Columbus Magnet School
Involvement Opportunities
Special Events
Book Fairs: (Fall & Spring) Volunteers are needed to set up, assist students with wish lists, cashier, straighten tables, keep inventory, and pack up. The Book Fair is open daily 9:00 am to 4:00pm.
“Cozy Up with a Good Book” Reading Night: An annual Columbus event – a cozy family evening of reading, complete with hot chocolate, pajamas, blankets, and pillows. Volunteers needed to organize, make flyers, purchase and serve refreshments.
Gift Wrap/ Distribution: Volunteers are needed to sort and deliver orders to classrooms. We expect delivery in early November. Must be available during the school day.
Halloween Bingo: A Columbus family event sponsored by our fifth grade parents. Helpers needed to organize this event, as well as solicit, decorate, set-up, clean-up, etc.
Ice Cream Social: A Columbus family event designed to be a fun “welcome back” evening for all. Helpers are needed to organize this event, as well as gather supplies, set-up, serve, & clean-up.
International Pot Luck Dinner: A new event for Columbus this year with lots of room for creativity and fun. Join in the group who will organize this family event which recognizes and celebrates the cultures and traditions of the school community.
Movie Nights: Just like the drive in! (Well, sort of). We project movies on the large screen in the auditorium using the LCD projector. Families bring chairs and blankets and enjoy the show. Committee needed to choose movies, prepare flyers, collect admission, and plan refreshments.
Overtime Athletics: A privately run, after school athletic program held in the Columbus gym open to Columbus School students in grade K-5. Overtime Athletics personnel conduct the eight-week program (3:45 – 4:45 pm); however, parent volunteers are needed to take attendance, admit parents in the raindoor at pick up , and oversee student sign-out.
Picture Day: Volunteers needed to help the day run smoothly by calling classes down at their appointed times and helping our students look their best by fixing hair and adjusting clothing.
Science Fair: Volunteers needed to help staff members coordinate yearly school Science Fair. Traditionally held in January. Betsy Barosky 899-2840 baroskyb@norwalkps.org
Silent Auction: Committee needed to organize this profitable and fun adult-only evening fundraiser. Volunteers needed to solicit prizes, prepare program booklet, plan refreshments, and tabulate sales.
Vendor Fair: This fundraiser brings together various vendors of crafts, clothing, jewelry, cookware, and other services on a Saturday giving Columbus families and the overall Norwalk community a place to purchase unique gifts for the holidays. Volunteers are needed to help with soliciting vendors, publicity, and organization of the event.
Long-Term Activities
Adventures in Art: An exciting art appreciation program created by Columbus parents. This program is for all students in grades K-5 and is taught by volunteers during regularly scheduled art class, two or three presentations per year. Each session will spotlight the work of a famous artist and include a related art activity. Final projects will become part of our permanent art exhibits in the school. Help also needed planning curriculum.
Computers: Volunteers work with students on computers in the classroom and/or in the computer lab on teacher-assigned materials. Classrooms have scheduled computer time each week. Commitment: one hour per week. Beth Pearce 899-2840 & Classroom Teachers
ECHOs: (Enhanced Curricular HOT Opportunities). Specialty clubs for students in grades 3-5 that meet during the school day for one hour, one day a week during an 8 week session. dates TBA. The ECHOes groups reflect the interests of our staff and volunteers. (Suggestions: recycling, foreign language, knitting, gardening, exercise, chess, computer, yoga, cartooning – you name it). Helpers needed to either lead or assist a group. Smith Mowry #203-899-2840, mowrys@norwalkps.org
Field Trips: Volunteers needed to drive and escort students on field trips. Once at the destination, volunteers chaperone small groups of students. Request for drivers is included on field trip permission forms. The school must have copies of volunteer’s current driver’s license and insurance information on file. Classroom Teachers & Room Parents
Fifth Grade Activities: This committee made up of fifth grade parents explores and organizes fundraising opportunities to help defray the out-of-pocket expenses of fifth grade field trips and end of year activities not covered by PTO funds. The committee also organizes and recruits volunteers for the end-of-year activities.
Gardening Group: This committee works to beautify and maintain the school gardens. Clean up and planting “parties” are held during the school year.
Governance Council: Columbus administrators, staff, and parents serve on this site-based management council whose goal is to increase student achievement and performance. The council meets once a month on Tuesday evenings. Term on council: 2 years, 5th grade parents may serve one-year term. Interested participants must submit a letter of intent to the Governance Council.
