While benefiting our children, it is also a great way of meeting other families, teachers and your children’s classmates. Below is a short description of each volunteer opportunity.
Fall Opportunities
Bingo Night
Bingo Night is Brayton’s biggest fundraiser. It’s a fun evening of playing Bingo to win prizes and raffled-off baskets. Help plan and execute a night of Bingo and prizes that includes the wonderful basket raffles. This event is held on a Friday evening in October. Read about Bingo NIght in More Detail
Bingo Night Baskets
Bingo Night is Brayton’s biggest fundraiser. It’s a fun evening of playing Bingo to win prizes and raffled-off baskets. This committee is responsible for the raffled baskets and donated items only, not the coordination and execution of Bingo Night. Read about Bingo Night Baskets in More Detail
Winter Opportunities
After School Enrichment
This committee is responsible for coordinating the After School Enrichment Program at Brayton. This program provides students of all grade levels with opportunities to explore new interests, activities, hobbies and sports after school at Brayton for 4 weeks in February/March. One hour classes are taught by teachers, parents, and some outside professionals. The program aims to provide a diversity of class offerings to appeal to all grade levels. Fees are kept low. Planning begins early October and runs though March. Read about After School Enrichment in More Detail
Brayton International Connection
This committee’s main purpose is to host International Night, a fun evening where families are invited to represent their country/culture/US State by hosting a table in the Brayton gym and bringing food, crafts, books, information, etc. or doing a demonstration or performance. Committee members assist chairs in advertising the event, and recruiting and communicating with parent hosts.
Brayton Musical
An opportunity for 4th and 5th graders to participate in a musical to be performed in March. Brayton’s School Musical is a chance to introduce children to all aspects of theatre, including behind the scenes jobs. Help is needed in all aspects. You don’t need a theatre or musical background to help run backstage crew, help make sets, purchase costume pieces, or volunteer at rehearsals. But if you happen to be musically inclined, theatre driven, or just want to help instill confidence in the children through the arts, this is the perfect volunteer opportunity for you. Read About Brayton Musical in More Detail
Dessert Show
The Brayton Dessert Show is written, directed and performed by parents. This 70 year old tradition provides plenty of volunteer opportunities on and off stage. The Dessert Show is held around March or April. Read about Dessert Show in More Detail
PTO Book Drive
Parents and students donate second hand or new books to add to the teachers’ classroom libraries. Volunteers are needed to help find and label, using an online website, the Guided Reading Level of the book. Can be done at home in your own time.
Variety Show
This is an opportunity for our children to perform on stage in their own unique way. 5th graders act as emcees for an entertaining evening of group or individual acts by students of all grades. No auditions for acts are needed. Help is needed to produce the show, coordinate the acts, run the sound system, organize the hand out of tickets and t-shirts, and help make the evening an overall success! Read about Variety Show in More Detail
Spring Opportunities
First Grade Orientation
Help first graders and their parents see Brayton during the First Grade Orientation held in June.
Open House
An evening event in May that offers a chance for students to share their classrooms, artwork and school work with parents and siblings. Students also have the opportunity to visit next year’s classrooms. The committee’s main responsibility is the Art Show in the gym that night. Read about Open House in More Detail
Book Fair
A committee responsible for holding book fairs once or twice a year to give students opportunities during school to visit and purchase from a wonderful reading selection as well as to donate to Teachers Wish Lists. All proceeds from the book fairs go to the PTO. Read about Book Fair in More Detail
In-House Field Day
In House Field Day is a schoolwide fun afternoon of exercise, where classes work together to work their muscles. This event is held in June. Read about In House Field Day in More Detail
Year Round Opportunities
Adult ESL (English Second Language)
Tutor our Brayton International ADULT community in the English language. Our Adult ESL students come from Central/South America, Europe and Asia. No knowledge of a foreign language is necessary. As a tutor, you will be assigned to one Adult ESL student and will work one-on-one with them to assist them in achieving their specific language goals. Classes are held once a week for an hour during the school day at Brayton. Sessions run for 10 weeks in the Fall and in the Spring. Read about Adult ESL in More Detail
Art In the Classroom
Teach art lessons to your children—all lessons provided. This program exposes our children to a wide variety of famous artists. Prior knowledge of the artwork is NOT necessary. Art in the Classroom is a PTO sponsored program that offers a way for parents to get into the classroom and spend quality time with their child.(See separate Art in the classroom tab for sign up.) Read about Art in the Classroom in more detail
Book Fair
A committee responsible for holding book fairs once or twice a year, to give students opportunities during school to visit and purchase from a wonderful reading selection as well as to donate to Teachers Wish Lists. All proceeds from the book fairs go to the PTO. Read about Book Fair in More Detail
Box Tops
Our Box Tops Program is an easy and rewarding fundraiser for Brayton School. The Box Tops committee thinks of creative ways to publicize the Box Tops Program via contests, monthly “winner” announcements, and articles in the Brayton News and Events email. Box Tops are collected, counted into snack bags of 50, and mailed several times per year to General Mills for cash rewards of 10 cents per Box Top.
