Volunteering

We'd love to have you involved!

When you volunteer, all Runkle students benefit. There are many opportunities for parents and caregivers to get involved. In the beginning of the year, the most pressing need is for room parents.  Please indicate your interest in being a room parent on this form or by e-mailing pto@runklepto.org. You can indicate your interest in any of the other positions, events, or just a general interest in being more involved on this form or by e-mailing pto@runklepto.org.

Executive

• Co-chairs: The co-chairs keep the overview of all the PTO activities happening and help out at many but not all programs. The co-chair role is usually two years long.
• Clerk: The clerk historically has been a first-time member of the PTO board, and shadows the co-chairs as much as needed. They have in the past done things like taking minutes at monthly meetings, getting involved with events, and instigating new programs.
• Treasurer: This role is extremely important and entails filing taxes, keeping records of donations, income, and expenses. The treasurer provides reimbursements, checks and cash boxes for events and programs.

Yearly

• Room parent coordinator: Organizes the room parents and helps room parents get time sensitive PTO information out to their classes. This includes helping room parents set up a fall potluck for the grade, guides room parents on teacher gift giving, and sending out sign-ups for various events.
• Room parent: Help your child’s teacher communicate with the class, organize class gifts for the teachers at the holidays and end-of-year, and help organize a grade-level parent potluck in the fall. Maintain an e-mail list of all students for use by families for things like birthday party invites. Other tasks as requested by the teacher. Expectation for attendance by at least one room parent per class at monthly PTO meetings.
  
• Spirit wear coordinator: Set up and manage virtual store front for Runkle school gear.
• Webmaster: Help the board update the website as needed
• Social Media: Update and manage the Runkle PTO Instagram, Facebook, and X accounts.
• Newsletter editor: Collect information from the PTO chairs, principal, and community into a weekly newsletter sent out to all families.
• Annual fund committee: Coordinate annual fundraising efforts. This includes direct-ask approach and other opportunities throughout the year. Historically the fall fundraiser has been direct ask and the spring fundraiser has been a fun run or online auction.
• Teacher appreciation events: Coordinate room parents for monthly teacher appreciation such as stocking the teacher lounge, writing cards to teachers, and helping with the yearly teacher appreciation week events.
• PTO Grants: Committee of past board members who review grant applications from the Runkle community and award grants in spring and fall.
• PAAR (Performing Arts at Runkle) coordinator(s): Coordinate performers to come into the school each year for each grade level.
• Math & Science Enrichment coordinator(s): Endeavor to get each grade a taste of math and science from an outside vendor, such as Techsploration. Coordinate Math and Science night to engage students in exciting math and science activities.
• Middle school activities: Coordinate activities specifically for grades 6-8 such as a dance, open gym time, and more.
• RASP (Runkle after school program) coordinator(s): Put on an after-school program for grades K-5 that takes place after school hours at Runkle. Offerings such as chess, Lego club, and dance. These courses are offered for a fee.
• Spanish enrichment program coordinator(s): Help native-Spanish speaking students further develop knowledge and such of Spanish culture and heritage.
• Special education parent advisory council (SEPAC) liaison: Liaise with the PTO and parents to make sure the events put on by the PTO are inclusive to all students.
• METCO liaison: Help the PTO ensure that students in the METCO program are included in PTO events.
• Welcome wagon: Greet any new students and families through events at the beginning of the year as well as those who arrive during the school year.
• Runkle green group: Help with the garden in the courtyard and focus on Runkle sustainability efforts.
  
• School site council: Elections for Brookline-wide school site council are performed each spring and members who are voted in serve a 3-year period.

One-Off Event Coordinators and Volunteers

• Math and Science Night
• Skating Under the Stars
• Welcome Back picnic
• Grade-wide potluck dinner hosts
• Picture day
• Halloween Fair (including Haunted Walk!)
• Candy House decoration
• Middle School Dance
• Bingo Night
• Art Gallery Night
• International Night
• Book Swap
• Book Fair
• Bake Sale
• Spring Gala
• Year book