Chairs act as overseers and advisors for the event.
Kristin Love 952-929-3592 Kristin@talentemail.com
Katherine & Chris Johnson 952-513-9853 katherine@nosnhoj.comEDINA EDUCATION FUND LIASION – The co-liaisons work with the Ed Fund to provide information to the staff on grant writing opportunities. As well as, helping promote the Ed Fund events throughout the year.
Pam Smith 952-932-9626 pssmith5@hotmail.com
Ann Lagorio 952-930-3382 alagario@comcast.net
FAMILY MATH NIGHT - Math Night is an opportunity for families to learn the "Chicago Math" games that the children learn in class so they can play and practice a t home. We also have board games available that build math skills. It is a casual evening--come for a short time or stay the evening. Refreshments and help with games are provided!!
FIFTH GRADE RECOGNITION – Co-Chairs coordinate graduation ceremony and celebration. Held on the last day of school. Volunteers assist Chairs with arrangements and on the day of the event.
Patty Dronen 952-920-5553 pdronen@hotmail.comPeggy Watt 612- 927 - 0141 m_watt@comcast.net
FRIENDLY FRIDAYS - see Staff Hospitality
GIFT WRAP SALE – A popular fall fundraiser in October. Chair handles publicity, distributes sales information, processes orders, and distributes product in mid November. Volunteers needed to assist with distribution.
Jane Gregory 952-933-2640 janegrgry@msn.comGRANT WRITING – Coordinate grant writing in partnership with school staff to provide additional funds for school programs and projects. No grant writing experience is necessary! Training and assistance can be provided by the Edina Education Fund.
Carrie Ellis 952.929.4476 carrie.ellis@gmail.com
GREEN TEAM – New to Countryside this year! This team will work in three capacities. 1)to provide outreach and education to our students and families 2) green care and beautification to our school and the school grounds 3) introduction and running of lunch composting program.
JUNIOR GREAT BOOKS – An interpretive reading enrichment program based on shared inquiry discussion offered to students in grades 2-5. Volunteers lead small, student-group discussions once weekly for eight week starting in February. Discussions can be schedule before school, during lunch/recess or after school to accommodate leader’s schedule. Chair recruits parent facilitators, arranges for their training and orders materials. Volunteers must attend a one-day, one-time training session paid for by the PTO.
Mary Beth Larson 952-920-1146 marybeth.larson@allina.com KINDERGARTEN INFORMATION NIGHT – Arrange refreshments and set up before event. Assist office staff as needed and attend function as an ambassador of the school.
Kris Waggoner 952-929-1001 waggoner@visi.comLori Porth 952-952-897-3970 lporth@yahoo.com
LEGISLATIVE LIAISON – A communication liaison to the district, organized lobbying group. Responsibilities include updating PTO membership of current and proposed legislation concerning education. The chair also activates telephone and letter-writing campaigns to legislators regarding educational issues.
Nick Nierengarten 952-935-3303 nicholas.nierengarten@gpmlaw.comMEDIA CENTER – Assist the specialist in shelving books weekly or bi-weekly, about a 1 hour time commitment. Help with special events such as book orders, author visit and I Love to Read Month.
Cathy Lee 952-938-1685 cathylee@mn.rr.comNEW FAMILY WELCOME COMMITTEE– An orientation and welcome for new families and follow up fun event with Q and A for parents. Delivers welcome packet to new families, takes photographs of new students, and connects new families to their classroom room parents. Volunteers needed for help in planning the event.
Angela Hamilton 952-929-0274 ham1005@yahoo.comNEWSLINE SUPPORT – Solicit articles and information from teachers and committees to include in the weekly newsline. Help get important communication together for our school community.
Peter Van Dyke 952-920-4443 peter@optimage.comPARENT COMMUNICATION NETWORK (PCN) – PCN is an organization serving the community by providing forums for parents on topics of interest specific to parenting, current issues and the social and educational development of students in Kindergarten through 12th grade. Co-chairs act as liaison between the organization and Countryside families.
Tina Bohrer 952-926-6934 tinabohrer@yahoo.com
Carolyn Jackson 952-836-1770 bjandcj@aol.com
READ-A-THON - Read-A-Thon provides an exciting opportunity for your children to increase their interest in reading along with raising money for additional books and learning resources for Countryside. Co-chairs are responsible for choosing theme, coordinating kick-off ceremony, production and distribution of forms/packets and overseeing entire process. Volunteers will assist co-chairs with cutting, collecting and hanging ribbons.
