Volunteer Coordinators 2017-2018
Rena Paris, renaparis@yahoo.com
Rachel Aroeste
Committee Reporting List
Committee Descriptions
ART IN THE CLASSROOM
Introduce our children to the world’s great artists! Parent volunteers make 1 – 2 presentations over the course of the school year and at the convenience of you and the classroom teacher. Each presentation lasts about 30-45 minutes. Experience or knowledge of art history is not required. Volunteers are provided with necessary research and materials. An additional hour or two may be needed for preparation of presentations. Related art projects may accompany presentation, suggested projects included in the PTA resources.
Chairs:
OPEN
ART SHOW
Help Mrs. Staples plan the Spring Student Art Show. Works and exhibits are from all grades and consist of mixed media. This event takes place in the month of May.
Chair:
Mary Beth DeBarndais sdmbd98@aol.com
Co Chair:
OPEN
BINGO/FAMILY FUN NIGHT
This is a great family night out. The children really enjoy the games and prizes. Volunteers are needed for publicity, to solicit prizes, act as callers, supervise the prize table and check boards. This event is scheduled for Fall.
Chair:
Amy Helmer amyhelmer45@icloud.com
BIRTHDAY BOOKS
Reading is so important and to help send that message, the Jennings PTA sponsors “Birthday Books”. Every student in our school receives a book as a gift from the PTA on his/her birthday.
Chair:
Nicola Minogue 917-821-2481 nicola@minogues.net
BOOK FAIR – FALL
Volunteers are needed to help with our Fall book fair, one of Jennings School’s most popular and fun fundraisers. Scholastic Book items are sold on the stage during one week in October. Volunteers are needed for set up and take down, as well as to staff the fair during the day when the students shop.
Chair:
Maria Feay 203 292-5055 mariafeay@gmail.com
+ TWO OPEN POSITIONS
BOOK SWAP
Be a part of this exciting event held during the Reading Incentive Program. Children donate gently used books from home; for each donated book, a child receives one ticket good to “purchase” a book. Volunteers are needed to collect and sort books by grade/age and to staff “shopping night” when students come to redeem their tickets. Movies are also accepted and there is an honor system book exchange for parents as well.
Chair:
Katey Dell Goldberger 203 254-6616 kedg7@aol.com
BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION/CAMPBELL SOUP LABELS
Collect and count labels for redemption for school equipment. This is a very worthwhile project for volunteers to do at home.
Chair:
Jen Damon 203 373-1699 goodearthtree@aol.com
C.A.N.E. (CONNECTICUT AUDUBON NATURE EXPLORERS)
An important part of the science curriculum, this town-wide program is a vital part of your child’s education. A training session (one hour), held at the Connecticut Audubon Society, is required for each trip/presentation. Then take what you’ve learned back to the classroom. We need 2 representatives for each classroom (K-2).
Chair:
K:
1ST: Rena Paris renaparis@yahoo.com
2nd: Rachel Aroeste raroeste@optonline.net
COOKIE DOUGH/COFFEE CAKE/PIES FUNDRAISER
Help organize this fundraiser. Volunteers are needed to assemble order sheets, tally forms, submit orders and distribute the products when they arrive at school.
Chair:
Stacey Robilotto
CURRICULUM ENRICHMENT
The responsibilities of the Curriculum Enrichment Committee will be to work with the classroom teachers and school office to schedule the already established programs throughout the school year, receive feedback on the program effectiveness and research alternatives, if necessary. The time commitment is minimal and can be done from the comfort of your home in most instances.
Chair:
Susan D’Andrea ssdandrea79@gmail.com
Rachel Aroeste raroeste@optonline.net
Meg Bayers mmbayers@gmail.com
DIRECTORY
The directory consists of important school information such as phone numbers, class lists, e-mail addresses etc.
Chair:
Christine Brewster cbrewstr@optonline.net
DIVERSITY DAY
This one day event involves assisting our school psychologist and social worker in bringing awareness to our students so that they learn compassion for those with special needs. Diversity Day is an annual event conducted for our third graders.
Chair:
OPEN
FAIRFIELD ARTS FOR YOUTH
The purpose of FAY is to provide Fairfield’s elementary school students exposure to the performing arts beyond the capabilities of their individual schools, and to enhance their appreciation of the arts. FAY serves as a valuable supplement to the cultural programs already provided by the school system. Each school has its own FAY representative who assists in the hosting of one performance held each year.
