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Volunteering
The special talents of our Joaquin Miller Parents are a great strength for our school. You may be unable to commit to time in the classroom, but is there something else you could offer to our school?
Can you sew costumes, correct class assignments, do artwork, calligraphy, lead classroom singing, play the piano or guitar for singing, paint, do construction, talk about or demonstrate a hobby/vocation, lead or direct any cultural or ethnic activities? Are you available to assist at a fundraising activity?
Please get to know Volunteer Builder (PTO), our online volunteer management system. Logging your hours there helps the PTA get to know our volunteer base better. Find out more at the Volunteer Builder page.
Your talents will be coordinated to enhance programs for children. Needs vary from year to year. The following are the major ongoing programs that require volunteer support.
cWalkie Talkie
Walkie Talkie is the Joaquin Miller Newsletter. It is distributed every other Wednesday to the youngest child in your family. The Walkie Talkie keeps parents abreast of important future Dates To Remember, gives information about school related activities and programs, and often includes messages from the Principal, PTA President and PAC Chairperson.
The editor needs volunteers to collate our school’s weekly newsletter. On a rotating basis, volunteers usually work one Wednesday morning each month for about an hour — a pleasant vantage place to watch Joaquin Miller at work.
Room Coordinators
Room Coordinators help promote parent-teacher classroom activities. They establish a class phone tree and email list (often using 
Yahoo! Groups), plan Halloween and Valentine’s Day Parties and solicit parents to help with excursions, special class activities, Walk-A-Thon, and a Spring Fair Booth. A good working relationship with the teacher develops.
Library
Library Volunteers are essential to maintaining and operating the school library.
The PTA employs part-time Librarians, but volunteers are needed to serve on the
Library Committee, stock shelves and help students check in and out books. The
Librarian establishes a volunteers staff schedule. The environment is relaxed and the
children benefit greatly.
Motor Development
Motor Development assists children in developing efficient movement and motor skills and aids sensory awareness through the use of various activities and equipment. The PTA-paid coordinator runs this weekly program for Kindergarten through second grade students and needs several parent volunteers per class to help lead the activities. Class times are published in the Walkie Talkie in the Fall. There is no special training required; instructions are provided in the class.
Computers
Computers are a great way for Volunteers to learn about computers - no previous experience is necessary. The PTA-paid Coordinators offer computer orientation classes at the beginning of the school year (days and times are published in the Walkie Talkie). The coordinators develop curriculum and lesson plans for the program and help volunteers, teachers, and students all year.
Parent Aides
Parent Aides are requested by teachers to help with math, reading, paper correcting, or special events in the classroom. Parents should talk with their child’s teacher about scheduling and duties.
Playground Aides
Playground Aides help the Yard Supervisors during the lunch recess, from 11:50 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Tutors
Tutors for bilingual students are sometimes needed. Interested parents are asked to indicate days and times of availability.
Science Fair
Science Fair gives students an opportunity to share individual, group, or classroom science experiences/experiments. Students are encouraged to participate in our Annual Science Fair. Volunteers are needed to assist students with research, presentation and organization of projects.
Back-to-School Picnic
Back-to-School Picnic Co-Chairpersons coordinate the school-wide picnic, scheduled at the beginning of the school year. The Co-Chairpersons select the location, coordinates the games, food donations, cooking and publicity.
Bulletin Board
Bulletin Board Chairperson maintains the PTA Bulletin Board, located outside the school office, with current information, on a monthly basis. The Chairperson may also be asked to prepare posters or signs for PTA activities.
Graduation Party
Graduation Party Chairperson works with the Principal and sets the date for the Fifth Grade Promotion Party, held in June. The Chairperson selects a facility, coordinates food donations, plans game activities and arranges for student’s transportation to and from the event.
Health and Safety
Health and Safety Chairperson checks and replenishes, twice a year, the school’s Earthquake/Emergency supplies as well as individual classroom Emergency Backpacks. The Chairperson also maintains the Earthquake Emergency Forms located within each classroom’s Emergency Backpack in addition to maintaining the master file in the office. The Chairperson also makes recommendations to the PTA Executive Board regarding the maintenance of the health and safety needs of the school.
Roster Membership
Roster Membership Chairperson conducts the annual Membership Drive in September and compiles the school Roster. The Chairperson arranges for typing, printing, and distribution of the Roster in addition to compiling and maintaining a current list of PTA Members.
School Pictures
School Pictures Chairperson works with the Principal to interview and select a school photographer, and coordinates dates/scheduling for picture taking and make-up sessions. The Chairperson recruits other volunteers to assist, as needed, on picture day. The Chairperson also coordinates the distribution of student pictures upon return from the photographer.
Teacher/Staff Appreciation
Teacher/Staff Appreciation Chairperson coordinates theme, food and decorations for the Teacher/Staff Appreciation Luncheon. The Chairperson arranges the room and plans the serving of the luncheon.
Yearbook
Yearbook Chairperson solicits photographs, taken by parents, of various school and classroom activities and compiles them into a school yearbook. The Chairperson also coordinates yearbook sales.