PGA VOLUNTEERING
Every Redwood Day School parent and guardian is a member of the Parent Guardian Association. This is your organization!
Participation in the is a fantastic way to make new friends and engage with our close-knit community of families and educators. The Parent Guardian Association's mission is to:
- Build community and organize activities that enrich the Redwood Day experience for students, parents, faculty, and staff;
- Promote volunteer opportunities, parent education programs, and school events that foster community and encourage participation;
- Support the School’s mission, philosophy, and strategic plan;
Facilitate communication between the parents and guardians and the School; and - Sponsor fundraising initiatives to augment the School’s resources.
Each year provides an abundance of reasons to get involved with the Parent Guardian Association; this year is no exception. The opportunities are varied, truly something for everyone. Whether you have a little time or a lot, you will find your involvement to be personally rewarding and a great way to share your child’s experience. Every volunteering contribution, large and small, is deeply appreciated.
If you have questions or want to learn more, please contact PGA Co-Presidents Jason Culbertson and Emma Purdy.
GET INVOLVED AT REDWOOD DAY
| Parent Guardian Association (PGA) |
| Every Redwood Day parent and guardian is part of the Parent Guardian Association—a vibrant community dedicated to enriching the Redwood Day experience. Our mission is to foster connection, promote volunteerism, support school initiatives, and strengthen communication between families and the School. Your involvement, big or small, makes a difference. Join us in creating lasting memories and supporting our students’ journey. |
| Volunteer Opportunities |
Engage with our community through a variety of events and activities, including:
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| Become a Leader |
| Step into a leadership role by organizing events like the Auction, coordinating class activities, or representing your class in the Parent Guardian Association. Your involvement helps strengthen our vibrant community. |
| Signature PGA Events |
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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.
| COMMITTEE | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| Auction Party (March 28, 2026) and Online Auction (March 28-31, 2026) | The Redwood Day 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 grants, assemblies), and, most importantly, our children. The auction party 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: Susie DePianto and Jennifer Driscoll |
| Book Fair (December 8-12, 2025) | 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. The Book Fair presents an extensive and diverse variety of books from which you will surely 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: Ariela Fedorov, Kate Holekamp, Anagha Sreenivasan, and Chris Keh |
| 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, meal packing event, and organizing other volunteer and service learning opportunities for our families. Chairs: Dorothy Lee and Jason Purdy |
| Digital Wellness | The Digital Wellness Committee helps broaden the conversations among families to consciously harness the digital world by leveraging Redwood Day's participation in the Connected Schools Program offered by Common Sense Media. They communicate to the community about hosted webinars and discussions and act as liaisons for parent education events. Chairs: Diana Pasquali and Heather Patterson |
| 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, Black Excellence, and Parent Education evenings. Chair: Anhthu Le |
| 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 luncheons, and acknowledge birthdays, holidays, and National Teacher Appreciation Week with special treats and honorings. Chairs: Sumi Cate, Lisa Crounse, Caitlin Pakzad, and Marcia Peck |
| Fall Festival (October 18, 2025) | 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, setup, clean up, and shifts at various activity stations and games. Chairs: Nairobi Kim, Yogi Gamper, and Nancy Wang |
| Friday Community 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 setup and clean up. See the calendar for the full list of dates. Chair: Patrick Davies, Peter Marietta, and Andrew Smith |
| Generations Day (November 21, 2025) | Generations Day is an event that welcomes grandparents and special friends to learn more about Redwood Day and their student’s experience here. Volunteers help set up, greet guests, serve refreshments, guide visitors on campus, take pictures, clean up, and offer assistance as needed. Chairs: Gening Liao and Barrie McClune |
| Lost and Found | The Lost & Found Committee helps keep our campus organized by regularly sorting through lost items, returning labeled belongings to students, and coordinating the donation of unclaimed items. This committee plays a key role in promoting responsibility and sustainability within our school community. Chairs: Sandra Lee Lawson and Lisa Marietta |
| Room Parents/Grade Parents | Room Parents (in the Lower School) and grade level parents (in the Middle School) coordinate directly with their teachers and administrators, as well as their fellow parents, to recruit volunteers for in-class/grade needs (field trip drivers, library volunteers, etc.), and school-wide events, purchasing teacher gifts, and more. Chairs: PGA Lower School Co-Coordinators Brandon Maslan and Alyssa Witten, and PGA Middle School Co-Coordinators Betsy Jones and Deborah Schlosberg |
| Social Coordinators (one for each grade) | The Social Coordinator helps build community within your grade by organizing a handful of informal gatherings throughout the school year for parents/guardians, students, and families—ideally a mix of all three. This role is more about sparking ideas, spreading the word, and encouraging others to host than planning every detail or attending every event. Gatherings can be as simple as coordinating meetups at existing community events like festivals or seasonal outings. The goal is to create a few opportunities each year for connection outside of school, with flexibility for how often your grade chooses to gather. |
| *RD Diversity in Action FAQ |
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 Excellence, and Parent Education evenings. Q: What types of things does Diversity in Action do?
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Volunteer Today!
The PGA is always seeking to strengthen our partnership with the school, to better serve our shared community, and work more closely with the dedicated professionals who bring a deep and rich educational experience to our children every day.
