Volunteering

Art

Volunteers on this committee assist the school’s art teachers. For Lower School art, the main focus is on supporting students with class activities; volunteers are typically scheduled to assist with their own child’s class every few weeks. For both the Lower School and Middle School, Art Committee volunteers also provide support as needed for special activities such as the annual art shows (usually in the spring).

Chairs: Reven Suess and Meera Desai

Book Fair (December 6-10, 2011)

During the annual Book Fair, shoppers can buy books for themselves, for friends and family, for the Helen Dittmer Library, and for classroom use. Volunteer opportunities include setting up book and merchandise displays (or breaking them down); promoting Book Fair events; decorating; cashiering; and organizing, staffing, or providing snacks for associated activities such as a Middle School party, author visits, or teacher previews.

Chairs: Sarah Wessel and Kate Stechschulte

Caring

Caring Committee volunteers help out when a family/member of the Redwood Day School community is in transition or crisis and needs extra support such as meals, carpooling, grocery shopping, and so on. Responsibilities are shared throughout the year and the committee reaches out to RDS families for volunteers so the amount of support can be large without any one person being overburdened.

Chairs: Liz Owens and Erin Newman

Faculty & Staff Appreciation

The Faculty & Staff Appreciation Committee provides breakfast snacks every Tuesday and organizes 4-5 luncheons per year for RDS employees. The committee provides faculty and staff with birthday cards, holiday gifts, gift certificates, and tickets to local cultural events.

Chairs: Jen Edmister, Amelia Perez, Michelle Bowen

Fall Festival (September 24, 2011)

The Fall Festival, an annual social event for the whole family, will take place at RDS on Saturday, September 24. Volunteer activities include event planning, publicity, setting up and cleaning up, organizing food and games, and so on.

Chairs: Alicia Fenrick, Silvia Fernandez, Ndeshi Shiyandjda

Fun Run (May 19, 2012)

Volunteers assist in planning this annual community-building run/walk around Lake Merritt.

Chairs: Ann Vawter and Michelle Wilson

Generations Day (November 22, 2011)

For this annual celebration on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, volunteers help set up, greet guests, serve food and beverages, take pictures, clean up, and offer assistance as needed. Generations Day is managed by the Advancement Office, and volunteers are coordinated by the school’s advancement staff.

Chairs:Elizabeth Doh and Jocelin Saks

Governance

The Governance Committee is tasked with recommending improvements to the operations, conduct, and systems of the RDS Parents' and Guardians Association and Parents' and Guardian's Association Executive Board.

Chair: Bill Pate

Hospitality

The Hospitality Committee coordinates with the Parents’ and Guardians' Association, Director of Admissions, and Head of School’s office for hosting events. Volunteers may set up and clean up food and beverages for events such as open houses, Back-to-School Nights, art shows, science fairs, and meetings of the Parents’ and Guardians' Association  where the general membership is expected to attend.

Chairs: Galia Szurley and Michelle Bowen

Library

Under the guidance of the school librarian, volunteers on this committee assist students with library activities such as book selection and reading on a scheduled basis (usually during their child’s library hours) throughout the year. Library committee volunteers also may be asked to help maintain library materials.

Chairs: Sheila Dickinson and Marcilie Smith Boyle

Lice Busters

The Lice Busters committee works to reduce lice exposure at Redwood Day School by providing information to families and to shorten the duration of outbreaks by conducting grade-level inspections at school. Volunteers are scheduled on a case-by-case basis (depending on availability) when lice checks are needed. Training is provided.

Chairs: Monica Lent and Lori Wheeley

Prism

Prism, the diversity committee, is open to all members of the RDSPGA. Prism hosts forums and activities on matters of diversity as relevant to Redwood Day School and society at large. Prism events promote positive dialogue, increase understanding, enhance the richness of differences, celebrate multi-cultural activities, and bring the community together. Specific Prism activities are varied and may include discussions, training/educational opportunities, participation in school events, and distribution of information to faculty, students, and parents.

Chairs: Laura Abrams, Paola Laird, Kymberly Miller

Parent University (January 28, 2012)

This committee organizes and hosts our annual daylong extravaganza of parent education, packed with talks, workshops and discussions geared toward parenting children at various ages and grade levels, and a memorable keynote speaker. Opportunities for involvement include planning, scheduling speakers, publicity, record keeping, set up, clean up, and checking in attendees.

Chair: Helena Weiss-Duman

Spring Auction (March 24, 2012)

The Spring Auction is a cornerstone of the PGA’s fundraising activities at Redwood Day School. Co-chairs plan the event and its fundraising activities, which may include a silent auction, live auction, sign-up boards, a dinner event, raffles, and so on. Co-chairs also coordinate Spring Auction arrangements with the Advancement Office. Opportunities for being involved as subcommittee chairs or as volunteers include party planning, marketing and promotion, decorating, database management, data entry, acquisition of donations, advertising sales, and check-out.

Chairs: Jen Vedock and Tonya Lang