LOWELL PTA COMMITTEE DESCRIPTIONS 2006

The following committees are PTA sponsored, staffed by our parents, and benefit all of our children. We encourage new volunteers and new ideas. As a way of getting to know us, we put together a list of our activities so that you will know what wonderful things are ahead for you with the Lowell PTA. The Lowell PTA could not work without our great families.

Key used in descriptions:
#1 = a one time commitment
#2 = several times a year
#3 = work every month
#4 = work spread over several months
#5 = as needed
home = work at home
bold = fund raising event/activity

AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK

During the last full week before Thanksgiving, American education is celebrated. The art teacher chooses students’ artwork and you then take it to a local business sponsor to be displayed. The artwork is then picked up at the end of the week. (#1, Nov. 5 hours)

AUDITING

After the close of the PTA fiscal year, three people review and check the Treasurer’s books one night in the summer, unless an outside audit occurs. (#1, Summer, 2 hours)

BACK TO SCHOOL SOCIAL

The Back to School Social is held on an evening shortly after school begins. This is one of the first opportunities that our parents have to meet their children’s teachers, visit the classroom, and meet other Lowell families. You arrange for refreshments and another treat to be available for all who come. (#1, 6 hours)

CHARACTER COUNTS

A character education program based on shared beliefs and values concerning qualities and traits associated with good character. It uses a common language with consistent messages to describe and teach character. Beth White is committee director. (#3, 3-5 hours/month)

COOKS NIGHT OUT

This is a fundraiser to be held once per month at various local restaurant establishments who participate in fundraising opportunities. You choose and arrange for the monthly event and distribute/publicize the details to Lowell families. (#3, 1 hour/month)

CULTURAL ARTS

The purpose of this committee is to enhance the curriculum by exposing our students to various aspects of the arts through professional performances throughout the year. This committee is involved in planning assemblies with teacher/staff guidance. Making payment arrangements for the assemblies and making sure a representative of the committee can attend the assembly for coordination needs and payment. (#2, 10 hours)

DARE GRADUATION

Our fifth grade goes through Drug Abuse Resistance Education every year. In May, there is a graduation ceremony in which these students are honored, you arrange to have cookies and a drink for them, and the students are presented with a gift to memorialize their years at Lowell School. (#1, 6 hours)

DIRECTORY

Every year, Lowell PTA publishes a school directory at no cost to Lowell families. The directory includes a list of students by classrooms along with family addresses and phone numbers. It also provides families with information on current PTA activities and committees, the school staff, and the school store. (#1 at home)

DISCOVERY DAY

Discovery Day takes place on one of the last days of school. Students choose 3 of approximately 50 workshops that offer activities such as arts & crafts, cooking, outdoor activities, games, magic etc. There are a great variety of activities from which to choose. Volunteers run the approximately 40-minute workshops for about 10 students per session. The afternoon consists of Field Day activities – a tug-of-war game, foot races, an obstacle course, or a relay race—and an assembly (generally on this day or another). There is also a final send off to the fifth grade class. Over 100 volunteers are needed to make this day a success –volunteers can work all day or just in the morning or the afternoon. As co-chairs, you choose the morning activities, arrange volunteers, supplies needed for activities and coordination of children participating. (#4, 20-25 hours)

DISCOVERY DAY LUNCHEON

There is a separate Luncheon Committee because lunch is provided for all of our volunteers. You cater most of the luncheon and arrange donations of salads or desserts from those who wish to. You also arrange for childcare to be available. (#1, 10-12 hours)

GENERAL MILLS BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION

General Mills provides the opportunity to purchase school equipment and goods in exchange for specifically marked “Box Tops for Education”. This program has been responsible for supplying Lowell with items such as tape recorders and Polaroid cameras. As chair, you publicize this fundraiser and collect all box tops. You keep track of box tops by class and provide a treat to the classrooms with the most at the end. You will count them and send to company. (#4, 1 hour/month ending in March)

HEALTH AND SAFETY

The DuPage County Health Department administers hearing and vision testing to most students. The first session takes a full day; retesting may be done later for students in need. You arrange for volunteers who are needed to escort students from classrooms to the testing site and to do some tallying of results. This committee is also devoted to the safety and welfare of our children and addresses safety concerns throughout the year when necessary. (#5, 7 hours)

JAMBOREE

Usually held in February or March, Jamboree is Lowell’s all day fun fair and is a major fundraiser for the PTA. There are games, prizes, a bake sale, a food court, a raffle and silent auction, and fun activities for the whole family. Students can get their faces painted or play miniature golf along with many other games. Each Lowell family is encouraged to participate in some way. You coordinate the event with a full committee and are a major participant on the final days approaching the event as well as that evening. (Co-leaders #3, beginning in October and time consuming in the final preparation months)

KICK-OFF COFFEE

This welcome or welcome back event is held on the second day of Kindergarten attendance. This allows parents to get their children settled in school so that the parents can come enjoy some food, friendship, and fun and get to know a little bit about PTA. People may join PTA at this time if they would like and have not already done so. You arrange for child care, refreshments and treats to be served along with set-up. (#1, 4-5 hours)

LOWELL BEAUTIFICATION

Parents, students and teachers work together to make Lowell beautiful on the outside as well as on the inside. Volunteers are needed to help landscape, paint and generally do the extras to make Lowell a school in which we are proud to have our children attend. You arrange one big garden day in May along with smaller scattered gardening days throughout the year, publicize the event and work with a teacher on arrangements. (#5)

LOWELL CARES

This committee offers support and coordination of volunteers when necessary for philanthropic endeavors. You would coordinate with school staff, student council and PTA.

