ATTENTION MARSHALL PARENTS:

OUR VOLUNTEER EFFORT FOR 2008~2009 BEGINS TODAY!

Welcome Back Everyone!

          Returning to school is always a very busy, but equally exciting time of year for all of us.  As we prepare for the year ahead and get reacquainted with bus schedules, teachers, classes and friends, it is also the time we look forward to all the wonderful activities planned for MES throughout the year by the PFA.  Each year the PFA Committees, through the generous volunteer efforts of our wonderful group of parents, are able to make a valuable contribution to the school in a variety of ways.  This year we ask again for your support and invite you to join one or more of our efforts to make it another enjoyable and rewarding year for everyone involved.   

Attached you will find the MES PFA Volunteer Form for the 2008-2009 school year.  Descriptions of the various PFA committees and volunteer opportunities within each committee are also provided.  Also, please be sure to look for the separate Room Parent/ Field Day volunteer sheet.  Please review the information, fill out the volunteer form and/or the Room Parent form, and return them to school no later than Friday, September 5th, 2008.

We welcome whatever time you are able to provide and you may of course sign up for as many committees as you wish, but please be aware of the time commitment required by each committee.  If you have any specific questions about a committee that interests you, please call the committee chairman.  The phone numbers of each chairman are provided on the reverse side of this letter.  Also, if you have a general question about this packet, please contact Christine Doolittle, VP of Volunteers at 724-933-0832 or via email at doobigs4@zoominternet.net

          Thanks in advance for helping out at Marshall!  We look forward to seeing you soon, as we begin the new school year!

DON’T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO VOLUNTEER!!!

MES PFA VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP SHEET

Please complete one form per volunteer and return it to the office by Friday, September 5th!

NAME: __________________________________________________             PHONE#_________________

CHILD(REN'S) NAME(S):______________________________GRADE(S) / SECTION(S): _________________________

E-MAIL: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

I would like to VOLUNTEER to assist with the following PFA Committees this year:

_____ AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS _____ MARKET DAY _____ SCHOLARSHIP
     
_____ BIRTHDAY BOOK CLUB _____ PPC COMMITTEE _____ SHOE BOX SCIENCE
     
_____ BOOK FAIR _____ PREPAID SHOPPING CARDS _____ SOCIAL
     

_____ COMMUNITY SERVICE

_____ PROGRAMS & ASSEMBLIES _____ STAFF APPRECIATION
     
_____ DIRECTORY  _____ READ-A-THON _____ TRAVELING ART GALLERY
     
_____ FUNDRAISER _____ RETAIL REBATES

_____ WELCOME

     
_____ HEALTH & WELLNESS    
 

_____    FALL BOOK FAIR VOLUNTEERS - November 3rd~7th, 2008
Please check and circle your available time(s):                                                                             
_____    Monday* AM / PM            _____   Tuesday* AM / PM             _____ Wednesday AM / PM     
_____   Thursday AM / PM              _____   Friday AM / PM

*Fall Conferences – Classes are not in session.

 
_____    SPRING BOOK FAIR VOLUNTEERS - June 1-5, 2009
Please check and circle your available time(s):                                                                              
_____    Monday* AM / PM            _____   Tuesday* AM / PM             _____ Wednesday AM / PM    
_____   Thursday AM / PM              _____   Friday AM / PM
 
_____    HEALTH OFFICE VOLUNTEERSNURSES ONLY, PLEASE
_____    AM         _____    PM
_____    Monday          _____    Tuesday        _____    Wednesday          _____    Thursday               _____   Friday
 
_____    HOLIDAY SHOP - Friday, December 5th 2008:                                         
 _____    Setup: (11:00~3:30)*
_____    Holiday Shop Helpers:  (4:00~6.00) / (6.00~7:30)*                                        
_____    Cash Register Volunteers: (4:00~6.00) / (6.00~7:30)*    
 *Shift hours may vary depending upon availability.
 

_____    HOLIDAY SHOP ASSISTANT COOKIE COORDINATOR

 
_____    LIBRARY VOLUNTEERS
_____    AM         _____    PM
_____    Monday     _____                  Tuesday    _____ Wednesday           _____ Thursday                 _____  Friday
 

_____    PUBLISHING CENTER
_____    Monthly                                _____    Bi-Monthly           _____    Weekly                 

    Wednesday          _____    AM         _____    PM

                Thursday               _____    AM         _____    PM          _____    I would like to help from home.

                Friday                   _____    AM         _____    PM

 
_____    SOCIAL
______    Family Fun Night (Sept. 18th)            ________    Spring Social/Bingo Night (March 2009)
 
_____    YEARBOOK       
_____    Room Photographer (Grade/Section __________)       _____ Other Yearbook Help

                     VOLUNTEER DESCRIPTIONS                        

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Volunteers are needed to help define, plan, register and execute this year’s set of After School classes and programs.  Through our After School Program, students have enjoyed exploring subjects such as Cooking, Spanish, Chess, Arts & Crafts, Floor Hockey and Volleyball. If your children have enjoyed these activities in the past or would be interested in participating in the future, your help will allow us to continue running this great program!