Chair:
OPEN POSITION
FUEL FOR LEARNING PARTNERSHIP
As your school Unit Representative you will be the liaison between the Jennings PTA and the district-wide Fuel for Learning (FFLP) committee. Communication will primarily be via email with two or three meetings scheduled throughout the year. The main goal of FFLP is to make our school lunches healthier for our children and to bring better nutrition awareness to all students and parents. Unit Reps are encouraged to help with the Food Expo which is held in March at FWHS
Chair:
OPEN POSITION
GARDEN COMMITTEE
Chairs for the garden committee will organize curriculum projects, maintain the budget and oversee grade representatives for the planting, planning and maintaining of the garden. One volunteer will be needed per grade to act as a liaison between the garden committee and teachers. Grade reps will coordinate projects with teachers and work with the students in the classroom and garden.
Chairs:
Bridget Hyde bridgebb@optonline.net
CO-CHAIR POSITION: OPEN
GIFTED AND TALENTED SERVICES
Jennings School sends a representative to be a member of the town-wide Gifted & Talented Committee. The committee serves as the liaison between the Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment and Head of Elementary Education, who are responsible for the Gifted and Talented Program, and parents of gifted students to establish a two-way dialog for information sharing and advocacy that will help ensure that the needs of gifted and talented K-12 learners are met. Attend Gifted & Talented Committee meetings and report back to the Jennings PTS on any relevant news. This is a one year commitment with meetings approximately once a month.
Chair:
OPEN
GREEN TEAM REPRESENTATIVE
The Green Team Standing Committee will be a coordinated effort, with unit reps at each school, to implement Green Initiatives in all the elementary, middle and high schools in the Fairfield School District, with the objective of increasing student awareness of the importance of environmental responsibility and making the Town of Fairfield a more eco-friendly town.
Chair:
OPEN
HEALTH, SAFETY AND FITNESS COMMITTEE
Volunteers for this committee will work with the school to identify key wellness issues and run programs focused on health such as our annual Turkey Trot, a jump rope club or walk to school day. Act as a liaison with the PTA Council to bring information to our students and parents about health, nutrition and fitness.
Chair:
Molly McHugh 203-345-6776 mcmojo22@optonline.net
HOSPITALITY/STAFF APPRECIATION
Organize and coordinate Staff Appreciation Week in early May. During Staff Appreciation Week, daily breakfasts and an end of week luncheon are hosted by each grade. Responsible for purchasing supplies and recruiting (along with room parents) one to two representatives from each grade and working with them to coordinate menus/contributions/work shifts.
Co-Chairs:
Melody Jagoe 203-256-9734 mej53@optonline.net
CO-CHAIR- OPEN
ICE CREAM SOCIALS
These two family events are held in September and June. June event is combined with the end-of-year Tricky Tray Raffle.
Chair:
Maria Feay 203 292-5055 mariafeay@gmail.com
ICE SKATING PARTY
Help organize this family event that takes place in January. Distribute flyers, collect reservations and make arrangements with ice skating rink.
Chair:
Susan Haufe sbhaufe@hotmail.com
JENNINGS SOCIAL
Back every other year by popular demand, this fun event is always in need of people to help plan, setup and cleanup. This event is a social event and meets in the second part of the year.
Co-chairs:
OPEN
JENNINGS ADULT NIGHT OUT (JANO)
Back every other year by popular demand, this fun event is always in need of people to help plan, setup and cleanup. This event is a fundraiser/social event and meets throughout the year.
Co-chairs:
NO JANO IN 2017-2018
JENNINGS PTA WEBSITE
Help run reports from the new Jennings PTA website. Limited time commitment, great for someone with a few spare minutes to give!!!
Chair:
Kate Nelson 203 388 8926 katenelson6@gmail.com
JENNING FRIGHTFEST FUN FAIR
Help organize and run fun activities at this Jennings family event, to be held near Halloween! Lots of help is needed to make this community event a success.
Co-Chairs:
Misa Davis davislcm@gmail.com
Krista Vitanza kvitanza22@gmail.com
JENNINGS TIMES
A Volunteer is needed to Chair the Jennings TImes. Main responsibilities are to oversee the organization of the students (grades 3 – 5) and volunteers, create volunteer schedule, prepare for publication by contacting Printing Company. Additional volunteers are needed to assist students in the writing and publication of Jennings own quarterly journal.
