HSA Service & Volunteer Handbook

Friends’ Central School Home & School Association Service & Volunteer Opportunity Handbook 2012-2013

To volunteer for HSA events, committees, and opportunities visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/hsasurvey20122013

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES LOWER/MIDDLE/UPPER SCHOOL HSA SERVICE COMMITTEES Each division of the school has designated service coordinators who organize and plan service projects that engage parents, students, and teachers in the FCS spirit of giving. Some examples of past service projects include:        

SHARE Warehouse “Bagging Saturday” Winter Coat & Blanket Drive for Greater Philadelphia Cares Cradles to Crayons Nike Re-Use a Shoe Collection Walking the Greyhounds Flowerpots for Saunders House Warmth in the Winter Eldernet Holiday Baskets

MIDDLE & UPPER SCHOOL FAMILY HOLIDAY SERVICE PROJECT This service benefits the People’s Emergency Center in Philadelphia and St. Vincent’s After School Program in Germantown. Parent and student “elves” help children as they choose gifts for loved ones at the FCS Holiday Shops. The shops are filled with $3 - $5 gifts donated by Friends’ Central families. Volunteers are needed to help plan the event, collect gift items, set up, and serve as “elves.”

MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY OF SERVICE Opportunities are available for Lower, Middle, and Upper School students and their parents as we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Upper School students travel to off-campus work sites, while the Lower/Middle School students, parents, and faculty work at the Lower School and City Avenue campuses on projects that benefit outside organizations. Volunteers are needed to chaperone at the off-site locations as well as plan and organize age-appropriate activities for the oncampus morning activities at the Lower and Middle Schools. Volunteers publicize the day, collect supplies, and run the events. Join us in support of this voluntary morning of reflection and serviceoriented activities during this national day of service.

2

ONGOING HSA PROJECTS AND COLLECTIONS  

Aluminum Can Pull-tabs for the Ronald McDonald House Paper Recycling for the Abitibi Paper Retriever® program

FACULTY-SPONSORED SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES Lower School Friends’ Food for First Friday On the first Friday of every month, food is collected for needy families who benefit from the Freedom Development Corporation’s outreach efforts in West Philadelphia. Parents receive reminders that Food for First Friday is approaching. Non-perishable food items are appreciated and can be sent in with your child or dropped off in the Lower School office.

Lower School Fall Theme-Related Service Projects The in-school faculty service committee often develops a service project related to the fall theme.

Past efforts include: blankets for Afghanistan, pillowcases for Central America, and greeting card making and selling for Katrina and Indonesia tsunami victims.

Lower School Principal Joe Ludwig coordinates service related projects during the school year. He will provide information as each project approaches.

MIDDLE SCHOOL SERVICE BLOCK All Middle School students have a 1 1/2 hour service block built into their Wednesday schedule when they perform service at FCS or in the surrounding community. For example, students serve as Book Buddies for our 1st graders, at senior citizen communities, at preschools, walking with the vision-impaired, and monitoring and cleaning up Indian Creek in Morris Park. Students also serve on campus. Parents can assist Middle School faculty in a variety of ways including supervising students as they: walk to Saunders House, clean up Indian Creek, prepare for the Science Olympiad, and get creative in the Service Through Art group.

UPPER SCHOOL SERVICE Upper School students have service days built into the curriculum in the fall and spring. The Upper School has an active student service committee, which coordinates various activities throughout the year. Upper School parents are encouraged to support their student’s service of choice.

3

COMMITTEES HSA BOARD/COMMITTEE The HSA Board is comprised of class parent representatives, committee chairs, and the HSA Executive Committee. All parents are members of the Home and School Association and are encouraged to participate.

PARENTS OF STUDENTS OF COLOR (PSOC) All members of the FCS community are invited to participate and support the many PSOC sponsored events that help promote diversity and foster the School’s belief that each human life is uniquely valuable and interrelated with one another.

QUAKER LIFE GROUP (QLG) All members of the FCS community are invited to participate in the Quaker Life Group. The QLG seeks to encourage the FCS identity as a Quaker school by promoting the testimonies of Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Service. Among the activities sponsored are the All-School Meeting for Worship, panel discussions with faculty and staff, parenting workshops, and educational events.

WELCOMING COMMITTEE Welcoming Committee volunteers call parents of newly-enrolled FCS students to welcome them in the spring and summer. Committee members attend the Home & School Association’s New Parents Reception in early September and offer support throughout the year.

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”

Aesop

4

ALL SCHOOL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AUCTION: PERFECTING THE ART OF FUN 2013 Planning has already begun for the March 2013 Auction, which promises to be a fun evening and a chance to bid on one-of-a-kind auction items. Volunteers are needed to help with everything from planning the event to soliciting items for the auction. Monies raised support Financial Aid. CLASS AGENT/DEVELOPMENT OFFICE Parents are needed from each class to support The Annual Giving Campaign by sending donation letters, participating in Phonathons, and following up with parents to increase class participation.

This job is time flexible.

DRAMA DEPARTMENT The Drama Department’s theatrical costume collection requires volunteer support throughout the year. Can you spend an hour or two taking inventory, measuring, sewing, or altering costumes? Help is also needed organizing costume donations and purchasing items for various productions. Choose your own hours!

FACULTY APPRECIATION TEA (4th, 7th, 11th) Every May, the 4th, 7th, and 11th Grade Parent Representatives coordinate the Lower/Middle & Upper School Faculty Appreciation Teas. Parent volunteers provide food and assist with set-up and clean up as we say “thanks” to our Faculty.

FRIENDS IN THE GARDEN PLANT SALE Held in conjunction with the Show & Sell Fair in May, volunteers are needed to set-up, sell, and clean up after the event. Meetings are held through out the year to plan this “colorful” event that benefits the FCS Arboretum.

