IMPORTANT REQUIREMENT: ALL on campus volunteers must fill out a District Volunteer Application. On campus volunteers must be vaccinated. Good for 2 years from the date initially screened. (This can take some time, so don’t wait and miss the opportunity to volunteer!) Please note: We may be dealing with Covid-19 restrictions and our ability to volunteer on campus is based on the guidelines & information received from the district. Things can change very quickly and we ask for your understanding and patience.
Volunteers are a vital part of the successful operation of our school. PTA membership is only required if a volunteer is holding an elected, board, chair, or coordinator position. General school volunteers are not required, but encouraged to be PTA members! Not a member? Join PTA HERE. Listed below are various volunteer opportunities ranging from the elected executive committee members to a general chair positions like our Copy/Cut/Stuff volunteers! There’s something for everyone!
Email us if you have any questions or would like to join our team!
Executive Team Descriptions
President: Ideal skills/qualities: public speaking, leadership skills, diplomacy, organization, positive attitude. (approx. time commitment: 2-3 hrs/wk + meeting and event attendance)
The duties of the president are as follows:
- Preside at all PTA meetings (Membership & Board of Director).
- Serve as a spokesperson for the PTA.
- With approval of the executive committee, make one-year appointments to positions/committees as specified in the Standing Rules.
- Work closely with the school principal and staff.
- Reserve all on campus room/field space for committees.
- Work with committee chairs (Be an ex officio member of all committees [except nominating & financial review committees] (Does not mean you have to volunteer with every committee, you just need to check in with them.)
- Manage email correspondence with school, including but not limited to: event, flier, and document approval.
- Disseminate/communicate all information received pertinent to PTA purposes and programs.
- Attend required PTA training & track training of executive committee.
- Make sure PTA is following the WSPTA’s Standards of Affiliation (SOAs).
- Assure yearly deadlines are being met (list is published annually by State PTA).
- Assure local PTA representation at council meetings.
- Manage Google workspace as admin for the group.
- Coordinate back-to-school event and information packets.
Vice President: Ideal skills/qualities: public speaking, leadership skills, diplomacy, organization, positive attitude. (approx. time commitment: 1-2 hrs/wk + meeting and event attendance)
The duties of the vice president are as follows:
- Attends monthly PTA membership and Board of Directors meetings
- Preside at meetings in the absence of the president.
- Act as an assistant to the president.
- Attend required PTA training.
- If available, attend any meetings with the school Principal.
- Assist President with following up with committee chairs and other duties agreed upon.
Vice President Fundraising: (Works best with Co-Chairs) Ideal skills/qualities: able to work well with others, decision making skills, positive attitude, attention to detail, basic spreadsheet skills are helpful, and have enthusiasm working with others. (approx. time commitment: Planning for Whale Walk starts the prior year: June-Oct: 5hrs/week (Whale Walk typically happens in Oct), Nov/Dec: 2hrs/week, Jan-May: <1hr/week + meeting and event attendance)
Duties of the vice president(s) of fundraising are as follows:
- Coordinate all PTA fundraising, including but not limited to:
- 1 all-school fundraiser (currently this is the inhouse coordinated fun run: Whale Walk. This is optional and can be hired out.)
- Any community partners fundraising (BoxTop$, AmazonSmile, etc.)
- Any 3rd party community fundraising (MOD Pizza, SkinnyD’s, etc.)
- Attend monthly membership and Board of Directors meetings.
- Preside at meetings in the absence of a president & vice president.
- Assists with other PTA-sponsored events.
- Help establish fundraising goals for the year.
- Attends annual PTA training.
Whale Walk committee: Assist in coordinating annual fundraiser. Many different volunteer options. Event is once a year in the fall.
Secretary: Ideal skills/qualities: good note taker, organization, working as part of a team, attention to detail. (approx. time commitment: <1hr/week + meeting and event attendance)
Duties of the secretary are as follows:
- Attend monthly membership and Board of Directors meetings.