BIRTHDAY BOOK CLUB
Volunteers are needed to help children select a book to purchase and donate to the MES library during MES special events such as the Family Fun Night and Parent-Teacher Conferences.  Additional Birthday Book Club work may be performed from a home computer giving parents who can't make it to school an avenue for participating as well.  Please join us!

BOOK FAIR-October 27-31 (Preview Week) & November 3-7 (Sales Week)
The Book Fair Preview Week will be held Monday, October 27th through Friday, October 31st.  The librarians will preview the Fair with the students during their library classes.  The Book Fair will be open for family sales concurrent with conferences on Monday and Tuesday, November 3rd and 4th.  From Wednesday through Friday, November 5th - 7th, students can make purchases during their scheduled homeroom time.  Volunteers are needed to help assist students and families with purchases and selections during Sales Week.  We look forward to your help!  

BOOK FAIR-June 1-5, 2009
The Spring Book Fair is more family-oriented, as students will not be previewing or shopping during class time.  The Book Fair will be open before and after school, from 8:30-9:30 a.m. and 3:00-4:00 p.m.  Volunteers are needed to help families with purchases and selections.  Also, we will have a Book Fair/Spring Social Family Night on Wednesday, June 3rd.  Help will be needed with decorations, setup, planning, etc.  Please consider helping MES to Jump-start Summer Reading!  

COMMUNITY SERVICE

This committee holds various service projects based on community needs. MES students work together with teachers and parent volunteers to accomplish these projects. Come and lend a helping hand!  Some of the projects we worked on last year included Make-A-Wish and Letters to the Troops.

DIRECTORY
This committee has the single task of compiling student information for the school telephone directory and is completed during the month of September. Volunteers work mostly at home and with only one meeting for proofreading the final draft. Typical volunteer work includes assembling teacher biographies as well as updating them, taking staff photos when needed, proofreading entries in the directory, and making a limited number of telephone calls to confirm missing directory information. For parents who work or have small children at home, the flexibility that this committee allows by working at home provides an easy and convenient way to get involved with the PFA.

FUNDRAISER
It takes a "TON" of volunteers to make our Fall Fundraiser a complete success! Volunteers are needed in September and November to help assemble and distribute the fundraiser packets, tally the student orders, and assist with the distribution of the products.  With all of the fun we will be having working together during this event; we might want to call it "FUNRAISING"!

HEALTH & WELLNESS
We are looking for energetic volunteers to help plan and implement programs and activities for healthy, active children.  Examples of programs range from healthy choices in the cafeteria to family fun events (and many options in between).  We have opportunities to get involved whether you have a little time to give or a lot!  Some activities, such as writing newsletter articles and grant proposals, can be done on your own time.

HEALTH OFFICE VOLUNTEERS
Nurses are needed to assist the health office with height, weight, and vision screenings this fall.  The commitment will be for 1/2-day, AM or PM.  Thanks!

HOLIDAY SHOP
We have a great need for energetic and patient parents to help with this year's Holiday Shop. The Holiday Shop hours are Friday, December 5th from 4:00 - 8:00 PM.  We need parents to help Friday morning and afternoon with merchandise setup, and during the shopping hours to restock tables and help children shop. People with cash register experience are specifically needed. The Holiday Shop will be offering some unique and fun gifts for everyone on your child's list, so we hope that this will be an enjoyable few hours for all volunteers!

HOLIDAY SHOP ASSISTANT COOKIE COORDINATOR
We are looking for a person to assist with coordinating the Bake Sale held during the Holiday Shop. The effort involves coordinating the delivery and setup of the cookies and requesting donations of local merchants. The total amount of time spent will be approximately 15-20 hours and the benefits are sweet!

LIBRARY VOLUNTEERS
Library volunteers are needed to assist the librarians in shelving books, to help students find books, and to check booksin and out of the library.  The time commitment is 1/2-day weekly.

MARKET DAY
Volunteers are needed one Wednesday afternoon each month for 1-2 hours. The 1st hour (2:30-3:30 PM) is spent unpacking the boxes of food items and organizing them throughout the cafeteria by category. The 2nd hour (3:30-4:30 PM) is spent packing food orders for the school staff and double checking customer orders for accuracy before they leave the building.  Any amount of time you can volunteer is appreciated.  Children are welcome. This is a fantastic opportunity to get involved with the PFA and it requires only a small time commitment each month.

PREPAID SHOPPING CARDS
Volunteers are needed to help sort and fill orders of the prepaid shopping cards on Thursday mornings from 9:30 – 11:30 am.  This is approximately a 2 hour commitment every other or every third week. 

We are also in need of volunteers for order pick-up on Thursday afternoons from 3:15-3:45 pm.  If you could help with sales on other event days (i.e. Holiday Shop, Family Fun Night, etc.), please consider volunteering.  Scheduling will be very flexible.