GIFT WRAP FUNDRAISER Volunteers are needed at the start of the year to check orders of Innisbrook gift wrap, gift items, and magazine subscriptions, as well as when we take a delivery.

Proceeds benefit the Lower/Middle/Upper School Principals’ Funds for Students’ Extra Needs.

HOST A PARENT GATHERING AT YOUR HOME Every year, the parents of each grade gather for an informal evening of socializing and fun at the School, private home, or outside location. This is usually a potluck event with a light fare of hors d’oeuvres and desserts that is held on a Friday or Saturday evening.

5

LIBRARY Parent volunteers assist in a variety of jobs, such as shelving and processing books, or working on a specific project. Any amount of time you can give is appreciated in either the Lower School Library or the Middle/Upper School Blackburn Library.

PEACE CONCERT Live performances by Lower, Middle, and Upper School students are featured at the Concert for Peace, held during the plant fair in May. Donations are collected for American Friends Service.

PHONATHON FOR ANNUAL GIVING Phonathons are held several times a year to raise money for Friends’ Central. Help make calls at one or all of them.

SUBSTITUTE NURSES If you are a Registered Nurse who is interested in substituting for one of the nurses, this is an opportunity for you.

“Some people want it to happen, some wish it to happen, others make it happen.”

Anonymous

6

UPPER SCHOOL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES PARENT PROM COMMITTEE The faculty coordinator and 11th and 12th grade students plan the combined Junior/Senior Prom. 11th and 12th grade parents help the committee secure an event venue, raise funds, and assist with decorations.

PRE-PROM RECEPTIONS The 9th and 10th Grade Parent Representatives in coordination with the Home & School Office coordinate the Junior & Senior Pre-Prom Receptions. Pay it forward … 9th Grade parent volunteers are needed to help decorate, set-up, and clean for the Junior Pre-Prom Reception that is held at the Lower School campus, while 10th Grade parent volunteers are needed to help at the Senior PreProm Reception held on the City Avenue campus.

MIDDLE SCHOOL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES BOOK FAIR Volunteer opportunities include coordinating one of the many committees as well as assisting with the Book Talks, the book drive, setup and break down of the Fair, or staffing the Book Fair and Family Night. Also needed are volunteers to coordinate the gently-used books donated by students and their families to be sold at the fair and/or donated to the library of a school in need of resources. This event is held in early spring and any proceeds go toward providing honoraria to visiting authors and to enhance Middle School reading resources.

SATURDAY MORNING BASKETBALL – 5th Grade This series runs in January and February. 5th grade parents are needed to help referee or keep score.

No basketball experience is necessary.

SHOWCASE RECEPTION – 8th Grade The 8th Grade Parent Representatives in coordination with the Home & School Office coordinate the student pizza party before the Showcase and the reception that follows. 8th Grade parent volunteers are asked to help with decorations, provide food & desserts, and help with set-up and break down.

7

LOWER SCHOOL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES BOOK FAIR Each year dozens of volunteers make the Book Fair a great success! Only have an hour? No problem! You can help plan and/or staff the event. You can volunteer for a Book Talk, offering to read aloud one of the books chosen by Lower School librarian Regina Ziffer.

On Family Night, the Book Fair is open late for children to come with their parents and siblings. Past evenings have featured presentations by a visiting author or illustrator, as well as craft projects and snacks.

Many hands are needed to make this busy evening a success. In addition, gently used children’s books are collected for donation during the month prior to the Book Fair and volunteers are needed to help gather and deliver the books to the selected beneficiaries. This event takes place in late winter. Proceeds go toward providing honoraria to visiting authors and to enhance Lower School reading resources.

FAMILY SPIRIT NIGHT (3rd & 4th Grades) 3rd & 4th graders and their families are invited to cheer on the FCS Girls and Boys Varsity Basketball teams. All 3rd & 4th graders in attendance are given Phoenix Phan t-shirts that they can get signed by the players after their games and Phoenix Phan Dollars to be redeemed at the concession stand. Volunteers are needed to help make signs and to greet families as they arrive.

OPEN PERIOD Open Period is a wonderful opportunity for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders to spread their wings and try something fun! For five consecutive Friday afternoons in January and February our teachers excite students with instruction in things like Toy Making, Knitting, Cartooning, Tropical Treats, Outdoor Adventures, Pasta Making, Survival Skills, and Ultimate Frisbee. This is a great chance for parents or grandparents to help out and see the lighter side of school life at FCS! Open Period runs from 1:45 pm - 2:30 pm.

PUMPKIN FAIR The Pumpkin Fair is a popular family event held every fall at the Lower School. Pumpkin Fair activities include games with prizes, arts and crafts, a pumpkin sale, story telling, cotton candy, a bake sale, and a ghoulishly fun haunted house. Over 200 volunteers are needed to help plan the event, chair committees, set up the Haunted House and work shifts during the Pumpkin Fair. Can you give us an hour or two? This is a fun-filled day for the entire school community. Funds raised go to the Lower School Principal’s Discretionary Fund.

8

PICTURE DAY Individual and class pictures for Lower School students are taken in the fall. A few parents are needed to help collect students and classroom groups.

SATURDAY MORNING BASKETBALL (3rd and 4th Grade) This series runs in January and February. 3rd & 4th grade parents are needed to help referee or keep score. No basketball experience is necessary.

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of it for someone else.”

Benjamin Franklin

For any questions or for additional information contact the Friends’ Central Home & School Office.

Cristina Neilson Director of the Home & School Association crneilson@friendscentral.org 610.645.5040 To volunteer for HSA events, committees, and opportunities visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/hsasurvey20122013

9