PTA Officers (2009-2010)
Effective July 1, 2009
PTA Committees To volunteer for a vacant position, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Ailene Renzi or email volunteer@rces-pta.org .
Committee Descriptions Adventures in Art The Adventures in Art committee is an after-school art enrichment activity funded by the PTA. Participants are exposed to various forms of artistic expression using paints, crayons, etc.
Art Enrichment
Volunteers in each class discuss a famous painter/sculptor once a month. Artwork and background materials are provided.
Art Show
Barnes & Noble Fundraiser A family night/fundraiser at Barnes & Noble. A portion of the purchases goes to the RCES PTA. There are guest readers, displays of student art and music.
Book Fairs Scholastic Book Fairs are one of the PTA's biggest fundraisers. Twice a year the Media Center is converted to the Book Fair. This provides parents and teachers an affordable way to add high quality books and reading materials to their collection. Each book fair runs for a full week – Fall and Spring. We earn cash and educational products, including free books, for the school. Teachers are encouraged to provide a wish list for parents to help build the classroom library.
Box Tops for Education There are three ways this program can earn money for RCES – clip, shop or charge! Clip Box Tops from hundreds of your favorite General Mills products. Each Box Top is worth 10¢ to our school. We will continue to collect Box Tops throughout the year. The second way is to shop online! Start every online shopping trip at the Box Tops Marketplace (www.boxtops4education.com) and your school earns up to 10% of each qualifying purchase. Over 175 online stores participate in this program including: Nordstrom, Eddie Bauer, Ann Taylor, Barnes & Noble, J.Jill, Lands End and L.L. Bean.
Bulletin Boards The Bulletin Board Committee is responsible for updating the Bulletin Board at the Giant Food Grocery Store in the Kentlands and the PTA board located at RCES (next to the all purpose room). The committee ensures that pertinent news, communication, or current events are posted in a timely manner. Typical postings include, but are not limited to, upcoming events, PTA meetings and more
Chess Club The Chess Club organizes a fee-based after-school chess program that is open to all RCES students.
Childcare
Help coordinate Middle School and High School students to volunteer to provide childcare at certain PTA events, including PTA meetings, teacher curriculum nights, etc.
Cluster Representatives Attends monthly meetings that include representatives from all elementary & middle schools that feed into Quince Orchard HS to discuss and learn about cluster-wide and county-wide issues that could impact RCES. Vote at such meetings as directed by the RCES PTA. Provide updates on Quince Orchard cluster activities at monthly PTA Executive Board and/or general membership meetings. Write monthly article for PTA newsletter to update community on cluster activities.
Columbus Day Open House Morning open house for parents to see the school in action. Help coordinate any support the school needs for the day.
Communications/Newsletter/Website Responsible for creation of monthly PTA eNews, along with periodic email updates and website maintenance.
Community Outreach
Copy Service This is a free service provided to teachers by the PTA to help free up teachers' time from tedious copying tasks. We do their copying so they can spend more time in the classroom. Teachers fill out a copy request form and leave it with their materials in a box in the copy room. If it is your assigned week to photocopy, you would check the box and see what needs to be done. This can be done before school, during school, or up to 8 or 9 at night (you just might have to go in the loading dock entrance). Usually it does not take any more than an hour, or sometimes there might be nothing at all. Sort of like the dry cleaners, the policy is "In by 3PM, out by 8AM two days later." So in by 3PM Monday, out by 8AM Wednesday. This an ideal job for someone with limited time during the school day or a variable schedule.
Courtyard Responsible for improving the landscape and usability of the school’s interior courtyard.
Cultural Arts This committee selects and contracts performers for the students throughout the school year with the assistance of the school’s teachers and administrators.
Dads N Donuts Dads and grandfathers get to have breakfast at school with their kids before school starts. Moms serve donuts, muffins, coffee and other beverages that are provided by the PTA.
Delegates Serve as Rachel Carson’s PTA representative to the Montgomery County Council of PTAs (MCCPTA). Attend monthly MCCPTA delegate meetings and update the RCES Executive Board monthly. Vote as directed by the RCES PTA.
