HRCDS PTO Committee Descriptions

Art in a Suitcase Committee

This committee is designed to provide students with an opportunity to explore and gain a fundamental knowledge and appreciation for art. It is a yearlong program that involves the assistance of volunteers. All materials are provided and are housed in the library. In depth knowledge of art is not necessary as the program provides ample information along with each art copy. Training is offered at the beginning of the school year. The committee chairperson is responsible for the placement of volunteers with the respective teacher(s).

Gift Wrap Committee

This committee is responsible for coordinating one of the major fund-raising events for the school. This project is kicked-off early in the school year and continues through most of September. Volunteers are needed to help distribute and collect the gift wrap/magazine packets through the classrooms. They must also consolidate packets and put together the final order for the gift wrap company. Incentives are provided for students and classrooms with the highest sales; therefore, this committee is responsible for proper accounting of all orders. When orders come in, volunteers are needed to distribute gift-wrap to the classrooms.

Grandparents’/Special Friend’s Day Committee

Grandparents Day is a wonderful opportunity for Grandparents or other family members and special friends to visit the school, enjoy a performance by the grandchild's class/grade, have lunch with their grandchild, and visit in the grandchild’s classroom. Grandparents and special friends will have the opportunity to contribute towards an event-specific fundraiser for the school. Volunteers are needed for planning and executing the event including pre-event mailings, set-up, registration, distribution of meals at the luncheon, and organization of the fundraising project.

Hospitality Committee

This committee provides baked goods and refreshments for PTO functions. The events include, but are not limited to, teacher and staff appreciation events and the Family Fun Night refreshments. Teacher and Staff Appreciation is an area where parents volunteer their time to help coordinate small “thank-yous” to our faculty and staff throughout the year in a variety of ways. This committee is responsible for coordinating teacher/staff appreciation luncheons, monthly remembrance of birthdays, etc. A major responsibility of this committee is to organize Teacher Appreciation Week in the spring. Teacher Appreciation Week is a week's worth of activities for the staff, such as a luncheon one day, flowers for everyone the next day, a raffle on the last day, etc. This project is ongoing throughout the school year.

School Rewards Committee

This committee is responsible for the administration of the various corporate rewards programs to schools such as the Campbell’s Soup Labels, Box Tops for Education, Harris Teeter Together in Education, Food Lion Shop and Share, Target Take Charge, Office Depot, etc.

These are continuous fundraisers that are initiated at the beginning of the school year. Volunteers are needed to educate the school community about these programs through flyers, emails, etc. The committee will periodically meet to tally/bundle the labels and receipts.

Nominating Committee

This committee is responsible for recruiting qualified candidates for PTO Executive officer positions. The PTO depends on this committee to seek candidates to carry on the goals and objectives of the PTO. Three members make up this committee and present their search results for candidates in the Spring of each school year.

Room Parent Committee

This limited enrollment committee consists of two room parents per classroom and a committee chair. These parent volunteers encourage parent involvement in classroom events and in PTO activities. Room parents keep classroom parents and teachers informed of issues/activities that the PTO is addressing. They may also elicit feedback from parents and teachers as appropriate. Room parents work with parent volunteers to coordinate and facilitate programs and events (class parties, field trips, etc) as needed. Room parents are also responsible for generating (with the classroom teachers) a Wish List for each classroom. This project is ongoing throughout the school year. Sign up sheets will be available for you to participate in your child’s classroom.

Scholastic Book Fair Committee

This committee is responsible for coordinating another of the major fund-raising events for the school. This project takes place in late October. The book fair committee is responsible for organizing (with the Scholastic representative(s) and HRA) a joint school book fair. In addition this committee will plan, staff and execute a parent-student luncheon and a bake sale/raffle at the time of the book fair. Volunteers are needed to set up the book fair and to work in shifts at the Book Fair assisting students and parents with selections, as well as collecting money from sales. Volunteers are needed to distribute lunches. Volunteers are also needed to provide baked goods for the bake sale, to sell the baked goods, and to solicit items (such as cakes and Starbucks gift bags) for the raffle, and to sell raffle tickets.

School Store Committee

This committee provides our school with a variety of uniform clothing and spirit items for purchase at Family Fun Nights and other major events. The chairperson solicits bids from vendors for school spirit items and garments in the summer to be ready for sales to begin at the back to school events in August. The committee will distribute order forms, collect money, and place reorders as needed.

Country Day Dollars /SCRIP Advantage Committee

Country Day Dollars (SCRIP) is a fundraising program that is no cost for families of HRCDS. The program purchases gift cards and/or certificates from a variety of businesses at a discount. HRCDS families may then purchase the cards and certificates at face value and our school earns the difference. The Country Day Dollars (SCRIP) program runs all year and is a great way to help the school! This committee needs volunteers to help with the collection of SCRIP order forms on Mondays and the distribution of gift cards on Fridays.

Spring Fling/Field Day Committee

Field Day is a spring celebration for the children in grades pre-K-5. Students, assisted and supervised by parent volunteers and faculty members, enjoy a morning of field games and activities. Many parent volunteers are needed to assist with the planning and execution of field day activities. Volunteers are needed to assist with the game stations, water stations, first aid station, and the after-event refreshments.

Volunteers at Large Committee

This committee “fills the gaps” for necessary activities not captured in the other committees. Volunteers at large consist of a pool of volunteers that teachers, staff and the PTO may call upon on an “as required” basis. These activities include, but are not limited to, picture day helpers, Friday folder stuffers, lunch buddies and assisting with the set-up, serving of refreshments and clean-up at the School Birthday Party. Lunch buddies are volunteers that sit in classrooms while teachers attend meetings or training.

Welcoming Committee
This committee provides welcoming letters and phone calls to new HRCDS families, and also volunteers at the Open House event in January, the Meet the Teachers event in May, and the Back to School orientation in August assisting with questions, tours of the school, and directions to classrooms. The committee also provides light refreshments at these events. Members of this committee may also serve as First Friends. "Friend" families are previously enrolled families matched with new families. First Friends are available during the entire first year to ease the transition to a new school for the new families. The "friend" families will be matched with a new family in their child’s classroom for all grades above pre-K. New Pre-K families may be matched with families from any grade level. The committee size will be determined by the number of new families enrolled per year.