COMMITTEES


Art a la Carte:  Art a la Carte is an art enrichment program for all grades K-4th
                               
Volunteer Needs:  Volunteers needed for grades K-4 to teach and lead students in art lessons and projects. 
Commitment Level:
Contact:  Cecilia Sobrino

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Cougars Under The Stars:  This fun-filled event will take place on October 21st (rain date October 28th).  It will feature a catered dinner.  When it gets dark, we will gather outside with our own lawn chairs or blankets to watch a family friendly movie.  We will be sending out forms to pre-order meals and an awesome Cougars Under the Stars T-Shirt.

Volunteer Needs:
Contact: Nancy Piazza or Rachel Harrop

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Cultural Arts:  Each year, the National PTA sponsors the “Reflections Art Contest” in order to encourage our children to pursue artistic expression through written composition, photography, music and visual arts.  The Texas program has the most participation of any PTA program with entries totaling over 75,000 across the state.  This program offers students the opportunity to create works of art for fun and recognition.  Artistic exploration and expression enhance and develop intellectual, social, and physical skills.  Creating art is a valuable learning process.

Volunteer Needs:  Three parent volunteers are sought to assist in the planning, coordination, communications, judging arrangements, and student recognition for this contest.  Approximately 4 to 6 hours of time per parent will be required in each month from September 14 through October 14.
Contact: Monica Maza

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Field Day:  Field day is a fun-filled day of games and activities that takes place in May to celebrate the end of the school year.  It is one of the most anticipated events by the students.  Many parent volunteers are required to make this event a success.  Notices for the parent volunteers will be sent out in the Tuesday folder prior to the event.

Contact: Sapurah Lashari or Jody Viancos




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Free Money Committee: The goal of the Free Money Committee is to raise money for CWE by participating in existing community programs aimed at supporting schools.  The money raised is spent, in part, at the discretion of the student body each year - past expenditures include trees, outdoor benches and a fun/educational BMX Bike Show.

This committee promotes the collection of Box Tops and Tyson Project A+ Labels by the entire school population and organizes/submits the same for redemption.  The committee also coordinates and promotes the Kroger Neighbor to Neighbor program, Target Take Charge of Education program, SchoolHouse Partners program and others..

Volunteer Needs: Approximately 10 volunteers needed.
Commitment level:  Minimal (average 1-2 hours each month) to collect and organize Box Tops and Tyson Project A+ Labels, copy Free Money fliers for Tuesday folders, update Free Money displays at CWE, etc.  Much of the work can either be done at home or at CWE at the convenience of the individual volunteer.
Contact: Kali Shiller

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Hospitality: Provide food periodically throughout the year for special hospitality events/Teacher Appreciation week.  Store bought items are welcome and very much appreciated.

Volunteer Needs:  Beautiful bakers, crafty cooks, and helping hands.
Commitment Level:  Bakers/cooks/helping hands: You may receive a call 1 week in advance for muffins/baked items/salads, etc.  Time commitment is light and low cal (you are cooking for someone else…you won’t gain a pound) and in the comfort of your own home!! 
Contact: Stacy Borgfeldt or Pam Gray

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Jump Rope for HeartThis event will be held to raise money for the American Heart Association.  

Volunteer Needs/Commitment : First set of volunteers needed sometime in January. Volunteers (3 to 4) to organize envelopes.  12 Volunteers to help decide who gets what prizes after all of the $ is counted/collected. 12 volunteers to sort and distribute prizes to students.
Contact: Ms. Carlisle




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Library: Volunteers help in the library so that staff are available to work directly with the children.  Volunteers also provide library support during special events throughout the school year.

Volunteer Needs:  
Commitment Level:
Contact:   Anu Menon

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Math/Science Enrichment:  This is an enrichment program of 2 to 3 Science labs and 1 Math lab for 2nd, 3rd and 4th  grades.   It sparks imaginative learning and kids have enjoyed it a lot in past years doing simple experiments like making a rocket, studying minerals & rocks and doing other scientific experiments.

Volunteer Needs: Volunteers to assist the Grade Level Coordinator in working with the children and teaching the labs.  We are also looking for those willing to be a Grade Level Coordinator.
Commitment Level:  Volunteers need to be available to teach 3 labs/year for each grade level.
Contact: Kristy Ulmaer - 3rd Grade,  Larissa Sharma - 4th Grade


2ndGrade Math/Science Labs - Fridays 2:00 – 2:45 pm
10/14/2010   Volunteers Training Session
10/21/2011    Characteristics of Living Things
01/06/2012   Force and Motion
04/27/2012   Weather

3rd Grade Math/Science Labs - Fridays 9:00 – 10:00 am
09/16/2010   Volunteers Training Session
09/23/2011   Rocket Lab
01/27/2012    Geopanes Lab
03/23/2012   Measurement Lab

4th Grade Math/Science Labs - Fridays 9:30 – 10:30 am
09/30/2010  Volunteers Training Session
10/07/2011    Hold That Water ! (Permeable & Impermeable)
01/20/2012   Matter and Density
03/02/2012   Gravity and Movement





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Mentor:  This is a weekly support program where an adult is paired with a child to provide tutorial assistance for one academic school year.  A mentor will be like a “friend” to this child.  Time can be spent reading, tutoring, playing games or just talking.