Brayton Buddies: A New Family Committee
A Committee of families dedicated to welcoming New First Grade Families, New Brayton Families and any New Families throughout the year. Each new family is assigned an existing Brayton family to serve as their Brayton Buddies. The Brayton Buddies will educate and provide information and also encourage new families to participate early on with Brayton activities. Read about Brayton Buddies- A New Family Committee in More Detail
Brayton Green Team
Help us go green by developing and implementing new ideas for the Brayton community to be environmentally friendly.
Café con Leche
A group of parents which addresses and serves the needs of our Hispanic community and meets several times throughout the year. Volunteers are needed to help support and organize the Cafe con Leche holiday luncheon and other events. ESL teacher, Susan Harden, is the teacher representative for this group, and everything is done in Spanish.
Classroom Parents
Two parents share the responsibility for each class, acting as the go-to for any questions other parents of that class may have. They liaise and help the teacher with sign ups for any class parties; supplies needed in the classrooms; co-ordinating drivers for field trips and other volunteer requirements.
Cultural Arts
Help organize culturally oriented assemblies and activities for the children throughout the school year. Programs range from theatrical and musical performances and author visits as well as curriculum-based programs through the local Museums that take place in the classroom. Read about Cultural Arts in More Detail
Fifth Grade Coordinator
Fifth Graders participate in a variety of special activities and fundraisers throughout their last year at Brayton. The 5th Grade Coordinators ensure that each event has chairpeople (Coordinators chair one event and “distribute” the rest of the events among the class parents), coordinate details for events that don’t need chairs (ie. organize parent drivers for trips) and manage the flow of 5th-grade-specific information to parents. The Coordinators work in conjunction with the main office and with the 5th-grade teacher rep. The Coordinators are not room parents. Read about Fifth Grade Coordinators in More Detail
Grants
If you have Grants experience or a desire to learn more about Grants, this is a great way to volunteer for Brayton. The PTO is always looking for more ways to raise money, and there is no better way than through a Grant process. As a volunteer you will assist the Grants Chair in determining specific grants to apply for and also assist in writing grants and following the process.
House & Grounds
The House and Grounds committee is charged with maintaining and beautifying the school grounds throughout the seasons. No experience needed. Read about House & Grounds in More Detail
Learning Garden
If you have a green thumb and an interest in gardening, you may want to join this committee. A fabulous addition to our Brayton grounds, this committee will brainstorm ways to involve the children with upkeep and garden plantings.
Library Volunteers
Volunteering in the library is a great way to get involved at Brayton. Volunteers help out during their child’s library time on a bi-weekly basis, about 1 hour per month, for a twelve week session. Training is provided at the beginning of each session. Please note: Younger siblings are not invited to come during the volunteer shift, as it is a distraction to the other children. Read about Library Volunteers in More Detail
Membership
The Membership Chair collects membership envelopes from the school office several times a week in the first month of school, arranges for the distribution of membership envelopes to teachers and staff, and maintains a spreadsheet of all donations received. Membership Chair also interfaces with the Webmaster to track donations made online, and provides the PTO Treasurer with the membership data as requested.