ROOM PARENT – Helps coordinate classroom activities for teachers and the PTO as needed. Activities may include arranging room parties, field trip chaperones, classroom volunteers and a welcome contact to new families in the class. Room parents are also responsible for soliciting classroom parents to work Carnival. Chair recruits and trains volunteers. Volunteers needed for specific room assignments.
Molly Schmidt 952-920-9749 tchu2spk@yahoo.com
Eileen McCarthy-Harness 952-922-6765 emharness@comcast.netSCHOOL DIRECTORY – Chair supervises compilation, production, ordering, and distribution of PTO Student Directory. Volunteers needed to assist Chair.
Roger Olson 952-938-6435 ro@prodsg.comSCHOOL PICTURES – Chair negotiates or renews contract with professional photographers, schedules dates, arranges retakes, coordinates volunteers and processes orders. Volunteers needed to help children on picture day.
Cathy Winter 952-926-1535 cathy.winter@gmail.comSCHOOL STORE – Considered both a school spirit and fundraising endeavor, Co-Chairs select and order merchandise. Maintain inventory control. Volunteers needed to work store on a periodic basis.
Kaki Hauge 952-939-0761 kakihaug@comcast.net
Carrie Kilberg 952-920-9719 clkilberg@aol.com SCHOOL SUPPLIES – Chair solicits teachers for class supply lists. Negotiates with distributor and solicits school community for orders. Collects orders and distributes supplies at Back to School Day. Volunteers needed to distribute supplies at Back-to-School Event.
Amy Tuchenhagen 952-932-7292 amythagen@netscape.net Terry Smith 952-848-7468 tsmith1@q.com SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR/BOOK FAIR DINNER– This fundraising event requires Co-Chairs to work with Scholastic Book representatives on planning and advertising annual fall book fair. Volunteers assist chairs with set-up, event sales, and clean up.
Lisa Simon 952-933-6616 lisa@simon.org
Krin Reid 952-935-5249 krinandsam@aol.com
Laurie Newhouse (dinner) 952-920-8744 lnewhouse55@comcast.netElamin Omerabi (dinner) 952-736-1936 ffomerabi@msn.com
SCIENCE FAIR/CELEBRATION OF LEARNING– An evening enrichment event where student work shines! Exhibition of student science projects and hobby displays. Projects are created at home. Chair coordinates communication with staff, handles publicity, sets up tables and signs, and gives certificates to participants. Volunteers needed for organizing food, set-up and clean-up.
Ingrid and Bruce Yelkin 952-546-1883 ingrid.yelkin@parknicollet.com Dina Scholl 952-240-1574 dinascholl@hotmail.com
SILENT FUNDRAISERS (KEMPS MILK TOPS, BOX TOPS, GIFT CARDS & INK CARTRIDGES/CELL PHONES) – Sponsored silent fundraisers in which milk caps, box tops and ink cartridges are collected and returned to sponsors for cash donation to PTO or for the purchase of school merchandise. Chair handles publicity, collecting and forwarding donations, and assisting with purchases.
Karen Holetz 952-848-2040 (box tops) kholetz@comcast.net
Rose Rustad 952-929-8906 (phones & ink) rkrustad@comcast.netLisa Simon 952-933-6616 lisa@simon.org
SILVER GRAPHICS ART
Silver Graphics art-based fundraiser turns each child’s individual full color artwork into a variety of unique and personal custom gifts for the whole family! This encourages children’s interest in the arts Creating a variety of keepsakes also helps build their self-esteem and creates lasting memories. This job entails working with our art teacher, getting the order forms out, placing the orders and helping to distribute the final products.
Molly Urbanski 952-926-1258 urbys@msn.com
STAFF HOSPITALITY / FRIENDLY FRIDAYS – As a sign of parent/student appreciation, Chair coordinates faculty luncheons at the beginning and end of the school year. Also arranges for once-a-month snack in the faculty lounge. Volunteers needed to work luncheons.
Laurie Newhouse 952-920-8744 lnewhouse55@comcast.net
Wendy Clise 952-920-2328 timclise@msn.com
TRANSITION TO MIDDLE SCHOOL – Coordinate speakers to present information and answer questions on the transition from elementary to middle school.
Michelle Bovy 952.303.3613 mmbovy@comcast.net
WEB MANAGEMENT – Chair responsible for updating PTO portion of school website.
Peter Van Dyke 952-920-4443 peter@optimage.comYEARBOOK – Chair collects pictures, edits, and coordinates layout of annual memory book. Volunteers are needed to assist chair.
Cathy Winter 952-926-1535 cathy.winter@gmail.com