Smith HSA Committees
(Commitments are for two years)
Book Fair: Work consists of contacting the vendor and running a book fair in the Fall and in the Spring. The committee will schedule volunteers, set up and disassemble displays, create communications to promote the book fair, and collect and count money after the completion of the book fairs.
Clubs: This committee oversees and operates the after-school clubs activities. Responsibilities are divided among committee members. We have four roles scheduling and contracts, communication, treasurer and technology role. The various roles include securing instructors to run 2 semesters of clubs for our students; creating, distributing and processing registration for all of the clubs. Duties may also include room assignments. The committee organizes the clubs schedule, reconciles contracts, registration and payments, and ensures that clubs programs operate according to HSA guidelines, including carpool dismissal procedures.
Community Service: Members are responsible for Smith School’s outreach to the community through multiple community service drives and/or events. Responsibilities include assisting the Student Council with the annual Food Drive in November and Toy Drive in December, in addition to other community service events planned by the committee and approved by the Executive Board and school's Principal. Examples of other such events include a Candy Drive for troops after Halloween, Giving Tuesday activities, Project Cicero (book drive) and Snack Pack (Center for Food Action).
Corporate Sponsors: This committee oversees the HSA’s participation in corporate sponsorship programs, such as Box Tops for Education, Stop & Shop A+ Program and Amazon Smile. Responsibilities include informing the Smith community of how to enroll and participate in these programs, as well as periodic distribution of communications and reminders for such programs. Duties may also include pursuing additional corporate sponsorships.
Carnival Committee: This committee plans and hosts the carnivals (mostly during the Fall). Responsibilities also include scheduling volunteers during the event, setting-up and dismantling of the event and creating and distributing promotional communications regarding the event.
Fifth Grade Co-Chairs: This committee consists of two to three 5th Grade parents. Committee Chairs organize sub-committees to run fundraisers (e.g. Car Wash, Family Photo), and plan and coordinate activities leading to the end-of-year events and promotion ceremony.
Fundraising: This committee will brainstorm and execute smaller fundraising events throughout the year to raise money for Smith School.
International Day: This committee provides a day-long program celebrating a designated country for the entire school. Responsibilities include coordinating cultural learning sessions and hands-on experiences for every class and grade level as well as an entertaining finale at the end of the day. The committee is also responsible for creating and distributing flyers and e-mails for the event.
Library & Author Visit Committee: Responsibilities include collecting donations for the Library Fund, to be used at the librarian’s discretion, and assisting in the library in lieu of a dedicated Library Aide. This person would also assist with the Author Visit(s) scheduled by the Librarian during the school year.
Lunch Program: This committee plans and executes two semesters of lunch, which are offered to students every day. Responsibilities include menu creation, working with vendors on pricing and contracts, overseeing registration and payment, organizing parent volunteers to serve lunch each day, recruit and oversee lunch day captains, enter and reconcile orders and payments to vendors, and maintain/purchase all needed kitchen supplies. Two to four chair people oversee the entire program.
Lunch Games: The lunch games committee buys games, puzzles, books, etc. for classrooms to use during indoor recess. Responsibilities include reaching out to teachers via e-mail in September to receive their top 3 choices, purchasing as many top choices as possible within the HSA-provided budget, and distributing the games to the teachers upon receipt. Games/puzzles can be purchased on Amazon, Target, or wherever the committee determines most convenient with competitive prices.
Merch Shop: This committee works with vendors to design and produce various types of fun and trendy merchandise with the Smith School logo, such as sweatshirts, tee-shirts, hats, pajama pants, water bottles, etc. The merchandise is sold online, two to three times a year.
Night Out for Smith: The committee is responsible for all the planning, publicizing and hosting of the largest fundraiser of the year. Responsibilities include: selecting a location, coordinating fundraising activities such as auction items, setting-up and dismantling of event, as well as collecting all monies after the completion of the event. The committee is also responsible for promotional communications and invitations for the event.
PASET Representative: This representative(s) attends PASET (Parent Association for Special Education in Tenafly) meetings and provides information about PASET initiatives to the HSA at the monthly meetings or by e-mail updates.
Plant Sale/Gardening: This committee orders plants and flowers for students and families to buy on a scheduled Plant Sale day in the Spring, prior to Mothers’ Day. The Committee selects a vendor, schedules volunteers, runs the Plant Sale, and collects and counts all monies afterwards. Responsibilities also include creating and distributing communications and e-mails advertising the sale.
School Supplies: This committee works with the principal and teachers in the Spring to obtain updated lists of required school supplies for the following school year. Responsibilities include interacting with the school supplies vendor, preparing an announcement memo and order form, and coordinating delivery of the supplies to each classroom in late August.
Staff Appreciation: This committee plans and organizes 2 events each school year to show our appreciation to the teachers and staff of Smith School for all of their dedication, hard work and enthusiasm in educating our children. One event is the Annual Staff Appreciation Luncheon, which is usually held in late November. Responsibilities include organizing food donations (either home-made or purchased) from parents, setting up the library, serving the food and cleaning-up after the luncheon is over. Another event is a staff appreciation breakfast or lunch, held in the Spring in conjunction with either parent conferences in late March or Teacher Appreciation Week in May.
Variety Show: This committee is responsible for planning and producing a school variety show for the students in March. Responsibilities include preparing appropriate communication to announce the event, including sign-ups for student performances. The committee previews the performances and organizes the schedule of acts. The committee also coordinates parent volunteers, sets up and cleans up the event.
Wellness: This committee organizes events and activities that contribute to the overall health and wellness of our students, such as scheduled but unstructured after school play dates throughout the school year or walk to school days.