Parent Tutor Program
Volunteers tutor Brayton students who may need some extra assistance with schoolwork. All tutoring takes place during the school day for about 45 minutes per session. Read About Parent Tutors in More Detail
Teacher Appreciation/Hospitality
The Hospitality Committee celebrates the contributions of Brayton’s teachers by organizing meals and tokens of appreciation. Working from the PTO-supplied budget, the chairs shop for, set up, and run Teacher Appreciation events a few times throughout the year. Read about Teacher Appreciation/Hospitality in More Detail
Alphabetical List of Volunteer Opportunities
Adult ESL (English Second Language)
Tutor our Brayton International ADULT community in the English language. Our Adult ESL students come from Central/South America, Europe and Asia. No knowledge of a foreign language is necessary. As a tutor, you will be assigned to one Adult ESL student and will work one-on-one with them to assist them in achieving their specific language goals. Classes are held once a week for an hour during the school day at Brayton. Sessions run for 10 weeks in the Fall and in the Spring. Read about Adult ESL in More Detail
After School Enrichment
This committee is responsible for coordinating the After School Enrichment Program at Brayton. This program provides students of all grade levels with opportunities to explore new interests, activities, hobbies and sports after school at Brayton for 4 weeks in February/March. One hour classes are taught by teachers, parents, and some outside professionals. The program aims to provide a diversity of class offerings to appeal to all grade levels. Fees are kept low. Planning begins early October and runs though March. Read about After School Enrichment in More Detail
Art in the Classroom
Teach art lessons to your children—all lessons provided. This program exposes our children to a wide variety of famous artists. Prior knowledge of the artwork is NOT necessary. Art in the Classroom is a PTO sponsored program that offers a way for parents to get into the classroom and spend quality time with their child.(See separate Art in the classroom tab for sign up.) Read about Art in the Classroom in more detail
Bingo Night
Bingo Night is Brayton’s biggest fundraiser. It’s a fun evening of playing Bingo to win prizes and raffled-off baskets. Help plan and execute a night of Bingo and prizes that includes the wonderful basket raffles. This event is held on a Friday evening in October. Read about Bingo Night in More Detail
Bingo Night Baskets
Bingo Night is Brayton’s biggest fundraiser. It’s a fun evening of playing Bingo to win prizes and raffled-off baskets. This committee is responsible for the raffled baskets and donated items only, not the coordination and execution of Bingo Night. Read about Bingo Night Baskets in More Detail
Book Fair
A committee responsible for holding book fairs once or twice a year, to give students opportunities during school to visit and purchase from a wonderful reading selection as well as to donate to Teachers Wish Lists. All proceeds from the book fairs go to the PTO. Read about Book Fair in More Detail
Brayton Buddies: A New Family Committee
A Committee of families dedicated to welcoming New First Grade Families, New Brayton Families and any New Families throughout the year. Each new family is assigned an existing Brayton family to serve as their Brayton Buddies. The Brayton Buddies will educate and provide information and also encourage new families to participate early on with Brayton activities. Read about Brayton Buddies- A New Family Committee in More Detail
Brayton Green Team
Help us go green by developing and implementing new ideas for the Brayton community to be environmentally friendly.
Brayton International Connection
This committee’s main purpose is to host International Night, fun evening where families are invited to represent their country/culture/US State by hosting a table in the Brayton gym and bringing food, crafts, books, information, etc. or doing a demonstration or performance. Committee members assist chairs in advertising the event, and recruiting and communicating with parent hosts.
Brayton Musical
An opportunity for 4th and 5th graders to participate in a musical to be performed in March. Brayton’s School Musical is a chance to introduce children to all aspects of theatre, including behind the scenes jobs. Help is needed in all aspects. You don’t need a theatre or musical background to help run backstage crew, help make sets, purchase costume pieces, or volunteer at rehearsals. But if you happen to be musically inclined, theatre driven, or just want to help instill confidence in the children through the arts, this is the perfect volunteer opportunity for you. Read About Brayton Musical in More Detail
Café con Leche
A group of parents which addresses and serves the needs of our Hispanic community and meets several times throughout the year. Volunteers are needed to help support and organize the Cafe con Leche holiday luncheon and other events. ESL teacher, Susan Harden, is the teacher representative for this group, and everything is done in Spanish.
