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The Day School relies on the parent body to lend their time and talents to ensure the success of school events, community programs, fundraising, and more. The Parents Association is a key organizer in the volunteer efforts.
Admission Open Houses
Open House Evenings are the first activities of the Admissions Season. Open House Guides greet prospective parents, guide them through an overview of classrooms, pass out programs, hand out Admission Packets, share their SFDS experiences and answer questions.
Co-chairs: Nancy Hoopes (2), Danielle Siegel (1), Buzz Thompson (5).
Admission Tour Guides
Day Tours are integral to the admissions process. Day Tour Guides lead parents through a tour of in-session classes and answer questions in between. Volunteers are invited to attend an Orientation in the early Fall and one or more Day Tours. New Tour Guides are welcome and may shadow Veteran Tour Guides for as long as they would like. The two hour tours are held from 8:30 - 10:30 am.
Annual Fund
The Annual Fund helps close the gap between tuition income and the full cost of educating a child at SFDS by soliciting a yearly donation from all of the School's constituencies. Volunteers are needed to call other parents at a lively phonation in November and to follow-up on these initial phone calls until we reach our goal of 100% participation. No experience is necessary. This is a great way to get to know the families in your class and in other grades.
Co-chairs: Ann & Christopher Barber (6,3), Claudia Lewis (3,K), Rob Hurlbut (5,K).
Art Studio Volunteers
No art experience is necessary. You will be working in class with students as a teacher’s aid. In the Upper School, about an hour and a half per week is needed; for the Lower School, one hour to an hour and forty-five minutes. Volunteers will work the same day of the week every other week for either half the year or the full school year. We cannot always accommodate all who are interested, so those who can volunteer weekly or biweekly are given first consideration. We ask that kindergarten parents start with a class other than their own child’s. In grades 1-8 we try to accommodate parents' requests to work with their own children's classes. Volunteers attend an orientation the first day of school at drop-off time. The Art Studio Chair helps organize refreshments for the Art Show in May as well as helping to install work for the show. The Art Show preparation begins two to three weeks in advance.
Co-chairs: Claudia Jofre (5), Ashley Lucio (2,6).
Communications
This committee aspires to keep the parent body well informed of PA activities and to help families feel successfully connected to life on campus. The co-chairs coordinate writers to report on school activities for the online publication, the SFDS eNews, and they give the PA and the administration feedback in order to improve overall school communication. The committee needs volunteers to write occasional articles and to photograph various school events.
Co-chairs: Mary Kay Melvin (1,4), Lisa Bransten (1,4). Volunteers needed.
Community Service for Families
This committee works toward community service and family togetherness during non-school hours. Volunteers identify, organize, publicize, participate in, and supervise service opportunities for the entire family. We aim for at least two community service opportunities per month appropriate for ages K-8th grade and stress the importance of parents and children participating together. We prepare meals at the Ronald McDonald House, participate in citywide clean-up efforts at the AIDS Grove, Crissy Field, Ocean Beach and Golden Gate Park, help out at the Food Bank and much more. Most organizing is done individually via e-mail with perhaps a brainstorming session in the beginning of the year. This school year, we would love to recruit more families for involvement and learn of the diverse community interests of all Day School families.
Co-chairs: Barbara Abbott (4,8), Wendy Miller (3,5). Volunteers needed.
Concert for the Community
The Concert for Community is an evening of talent featuring upper school students, faculty and alumni of San Francisco Day School. In the past, the evening has been a showcase of student bands, talented dancers, musicians, and even comedians. In the weeks leading up to Concert for Community, all students in the upper school research various community organizations in the Bay Area which will recieve the proceeds of the Concert. Each grade level votes on who will recieve their portion of the funds. In the past the Day School has donated to the SEVA foundation, the Marine Mammal Center, Herb Bool's 24 hour bike ride which benefitted the Central Asia Institute, and Room to Read, as well as other worthy organizations. Concert for Community will be held on February 26th.
