There are many exciting ways to get connected to the school and feel the ‘vibe’ as your child learns and grows.  For more information, contact PA President Karen Walant, Ph.D., at kwalant@harveyschool.org or 203-431-4664.

POSITIONS FOR THE 2011-2012 YEAR

(Chairs for committees/class parents have already been filled.  However, if you have an interest, please contact the PA President.  Many hands make light work!)

• CLASS PARENTS 6^th grade through 11^th grade
  • 2 parents per year, who outreach to their classes, provide information about upcoming events at the school, create flyers to encourage attendance for various events.  Mostly e-mail based, although some parents might prefer to provide the information by phone.
• CLASS PARENTS 12^th grade
  • This grouping, averaging 3 – 5 parents, enhance the 12^th grade year by organizing the 100 day celebration, supplying monthly gifts to the seniors, spearheading the senior class gift and encouraging full participation from senior families.   An active group of parents who help create a special year for all  12^th graders.

SPECIAL EVENTS SPONSORED BY THE PA:

• BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHTS
  • Help the PA have a presence at the Back to School Nights.  Wear our yellow PA button and help parents sign up for the volunteer position they’d like to join.
• FAMILY WEEKEND
  • Help us to organize a spirit-filled sports and barbecue event on the Homecoming Weekend.  Included in this position is organizing the spirit store and planning for anything special – like balloons for the front of the school, etc.
• HARVEYSPEAKS 2011
  • Our event is already in process for 2011!  This year, we’ll have a community-service component in the afternoon which the PA will help to organize and supervise.  The keynote is on CURIOSITY, with a lecture by Professor Todd Kashdun from George Mason University.  Our wokshops will build on this theme, offering interesting topics to help us maintain and grow our curiosity about life.  Join us to help plan and organize the workshops, as well as meeting/greeting on that day.
• HOLIDAY LUNCHEON
  • A staff and faculty favorite, this special lunch is the PA’s way to thank our school for all that they do for us.  We need PA members to organize the donated items, set up, serve, and clean up at the event.
• ANNUAL BENEFIT 2012
  • Back by popular demand, our benefit team is already in place.  We will need help with every aspect of this signature Harvey event.  As we did for 2011, we will have an entertainment theme as well as a fundraising component.  Join us – we have lots of fun together and we value creativity!

COMMITTEES:

• BOOSTER CLUB for Middle and Upper School Sports
  • A position so appreciated by all of our athletes, this involves email only.  Help our teams have snacks for every game by organizing the sign-ups for parents.  Limited time involved, once the scheduling is set.

• CARING AND SHARING
  • This PA chair organizes assistance, when needed, to families or staff in our community that requires support.  As well, using PA dues to buy baby presents or send flowers is also part of the position.  It takes little time, and no meetings, but brings great fulfillment!
• FACULTY AND STAFF APPRECIATION FOR MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOL
  • Two chairs, one for middle and one for upper, to organize a monthly ‘treat’ for the staff/teachers.  This is primarily an email-based position, which includes organizing the parents for the month they have chosen to donate to food, and then a monthly reminder before their month.
• MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCIAL COMMITTEE
  • This committee organizes the social events for the middle school – family weekend, fall and spring dance, and any other events that the middle school is interested in.  It’s a great way to be part of your middle schooler’s experience.
• MAILING COMMITTEE
  • Several times a year, the PA send out mailings to the parent community – News and Views and the  Benefit invitation – just a few meetings a year.  Members of this group enjoy having a chance to meet with one another during the year, for an hour or so, and socializing together.  Again, a limited time commitment, usually scheduled at drop-off or pick-up times.
• NEWS AND VIEWS
  • Join our own Amie Crabtree, graphics designer, for the News and Views publication.  Some graphic or photographic experience is best, or writing interest/experience.  The publications are 4 times a year, but the time involved can be handled primarily by attending an event and reporting on it for the publication.
• PEAK COMMITTEE (Parent Education Awareness and Knowledge)
  • This committee organizes the parent education events at the school.  Working with administration, parents and budgetary needs, the committee recommends and finds speakers for both middle school and upper school events.  The STEP program, a parent-education program, is overseen from this committee as well.
• TEXTBOOK COMMITTEE
  • This committee will oversee the changes made in the 2010-2011 year for textbook recycling and the AMAZON link.  Other areas for next year include discussion regarding electronic textbooks and changing technologies.  Meetings held as needed, roughly 2 times in the fall, 2 times in the spring.
• WELCOMING COMMITTEE
  • Working closely with admissions, this committee helps to organize and reach out to new parents with the Buddy Program.  As well, members are available to speak with new and prospective families about Harvey and will need to be knowledgeable about many facets of the school. Committee members can choose to be ambassadors for Harvey at the Open House, Annual Breakfast for New Parents, and the New Family Barbecue.
• COMMUNITY SERVICE LIAISON
  
  • Interfaces between the community service club and Susan Harris to facilitate communication with parents.   The chair helps to publicize upcoming community service events, along with students in the club, for the larger Harvey community.
• WEBSITE AND MOODLE COORDINATOR
  • New for 2011-2012, is a position for someone who can help with managing and updating online postings of the PA.  This is strictly an internet position.  The PA member in this position will interface with John Wahlers, head of technology, to be sure that the web site and Moodle PA page are up to date.  While only a small amount of time is needed, it does require regularly update the postings.
• PERFORMING ARTS PUBLICITY COORDINATOR
  • New for 2011-2012, is a position for someone who would like to send out regular postings about Harvey’s upcoming student performances for both the middle and upper school.  Regular interface with Vinny Alexander, Chair of the Performing Arts Department, is needed, as is a flair for creating inviting fliers to publicize the events.

SIGN-UP

Please check the area(s) in which you would like to get involved:

Your Name (required):	Your Email (required):	Telephone:
Volunteer Opportunities:  Class Parent Grade(s): Special Events:  Back-to-School Night  Family Weekend  HarveySpeaks 2011 (Student, Parent, Education, Awareness & Knowledge Seminar)  I will help with setup/cleanup for the Holiday Luncheon  I will bring a dish for the Holiday Luncheon Description:  Annual Benefit 2012 Committees:  Booster Club Upper School Sport: Middle School Sport:  Caring and Sharing  Teacher & Staff Appreciation Middle School Month: Upper School Month:  Middle School Social Committee  Mailing Committee  News and Views  PEAK(Parent Education Awareness & Knowledge) Child's/Children's Name: Child/Children's Grade:  Texbook Committee  Welcoming Committee  Community Service Committee  Website and Moodle Committee  Performing Arts Publicity Committee

Please let us know of any special interests or talents that you would like to share with us.

If you would like to learn more about a committee or have any questions, please contact Karen Walant, PhD. at (203)431-4664 or via e-mail at kwalant@harveyschool.org.