Classroom Parents
Two parents share the responsibility for one class acting as the go-to for any questions other parents of that class may have. They liaise and help the teacher with sign ups for any class parties; supplies needed in the classrooms; co-ordinating drivers for field trips and other volunteer requirements.
Cultural Arts
Help organize culturally oriented assemblies and activities for the children throughout the school year. Programs range from theatrical and musical performances and author visits as well as curriculum-based programs through the local Museums that take place in the classroom. Read about Cultural Arts in More Detail
Dessert Show
The Brayton Dessert Show is written, directed and performed by parents. This 70 year old tradition provides plenty of volunteer opportunities on and off stage. The Dessert Show is held around March or April. Read about Dessert Show in More Detail
Fifth Grade Coordinators
Fifth Graders participate in a variety of special activities and fundraisers throughout their last year at Brayton. The 5th Grade Coordinators ensure that each event has chairpeople (Coordinators chair one event and “distribute” the rest of the events among the class parents), coordinate details for events that don’t need chairs (ie. organize parent drivers for trips) and manage the flow of 5th-grade-specific information to parents. The Coordinators work in conjunction with the main office and with the 5th-grade teacher rep. The Coordinators are not room parents. Read about Fifth Grade Coordinators in More Detail
First Grade Orientation
Help first graders and their parents see Brayton during the First Grade Orientation held in May.
Grants
If you have Grants experience or a desire to learn more about Grants, this is a great way to volunteer for Brayton. The PTO is always looking for more ways to raise money, and there is no better way than through a Grant process. As a volunteer you will assist the Grants Chair in determining specific grants to apply for and also assist in writing grants and following the process.
House & Grounds
The House and Grounds committee is charging with maintaining and beautifying the school grounds throughout the seasons. No experience needed. Read about House & Grounds in More Detail
In-House Field Day
In-House Field Day is a schoolwide fun afternoon of exercise, where classes work together to work their muscles. This event is held in June. Read about In House Field Day in More Detail
Learning Garden
If you have a green thumb and an interest in gardening, you may want to join this committee. A fabulous addition to our Brayton grounds, this committee will brainstorm ways to involve the children with upkeep and garden plantings. Since this is new to our school, we welcome creative committee members to assist the chair.
Library Volunteers
Volunteering in the library is a great way to get involved at Brayton. Volunteers help out during their child’s library time on a bi-weekly basis, about 1 hour per month, for a twelve week session. Training is provided at the beginning of each session. Please note: Younger siblings are not invited to come during the volunteer shift, as it is a distraction to the other children. Read about Library Volunteers in More Detail
Membership
The Membership Chair collects membership envelopes from the school office several times a week in the first month of school, arranges for the distribution of membership envelopes to teachers and staff, and maintains a spreadsheet of all donations received. Membership Chair also interfaces with the Webmaster to track donations made online, and provides the PTO Treasurer with the membership data as requested.
Open House
An evening event in May that offers a chance for students to share their classrooms, artwork and school work with parents and siblings. Students also have the opportunity to visit next year’s classrooms. The committee’s main responsibility is the Art Show in the gym that night. Read about Open House in More Detail
PTO Book Drive
Parents and students donate second hand or new books to add to the teachers’ classroom libraries. Volunteers are needed to help find and label, using an online website, the Guided Reading Level of the book. Can be done at home in your own time.
Parent Tutor Program
Volunteers tutor Brayton students who may need some extra assistance with school work. All tutoring takes place during the school day for about 45 minutes per session. Read About Parent Tutors in More Detail
Teacher Appreciation/ Hospitality
The Hospitality Committee celebrates the contributions of Brayton’s teachers by organizing meals and tokens of appreciation. Working from the PTO-supplied budget, the chairs shop for, set up, and run Teacher Appreciation events a few times throughout the year. Read about Teacher Appreciation/Hospitality in More Detail
Variety Show
This is an opportunity for our children to perform on stage in their own unique way. 5th graders act as emcees for an entertaining evening of group or individual acts by students of all grades. No auditions for acts are needed. Help is needed to produce the show, coordinate the acts, run the sound system, organize the hand out of tickets and t-shirts, and help make the evening an overall success! Read about Variety Show in More Detail
