Home Community Volunteering
Every family at the school is invited to contribute time and energy towards strengthening school life. Volunteering is highly encouraged, and opportunities are available on weekends, remotely, on field-trips and during school day events. The Parent Stewardship Group (PSG) is led by parent volunteers and supports multi-grade/all-school events, organizes teacher appreciation efforts, and helps build a stronger community. Every family has a different set of demands on their time — please volunteer in the way that makes most sense for YOU.
The mission of the PSG is to cultivate a strong and productive parent community that builds a culture of volunteerism and engagement. The PSG co-chairs facilitate communication between parents, committees, and the school, coordinates opportunities for parent participation, and find ways for parents to support the school’s mission, philosophy and key initiatives.
Our association does everything from planning annual celebrations like the Halloween Fair and Grandparents & Special Friends Day to creating a joyful and robust series of teacher appreciation events to supporting Class Parent-led initiatives and socials. Our parent association also leads in helping the school reach full participation Annual Fund fundraising goal.
Affinity and alliance groups are parent led and reflect a social and community space around a common identity. Activities typically take place outside of school and help build family engagement and parent connections. Affinity groups include:
Have an idea for another affinity group that reflects your identity? Contact arjuna.sayyed@parkdayschool.org
Be the hub of your grade. In partnership with the classroom teachers, room parents help facilitate a productive, fun and welcoming environment for all families, with an emphasis on any families new to the school. Room parents coordinate volunteers for in-class and all-school events, and are asked to pass along communication from the administration and the Park Parent Stewardship Group to the class parents and guardians.
Volunteer on tours, at Open Houses, during evening mixers, to be on call lists to answer questions, or to welcome new families. Criteria: be your warm, welcoming selves, and speak authentically and positively about your experiences at school.
The Halloween Fair, Grandparents & Special Friends Day, music concerts, art night, and much more– all these events rely on volunteer power for set up, organization, and most importantly– potluck food. If you are a baker or organizer, these are the events for you. Each grade is responsible for one all-school event, so keep an eye open for room parent postings to plug in.
Work with the development committee to help cheerlead your grade towards full participation in our largest and most impactful fundraiser.
Help our art specialists hang art for the art show in May, volunteer at field day, and drive middle school athletes to meets and games year round. We are always seeking musicians and sound technicians to help set up and play at all school events, concerts, and more.
Park Day’s Board of Trustees is responsible for the governance and stewardship of the school. Board members are fiduciaries who steer the organization towards a sustainable future by adopting sound, ethical, and legal governance and financial management policies, as well as by making sure Park Day has adequate resources to advance its mission.
Help contribute to the Park Day morning vibe. Sign up weekly (or just when you can) at the coffee cart where parents hang out and socialize during drop off and for 20-30 minutes after school begins. Essential for building community culture.
From leading one of the school affinity or alliance groups to orchestrating and coordinating the parent association Stewardship Group– it is volunteer leadership that is the backbone of Park Day School. This team of committed parents manages multiple aspects of school culture and community.
The Park Day Farm Box is a CSA subscription providing fresh, local, organic produce from Riverdog Farm to Park Day families and friends. This is a parent-run program, and proceeds provide extra support for the Learning Garden program at school. The Farm Box needs volunteers every week to help with the boxes and to help make the program run smoothly.
From planting acorns to repopulate the Oak forests in EBMUD areas in Kindergarten, to leading students in small groups through the Oakland Museum, to driving on field trips, we couldn’t bring to life our fantastic experiential learning program without parent support! Make sure you submit your driver’s license information and background check documentation to be eligible to volunteer.
Weekend work parties, special construction, painting and building projects, feeding the chickens over holiday breaks, planting new areas– our four acre garden campus thrives and blooms thanks to the support of our volunteer parents.
Ask your class parents about what is needed, and volunteer to organize the fall or spring parent grade social, and/or your class camping trip.