2013-2014 Hillside PTO Volunteer Information

Each year Hillside depends on parent volunteers to help run Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) sponsored events, clubs, and activities. As members of the Hillside PTO, it is our mission to support and enrich our children’s school experience. The PTO is a vital link between home and school.

The goals of the PTO are to sponsor many special events for our children and to raise funds to provide enhancement to our school. Past special events include Cultural Arts assemblies and theme week, the Fourth Grade Celebration Party, Class parties, Staff parties, Mileage Club, and Kids Night Out. Past enhancements include a cafeteria sound system, Smart Boards for classrooms, frame artwork from the Art Goes to School program, rock wall for the gym, Hillside School sign, and various beautification projects for the property.

This year the PTO will continue to rely on our parents for their skills, time, and dedication to our students. We appreciate all of your efforts through volunteerism and fundraising. We also appreciate the many parent hours spent in the school and classroom that directly affect all of our children. We ask that you do what you can to assist the PTO and please say yes when called upon.

The following is a guide to help you select the activities that best suit your availability, talents, and interests. Check them off on the PTO Volunteer Form.

PRESIDENT – Dana Zdancewicz ()

SECRETARY –Michelle Barton ( )

ARCH / Kristin Becket / / Area Residents Caring and Helping, inc., is a community group established in 1981 by parents in the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District to assist, educate and support one another in dealing with substance abuse by community young people. ARCH sponsors parent workshops, offers educational programs for children and works closely with the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District Administration to provide student services and resources in the fight against substance abuse.
B.U.I.L.D. / Kathleen Mascaro / / BUILD stands for “better understanding of individuals with learning differences”. This representative meets with other district reps throughout the year. Guest speakers, with expertise in various areas, are invited to speak at BUILD meetings and all parents are welcome.
Diversity Committee / Yolanda Allen / / The purpose of the T/E District Diversity Committee is to gain an understanding of our changing world and the effect of change on our educational process. This is an advisory committee and makes recommendations to the School Board for the purpose of representing our local diversity and upholding district policy.
FLITE / Kim Zahlaway / / FLITE works in partnership with the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District to help all district students reach their potential. FLITE promotes academic achievement with programs from preschool tuition assistance to college preparation.
Interschool Council / Lindsay Andreuzzi/
Dana Zdancewicz / / This is a forum for the interchange of ideas among the district schools. Representatives are responsible for attending the monthly meetings and reporting back to Hillside at PTO meetings or via the Highlights.
Pride Day Committee / Larisa Leon / / This committee coordinates Pride Day – October 18, 2012. Pride Day is the kick off for all guidance lessons throughout the year. Parent volunteers are needed to help make this day a success.
T&E Care / Jane Balsan
Pam Emel /
/ The mission of T&E Care is to maintain a network of people providing financial and other material assistance to persons in need in and around the Tredyffrin and Easttown township area.

MEMBERSHIP AND SCHOOL SERVICES - Vice President – Lisa Nishikawa ()

Lego Club / Jessica Sontag / / The Lego Club, Bricks4 Kidz , is a weekly club where the children build from project kits and include various educational themes.
Baking / Sian Keating / / Bakers are needed throughout the year to provide refreshments at various functions such as the Spring Fair and Spring Concert. Volunteers will be called with specific requests.
Chess Club / SamMurphy / / Students learn to play chess in a fun environment.
Core Parents / Kim Zahlaway / / If you are looking for a way to get involved in your child's classroom ... sign up to be a Core Parent! Core parents assist with classroom parties, classroom activities and special grade events.They also coordinate raffle baskets and volunteers for the Spring Fair andassist with any Sunshine duties for their class.
Dental Clinic / Bernie Logan / / The dental clinic provides low cost dental care to eligible students. Volunteers are needed to drive children back and forth from school to the clinic and to help coordinate the clinic fundraiser.
Directory/Ad Sales / Michelle Barton / / This committee prepares and distributes the directory. Also seeks businesses to advertise in directory.
Drama Club / Chair Needed! / After School Club for 3rd/4th graders. Runs 18 weeks culminating in a performance by the kids.
Earth Day / Kim Koelle / / Volunteers are needed to help with Earth Day activities.
Field Day / Dana Zdancewicz / / Mr. Pechin will need parents to assist with a variety of outdoor activities on the day of this fun event in June.
Health Screening / Linda Lofland / / The school nurse needs eight to ten parents (preferably RNs or MDs) to help weigh and measure children. If you are interested in assisting, please return your form as soon as possible as this activity comes up very quickly.
Hearts for Hillside / Melanie Bradish / / Hearts from Hillside is a service project that makes breakfast baskets. Food is collected and assembled at Hillside and then distributed to local families around Valentine’s Day. The hope is to foster awareness of community service among our students. Volunteers are needed to help assemble the baskets
Hillside Beautification / Caryn Haag / / Volunteers are needed to decorate the bridge to Hillside for each season and tend Hillside gardens.
Hillside Highlights/ DB coordinator / Christine Neilon / / The PTO’s bimonthly email newsletter.
Hillside Highlights – Special Blasts / Kim Conrad / / Publishes school wide special notices as needed.
Library Volunteers / Lisa and Stanford Nishikawa / / Volunteers are needed to work in the library on a weekly or bi-weekly basis assisting the librarian by checking out books, shelving materials and other tasks. Many parents are needed to help the library run smoothly.
Mileage Club / Sam Murphy, Donna Mucklow Michelle Ries /

/ Part of the KHZ - Keystone Healthy Zone which takes place in May/June. Volunteers help during recess recording kids laps and rewarding tokens.