PROGRAMS AND ASSEMBLIES
Volunteers are needed a few times each year to assist with Programs and Assemblies set up for the students with the help of the PFA.  Last year’s programs featured the Anti-Bullying performance by Saltworks Theater Co., Abe Lincoln Assembly and Laser Light Show. 

PUBLISHING CENTER
The publishing center is the center in which the children's work is either spiral bound into a book, laminated, or otherwise completed for display in the school. Training will be provided for anyone wishing to be a volunteer for this important center. A training session will be announced or will be held at your convenience.  Average volunteer time is two hours or less, AM or PM, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday.  Please mark the times you are available.  We are very flexible!

READ -A- THON
Volunteers will meet as needed (approximately 3-4 meetings) to plan this week long event which occurs in conjunction with Dr. Seuss's March 2nd birthday.  Students will have fun participating in school-wide activities such as earning incentives for reading, participating in a book drive and more!  The highlight of the week is "Literature Day" which will include an author presentation or reading-based assembly held during the school day.  Please join the Read-A-Thon team and have some fun this year encouraging our children to read!

RETAIL REBATES
Our receipt redemption committee earns cash for MES from the General Mills Boxtops for Education program, and valuable educational materials from the Giant Eagle and Campbell’s programs. Volunteers are needed who will commit to meeting once a month for 2 to 3 hours to socialize and sort boxtops or work at home on your own time.  It's well worth the time and it's fun too!

 ROOM PARENT / FIELD DAY
Opportunities abound for Room Parent volunteers!  Help is needed in coordinating parties and activities for the children throughout the year.  * Please see the separate Classroom Party and Field Day Volunteer Form to sign up for these positions.

SCHOLARSHIP
Volunteers for the Scholarship Committee will meet in January to make any necessary revisions to the Scholarship Application Form and to design a "scoring system" for the applications once they are received.  Application due date is set sometime in mid-April.  This allows the committee time to read and score the applications individually and then notify the NASH Guidance office in a timely manner so as to include those names in the graduation program.  The selection committee, which includes teachers/staff, will meet once to make the final selections based upon those scores.  Once the selections have been made, the Scholarship winners and the NASH Guidance office are notified.  The committee will also try to come up with creative ways (i.e. Staff Jeans Day(s)) to help fund the scholarships. 

SHOE BOX SCIENCE

The Shoe Box Science Program needs a few volunteers to spend up to 1 hour per week in the library (flexible schedule) to do the following:

·         Check in and return unclaimed boxes to the storage area.

·         Check the contents of each returned box against the master list.

·         Restock the contents of each box as necessary (noting missing and/or broken components).

·         Check in and shelve completed boxes; set aside boxes with missing components.

SOCIALS
Volunteers are needed to help set up tables before the Socials, place snacks on the tables, serve drinks that will be prepared ahead of time, and take down tables after the Socials.  Above all, have fun!  This year a Family Fun Night is planned for the fall and a March Madness Bingo Night will be scheduled for early spring. 

STAFF APPRECIATION
The teachers and staff at Marshall Elementary School are a group deserving of much applause and appreciation.  Help us show we care by participating in the Staff Appreciation committee.  Your help will be needed during the holidays as well as in preparation for Staff Appreciation week in May.

TRAVELING ART GALLERY
The TAG (Traveling Art Gallery) Program is a unique volunteer opportunity here at MES. TAG is the only program where parent volunteers bring lessons directly into the classroom. The program's goal is to promote art appreciation to the students.  Volunteers can attend a district meeting in September for an explanation of the program. The print, along with a folder and copies of previous TAG presentations, will be distributed to each person in advance so they can develop a lesson plan for the masterpiece they are assigned and then present their one lesson in three different classrooms. Presentations are 30-45 minutes in length, and will occur during the months of October, November and December.  Volunteers with need to be available for 3 presentations, 1 class each month.  Come join the TAG Team and have some fun! 

WELCOME
The Welcome Committee is responsible for “welcoming” new families to MES!  If you are outgoing and would like to assist new MES families by calling to welcome them, making sure that they received a Welcome Packet, giving them information about the PFA/meetings, and answering any questions that they may have, please join us! We also put together Welcome Packets throughout the year, and host a Newcomers’ Welcome Breakfast on Friday, September 12th.  This breakfast gives new families an opportunity to meet students, faculty, and PFA members, as well as other families new to our school.  We look forward to welcoming you to our committee!

YEARBOOK
Volunteers are needed to help with the preparation of the MES yearbook.  Our greatest need this year is for "Room Photographer" volunteers.  We would like to have two volunteers per classroom take candid photos of each child.   These volunteers will have access to room parties and special events in the classroom.  Digital cameras are preferred, but film and developing can be provided.  Keep in mind that this is simply amateur photography - please don't be afraid to volunteer!  Other yearbook volunteer opportunities include selling and distributing the yearbook, checking class lists, etc. This is a great opportunity to get involved at MES.  It's not a big commitment, just a very important one!

Remember:  If you have time, please volunteer!