Hospitality: Volunteers are needed to assist with refreshments for school activities (Open House, PTO meetings) during the school year either by sending donations, setting up, or cleaning up.
H.O.T. School Committee: This committee meets once a month, on Thursday afternoons from 2:15 – 3:15 pm, to discuss H.O.T. (Higher Order Thinking) happenings at Columbus. This committee includes school administrators, arts, team, and staff and parent representatives from each grade level. Jennifer Imhoff 899-2840 ext 173. imhoffj@norwalkps.org
Library: Volunteers are needed to assist Mrs. Pearce in the day to day operations of the library: filing, shelving, repairing books, and reading to classes. Volunteers may come in regularly or on a drop-in basis. Beth Pearce 899-2840 ext. 273 pearceb@norwalkps.org
Publicity: Volunteers needed to help with publicity of all school events including contacting local press, the PTOC, and news outlets to get the word out about the terrific events taking place at Columbus Magnet School.
Room Parent: Volunteers needed to assist the classroom teacher in planning and soliciting donations for classroom activities, parties, and special projects. Also, room parents will serve as a link between the PTA and the parents of their classroom. Room parents will initiate classroom phone chain when needed.
Spirit/School Store Committee: This committee works with school staff and parents in planning and organizing Columbus Spirit events as well as promoting and distributing our Columbus School Spirit Wear.
Technology Committee: Parent volunteers are needed to share their knowledge and resources to enhance our computer technology program. Computer expertise is not required, just a willingness to help. The Technology Committee meets one Tuesday evening per month. Beth Pearce 899-2840 ext. 273 pearceb@norwalkps.org
Yearbook Committee: Volunteers are needed to gather photographs of class and school events, assemble photo collages, set type, and layout pages. It is helpful to have one volunteer per classroom. Previous layout & yearbook experience is not necessary.
Young Astronauts: Volunteers are needed to assist in this exciting after school space program for students in grades 1-5. Activities include science experiments, field trips, and rocket construction. Grades 1-2 and Grades 3-4 meet on alternate Friday afternoons from 3:30 – 4:30 pm. Grade 5 Mission meets Friday afternoons, 3:30 – 5:00 pm. Aimee Russo 663-2806 aimeehwang@yahoo.com
“Coming together is a beginning;
Keeping together is a progress;
Working together is success.”
Columbus Magnet School is an exciting, creative, and stimulating learning environment. Here, you, as parents and caregivers, are offered the unique opportunity to share in your child’s educational experience. In the months ahead you will be notified of these and other involvement opportunities through the Thursday Notice, individual classroom newsletters, and PTO communications. This packet serves as a “preview of coming attractions” to help you prepare. Listed below are some (but not all) of the activities and opportunities for the year including both short-term and long-term activities. Please read this information carefully and indicate your areas of interest on the enclosed form. Committee members will contact you with more information. (Checking off an item of interest merely indicates that you are interested, but is not a firm commitment.) Please keep in mind though, that as part of the Columbus School community you agree to volunteer for at least three activities during the school year.
If you are a first-time Columbus volunteer and plan to have direct contact with students on a regular basis, you are required to take a TB test. Our school nurse Breege O’Reilly will administer the test free of charge (courtesy of the PTO). If you had a TB test or chest x-ray within the past year simply show Mrs. O’Reilly the results. When returning the volunteer form, please indicate if you will need a test. We will contact you with test dates. Please return all information to the PTO mailbox.
COLUMBUS MAGNET SCHOOL
PARENT INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES 2011/12
Name ___________________Email _______________________ Phone ___________
Child’s Name ______________________________________Classroom ___________
Please check off at least three items of interest.
Committee chair-people will contact you.
Special Events
_____ Book Fairs _____Overtime Athletics
_____ “Cozy Up with a Good Book” _____Picture Day
_____Gift Wrap Distribution _____Science Fair
_____Halloween Bingo _____Silent Auction
_____Movie Nights _____Ice Cream Social
_____International Pot Luck Dinner _____Vendor Fair
Long-Term Activities
_____Adventures in Art _____Computers
_____ ECHOes _____Field Trips
_____Fifth Grade Activities _____Gardening Group
_____Governance Council _____Hospitality
_____H.O.T. School Committee _____Library
_____Publicity _____Spirit/School Store
_____Technology Committee _____Yearbook Committee
_____Young Astronauts
TB Test Request: _______ I would like to have a TB Test.
_______ I have had a TB Test/Chest X-ray within the past year.
Please return to the PTA Mailbox.