A Parent's Guide to Getting Involved

A Parents Guide To Getting Involved

More than half a century ago, VMS was founded by a small group of parents who came together to create a school for their children in a fledgling mountain town. To this day, parent support and volunteer efforts are at the core of who we are, and we welcome your participation and partnership in your child’s educational journey. Our parents’ commitment to each other and our school is an essential component of the VMS community. We are thankful for our parents!

Community Events and Volunteer Opportunities Gala & Auction The annual VMS Gala and Auction is our school’s largest fundraising event and will exceed your every expectation for what a gala can be!

With a new, fun theme each year, parents, friends, and faculty come together for a night of fine dining, dancing, and high-energy bidding on auction items—all in support of our students. The highlight is a fastmoving Paddle Raise focused on aspirations for the coming year. This fun-filled event allows our community to socialize together while raising money for our school.

Volunteer Needs: Specific needs include leadership and planning, auction item acquisition, data management, volunteer coordination, decor design, food and beverage management, and working during the event.

Homebase Parents At the heart of each grade is a team of parents who help teachers coordinate grade-level activities and plan class gatherings that promote togetherness and community within the grade.

Welcome Families and Event Hosts

Volunteer Needs: Each spring, current Homebase Parents will ask for new volunteers for the following school year.

Parents play a critical role in helping both our internal and external communities learn more about VMS. Volunteer Needs: Share your enthusiasm for the school by welcoming new VMS families, hosting a neighborhood open house for prospective families, hosting a Cocktails and Conversation event, or joining us on social media by lending your voice as a community influencer.

VMS Hullabaloo This inaugural event will be a great opportunity for the entire family to eat, drink, play games, and socialize.

Volunteer Needs: Volunteers are needed to plan and execute this community event.

Book Fair & Holiday Market For one week in December, The Common is filled with books for all ages and holiday crafts created by members of our community.

Volunteer Needs: Working in partnership with The Bookworm of Edwards, parent volunteers set up, take down, and staff the event.

Parents may also choose to participate as a vendor.

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Bingo Nights Funded with proceeds from the Garage Sale, Bingo Nights bring our community together and provide an opportunity for parent volunteers to share their love of gaming.

Volunteer Needs: Volunteers are needed to plan and execute Bingo Nights.

Teacher Appreciation Breakfasts Volunteers provide a feast for teachers twice each year in recognition for all they do in and out of the classroom.

Volunteer Needs: Volunteers are needed to provide breakfast items and serve at these events.

Garage Sale The VMS Garage Sale is an opportunity to give to the school in a different way. The skis in your garage, outgrown kids’ clothing, that chair in the attic—virtually anything—can be contributed to the Garage Sale and the proceeds will help support Parent Partners’ events. The 2021 Garage Sale will take place on November 12 & 13.

Volunteer Needs: We accept new and gently used clothing, housewares, sporting equipment, games, books, linens, furniture, electronics, and other articles. Many volunteers are needed to make this signature VMS event a success.

Parent Partners The VMS Parent Association, Parent Partners, is committed to building community within Vail Mountain School in alignment with the VMS mission statement. Parent Partners provides opportunities for VMS families to connect socially and partner with the school in support of our children. Parent Partners is also focused on supporting and appreciating teachers through teacher appreciation events, small acts of kindness, and teacher recognition.

Parent Partners is at the heart of more than a dozen events that provide meaningful opportunities for parents to volunteer in support of the school, such as our Annual Gala & Auction, Garage Sale, and Book Fair. Parent Partners also hosts gatherings such as Bingo Nights, ski days, and hikes that help parents to connect socially and build relationships beyond their grade-level community.

Specific Parent Partner Committee Chair positions are: • Parent Hikes • Alpine Ski Days • Nordic Ski Days • Coffee & Connectivity • Lower School Town Meeting Parent Hosts • Teacher Appreciation

Ready to get involved? Go to vms.edu/volunteer.

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Support VMS Vail Mountain School is able to offer extraordinary experiences to our students and community today, because of the many parents, grandparents, alumni, teachers and other friends of the School who have given so generously throughout our 55+ year history. Your generosity helps Vail Mountain School execute our strategic plan and benefits both current and future students.

VMS Fund – Fall The VMS Fund supports the aspirations, dreams, and needs of our community. All donations to the VMS Fund help us fulfill our Strategic Plan in areas such as hiring, retaining, and developing extraordinary teachers, and enriching the classroom experience with curriculum that engages and challenges your children.

VMS Gala – Spring The Annual Gala and Auction is our largest fundraising event and will exceed your every expectation for what a gala can be. The highlight is a fast-moving Paddle Raise focused on aspirations for the coming year. Past Galas have made it possible to add a second counselor, our school resource officer, and the greenhouse. Monetary contributions are the heart of the Gala, but equally important are the wonderful and generous in-kind gifts in our auction that are donated by VMS parents and businesses in our local community.

Booster Club and Corporate Sponsorship – Spring/Summer The Booster Club was formed by a group of passionate parents to support VMS Athletics and offers banner advertising in our gym.

Together with corporate sponsorship and advertising opportunities in our directory and on our calendar, VMS can help your business reach a great group of potential customers.

VMS Endowment and Other Institutional Priorities – Year Round Gifts to the VMS Endowment provide dedicated and permanent funding for our school and allow VMS to both plan for the future and support our current students. In addition, we have other institutional priorities essential to our strategic plan. We welcome your questions and look forward to conversations about how we can partner to fulfill the school’s needs and engage your philanthropic interests. Please contact Colleen Davis, Director of Advancement, at cdavis@vms.edu or 970-477-7185.

Ready to get involved? Go to vms.edu/volunteer.

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Important Dates Mark your calendars for these events and check our online calendar for new events added throughout the year.

September Thursday 9/9: Parent Partners Kick-Off Meeting Friday 9/17: VMS Hullabaloo Tuesday 9/21: Gore Creek Hike

October Thursday 10/7: Parent Hike: Meadow Mountain Tuesday 10/12: Bingo Night

November Friday 11/5: Parent Coffee and Connection, Yeti’s Grind Friday 11/12 & Saturday 11/13: Garage Sale Thursday 11/18: Teacher Appreciation

December Monday 12/6 - Thursday 12/9: Holiday Market and Book Fair Wednesday 12/15: Parent Ski Day

January Tuesday 1/11: Parent Ski Day

February Wednesday 2/2: Nordic Event Thursday 2/10: Parent Ski Day

March Wednesday 3/16: Full Moon Snowshoe Thursday 3/31: Bingo Night

April Friday 4/8: Parent Coffee and Connection, Yeti’s Grind Saturday 4/30: VMS Gala

May Tuesday 5/3: Teacher Appreciation Thursday 5/12: Parent Partners Appreciation Party and Wrap-Up Event Thursday 5/26: Parent Coffee at the Cabin

Ready to get involved? Go to vms.edu/volunteer.