Volunteering Opportunities

Parent involvement is critical to West Portal School’s success!

IN THE CLASSROOM

Room Parent: Duties include: 1) within first few weeks of school create and distribute a classroom directory; 2) within first part of the year coordinate one informal get together for parents and students at a park, bowling alley or other fun location outside of school; 3) assist teacher in distributing important communications to parents either by phone or email; assist teacher with getting parent participation for parties and field trips; and 4) encourage parents to participate in school activities and fund raisers 5) share information from the WPPC board with parents. (1-2 hours per month average)

Classroom Volunteer: Regularly, assist your child’s teacher in the classroom on a designated day and time each week to be determined in advance. (1-4 hours per week)

Field Trip Chaperone: Volunteer to chaperone a field trip. (4-5 hours per field trip average)

Reading Mentor: Work with a child or group of children reading out load. (1-4 hours per week )

Scholastic Book Order Coordinator: In conjunction with the teacher, distribute, collect and submit Scholastic Book Orders. (1-2 hours per month average)

Special Class Project: Volunteer to lead or assist with a special class project such as cooking and/or art projects or a special research project. (4-6 hours depending upon the project)

Thursday Music Lunch Club:  Assist Ms. Susan with lunch time music activities. (1 hour per week)

Tutoring: Work with a child or group of children on specific learning skills such as reading, math, spelling or computer skills. (1-4 hours per week)

FUND RAISING AND COMMUNITY BUILDING EVENTS 

FALL

Kinder Fun Day: Coordinator/s (preferably an outgoing Kindergarten parent) plans an informal get together for incoming kindergarteners and their families at West Portal Playground on the Saturday before school starts in August. Two summer playdates are usually planned at local parks for new families to meet and greet. (5-10 hour commitment). 

First Day Coffee: Coordinators organize First Day Coffee (coffee, bagels, pastries, etc.) delivering food items to school and setting-up event and cleaning up after event. (5-8 hour commitment)

Movie Night:  Organizer chooses date, selects movie, publicizes event (in Panther Press, Thursday message folders, flyers around school, etc.).  Recruits volunteers to serve pizza, set up and clean up. (5-8 hour commitment)

Walk to School Day:  Organizer signs WP school up with the city wide program.  Receives free prizes for kids (reflectors, pencils, stickers, etc.), publicizes event (in Panther Press, Thursday message folders, flyers around school, etc.).  Recruits volunteers to stand at various school entrances to cheer kids and hand out prizes. (4 hour commitment)

Pumpkin Patch: Committee Coordinators order merchandize, solicit bake sale items, set prices and coordinate volunteers. (10-15 hour commitment).  Parents are also needed on the day of the event to assist children with selecting items, counting money and making change. (1-4 hour commitment)

Halloween Carnival: Committee Coordinators include: 1) the Artistic Director(s) responsible for design and layout of games and themes; 2) Food Coordinator responsible for food and bake sales; and 3) Volunteer Coordinator responsible for soliciting and coordinating student and parent volunteers. (15-30 hour commitment).  Parent Volunteers are also needed to help set up, clean up and staff game, bake sale and food booths on the day of the event. (2-4 hour commitment)

Read-A-Thon: Coordinator distributes instructions and sponsorship forms, collects money and distributes prizes. Volunteers help with writing and sending thank you notes.  (10-15 hour commitment)

WINTER

Science Night:  Organizer creates six science stations for kids to visit.  Recruits and organizes volunteers to man each station and publicizes event (in Panther Press, Thursday message folders, flyers around school, etc.).  (5-8 hour commitment)

Red Envelope Drive:  Part of the Ed Fund.  Organizer solicits donations of red envelopes and paper.  Distributes to each student with letter requesting donations. (2-3 hour commitment)

Lunar New Year Celebration Night:  Organizer plans performances, recruits and organizes volunteers, food and decorations, and publicizes event (in Panther Press, Thursday message folders, flyers around school, etc.).  (5-8 hour commitment)

SPRING

Spring Auction: Committee Coordinators include: 1) Silent Auction Director responsible for coordinating solicitation and cataloguing of silent auction items and coordination of silent auction on day of event; 2) Raffle Coordinator responsible for distribution and collection of raffle tickets and prizes. 3) Day of coordinator.  Responsible for reserving a location, booking a caterer, decorations, and all things related to the day of the event.  Please visit this link for further information: Spring Auction 2013.

