administrative Committees - 1ST VP - KALI BENSAADON

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Get the scoop first! ESSAC is a committee made up of Pinecrest’s Administration, classroom teachers, parents, and local business members. The parent representatives are elected by PTA members. The purpose of the group is to review and create our school’s goals and achievements. Meetings occur after school on Wednesdays, about once a month or every two months. 1-2 parents will be needed for the school year. This is a very important and worthwhile opportunity.   

The Budget Committee is responsible for presenting a proposed budget to the PTA Board for review and approval.   The committee will evaluate funding decisions, propose targeted multi-year investments, obtain ideas for wish list items, facilitate communication regarding PTA spending restrictions, and disseminate information on MDCPS policies and procedures related to wish list items. 

Love baking? Like to host? Or, not bake at all and run to the food store before a meeting? This committee coordinates the refreshments for our teacher events, PTA meetings, welcome-back coffees and other events throughout the year. It’s a very needed and appreciated job! Time commitment varies depending on the level you’d like to help.

Pinecrest Elementary is looking for parents that can assist the PTA Legislative Chair with informing our school community about important educational legislation on the local, state and national levels. 

The Membership Committee is responsible for the Pinecrest PTA membership drive. Preparation for the membership campaign starts during the summer and runs throughout the year.  The committee monitors the monies collected and distributes membership cards.

Help show our appreciation for Pinecrest teachers and staff. This committee will coordinate Staff Appreciation Week in May. Volunteers will be needed to assist with special events, activities, and gifts. This is a great way to show our teachers and staff how much we care!

Review teacher grant requests and approve funding for classroom enhancements.

Help coordinate volunteers that sign-up in the beginning of the school year and distribute their information to the Committee Chairs.

Manages a program that helps to pair New Families to our school with Mentor/Existing Families in an effort to ease the transition into Pinecrest Elementary.

Picasso! Monet! Jackson Pollock! Da Vinci! Van Gogh! Want to know more? The best way to learn is by teaching… in this enlightening and rewarding program, volunteers provide students with an awareness and appreciation of various artists and types of art. NO PREVIOUS ART HISTORY KNOWLEDGE IS REQUIRED! All materials, scripts, mounted prints and biographical information is provided. This program is for 1st graders only.

Career Day is an all-day enrichment program in which individuals and groups representing various careers come to the school and share their talents, expertise and experience with the children. Committee members are needed to solicit appropriate groups and individuals, schedule presenters, and provide materials and refreshments the day of the event. Coordination begins in January, and is done in cooperation with the school counselor. It’s a great event enjoyed equally by parents and students! 

Some of the best days of the year! Volunteers are needed for various Field Day(s) to help the PE coaches set-up and organize the events. 

Interested in GREEN and ENVIRONMENTAL issues? Want to make a big difference?! Green and environmental efforts are one of our PTA’s main goals for the year. Volunteers will help plan and execute various projects.

Is Halloween your thing?  Help us plan one of our new favorite traditions!

Help organize events (coffees, park play dates, evenings out) to allow parents to meet one another and support our school.  We want each and every family at our school to feel welcome.

The Listen to Children program is co-sponsored by Miami-Dade County Public Schools and the Mental Health Association. Volunteers must attend one training session. The purpose of the Listeners program is to help children who are identified by the teacher or guidance counselor as needing extra attention from an adult. Volunteers spend 30 minutes a week with a student, listening and providing attention in a caring, nonjudgmental way. 

The Pinecrest Elementary lunch committee is comprised of dedicated, hard working, and like minded moms, dads and grandparents who give their time volunteering in thirty minute increments during lunch hours. They are committed to ensuring our children remain safe and have adequate assistance and supervision in the lunch room. 

Safety is paramount! This committee addresses health and safety issues that affect our school – most notably traffic and parking. As in the past, the committee is providing carpool assistance on 57th Avenue, SW 102 Street and 104 Street to help keep the traffic moving. Volunteers are needed during arrival from 8:00 to 8:30 a.m. and dismissal from 1:45 -2:15 / 2:20 – 3:10 pm. to assist children in and out of their cars. With enough volunteers, each person will only need to work one morning or afternoon a week. A special perk: volunteers get to wear a psychedelic yellow mesh vest while they’re on the job!

The primary responsibility of this committee is to work with the school counselors to coordinate activities for Red Ribbon Week, Kindness Week, and more.  Volunteers will assist Ms. Portela and Ms. Kondrat in their planning for these events.  We will also provide fun, related activities for students, teachers, and families. 

The committee works with art, science, and language teachers to stage exhibitions and demonstrations of our children's work. The event is held in the evening so all parents can attend. Committee tasks include advertising, arranging and hanging the work, and helping with refreshments at the event. 

WATCH D.O.G.S. began in 1998 in a single school in Springdale, Arkansas and has since grown into a nationally recognized program that has brought hundreds of thousands of fathers and father figures into the school classrooms and hallways across the country, creating millions of hours of "in school" volunteer time and having a tremendously positive impact on the educational process. 

The Wellness Committee’s goal is to provide healthier living alternatives by providing programs that promote healthier food options, increased physical activity and awareness about nutrition, overall health and well being for students, parents and staff. We welcome ideas and suggestions for supporting healthier lifestyles and have varied volunteer opportunities. 

Are you creative and want to stay connected with school news and events? This committee will enjoy putting their artistic abilities to use to create “eye-catching” bulletin boards to inform students and parents of important upcoming news and events. Volunteers are needed to update the boards two weeks before each event. 

The PR committee notifies appropriate local media and publications regarding announcements and events related to Pinecrest Elementary. 

The Chair of the website will work closely with the PTA at Pinecrest to keep the PTA website updated in a clear, user- friendly manner. Computer skills are a must and the willingness to keep the website updated throughout the year. 

Students LOVE their Memory Books! A small, dedicated staff of volunteers, under the guidance of the Chairperson, is needed to chronicle the year in pictures and assemble the yearbook for the printer. Volunteers will be needed to distribute the memory books towards the end of the school year. Photographers wanted as well! 

Manage PTA and school information that is distributed electronically each week to the Pinecrest Elementary community. Volunteer should be comfortable with computers.

The Room Parent Coordinator is responsible for keeping the room parents informed of events that require their attention. 

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