Please consider how you can share your interests, skills, hobbies, and culture for the betterment of our students and of our school. 

 

If you would like to join or chair any of the volunteer committees below, please email our co-Vice Presidents:

 

Nicole Kelly: nicoledem26@yahoo.com

Stephanie Kane: stephanie.h.kane@gmail.com

 

2023-2024 Volunteer Opportunities

 

ABAR (Anti-Bias Anti-Racism), Chair: Rachel Daniels

Join a collaborative partnership of educators, parents and caregivers who work to further inclusion, equity and tolerance in our community. The committee supports educational practices that model self-love, embrace and celebrate differences, identify unfairness and bias, and empower students to advocate for themselves and others.

 

Book Fair, Co-Chairs: Jackie McCarthy & Katie Cardoso

Help to organize the setup of two Scholastic book fairs, one in November and one in May. Volunteers will sign up for shifts to help students select and purchase books. They will also assist with the setup and breakdown of the book fair.

 

Box Tops for Education, Chair: Danielle Faulkner

BoxTops are an easy way to earn money for the school.  Every BoxTop earns $0.10 for GLS, and that can add up to hundreds of dollars if we work together. The chair will promote the use of the BoxTops for Education app (no more clipping!).

 

Bulletin Boards, Chair: Ashley Sanchez

Volunteers will design and assemble the bulletin boards in the school foyer with meaningful themes that inspire students, staff, and visitors. 

 

Cultural Arts Assemblies, Chair: Needed

The cultural arts committee aims to cultivate and nurture an appreciation for various cultures, traditions, and backgrounds through the expression of performance and visual art forms, i.e. dance, music, theatre, writing, art, photography, and storytelling. Volunteers will come up with ideas for cultural arts assemblies and seek input from Mrs. Ryan and the staff. They will also oversee the scheduling of the assemblies, assist with setup, and welcome our guest performers.

 

Cultural Project: Chairs: Jackie Gaudioso,  Jenny Shieh, Samantha Cronin

Volunteers will brainstorm ideas for a school wide celebration of family traditions and cultures. The display serves as a celebration of our many cultures.

 

Fall Family Fun Festival, Chair: Jenny Shieh

FFFF is a fun-filled fundraising event in October for our students and families. Volunteers will plan the entertainment and activities, organize a bake sale and pizza sale, and coordinate with volunteers to organize setup and cleanup.

  

Field Day

Committee members will work with the physical education teacher to plan Field Day activities for the entire school in June. They will send communications to parents, fundraise as necessary for equipment and supplies, seek volunteers for the activity stations, and assist with setup and cleanup.

  

Flower Pots, Chair: Michelle Madigan

Volunteers will plant and decorate the arrangements for 4 flower pots on the school grounds - 2 pots in front of the main entrance and 2 pots outside of the preschool entrance. The pots are changed and decorated to reflect the seasons. Flowers are donated by a local nursery.

 

Fourth Grade Stepping Up Celebration, Chair:  Needed

This committee is open to 4th grade parents/guardians only. Volunteers will work with the principal and 4th grade teachers to organize a "stepping up" to middle school celebration for the 4th graders and their families. The celebration takes place at the end of the school year.

 

Fundraising

Volunteers will organize the Charleston Wrap online fundraiser in the fall and the Mother's Day flower basket sale in May.

 

Gardening (Student Garden), Chair: Amy Kaneko

Volunteers will help to generate and facilitate projects that excite and educate students about gardening and the environment. They will also work with students and/or on their own to keep the student garden beds, located at the Liz Baldino Memorial Garden, looking beautiful.

 

Hospitality Team, Chair: Needed

The hospitality team works with the PTO board to organize luncheons, gifts, and other gestures of appreciation for the faculty and staff. 

 

Library Book Shelving

Volunteers will help to keep the library organized by shelving books on a routine basis and assisting with any projects designated by the school librarian. Look for the signup in our newsletters.

