MONTLAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

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Giving and Volunteering

Montlake could not succeed without the consistent generosity of its families, friends, and alumni.  We encourage all Montlake families to participate in our important – and fun! – educational and fundraising activities.  Your contribution of time and effort will directly help all Montlake students.  In addition, we hope you will benefit by forging deeper connections within our school community.  We know that many or all of you lead busy lives.  As you will see below, there are many ways to give and volunteer.  Some giving opportunities simply requires you to shop for food or school supplies with a registered credit card.  Some volunteering opportunities require only a small time commitment on the weekend or in the evening.  Please review the information below and get involved!  Any time you have to share is greatly appreciated.

Giving opportunities - Annual Fund, Auction, Shop and Give, Greenhouse Fundraising

Volunteering opportunities:
To volunteer, send an email to Volunteer@montlakeschool.net with the following information:.
  • Child's name and Teacher/Room number
  • Parent/Guardian name, phone number, and email
  • Day(s) you prefer:  Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Any, Weekend
  • Time(s) you prefer: Weekend, Evening, School day, Afterschool
  • Frequency: Weekly, Biweekly, Monthly, Other

Thank you!
PTA Board

Volunteers:  Please remember to sign in when you arrive at school.  We track the number of hours that parents volunteer at Montlake.  The Sign-in binder is in the office.  Thanks!

Classroom Help:

ROOM PARENTS:  Be the communication link between your child's teacher and class parents.  Help coordinate special projects, field trips, parties, etc.  Availability during classroom hours is NOT necessary. 

  • When: Throughout the year
  • Chair:  Heidi Kaplan

ACADEMIC VOLUNTEERS:  Assist your child's teacher by doing prep work, checking assignments, overseeing daily classroom work, reading or math groups, science experiments, etc.

  • When:  Throughout the year, 9am-3pm during school day with emphasis on morning hours.
  • Chair:  Neva Kulp

COMPUTERS/TECHNOLOGY:  Help our Multimedia teacher, Mr. Jim Dunnigan, during classroom time or help with maintaining our computers and procuring technology.

  • When: Throughout the year, 9am-3pm during school day with emphasis on morning hours.
  • Chair:  Jim Dunnigan

JUNIOR GREAT BOOKS:  Work with our Librarian, Ms. Debora Hare, and the inquire-based Junior Great Books curriculum.  Read assigned short stories and lead student discussion groups.  The things that the students say during discussion time is priceless.

  • When: Throughout the year, one hour in the morning on a bi-weekly schedule
  • Chair:  Debora Hare


READ A MILLION WORDS:  Seatle School District's goal-based reading initiative.  Work with our Librarian, Ms. Debora Hare, to track the progress of individual students.

  • When:  Throughout the year, easily done at home
  • Chair:  Debora Hare

READ NATURALLY:  Help our Librarian, Ms. Debora Hare, oversee the reading development of our students as they use a self-directed computer-based reading program.

  • When: Two sessions daily:  9:15-9:45 OR 11-11:30 AM
  • Chair:  Debora Hare


LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMITTEE:  Help our Librarian, Ms. Debora Hare, update and expand our library selection.  Coordinate our annual book swap.
  • When: Monthly meetings on Wednesdays at 10am in the Faculty Lounge - treats will be served!  Other time commitments vary.
  • Chair:  Debora Hare

GREENHOUSE:  Work with teacher, Ms. Cheri Bloom.  Assist with teaching (afternoons), maintenace of the greenhouse garden (weekends), grant-writing (own time), or special student programs such as classes with local chefs.  As little as an hour of work can accomplish plenty, such as building raised beds, mulching and pruning the grounds.
  • When: Throughout the year, afternoons during the school day, weekends, evenings
  • Chair:  Marsi Doran



Fundraising:

ANNUAL FUND:  Help design and implement the publicity campaign for our big fall fundraising event.  This fundraiser raises close to half of the PTA budget income.  Short on time?  Even as little as 2 hours of our time can make a big difference. 
  • When:  October 2009-February 2010, weekends and evenings.
  • Chair:  Deborah Phillips

AUCTION:  Help plan and execute the very fun and productive Spring Auction.  This fundraiser also raises a significant portion of the PTA budget income.  We need help with every aspect of the auction process, from procurement of donations to securing the site, catering, invitations, data entry, catalog production, tech setup, setup and decorations, and day-of auction management.

