With a new school year comes new opportunities to get involved! Whether this is your first year sending your child to preschool, or you have multiple children across several grades, there is a sign-up sheet for everyone. While I am a fan of finding a balance between getting involved and over-committing yourself (which I wrote about here), I am also a believer in the value and importance of volunteering in some capacity and being an advocate for your child and their school.
There are many ways to get involved, even for the busy working moms who want to help but have difficulty finding the time to do so. Here are simple suggestions at different levels that the school, your child, and you will benefit from!
Attend Meet the Teacher/Back-to-School Night
Attending Meet the Teacher night is step one, but don’t stop there. Get to know the teachers who will be shaping, guiding, and educating your children for the next nine months. Ask them if they need anything else for their classroom and bring it to them. There is sure to be a sign-up sheet for various roles and opportunities for the class and school for the year. Take a look and sign up for things that are reasonable for you. If you can’t commit your time for an ongoing role, sign up for a one-time thing, like helping at the book fair or being a field trip chaperone.
Reach Out to the Room Mom
If you don’t reach out to your room mom, she’s sure to reach out to you! She will email you throughout the year with various opportunities to volunteer. Let her know what you’re skilled at or where you are able to help. She is busting her tail as the room mom, and it can sometimes be a struggle for her to fill the spots. Sign up when you can for things like making copies, bringing food, or working field day, and if your schedule allows, sign up for a standing day each week or month to help out.
Join the PTA
You don’t have to be on the board of the PTA to be a member of the group. The fee to join is nominal, and you will have access to not only the school PTA, but the national organization, as well. Plus, it’s a great way to keep a pulse on school events, finances, and needs.
Donate School Supplies
If spending time at the school during the day is just not feasible for you, call the office and ask them if there are any supplies needed. If your school is all set, ask if there is a buddy school your school supports or if a Boy Scout is collecting supplies to send to a school in need.
Attend Fundraising Events
Show your school support by attending the events put on throughout the year. Open house, book fair, class productions, sporting events, and academic events are a great way to be on campus and typically have a fundraising effort going on at the same time.
Seeing how important your child’s school is to you will help to instill a sense of pride in them. Active and engaged families are the key to their success. Happy volunteering!
