Our incredible and amazing community of parent volunteers plays a key role in our children’s success and learning experiences at Torrey Pines Elementary School (TPES). Your volunteer time at TPES makes a difference in your child’s life and in our school. That’s why we appreciate your consideration of the volunteer opportunities listed below.
Below is a list of Foundation programs for which you can volunteer. Please review the descriptions in order to determine what program best fits with your time, interests, and talents. We have everything from at-home opportunities, short- and long- term programs and fundraisers, classroom responsibilities, school-wide duties, and jobs that take us a little as an hour of your time.
When you find the program that interests you please contact the program chair. You will be contacted during the year as needs arise and opportunities become available. Thank you in advance for your dedication, time and generous support! If you have any questions please contact Janet Murphy, TPESF Volunteer Coordinator.
Special Event Fundraisers - one or more hours over a set period of time
Sally Foster Gift Wrap and Entertainment Books (September/October)
Chair- Betsy Mueller
Parent volunteers will be needed to collate promotions packets and help distribute orders to students. The funds raised at this event go towards Foundation-supported programs.
Fall/Halloween Carnival (October)
Chair- Cathi Larsen
Parent volunteers will be needed to manage parts of the event, help with preparations, set-up, and tear down, run booths, supervise attractions, help with promotions, and bring home-made goodies! We need 35 volunteers per hour the day of the Carnival. The funds raised at this event go towards Foundation-supported programs.
Book Fair (November)
Chair- Jane Weinzierl
Parent volunteers will be needed to set up the book fair, offer classes a preview of the fair’s offering, and serve as cashiers over the course of this week-long event. Book fair proceeds go towards books and supplies for the classroom.
Heart & Sole Walk-a-Thon (February)
Chairs – Andrea Dahlberg and
Beth Espinoza
Students are asked to walk laps for which they have received pledges. Parent volunteers are needed to prepare the walk, create and distribute necessary forms, hand-out water, supervise and encourage students, bring students to and from classrooms, and help with final tally of laps. The funds raised at this event go towards Foundation-supported programs.
Capital Campaign Gala (May)
Chairs – TBA
This is our largest fundraiser and needs parent volunteers who will plan, prepare, and manage the event. Many volunteers are needed to collect donations for the auction, help with classroom art for auction, and so much more. Everything from one hour to days of work is needed. The funds raised at this event go towards a Foundation specific need that will be announced prior to the event.
On-going Fundraisers - one or more hours over the course of the year on an as-needed basis
Merchandising
Primary Contact - Jessica Abrahim
Parent volunteers are needed to collate orders, sell merchandise at the school during lunch hour, and help distribute orders to students. The funds raised at this event go towards Foundation supported programs.
Pizza Wednesdays
Primary Contact - Brian Calvano
Parent volunteers are needed to help with pizza sales on Wednesdays. The funds raised at this event go towards Foundation-supported programs.
Birthday Book Club
Primary Contacts – Renee Kenagy and Amy Epner
Parent volunteers are needed to distribute promotional birthday book club flyers to those students who are having a birthday during the month. Birthday Book Club proceeds go towards books and supplies for the library.
Ceramic Tiles
Primary Contact – TBA
Parent volunteers are needed to help with promotion, ceramic-tile parties, and coordinating the firing and installation of completed tiles. These tiles are painted by parents and students and are used to decorate the outside of our library. The funds raised through this program go towards Foundation-supported programs.
Hospitality
Chair – Soraya Azimi
Help is needed to provide refreshments for Foundation and school functions. The funds raised at these functions go towards our Teacher Appreciation Luncheons.
Core Program Support – one or more hours required on a regular basis and over the course of the year - these are not fundraisers
Music and Concerts
Chair – Laura Clower
Parent volunteers are needed to help with preparation and managing musical events.
Art
Chair – Janet Murphy
Parent volunteers are needed to help with preparation, mounting artwork, and managing art competitions.
Computer Lab
Chair – Andrea Dahlberg at acdahlberg@yahoo.com
Parent volunteers are needed to help with class assistance and some technical help.
Library
Librarian – Pam Dailey
Parent volunteers are needed to help in the library.
Long-term Community Support – 30 minutes or more are required on a regular basis and over the course of the year - these are not fundraisers
Running Club
Primary Contact – Natacha Hosy
Students are invited to run or walk three mornings a week. Laps are tallied and students have the opportunity to reach milestones and earn achievement awards. Parent volunteers are needed to help with stamping cards, sorting cards, and general help on Tues., Wed., and Thurs., mornings from about 8:35 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
Garden Club
Primary Contact – Mic Rothman
This is a brand new club for TPES! Students will be invited to help in the garden two mornings a week. Parent volunteers are needed to help with set-up, garden management, and general help on Mon., and Tues., mornings. No gardening experience required!
Everyone-A-Reader Program
Primary Contact – Meg Mandel
Do you enjoy working with students? This program reaches out to those students who need a little more one-on-one help with reading. This is program is wonderful. If you’re interested in helping students read then this is the volunteer opportunity for you.
Wednesday Enrichment
Primary Contact – Christina Brown
The Foundation organizes two 10-week sessions to enrich Wednesday afternoons for all students. The Foundation selects classes that are run by outside vendors and creates a Wednesday Enrichment Program. The cost of these programs is determined by the vendors and no fundraising is involved. We would need parents to help direct students to their classes on Wednesday afternoons.
Kids Care Club
Primary Contact – Amanda Friedman
The Kids Care Club (KCC) is Torrey Pines Elementary’s very own community service club. We make it easy for students, parents, and staff to give back to the community by volunteering. Each month, you’re invited to participate in a fun environmental clean-up day (like a beach clean-up) or to sponsor a chosen non-profit organization in need (such as donating food for a food drive). Our Kids Care Club was nationally recognized in 2007 by PTO Magazine. It is an amazing club! We are looking for KCC parent helpers to help organize events.
Yearbook
Primary Contact – Tena Brown
The yearbook team is for the artists among us! We need parent volunteers that are interested in designing, layout, and photography. We also could use a volunteer to help with sales and promotion.
Student Council
Primary Contact – TBD
Civic-minded parents are needed to help guide a small group of students through their first experience as leaders! You’ll be involved with organizing elections, holding fundraisers for the annual dance, and planning Spirit Week.
Families Coming Together
Primary Contact – Renee Kenagy
Community building is an important part of the Foundation’s mission. Families Coming Together organizes family fun for TPES! We need parents to help organize the events.
Communications
Primary Contact – Natacha Hosy at natacha@pierrehosygroup.com
The Foundation communicates through their weekly flyer the Twig, their monthly newsletter Branching Out, their website, and the school’s message board. We need parents who are interested in working with us on these pieces.
Short-term Community Support- one or more hours required over a set period of time -
these are not fundraisers
Science Discovery Day (April)
This is an action-packed morning of science presentations. Students participate in a number of age-appropriate science presentations and get to see and do some very cool things! We need volunteers to help organize presenters, prepare the day, and help with managing the event.
Staff Appreciation Luncheon (June)
At this luncheon we celebrate the year with our teachers and thank them for all they do everyday for our children. We need parents who would be interested in helping with set-up, food, and event management.
Field Days (June)
Over two mornings we celebrate the year with our students by offering them a morning filled with fun competitive field games! Parents are needed to organize the event and manage the different games.
Picture Days (October and March)
Twice a year we need parents to help with bringing children to the photo shoot.
