Volunteer Opportunities
How to Volunteer:
To volunteer on campus, you need to be badged with the district. The process is simple but does require you to fill out an online form and be fingerprinted in person, at a “fingerprint party” (in the fall), or at district offices. If you need to apply to be a volunteer, click here for more information. If you’re already badged and would like to explore volunteer opportunities, see the descriptions and (where relevant) sign-up sheets below! Thanks in advance for continuing Kensington Hilltop’s tradition of parent and family involvement!
Room Parents:
This is a great role for those who don't have the ability to be present at school during the day as it predominantly involves sending reminders and coordinating the class via email. There will be a beginning-of-year Zoom to learn the role for those who are new to it! Some things you’ll find yourself doing as a room parent include: creating a classroom Google group to facilitate email communication, forwarding weekly emails sent to you by our PTA Room Parent Coordinator sharing school and parent group updates, coordinating any classroom gifts for your rooms’ teacher in December and again at the end of the year, coordinating your room’s daily gestures of appreciation during Teacher Appreciation Week in early May, helping recruit room volunteers for our PTA/AUX Spring Carnival in mid-May, and coordinating volunteers/supplies for any classroom parties throughout the year.
Upper Grade Yard Duty:
Do you ever wish you could spy on your kids at school? Do you wonder what exactly they get up to in the recess yard? Well, we've got just the opportunity you never knew you'd want: YARD DUTY! Jokes aside, if you've got a little free time mid-day, we need family volunteers in the lunch yard with our kids as they eat and play. Yard Duty Volunteers: help kids get/stay settled with their lunches, remind kids to eat respectfully and responsibly (i.e., containing their trash, staying seated while eating, and regulating the occasional food fight...just kidding! Our kids wouldn't...would they?!). Enforcing the rules of safe and kind play at recess, retrieving the occasional ball, mediating disagreements, and tying the odd shoelace. We need volunteers for the 1st-3rd and 4th-6th graders: 1st-3rd from 11:30 am - 12:10 pm and 4th-6th from 12:10 pm - 12:50 pm. If you can come for either (or both!) of those times to support your kid/s and their KHS crew, your support would be much appreciated! Volunteer just occasionally or regularly; whatever works best for you.
Sign up for Yard Duty here with your name and contact information!
Kinder and TK Yard Duty:
Our littlest Hilltop kids need the most help at lunchtime, from managing their lunches (opening containers and managing messes) to playing safely and respectfully. Let's start them with a show of support as they learn the ropes of elementary school lunch and recess play! Yard Duty Volunteers: - help kids get/stay settled with their lunches. - remind kids to eat respectfully and responsibly (i.e., containing their trash, staying seated while eating, enforcing the rules of safe and kind play at recess time, retrieving the occasional ball, mediating disagreements, tying the odd shoelace). We need volunteers in the kindergarten yard for TK lunch from 11:13 am - 11:55 pm and for Kinder lunch from 11:45 am - 12:27 pm. If you can come for either (or both!) of those times to support your kid/s and their KHS crew, your support would be much appreciated! Volunteer just occasionally or regularly; whatever works best for you.
Sign up for Yard Duty here with your name and contact information!
Traffic Support:
Help ensure students are kept safe in the mornings by directing traffic in front of the school and helping students out of cars from 8:15 am to 8:35 am. You can sign up for one morning a week or many, or just drop in when you can. Snazzy orange vest included!
Carnival:
This event is the PTA and The Auxiliary's main fundraiser in May of each year, but more importantly, it focuses on community-building where kids can take part in age-appropriate games (with prizes!), have lunch with family and friends, and enjoy a social atmosphere on campus. Sign up to be contacted in the Spring to help with Carnival coordination. Helping can take many roles, from soliciting donations from local businesses to maintaining spreadsheets to helping set up the day before and the day of. No matter your capacity, we will find a role for you!
Outdoor Classroom:
This is a more hands-on role for those who like to be outside! Outdoor classroom parents support teachers who want their students to spend time gardening in their classroom gardens. This can include planting and tending the classroom garden with students either during class time or at recess, as arranged with the teacher, and/or helping teach lessons about the plants in the garden. This role can be as involved as you and your child's teacher want and have time for.
Emergency Readiness:
The Emergency Readiness (EmRead) Crew is a small group of parents and teachers that do preparedness projects for the school, such as managing extra food, water, and first aid supplies and organizing emergency response skill-building for teachers, all while learning how to get more prepared themselves. You do not need to be an emergency expert; there are many ways to contribute (e.g., weekdays, weekends, on your own time at home). Signing up for the Crew involves about 1-2 hours/month contributing ideas, internet research, internet shopping, taking on a few specific tasks, planning or attending a work party or two, communications, and advocating for safety issues for everyone in the school community.
Hospitality:
This role can be done hands-on on campus or from home! Looking for a simple way to contribute to the school? Sign up HERE to receive emails as events arise (teacher luncheons, PTA meetings, or coffees with the principal). For each event, sign up to contribute by making/bringing a dish or helping to staff an event. You may pass at any time.
Kensington Cares:
This role is totally done at home and is infrequent. Looking for a simple but meaningful way to volunteer? Join the Kensington Cares ListServ. Kensington Cares supports families in need. If a family needs some extra support (e.g., an unexpected emergency, an accident rendering a parent unable to drive, a new baby, a loss, etc), we send out an email to the listserv soliciting help (often to provide meals but also rides, etc). Join this listserv, and we will send out the call for help when things arise! You may pass at any time.
Please contact PTA President for any info: khsptapresident@gmail.com
