Parent INVOLVEMENT

Parent Committees

When you volunteer your time and energy at New Traditions, you help to expand and enrich our students' learning experiences by supporting the work of our dedicated teachers and staff. As a caring adult figure in our students' lives, you are an important member of the school team. Volunteering opportunities exist in every area of school – arts, community events, greening, enrollment, fundraising, communications, teacher appreciation and more. Volunteering is never required, but always welcome.

To join a parent committee, sign up for FreshSchools and then follow the tutorial for joining a committee.

COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

Responsible for school communications. Members maintain the school website, produce and distribute the yearbook, and assist with design and distribution for digital event notices, brochures and t-shirts. Members support the PTA board with producing the Dragon Den newsletter for current families and assist with enrollment, including tours.

SUBCOMMITTEES

Dragon Den: Working with PTA President and Secretary to distribute weekly newsletter.

Hospitality: The Hospitality Committee is the welcoming interface between the New Traditions Staff, current and incoming parents by arranging welcome coffee and other events throughout the year.

Technology: Manages NT’s online presence and technology needs.

Tours: Organizes tours for interested parents who are considering sending their child to our school.

Yearbook: Takes photographs all through the school year and creates a yearbook at the end of the year.

COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT COMMITTEE

Responsible for planning and hosting school-wide events including the Discovery Festival, Field Day, Spring Performance, and supporting community events at the school. This is a wonderful opportunity for your creativity to flourish in support of our school!

SUBCOMMITTEES

Arts: The Arts committee manages all school performances, art hangings in the school, art-related programs brought to the school, and most importantly, acts as a communication conduit to ensure integrated arts in the classroom curriculum, often through collaboration with PTA hired arts instructors.

After School Enrichment: Team curates and organizes the After School Enrichment program, which includes finding service providers, securing contracts and building the session calendars.

Discovery Festival: The annual Spring Art/Science/Music/Games Festival held at school.

Community Events: Team creates and organizes school-wide community events. Examples include Pumpkin Painting and movies nights.

School Events: Team works closely with teachers and staff to support 5th Grade Graduation, K-1 Potluck, Kinder Camp, and Field Day.
Teacher Appreciation Week: A week of special treats to show our teachers how much we appreciate them.

COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE

Responsible for fundraising efforts including the annual auction and major events such as Dragon Walk, Scholastic Book Fair as well as ongoing donation programs and direct appeals.

SUBCOMMITTEES

Auction Fundraising: Responsible for planning and putting on the school's auction party, usually held in March. The auction raises money for the operation of the school, and depends on donated items. Members guide the NT community in soliciting donations and selling tickets, as well as soliciting donations themselves.

Dragon Walk: Our fall fundraiser and community event that starts with families raising funds via friends and family, bake sales and lemonade stands, and culminates with a community walk through Golden Gate Park.

Grants: Team identifies and pursues grants and coordinates with other committees who might have specific information that can help with grant writing.

Passive Income & Merchant Programs: Manages existing income resources like "Box-Tops for Education," Amazon Smile, Benefit, Sports Basement, Rainbow Grocery, Gus's, restaurant fundraisers, and other trickle-in funding opportunities and identifies new partnership opportunities.

Scholastic Book Fair: The book fair that lines the lower hallway for a week in the Fall. Opportunity for students and families to purchase Scholastic books as well as earn free books for our school library.

FACILITIES COMMITTEE

Responsible for taking care of physical aspects of the school.

SUBCOMMITTEES

School Maintenance: General school upkeep including helping with lost & found.

Greening: Maintenance of green spaces and gardens. Therapeutic weeding and digging in dirt.

PARENT EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Plan and host multiple meetings and events designed to support families. Topics may include school values, learning about childhood development, strengthening parenting skills, and maintaining self-care in our hectic lives. Members plan the content of these meetings and recruit speakers

Room Parents

A room parent’s main task is to facilitate communication between other parents and the teacher, the school parent group, and occasionally school administration. This can vary widely from class to class, teacher to teacher, and sometimes even district to district. For the most part, as a room parent you’ll solicit donations (paper goods, snacks, decorations, etc.) from parents for classroom parties and events (usually based on a list from the teacher), and Teacher Appreciation Week in May, organize volunteers for the classroom for events or enrichment, and other tasks as decided by the teacher. As well, some room parents act as liaisons for their school’s PTO or PTA, attending parent group meetings and, potentially, helping generate support or interest in parent group efforts. (For example, room parents can help the PTO promote an event by reminding their parents of an upcoming program or fundraiser.)

To become a room parent, sign up for FreshSchools and send a message to the PTA.

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