Highcrest Middle School PTO

Executive Board Positions

VP - Enrichment:   oversees the activities of all fifth and sixth grade enrichment programs, the Outdoor Classroom, and Environmental Awareness. 

VP - Ways and Means:  oversees all revenue generating jobs including birthday books, book fair, gift wrap, Kids are Key campaign, school logo merchandise, school store, and school supplies sales. Duties include attending monthly executive board meetings and general PTO meetings while assisting the revenue generating volunteers and making sure their events run smoothly and comply with school and PTO leadership policies.

VP - Communications: (1 position open) ensures that information relevant to the school community is broadcast effectively through our various communication vehicles. By attending both Executive Board and General Board meetings the VP Communications hears first-hand the current issues, discussions, events and concerns. Duties include reporting PTO communications activity to the Executive Board and coordinating with HMS PTO committee members to facilitate the dissemination of PTO news to the HMS community. The VP Communications is responsible for monitoring all the HMS PTO vehicles of communication at Highcrest, making sure information is current, accurate, and appropriate. This is an evolving position as we utilize different means of communication.

VP -  Administration:  Tiffany Flannagan - oversees general board positions including Civics and Safety, Clubs, Directory, Family To Family, Hospitality, Membership, District 39 Foundation Liaison, and Youth Connection Liaison and FAN liaisons.   This board position acts as a liaison between these board members and the Executive Board and provides assistance to these committees as needed.    Each month a report is given to the Executive Board on any updates, concerns or questions from these committees.  One must attend the monthly Executive Board Meeting each month and the Highcrest PTO meetings.

VP - Volunteer/Room Parent Coordinator -  oversees all volunteer recruiting activities at Highcrest including 5th and 6th grade room parent coordinators, cafeteria coordinators, and LMC volunteer coordinator, as well as for miscellaneous volunteer positions, including chorus liaisons and hanging student artwork; sends volunteer form out with summer mailing, records all information from these forms and passes it along to event chairs; contacts room parent coordinators to schedule room parent meetings in September and helps chair the meeting. For any class specific PTO support that is requested throughout the year, the Liaison is also responsible for passing along the information/request on to the room parent reps for help.

VP -  Special Events:  is responsible for planning and organizing events that build community spirit and/or team building within the school.  This position serves as a liaison to the committee heads for 5th Grade Connection, Freaky Friday, Service Projects, Parent Connection events and Variety Show.

Secretary -  keeps copies of the Bylaws and membership list and records minutes of all meetings of the PTO's Executive Board and General Board and is responsible for all official correspondence.  Duties include typing minutes, distributing draft copies for review/editing, bringing copies of minutes to meetings for approval, maintaining a binder of meeting agendas, minutes and handouts, and posting the minutes to the website.

Treasurer - Rhona DiCamillo - is responsible for keeping an accurate record of the receipts and expenditures of the PTO. The treasurer develops the annual

budget of the PTO and presents it for approval by the Executive Board and

General Board.  The treasurer provides a financial update to the Executive

Board each month and General Board at PTO meetings and prepares an annual report and any required tax filings.

VP - Legislation: Lesley Dable - ensures that the Highcrest PTO (Executive and General Boards) acts in accordance with the HMS by-laws, and reviews and revises the by-laws every two years. 

General Board Positions

Assistant Treasurer - Toni Stapel- duties occur year round. Main responsibilities include collecting checks, stamping checks with Highcrest account numbers and filling out deposit tickets. Additional responsibilities include providing deposit tickets to Treasurer and getting cash/coin deposits counted and deposited.

Auditor -  Sharon Glennon - meets several times a year with the treasurer to review the books.

Birthday Books - ME Girgenti and Kendra Olvany - runs program to allow parents to buy a book for the Library Media Center at Highcrest in honor of their child's birthday. 

Book Fair - Liz Eisenstein and Susan Petito - responsible for planning and carrying out the annual book fair, which includes working with school staff, administration, a book fair company, and parent volunteers.  Time commitment is high during planning and execution of the book fair, lasting about one to two months.  Co-chairs report to VP Ways and Means. 

