FUND-RAISING OPPORTUNITIES

Fall Fund-Raisers

Auction
Join the Central Auction committee to help put together this fundraiser, which raises money to support our Cultural Arts and Artist in Residence Programs. All Children at Central benefit from these enriching PTO sponsored programs. This event takes place every other year with the next auction being considered for the Fall of 2012. Planning and preparations will begin in Spring 2011 for the Fall 2012 Auction. There are 3 committees outlined below.

• Auction Committee
  Plan and execute the party including decorations, set up, clean up, venue and entertainment.
• Auction Communication and Advertising Committee
  Create and produce all brochures, invitations, marketing materials and raffle tickets. Create a marketing plan, sell Ad space in the brochure and be the gateway for all communication regarding the Auction.
• Auction Programs Committee
  Procure Parent and Business donations and organize Teacher donations.

Innisbrook Wrap and Gifts
Help make one of our largest fundraisers a success by being part of a big team to motivate the kids to sell premium gift wrap and gifts. Online ordering and other processing make this fundraiser a cinch! You just have to get the kids excited to ask friends and family to purchase the high quality product. Fundraiser runs from mid-September through delivery in November.

Kids Art Fundraiser
Students create a single colorful drawing at home that can be reproduced on various items and purchased by parents. Items included are aprons, potholders, note cards, night-lights, coasters, kitchen trivets and many other choices. Committee members assist with compiling student orders to send to the artwork vendor and distribute final products to the student.

Spirit Wear
Research vendors, prepare flier, take orders, and distribute Central School sweatshirts, t-shirts, etc. Spirit Wear sale takes place early in school year.

Winter Fund-Raisers

Book Fair
There are many varied opportunities to help with this week-long event in the Winter time (lead-time work for chair/co-chair, as well). Volunteers are needed to set up, decorate, and plan the schedule for shopping and related events with classroom teachers, cashiers, assist shoppers, and take down. Working parents can do some scheduling at home. Those not available during the day are also encouraged to work the evening of our family event (Winter Wonderland) held in conjunction with the fair.

On Going School Fund Raising Programs

Central 100% Fund
Back by popular demand! Promote and monitor participation in the PTO’s most lucrative fundraiser! Solicit tax-deductible contributions (primarily from the Central School community) to provide funds needed for budgeted PTO programs and activities. A good job for working parent since most can be done from home with few, if any, meetings required.

Brick Pavers
Promote the brick paver dedication program in front of the school during the Fall and Spring with fliers.

Grant Writer
Are you a writer? Do you have a way with words? Do you enjoy a challenge? Assist with research, writing and editing all grant applications.

Soup Label and Box Top program
Promote and sort the collection of labels and box tops, redeemable for items used at Central School. Much of this can be done at home on your own schedule.

Target
Communicate information regarding the Target program and educate parents as to the benefits of registering their credit card with Central Elementary as the recipient of up to 1% of all purchases. Distribute fliers and communicate several times a year.

“FUN” RAISING SOCIAL, SUPPORT AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

Birthday Boards
This committee honors all of the student and staff birthdays on the bulletin board in the hallway outside the office. Great opportunity to show off your creativity!

Creative Learning Committee/Riverside Area Inclusion Network (R.A.I.N.)
New! Be the Central representative to the District “Beyond the Typical Educational Needs” Committee in bringing awareness of educational needs of students who fall on either end of the educational bell curve, community involvement, and sensitivity training for all.

Cultural Arts, Artist-in-Residence Coordinator
Investigate and coordinate the Artist-in-Residency programs for the school.

Cultural Arts, Classroom Presentations
There are many opportunities to help with this yearlong program.  The Cultural Arts Classroom presentation program provides for parent volunteers to give monthly presentations in each classroom about selected artists and pieces of art and supervise a hands-on related art activity. This committee guides the program. The committee ensures our Lead Room Parents schedule parent volunteers for the presentations and also that our parent volunteers are offered training and have access to presentation materials.

Cultural Arts, Field Trips
One or two volunteers to coordinate the annual Cultural Arts field trips. Traditionally, the field trips are in May and include: a kindergarten trip to the Riverside Art Center, a 1st grade historical tour of Central School, a 2nd grade visit to the Riverside Art Center, a 3rd grade walking tour of Riverside, a 4th grade walking tour of Riverside’s Frank Lloyd Wright homes, and a 5th grade excursion by train to Chicago for an architectural tour downtown and a lecture/tour at the Art Institute.

Environmental Concerns Committee
Let’s Go Green!  This committee works with teachers, staff, students and administrators to encourage environmentally responsible practices in our school and district. We also support the Central School 4th & 5th Grade Ecology Club which meets approximately once a month after school.

Family Night Program(s)
Plan, organize and execute two family social events at Central. (Fall and Spring events)

5th Grade Activities
You will coordinate the ordering of the Central school 5th grade T-shirts. Together with volunteers from the other elementary schools, you will help plan the Spring Social Games Night for the year’s future 6th graders at Hauser Junior High. In addition, you will plan the end of school year picnic. All 5th-Grade parents are encouraged to assist in this fun event.

Flying Carpet Club
This is a fun format for introducing children grades 1-5 to stories of literary merit from around the world selected by the Great Books Foundation. Using “shared inquiry” method of discussion, plus a healthy dose of creativity, we lead small groups of 6-8 children once-a-week on literary adventures during the lunch/recess hour. The club meets 10 weeks between return from Winter break January until Spring break in March.

Garden Gurus
This committee does Fall and Spring clean up of the front yard landscaping as well as Summer watering. The chair coordinates the summer watering schedule.

Halloween Festivities at Central School
Assist in the planning and execution of the Halloween day celebrations.