Co-chairs: Kathy & Jim Hormel (8)
CultureFest
CultureFest is the Day School's biggest community and fundraising event of the year. Each year we get together as a community for a party and auction. All Day School families pitch-in to create this marvelous event by: a) soliciting or donating one or more items to the auctions, and b) taking on one of the myriad tasks involved in producing the event. Please let us know which committee interests you:
- Entertainment/Video
- Food and Beverages
- Decorations/Set-up
- Live Auction
- Silent Auction
- Underwriting/Sponsorships
- Communication: PR, Design, Mailings, Advertisements, Catalog
Co-chairs: Kelly Halper (4,7) & Nicole Krassner (2,4). Volunteers Needed.
Eighth Grade Play
Join in the magic of the theater! Help the eighth graders put on their end-of-the-year production. Volunteers are needed for each of these committees: 1) costumes 2) make-up 3 )set design and construction 4) program and posters 5) cast party 6) stage management 7) house management
Escrip
Escrip is an important fundraiser for the Parents Association, because the proceeds go directly to fund Parents Association activities such as Parent Education and the Staff Appreciation Dinner. One volunteer is needed from each class to contact and enroll families in their class in E-scrip. The time is flexible and you can work independently via e-mail and phone.
Chair: Bradley Solomon (2,6). Volunteers Needed.
Fall Picnic
At this all-school event, held on Sunday, September 20st in Golden Gate Park, we welcome new parents and faculty and catch up with old friends. Volunteer jobs include transporting equipment (food tables and booths for our student-run fair), set up, staffing the tables for our giant potluck lunch, staffing the sign-in tables, and cleaning up. All of the volunteer hours are the day of the picnic. This is a great way to meet other families and work closely with the students who are working the different booths.
Chair: Howard Sackson (5).
Family Photo Night
The Parent Committee on Diversity created this wonderful evening event to celebrate the many forms and meanings of family in our Day School community. Offered with the Library Party, families are given an opportunity to have their photos taken by an outstanding photographer and to spend an informal evening enjoying food and drinks with other Day School families. Volunteers are needed to help collect and hang some of last year's photos, organize the photo sessions, arrange for food and entertainment, clean-up the night of the event and to hang the finished photos. The event will be held October 26th.
Co-chairs: Gabrielle Hull Bravo (K,2), Sydney Bernier (K,3). Volunteers needed.
Graduation Reception
Join fellow seventh grade parents in planning the reception following graduation for the graduates and their families. Most of the volunteer work is done from home a few months before the June graduation. Food, décor, set-up, and photography throughout the year for a photo collage are also part of this opportunity.
Grandparents and Special Friends Day
Grandparents and special friends spend a memorable morning visiting with their favorite student. This year's event will take place on Friday, March 12th. Jobs on the day of the event include greeting visitors, photographing students and their guests, setting up and serving refreshments, and acting as classroom hosts. Most of the work takes place on the day before and the day of the event, with some advance planning by a group of team leaders. This is a fun opportunity to be a part of Grandparents and Special Friends Day, even though we cannot be special friends ourselves.
Co-chairs: Frances Jue (3), Mardi Dier (2,4). 90 volunteers needed.
Library Luncheon
Held in conjunction with the Library Party, this is a fundraiser lunch that also benefits the library. The lunch features a talk by a featured author. Volunteer assignments include promotion, invitations, set-up and clean-up. This event will be held on October 27.
Chair: Stacie Cherner (K,6). Volunteers needed.
Library Party
This fun event is an important source of income for the library and is always enjoyable for the whole family. Books are available for sale for your own collection, as gifts and for donating to the school library. Preparation for the Library Party begins early in the school year and the event will be held October 26 & 27.
Book reviewers: Read books over the summer, provide recommendations for the book selections, and write small reviews on note cards provided. Book reviewers make great floor salespeople! Marketing: Promote the Library Party event within the School and the local community, including design of signage and flyers.
Food and Beverage: Liaison with Family Photo Night and Library Party Chairs regarding food & beverage. Manage food and beverages for the event including set up of refreshments and supplying food for volunteers.
Event Floor Sales: Make recommendations, help find books (e.g. mystery books) and restock.
Cashiering: Manage check out process using bar code scanners and Macs. Process payment by credit card, check or cash, and pack books for carry-out.