Destination Imagination
Directory Compile an alphabetical listing of students and families. Update handbook, calendar, and information portion. Proofread family information. Arrange for directory printing and distribution in early fall.
Drama Kids This organization teaches various skills through drama in an after school program. Kids put on a play at the end of the year. More information is available at http://www.dramakids.com/ .
Entrance Sign Updating the main sign at the front of the school bus entrance.
First Day Folders Assist teachers and administrators with putting together Back-To-School papers in August. May include some copying. Collating papers, stuffing folders and delivering to teacher classrooms. Takes place the week before school starts.
FLES (Foreign Language in Elementary Schools) FLES is program that provides foreign language instruction to children (K-5th grade) in Montgomery County Public elementary and middle schools. Classes begin in October and run through May. Classes are held once a week school.
Food Collection Coordinating collection of donated food for Gaithersburg HELP. Donations are requested for each PTA event.
Gifted & Talented Liaison Provides information, guidance and support to students and families of these specific programs. Gifted and Talented Liaison works with GT staff to distribute GT information. Represents RCES at county-wide GT meetings.
Giant Bonus Bucks/Grocery Store Gift Cards Designate RCES for your Giant grocery bonus card earnings! The program runs from October through April and families need to renew each year. A+ Bonus Bucks are credits that accrue with each purchase using the Bonus Card. At the end of each month, the A+ Bonus Bucks are used in a calculation to determine your school's cash total, which is then automatically credited to your school's account. Instead of writing a check or using your credit card for weekly grocery shopping, make money for the school by purchasing Giant gift cards in denominations of $10, $20, $50 or $100. Giant Food gives Rachel Carson PTA 5% of the amount of each card. This is an easy way to raise money! Safeway Escrip and Harris Teeter programs also provide funds for our school and can be included in the program.
Group Piano Coordinating an afters chool group piano program.
Holiday Giving Project (Secret Santa) Working with City of Gaithersburg to provide solicit holiday gifts for children in need, identified by the City. Donations are anonymous and the identity of the children is unknown. Parents have the opportunity to provide clothing, toys and other items as requested by the City.
Hospitality/Correspondence Acknowledgment of RCES Staff Birthdays and other life cycle events such as a baby being born, a death in the family or extended illnesses. When necessary, the PTA will explore how to help the Staff member with any potential support.
International Festival International Fair gives RCES families the opportunity to share in the diverse cultures that make up our community. Families and teachers create displays that highlight a country’s culture, history, geography and music. In the past, there has been a variety of music and food. Held every other year. Next one is for the 2009-2010 school year.
Kindergarten Lunch/Recess Coordinator Ideally, this position is for a kindergarten parent. The coordinator is responsible for recruiting and scheduling volunteers to provide extra supervision and assistance during Kindergarten lunch and recess. This is particularly important during the first few weeks of school. However, the 2007-2008 volunteers continued to provide their support throughout most of the school year. Their assistance was greatly appreciated by the RCES staff.
Kindergarten Orientation Provide support to welcome incoming Kindergarten students and parents. During two days in April, there will be a Kindergarten registration and open house at RCES.
Linkages for Learning A school-based collaboration among the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, the Montgomery County Public Schools and non-profit, community based service providers. The program provides accessible services to at-risk children and their families to improve adjustment to and performance in school, home, and community. Prevention and early intervention services include health, mental health, social services and educational support. http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/Linkages/index.html
Mad Science This after school program provides children with a hands on exposure to science programs.
Magician Night This popular event has a comedian-magician as part of a family night activity in the All Purpose Room. Free to all families.
Math to Know Books
Membership The PTA Membership Chairperson is the PTA cheerleader and salesperson. She is responsible for the ongoing recruitment and retention of PTA members whose dues provide a substantial portion of the PTA's annual operating budget. The bulk of the work of this committee is done in the summer and early fall when the annual Membership Drive begins. The chairperson and her committee publish and distribute information about what the PTA is, what it does, how it benefits our children and our school, and so on. The chairperson also is a liaison between the RCES PTA and the Maryland State PTA and the National PTA. It is an exciting and vital role in our PTA.
