 | The PSA is an integral part of GDS, sponsoring activities and events in the classroom, grade-wide, school specific (LS, MS or HS) and throughout the entire school. To carry out these many PSA activities, we depend on parents helping out for a few hours, chairing an event, contributing from home, using their computer skills, or doing whatever tasks work best for them.
We have the PSA leadership team in place (see right) for school year 2011–2012 but there are several key positions that need to be filled: including Grocery Receipts/Box Tops Program co-chair, LMS Teacher/Staff Appreciation Breakfasts coordinators in each grade PK-8, and LMS Teacher/Staff Appreciation Luncheon co-chair. Go to the PSA Volunteer Sign-up Form for a list of PSA events and activities that need your help. After you sign-up, we will send you a response and follow-up with you. A complete job description for each PSA position can be found at www.gds.org/psavolunteerguide.
Volunteering is quick and easy and your school (and kids) will love you for it. On behalf of the PSA Executive Committee, we look forward to working with you.
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Parent Service Association
Our goal is to encourage positive parent involvement that will benefit the staff, the students at GDS and the parents themselves. The Parent Service Association (PSA) offers parents a chance to work with other parents to help build a stronger school community. We hope that through volunteering every parent will find a place to share the joy of being part of a school where parents play a valuable, and valued, role in the educational process. In addition to the opportunities noted below, parents may also volunteer to lecture at any school level, to substitute teach, or to provide internships for High School students.
Volunteer by Grade
Lower/Middle School Activities
Room Parents (LS) and Advisory Parents (MS) maintain communication channels among parents, help organize grade-wide social activities, and solicit parent volunteers to help with classroom activities and to chaperone field trips. These volunteers serve as editors for writing workshops, readers during story time, and costume design assistants for holiday pageants. Parent participation is essential for overnight trips off campus. A Coordinator (LS & MS) for each grade oversees potluck suppers and other activities and communication among individual classroom Room Parents (Advisor Parents in 7th and 8th grades).
The Library Committee assists the school librarians with a variety of tasks ranging from reading to students to repairing book bindings. Parent volunteers periodically sort and arrange for the disposition of Lost and Found items.
Middle School Activities
Parents provide refreshments for Band and Chorus concerts, plan the Halloween party, and chaperone 7th and 8th grade dances. At International Day in the spring, parents give lectures on other countries or topics of global interest, demonstrate crafts or cooking, and set up an international buffet lunch. For the 8th Grade Closing activities, 7th grade parents set up, clean up, and provide refreshments for the celebrating families. The 8th grade dance, which follows the closing ceremony, is planned and run by 8th grade parents.
High School Activities
In addition to PSA committee activities, High School parents maintain communication channels through telephone trees, organize the grade-level potluck suppers, and plan and provide the refreshments for the music concerts and drama cast parties. Parent volunteers also help in the library, grill food for Sports Saturday, assist the P.E. department with the Sports Banquets, and plan and run the After-Prom party.
All-School Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer opportunities for each of the following activities include serving as a chairperson or as a committee member.
Community Service
This committee includes parents from every grade in the school. Working with the GDS Community Service Coordinator, committee members recruit chaperones and drivers for the numerous curriculum-based projects at many grade levels. Parents organize extracurricular and family service activities throughout the year, including monthly family visits to Martha's Table, gleaning trips, the Thanksgiving apple pie bake-a-thon, the Holiday Gift project, and deliveries for Meals on Wheels as well as food preparation for the homeless and visits to nursing homes.
Teacher/Staff Appreciation
The PSA supports many projects and gives gifts during the year to show appreciation for our faculty and staff. In early fall, volunteers provide supper for teachers and staff on Curriculum Night. Throughout the year, parents help with monthly Teacher/Staff Appreciation Breakfasts. And in January/February, Teacher/Staff Appreciation Luncheons are given at both the Lower/Middle and High Schools. These events necessitate much parental involvement. Committee members organize volunteers who supply the food and arrange set-up and clean-up. They also provide classroom coverage during the Lower/Middle School luncheon.
New Student/Family Welcome
From April to September, parent volunteers extend a special welcome to new families and students, helping them become part of the GDS community. Lower/Middle School responsibilities include matching new students with a partner in the same class, organizing or helping with welcome receptions in May, assisting with opening day parties in September, providing refreshments at Open Houses in the fall, welcoming visitors, and preparing informational materials for new families. Current High School families telephone new High School families to welcome them to GDS and serve as buddies, a valuable resource for information about life at GDS.
GDS Community-Building Activities
Parent volunteers organize activities to promote a stronger school community. Activities include Family Fun Nights in the Lower/Middle School and grade-level potluck dinners for Lower/Middle School and High School parents.
Giant/Safeway/Harris Teeter Receipt and Box Tops Coordinator
Parents coordinate registration in the grocery receipt programs to benefit the School.
Independent Schools Parents Council Of Washington
Meetings for this organization is attended by PSA representatives and offer opportunities for an exchange of ideas.
Development Office and Special Events Volunteer Opportunities
Parents assist the GDS Development Office by providing volunteers for a number of fundraising and special events. At Country Market Day, held on a Saturday in late October, parents set up and manage booths of food, crafts, games, and special activities for students. The Annual Giving Phonathon takes place in November, raising money to augment the school's operating budget. Parent volunteers make telephone calls to parents. At the April Book Fair at the Lower/Middle School, volunteers serve as cashiers, assist student shoppers, and set up and dismantle displays. Committee members also work with the school staff to arrange author visits and special activities for a Celebration of Reading. In the spring, GDS holds an Online Auction and Live Auction Gala. Proceeds from this evening support the school's financial aid program. Parents are involved in the planning, organization, and event preparation for many months. PSA volunteers also support other Development Office events such as Grandparents' & Special Friends' Day in the spring.
How to Volunteer
Volunteering at GDS is quick and easy. The PSA develops a PSA Volunteer Sign-Up each summer for parents. When the new school year starts, parents can also call the PSA co-chairs or school coordinators (names and phone numbers are listed on the Parent Service Associaiton webpage and in the Parent/Student Directory published mid-September each year). Even if you only have a few hours a month, every parent is welcome and needed. Not sure what you could do? Just call and the PSA will help you find the perfect volunteer opportunity. |
| | Volunteer Job Descriptions PSA Organization Chart
This chart was devised to provide an overview of the many ways parents can be involved in the PSA and in the GDS community. |
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