Set up: Set up tables, move boxes, arrange books by category.
Break Down: Box remaining books and break down tables.
Co-chairs: Nichole DeLeon (3,6), Natalie Rome (5), Ellen Towell (3,8).
If you would like to volunteer, please contact Natalie natalierome@sbcglobal.net.
Library Volunteers
Calling all “A” type perfectionists who love books and who get satisfaction from organizing things!
The library needs several dedicated volunteers to maintain the bravura and seamless function of the library by shelving library items.
We especially need volunteers who can commit to a regular daily, weekly, or monthly time. Families with children in kindergarten through 2nd grade can volunteer to shelve and help students select books during weekly library classes. Sign-up during the Library Orientation or by contacting Renée Otero rotero@sfds.net.
Support READING -- volunteer in the library!
Chair: Rick Riley (6). Volunteers needed.
LINC
This program welcomes new families into the SFDS community and makes sure they feel connected, supported, and comfortable in the fall. Other goals of the program include building class unity for the Kindergarten parents early in the year and insuring that all new families get involved in school activities during their first year. It can be challenging for families to enter the SFDS community. It can be even more challenging for those who change schools or who are new to San Francisco. To help with this transition, the LINC Committee assigns an existing SFDS family as buddy family to each new family entering the school in grades K-8.
The LINC family welcomes their new family to the SFDS community (and to San Francisco if they have relocated) by calling and writing the LINC family prior to summer break and then prior to school.
- Facilitate introductions to others in the community.
- Serves as a resource for answering questions regarding volunteer opportunities, sports, homework, school/class events, etc.
- Hosts an informal play date at the end of summer or early in the school year.
Co-chairs: Sara Byrne (1,2), Jennie Wilson (6). Volunteers needed.
Lunch Program Coordinator
In this newly created position, the Lunch Program Coordinator will organize daily volunteers to assist the kids
during Lower School lunch service. The Coordinator will also serve as a liaison between the school administration, the kitchen and the parent body.
Parent Education
The Parent Education Committee plans and promotes parent education events. The committee presents speakers and forums to discuss topics related to parenting, children’s social development, and school life. This year Parent Education will continue its role as a member of the newly formed Bay Area Coalition for Parent Education. On behalf of coalition members, this group will bring in well-known speakers to the Bay Area for talks related to parenting.
Co-chairs: Jennifer Holderness (2,5), Courtney Cooney (2). Volunteers needed.
Photographers
We need both digital and 35mm photographers to be clicking at Day School events, soirees, field trips and special occasions. Photographs will be used in our newsletters, online communications, as well as in some school publications. If you are interested, please sign up to volunteer with the Communications Committee.
School Store
The School store sells SFDS logo merchandise to our community. In the past it has been a Parents Association fundraiser. Starting next year, the School Store will take an exciting new direction and be handed off to Student Council to run as a student fundraiser. The goal will be give students a meaningful learning experience in what it takes to run a store like this – a business plan, product design, ordering, inventory management, marketing and bookkeeping. The project will be overseen by an SFDS teacher, but we need parents who would be willing to be consultants to this group in any functional areas mentioned above. If you have this kind of expertise we would love to hear from you!
Business and Marketing Consultants Needed.
Chair: Howard Sackson (5).
Staff Appreciation Dinner
Volunteers plan, prepare, and host a spring thank you dinner for the faculty and staff. Jobs include coordinating volunteers and donations, preparing invitations, making phone calls, planning a menu, cooking, working during the event, and cleaning up afterwards. Other than finding a location in the fall, chairs begin preparations about two months before the event. Most volunteers put in three to six hours at home. Some work the night of the event preparing, serving and cleaning up. The dinner will take place in April.
Co-chairs: Ann Avery (4,6), Beth Daecher (3,6). Volunteers needed.
Staff Treats
This committee has earned the undying gratitude of the faculty and staff. Members are assigned to bring in items for a breakfast, lunch, or dinner for the school staff. You will need to deliver your food or drink to the faculty lounge on your assigned day. You will receive the schedule via email and no meeting is necessary.
Chair: Tom Scharffenberger (8). Volunteers needed.
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