MEMBERSHIP AND SCHOOL SERVICES (continued)

Odyssey of the Mind / Lori Benedict / / This is an exciting and challenging after-school club. Teams are formed and work together to prepare a solution to a long term problem. The teams meet throughout the school year and may enter a spring competition to present their solution. Volunteers are needed in the organization of the club and as coaches.
Publishing Center / Chair Needed! / Volunteers type books into the computer, work with students to proof read their work and bind completed books. The Publishing Center is located in the Media Center
School Store Scheduler / Chair Needed! / The school store allows students to buy school supplies at a lower cost. Fourth grade students run the store with the help of parent volunteers. Store hours are 8:20 to 8:50 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays. Parents are needed to help with sales from 8:15 to 9:00 a.m. on a weekly basis, twice monthly or on a monthly basis.
School Store Supplies / Chair Needed! / Orders supplies and deposits money earned by school store.
Staff Appreciation Week / Kelly Ploszay / / Volunteers are needed to help plan special events for the teachers and staff at Hillside in May.
UNICEF / Michelle Barton / / This committee is responsible for distributing UNICEF boxes to the students, collecting the contributions, and forwarding them to UNICEF. This is a great way to get our children involved in making an effort for charity.
Volunteer Coordinator / Yolanda Allen / / This committee compiles volunteer lists to provide to the committee chairs.
Yearbook / Chair Needed / The yearbook is published each spring as a record of the year’s activities at Hillside.
Yearbook Sales Manager / Anne Marie Von Esse / / Coordinates sales of Yearbook in the Spring.

SOCIAL FUNCTIONS – Vice President– Marcy DelOrefice()

Fourth Grade Celebration Party / Kristin Becket/Sam Murphy/Kim Zahlaway / /

/ / This is an annual end of the year celebration for the fourth graders. Committee responsibilities include organizing the party, collecting money, ordering class T-shirt and making 4th grade end of the year certificates.
Holiday Shop and Ice Cream Social / Arionne Achackzad / / The holiday shop offers the children and their families a chance to purchase gifts for family and friends. Volunteers are needed at the holiday shop for set-up and to help children with gift-wrapping. Volunteers are also needed to help set-up, serve and clean up the dessert.
Kids’ Movie Night Out / Nicole O’Brien / / This is a special evening event for the children held at Hillside. Kids' Night Out for the 3rd and 4th graders is held in the Fall, and in the Spring for 1st and 2nd graders.Adults are needed to chaperone and help with the car line. The dates have not yet been determined.
New Family Tours / Lori Benedict/
Shiva Noorchashm / / / Help give tours to the new families of the Hillside community. A great way to get your Hillside student involved (the kids love to show off their school.) Volunteers are needed to greet people at the front door, give tours, and help with the snack table.
New Student Playground Play Date / Maura Harley / / Coordinate a handful of playground playdates, taking place over summer vacation for students new to Hillside – number of dates and when are up to chair. Typically aimed toward incoming Kindergarteners.
New Student Orientation / Donna Sauder / / Assist the kindergarten and special area teachers as they welcome incoming kindergarten and new students to Hillside. Volunteers need to help with check-in, speak to new parents, guide tours, and chaperone the bus ride.

SOCIAL FUNCTIONS (continued)

Open House / Kim Koelle / / This is an opportunity to meet other Hillside Families and learn more about the PTO in a social setting and it gives the students a chance to show off their school to parents, friends and relatives.
Pizza/Bingo / Dana Zdancewicz/
Mary Kate Stein /
/ Crews are needed for set-up, clean up, for the prize committee, kitchen service and bake table. This is always a great family event and space is limited so sign up as soon as possible.
Spring Concert / Jen Kleppe / , / Volunteers are needed to help provide bake goods and refreshments for this end of the year evening activity
Staff Appreciation Luncheon / Chair Needed! / Occurs in the last month of school. This is an annual event in honor of the Hillside staff and faculty. Volunteers are need for food preparation, set-up, serve and clean up.
Staff Breakfast / Ann Lim / / The PTO sponsors this breakfast to thank the faculty and staff and to offer a little winter sunshine. Volunteers are needed to organize, set-up, serve, and clean up.
Sunshine Committee and Hospitality Committee / Larisa Leon / / This committee organizes volunteers to bake and cook for Hillside families when an immediate family member has incurred a serious illness, injury or operation. It also helps to welcome new families to the Hillside Community.
Walk to School Coordinator / Caryn Haag / / Volunteers are needed toadvertise the event to school families and help with the participants.
Welcome Back Breakfast / Marcy DelOrefice / / This is an annual event where the PTO welcomes back our teachers for the new school year. Volunteers are needed for food preparations, set-up and clean-up.
Fall Coffees / Lori Benedict / / Fall coffees are held in the Fall for each grade. Volunteers are needed to host the coffees in their homes for kindergarten, second, third and fourth grades. This is a great way to meet and socialize with other parents from your child's grade.

