Administrative/Learning and Teacher Support/Community Building/Town Wide Committees/Fundraising
ADMINISTRATIVE
These volunteers ensure that the PTO functions smoothly. Some of these opportunities can be done completely at home outside of school hours.
Directory - Updates, assembles and publishes (via WMS printing) the annual Hardy School Handbook & Directory.
Newsletter – Produces the PTO newsletter including monthly calendar with key dates. Collects, organizes and edits newsletter submissions regarding Hardy PTO and town of Wellesley events.
Nominating – Solicits Hardy community for following year’s PTO officers. Calls nominees and presents slate to Executive Board in the spring.
Publicity - Writes articles for the Wellesley Townsman reporting on activities at Hardy. Article deadlines are spread evenly throughout the school year
Website – Maintains Hardy PTO’s website: www.hardyelementary.org with PTO news, events and information to keep the Hardy community updated on current and future events.
COMMUNITY BUILDING
The opportunities that fall under the rubric of Community Building are firmly based in RISE, the social compact at Hardy. The PTO appreciates the entire Hardy community of students, teachers, staff, and parents. We aim to keep it vibrant, which means we reach out to new families; support Hardy families in need; ensure that the Hardy grounds are attractive and welcoming; and provide many opportunities to get together and have fun. The opportunities for involvement in this realm are plentiful and wide-ranging.
Adult Socials - Coordinates an all-grade adult social event for Hardy.
Apparel – This committee runs the Hardy School apparel sale. The sale is usually held in the fall and, on occasion, a second time in the spring. Members determine the vendor, merchandise (t-shirts, sweatshirts, etc.), and collect/distribute orders.
Beautification - Ensures the Hardy School gardens and plantings are maintained in pristine condition. Oversees the current gardens and works with school staff to plan future projects.
Community Service - Chair and members coordinate community service projects for Hardy students. Fall Gathering – This fun event brings students and their families together in the fall to kick off the school year.
Fifth Grade Committee – Parents of fifth graders organize end-of-year activities for the fifth grade, including their picnic, yearbook and class gift. Coordinates fundraisers and community service projects for fifth graders throughout the year.
Hardy Goes Green – Coordinates ways to increase awareness and preservation of our environment to the Hardy Community.
Kinderkick Coordinator – Coordinates the Hardy School Kindergarten Soccer program in the spring.
Skating Party – Volunteers coordinate this social event, held each year at the Babson Skating arena.
Movie Nights – Volunteers coordinate a movie event held annually at Hardy for students and their families.
UNICEF - Volunteers coordinate the annual Halloween drive by sending home UNICEF boxes with instructions for collection. Counts money and forwards it to the town wide coordinator.
Welcome Families – Welcomes new families to Hardy School by coordinating the first day “PTO Welcome Coffee” and Kindergarten coffee. Schedules hosts for grade level adult socials held at the beginning of the school year. Assists with “welcome” bags for incoming Kindergarteners in the spring.
Wellesley Parade – Held each year in May in conjunction with Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend. This team of volunteers organizes and coordinates the student participation, theme, signs and/or float for Hardy’s entry in the parade.
FUNDRAISING
The PTO enriches our children’s academic lives, provides a variety of opportunities for us to grow as a community, expresses our appreciation for the dedicated Hardy faculty, and so much more. However, none of these activities can be accomplished without PTO Fundraising. Fundraisers provide the life blood for all of these enhancements, and getting involved is a wonderful way to make a difference in what the PTO is able to accomplish every year.
Auction - Held biannually in the spring. Committee members plan and organize this event. They will select the location, choose the food and drinks, send the invitations, and coordinate the collection of donations from the school and community businesses.
Book Fair – Book fair is held to encourage reading and a love of books. Co-Chairs are responsible for managing relationship with the book vendor and for coordinating the various sub-committees. Sub-committees include: set-up, class and teacher recommendations, legacy book program, publicity, staffing, Family Night, and clean-up.
Box Tops for Education - Sponsored by General Mills; this program allows families to cut out box tops symbols off participating products which are sent to General Mills for a rebate. Volunteers on this committee will publicize the program; collect box tops, return for redemption and seek new ways to collect box tops from other sources.
Hardy Beach Party – Hardy’s annual town-wide fundraiser depends upon the entire Hardy community’s participation. The Beach Party is a great community building and fundraising experience. There are one or two chairs who oversee all aspects of the Beach Party and sub committee chairs and volunteers in areas such as baked goods, body arts, café, crafts, games, moon bounce, publicity, set up/clean up, site coordinator, tickets and volunteer staffing.
LEARNING AND TEACHER SUPPORT
Many of these committees offer the opportunity to become involved with teachers and your child’s classroom over the course of the year. For example, room parents support a classroom and its teacher for the entire school year, while others may require less of a time commitment. Each of these volunteer opportunities allows parents to participate in activities at Hardy that directly enhance the curriculum.
Creative Arts and Sciences – CA&S chair(s) coordinates the efforts of representatives at each grade level (K-5) in scheduling enrichment programs to augment the school's curriculum. Members may preview and review potential programs as necessary. In addition, the CA&S chair represents Hardy as a member of Wellesley's town-wide CA&S committee.
Environmental Aides - In-class volunteers, usually 4-6 per classroom who lead nature walks 2-3 times a year. E.A. chairs provide parent training. Each grade level focuses on a different aspect of our local environment, for example plants, birds or insects. For more information about the Environmental Science Program, click here.
Love Your Library – Hardy’s gift book program that allows families to donate books to the library in honor of a birthday, teacher, or for a special occasion. Volunteers work with librarians to coordinate Hardy’s ‘wish list’ at The Wellesley Booksmith, publicize the program to Hardy families, and acknowledge donations in the PTO newsletter.
Room Parents - Work with the classroom teacher throughout the year to support the classroom needs. Responsibilities vary by grade but can include coordinating volunteers, communication, organizing in-class celebrations and other activities as requested by the teacher. Requests for room parents are sent in the spring and again after the class lists are mailed. The Room Parent Coordinator ensures all classrooms have Room Parents and coordinates training.
Teacher Appreciation - Committee of volunteers that acknowledge the dedicated faculty at Hardy School. The committee plans a luncheon for the beginning of school year as well as occasional lunches, breakfasts or trays of goodies for the staff throughout the year.
TOWN-WIDE COMITTEES
The Hardy PTO recognizes that its commitment to academic excellence and fostering communication does not end at Hardy. We are a part of a larger community in the vibrant town of Wellesley, and there are several volunteer opportunities to represent Hardy on town-wide committees.
Committee 21 Representative - Liaison for Hardy School and Precinct B to the Committee for Education in the 21st Century. Keeps Hardy community informed on issues impacting the Wellesley Public Schools. Identifies and coordinates school-based team of volunteers to help with mailings, literature drops, reminder calls, sign holding, etc.
METCO Family Friends (Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunities, Inc.) - As the Family Friends Coordinator for Hardy and a member of the town-wide Family Friends program, the METCO Representative works to support the successful integration of Boston students into the Hardy school community. Coordinator is responsible for recruiting host families who volunteer to be available as a local resource and contact for Boston families.
Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) – Representative to the PAC, a group of parents concerned with special education in Wellesley Public Schools. Attends PAC meetings and shares information with the Hardy community.
POPS (Parents of Performing Students) - Liaison to town wide POPS group. Assists music teacher with concerts including setup, teardown and programs. Attends POPS meetings (optional) and publicizes relevant info on instrument lesson signups, Music in Our Schools Week, etc.