Halloween Village Event
Coordinate Central School’s participation in the district-wide creative Halloween program.

Hike and Bike to School
Plan and promote a week of awareness and activities promoting walking or riding bikes to school. (Fall Program)

Hospitality
Get in on the ground level of this fun, new committee!   The Hospitality Committee is guided by the PTO 3rd Vice President.   Responsibilities include coordinating the Faculty Music Recital Reception (Fall) and Staff Conference Meal (November).  This Committee may assist with other hospitality duties as designated by the 3rd Vice President.

Ice-Skating Party
Involves reserving an ice rink, sending out promotional fliers and coordinating volunteers to provide baked goods and refreshments. February event (on a half-day Friday).

Just Ask Me
I don’t know where to put my name specifically, but if there is a need for something, please ask me (via phone or email listed on front page) and I will try to help out.

Kids Care
Organize child-involved, charitable activities for the needy children and families in Riverside and surrounding communities.

Kindergarten Picnic/Back-to-School Balloons
Help organize a picnic and a few activities on the day before the children begin their first day of kindergarten! In addition to this, the kindergarten chair/co-chair arrange for the traditional welcome balloons on the first day back to school (the 3rd VP can help guide this task).

Library
There are many opportunities to help with this yearlong program.  The Library Committee works in conjunction with and is guided by the Library Staff.  Responsibilities include shelving books, shelf reading (making sure the books are in the right order on the shelves), book covering & repair, and designing/decorating the library bulletin boards.  Training will be provided for all jobs.

Little Symphony
Be the Central representative to the district Little Symphony committee. This committee decides on three musical presentations to bring to our students each year.

Living Classroom
The Centennial Reading Garden is replanted with bulbs each October by the 3rd grade classes. We need parents of 3rd graders to help with this project.

PE Helper
Help the Physical Education teacher with Presidential Fitness testing 3 times per year (fall run, winter indoor testing and spring run) during your child’s gym class.

Preschool Screening
Assist with the running of the preschool screening program, usually in February.

Program Chair
One or two people needed to select and schedule 2-3 daytime all-school assembly programs per year.

P.R./Media Coordinator
One person to inform media of school events for the purpose of getting photos and articles into the local paper. This individual will work in conjunction with the Central PTO Communications Director.

P.R./Communications
Prepare fliers and/or online communications for all PTO meetings or any programs that require parent/student notification at home This individual will work in conjunction with the Central PTO Communications Director and school administration to ensure appropriate distribution to students.

PTO Webmaster
One person needed to maintain and update the Central PTO web site. This individual will work in conjunction with the Central PTO Communications Director.

Read to Succeed
Promote, distribute forms, and prepare certificates for free admission to Great America for students who read more than 360 minutes. (This typically occurs in the Winter.)

Roller Skating Party
PTO-sponsored party in the Fall. Chair needs to reserve the rink and provide for event communications.

School Calendar
Prepare Central School’s calendar of events for the next school year with representatives from the other schools in the district during May. (PTO President’s responsibility).

School Supply Sale
As a convenience to parents, we offer prepacked supplies custom-ordered for each grade. Requires ordering supplies from a company and distributing them to classrooms in August.

Science in a Can
A weekly commitment for 4 weeks, typically during February or March, to check in cans and replenish supplies for the experiments. Usually requires 30-45 minutes/week at school.

Science Fair
Interested in encouraging students’ appreciation for Science?  Get in on the ground level of Central’s First Science Fair! You will be part of this interesting Science Fair event where enthusiastic students proudly show their knowledge of the scientific method and display their experiments.  Your involvement may include helping students set up projects, directing visitors, preparing awards, and other activities connected to the Fair.

Student Directory
Assist in overseeing and maintaining online student directory, which includes, but is not limited to, confirming completion of consent forms for sharing of contact information with the PTO.  (The consent forms were first distributed in the Summer, 2011, along with the registration forms).  Produce flyers and oversee implementation of updates to online student directory.  Ensure that paper copies of directory are available upon request; a fee may be associated with the paper copy.

Talent Show
This much-loved event happens in the Spring and requires the dedication of many hardworking individuals. If you like working stage productions, this is the job for you. The talent show needs help with everything from auditions to preparing the announcers to working with stage hands to assistance during the performance themselves. If you would like to help out in any way during this exciting event, please check the box!

Teacher Appreciation Luncheon Committee
First or second Tuesday in May– spend 1 1/2 hours giving back to the teachers and staff of Central.  While they are treated to lunch at a local restaurant, you will fill in for the paraprofessional staff members.  You will watch over the students during the students’ lunch and recess time.  Only sign up if you are 100% committed to this committee!

Teacher Appreciation Week
Help plan and implement a weeklong event in May to recognize our teachers.

TV Turn-Off Week
This weeklong event happens in the spring and the students and families sure seem to love it. This event encourages our students to choose an alternative to tv-watching, computer games, and other “screen” activities for a week. They track their progress and are able to enter their name for raffles or other acknowledgements throughout the week.

Winter Wonderland
A great job for working parent who is not available during school hours! This event occurs one evening in the Winter/Spring, coinciding with the book fair. Involves organizing volunteers to provide baked goods, serve goodies and have fun!

Yearbook
The Roadrunner yearbook is published at the end of the school year. The committee needs people to help take photographs at school events and in classrooms, as well as manage and advise the fifth grade staff of reporters and photographers. Assistance is also needed in planning for the delivery of the yearbooks when the time comes. The long-time chair of this committee will be “retiring” after the 2012-13 school year. If you’re interested in this creative and incredibly rewarding position, this is a great time to begin learning the ropes.