Gift Wrap - (1 position open) Two chairs administer this Fall fund raising activity. Highcrest students sell giftwrap (and other related products) in order to raise money for the PTO.  Two chairs (usually a 5th and 6th grade representative) coordinate with the giftwrap supplier to provide students with catalogs and ensure that the sales process goes smoothly.  The total time commitment is approximately 20 hours per person primarily from mid-August through December.  The bulk of the work is during the 3-week sale time period.  

Kids are Key - (2 positions) executes the PTO's major fundraising campaign:  Kids are Key fundraising letter.  The coordinator writes solicitation letters and other materials (primarily HMS Headlines), communicates results with the Executive Board, tracks participation, and thanks donors via email and/or letter.  Work begins in mid-July and tapers off in mid-November.  The coordinator reports to the VP of Ways and Means.

School Logo Merchandise - Jayne Citari - orders Highcrest logo merchandise to be sold at August PTO welcome coffee and is also sold at back to school nights in September.

School Store - Emily Kaplowitz and Wendy Raymond - Responsible for ordering merchandise and recruiting volunteers to work the store during lunch hours on Wednesdays.  Requires one or two trips per month to make bank deposits.  

School Supplies - Lyn Flannery - orders school supply kits for incoming 5^th and 6^th graders;  order forms sent out in the Spring and kits are put in the classroom the day before school begins.

Enrichment coordinators - 5^th and 6^th Grades - ( 5^th grade positions filled and 2 positions open for 6^th grade) responsibilities include organizing 3-4 presentations and field trips for 5th graders/6^th graders. This includes arranging bus service, getting checks from the treasurer, communicating with fifth grade/6^th grade enrichment teacher liaison regarding dates and topics. There are two fifth grade coordinators and two sixth grade coordinators who report to the PTO head of enrichment. 

Environmental Awareness - (1 position open) coordinates Environmental awareness activities at Highcrest.

Outdoor Classroom - (Cathy Taylor plus 1 position) coordinators are responsible for maintenance, supervision and coordination of activities in the Outdoor Classroom during lunch recesses in the fall and spring. Garden experience is not necessary but helpful in maintaining the prairie, growing vegetables and developing garden related activities for students. Coordinators recruit and organize parent volunteers to staff and supervise the OC during lunch recess every day so that students can enjoy a safe, fun alternative to the playground.

Outdoor Planters - (1 position open) responsible for filling and maintaining the planters at the entrance of the school.

Cafeteria Coordinator - (Michelle Paul and Verena Philips) recruits volunteers to help at the Highcrest cafeteria during lunchtime; administers online schedule for volunteering.

Resource Room Volunteer Coordinator - Ellen Hummel - recruits volunteers to help out at Highcrest LMC.

5th and 6^th Grade Room Parent Representatives - (2 5^th grade (positions filled) and 2 6^th grade positions open) works under the direction of the VP - Volunteer Coordinator.  The Room Parent Representatives are responsible

for signing up room parent volunteers (2-3 per class) at the back-to-school PTO coffee and then recruiting room parents to fill open positions.  The

Room Parent Coordinator(s) organizes an orientation session during the first week of school for room parents, creating an e-mail distribution list, etc.  The vast majority of the Room Parent Representatives responsibilities occur in the first 2-3 weeks of school and then transition to ongoing communication/troubleshooting with the room parents.  Clear instructions and templates exist for both the Room Parent Representatives and room parents.

5^th Grade Connection - (2 positions) - recruit volunteers and run afternoon of games for 5^th graders the Friday afternoon of the first week of school.

Freaky Friday Chair - Toni Stapel -responsibilities for this one time event including vendor management, volunteer solicitation and ticket sales. Freaky Friday is a Halloween Themed school wide party held in the fall. Other responsibilities include communication with school administration and dissemination of promotional information as well as all budgetary approvals and collection and payment of funds for all expenses related to the Freaky Friday event.

Freaky Friday Assistant - (Colleen DeNunzio plus 2 positions seeking 5^th grade parents for 2-year commitment) assists chair in planning of this one-time special event held at the school in late October.  This includes promotional efforts, scheduling and hiring of entertainment  & refreshments, conducting ticket sales prior to event, coordinating volunteer jobs and decorations. Also responsible for overseeing event, directing volunteers and final clean up. (Colleen DeNunzio)

Parent Connection - Gayle McCormick, 5^th grade rep for 2-year commitment plus 1 open position seeking 6^th grade parent - oversees committee comprised of representatives from each of the feeder schools to plan fun events throughout the year to connect parents to one another and to the school.  Events may range from coffees to evening parties.