FUNDRAISING - Vice President - Ann Davidson()

Barnes & Noble Night / Stephanie Melrose / / Coordinate a fundraiser at Barnes and Noble.
Book Fair / Kristin Kalbach, Jen Mayock, Lisa Munroe, Julie Seaman /
/ October and February. Volunteers are needed to set up the books before the sale, staff the sale during the week and pack up as well as to staff any Book Fair related special events (eg - Family Night, Grand Event, etc.). Volunteers will also be needed to assist with “Book Talks” the week preceding the sale. Book talk volunteers preview grade appropriate books and share them with individual classes in the library.
Box Tops / Colleen Barth / / Hillside collects the box tops all year. We collect General Mills, Betty Crocker and other products that carry a “Box Tops for Education” coupon. We submit the box tops to the manufacturer for cash.
Campbell's Labels for Education / Sara Kuryan / / Hillside collects the Labels for Education all year. We submit the labels to the manufacturer for cash.
Costume Sale / Chair Needed! / September & October. Volunteers will help set up collections from Hillside families of old costumes and then assist in the sale.

FUNDRAISING(continued)

Elementary Connections / Darcy McGroarty /
Handel's Events / Rebecca Zellefrow / / Volunteers needed to help organize Hillside Day at Handels in early September as well as sell Handel's Pint Cards in December.
Kidstuff Books / Christine Neilon / / Volunteers on this committee will assist with tabulating orders and distributing the Kidstuff coupon books.
Parent Social / Family Dance Night Fundraiser** / Kristin Becket/Darcy McGroarty/Pam Emel / /
/
/ Volunteers are needed in all aspects of this event. Volunteers are needed to help determine the theme of the event, help with the raffle and silent auction items, and set-up and clean-up.
**This event alternates each year. This year it will be a Parent Social**
Plant Sale / Susan Stuber / / Volunteers are needed to help tabulate orders and unload the truck.
PTO Parent Sponsor Program / Lianne Lofgren /
Landmark / Ann Davidson / / Coordinate a fundraising night at the Landmark Americana Restaurant in Wayne.
Spirit Wear / Colleen Barth / / Volunteers are needed to help sell T-shirts, water bottles, etc. at school events during the year.
Spring Fair / Kathleen Mascaro / / May 31, 2013, 5-8:30 p.m. This is one of our biggest fundraiser of the school year. There are a number of committees that coordinate the evening. Volunteers are needed to help with the Amusement, Food, Games, Prizes, Raffle, Publicity, Bake Fair, and Volunteer coordination. A large number of volunteers are needed. This is the biggest single day event at Hillside and it is a great way to meet people, raise money and have a lot of fun.
Staples SchoolKidz Supply Kits / Ina Fricchione / / Volunteers are needed to help tabulate orders and distribute supply kits.
Target / Colleen Barth / / All you need to do is sign up for a Target credit or debit and card and designate Hillside to receive the value of 1% of your total purchases using the card at any Target or Target.com.
TD Bank Affinity Program / Darcy McGroarty /
Wrapping Paper Sale / Larisa Leon / / September. Volunteers on this committee will assist with tabulating orders and distributing the wrapping paper after delivery.

CULTURAL ARTS – Vice President –Carla Ojha –()

Assemblies/ Grade Level Programs / Carla Ojha / / This committee is responsible for supporting cultural arts activities throughout the year.For performances and assemblies, committee members may be asked to escort and help artist visitors, provide a light snack or lunch, and/or assist in whatever way is needed to make the event run smoothly.
Art Goes to School / Danielle Francis / / Volunteers attend workshops to learn in-depth about various well-known works of art.At the conclusion of these workshops, the volunteers present the works of art in the classrooms and share their knowledge of the art to the children in an effort to expand the awareness of the art world.

CULTURAL ARTS (continued)

Author Visits and Writers’ Workshop / Kelley Pugliese / / The Authors’ Committee is comprised of parent volunteers, teachers, Hillside’s librarian, and the Principal. The committee works to research and contact possible authors for Hillside’s author visit. This is an ongoing committee.Research can be done at home.Prior to the author’s visit, committee members plan the day’s activities, including a possible book signing. Committee members then escort and assist the author during his or her visit.
Theme Week / TBD / During Theme Week, volunteers assist with all activities planned for this exciting week.Volunteers are needed to assist in decorating the school, ordering t-shirts, assisting with classes or special guests, and helping instructors.The week culminates with a grand performance.This year, Theme Week will be May 13 – 17.
Hillside Talent Show / Christa Amos / / Hillside students have a chance to showcase their talents in a non-competitive environment. Volunteers will be needed to help with screening the acts, organizing a bake sale, and helping the night of the performance.