Volunteering

Hundreds of hard-working and enthusiastic volunteers come together each year to enrich the Redwood Day School community. The Redwood Day Parent Guardian Association is the vehicle that provides these important volunteer opportunities. Whether you have limited availability or are someone who can give more time – there are numerous volunteer opportunities from which to choose. We welcome your participation at any level!

Redwood Day uses SignUpGenius (SUG) to manage classroom and all-school volunteering opportunities. Please take a moment and sign up for FREE! Once logged in, you can see all the volunteer opportunities as they become available.

See below for a more detailed description of our volunteer opportunities. Please note that all activities and events are subject to change due to the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

List of 13 items.

  • Art

    Throughout the year, there are different volunteer opportunities both in and out of the Art classroom, K-5. In-class volunteer opportunities are project-based, and volunteers are welcomed to assist in any given grade when an opportunity arises.

    Volunteer opportunities outside the Art classroom include helping set up for the Spring Art and Music Night and assisting in set, prop, and costume design for the 4th grade Musical. The Art committee chairs will communicate to the community when Art volunteers are needed via Sign Up Genius.

    Chairs: Avis Kowalewski and Alice Schlein
  • Auction (Redwood Day At Night Party March 25, 2023 and Online Auction, March 25 - April 2, 2023)

    The Redwood Day At Night auction party and the online auction are the PGA’s cornerstone fundraising events. The funds raised help support both the work of the PGA (Fall Festival and other community events) and the School (tuition assistance, teacher development/PGA Summer Grants, assemblies) and, most importantly, our children. Redwood Day At Night is a party that provides an opportunity for parents, guardians, and adult friends to come together as a community and simply celebrate. Volunteer opportunities range from leading a team, securing donations, editing item descriptions, and organizing a hosted event to planning the party!

    Chairs: Brooke Abola and Lauren Webster
  • Book Fair January 30 - February 3, 2023

    The annual Redwood Day Book Fair is an opportunity to support the school while you shop for great books. Students will also have the opportunity to shop during the school day with their class. The Book Fair presents an extensive and diverse variety of books from which you will be sure to find perfect gifts for friends and family, your child(ren)’s classrooms, and likely, quite a few for yourself! Volunteer opportunities include cashiering, staffing, set-up and breakdown, and support at associated events.

    Chairs: Kelly Kawamoto, Kitty Neumark, Urmilia Raghavan, and Stella Wong
  • Community Caring

    The Community Caring Committee helps support our immediate Redwood Day community when a family is in transition or crisis by mobilizing volunteers for support via meals, childcare, rides, and more. The Committee also helps support our larger Oakland community through activities like the OUSD back-to-school supply drive as well as organizing volunteer and service learning opportunities for our families.

    Chairs: Debbie Schapira, Ami Schiess Peay, Sarah Wachs, and Sarah Warner
  • Diversity in Action*

    This Committee supports the School’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Diversity in Action maintains a strategic partnership with the School supporting Heritage celebrations and Adult Affinity Groups for our parent/guardian community. They also help promote and represent the Redwood Day community at DEIB events such as the Oakland Pride Parade and Parent Education evenings.

    Chairs: Henriette Ako-Asare and Betsy O’Donnell
  • Faculty & Staff Appreciation

    The Faculty & Staff Appreciation Committee exists to show our faculty and staff just how much they are respected and appreciated. Volunteers bring snacks, organize themed luncheons and dinners, and acknowledge birthdays, holidays, and National Teacher Appreciation Week with special treats and honorings.

    Chairs: Smita Bhatt, Jennifer Butz, Triveni DeFries, and Shailika Kotiya
  • Fall Festival (October 22, 2022)

    The Fall Festival is a longstanding Redwood Day tradition for the whole family. On a Fall Saturday, we come together on campus to play with and get to know each other. Various volunteer activities include event planning, set up, clean up, and shifts at various activity stations and games.

    Chairs: Yogi Gamper, Shawn Nealy-Oparah, and Patrice Speed
  • Friday Coffee

    Redwood Day invites everyone for coffee, community, and conversation most Friday mornings throughout the school year. Every grade will have the opportunity to sign up to help by picking up pastries and assisting the chairs with set up and clean up. See the calendar for the full list of dates.

    Chairs: Sanjay Bhatt, Jess Macy, Peter Marietta, and Emma Purdy
  • Fun Run/Walk (May 6, 2023)

    Grab the kids, the dog, and your comfortable shoes. Run, walk or stroll to create friendly competition among the grades, promote an active and healthy lifestyle, and build community. Volunteers assist in planning and staffing this annual event. 

    Chairs: Karen Goodwin, Jordan Karp, and Alan Orcharton
  • Generations Day, Virtual (November 18, 2022)

    Generations Day is an event that welcomes grandparents and special friends to learn more about Redwood Day and their student’s experience here after two years of holding it virtually, we hope to hold this event on campus once again, assuming it is safe to do so. Volunteers help set up, greet guests, serve food and beverages, guide visitors on campus, take pictures, clean up, and offer assistance as needed. (Volunteering is the only way to attend the event as a parent!) 

    Chairs: Megan Larson and Brooke Welch
  • Library

    Volunteers assist the librarians and students with general tasks in the library, such as shelving, book check out, and other tasks as needed. Volunteers can drop in as their schedules allow during the day or can sign up to assist with their child’s library class time (K-5).

    Chairs: Lisa Marietta and Jessica Pazirandeh
  • Lice Busters

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

    Chairs: Barrie McClune and Monika Poxon
  • Room Parents/Grade Parents

    Room Parents (in the Lower School) and grade level parents (in the Middle School) coordinate directly with their teachers or grade-level advisors as well as their fellow parents to recruit volunteers for in-class/grade needs (field trip drivers, art/library volunteers, snack, etc.), planning the class/grade auction project, purchasing teacher gifts, and more.

    Chairs: PGA Lower School Coordinator, Betsy Jones and PGA Middle School Coordinator, Karine Sully

*RD Diversity in Action FAQ

List of 4 frequently asked questions.

  • Q: How can I join Diversity in Action?

    Email Henriette Ako-Asare, Betsy O’Donnell, or Meredith Spencer to be added to the Diversity in Action Google Group.
  • Q: Who can join Diversity in Action?

    All parents and guardians of Redwood Day students.
  • Q: What is Diversity in Action?

    Diversity in Action supports the School’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Diversity in Action maintains a strategic partnership with the School, supporting Heritage celebrations and Adult Affinity Groups for our parent/guardian community. Diversity in Action also helps promote and represent the Redwood Day community at DEI events such as the Oakland Pride Parade, Black Joy, and Parent Education evenings.
  • Q: What types of things does Diversity in Action do?

    • Support Heritage Celebrations – celebrating the beauty of and within the heritage and uplifting the communities connected to the heritage. (vs. Reinforcing traumas & struggles— take care not to do this and be mindful of the differences.)
    • Support Parent/Guardian Affinity/Heritage Group events
    • Stay up to date on and support RD Board, Faculty, and Community in DEI events, activities, efforts
    • Recruitment and retention of students and families from diverse backgrounds
    • Other Ideas/Goals – to be determined by committee as interest and resources permit