Service Coordinator - (2 positions) This new position will meet with the village wide service committee to discuss service projects in the district.  Coordinate one or two service projects for the students at Highcrest. 

Variety show:  (2 positions) Organize, plan and run a 5th & 6th grade student variety show.  Planning begins in summer for an early spring show.  You report to the special events PTO person.  Chairs pick a theme for the show, gather parent volunteers to help with the different tasks, communicate with students for them to sign up, supervise four separate weeks of rehearsals and with the help of many volunteers, present the show.

Headlines Editor: Ellen Dabrowski - Performs weekly updates of the Headlines; receives, edits, and organizes notices from various contributors; checks with District calendar to include days off, music events, etc; continually updates formatting and layout of Headlines; collaborates with PTO Presidents on content and any additional PTO news items.

Webmaster-  Duties begin in the summer and continue throughout the year - Responsible for the design, content and functionality of the PTO website.  Duties include weekly update to home page, posting of upcoming events, creating Paypal payment options, and working with various PTO board members to assist with registration, participation and communication.  For example, establishing the Kids Are Key launch for the back to school mailing, posting documents related to back-to-school information, establishing links for cafeteria sign-up, setting up on-line registration for After-School Clubs and the Variety Show.  Reports to the Communications - 6th Vice President of the Executive Board.  Skills include ease with computers, Word, and Excel.  Prior website work is a plus, but not required.

Yearbook - Kerrily Jednorowicz - recruits and oversees yearbook committee to promote sales, gather photos, design the yearbook and distribute it at year-end.

Civics and Safety - Estella Kiser - coordinates civics and safety programs for Highcrest.

Clubs - Faith Kanatzidis and one open position - Chair and co-chair organize three sessions of clubs for fall, winter and spring.  Job includes soliciting teachers to teach various clubs, updating necessary forms and lists, preparing Room Request Form and general descriptions to be posted on the website for student sign-up. Also, submit forms to Head Club person so that she can check and add prices.

Family-To-Family  - (Nancy Hoagland (6th grade) plus 1 position open (5th grade)) Chairpersons seek a group of volunteers to serve on this committee and communicate with them as needed. The committee is here to support those in the Highcrest community who are in the midst of medical or other kinds of emergencies. The committee provides assistance with meals, errands, childcare or whatever may be needed, if desired, by a particular family.

School Directory Chair: Responsible for preparing and distributing Student and Family directory. Works with both Village-wide PTO and District 39 directory coordinators to develop Directory's cover drawings, update PTO and HMS Staff contact information and incorporate Student and Family information provided by District 39.  Works with Membership Chair to determine print amounts and to distribute directories to PTO member families.

Hospitality (3 positions) oversees 3 events a year for the teachers and staff:  a November Luncheon, Valentine Treats in February, and Teacher Appreciation Week in May. In addition, organizes the PTO old board/new board lunch in May.

PTO Membership:  Monica Schinderle - Responsible for collecting annual PTO membership dues, primarily done at PTO 1st day coffee sign-ups.  Assist those filling out their membership payment forms or anyone with a question regarding online payment via the PTO website.

CRC Position: (Ellen Dabrowski plus 1 position) As an active member on the CRC committee (Community Review Committee), you select a topic each year to research and develop recommendations for the School Board to pursue/execute. This year it is

Social Responsibility, last year it was the Strategic Plan (as examples).

You work on a sub-team with other parents, teachers and administrators.

FAN Liaison: Suzie Rubin - This position is one of the New Trier Township school representatives to the Family Action Network (http://fan-ntts.ntnow.org/), a community organization that sponsors speakers and events related to parenting and parent education. The responsibilities include attending a once/month FAN Board and Liaison meeting (held during the day), helping with FAN speaker events (several events held each year in the evening), and sharing and publicizing information about FAN events at the PTO meetings and with Highcrest families.  It is an on-going responsibility during the entire school year.