It Takes a Village
Parent and community volunteers are integral to our school’s success. From working with students, to beautifying the grounds, to fundraising, to offering enrichment opportunities and special events, our school would not be the unique community it is without our Volunteers. There are many ways for you to get involved in our community. You can simply help with events, join a team or volunteer to take on a leadership role. Scroll down to find more information about these opportunities. We look forward to hearing from you!
Sign up here to help with one of our school events!
Sign up to volunteer here!
Just generally want to help out? Fill out this form to let us know what you are interested in doing at THES. At the bottom of the page you will find more information about ongoing volunteer opportunities.
Leadership Roles
We currently have the following openings for Leadership positions:
PTA Vice President
Supports the President, helps to keep track of the PTA calendar and supports PTA event coordinators. Average time commitment- 1 hour/week (sometimes more near events or on board meeting weeks).
Filled! PTA Secretary
Takes notes at monthly PTA board meetings and bi-monthly general meetings. Average time commitment- 2-3 hours/month
Carnival Co-Coordinator
A THES tradition since the 1950s, Fall Carnival is a night filled with games, food, and fun- all while raising money to support our school! Help us keep this awesome tradition alive by volunteering as Carnival Co-Coordinator. Duties include supervising teams of volunteers to organize games/booths, provide publicity, recruit volunteers, solicit donations and arrange for logistics at the event. We have one co-coordinator identified but need to find another to make next year’s Carnival happen! Time Commitment: 1-2 hours/week in Sept/Oct, (more the week of the event).
Filled! Hospitality Coordinator
Organizes volunteers to provide hospitality and food for our Young Writers’, Young Artist and Young Scientists’ Workshops. Time Commitment: 1 hour/week in weeks prior to the events, (more the day before and day of event).
T-shirt Sales Coordinator
Organizes volunteers to sell T-shirts and other merchandise, tracks inventory, and publicizes and arranges logistics for sales. Time Commitment:1 hour/week to prepare for sales (more during sales) primarily in August/September
Filled! Tamalada Coordinator/Co-Coordinator
The Coordinator(s) are responsible for working with volunteers to solicit donations, organize volunteers, and handle logistics. Time Commitment: 1-2 hours/week in Oct/Nov (more the week of the event).
Filled! Box Tops Coordinator
Helps organize collection schedule, counts box tops, and publicizes program. Time Commitment: 3-4 hours for each collection date, approximately 3 times a year.
Welcome Coffee Coordinator
Arranges publicity, coffee, snacks, decorations, and volunteers at the event. Time Commitment: 1 hour/week in weeks prior to the event.
eFolder Leader
Helps to collect information and reminders for the weekly e-folder. Average Time Commitment: 1-2 hours/week.
Carnival Co-Coordinator
A THES tradition since the 1950s, Fall Carnival is a night filled with games, food, and fun- all while raising money to support our school! Help us keep this awesome tradition alive by volunteering as Carnival Co-Coordinator. Duties include supervising teams of volunteers to organize games/booths, provide publicity, recruit volunteers, solicit donations and arrange for logistics at the event. We have one co-coordinator identified but need to find another to make next year’s Carnival happen!Time Commitment: 1-2 hours/week in Sept/Oct, (more the week of the event).
Carnival Co-Coordinator
A THES tradition since the 1950s, Fall Carnival is a night filled with games, food, and fun- all while raising money to support our school! Help us keep this awesome tradition alive by volunteering as Carnival Co-Coordinator. Duties include supervising teams of volunteers to organize games/booths, provide publicity, recruit volunteers, solicit donations and arrange for logistics at the event. We have one co-coordinator identified but need to find another to make next year’s Carnival happen!
Time Commitment: 1-2 hours/week in Sept/Oct, (more the week of the event).
Time Commitment: 1-2 hours/week in Sept/Oct, (more the week of the event).
Communications Chair
Do you like to know what’s going on at school? Do you think communication to parents could be improved? Consider becoming our new Communications Chair! This Chair leads a team to update website content, maintain our social media presence, and send the e-folder/Wednesday Folder each week. Also keeps an eye on the events calendar and reaches out to event leaders to remind them to send their communications through.
Average time commitment: 1-2 hours/ week.
Average time commitment: 1-2 hours/ week.
Membership/Database Coordinator
Runs the PTA membership drive in the fall by sending communications and organizing opportunities for people to return forms and money. Serves as main contact for the database, oversees data entry of membership forms into database and removal of members who have left the school.
Time Commitment: 1-2 hours a week in the first month of school. Occasional database work in the rest of the year.
Time Commitment: 1-2 hours a week in the first month of school. Occasional database work in the rest of the year.
Rock Store Leader
The ROCK store allows students to trade in their hard earned ROCK tickets (given for positive behavior) for prizes. The ROCK store leader will order prizes and organize volunteers to run the ROCK store each month. Time Commitment: varies depending on number of volunteers helping. Approximately 3-4 hours 1-2 Fridays a month.
