Committee Descriptions A to Z for the 2023-2024 School Year

 

A great way to get involved with the Dunwoody Elementary PTO is to join a committee that interests you. So, if you have a passion for a particular committee's responsibility, or feel that a given responsibility is not being properly addressed by a committee, then we want your help.

 

Please review the brief descriptions of each volunteer area and reach out to Bethany Rittenberry (brittenberry.despto@gmail.com) or Emily Santa Maria (esantamaria.despto@gmail.com) with your interest.

 

 

   
Book Fair This committee will organize two Scholastic Book Fairs – fall and spring – helping the school to raise funds and books for the Media Center. These multi-day events offer a wonderful assortment of books hand-selected by book experts at Scholastic. By generating excitement about literacy, the Book Fair committee helps to build our school, classroom, and home libraries – connecting our children with books they love to read. Contact: Jessica Bryant (jessicacoxbryant@gmail.com)   
 Community Business Support The CBS committee oversees the sponsorship and partnership programs with local businesses. Businesses that are committed to enriching the educational opportunities for our students may partner with DES through the Sponsorship program.  DES Sponsors are businesses that provide monetary contributions or in-kind donations to the school in exchange for publicity to our school community.  As a DES parent, when you see a business with a DES Sponsor sticker in their window, they'd love your support in return. Contact: Anne Schwartz (anneoschwartz@gmail.com)  
International Night
 Help make families of diverse backgrounds feel welcome and at home at DES. Develop special international and heritage observances throughout the school year. Encourage families to connect with the school's communication channels. Plan 1-2 events per school year to celebrate our differences. Contact: Idit Kolan (iditkolan@gmail.com) or Rachel Kepner (rachelkepner@gmail.com)
 Family Events The members of this committee will plan, organize and execute after-school events during the school year in which families can gather and socialize. The tasks involve hiring entertainment, securing a caterer, collecting and tracking money as well as set up and clean up duties. Contacts: Bari Holmes(bari@classic-tents.com) or  Beth Plunkett, Chick-fil-A Liason (bmd6578@gmail.com)  
 Field Day The members of this committee will plan, organize and execute after-school events during the school year in which families can gather and socialize. The tasks involve hiring entertainment, securing a caterer, collecting and tracking money as well as set up and clean up duties. Contact: Katie Weinstein (aho18@hotmail.com) 
  
 Fifth Grade Celebration The members of this committee will plan, organize and execute the 5th Grade Celebration at the end of the school year. Contact: Monica Dean (monica.dean@hotmail.com), Sheila Greear (weil702@yahoo.com), or Corey Hendrix (coreyddm@hotmail.com)  
 Grant Writer This committee will work with PTO and School Staff to help secure grants to fund projects around the school. Contact: Kate Edmonds (desgrantwriting@gmail.com)  
 Grounds & Organic Gardening This committee works with the Principal to develop and maintain the landscaping around the school. This team will help spruce up the outside of Dunwoody Elementary School getting it ready for the first day of school in August and maintaining it throughout the school year. Duties will include weeding, planting, general trash clean up, maintaining outside gardens, etc. Contact: Amanda Davis (adavisrdh@gmail.com) and Joe Fernandez (joefer@gmail.com)  
 Grounds - Nature Trail This committee will work with various businesses, school staff, and students to create an outdoor learning environment. If you love the outdoors, then this committee is perfect. Contact: TBD  
 Hospitality This committee will handle food and beverage needs for any PTO/DES related functions held at the school (i.e. lunch for the Open House volunteers, Principal’s coffees, etc.) Contact: Rachel Williams (rachellukerwilliams@gmail.com)
  
 In-House Volunteers This committee is responsible for gathering volunteer information (name, email address, phone number, etc.) including any committees that potential volunteers might be interested in; passing along volunteer information to committee chairs; sending out volunteer requests to entire member list as events/opportunities come up during the year; and awarding incentive prizes to those who achieve recognition levels. Contact: Lauren Cartwright (cartwrightsix@gmail.com)  
 Kindergarten Round-up This committee will coordinate, execute and oversee all efforts related to Open House in August and the Kindergarten Round Up event in the spring. Items include printing of the Registration Form, putting together new student packets and scheduling volunteers for Registration Day and Kindergarten Round up. Contact: Allison Mneimneh (allison.mneimneh@gmail.com), Lauren Cartwright (cartwrightsix@gmail.com), Kate O'Gara (kate.a.crist@gmail.com)  
 Lost and Found The Lost and Found committee will work to get items back to their owner. There will be two stations for lost items – one in the cafeteria for lunch boxes and water bottles; one next to the Media Center for clothing. After a specified amount of time the items will be donated and this committee will coordinate the donation efforts. Contact: Katie Weinstein (aho18@hotmail.com)  
 Lunch Bunch The Lunch Bunch committee will coordinate volunteers that are scheduled during the daily student lunch times to assist students with dining needs (i.e. opening yogurt cups and ketchup packets, providing extra napkins, etc.). Contact: Catherine Cho (catherineoh5@gmail.com)  
     