- Prepare accurate minutes of all membership meetings and board of directors meetings.
- Maintains minutes and document notebook.
- Maintain a roster of membership (including all standing and special committees).
- Assists President with meeting schedule and meeting announcements to members.
- Assists with keeping members informed of SOA standings.
- Attend annual PTA training.
Treasurers: Ideal skills/qualities: basic bookkeeping experience-recommended but not required, basic understanding of Excel (or similar), high attention to detail. (approx. time commitment: <1hr/week: June-Aug, 2-3 hrs/week: Sept-Oct, 1 hr/week: Nov-March, 2hrs/week: Apr-May + meeting and event attendance)
- Attend monthly membership and Board of Directors meetings.
- Serve as chair of the annual budget committee. (Active starting March. Budget gets voted on by membership in April.)
- Present monthly written budget & financial reports to board, membership (typically at scheduled meetings & at other times as requested by the president).
- Maintain accurate financial records.
- Make deposits at the bank.
- Enter data related to PTA budget.
- Issue checks for payment & reimbursement from approved PTA budget.
- Reconcile bank accounts.
- Provide all financial records if requested by any PTA member.
- Close the books at the end of the fiscal year (June 30th) and submit them for financial review.
- Submit and pay dues/fees collected to WSPTA & Council.
- File state and national tax reports.
- Renew financial related subscriptions/permits/insurance as needed.
- Attend annual training.
Board Committee Descriptions
Board Committees (Advocacy Chair, Communications Chair, Family Fun Chairs, Membership Chair, Room Parent Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator, Webmaster) all serve on our Board of Directors with our Executive Team (Elected). Our BOD conducts meetings (~1-1.5 hrs) once a month to make preliminary group and budgetary decision for our PTA. Monthly meetings are required and scheduled in advance. If 2 meetings are missed, without prior notification, you maybe asked to step down from your position.
Advocacy Chair: Monitor current legislation and inform the PTA of issues that involve children and education. Volunteers can access email updates and other sources from home and report information as needed. Attend monthly board & membership meetings.
- Advocacy committee: Monitor current legislation and inform the PTA of issues involving children and education. Volunteers can access email updates and other sources from home and report information as needed.
Communications: Newsletter & Social Media. Collect information for and publish weekly eNewsletter (SeaWolf Weekly). Make announcements and maintain social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube). [Must have personal logins to access a few of the accounts.]
Family Fun Chair: Plan and assist with evening events for Cedar Wood families. Approximately 4 events a year. Attend monthly board & membership meetings.
- Family Fun Committee: We need enthusiastic people to help create FUN events for our CW families! Help needed with several events throughout the year, such as carnival, glow dance, Elevated Sportz, etc. Have a new idea? We’d love to hear it!!!
Membership Chair: Collect membership forms and payment. Enter member information into the state PTA database. Distribute membership cards. Participate in various PTA member building activities throughout the year. Attend monthly board & membership meetings.
- Membership committee: Work with the Membership Chair to promote PTA membership at various Cedar Wood events. (Flexible hours)
Room Parents Coordinator: Communicate information to the room parents of each class via email, including school and PTA news, teacher’s birthday, and information on staff appreciation week. Attend monthly board & membership meetings.
- Room Parent: Act as a liaison between the PTA and the families in your student’s class by communicating PTA information, events & activities. Work closely with their teacher to implement class parties and other activities.
Volunteer Coordinator: Collection and organization of volunteer interest forms at the beginning of the year. Give contact information of interested persons to Committee Chairs. Help recruit volunteers for various events. Attend monthly board & membership meetings.
Webmaster: Help maintain and update the Cedar Wood PTA website. This is a year long commitment and time per week varies upon volume of information updated. Approximately 1-2 hours/week. Attend monthly board & membership meetings.