  • When:  January - April 2010, days, weekends, evenings, day-of
  • Chair:  Janice Clifton, Heidi Kaplan, and Jennifer Emrich

AUCTION ART PROJECTS:  Assist auction planners with creating priceless masterpieces in the classrooms for the auction.  We've seen some intense bidding wars for some of these creations!  Art experience is a plus but not necessary.

  • When:  January - April 2010, during afternoon class time
  • Chair:  Missy Pody

CARNIVAL COMMITTEE:  Help coordinate the Carnival, our big end-of-school-year bash.  Work on the Bake Sale, Raffle, and other aspects of the event.

  • When:  May-June 2010
  • Chair: Julie Elner

HOLIDAY EVERGREEN SALES:  Help organize and work at our annual Christmas tree, wreath and garland sale held in December.  Many hands are needed the evening before and the day of.

  • When:  November-December 2009, Pick up is on December 12, 2009.
  • Chair:  Jon Evans

HUSKY PARKING:  Help manage public parking on our playground during all home Husky football games and the Greek Festival.  Simple responsibilities include checking off subscribers as they enter, collecting money, and guiding cars to mapped parking spots - apparently we can fit 100 cars! 

  • When:  September-November 2009.  For specific date, visit the Calendar page.
  • Chair:  Geir Hansen and Michael Trower


Enrichment Classes and other Student Programs

CHESS CLUB:  Help organize and support our kids in this popular after school activity.  A private after school foundation provides instruction.

  • When:  Meets weekly, after school
  • Chair:  Dave VanPatten

MATH CHALLENGE:  Math enrichment afterschool program offering challenges outside of regular curriculum.  Open to 3rd-5th grade students.

  • When:  Meets weekly, after school
  • Chair:  Julia Pevtsova

GRADUATION:  4th grade prents organize for graduating students in June.  Help make Graduation a memorable evening by hosting a table with light food and drink.

  • When: June 2010
  • Chair:  

YEARBOOK:  Supervise interested students and create our 5th grade yearbook full of great Montlake memories.  Help design the layout, gather photos and content, and coordinate publication and distribution.

  • When:  March-May 2010.
  • Chair: Naomi Halfaker

ART WALK:  Display student created art work under the direction of Mr. Marshall around the school for a "gallery walk".  Volunteers frame, mount, and take down the art work.
  •  When:  Tentatively scheduled for May 20th
  •   Chair:  Richard Marshall
General PTA and Other Help:

ASSEMBLIES:  Organize and book special assemblies for the school.

  • When:  Planning in the fall, assemblies throughout the school year
  • Chair:  Laura Gardner

BUZZ BOOK:  Help create our handy student directory.  We need to gather information, enter it, publish, and distribute.

  • When:  September-October 2009, weekends and evenings
  • Chair:  Carol Troup

PTA-SPONSORED EVENTS:  Coordinate fun and educational events for the student body, sponsored by the PTA Outreach Committee.  Highlights include Math & Pizza Night and Family Game Night.

  • When:  September 2009 to plan, day-of event.  For specific date, visit the Calendar page.
  • Chair:  Erin Baebler

SCHOOL OFFICE:  Do you have a free morning or afternoon, that you can help the office?  We need a person to help with general office duties such as filing, sorting, and making files. 

  • When: Once a week or every 2 weeks.
  • Contact: Debbi Thresher 

SCHOOL TOURS & OUTREACH:  Help update and implement our school tour program!  We need parents to help plan a presentation about our school and prepare informational materials.  We also need enthusiastic volunteers to lead school tours in the spring.

  • When:  January-March 2010, mornings for the tour, weekends and evenings
  • Chair:  Kate Ballbach

STAFF APPRECIATION:  Coordinate monthly delivery of treats to faculty and staff and Staff Appreciation Week.

  • When:  Every month, Staff Appreciate Week
  • Chair: Bridget Backschies, Jenny Schwartz

THURSDAY BULLETIN:  Help collate the Thursday Bulletin in the Teacher's Lounge.

  • When:  Thursdays at 9am
  • Contact:  Kathi Webster, Naomi Halfaker

TREASURY AUDIT:  Parent or a 3rd party with accounting experience needed to audit PTA's books.

  • When:  August 2010, Own time
  • Chair:  Laura Crain

WEBSITE:  Help improve our school website.  It is a great place for current and prospective students and families to get pertinent and fun information about our school, teachers, classes, and life at Montlake.  Help make it a destination site that everyone enjoys to visit!

  • When: Over email;  Meet occasionally, depending on need
  • Web Team:  Parvez Anandam, Chris Macey-Cushman, Justin Fisher, Lara Kreyenhagen, Liz Porter, Asako Yoshimura