Tamalada Coordinator/Co-Coordinator
The Tamalada is a beloved THES tradition and a celebration of our community’s diversity. The Coordinator(s) are responsible for working with volunteers to solicit donations, organize volunteers, and handle logistics. Please consider lending your talents to make this community-building event a success!
Time Commitment: 1-2 hours/week in Oct/Nov (more the week of the event).
Time Commitment: 1-2 hours/week in Oct/Nov (more the week of the event).
Teacher Appreciation Co-Leader
Leads the team that organizes events which make our teachers and staff feel loved!
Volunteer Co-Coordinator
Works with our current coordinator to train and place volunteers for the school. Volunteer Coordinators also assist event leaders with creating volunteer sign ups and maintaining the volunteer database. Time Commitment: 1-2 hours a week in the first weeks of school. 1-2 hours a month the rest of the year.
Time Commitment: 1-2 hours a week in the first weeks of school. 1-2 hours a month the rest of the year.
Time Commitment: 1-2 hours a week in the first weeks of school. 1-2 hours a month the rest of the year.
Wednesday Folder Leader
Arranges materials and supervises volunteers at the filling of Wednesday Communication Folders each week.
Time Commitment: ~1.5 hours weekly on Wednesday mornings.
Time Commitment: ~1.5 hours weekly on Wednesday mornings.
Young Writer’s Workshop Assistant
Our current Coordinator is amazing, but she’s looking for someone who can help with the lower grade presentation, presenter gifts and thank you notes. She’s got contacts and systems already in place for these tasks, and just needs someone to stay on top of them.
Time Commitment: 1 hour/week in weeks prior to the event & assistance at the event.
Time Commitment: 1 hour/week in weeks prior to the event & assistance at the event.
If you are interested in learning more about these positions, please contact:
Join A Team!
Communications Team
This group helps ensure that parents are kept informed about what’s happening at the school by updating the website, bulletin boards, maintaining our social media presence, and sending the e-folder/Wednesday Folder each week.
Fall Carnival Team
The group behind the Fall carnival fun! Help is needed to organize booths, food, supplies, signs, set up and more.
Cultural Festival Team
Organizes this event which celebrates the diverse cultures of our school. Team members are needed to arrange performers, organize cultural tables and the Mercado, and handle logistics.
Fundraising Team
Members are needed for a variety of tasks including: identifying potential donors and partners, researching or writing grant proposals, requesting donations, building business partnerships, writing or designing communication materials, planning fun events, and more. Contact the fundraising team at fundraising@travisheightselementary.com and thank you!
Grants Team
This group researches grant opportunities and writes grants which are essential to help keep our academic programs running.
Advocacy Team
Works with the larger community to enlist support for our school and families
If you are interested in learning more about these positions, please contact:
Ongoing Opportunities
Assisting Students
Help is always needed leading learning groups, reading with kids, tutoring, and assisting with special projects in the classrooms.
Workroom Helpers
Help make copies, laminate, make die cuts, or prepare materials for teachers or the office
Wednesday Folder
Show up Wednesday mornings to help stuff folders. Come when you can and stay as long as you are able! No commitment required!
Library Helpers
Shelving books- Drop in anytime and shelve a few books, every little bit helps!
Creative Projects
Creative individuals are needed to help with creating and updating bulletin boards, making signs, photography and design work
Beautification/Outdoors
Help keep THES looking great by sharing your gardening talents.
Chicken coop
Animal lovers are needed to help care for our chickens on weekends and school holidays.
Translation
Help to translate letters, flyers, forms and emails from English to Spanish.
Staff Appreciation
Volunteers are needed to help with organizing events to show our teachers and staff how much their hard work means!
Technical Support
Help with database or website maintenance and other technical needs
Sign up here to help with these ongoing needs:
Volunteer Orientation
All new volunteers are encouraged to attend a Volunteer Orientation. If you are not able to attend an orientation, the pdf below contains the training information we go over in the sessions. Please read it and familiarize yourself to the contents. If you have any questions you may contact the Volunteer Coordinator: volunteers@travisheightselementary.com
THES Volunteer Training Handouts 2017
Orientation Dates 2017-18
- Tuesday, August 29th-8am
- Tuesday, September 13th-8am
- Thursday, September 28th- 8am
Annual Background Check
Volunteers who will be working directly with children should request a background check each year. This includes Field Trip Chaperones, Tutors, and Classroom Helpers. This process can take a couple of weeks, especially at the beginning of the school year, so submit yours early! (Note: Background checks do not check immigration status & information is not shared with other agencies.)
Instructions for Requesting a Background Check:
- Go to: austinpartners.org
- Select the Volunteer button
- Select School Based Volunteer
- You can choose to make a donation or click through without donating
- Select Travis Heights Elementary from the school-based volunteers list
- Choose School volunteer
- Information about what the background check looks for is available by clicking the Background Check Guidelines link
- Complete the information requested for the background check.
If you have questions or concerns about the Background Check process or need assistance in completing the online form, please contact the Parent Support Specialist (414-4495) or Volunteer Coordinator: volunteers@travisheightselementary.com