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Committed and talented WAES parents are the heart and soul of our PTA. Whether you have an hour, a few weeks or time throughout the school year, there’s an opportunity for everyone to get involved: VOLUNTEER
Become a Member & Support the PTA!
Our Wood Acres PTA is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that provides enrichment programs, resources and events to our kids, school and staff above and beyond what is funded by the MCPS budget! The WAES PTA now offers membership tiers, combining membership dues and donations to the Annual Fund.
All membership tiers give your family year-round access to the Membership Toolkit online directory and app for ease of connecting with classmates and parents.
Additionally, PTA members:
Get a vote on PTA matters that directly affect our children and school.
Partner with other parents to become active, involved citizens in our community.
Become a member of the local, state, and national PTAs.
Majority of your tier donation is tax deductible and will support the WAES PTA in providing the numerous enrichment activities and programs for our Wildcats, staff and school through the Annual Fund, including:
Planetarium Programming
Recess Equipment
Supplemental Classroom Supplies
Various Cultural Assemblies
Media Center Resources
Events…including Back to School Picnic, International Night, Science Fair, Space Night and much more
To help fund our PTA programming, please select a membership tier today!
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Volunteer
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WE NEED YOU!
We could not do what we do without our parent volunteers! Thanks to the amazing volunteers at Wood Acres ES, the PTA is able to host many programs and activities. No matter what your interests, talents or available time, there is a volunteer opportunity that can work for you. Whether you can lend an hour or two per year at a community event or school activity, a few hours a month as a room parent, or more time chairing a committee or event, we can help you find an opportunity that will make a difference for our students.
Interested in joining the PTA Board? Every spring, a new Board of Directors is nominated and voted on by the PTA membership. Click here for the Board Position Descriptions.
Want to chair a committee or event? Click below to email the VP responsible for the event.
Want to volunteer to help with a specific event or activity? Contact the VP or Committee Chair listed on the PTA Board and Committee Contact list and see below for a list of committees and their responsibilities.
PREREQUISITES FOR ALL VOLUNTEERS IN THE SCHOOL BUILDING
Abuse / Neglect Training – MCPS requires all school volunteers to complete this on-line training course regarding abuse & neglect, prior to volunteering. It requires approximately 20-30 minutes to complete and can be found at the following link: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/student-leadership/volunteer
Click here to send an email to the PTA Board Member (VP) responsible for these committees.
This committee coordinates the after school programs provided by FLEX (including chess, dance, art, music), FLES (foreign language instruction) and STEM vendors which offer extracurricular, tuition-based classes that meet once a week before or after school.
This committee selects, schedules, and coordinates the arrangements for cultural arts presentations (poets, authors, opera singers, visual artists, etc.) to students, and, separately coordinates programs for established artists to come into the classroom to teach workshops related to their field of expertise.
This group oversees the Planetarium program by recruiting parent volunteers and scheduling classes throughout the year. Planetarium volunteers are required to be trained on the planetarium equipment and in various topics of astronomy. The training program for new volunteers is offered at various times, usually in October and November. Most new volunteers attend two sessions to learn the equipment and absorb the experience of our very capable trainers.
This committee organizes our annual science fair which encourages students from K-5 to create and display an age-appropriate science fair project. The committee needs volunteers to set up and judge the fair.
Every two years this committee organizes a fun-filled evening of games, contests, experiments, and activities celebrating space, astronomy, and our very own Planetarium. Many volunteers are needed to make this evening a success.
This group oversees this extracurricular, fee-based event for 4th grade students in the spring. Click here for more information.
Click Here to send an email to the PTA Board member (VP) responsible for these committees.
The editor of the Community Announcements receives classified ads or other material of interest to the Wood Acres community, but outside the scope of the WAES PTA. Approximately once or twice a month during the school year, the editor generates and sends, via the PTA listserv, a single email containing the Community Announcements accumulated since the last posting.
This committee maintaining the school online directory each fall. Volunteers are needed to collect and input information in the PTA database.
This committee conducts a PTA membership drive at the Open House in August and via email throughout the fall. Volunteers are needed to collect membership dues.
Membership Toolkit (formerly AtoZ Connect) is the PTA's email listserv. Its purpose is to share information relating to PTA business, school affairs, and educational topics of interest to the Wood Acres ES population. The coordinator verifies membership, manages the list, monitors the site for proper usage of the MT/ AtoZ Connect policy and intervenes when necessary. Click here to learn more.
