Parents Association

Santa Fe Montessori School

Santa Fe Montessori School
Parent's Association

New Santa Fe Montessori School T-shirts

MISSION STATEMENT

To encourage excellence in student development and achievement by advocating for our children and school, promoting parent involvement, enhancing school communications and supporting teachers and staff through the efforts of parent volunteers.

PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION MEMBERS:

A volunteer, self-governing PA Member Board will oversee the Parents’ Association. A representative from each classroom throughout the school (Toddler Community, Children’s House, Elementary Jr. 1 and 2) will be invited to sit on the Board. The Room Parent from each classroom can elect to serve as the representative or invite another parent from their class to serve on the Board. An alternate should be selected in case the Board Member is unable to attend a Board meeting. If any classroom is unable to provide a representative to the Board, the class will be un-represented at the Board meetings. (See Attachment “A” for current list of current Board Members)

The main function of the Board is to support and enhance the school by coordinating fundraising efforts, identifying areas of enhancement relating to school programs, and addressing issues related to the quality of life within the school community.

Any parent who would like to formally address the Board to provide input or bring forward a specific issue may do so at any time. The Board’s role will be to meet with the parent, discuss the issue at a closed Board Member meeting and to communicate the Board’s findings to the Principal and make recommendations that are within the scope of the Board’s function.

The office of Board Member President and Board Member Secretary shall be filled based on a mutual consensus from all Board Members. The President shall not serve more than 2 years unless otherwise requested by all Board Members and cannot be designated as a class representative while serving as President. It is the duty of the President and Secretary to meet twice a month with the Principal of the school to ensure timely response and communication of ongoing issues. The Principal of the school is an ex-officio member of the Board and is expected to attend all meetings as a non-voting member. All Board meetings are to be held on school grounds.

Additional information regarding policies of the PA and its Board can be found in the SFMSPA Policies and Bylaws. Please Click Here.

A copy of the Board Meeting Minutes and report of current PA General Fund Account Balances are also available upon request. Please Click Here.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:

To facilitate communication between parents and school staff that is supportive, enthusiastic, and focused on meeting our common goals and objectives.

To encourage all parents to volunteer some amount of time to the Santa Fe Montessori community, as parent involvement is essential to promoting good citizenship among students.

To organize fund-raisers and oversee the accounting of all monies earned.

To assist the School Administrator/Principal with parent and staff communications and to communicate directly to the parents via the Parents’ Association newsletter.

Fundraising

Each school year, the Parents’ Association coordinates and funds activities for the benefit of all Santa Fe Montessori students. These activities supplement our children’s Montessori education and enhance their school experience. Some of our most important activities include social and community service events, parent education programs, teacher appreciation week, promotion of school spirit, the support of art, technology and science programs and fundraising for the school.

The work of the Parents’ Association depends completely upon the generous contributions of parents. There are two important ways to contribute: through volunteer service and financial sponsorship. All parents are encouraged to help in both these ways.

Volunteer: There are a myriad of ways parents can contribute their time, energy, and expertise to the school. The PA needs many hands to successfully carry out its fundraising mission as well as accomplish its goals. Please review the form attached and check any areas in which you could offer your help. None of them require more than a little time, but the rewards are great. One of the best ways to help is to attend the PA meetings to brainstorm and organize ways in which to enrich our children’s community. General meetings will be posted on our school website and by checking below a PA board member can also contact you with more information.

Sponsorship: The Parents’ Association instituted a Sponsorship program last year that proved a great success. A sampling of the results of the generous donations of parents include: $200 for new materials for each classroom; a well deserved teacher appreciation week including lunches, massages, and gifts for our dedicated teachers; and special assemblies for all the students. You can offer your sponsorship for the 2009/2010 school year on the attached form and please give generously.

Click Here to Print a Volunteer/Sponsorship Form

Santa Fe Montessori Parents' Association

Volunteer Opportunities

Scholastic Book Fair: Volunteers help the program's coordinator set up, staff, and take down this fundraiser. All proceeds are returned to the teachers to purchase books for their classrooms.

Escrip: This is a national program through which purchases made on debit or credit cards yield a percentage for the school. A volunteer facilitates monthly sign-ups and maintains records online.

Box Tops: Volunteers help gather Box Tops collected by students in each classroom and submit them for reimbursement from General Mills.

Chevy's Family Night Out: Volunteers help advertise and coordinate these popular events that allow SFMS families to gather for dinner at Chevy's which donates 25% of the total sales to the school.

Auction/Gala: This event requires help with planning, decorating, invitations, donations, catering and more. We need lots of willing hands to make 2010's event as fun and successful as 200%.

Community Service: Volunteers help advertise and encourage support for events that support our greater community. Past events have included food and bike collections for the Holidays, Beach Clean-Ups, and visits to senior centers.

Ice Cream Social: While Junior II students run this fundraiser, parents help with planning activities, buying ice cream, setting up and taking down, all while enjoying ice cream and socializing with other parents.

Technology Team: Volunteers help out with the school website, email, and other work toward bringing technological advances to SFMS

Yearbook Committee: Helps the Yearbook Coordinator plan and create the yearbook.

PA Board Member: Attends each PA meeting.

*(One parent from each classroom is requested to participate as a Board Member in order to act as a liaison between the classroom teacher and parents and the PA, but as many parents who are interested are welcome to join as Board Members.)*

OTHER EVENTS AND PROGRAMS:

Teacher Appreciation: In the spring, volunteers express their appreciation of the staff and faculty of Santa Fe Montessori School. Volunteers organize a small breakfast for staff members, parents provide food, set up and decorate tables, and serve the teachers and administrators. This will take place the week of April 19th-22nd, 2010.

THE SFMSPA MISSION STATEMENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. A REVISED STATEMENT, IF APPLICABLE, WILL BE DISTRIBUTED AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH SCHOOL YEAR.

SFMS PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION BOARD MEMBER

REPRESENTATIVES

2009-2010

LeAnn Rytz	President

Katherine Stenger	Vice-President

Jennifer Busick	Communications Officer

Debbie Church	Treasurer

Carol Higgins	SFMS School Board Liaison

Teresa Schiappa	Jr. II Class Liaison

Regina Buckley	Scholastic Book Fair Chair

Wehtannah Tucker	Year Book Coordinator

Ana Garza	Box Tops Coordinator

All Board Members will work together to carry out the objectives and goals of the PA and to provide opportunities for parents to develop a closer relationship with the school community, to be aware of volunteer opportunities, to become knowledgeable about school programs, and to become better acquainted with the faculty and administration.

1010 Solana Drive
P.O. Box 745
Solana Beach, Ca 92075

1-858-755-3232 Phone
1-858-755-1460 Fax