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Jump to: Board
Positions | Parent Committees
Parent Involvement &
Responsibilities
A child’s first
experience with school can be more meaningful when it involves the entire
family. At Good Shepherd Preschool, we rely on parent participation
in order to maintain a high quality school program. As indicated in
the parent contract on the registration form, the parent(s) must:
- serve
on one committee or on the School Board;
- participate
in the fall Underhill Harvest Market fundraiser;
- donate
items to the annual preschool auction;
- participate
in smaller fundraisers throughout the year; and
- help
with one “Spruce Up” day.
Parents of incoming
students also are expected to attend the Parent Information Night in May.
Fundraising
Responsibilities
The preschool operates on a budget that includes a goal of $5000 from
fundraising. Fundraising is essential in meeting the budget and maintaining
a competitive tuition rate. Fundraising events also provide
opportunities for preschool families to become acquainted. Because of
the important role fundraising plays for the preschool, families are
required to participate in the fall Harvest Market fundraiser and the
annual preschool auction, as well as other smaller fundraisers that may
occur throughout the year. For the Harvest Market fundraiser, a
member of each family is expected to work a shift at the preschool’s Taco
Booth over the course of the weekend. If you are unable to
participate in this required fundraiser, an extra fee of $70 must be paid
to the preschool treasurer. For the auction, families are expected to
donate two new items or services that can be auctioned off.
Parent Involvement
We also encourage and need parent involvement in the preschool. Some
of the ways parents have found to do this include:
- assisting
in the classroom (music, cooking, crafts, books)
- training
as a substitute classroom teacher
- letting
teachers know of special resources (materials, experiences or people)
available to enrich classroom studies
- driving
and chaperoning on field trips
- preparing
or repairing instructional materials
- phoning
and organizing special events
- providing
cooking or craft material
Parents are welcome to
visit and participate in class any time. Please communicate with the
teacher if you wish to do so.
Support for parents is
offered through:
- communications
with teachers anytime, and especially at parent conferences
- with
the parent’s permission, referral to and consultations with
appropriate professionals for specific concerns
- periodic
parent educational workshops opportunities to dialogue with other
parents at “coffees,” workdays, and class events use of our small –
but growing – parenting library
- notices
on our bulletin board regarding community events for parents and
families
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Board Positions
Board members serve July
1 through new board transition or continue position into second year. The
board meetings are normally held on the third Tuesday of each month throughout
the year.
Board Chair
The Chair presides over the Board of the Preschool, oversees its work and
is a liaison between the preschool and Church Board. The Chair presides
over all meetings, helps recruit, appoint and oversee volunteers or task
forces for special projects as well as ensuring that school by-laws and
procedures are followed. The Chair is also responsible for maintaining
active communications with the Program Director and supporting school
activities.
Secretary
In cooperation with the Board Chair, the Secretary maintains and stores
school records; takes minutes of Board meetings; types, distributes (via
email) and files copies of the minutes within two weeks of meeting; carries
out official school correspondence and written communications between the
board and parents. The secretary will be responsible for a letter to
parents each month which summarizes board activities and discussions (less
formal than minutes). During the monthly Board meeting this person will
review the calendar and serve as timekeeper.
Treasurer
The Treasurer is responsible for the maintenance of the preschool finances
and reporting finances to the preschool board. The Treasurer’s principal
areas of responsibility are to track all incoming revenue and expenses;
collect tuition and other income payments; reconcile all bank statements;
pay all invoices in a timely manner; collect all payroll taxes and report
accordingly; file yearly W2/W3 statements; track expenses and days related
to cleaning scholarships; create a yearly compensation report for our
insurance; generate standard monthly and yearly financial reports; and
manage bi-weekly payroll for the staff.
Public Relations
Coordinator
The Public Relations Coordinator is responsible for all publicity related
to the preschool. These responsibilities include: managing publicity and
mailings at registration time in conjunction with the Registrar; submitting
regular articles of interest to local newspapers; coordinating publicity
for upcoming fundraising events (ie: distributing notices to local schools
and churches; displaying signs at community businesses, etc...);
maintaining a list of alumni from the prior three years; and overseeing the
production and mailing of alumni newsletters. The Public Relations
Coordinator shall oversee the maintenance and updating of the preschool’s
website on a regular basis.
