PTA Comittees & Description

 

2011 - 2012
ADVOCACY
Educate our school community about the issues impacting ERMS and organize appropriate informational mailings, newspaper advertisements, letters and phone calling campaigns if needed. This committee requires interest in and an understanding of the BOE budget and election process, and how it impacts ERMS. The Board of Education budget process occurs during the winter months and the town-wide referendums are voted on in May. Work with the BOE Representative(s).  (Reports to 2nd Vice President)
 
BOOK FAIR – SPRING
Chairperson(s) arranges a supplier for the fair, works with the chair of the English department regarding book titles, schedules volunteers as provided by the volunteer coordinator, and orchestrates publicity for the fair through The Paw Print and The Ridgefield Press and by placing posters in the school. Volunteers help set-up, staff and take-down the fair.   (Reports to 1st Vice President)
 
CONCERT FLOWERS
Arrange with a local florist to prepare and deliver teacher bouquets for eight concerts each school year and the school play, and organize students to present the bouquets the evenings of the concerts and at the play. (Reports to Recording Secretary)
 
COURTYARD BEAUTIFICATION
Spruce up the two courtyards and around the ERMS sign in the fall and in the spring. Chairperson(s) will organize volunteers to prune, weed and re-plant. (Reports to Corresponding Secretary)
 
CURRICULUM ENRICHMENT
Work with the faculty to schedule special programming events to enhance and support the curriculum across grade level and academic discipline. (Reports to 4th Vice President)
 
8th GRADE FALL SOCIAL & END-OF-YEAR PARTY
This event is an evening dance or party. The Chairperson(s) of this committee is responsible for overseeing the organization of this event and coordinating volunteers. The committee arranges for facilities, plans entertainment, provides refreshments and prizes, and supervises the safety of the children at the event. There are usually many volunteers to assist with this event. (Reports to 3rd Vice President)
 
8th GRADE GRADUATION
Decorate the cafeteria and the auditorium stage for 8th grade graduation and provide refreshments for the reception. Chairperson(s) will coordinate volunteers who will help with decorating, set-up and clean-up. (Reports to 3rd Vice President)
 
HELPING HANDS
Help ERMS families in need with support during difficult times. May require cooking, baking, driving or help with carpooling and/or errands for the family. (Reports to 2nd Vice President)
 
IN-SCHOOL ACTIVITY SIGN-UP
Help with student sign-up days twice a year. The Chairperson(s) of this committee line-ups volunteers to staff the sign-up tables. The activities are taught by ERMS staff and take place during regular school hours. The only assistance needed from the PTA is on sign-up day. (Reports to 3rd Vice President)
 
LIBRARY VOLUNTEER
Volunteers work in the library at ERMS assisting the librarians with a variety of tasks. The Chairperson(s) of this committee schedules the volunteers. (Reports to 3rd Vice President)
 
MAGAZINE DRIVE FUNDRAISER
The Chairperson(s) works with Readers Digest/QSP to set up the fall assembly kick-off, organizes the distribution of sales packets to the students, coordinates order turn-in and prize distribution, and oversees all financial transactions, tallying and tabulating of results. The Chairperson(s) coordinate volunteers as provided by the volunteer coordinator. Volunteers help process orders on order turn-in days.  (Reports to 1st Vice President)
 
MEMBERSHIP
Send out PTA membership forms in an August mailing and put follow-up information in the September Paw Print. Contact the PTA teacher representatives to organize a faculty PTA membership drive, conduct a membership drive at Open House night, and collect and tally all dues received. Membership may require some attention throughout the year, but most of the work is done in the first quarter of the school year.  (Reports to 1st Vice President)
 
NEW FAMILY WELCOMING
Host the New Family Welcoming Breakfast the week before school opens. Prepare and distribute a packet of material to assist new families. Welcome new families as they enter ERMS throughout the year. Periodically submit an article to The Paw Print introducing the new families. (Reports to President)
 
NON-EVENT FUNDRAISER
The Chairperson(s) is responsible for organizing the Fall PTA Fundraiser. The Non-Event involves mailing to all PTA members asking for donations. The committee designs a flyer, mails it, collects funds, and gives funds to the PTA Treasurer. (Reports to 1st Vice President)
 
