The OFRS PTO supports a wide range of events and activities throughout the school year to benefit our children, our school, and our community. We hope that every parent will find one or two programs to become involved with. Some require just an hour or so each year, some require more. Some are a one-time volunteer opportunity while others are ongoing. Whatever your interests are (e.g., gardening, art, reading) we have a committee that could use your help! We have opportunities for parents in school and for those who can only assist from home.
5th Grade Movie Night: Organize annual movie night for graduating class to include movie choice, snacks, drinks, and atmosphere!
5th Grade Play: This committee works with Mr. Ciulla to identify a play for the fifth grade class to perform. Determine casting and conduct rehearsals culminating in a May performance at the school. Chairs coordinate the parent volunteers who deal with costumes, ticket sales, backstage sound, lights, and curtains, program design and distribution, and who serve as child supervisors and callers during rehearsals and performances.
5th Grade T-Shirts & Picnic: Help to organize annual fun-filled event for graduating class held at Long Valley Middle School. First opportunity for 5th graders from all three schools to gather together for first time before entering Middle School.
Art Assistance: Committee members assist Mrs. Bruno (art teacher) as needed throughout the school year, helps to coordinate the parents volunteers, including the set-up and take-down of the annual spring art show which takes place in the school. This unique event showcases multiple examples of the work of every child at the school.
Back-to-School Summer Social: Occurs during the school’s Open House in early September. Open House is a chance for parents to come into their child’s room and meet the teacher, new classroom and classmates. After the Open House, PTO hosts an Summer Social. Parent Volunteers organize the social and frozen treats.
Book Fair: Organize and run Scholastic Book Fair in the fall for students, staff, and parents to foster reading among the students and to raise funds for the PTO.
Box Tops for Education: Clipped Box Tops are collected from students and redeemed for cash from the company. The coordinator promotes collection through flyers and contests. Boxtops for Education may be found on commonly purchased products like those made by General Mills.
Clothing & Toy Drive: Committee organizes a Fall and Spring clothing & toy drive to donate to participating charity.
Field Day: Occurs in the last week or two of school year and consists of outdoor-games and contests. Day is filled with great fun for parents, teachers, and children alike.
Gardening: the Gardening chairperson(s) works with Mr. Ciulla to organize a spring clean-up effort followed by spring plantings (typically with 3rd grade classrooms), as well as coordinating parent volunteers to help maintain the gardens over the summer vacation.
Holiday Boutique: This committee sets up and operates the “Holiday Boutique” where students can buy affordable gift items during the holiday season. The committee works with vendors to have merchandise available for purchase at the holiday sale. Parent volunteers are needed to assist students in shopping and wrapping.
Hospitality: Committee coordinates and arranges serving refreshments for various school/ PTO functions during the year.
KidStuff Coupon Books: Run the annual KidStuff fundraiser–families love saving with hundreds of valuable coupons for shopping, activities and food. Organize the distribution of books and collecting funds of purchased books. Conducted in September.
Library Assistance: Work with Mrs. Kerpez (librarian) as she identifies areas in need of coordination and assistance.
Membership Directory: Collect, coordinate and design annual membership directory for print and online to be distributed to PTO membership base.
New Family Hospitality: Organize event to welcome new Kindergarten and 1st grade families during Bus Orientation Day in August. The Welcome Committee organizes event to introduce new parents to OFRS and encourage parents to volunteer and join PTO.
School Fair: This committee organizes the largest PTO fundraiser of the year held annually in May. This highly anticipated and beloved event is fun-filled that includes food, games, and raffles with each school class running a booth or activity. Responsibilities also include: creating the School Fair theme, determining the individual booth themes, working with Room Parents to coordinate class-sponsored booths, recruit and organize parent volunteers, and the purchase of food, game and raffles prizes.
Silver Graphics: Art-based fundraiser turns each child’s individual full color artwork into a variety of unique and personal custom gifts for the whole family! What a great way to encourage children’s interest in the arts. Sharing their artwork by creating a variety of keepsakes and creates lasting memories.
Student Pictures: The volunteer(s) attends the fall and spring school picture days and assists the Lifetouch photographers and OFRS staff to ensure that the picture taking process runs smoothly.
Sunshine Club: Committee helps OFRS staff and families in need – when a family goes through something difficult, this committee takes meals, helps buy needed items…whatever may make the situation a little easier for that family.
Talent Show: This committee organizes and promotes the much loved event to showcase the talent here at OFRS. Commitment includes conducting auditions, rehearsals and the production of show.
Teacher Appreciation Lunch & Dessert Day: Coordinate two special events to show the staff at how much PTO appreciates their work and efforts in the school with our children.
Teacher Grant Program: Each year OFRS teachers can apply for grants when they identify a need or a service which will strengthen, broaden, or deepen the children’s understanding of material that will be covered in the classrooms. The committee meets to review and approve grant applications.
Trick or Trunk: Organize and publicize a festive event just before Halloween…families decorate the trunks of their cars, vans, trucks…load them up with kids in costume and lots of candy… then come trick-or-treat at a safe family-friendly event.
Tricky Tray: the PTO’s biggest fundraiser of the year! Parents, teachers, and friends try to win prize baskets.
Walk-a-Thon: this fundraising event takes place annually in October. Responsibilities include, but not limited to, organize class t-shirt colors, coordinate with room parents to solicit help needed including acquiring donations for goody bags, directing students on the day of the walk, the set up and clean up of the actual event, and delivering the encouragement and cheering as the kids walk for a great cause – themselves!
Yearbook (Includes Photography): the Yearbook Committee designs the school yearbook in its entirety as well as handles yearbook sales and distribution. Members of the design team may also take photographs of OFRS students at events and activities throughout the school year for inclusion in the yearbook; please note that volunteers may design or photograph or both.
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