     
     
     
 Open House Work with the Principal, front office staff and PTO presidents to organize Open House the week before school starts.  Contact: Sheila Greear (weil702@yahoo.com), Brian Hoogerwerf (bwhoogerwerf@yahoo.com)
   
 Outside Publicity/Social Media This committee will manage the PTO's Facebook page, ensuring important events are publicized throughout the community.  This committee will also submit press releases and photos to the local newspapers and websites to get coverage of the numerous events and activities happening at DES. Contact: Lauren Cartwright (cartwrightsix@gmail.com)  
 Picture Day This committee is responsible for coordinating individual student photos and class photos with a professional photographer. The committee will work with school administration to select a morning for photos to be taken. A schedule will be established that will cause minimal disruption to the instructional day and lunch. Photos will be sold to student families as a PTO fundraiser and will be used in the school’s Yearbook. The committee will need volunteers during the actual photo shoots, a spreadsheet coordinator and a picture order coordinator. Contact: Monica Dean (monica.dean@hotmaill.com) or Michelle Myers (michelle.bouvier@gmail.com)  
 PTO Bulletin Board This committee is responsible for keeping the PTO bulletin board updated. Contact: TBD  
 Room Parent Coordinators This committee will consist of room parents for each class who, in turn, will organize parents to assist with class specific needs (i.e. field trips, classroom parties, copying, cutting, etc.) and PTO-related needs (i.e. volunteers for Field Day, Staff Appreciation events, Book Fairs, etc.). The committee will also include parents of 5th graders that will plan and execute the 5th grade celebration in May. Contact: Christine Klimek (cklimek@us.ibm.com) or Catherine Cho (catherineoh5@gmail.com)  
 School Supplies This committee will work with an internet-based company to provide home delivery of school supplies. Contact: Dara Berman (daraberman280@gmail.com) or Megan Lentz (meganelentz@gmail.com)  
 School Tours/New Families This committee is responsible for showing prospective or current DES families our school campus and answering any general questions that they may have. Work with the front office staff to make sure new families have the information and tools they need for an easy transition. Keep the new parent fact sheet and web site information updated and relevant. Send e-mails to new families to welcome them to the DES family.  Contact: Kristin Hathaway (Kristin.hathaway-hansen@woodruffcenter.org), Amity Feaster (apfeaster@gmail.com), or Maddy Crandall (madelineqcrandall@gmail.com)  
 Spirit Wear The Spirit Wear committee provides DES students the opportunity to purchase a variety of school spirit clothing and accessories while supporting the fund raising efforts of the PTO. Volunteers will be needed to staff the Spirit Table at major school events and to help sort and deliver pre-ordered items to the appropriate student. Contact: Lindsey Morris (lindseyu.morris@gmail.com), Ashley Waldman (awaldman10@gmail.com)  
 Staff Appreciation This committee will coordinate all staff recognitions including Teacher Appreciation Week events, Fiesta Friday Lunches and staff birthdays. The committee will provide a welcome back gift and Holiday and End of School Year gifts for each staff member. Contact:  Amy Lee (amcas1880@gmail.com)
  
     
 Tax Accountant Prepares and files tax forms annually. Contacts: TBD  
     
 Tiger Fund This committee will collect, monitor and oversee the major fundraiser for DES – the Tiger Fund. This fund committee will encourage 100% participation from the families represented at DES and will solicit matching funds from these parents’ respective places of employment if available. Contact: Rachel Kline (rachelnkline@gmail.com) 
  
 Tiger Talk Tiger Talk is the weekly electronic newsletter that is prepared and produced by this committee on behalf of the school and PTO. It is emailed to those families that have provided their email address to the school for the purpose of receiving the e-newsletter. The newsletter includes important calendar information, school information, a Principal’s letter and other PTO-related news and events. Contact: Amy Zeide, Nick Friend or Vicki Nix(dunwoody.tigertalk@gmail.com)   
     
     
 Website The members of this committee will continue to build and maintain the PTO website for Dunwoody Elementary School. Contact: Cobi Cohen (cobi@cobiedelson.com)  
 Yearbook The Yearbook committee produces, publishes and distributes the school’s annual Yearbook. The committee will make sure that all major events at the school are photographed, including as many pictures of the student body as possible; it will track Yearbook orders from Open House as well as online orders throughout the school year; and the committee will assist in the distribution of the books to the appropriate students during the last week of school. Photographers, layout and design volunteer, and page coordinator for each grade will be needed positions for this committee. Contact: Elenn Adams (elenn.adams@gmail.com)