Each week during the school year, this volunteer produces the PTA's weekly news brief and sends it to the Wood Acres ES community via the PTA listserv. The weekly newsletter contains information relating to the PTA and school-related activities, such as family fun events, fundraising events, charity efforts, volunteering opportunities, important dates and other announcements. The newsletter is typically circulated on Wednesdays.
This volunteer (or team of volunteers) is responsible for updating and maintaining the Wood Acres PTA website. This volunteer posts content received from the PTA committees and school staff about upcoming events, activities, and other news. The website administrator works closely with Communications VP.
This committee is responsible for the school yearbook. We need volunteers to take and collect photos throughout the year, use creativity to layout the book and work with the yearbook company to make sure that all deadlines are met.
Click here to send an email to the PTA Board Member (VP) responsible for these committees.
This committee is responsible for the organization of the annual Art Festival. Volunteers are needed to collaborate with the art teacher & art fair vendor, and to set up and clean up on the evening of the event.
This committee arranges for Wood Acres representation at a Bethesda Big Train baseball game. This involves arranging for a faculty member to throw out a first pitch and for discounted tickets. Volunteers are needed to advertise and promote the event.
After Halloween, this committee collects unwanted candy and identifies charities to receive the collection. This committee donates the candy to charities.
This committee works with Montgomery County to identify and implement projects for participation by Wood Acres students and the PTA. In the past, students and families have made sandwiches for Martha's Table and provided clothing, food, book and toy donations to our sister elementary schools and other sites. Volunteers are needed to organize and deliver donations and to help students participate in these activities.
This committee organizes two Pizza Nights each school year, usually at Ledo's Pizza, to benefit our MCPS sister schools, Oak View and New Hampshire Estates. Enjoy a meal from Ledo’s and a portion of your bill will pay for PTA activities at our sister schools
This committee is comprised of primarily fifth grade parents who plan and execute the 5th grade farewell activities (the pool party, memory book, slide show, etc.) and support the school staff who plan the promotion ceremony. A group of fourth grade parents traditionally volunteer during the ceremony.
Make the holidays brighter by granting the wishes of a child from Wood Acres ES, New Hampshire Estates ES and Oak View ES. This committee collects holiday gift lists, maintains the sign-up genius for donations, collect the gifts, and deliver the gifts to our sister school coordinator.
International Night is a celebration of Wood Acres’ multi-cultural diversity. This very popular event takes place once every two years and features food, performances and exhibits from many countries of the world.
Collect donated PB&J sandwiches, muffins, fruit, trail mix and other food that will be given the very next day to hungry people on the streets of DC by McKenna’s Wagon.
This committee works with the school staff to collect classroom supply lists at the end of the school year, and share with our school supply vendor. This committee shares the purchasing information with our school community.
This committee collects donated gently worn shoes and coordinates with our MCPS sister schools for distribution.
Make Thanksgiving better for hungry families with canned and boxed foods for Bread for the City. This committee coordinates the annual food drive the week before Thanksgiving by sharing collection details with our school community, collecting food each day, and working with the receiving organization to pick up the donated items.
This committee collects donated gently used children's books and coordinates with our MCPS sister schools for distribution.
Share your warmth with families at our sister schools and Wood Acres by passing along clean coats, sweaters, gloves and hats in infant to adult sizes.
This committee organizes a small number of informal play dates in the park during the summer. These play dates are a chance for new families to meet and learn about the school. The committee selects the dates and brings snacks and drinks.
This group works with the PTA Executive Board and MCCPTA representatives to monitor educational issues affecting Wood Acres at the county, state, and federal levels. It reports activity and recommends actions to the Board and entire PTA. Volunteers coordinate parent communication.
Click here to send an email to the PTA Board Member (VP) responsible for these committees.
This committee provides information and support to families of children in the ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) program. It hosts social events as well as informational meetings particular to the interests of those families.
The committee provides targeted information and support to families of special education students. It hosts Special Needs Parent Network meetings and serves as an advocate and liaison on issues regarding programs for special education students.
This committee monitors issues related to curriculum and testing at the county and state levels, as well as the implementation of the new MCPS grading and reporting policy. Volunteers monitor the work of the MCCPTA Curriculum Advisory committee and the MCCPTA Grading and Reporting Implementation Team, and reports to the Educational Issues group and entire PTA as appropriate.