Volunteer Needs:  Mentors for all grade levels
Commitment Level: One academic year commitment. Volunteers will be required to go through district training (one hour, one time only orientation).  Confidentiality, and a background check is required.  Commitment time is (flexible) 1 hour per week.  Some companies will even give employees service hours for volunteering.  Check with your employer.
Contact: Ms. Susan Tarantino

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Classroom Representatives:  Parents support the homeroom teacher and lead a team of parent volunteers.  The homeroom teacher will communicate specific classroom needs and assist with generating parent volunteer support.  Some of the assistance and events you may support:  Helping to find parent readers, complete book order forms, making copies/die cuts, help with classroom projects, coordinating 2 holiday parties, Jump Rope for Heart, recruiting help for field trips, musical, & field day

Volunteer Needs:  One (1) classroom parent per homeroom teacher and additional volunteers needed to support the teacher and classroom throughout the year.
Commitment:  Support for the homeroom teacher for one academic year.  There will be 4 to 5 Room Rep meetings and you will need to coordinate with parent volunteers.  Additional volunteers will not be required to attend the Room Rep meetings.
Contact: Jennifer Schebler or Ann Villarreal
 

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School Bank:  The school bank is open every Friday morning from 7.30 am -8 am.

Volunteer Needs: Volunteers to help the students with banking.
Commitment Level: 
Contact: Elizabeth Tebbal



                                                                       


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School Directory:  A directory of student’s contact information for the year.

Volunteer Needs: Volunteers to proofread entries
Commitment Level:  One time commitment of about 1 to 3 hours total in the evening.
Contact: Bhavna Bindal







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Shared Dreams:  This is a district-wide program that provides clothes and necessary toiletries to needy students.

Volunteer Needs/Commitment:  Volunteer to organize one clothing drive at CWE (flexible date).  Volunteers are also needed for 3 days at the district warehouse sorting clothes. Dates to sort our clothing are 9/27/11, 9/28/11 and 9/30/11.
Contact: Bonnie Peng and Li Peng

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Auction:  Come join the auction committee at CWE. This highly anticipated event will be held in 2012.  Items can be viewed online in March 2012. In order to make this event as successful as in previous years, we will need help from motivated volunteers.
Contact:   Marcia Faden




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Walk To Cure Juvenile Diabetes:  This is an annual event where the students have a walk-a-thon during their recess period and raise money to help find a cure for juvenile diabetes. The kids love this event and it is wonderful to be a part of something that can help so many children afflicted with this disease.

Volunteer needs:
Commitment:  LIGHT and SHORT TERM!!! If you want to be involved in a wonderful school event but cannot commit for a year long job, this is the one for you!  Help make a difference in the lives of thousands of children with juvenile diabetes and be part of the wonderful spirit of giving at CWE!! 
Contact: Mrs. Toni Scott

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Yearbook:  We’re “Catching the Wave of the Future” and need your help! Do you enjoy mentoring children, digital photography, computers, or sales?   Are you organized, creative or both?  Then please volunteer to join the yearbook staff! 

This year we are excited to start a new tradition at CWE by having a 4th/5th grade student staff involved in the creation of our 2012 yearbook. The student staff and mentors will be meeting every Thursday after school from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the computer lab. We will again be working to create a colorful, hardbound book full of all the terrific students and events here at Commonwealth! 

Volunteer Needs: We need lots of parent volunteers to help take high quality digital photos of each grade level throughout the year, 3-4 mentors to work with the students at our Thursday meetings, and 3-4 volunteers to help with sales and distribution.  Digital photography experience and computer knowledge are a plus but not a requirement.
Contact:  Tanya Sterling & Gwyn Touchet
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Commonwealth Elementary has a very successful and rewarding volunteer program.  Children whose parents pitch in at school have a better attitude and higher academic achievement. Teachers do their job better and parents who participate are better equipped to support their child’s schoolwork. We encourage you to select one or more areas to serve. Please take a few minutes to review the various committees.

Questions? Please contact one of the VIPS Coordinators - Li Peng or Bonnie Peng

BEFORE YOU VOLUNTEER..

Parents and volunteers who wish to attend field trips, chaperone, and/or volunteer for the 2011-2012 school year will need to update their application  after July 1, 2011.


Volunteer criminal history applications are valid for one school year, July 1st through June 30th. You MUST reapply annually.


Click here to fill in your application and for more details.


VOLUNTEER
4909 Commonwealth Blvd. Sugar Land, TX 77479                                     Phone - .281-634-5120