Volunteer Opportunities

The STM Home and School Association (HSA) is an organization comprised of  STM parents and teachers. HSA members encourage and coordinate parental involvement to enrich school programs, maintain and improve the social environment among students, parents and teachers, and raise funds to support special facilities and programs at STM. Parent volunteers are needed throughout the year, and there are numerous opportunities to participate on a regular or occasional basis. Below are descriptions of the committees.

ENDOWMENT (FUND RAISING) COMMITTEES

• Auction – The Auction is a large, festive event held in March. It includes a silent auction, live auction and dinner during an evening of fun, friendship and fundraising. As this is traditionally the largest HSA fundraiser, many volunteers are needed for acquisitions, class gifts, marketing, communications, operations, ticket sales, raffle, corporate sponsorship and more. Please consider joining in on the fun.
• Gift Wrap Sales – Families sell gift wrap and other items in August and September. Volunteers are needed to prepare information packets, display products in school entryways, assist with verifying orders, and distributing orders when delivered to the school in October.
• Lunch Program – Families have the opportunity to purchase lunches for their children Monday through Friday.  The Lunch Program is operated by a Lunch Coordinator in conjunction with many volunteers. Parents are needed as daily coordinators (team leaders) and lunch volunteers to distribute lunches that are delivered to STM by local vendors. Parents may volunteer on a regular or occasional basis.
• Halloween Carnival – The Halloween Carnival is a fun and festive event held on a Friday night in late October. Class booths are organized by grade parents, but many volunteers are also needed to help plan the carnival, decorate the school, and clean up following the festivities.
• Special Fundraisers – HSA sponsors several additional fundraisers each year.  Some are ongoing throughout the year (ex., General Mills Box-Top collections, Harris Teeter Milk Cap collections) and others are a one-time event [ex., Holiday Shoppe (Christmas Craft Sale)].  Volunteers are needed to review, select, and help coordinate fundraisers.  Some assistance can be provided from home.
• Grocery Card Programs – STM participates in local grocery card programs (ex., Harris Teeter VIC and Food Lion MVP).  Families are encouraged to participate in these programs throughout the year.
• Uniform Resale – Good-condition, used uniforms are sold a few times throughout the school year, usually in conjunction with another STM event. Volunteers are needed to organize the collection and resale of the uniforms and for sorting, set-up and clean-up assistance at each scheduled sale.

ENRICHMENT COMMITTEES

• Academic Enrichment – Committee members create and support special academic opportunities for STM students that enhance the core curriculum.  Some programs are conducted in the classrooms during class time and others are after-school enrichment programs. Among them are the Chess Club, Math Superstars, Math Counts, and Jr. Great Books.
• Community Service – The children work on community service projects throughout the school year.  A parent leader is needed for each classroom as are additional volunteers to organize and facilitate the individual class service projects.
• Arenal Mission – Committee members organize support of our school mission in Arenal, Nicaragua.  Families contribute to this mission by purchasing coffee and ice cream and through financial donations. Volunteers are needed to assist with monthly coffee sales (after Masses), weekly ice cream sales (to the children after lunch on Fridays) and monthly mission-day collections.
• Cultural Enrichment – Committee members select and arrange programs by a variety of artists and entertainers to be presented to students and faculty during school hours throughout the year. Volunteers are needed to plan and facilitate these performances.
• Educational Resources – Committee members evaluate and provide input on how HSA may better support our school academic programs.  The committee provides continuing educational opportunities for both school faculty and parents.

ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEES

• Communications – This committee strives to enhance communications at STM using various web tools. It develops and maintains the HSA sponsored website and email list system. Members design and foster new web ideas and practices at STM. Volunteers are welcomed.
• Grade Parents – Grade parents disseminate information to and from the HSA, teachers, and families. One or two grade parents are needed for each classroom to assist, and be the primary contact for, the teacher(s) and to aid in coordinating volunteers for various classroom activities. Additional parent-volunteers are needed to assist the grade parents throughout the year.
• Parent Participation Program (PPP) – Committee members communicate the need for parental involvement, track volunteer service hours, and assist in identifying ways to maximize volunteer opportunities and participation. Please send your PPP hours (2007-2008 school year) to Margaret Ashness or Melissa Watkins.
• Playground (Buildings and Grounds) – Committee members help maintain existing equipment and play areas on the STM campus and assist with installation and building of additional structures. Volunteers are needed at two or more workdays for clean-up, mulch work, painting and other projects to maintain the safety of the play areas.
• Social and Teacher Recognition – Committee members organize teacher and staff recognition for birthdays, teacher appreciation luncheons, and a variety of social events to facilitate and promote parent/family/school interactions. Examples of hosted events are the Newcomer’s Picnic and Pasta Night. Support is also provided at other STM events (ex., Catholic Schools Week Open House).  Many volunteers are needed to assist with these events.
• Upper School Social – Committee members plan and coordinate dances and a variety of social functions for the upper school children. Volunteers are also needed to chaperone the events.
• Safe Environment – The purpose of this committee is to help promote and maintain a safe environment for all students and families at STM.  Members meet several times a year to prioritize, initiate and complete projects to enhance safety at STM. Examples of in-progress or recently completed projects are updating of the school intercom system, installation of safety bollards in the carpool line, and installation of a fence to separate the parking lot and playground areas.  The committee is also responsible for an ongoing new initiative to obtain and promote wearing of permanent ID badges by STM volunteers.  We welcome new members.
• Traffic Monitors – These volunteers play a vital role in keeping the traffic rolling in the car pool line during morning drop-off. It is a relatively small commitment of time, (weekly, bi-weekly or monthly shifts) but helps the community get off to a smooth and happy start.