More Opportunities to Volunteer
Looking for a way to volunteer with kids at Irvington? Consider one of these hands-on opportunities to explore and share the world with the students of Irvington School.
Classroom Volunteers
Most teachers welcome volunteers in their classrooms. Individual teachers have their own system for arranging for and utilizing volunteers. Check with your child’s teacher if you are interested in helping out in the classroom.
Garden
Love to garden? Join your children as they grow fruit and vegetables and play in the dirt. Contact: Cathy Percich, cpercich@pps.net or Judy Cappleman, jcapplem@pps.net for more information and volunteer opportunities.
Library Volunteers
Volunteers are welcome and needed in the library. Volunteers are needed for both library planning and hands-on library tasks. Contact: Julie Polachek, jpolache@pps.net.
Battle of the Books (OBOB)
The Oregon Battle of the Books is a statewide program to encourage reading for enjoyment, broaden reading interests, increase comprehension, and promote cooperative learning. Students in grades 3 through 8 form teams and schedule practices with a parent leader. They compete in Jeopardy-style “battles” at Irvington, then 2 teams go on to represent our school in battles against other Oregon teams. The initial rounds are in Jan.-Feb. with the regional competition in March. For more information contact Julie Polachek, jpolache@pps.net or go to http://oboblsta.pbworks.com.
School Grounds
Since PPS has only two year-round groundskeepers on staff to maintain 753 acres of school property, there is always something to be done on the school grounds! Join Irvington families Sunday mornings between 10:30 and noon to clean up and play. The School Grounds Improvement Committee organizes Irvington families and neighbors for fall and spring school group maintenance and clean up. Contact Jessica Sanders, jgnmsanders@gmail.com.
SMART (Start Making a Reader Today)
SMART is an early literacy program that provides kids with the two things they need most to learn to read: adult attention and books. SMART volunteers are matched with two students and spend one hour a week at school reading one-on-one with each child for 30 minutes. Contact: Donna Hughey, 503-916-6185, dhughey@getsmartoregon.org.
Portland PTA Council Clothing Closet
Portland Public Schools provide a clothes closet at Marshall High School for children in need of basic clothing. PTA Volunteers staff the closet – each school is requested to staff the closet two times per year. Irvington staffs generally in September and again in February. 3-5 volunteers needed per shift. Contact: ptapres@irvingtonschool.com.
Bear Mail
Bear Mail is a fun, practical writing program for 1st-3rd graders. Students write letters to each other and a parent volunteer works with small groups of students to sort, cancel, and count the Bear Mail letters and deliver them to the classrooms. Contact: Anne Houran, hourana@gmail.com and Michelle Jones, thedentists@msn.com.
Wynner Bucks
Help Mr. Wynne recognize students for positive behavior and achievement with a free bag of popcorn. Contact: Greg Wynne, 503-916-6185, or gwynne@pps.net.
Yearbooks
Yearbooks are available to order in the early spring. The yearbooks include individual and class pictures as well as pictures of student activities and events. Parent volunteers assist with yearbook planning and collaboration. Contact: Julie Polachek, jpolache@pps.net.
Irvington school volunteers make it happen!
PTA coordinates parent involvement at school but you are in charge of what you’d like to do. Not all families look the same and not all volunteer roles are the same and both can change from year to year. If you had 10 hours to share with our school this year, what would you like to do? Together many hands make light work and our community grows. Best of all your child will see you actively involved in his/her future.
