Volunteering
When adults volunteer, all students benefit! While there is not a requirement to volunteer, there are many opportunities for parents and community members to get involved if you’d like to help! Below is a list of the areas where we are currently seeking volunteer interest. Please contact PTO President Shannon Guindin if you would like to learn more and volunteer for any of these roles!
2025-26 SCHOOL YEAR VOLUNTEER ROLE DESCRIPTIONS
ONGOING ROLES
Room Parent (1 per class): Help teacher coordinate class parties, coordinate Teacher Appreciation Week (May 1-5) activities with your class
PTO Liaison (1 per class): Attend PTO meetings (4 per year), send PTO-related emails to your class (content is provided) approx. 1/week (or less)
Event Helper: Harvest Festival (October), Snowflake Festival (December), and Family Bingo Night (March) each have activities where set up, clean up, activities, and other assistance is needed.
Hospitality Team: Assist with picking up food and set-up for various PTO events and teacher appreciation celebrations throughout the school year.
STEAM-RELATED:
Maker Space Monday Chair: Empire Oaks has a Maker Space with supplies for students to create and innovate one Monday a month with their class. This chairperson will develop and coordinate one Maker Space activity per month, September-May, provide the necessary supplies, and communicate the Maker Space Project with the teachers. The school has an established Maker Space activities book that can be used, or the chair can come up with their own activities. The PTO funds the materials for the Maker Space.
Meet the Masters Classroom Docent: Work with the Meet the Masters Chair on scheduling and coordinating six art activities during the school year, and bringing the necessary supplies and providing the art project instruction to their class.
EVENT- RELATED:
Harvest Festival Chair: This is the Halloween carnival/dance party held in October. This person will recruit and work with a committee of volunteers to coordinate this event, which includes Trunk or Treat, a cake walk, dance party and games. Chair will coordinate decorations and materials needed for this event.
Staff Appreciation Week Chair: The chair can recruit a committee of volunteers to assist with the following activities: Establish the theme and activities for Staff Appreciation week, coordinate those activities with the room parents, ensure that staff and teachers without a set class (such as PE, music, etc.) are recognized and receive gifts and treats, deliver and set up/clean up food (breakfast and lunch each day during the week, along with snacks and treats) and decorate the staff lounge.
Snowflake Festival Chair: This is the annual winter celebration held in December which includes vendor sales, pictures with Santa, crafts, Santa's Secret Shop, and the pancake breakfast. This person will recruit and work with a committee of volunteers to coordinate this event. Chair will coordinate decorations and materials needed for this event.
2025-2026 Chairpersons:
We are grateful to the volunteers who have fulfilled the following roles for the school year:
Restaurant Nights chair: Sarah Stabile
Popsicle chair: Laura McCallum & Masie Ciani
Apparel chair: Allison Olofsson
Pastries With Parents chair: Allison Olofsson
Diwali Festival chair: Aisha Aslam & Ramya Madivada
Amazing Acorn Race chair: Diana Murphy
Harvest Festival chair: Jaime Mash
Read Across America chair: Andrea McDonald
Snowflake Festival chair: Diana Schrom
Parents Night Out chair: open
Silent Auction chair: Erin Matzen co-chair needed
Family Bingo Night chair: Allison Olofsson
Family Fun Night / Spring Give Back chair: open
Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week chair: Alicia Alejo & Kelly Sandrock
Posters chair: open
Book Fair chair: open
PTO Liaison: Alicia Alejo
Meet the Masters chair: Sarah Oettle & Natalie Katarina
Makerspace chair: Alissa Hoekstra
Historian (photographer at events): Jessica Haskins
5th Grade Graduation chair: open
