How do I get involved?

Your support and assistance are essential Family involvement and participation are a vital component to the curriculum at Sunset and had been shown to be a critical factor in school success. Parents who are interested in their child's education are sending an important message to their child: “what you are doing is important” and “what you are doing matters.” We encourage you to be involved in your child's school experience at Sunset.

Involvement means many things, not just volunteering at school It's terrific if you can participate in your child's classroom. If you aren't able to, there are other ways to be involved. Show an active interest in your child's schoolwork. Work with them when they are doing their homework. Find out about and discuss what they're studying during the school day. Another great way to be involved is by joining the PTA; your membership helps immensely.

Working full time doesn't rule out getting involved Volunteering your time and expertise for the Sunset Elementary School community will help you to maintain that critical link between home and school. Many of our parent volunteer opportunities are on nights and weekends to accommodate working parents. Can you donate your time, materials or expertise? Do you have a special skill or interest that can educate and/or interest a classroom? Can you write, edit, type, make photocopies or build a shed? These are a few ways that your interests and skills can make a difference for Sunset.

You and the PTA are an invaluable resource for the school

Here are some of the ways for you to get involved:

• Volunteer in the classroom
• Join a PTA committee
• Attend and participate in events
• Solicit donations for printing, paper, envelopes, the Play Structure, Winter Gala Auction and the Fun Run
• Set up or clean up at the Sunset Festival, Back-to-School Night, School Picnic, Family Multi-cultural Potluck, Winter Gala, Science Night or Fun Run
• Supervise lunch and the recess yard
• Attend Saturday Garden Days
• Volunteer for classroom field trips
• Collect Box Tops from boxes such as General Mills cereal
• Recycle ink cartridges and cell phones
• Assist in the main office to answer the phone when necessary
• Take digital pictures of classroom activities or special events to share in the newsletter or website
• Attend fundraising events such as Chevy's Night
• Call volunteers to organize them for events
• Purchase snacks for the kickball team
• Purchase snacks and juice for STAR Testing
• Organize a class to do something special for Teacher Appreciation Day
• Organize classroom Scholastic book orders
• Translate the newsletter in Chinese, Spanish or Vietnamese
• Sign up for the Escrip program online
• Come to the monthly PTA board meetings or periodic general meetings
• Read the monthly Sunset Star News

Why Should I get involved? Why should you get involved? Some of the reasons are obvious: maintaining the many programs we provide for Sunset students, the support we give the staff, the resources and the materials we offer – all benefit our children. None of which could happen without parent involvement. Some reasons are just as important, but less obvious: an involved parent helps decide how the PTA funds are raised and how they are used. Involved families are sending an important message to their children: their education matters!

The Sunset Elementary School community is small – each member's participation makes a difference. We hope you'll become an active participant in our community and the Families of Sunset PTA.

The Importance of a Room Parent

Please consider volunteering to become a Room Parent. The Room Parent acts as the connection between the teacher and other parents, PTA and parents, and most important, parents and other parents.

Room parent general responsibilities:

• to meet with teachers regularly to find out what help is needed in the classroom, ie. supplies, volunteers
• Organize phone list for class

Additional suggestions:

• Call parents or create phone tree to remind parents of meetings and events
• Organize parties for class with teacher
• Work with volunteer coordinator for school-wide events
• Collaborate with teachers to coordinate classroom volunteers
• Organize teacher wish list
• Organize teacher appreciation week gift

For more details about getting involved and details on PTA committees, see the PTA Handbook.