Chair:
Kathleen Ruppert kruppert@fairfieldschools.org
JENNINGS YEARBOOK
Please join the Jennings School Yearbook Committee! Help is needed with production, distribution and photography. A volunteer for each grade will oversee page layout and design for their grade, take photos (if you like), and organize photos submitted by school photographers, parents, and teachers. The yearbook goes to print in the spring, so a bulk of the activity will be in March and April, with a few meetings to discuss process and layout this fall. Help needed throughout the year.
Chair:
Stephanie Horowitz 203-373-7408 slahorwitz@yahoo.com
ONE OPEN POSITION
MARCH MADNESS BASKETBALL GAME
Back by popular demand, it’s Parents v. Teachers at this exciting family event. Volunteers needed to help sell tickets, run concessions and play basketball. This SRO event takes place in March.
Chair:
Rachael Chappa rachaelbohrer@gmail.com
MILL RIVER LAB
This program was designed to supplement grades 3 – 5 science curriculum by giving students a better understanding of the Mill River Open Space Area. Volunteers are needed from 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade to make a commitment of three mornings for training and three mornings to lead field trips.
Chairs:
3rd: Rena Paris renaparis@yahoo.com
4th: Katherine Sullivan katcsull@hotmail.com
5th: Ela Alkatib eladalka30@gmail.com
OPERATION HOPE
Help prepare a healthy meal for the residents of Fairfield’s Homeless Shelter. Donations are accepted and will be distributed to the shelter.
Chair:
Adria Ellis
PUBLICITY/PHOTOGRAPHY
Put your PR and advertising skills to work by spreading the word about the great things Jennings does. Volunteers needed to take pictures at various PTA events and on occasion submit pictures to the local papers.
Chair:
OPEN
READING FUN NIGHT
Work with Tara Hyder, Jennings Reading Specialist, to plan an evening of reading activities for students and parents in grades K-2. Volunteers are needed to send out flyers and organize activities.
Chairs:
Monica Schaper mschaper@fairfieldschools.org
Tara Hyder thyder@fairfieldschools.org
READING INCENTIVE PROGRAM
Help Tara Hyder, Jennings Reading Specialist, to promote reading as a recreational activity during the month of March. Count the hours read by our students. If the school meets its goal, Jennings students enjoy a free ticket to the Bridgeport Bluefish.
Chair:
OPEN
REFLECTIONS
A national PTA sponsored program providing students with an opportunity to express their talents through original works in specific categories: literature, music, photography, and visual arts. Help distribute information and rules for submissions, display creations at Jennings, and send them along to the state-wide contest. Program runs November – January.
Chair:
Brianna Webber thectwebbers@optonline.net
ROOM PARENT COORDINATORS
This volunteer activity includes organizing the sign-up for each classrooms room parents, then meeting with all incoming room parents early in the year to help them get up and running. Room parents help the classroom teachers with special projects, prepare for class parties and help to organize field trips. As Room Parent coordinator, you are the link between the PTA and the individual room parents. Most of this job is done in the Fall, with the balance being occasional communication to the Room Parents on behalf of the PTA throughout the year.
Chair:
Lisa Rodon
S.E.P.T.A
The Fairfield Special Education Parent and Teachers Association, Inc., (SEPTA), invites anyone with an interest in improving the educational, social and recreational opportunities of children with special needs to join our membership. The Jennings PTA is looking for a representative who will attend monthly SEPTA meetings and report back to our PTA on anything that would affect our school.
Chair:
OPEN
SCHOOL BEAUTIFICATION
Identify projects and work on ways to enhance the physical appearance of our school, including maintaining classroom banners. All ideas are welcome on sprucing-up Jennings and adding to our pride and spirit through interior/exterior decorating. A year-long commitment of about one hour a month is needed.
Chair:
OPEN
SCHOOL PICTURE LIAISON
Coordinate with the school photographer on picture day (usually 9am – 12pm) and on picture make up day for an hour in the morning. School pictures are scheduled for October.