Committee Chair (and committee) Descriptions
Art Docent Chair: Coordinate Cedar Wood’s Art Docent program. Find or come up with 4-5 projects to have taught to students by parent volunteers. Prep supplies & coordinate volunteer trainings for each project. Classroom docents will teach projects in the classrooms about 4-5 times per year. discussing art concepts from a fine art print and organize an art activity based on the print (materials and art prints provided). Usually 1 hour a month.
- Classroom Art Docent: Help teach an art lesson in your child’s classroom a few times a year. Discuss art concepts and lead an art project. (Lessons and materials provided). Approx. 2-3 hours a month.
Assemblies Chair: Work with Cedar Wood staff and PTA exec team to coordinate and schedule school assemblies.
- Assemblies committee: Assist chair and staff members with implementing assemblies.
Awards: Coordinate, collect nominations for and announce winners for Golden Acorn, Outstanding Educator, and Outstanding Advocate.
Before and After School Programs Chair: This person would coordinate with outside companies to provide additional enrichment programs for our students. They will also be responsible for working with the school to reserve on campus space for the programs. Finally, communicate information regarding program to school and parents.
- Before/After School Programs committee: Assist with coordinating/organizing outside programs to provide our students with additional enrichment opportunities.
Birthday Book Club Chair: Work with Mr. Smith to implement the library’s Birthday Book Club. Distribute and collect forms.
- Birthday Book Club committee: Assist committee with prepping material and adding names to the Birthday Book Club poster. 30min/mth
Book Fair Chair: Held twice a year during student conference week in October and March. Various 1-2 hour shifts helping set-up or take down in library…or selling books during the fair. Book fair is open 8:30-9:15 am and 1-4 pm, and one evening.
- Book Fair committee: Held twice a year during student conference week in October and March. Various 1-2 hour shifts helping set-up or take down in the library…or selling books during the fair. Book fair is open 8:30-9:15 am and 1-4 pm, and one evening.
Community Outreach Chair: Help organize and announce community outreach events. Help collect and deliver donations. Opportunities are available for those who can commit only 30 minutes or a few hours. (30+ minutes, various dates)
- Community Outreach committee: Help organize and announce community outreach events such as Food & Toy Drives. Help collect and deliver donations. Opportunities are available for those who can commit only 30 minutes or a few hours. (30+ minutes, various dates)
Community Partners Chair: Help promote passive fundraisers such as BoxTops, AmazonSmile, and Fred Meyer rewards to generate free money for our school such as Box Tops, Labels for Education, and programs such as Fred Meyer Community partners, Target RED Card and more! Volunteers needed to process labels and promote programs.
- Community Partners committee: Help promote passive fundraisers to generate free money for our school such as BoxTops (NO MORE CLIPPING!), AmazonSmile, and Fred Meyers Rewards. Volunteers needed to promote programs.
Copy/Cutting/Stuffing Committee: Exactly what it sounds like. Chairs & Coordinators sometimes need a few extra hands to help out!
DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) Chair: NEW! Help promote our focus on Diversity, Inclusion & Equity. Formally just Cultural Night & Taste of the World. We hope to expand this program to be a larger part of all of the events we host. For Cultural Night/Taste of the World you will work closely with our school’s counselors to organize and promote these events.
- Cultural Connections/DEI committee: Help with cultural programs, equity outreach, and help us come up with more ways to be inclusive for all of our families! If you fluently speak/read/write additional languages you may sign up to be on a list of volunteers willing to assist other families.
Directory Chair: Distribute forms and collect contact information and permission from all families for the Friendship Directory. Create directory, organize printing of directories, and distribute to students. September – October.
- Directory committee: Distribute forms and collect contact information and permission from all families for the Friendship Directory. Create directory, organize printing of directories and distribute to students. September – October.
5th Grade Celebration Chair: (Typically NOT held by a 5th grade parent). We want to pay it forward, so the parents of the 5th graders don’t have to lift a finger! Organize and plan the final send off for the end of the year 5th grade celebrations.
