| Battle of the Books |
Assist with communication/marketing of event by posting important dates to the Prospect Newsletter. Communicate with the teacher sponsors of the club (Mrs. Swanson and Mrs. Nolin) and put in participant t-shirt order in December once sizes are determined and pick shirts up in January in Downers Grove. Chairs do not need to attend Battle of the Books meetings.
Battle of the Books is open to 4th and 5th grade students and is designed to encourage elementary students to read quality books in their leisure time with weekly ‘book battle’ meetings after-school focused on plot, characters, setting, and theme leading up to a chance to compete in the District battle |
| Bike Rodeo |
This committee plans and executes the annual school Bike Rodeo, traditionally hosted after school one day at the beginning of the school year, for 3rd through 5th graders. It’s a fun rite of passage for our older students who would like to receive the “license” to ride their bike to school. Coordinate with a local bike shop and the Clarendon Hills Police Department to create stations where the kids receive a safety check for their bike and helmet, ride through a bicycling safety course, and finally get their bike registered with the school and the Clarendon Hills Police Department.
Bike Rodeo is held in August
|
| Book Fairs |
Support the Teacher-Librarians in executing the Fall and Spring Book Fair as a fundraiser for the library. Prospect’s Teacher-Librarian takes primary responsibility for the scheduling and planning of the events. Chairs help coordinate volunteers for the execution of the events including event set up, book sales, maintaining display cases and take-down post event.
|
| Class Pictures |
In the fall, Prospect holds both an All-School Photo and a Class Picture Day where individual student and staff photos are taken. Communicate and coordinate volunteers for Prospect’s All School Picture day, Class Picture Day and a makeup day. The All-School photo is completed outdoors in September. The Class Picture Day, when individual student and staff photos are taken, takes place in September.
|
| Communications/ Newsletter |
Collect, edit, and format articles for the weekly newsletter, The Prospect Press. Work is done from home/evening hours and newsletter is published every Sunday morning during the school year |
|
Communications/PR/
Social Media
|
Help spread important PTO details and event-related information/highlights via social media platforms and local news outlets
|
| Communications/ Website |
The webmaster works closely with the PTO Presidents to maintain Prospect PTO’s website using Membership Toolkit. All work can be done from home, and no prior experience is necessary/training is provided. This is a great role for someone who would like to help out but is not available during school hours.
|
|
Fall Family Fest
|
Help plan and execute the Prospect Panther Pride Fest and raffle prizes - a significant fundraising event for the PTO. Event to be held in September and planning recommended to begin during summer.
|
|
5th Grade Activities
|
The 5th Grade Activities Committee is a committee of 5th grade parents who plan and execute fun and engaging activities/parties for the 5th grade students. Generally, there is one party per “season” (fall, winter, spring). Most parties are held outside of school hours, Sunday evenings, and off-school premise. The final activity is the making of a video of 5th grade students, to be shown to the students and their parents at the “Clap Out” held on the last day of school.
|
|
Gift Crowd
|
Manage the online GiftCrowd platform and execute the promotion of the gifting windows during the holidays and end-of-year for teachers and staff.
|
|
Gift Wrap Fundraiser
|
The Gift Wrap Fundraiser committee coordinates this popular fall fundraiser working with an outside vendor to provide catalogues to families so they may purchase gift wrap and related items. The committee chair and volunteers also handle the publicity for the event (via school newsletter and socials). Work can be done at home/evening hours.
|
|
Grounds
|
The Grounds Committee works with the District to maintain the school grounds - perfect for people who enjoy gardening. monitor the maintenance of sprinkler system, and seasonally select, purchase, and plant flowers in the school planters. Can work with EcoPanthers Club to plant these and also to schedule summer volunteers to water the Outdoor Learning Center.
In addition, the Grounds committee ensures the crosswalks are repainted prior to the beginning of school. The Grounds committee also publicizes the “Buy a Brick” program (a PTO fundraiser) in the spring every other year, and oversees the installation of the bricks by the landscaping company.
Note: The District landscapers take care of weekly weeding and there is a sprinkler system installed that handles watering.
|
|
Holiday Bazaar
|
Plan and execute the Holiday Bazaar, a break-even activity provided to our students by the PTO where students can shop for holiday gifts for their immediate family/pets in secret and at affordable prices. Responsibilities include purchasing items for sale, coordinating volunteers for gift-wrapping, managing additional elements such as Spirit Wear sales and managing the event onsite.
Holiday Bazaar is held in early December
|
|
Hot Lunch
|
Coordinate and execute the PTO’s work to make a purchased Hot Lunch available to all our students weekly (typically on a Wednesday and Friday) during the school year. Work with an outside school vendor to plan menu and determine pricing. Schedule and direct parent volunteers to serve the meals.
Hot lunch sign up will occur at the beginning of the school year.
|
| Library Volunteers |
Work with Mrs. Swanson to organize monthly schedule of parent volunteers to assist in the library during school hours, ensuring all volunteers are matched to their respective child(ren) library times.
Volunteers will help with book check-ins, check-outs and shelve returned books.
Library volunteer sign up will occur in the early fall.
|
| Music Volunteers |
Work closely with Mrs. Kozakis to organize monthly schedule of parent volunteers who assist during their child's music class and assist w/ scheduling volunteers for set-up/take-down for grade level performances.
Volunteers will help with filming segments of music class and upload onto SeeSaw for all parents to enjoy.
Music volunteer sign up will occur in the early fall.
|
| Music Choir Librarian |
Organize choir music files and create a Google document listing all choir music. Hours are flexible and can be done from home.