Moms N Muffins Moms and grandmoms get to have breakfast at school with their kids before school starts. Dads serve donuts, muffins, coffee and other beverages that are provided by the PTA.
Movie Night A family night activity for everyone to watch a movie at Rachel Carson.
NAACP Representative/Minority Liaison Represent Rachel Carson on the Montgomery County NAACP Parent's Council. Assist with communication for the minority groups at school. This includes African Americans and Hispanics. Assist with bilingual communications to non-English speaking families. Providing workshops, hosting networking engagements, disseminating information on a regular basis and encouraging volunteerism. Helping to coordinate volunteer translators for school and PTA events, as well as for “printed” communications (i.e. flyers and newsletters). Also includes a two day Spring MSA Prep course for students.
Original Art Works A popular fundraiser that includes artwork students create in school. Help organize childrens’ artwork, collecting orders and distributing the finished products. More information is available at http://www.originalworks.com/ .
Pizza Dinner/Bingo Night This Family Night takes place in early September and is for the entire family to participate. There is a fee to participate and dinner will be served. Families can then play bingo and earn prizes.
Principal's Teas Arrange for snacks and beverages to be served for the PTA meetings and Principal’s Teas, held the 1st Tuesday of every month.
Rachel Carson Gives Back
Reptile World Night A new Family Night activity. Hands on experience for the kids to learn about various reptiles.
Sally Foster (Gift Wrap Fundraiser)
Runs from early to mid September. Rachel Carson gets half of every dollar sold during this fundraiser.
School Spirit Merchandise This committee organizes and sells RCES logo merchandise and clothing.
School Tool Box (supplies) Spring fundraiser selling and distributing school supplies for following school year. This "fundraiser" saves parents the time from shopping for most of their school supplies for the next school year. Funds raised are used to assist children in need with purchasing their school supplies.
Science & Invention Fair Plan and coordinate a student Science Fair. Students will create fun and safe exhibits that will be put on display during a family night activity at school. Work with teachers so the program compliments the school curriculum. Students will also have the opportunity to showcase an invention as opposed to a science experiment.
Silent Auction
Special Needs/Ability Awareness Collect and advertise county programs for children with special needs, maintain a resource file, and arrange special coffee programs for parents. Assist with organizing and planning of our award winning Ability Awareness Week which highlights different disabilities and how people handle them.
Staff Appreciation Plan several events for the RCES staff throughout the year and coordinate Staff Appreciation Week (May). In general, we provide food and prizes through organized luncheons. Provide refreshments at the monthly staff meetings and other events. Acknowlegement of birthdays, anniversaries, retirement and deaths.
Staff Raffle This popular fundraiser involves donations from the teachers and local businesses. Students buy raffle tickets for the chance to win an activity with a teacher -- ice cream or pizza outings are popular items.
Teacher PTA Liaisons Description goes here.
Variety Show A “talent show” open to all students and staff. A highlight of the year. Students, in solo or group acts, get to showcase their talent to the school community. The event is held at Quince Orchard High School’s auditorium. Acts include singing, dancing and various forms of entertainment.
Volunteer Coordinator Helps teachers, staff, committees and activity coordinators recruit volunteers. Organizes volunteer orientation at the beginning of the year on school office procedures (e.g. photo copying, laminating). Assists teachers in identifying room parents and insures that staff has adequate volunteer help in their classroom. Keeps track of volunteer hours and prepares the report to MCPS on FRES volunteer hours.
Walk for the Homeless Each year as part of our Halloween celebrations the children collect money for the homeless.
Website Committee (PTA) The Website Committee is responsible for all technical aspects of maintaining this PTA website. This includes: general design; email filtering; technical support; Paypal integration; documentation; teaching others how to update the site with their content; housekeeping; etc. The webmaster is not the primary content contributor -- content comes mainly from other PTA officers and committee chairpersons. It's a fun, rewarding committee for those with an interest in technology. Most of the work can be done during off-hours so it's good for people who want to contribute their time and talents to PTA but are not available during the school day. For more information about joining the Website Committee, please email webmaster@rces-pta.org .
Winter Dance
Yearbook Published and distributed at the end of the school year, this year long project includes preparing the yearbook and organizing its annual sale.