Chair:
Dale Resnick
SCHOOL SUPPLY FUNDRAISER
Volunteers needed to input orders and distribute school supply kits customized by the Jennings teachers by grade level. The chairperson is responsible for signing the contracts with the supplier in the fall and reviewing the supply lists with the principal in the January/February time frame. Orders will be taken in early Spring and kits will be delivered in June.
Chair:
Aaime Blow aamielou@gmail.com
SCIENCE EXPO
Work with Mrs. Ruppert, Jennings Math and Science Specialist, to plan an evening of Science at the Annual Science Expo. There are two distinct components to this event. The first portion of the evening gives our K-2 students hands-on experiences on various science topics. Our grade 3-5 students spend time at home working on a science project of their choosing. These projects are then placed on display the evening of the Expo. Students are given the opportunity to explain their findings to parents and their fellow students.
Chair:
OPEN
SPIRIT WEAR
Volunteers needed to pick out items, take orders and distribute such things as water bottles, sweatshirts and T-shirts.
Chair:
Eileen Sequeira eileen.sequeira@gmail.com
STORYTELLING WEEK
This exciting committee at Jennings shares the love of literature through the telling of age-appropriate stories to all classes. The Jennings staff is eager to have our children exposed to this wonderful language arts activity. Two storytelling sessions are planned for the school year—in Fall and Spring . A willingness to “learn” a story to tell and enthusiasm to share it with our children is all that is required to participate. An informal “training” session will be held in the Fall.
Chair:
Kristen Sikes 203 336 0701 ksikes@taliks.com
STUDENT PUBLISHING
Work with your child’s class to take written stories and help turn them into typed, illustrated and hardbound published works. First graders will publish a book for the Spring-time “Author’s Tea”; the second grade publishes their annual marine life research project into a book. You will love to see the excitement and pride that children show when they receive their very own published book! Publishing is done in the Spring, with the biggest time commitment in the month of May. Two to three volunteers per first and second grade class are needed.
Chair:
Melody Jagoe 203-256-9734 mej53@optonline.net
Cynthia Rodriquez
SUNSHINE
Volunteers will spread a little sunshine or offer a helping hand to its parents and staff whenever there is an event, joyful or not.
Chair:
Fernanda Marchi 203 549 9528 drmarchi@optonline.net
TRICKY TRAY FUNDRAISERS
Tricky trays are a collection of items centered around one specific theme per class. Jennings families donate the items and room parents decorate a box for the items to be displayed in. Some examples of past themes include: beach day, arts and crafts, outdoor fun) The boxes are then raffled off at a Fall event (Jennings Spooktacular Fair) and the June Ice Cream Social. Tickets are sold on an optional basis during the lunch shifts prior to the event and at the event. Volunteers are needed one to two hours the week prior to the event to write down the children’s names on the tickets that they will place in the boxes. This is one of the biggest fundraisers at Jennings.
Chair:
Rena Paris 203-383-2406 renaparis@yahoo.com
Rachel Aroeste raroeste@optonline.net
TOOLS FOR SCHOOLS
Tools for Schools is a program developed by the EPA to help schools maintain a healthy learning environment by identifying, correcting and preventing indoor air quality (IAQ) problems. Tools for Schools has a strong emphasis on reducing asthma and allergy triggers which leads to reduced absenteeism, improves test scores and enhances student and staff productivity. The parent volunteer(s) will work with a team that consists of: the principal, the nurse, the head custodian and teacher representatives. The team is responsible for educating the school community about the importance of a healthy school environment as well as how to reduce allergy/asthma triggers and IAQ source problems in the building. The team meets in the fall and conducts a building walk through to assess conditions and make recommendations for improvements. Periodic meetings and/or communications may be necessary to follow up on improvements needed. The team also meets in the spring to conduct a secondary walk through and monitor condition of the building. All resources needed are found on the EPA’s Tools for Schools website: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools. If you have a child with asthma or respiratory allergies this is a great opportunity to get involved and contribute to maintaining a healthy learning environment for your child as well as all students and staff at Jennings.
Chair:
Jennifer Carolan 203 259-4810 jennifercarolan@gmail.com
VARIETY SHOW
Help organize and produce this one-afternoon event showcasing our children’s talents. Be available for rehearsals during late January plus the day of the big show in February to ensure a smooth production.
Chair:
Alyssa Lamparski 292-6718 alyssabrie@aol.com