This position may be best suited for a parent of a choir student.
|
| Newcomers |
Serve as a valuable resource contact for new Prospect families. Our Newcomers Committee has the important task of welcoming and helping to orient all of our new Prospect families – both those beginning with a new Kindergartener and those new to the community. This committee plans a Kindergarten Mix and Mingle, as well as assists with a New Family Orientation (Grades 1-5) held just before the start of school. The committee helps new families find ways to connect and feel comfortable at school. They can also provide suggestions of how to get involved with the PTO.
Most of the work is done in the summer with the Mix and Mingle event historically planned the day prior to 1st day of school |
| Philanthropy Committee/Prospect Cares |
This committee develops opportunities for Prospect students to engage in philanthropy, ideally at least once/trimester. Ideas include a coat/food/book drives, etc. |
| Room Parent Coordinators |
Room Parents organize Room Parents for each class (2-3 per class) and hold an orientation meeting with all Room Parents in September to communicate responsibilities, budget and share support material for how to run the classroom parties that happen throughout the year. Chairs will work closely with room parents to ensure timely submissions of all forms to the school prior to room parties.
Room Parent volunteer sign up will occur in the early fall.
|
| School Supply Committee |
The School Supply Committee works with the Prospect staff to develop grade-level school supply lists. Select vendor and coordinate school supply kit orders to ensure easy access for Prospect parents to order school supplies through an online vendor. Set up online ordering forms, market deadline to purchase the school supplies, organize delivery to the school in August and coordinate classroom distribution
Work begins in Winter with distribution of kits the week before school begins in August
|
| Science Week |
Develop a theme and plan Science Week for each grade level. Includes planning and publicizing for ‘Science Night” at Prospect School for students to showcase their work including creating one-page information handouts for teachers to share with their class. Project showcase on Science Night will be open to all grade levels.
Science week is historically held in March.
Efforts will begin in early December with theme and project sign-off from the Principal by 2nd week of January; Final delivery of all classroom science kits (if applicable) and take-home information pamphlets for kids delivered to the school 2 weeks prior. Science Night historically held in March.
|
| Shop 'n Share |
Raise money for Prospect School by developing 4-6 shopping or fundraising events with local businesses through the school year. Set up the timing and details for each event and handle all publicity for event. |
| Spelling Bee |
Organize in-class spelling bees run by the teachers to determine participants for the all-school spelling bee assembly for 3rd - 5th graders (typically held in January). Usually one co-chair is the pronouncer and one is the judge.
Prospect hosts a Spelling Bee on an annual basis. Historically, during the month of January, class spelling bees are held in each of the 3rd through 5th grade classrooms during the school day. There are different word lists used for each grade and those lists are sent home with students during the previous weeks. Student participation is optional. The top finalists from each classroom advance to an all-school Spelling Bee held the following week. The top two winners advance to the District 181 Spelling Bee. This is a one-time event commitment and will be done outside of school hours. |
| Spirit Wear |
Promote Prospect School spirit by selling t-shirts, gear, and other items with the Prospect name or Panther logo.
Sales occur at the beginning of the school year and wrap up before the holidays; Includes promoting online sales as well as having spirit-wear tables at key school events (Curriculum Night, Panther Fest, Book Fair etc.)
|
| Strategic Gifts |
Following a defined process, the Strategic Gifts Co-Chairs solicit requests for the funding of new school projects. Work with the school administration, PTO executive board, and teachers to review, prioritize, and fund requests. The Strategic Gifts Chairs are traditionally the immediate past years’ PTO Co-Presidents. |
| Spring Fundraiser |
Help plan and execute the PTO’s spring fundraiser – ‘Parent’s night out’ offering a fun evening with raffle prizes for Prospect Parents as well as significant fundraising opportunity for our school, a win-win! Responsibilities include securing location, catering, raffle prize donations, handling publicity for event etc (themed night optional).
Planning efforts begin in Jan after winter break. Parents Night Out historically held in mid-March
|
| Strategic Gifts |
Following a defined process, the Strategic Gifts Co-Chairs solicit requests for the funding of new school projects. Work with the school administration, PTO executive board, and teachers to review, prioritize, and fund requests. The Strategic Gifts Chairs are traditionally the immediate past years’ PTO Co-Presidents. |
| Teacher and Staff Appreciation |
Organize activities that demonstrate appreciation from students and parents to our Prospect teachers and staff. The committee is able to creatively determine what sort of activities it would like to plan.
Historically, the events have spread throughout the year intermittently including Back-to-School Breakfast (first Friday of school start), monthly grade level stock the lounges, Pre-Thanksgiving dinner during parent-teacher conference, coordinating student-written thank you notes, chalk-the-walk, luncheons, and other gifts of food and flowers for teacher and principal appreciation weeks, to name a few. The largest commitment occurs in May during Teacher Appreciation Month.
This committee also supplies recognition on Principals Day, Custodian Day, Administrative Professionals Day, Crossing Guard Day, Nurses Day, and for any teacher/staff retirements.
|
| Walk To School Day |
The Walk to School Day committee coordinates Prospect’s participation in the International Walk to School Day that occurs each fall. This is a global event that involves communities from more than 40 countries walking and biking to school on the same day. The committee encourages families to walk or bike to school that day and a “walk” takes place around the school grounds, with a short ceremony at the flag pole right after school begins. The committee is also responsible for the following:
- Order Signage
- Inform CH Police and invite them to attend the outdoor ceremony
- Coordinate Scouts to help say the pledge of allegiance during ceremony
- Coordinate Chalk the Walk
Walk to School day is held in early October
|
| Yearbook |
Create the annual Prospect School Yearbook. Supervise a committee of 1 parent volunteer/classroom and 2 parents/school event in creating class-specific collages. Manage the submission of all materials to the printers by the spring deadline.
Yearbook volunteer sign up will occur in the early fall.
|
