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There are many ways to Get Involved in supporting your school. |
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Keep informed by signing up for our 
See all upcoming school events on our 
Programs and Events
There are many exciting programs and events thoughout the school year. The JM Calendar, the Walkie Talkie and your child's teacher will have information on school events, and we encourage all parents to sign up for the Joaquin Miller community email list, where you can learn a lot more about what’s coming up.
Here’s some of the programs and events to look out for during the school year:
- Enrichment Programs
- Living History and Diversity Events
- Green Team
- PTA and Dad’s Club Events and Fundraisers
Enrichment Programs
Our PTA sponsored Enrichment Classes provide a creative approach to supplementing and enriching the education our children receive in the classroom. After school enrichment classes are presented in three mini-sessions from September through June. Popular classes are repeated, while others rotate to insure variety and something for each student.
Registration packets with session dates and sign-up deadlines are distributed three times a year and will be posted on the Enrichment Classes page and sent home in your child’s backpack.
Living History and Diversity
Every year, each grade particpates in our Living History program, developed by JM Multiculturalism and Diversity Committee. Programs include Asian-American Day, The Thanksgiving Feast, Early Oakland, African-American Day, and Colonial America Day.
The School Calendar, the Walkie Talkie and your child's teacher will have information on this year’s Living History events. You can learn more about the Living History program on the Classes and Curriculum page.
Green Team
The Green Team is a subcommittee of the JM-PTA that strives to find ways to make the school more sustainable and to educate our kids about being good eco-citizens by composting and recycling. Joaquin Miller participates in the 
Terracycle program and has had inspiring assemblies by StopWaste.org; the school has had an audit by PG&E to assess areas of energy waste and how to promote energy savings. One solar assessment has been done already and more are on the way. Two recycled plastic bicycle racks were installed at the school thanks to a Cliff Bar grant.
Kids can participate daily in the No Waste Lunch program or can become a Green Team representative for their classroom to help with party and rainy day recycling and
to give reports to their class about green activities.
You can download a PDF pamphlet about how to participate in the 
No Waste Lunch program here and look out for Green Team updates in the Walkie Talkie.
PTA and Dad’s Club Events and Fundraisers
The JM-PTA and Dad’s Club host numerous events during the school year, including the Kindergarten Tea, the Back to School picnic, the Raffle, the Fall Auction, and Spring Fair. If you'd like to have fun while getting involved, we encourage you to volunteer to help out at any of these events.
All these events will be listed on the School Calendar as well in the Walkie Talkie, and again, you can learn a lot more by signing up for the Joaquin Miller community email list. Kids and adults alike look forward to these events each year, so look out for them!
Fall Auction
THE FALL AUCTION is the JMPTA’s biggest fundraiser of the year. It includes an array of appetizers, no-host bar, and Silent and Live Auctions featuring items ranging from dinners at some of the finest restaurants in the Bay Area, to merchandise, handmade treasures and more. The auction is a winner at all levels—it raises money for our children’s education, it provides tax deductions for both the donors and bidders, and it is a marvelous way to spend an evening with other parents of JM students.
Walk-a-thon
THE WALK-A-THON is a day-long event scheduled in the spring for Joaquin Miller students and families that affords the children an opportunity to participate in a collective health & fitness activity while raising money for their school. They obtain sponsors who agree to donate according to how far the children walk. Walk-a-thon Day is full of challenges and excitement for the walkers, who may earn t-shirts and a variety of awards. THE CHILDREN LOVE THIS EVENT. Parent volunteers are needed to register participants, staff the check points, hand out juice bars, make badges, and to set-up and take-down stations.
Yard Sale
THE YARD SALE allows you to clean your closets and garage while raising money for the school, and your donation is tax-deductible to boot! This event is usually held in April or May. Start setting aside your “treasures” for this great event now!