The following are descriptions of PTO volunteers opportunities and events. Ideally, each category will have several volunteers and a chairperson, depending on the size of the project. You can try to gather a group of friends to work on a specific project or just choose what interests you. Working on any of these committees is a great way to meet other people at Bell and makes a real difference in your child’s experience here.
Year-Round Volunteer Needs/Committees
Cultural Enrichment Committee
This committee is an integral part of the Bell School community. Responsible for researching, choosing and implementing enrichment programs, which benefit Bell School students grade-wide. Volunteer needs: Join committee and help reach out to various programs, book the programs, work with scheduling and help oversee actual events. . Please contact Committee Chairs, Elizabeth Kronberg (seckronberg@verizon.net) or Sarah Oaks (sarahoaks@comcast.net) with any interest or questions.
Website
The PTO has a Website that parent volunteers design and maintain. This offers Bell Parents a direct link to what’s happening with the school, provides schedules of events and sends out reminders and notifications to all parents when necessary. This is a great way to keep the Bell School connected and informed on PTO work. Volunteer Needs: If you have some technical skill, please consider helping with the website. We need on-going help with content, design and technical assistance. Please contact Carrie Schluter (schluter@earthlink.net) with any questions.
Fundraising/Family Committee
This committee is dedicated to planning fun family activities and fundraisers that brings Bell families together. These events also help raise needed funds to provide additional resources to our children’s classrooms. Volunteer Needs: Anyone interested in joining the committee to help plan events or work specific events. Events include family bingo night, holiday shops, movie nights and more. For more information, please contact Committee Chair, Hannah Walsh (hannahleewalsh@yahoo.com).
September- November
Open House (September)
This evening event is an opportunity for parents to gather in their children’s classroom and hear from the teacher, an overview of the curriculum for the year. During the Open House, the PTO sponsors a bake sale to help raise money. Volunteer Needs: Needs Event Chairperson to coordinate approximately 25-30 bakers. Need 1-2 volunteers to help run the bake sale table during the open house 6-7pm. They will be selling the goods and managing the cash box. Email also went out to parents asking for baked goods. Contact Kelly Whalen (kelly@bellschoolpto.com) with any interest or questions.
Garden, Grounds & Beautification Committee (fall and spring)
This Committee is dedicated to keeping the grounds of Bell School clean and beautiful. Roll up your sleeves and help indoors and out. Volunteer Needs: Needs parents to help with fall spruce up, plantings, playground upkeep, spring clean-up. The committee meets helping keep the inside of the buildings looking fresh with some seasonal painting. Projects determined by need and requests of teachers. Please contact Amy Weist (gardens and grounds) for more information (aweist@comcast.net). Chairperson position open for Inside Bell School Beautification Committee. Please contact Tracy Orloff (tracy@bellschoolpto.com) for internal beautification information.
December-March
Mitten Tree (November-December)
This event is a toy/coat drive for needy children that begins in early November and ends the week or so before Christmas. Volunteer needs: I-2 volunteers to help transport coats and items to collection location. Contact Amy Cunningham (cunninghamamy@comcast.net) with any interest or questions.
Warm and Fuzzy Coat Drive (Novemer-December)
This is a seasonal event where families donate new or lightly worn coats, snow pants, gloves, hats, and boots for donation to children in need. Volunteer Needs: 1-2 Coordinators to advertise the coat drive by sending out emails (to Tracy Orloff for email distribution) or creating flyers for backpacks. Also needs to transport donations to drop-off location. Please contact Tracy Orloff (tracy@bellschoolpto.com) with any interest or questions.
April-June
Red Sox Opening Day Celebration (April)
To help support the Jimmie Fund and celebrate the Red Sox Opening Day, Amie Baker (Bell Gym teacher) plans a day of physical activities and a baseball game with the kids. This is a great event and the kids have so much fun. Volunteer Needs: Needs 2 Coordinators to plan the events with Amie Baker. Will need to solicit volunteers to help oversee children’s activities, and provide snacks and water afterwards. Needs volunteers 2-4 for refreshment stand. Contact Kim Monahan (kim@bellschoolpto.com) with any interest or questions.
Earth Day Trail Clean-Up (April)
As part of a spring clean-up effort, Bell Families head to the bike trail across from the Post Office with bags and rakes and helps clean up the trails. It’s a fun family event that is great for keeping our town clean. Volunteer Needs: A needs 1 Event Coordinator to solicit volunteers to meet in front of Marblehead Post Office (date TBA).. Contact Carrie Schluter (schluter@earthlink.net) with interest or questions.
Scholastic Book Fair (May)
The Scholastic book fair takes place in the Upper Bell library at Bell School. The proceeds go directly to the PTO for additional literacy resources for Bell. Volunteer Needs: Need 4 total volunteers per window of time the kids are shopping for books (2 at cashier and 2 floating in the room to help children). Approximately 10 volunteers to set up and break down at the end of the week. Please contact Tracy Orloff (tracy@bellschoolpto.com) with any questions.
Teacher Appreciation Luncheon (May)
This is a wonderful event where the parents of Bell School plan a luncheon for the entire staff at Bell. A “Thank You” for all of their hard work and dedication throughout the year. The teachers and staff love this event and the parents love doing it! Volunteer Needs:
Needs 2 –3 Event Chairs and an additional 10 volunteers for food and drink service, meet and greeters and clean-up at the event. Need bakers and people to prepare salads and sides. We catered most of the main course last year but had salads brought in as side dishes. Possible theme this year can be nautical. Contact Linda Maude (linda@bellschoolpto.com) with any questions.
Fine Arts Night (June)
This event is a night where the students in all grades display their artwork and the 2rd and 3rd graders perform for the school. The PTO sponsors a Mug Raffle where teachers and staff paint a mug and displays it for raffle. This is a great fundraiser for the PTO. Volunteer Needs: Needs 1-2 volunteers to manage the mug painting effort for the teachers. On the night of the event, 2-4 volunteers needed to manage raffle table, filling out tickets, managing the flow of traffic in the lobby, cash box. Contact Tracy Orloff (tracy@bellschoolpto.com) with any interest or questions.
Playground Funday (June)
At the end of the school year, the PTO sponsors an event for the kids and their families. Games, nail painting, dancing and refreshments after school at the Upper Bell Playground. Volunteer Needs: Needs 2 Event Chairs who will coordinate additional volunteers, hire DJ, order Games, refreshments, snacks, oversee the activities. On the days of the event, between 15-20 parents volunteers are needed to supervise games and help with refreshments. Please contact Kim Monahan (kim@bellschoolpto.com) with any questions.
PTO Board Positions for 2011-2012 Year:
President or Co-President: Responsible for overseeing committees and events, organizing PTO materials and procedures. Works closely with Principal to make sure parent concerns are met and that the PTO is informed of curriculum based progress and changes.
Treasurer: Records and tracks all financial transactions for the PTO, including financial statements which are presented and discussed at the meetings.
Secretary: Responsible for taking minutes of the PTO meetings, communicating with Room Parents, scheduling PTO meetings. Working closely with other officers to make sure agendas are met.