MS Volunteer Opportunities
Leadership Volunteer Opportunities
MIDDLE SCHOOL PAL GRADE REPRESENTATIVES
PAL Representatives are grade level (6th, 7th & 8th) liaisons who work with the MS Head and the various MS committee chairs to set the agendas and run the monthly PAL meetings on a rotating basis. They also attend the monthly Volunteer Common Link meetings and report back to PAL attendees. The grade reps serve as immediate contacts and facilitate clear and open communication between parents and administration.
MIDDLE SCHOOL PAL TREASURER
Treasurer attends all MS PAL meetings. The treasurer maintains all the financial records for MS PAL. The Treasurer meets with the MS Grade Reps prior to the academic school year to determine the annual budget for PAL related events. The MS Treasurer prepares and presents the budget to the Common Link Treasurer. They are responsible for a monthly report to the OES business office and a yearend report at the May PAL meeting. Excel skills are helpful. Treasurer periodically reports to and has meetings with the OES CFO concerning the budget.
MIDDLE SCHOOL VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
The coordinator recruits MS event chairs and manages the database created from the parent volunteer forms. The volunteer coordinator provides volunteer information from the database for the MS faculty/administration and MS Event Committees as well as communicating with PAL reps for grade specific needs. The majority of the volunteer coordinator job takes place late summer and early fall, but continues throughout the year on an as needed basis.
SERVICE LEARNING COORDINATOR
The service learning coordinator works with the faculty service learning lead to organize drivers for the 3 service learning days in the school year. This person recruits parent drivers for each event and matches drivers to agencies to ensure all students and faculty have transportation to and from the agencies. This position attends MS PAL planning meetings, monthly PAL meetings, and Volunteer Common Link meetings.
General Volunteer Opportunities
SCIENCE RESEARCH CLASSROOM MONITORS
Monitor a science classroom while students work on science research projects.
ADVISORY SERVICE LEARNING DRIVERS
Volunteers drive a single advisory and their advisor to a grade specific service learning project. Each advisory goes twice during the year for 2 hours from approximately 11 am to 1 pm. Trips are made over the course of the school year. Up to 2 volunteers may be needed for each trip.
LIBRARY VOLUNTEERS
Work with Librarian and Library Assistants on a number of tasks including processing books for circulation, checking in and shelving books, repairing books and general clerical work.
SERVICE LEARNING DRIVERS
Volunteers transport students to and from service learning activities. Requirements include DMV verification of your driving record and attending a 2 hour driving class provided by the OES Facilities Director in early fall. Certification is good for 3 years. This is one of the few MS volunteer opportunities where you can work directly with students. Service learning requires about 50 drivers for each service learning day.
Special Projects and Events
MIDDLE SCHOOL HOMECOMING SPIRIT WEEK LIAISON
Volunteer works with the All-School Homecoming Chair to coordinate age appropriate activities for the Middle School during this Alumni/Community event. Homecoming is held in the fall usually early to mid October. Volunteers work with Administration representatives to make sure all divisions are involved in the celebration. See All-School Homecoming Chair description for further information.
8th Grade Graduation Party
The 8th Grade Graduation Party is a celebration that occurs in conjunction with the end-of-year MS closing exercises.
8th GRADE GRADUATION PARTY CHAIR
The 8th Grade Graduation Party Chair forms a committee to work with the MS Head, 8th grade parents and teachers to make arrangements for this event.
8th GRADE GRADUATION PARTY COMMITTEE MEMBER
Committee opportunities could include theme development, food, entertainment, decorations (setup/cleanup), and slide show generation.
8th GRADE GRADUATION PARTY VOLUNTEER
Parent volunteers can help with any of the committee opportunities listed above.
8th Grade Musical
In the fall the entire 8th grade performs a musical. Each year a different musical is chosen. The students can perform in the play, participate in the orchestra/band or help with lighting and scenery. Parents are needed to assist with costumes (ideas, coordinating, or sewing), assist with make-up at dress rehearsal and/or performance days, and coordinate and/or bring snacks for dress rehearsal.
8th GRADE MUSICAL CHAIR
Serve as the primary point person between the staff and volunteers. Assist the faculty advisor with any needs that may arise.
8th GRADE MUSICAL VOLUNTEER
Assist with costumes (ideas, coordinating, or sewing). Assist with make-up at dress rehearsal and/or performance days. Coordinate and/or bring snacks for dress rehearsal.
Drop Everything and Read (DEAR Baking)
The Drop Everything and Read project is intended to encourage and reward Middle School children to do recreational reading. Parent volunteers bake treats at home and in the Middle School project room once a week prior to scheduled DEAR time. The entire Middle School is filled with the aroma of fresh baked brownies, cookies, etc. The Middle School children love it!
DEAR COORDINATOR
The DEAR Coordinator works with librarian to determine dates and needs for bakers. They schedule and give instructions weekly to baking volunteers.
DEAR VOLUNTEERS
Bake treats for weekly DEAR time either in the MS Project Room or at home. Lots of bakers are needed each week as we prepare treats for nearly 200 students. A commitment to bake a few times through the school year is appreciated.
Teacher Appreciation
TEACHER APPRECIATION/HOSPITALITY CHAIR
The Chair coordinates volunteers to provide refreshments for MS faculty meetings and organizes the Spring Teacher Appreciation Event. This includes selecting a theme and decorations and coordinating volunteers providing food and helping at the event.
TEACHER APPRECIATION/HOSPITALITY VOLUNTEER
Help with monthly snacks for the MS faculty meetings. Snacks can be store bought or homemade. Lots of volunteers are needed to cover 1 to 3 faculty meetings per month. Staff meetings are on Mondays. Snacks can be dropped off any time before 3:00 pm. The office can refrigerate snacks that need to stay cool. Volunteers are also needed for the Teacher Appreciation Lunch, usually held in February. Help is needed providing food, setting up and cleaning up the room.
Team Parents
TEAM PARENT CHAIR
The Chair work with the athletic department to recruit a parent for each team to act as team parent.
TEAM PARENTS
Team parents are the liaison with the team coach to communicate information to parents including changes. They organize the end-of-season party and coach’s gift, and address other small needs as they arise. Team parents are needed for the following teams:
Soccer boys/girls (fall)
Cross country boys/girls (fall)
Volleyball girls (fall)
Basketball boys/girls (winter)
Tennis boys/girls (spring)
Track boys/girls (spring)
Lacrosse boys/girls (spring)
Fencing boys/girls (all year)