- 5th Grade Celebration committee: Typically NOT 5th grade parents! We want the 5th grade parents to have the opportunity to celebrate with their students and not have to lift a finger. Come help us plan and throw our 5th grade families a celebration to remember!
Financial Review Chair: Three PTA members review the financial records and fill out an audit checklist. Accountants are welcome but checkbook balancing skills are sufficient. Audits are scheduled at the convenience of the auditors and can be outside of school hours. Present findings to the Board of directors and to the membership. (~2 hours Jan. & June)
- Financial Review committee: Participate in 2 reviews of the PTAs financial records. Accountants are welcome, but checkbook balancing skills are sufficient. Audits are scheduled at the convenience of the auditors and can be outside of school hours. (~2 hours Jan. & June)
Grants Chair: Coordinate 1 or 2 grant cycles. Collect and review grant applications, present grant applications to Board of Directors for approval.
- Grant committee: Help us sort through grant requests and help recommend which ones will be funded.
Health Screening committee: Assist with hearing and vision screening one day during the year.
Jr Achievement Chair: Coordinate volunteers to teach Jr Achievement program in student classrooms. All training and materials are provided.
- Junior Achievement classroom volunteer: Teach 5 one-hour sessions in classrooms over 5 weeks at a time/month agreed upon with the classroom teacher. Materials and training provided.(~ 5 hours total.)
Library Helper: Assist Mr. Smith with checking in/out and re-shelving books. flexible hours!
Nominations: Comprised of committee of 3-5 PTA volunteers: Sole purpose of this committee is to find a slate of nominees for the executive committee (President, Vice President, Vice President of fundraising, Secretary, & Treasurer) for the following year. Committee serves from January-March, and is dissolved following the election.
Popcorn Buddies: Help prepare and serve popcorn one Friday a month during lunches.
Read-at-home (AquaSox): Implement the read-at-home program. Track and collect forms, distribute prizes & collect payment for additional tickets purchased.
- Read-at-home AquaSox committee: Assist with implementing a local reading program where students earn prizes for reading! Spring.
Reflections: Assist with student participation in the national Reflections art program competition. Both creative and administrative opportunities are available, many of which can be done at home. (1+ hours, Fall)
- Reflections committee: Assist with student participation in the national Reflections art program competition. Both creative and administrative opportunities are available, many of which can be done at home. (1+ hours, Fall)
Running Club: Work closely with staff to advertise programs, track student miles, distribute tokens.
- Running Club: Assist on Friday mornings throughout the year and on Race Days (last Friday of the month).
Spirit Wear: Assist with tallying orders (Oct. /Nov.) and distributing items (December).
School Pictures committee: Assist photographer on school picture day…helping students/classes to and from photo location. Shifts are usually 9-12 or 1-3:20 for one day in September or October.
Staff Appreciation: Assist with various events to demonstrate appreciation for Cedar Wood staff members. Periodically provide food for monthly staff meals (dessert, soup, salad, etc.).
- Staff Appreciation committee: Assist with various events to demonstrate appreciation for Cedar Wood staff members. Periodically provide food for monthly staff meals (dessert, soup, salad, etc.).
Watch D.O.G.S (Dads Of Great Students) Pack leader: Lead one kick off event at the beginning of the year to introduce this national Watch D.O.G.S. program to other potential “D.O.G.S.” Work with staff to coordinate the program at CW. (1-2 events)
- Watch D.O.G.S Pack: Join our pack of D.O.G.S. who volunteer to spend a day at school helping out in a variety of different areas.
Welcome Committee: (Formally SeaPups) Plan 3-4 summer playground meetups for incoming kindergarten students and their families. Provide a welcome packet to new students and staff.
Yearbook Committee: Help put together and publish the school yearbook. Any computer or digital scrap-booking experience is great.
- Yearbook/Paparazzi committee: Help organize, take photographs (at events, activities, and around the school) and publish the school yearbook. Pictures will be used for yearbooks, social media and the PTA website. No photography experience needed! (Flexible hours)