As part of the Educational Issues branch, this group monitors issues related to gifted education at the MCPS and MSDE levels. It monitors GT issues through MCCPTA and Gifted and Talented Association (GTA) listservs and meetings, as needed. The volunteers report activity and recommend actions to the Educational Issues group and entire PTA, as appropriate
The committee provides targeted information and support to families of diverse cultural, racial and ethnic backgrounds. It hosts social and informational events to promote networking, support, information sharing, cultural awareness and also serves as a liaison to other local MCPS community groups relating to race and equity.
Click here to send an email to the PTA Board Member (VP) responsible for these committees.
This group organizes and runs a night of bingo fun for the whole family for grades PreK-2. Volunteers are needed to help with food booths, call bingo numbers, obtain prizes, and general set up and clean up.
This committee organizes the annual Scholastic Book Fair at the school. Duties include, working with the Media Center specialist on logistics, getting parent volunteers, set-up and take down, and others needed to host the event.
This committee plans and organizes the Dance Party for grades 3-5. Volunteers are needed to communicate with the deejay, advertise and sell tickets, and to chaperone and help with food sales on the night of the event.
This committee organizes a community Spring JogFest, which offers a 5-K run, and fun runs and walks for all ages. Many volunteers are needed to obtain sponsors, order t-shirts and medals, secure food donations, distribute race packets and to marshal the course on the morning of the event.
This group arranges for a winter family evening of ice-skating fun at Cabin John Ice Rink. Volunteers are needed to advertise and sell tickets for the event.
This committee works with the Fundraising VPs and printing vendor to manage the sales of WAES Spirit Wear for staff, families, and students. This usually includes t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, etc.
This committee coordinates the PTA's largest fundraiser of the year. The money raised accounts for over 55% of the PTA budget, and 100% of the donations are used to fund technology, visiting artists, assemblies and supplies that support and enrich teaching and learning at Wood Acres.
Click here to send an email to the PTA Board Member (VP) responsible for these committees.
This group promotes environmental awareness within the Wood Acres community by encouraging recycling and energy/fossil fuel conservation, supporting the student Green Team and reducing waste.
This person works closely with the school secretary and the MCPS rep of the ICB (Interagency Coordinating Agency) to coordinate and submit requests for building space usage for PTA events. This person must go to a one-time training session.
This committee periodically sorts through and displays the items collected in the Lost & Found bins and alerts the school community via PTA listserv to collect lost items. The committee also coordinates the donation of any items not claimed.
This committee is responsible for organizing training and scheduling the many volunteers needed to assist in the lunchroom and at recess. This committee also purchases recess equipment needed for the school.
This committee consists of volunteers who are scheduled (generally for two hours every other week) to staff the checkout desk, re-shelve books, assist students with finding books and perform other responsibilities in the Media Center as requested by the Media Specialist.
This volunteer is responsible for recruiting coordinators to organize the room parents for each grade level (three or four room parents per class). This committee is responsible for organizing email lists for each class and for designating a coordinator for each grade. This committee is also responsible for working closely with the PE teacher to coordinate Field Day activities (a year-end event) and recruits volunteers to help at this outdoor event.
This committee acknowledges holidays, staff changes, birthdays and other special events for the teachers and school staff. It also organizes an end-of-year luncheon for faculty and staff.
recess
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A GREAT WAY TO GET INVOLVED!
Thank you for your interest in volunteering at recess! We need your help.
HOW DO I BECOME A WOOD ACRES RECESS VOLUNTEER?
Completion of the volunteer form and uploading the necessary information are required for all volunteers. To obtain the form, please email us at wildcatanswers@gmail.com or see the weekly PTA newsletter.
In order to fully complete the form, you will need to complete three steps:
1) Attestation of Volunteer Training Module on Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect
2) Recess Handbook Training Assessment
3) Recess Volunteer Sign Up
First you will need to attest to completing the mandatory MCPS Volunteer Training Module on Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect online module. The training is completed through ParentVue. A user guide is provided here.
Second, you will complete an assessment that verifies that you have completely read and understand the Wood Acres Recess Handbook, which outlines how to be a successful outdoor and indoor recess volunteer.
Finally, you will be able to sign up for available recess volunteer slots.