Definitions of Volunteer Opportunities

Accelerated Reader: This is a reading program that rewards casual reading by giving charms to those students who read and pass a comprehension test given on the computer. Volunteers are needed to mark new books in the library and classrooms with the reading level the program has awarded that book. We also need volunteers to help sort and award the charms to the students on a weekly/monthly basis. The students put the charms on the chains which are kept at school and they get to wear on Fridays. These same chains are kept from Kindergarten through 6^th grade to show their progress.

Basket Auction: This is our spring auction. This event will be held during the Hibernation Hop as a fund raiser. We need people to help collect basket material, make baskets, set-up and help during the auction. Great fun!

Battle of the Books: This is a reading battle done at grade level. The students read several district approved books and answer questions in a team atmosphere. Students compete at the school level and they may continue to city and state championships. We need volunteers to help quiz the students usually during lunch. The practice takes place during December, January and February time periods.

Book Fairs: This is essentially a fundraiser for our PTA. We need volunteers to help organize and sell the books to students and their families during our fall and spring conference times. We usually set up all day. It is a great opportunity to buy Christmas presents and gifts for the teachers and our school gets a percentage of the sales.

Box Tops: We get 10 cents for every box top that is sent into our school. This is a great fundraiser and easy. We may need assistance to organize and count box tops. Also good ideas to get more are always appreciated.

Bugle: The Bugle is Bear Valley’s newsletter. It is typically published once every two weeks and sent home to parents. All articles must be approved by the principal before printing. The Bugle is also available on the Bear Valley web site.

Directory: The Bear Valley directory is published toward the beginning of each year with contact information for those families who wish to be included.

Fall Family Fun Night: This takes place in October and is our annual fall carnival. We need volunteers to help with decorations, game set up, food, ticket takers and clean up. It is a one-night event that we coordinate with Community Schools. It is really a lot of fun and we usually work in shifts. Remember all 6^th grade students are required to assist with games to help earn money from PTA for their 6^th grade camp.

Green Star: This is our recycling program. We need help organizing and delivering the recycling to the recycling center.

Hibernation Hop: This is our spring dance. We have incorporated our PE dance curriculum with our all school dance. Students, Teachers and Families all come and share some fun with music. We need help with decoration, food and clean up.

Holiday Store: This is another PTA fundraiser that we reinstated a couple of years ago that was a complete success. We have set up a gift shop for students to buy quality yet inexpensive gifts for their families in a safe environment. This lets the younger student surprise his/her families for the holiday too. We need volunteers to help with set up, gift wrapping and selling the items.

Hospitality: This is our food committee. The PTA supplies food for different occasions. Open House, Bus Driver Breakfast, Teacher Appreciation, and Classroom awards. We need people to help set up and bring different items depending on the need.

Ice Skating Night: This is our school ice skating night (weather permitting). It’s just a fun family time on the ice. We need help with set up, hot drinks and clean up.

Pictures: Help prepare students for picture day.

Red Ribbon: This is our Drug Awareness week. Which is the last week of October. We need help with passing our Red Ribbons, information posters made and whatever the committee decides to do to make this week fun and informative.

Reflections: This is a national PTA arts program. It has 4 categories, Literature, Music, Drawing and Photography. We need help judging our school’s entries and getting more students to participate. They are sent to city, state and national scholarships are awarded.

Safety: We need to inventory and replace any missing items in the emergency backpacks in every classroom. This committee may be asked to address other safety needs as they arise.

School Store: Parents run this store in the mornings from 8:45 until 9:15. It is a fun way to meet the kids and support your school.

Sports Day: This is at the end of the year. We have a day devoted to sports activities. We need a lot of parent help on the intermediate day because the 6^th graders help with the primary kids. A parent just oversees an activity. Student’s gets prizes for completing a certain number of activities.

Wrapping Paper: This is our biggest fundraiser of the year. We need help tallying and counting money when the orders are turned in. We also need assistance getting the orders delivered to the classrooms.

Year Book: This is a year round committee that helps classroom’s organize pictures, the committee finishes in the spring by putting the book together. This requires a lot of time at the end and just a bit at the beginning.