LOWELL MENTORS

This is a program whose purpose is to make the incoming Kindergarten families at Lowell feel more comfortable more quickly. Each new Kindergarten family will have a mentor who will be a contact and personal resource for information throughout the school year. (#2)

MEETING HOSPITALITY

This committee coordinates with the Vice President(s) and is responsible for arranging refreshments at the PTA’s expense when necessary. Primarily at the School Board Meeting and any meeting chosen by Executive Committee.

MEMBERSHIP

We strongly encourage every parent to join the PTA. The membership year runs from October 1 to September 30. Joining the PTA indicates your support of Lowell School and its children. Annual dues are currently $7.50 per person. The national and state PTAs and the Wheaton Warrenville PTA Council receives $ per individual of this amount. Lowell receives $ per individual. You collect memberships and keep a record of members to give to Lowell PTA Executive Committee members along with funds to the Treasurer.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE

The Nominating Committee is entrusted with the responsibility of preparing a slate of officers for election. This slate is then presented to the PTA general membership for consideration in the spring. (#1, 1-3 hours)

PICTURE DAY

Individual student pictures and class pictures are taken every year. You arrange volunteers needed to escort students from classrooms to the in school photo site. You will also coordinate with staff and photographer. (#1)

PTA COUNCIL DELEGATE

The Wheaton Warrenville PTA Council holds monthly meetings on the second Wednesday of each month. Each local PTA Council delegate who, along with the PTA president, attends the council meetings, and reports information disbursed back to the local PTA. (#3)

PUBLICITY AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

Throughout the year, Lowell students are involved in many special projects and events. We want to let our parents, teachers and the community aware of what is going on and when it is happening. Publicity contacts the local paper in order to get the word out about everything positive at Lowell. (#3)

REFLECTIONS

Reflections is a contest sponsored by the National PTA, which is divided into 4 categories: visual arts, photography, literature and music. There is a new theme for every year. It is given to the chair at the end of the previous year to publicize for summer and right away at the start of the new school year. Student entries are judged at Lowell then student entries from Lowell are judged with other District 200 entries. District winners then go on to state and national competition. Volunteers are needed to collect entries and make sure all guidelines are met. You will also follow any winning projects through the various levels of competition along with providing rewards for the participants at the end during a PTA meeting. (#4, 3-5 hours)

SCHOLARSHIP

In the spring, this delegate represents Lowell PTA by attending two meetings. One held at each of the high schools to help select PTA Council scholarship recipients. They are fast paced selection meetings, followed with a luncheon held by the PTA council. You may attend the luncheon, usually held in April. Any former Lowell Alum may invite a past teacher. The chair and Executive Committee may attend along with inviting the Lowell Principal and a few others.(#1)

SCHOOL “STAR” NEWSPAPER

The Lowell Star is a paper written by the students for the students. Students can submit articles, puzzles, jokes, games and announcements. Teachers or staff members may be interviewed. You are needed for collecting student work, typing, copying, collating and distribution of the newspaper. (#2)

SPIRIT WEAR

A nice selection of athletic wear is sold at the beginning of the school year with a Lowell logo on them. Kids like to wear these items on school spirit days. Items are usually displayed in the office and order forms are sent home with the youngest child through their backpacks. You collect orders, funds, place orders and then distribute the orders. (#1, 15-20 hours between two people)

STAR READING PROGRAM

This is a program that encourages Lowell students to Start Thinking And Read. This incentive-based reading program works on the simple premise that a student reads a book, takes a quiz to verify that they have read the book and earns points towards an incentive. This is an extracurricular program available for all children. There are volunteer opportunities available during lunch hours and after school to supervise the students during quiz taking. Co-chairs coordinate volunteers for testing time, testing hours, update tests in system, arrange for and order prizes and provide book lists to members along with updating that list. (#3)

TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK

We set time aside to show how much we appreciate our teacher’s hard work. You coordinate volunteers to plan the weeklong events that may be on tap. Generally, there is a small brunch put together on Friday. (#5, May)

TEACHER REPRESENTATIVE

This teacher delegate attends PTA meetings and is a liaison between PTA and the staff.

TURN OFF THE TV WEEK

Promote no TV watching during the week and plan evening activity(s) to help keep children active.

VOLUNTEER THANK YOU BREAKFAST/LUNCH

Held at the end of the year, sometimes in conjunction with the teacher thank you breakfast/lunch. A breakfast/lunch is served to thank all of the PTA members who have devoted their time and effort to events that have benefited all children at Lowell or helped in the classroom. You coordinate with the teacher representatives and cater in the main dish. Other items are provided and arranged through the teachers.

WRAPPING PAPER SALE

This is a fundraising event that is coordinated by a chairperson. You are responsible for coordinating with the distributor, sending out order forms, taking in funds and advertising the fundraiser. You arrange for volunteers who are needed on the day of pickup to help unload, organize and distribute the items.

YEARBOOK

A yearbook is published at the end of the school year for those students who wish to have a memento of their year at Lowell. You are responsible for coordinating between the printer and those presenting photos. You will also send out order forms and collect funds then arrange for distribution by the end of the year. It is recommended you have a computer to input the book along with tracking orders.

If you have any questions or would like further clarification regarding any of these committees, please contact PTA Vice Presidents.