Fundraising
Coordinator(s)
The Fundraising Coordinators are responsible for all fundraising activities
for the preschool. The Fundraising Coordinators work with members of the
Fundraising Committee to organize and run the Taco Booth at the Underhill
Harvest Market; direct all activities relating to the annual preschool
auction; coordinate the fundraising activities at the Medieval Country Fair
in May; and to manage any other fundraising activities as approved by the
preschool board.
Property Trustee
The Property Trustee, in cooperation with the church Property Committee, is
responsible for maintaining school property while working closely with the
staff to assure a safe learning and playing environment for the children.
The Property Trustee brings concerns regarding building, grounds and
equipment to the school board and makes sure those concerns are addressed
by the network of parent volunteers on the Property Committee. Typical
responsibilities include helping the Program Director organize the
Spruce-Up days; mowing the lawn; maintaining play areas such as the sandbox
and swing set; carpentry; painting; minor plumbing, mechanical and
electrical; and regular carpet cleanings. The Property Trustee will
coordinate the development of a snow shoveling schedule.
Registrar
The Registrar is responsible for responding to all initial inquiries about
the preschool and for sending the appropriate information (brochures,
handbooks, etc...) and forms to prospective preschool families. The
Registrar oversees the registration of all preschool families each year and
works closely with the Program Director to ensure all required forms are
turned in and filed. The Registrar is also responsible for maintaining and
distributing class lists. The Registrar works with the Program Director to
assign parents to either a school board position or a parent committee
based on their responses on the Parent Participation form. The Registrar
see that all board-approved revisions are made to the handbook and forms as
required each year and sees that the new handbooks are printed. The
Registrar, in conjunction with the Public Relations Coordinator, is
responsible for distributing and mailing the registration materials based
on the Registration timeline set forth in the handbook.
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Parent Committees
Each committee will have
a contact person to be a liaison with a board member. Committees
begin their responsibilities on July 1 so that we are prepared for the
opening of school.
Property
Committee
This committee is directed by the Property Trustee on the school board.
This committee takes care of new construction and maintenance of interior
equipment and furnishings, as well as improving and maintaining the outdoor
playground and equipment. As needed, snow shoveling and sanding of the
walkway leading from the rear parking lot to the classroom will be
required. Typically, the job is done by one family per class and takes
10–15 minutes (up to 30 minutes if a heavy snowfall). The walkway needs to
be clear about one hour prior to class time. Shovels will be available.
Social Committee
This committee is directed by the Program Director. This committee plans
and coordinates “coffees,” “teas” and other community-building social
events for parents of the preschool. This committee coordinates all parent
education workshops. This committee will organize volunteers and coordinate
refreshments (through bulletin board sign-ups) for such events as Open
Houses, Parent Information Night, holiday celebrations and other events as
needed. This committee will have two members (one from each class) that
will be designated “room parents.” The Room Parents will coordinate any
needed “Sunshine Functions” (ie: meal donations and/or general assistance
for preschool families with new babies, health crises, and other
significant life events). This committee will coordinate all book orders.
Fundraising Committee
This committee is directed by the Fundraising Coordinator(s) on the school
board. This committee plans and coordinates fundraising activities as
approved by the board. Two proven annual fundraising events are the Taco
Booth at the Underhill Harvest Market held each fall and the preschool
auction held each winter. This committee also organizes various fundraising
activities at the Medieval Country Fair sponsored by Good Shepherd Lutheran
Church in May. Sales and other fundraisers may be held as planned during
the school year.
Toy Cleaning
Committee
This committee is directed by the Program Director. Members of this
committee wash toys and blocks; clean shelves before replacing toys; and
launder dress-up clothes to meet state licensing regulations. Toy cleaners
are assigned a particular play center, and their required cleaning can be
done either at the preschool or at home over a weekend. The toy cleaning
needs to take place once a month without fail throughout the school year.
Classroom Assisting
& Substitute Teaching Committee
This committee is directed by the Program Director. While all parents are
welcome to visit and assist in the classroom, parents on this committee are
required to work in their child’s classroom once each month. These parents
assist under the supervision of the teaching staff by interacting with
small groups of children in various learning centers. Attendance is
required at an orientation for substitute teachers held at the beginning of
the academic year. A staff form, which is sent to Vermont Department of
Children and Families, and a reference form must be completed. Parents will
be called to substitute whenever one of the regular staff members is
absent.
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