Bike to School Day:  Organizer signs WP school up with the city wide program.  Receives free prizes for kids (reflectors, pencils, stickers, etc.), publicizes event (in Panther Press, Thursday message folders, flyers around school, etc.).  Recruits volunteers to hand out prizes, cheer kids, park bikes and lead bike trains to school. (4 hour commitment)

Spring Musical: Production Coordinator is responsible for working with teachers to ensure teachers receive the support they need in coordinating all rehearsals, auditions, performances and back stage help. (20-30 hour commitment).  Other Committee Coordinators include: 1) Volunteer Coordinator responsible for staffing sales tables at performances, coordinating back stage volunteers and videographers; 2) Make-up Coordinator is responsible for working with teachers to design and purchase make-up for cast members; 3) Costume Coordinator is responsible for working with teachers to design and purchase costumes for cast members; and 4) Cast Party Coordinator responsible for coordination of food and entertainment for cast party. (15-20 hour commitment).  Performance volunteers are responsible for staffing sales tables, kid wrangling and make-up for shows. (2-4 hour commitment )

YEAR ROUND

Sweatshirt Sales: Coordinator is responsible for overseeing year round sale of sweatshirts and for working with event coordinators to facilitate sales of shirts events. (15-10 hours commitment )

Box Tops: Coordinator solicits and collects box tops and submits them for reimbursement. (10-15 hour commitment )

eScrip: Coordinator solicits and signs-up scrip participants. (10-15 hour commitment)

Printer Cartridge/Cell Phone Recycling: Coordinator collects and arranges for recycling of used printer cartridges and cell phones. (1 hour per month)

CHINESE PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAM

FALL/WINTER

Chinese New Year Parade: Executive Parade Coordinator(s): is responsible overall coordination of all performing arts groups, submission of forms and communication with Chinese Chamber of Commerce, coordinating fundraising performances throughout the year and reviewing and approving all parade expenditures including costumes or props. (60-80 hour commitment )

Parent Coordinators for individual performing arts groups are responsible for taking attendance at rehearsals, assisting instructors with behavior issues during rehearsals, coordinating rehearsal snacks if desired, distributing and collecting costumes, collecting and returning costume deposits, marching in the parade with their group’s supply pack, and communicating with Executive Parade Coordinator. (30-60 hour commitment)

Performing arts groups include: Banner holders, Drummers, Ribbon Dancers, Fan Dancers, Lion Dancers, Stilt Walkers and Dragon Runners.

SCHOOL SUPPORT

Communications:  send weekly emails to the school yahoo group with upcoming events and reminders. (1 hour per week)

Gardening Day Volunteer: Help with planting, weeding and general garden maintenance. (1-4 hour per event)

Enrollment Fair:  represent WP school at the annual SFUSD enrollment fair.  Hand out materials about our school.   Promote our school and its wonderful programs to prospective parents.  Assist Mr. Lucey with answering questions. (2-3 hour commitment)

Library Assistant: Volunteer in the school or CIP library at a specific time each week. (1-6 hours per week )

Lunch Yard Duty: Supervise children during their lunch hour. This is either a volunteer or paid position. (1-2 hours every school day)

Office Assistant: Assist with clerical work in the office. (As needed-leave your name with the office secretary)

School Clean-Up Day Volunteer: Help clean out closets and storage rooms, remove trash and litter from school grounds and perform minor maintenance repairs. (1-4 hour per event)

School Tours:  Meet and greet prospective parents.  Help Mr. Lucey lead parents around the school.  Answer questions and be friendly.  (1 hour commitment)

Traffic Greeter: Greeters assist with the loading and unloading of children on Lenox and Claremont during the first few months of school. (1-5 hours per week)

Translator/Interpreter: Provide interpreting or translation services in languages other than English at school events or for written announcements. (As needed-leave your name with the office secretary)

Web Site Maintenance: Volunteers up-date and maintain the West Portal Web Page and on-line calendar. (3-15 hours per month)

HAVE A GOOD IDEA AND DON’T SEE IT ON THE LIST? Come to a parent club meeting and share it!