 

Parent Liaisons

Parent liaisons act as room parents, helping to support the needs of the teacher, if requested. Liaisons also coordinate group gifts for teachers for the holidays, for Teacher Appreciation Week, and for the end of the year. They also help to send important reminders from the PTO to the class. Click HERE for a more detailed description.

 

Police Appreciation Day and Firefighter Appreciation Day, Chair: Lisa Silvestri

Volunteers will reach out to teachers to organize the making of thank you cards, signs, and a cookie and fruit platter for our local police and firefighters on each of their day of appreciation (National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 and National Firefighter Appreciation Day will be celebrated on Friday, May 3).

  

Recycled Art Show, Chair: Nuria Miller

In recognition of America Recycles Day, students will make artwork using recyclable items. The artwork is displayed in the foyer and it encourages students to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Volunteers will organize the art display, create certificates, and take pictures.

 

Red Ribbon Week, 2023-2024 4th Grade Family: The Miller Family 

Red Ribbon Week takes place in October. The mission is to keep kids healthy and drug-free. Fourth grade families have the opportunity to work together to create a single 50" L X 36" W banner that will be displayed in the school gym for posterity. The banner should communicate a drug-free message. We recommend that volunteers have the ability to sew.

 

Science Fair, C0-Chairs: Adrienne Nugent & Jenny Shieh

Committee volunteers will organize all aspects of the science fair and plan for 2 viewings: one during school hours for the students and staff and another in the evening for families. Volunteers will publicize the event, organize registrations, create a program of participants, order t-shirts for all registrants, take photos, set up tables in the school gym, and clean up.

 

Science Investigations, Chair: Allison Bohren

The committee chair will reach out 3 times during the school year to Kathy Brooks, our Science Investigations instructor, to schedule a training session for parent volunteers. Following the training, volunteers will be able to go into their child’s classroom to lead fun and engaging science “investigations” (lessons) during the school year.

 

Slideshow, Chair: Allison Bohren

A volunteer will assemble a slideshow using photos provided throughout the year by the PTO and by the principal. The slideshow will play on the TV screens in the foyer and in the cafeteria. This can be done exclusively at home. 

 

Special Person Dance, Chair: Ashley Sanchez

Committee members will organize a school-wide dance in the gym for students to attend with a special grownup. Volunteers will publicize the event, reach out for donations of refreshments, decorate the gym, and plan the evening's entertainment.

 

Spirit Wear, Chair: Jacqueline Nastri

The PTO carries an array of apparel and other GLS merchandise to sell as a fundraiser. Volunteers will find ways to promote Spirit Wear on the PTO website, on our school's social media pages, and at school events. They will also manage the inventory and coordinate the delivery/distribution of orders.

 

Square 1 Art, Chair: Jocelyne Yoo

Square 1 Art is a company that transforms children's art into keepsake items to help raise money for schools. Committee members will distribute forms to teachers and coordinate the creation of student art that gets printed onto jewelry, blankets, water bottles, key chains, and magnets, just to name a few. They make great gifts! Volunteers will sort the orders when they arrive and distribute them to the proper classrooms. For more information, please visit www.square1art.com.

  

Staff Wellness Months, Chair: Stephanie Franco

Volunteers will organize a fun, health-centered activity each month for our staff members. Examples include a walking challenge, a hydration reminder, Fitness BINGO with a prize, and other self-care tips. Let's show our staff how much they matter!

 

Variety Show, Chair: Valerie Ferrucci

The variety show is a way for students to showcase their skills, interests, and personalities in a non-competitive environment. Volunteers will work together to reserve a venue, create a program of participants, and plan an enjoyable evening for the students and their families.

 

Yearbook, Chair: Katie Cardoso

Volunteers will work cooperatively to assemble the yearbook. Committee members will email the principal to find opportunities to photo-document students throughout the year. They will also work with the school’s photography company and use photos from the GLS shared photo site to produce the yearbook, which is distributed in June.