OPEN HOUSE HOSPITALITY
Provide the refreshments for the ERMS Open House evening during the first month of school.  (Reports to 3rd Vice President)
 
PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES
Chairperson(s) work with the school office staff that schedule the fall and late winter parent/teacher conferences, then organizes volunteers twice a year to schedule the conferences.  (Reports to 3rd Vice President)
 
PRODUCTIONS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE (PYP)
Representatives on this committee attend monthly town-wide PYP committee meetings. They preview future shows, coordinate scheduling and performances and support an annual fund raising event. The Chairperson(s) provides a fund raising flyer for inclusion in the August ERMS newsletter mailing. (PTA contributions and private donations support PYP.)  (Reports to 4th Vice President)
 
SCHOOL LUNCH COMMITTEE
Represent the ERMS PTA on this District School Lunch Committee. Attend district meetings and communicate with the principal and student council concerning the school lunch program. Occasionally submit articles to The Paw Print. (Reports to 2nd Vice President)
 
6th GRADE ORIENTATION
Assist ERMS administration with the 6th grade orientation that is scheduled for the week before school begins in August. Chairperson(s) line-up parent volunteers to help the morning of the orientation. (Reports to President)
 

SKI TRIP – 6TH & 7TH GRADES
Chairpersons plan and coordinate a one-day ski trip for the 6th & 7th graders.  This includes organizing bus transportation, working with the mountain to assure all the details are arranged and coordinating volunteers.  Parent volunteers are needed in several capacities including chaperoning on the buses and patrolling the mountain.  The group of chairpersons should include 6th and 7th grade parents.  (Reports to 3rd Vice President)
 
SPIRIT WEAR
The Chairperson(s) produces the order forms for the ERMS spirit wear and coordinates the taking of orders once in the fall and once in the spring. Once orders are received, the chairperson(s)orders the items and coordinates the delivery to the students  (Reports to the 1st Vice President)
 
STAFF LUNCHEONS
  • AUGUST – Organize the Welcome Back Staff Luncheon which is held the day before school begins.
  • DECEMBER – Organize a Holiday Lunch in December.
  • MAY – Organize a Teacher Appreciation Lunch during Teacher Appreciation week in May.
There are separate chairpersons for each of the three events.  (Reports to Corresponding Secretary)
 
STUDENT DIRECTORY PRODUCTION
Produce a booklet of names, addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses of ERMS students and families. The job starts in the summer with review of the list from the previous school year and updating of the computer file. (Reports to President)


STUDENT PHOTOS
The Chairperson(s) arranges for a photographer, sends order forms to the parents, publicizes the event, collects money on the day of the photo shoot, schedules a re-take day and delivers the pictures to the students.  The Administration coordinates scheduling the children’s photo times.   The Chairperson(s) coordinates volunteers to help on the photo shoot day and otherwise as needed.  (Reports to 1st Vice President)
 

STUDENT SOCIALS – 6TH, 7TH & 8TH GRADES
Oversee grade level social events. Responsible for planning, advertising and implementing after school and/or evening activities for a specific grade level. The Chairperson(s) coordinates and schedules adult volunteer (parents and teachers) to supervise these events, coordinates purchase or donation of all refreshments and keeps accurate records for the PTA Treasurer.  (Reports to 3rd Vice President)
 
TOOLS FOR SCHOOL/INDOOR AIR QUALITY
Represent the ERMS community at town-wide Tools for Schools meetings and communicate about specific issues relating to ERMS. Focus on improving indoor air quality and circumstances that affect students with allergies. (Reports to President)
 
VETERANS DAY EVENT
Work with the Social Studies Department Head to organize the Veteran’s Day Assembly. The event generally includes a panel presentation and refreshments following the assembly. (Reports to 2nd Vice President)
 
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
The Volunteer Coordinator sends out volunteer request forms in the June and fall Paw Print mailings.  The coordinator then collects, compiles and distributes a list of volunteers for the PTA committee heads. The bulk of the work is done early in the school year.  (Reports to President)
 
WEB DEVELOPMENT
This position provides a unique opportunity to work from home or office.  The chairperson(s) will assure that the PTA Web Site has pertinent information posted on a timely basis.  Responsibilities include updating site information when needed and posting the PTA general meeting minutes, The Paw Print, information on upcoming events, membership forms, etc.  (Reports to President)