How you can Help

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Join the pta

We need you! By joining the Wood Acres PTA, you:

Receive a Wood Acres School directory with school families’ addresses, phone numbers as well as helpful school and PTA references, as well as access to our school directory app.
Vote on PTA matters that directly affect our children and our school.
Partner with other parents to become active, involved citizens in our community.
Become a member of the local, state, and national PTAs.
Stay current by using the Wood Acres directory containing students’ addresses, phone numbers and school information (additional copies available for $5 each).

What has your PTA done for you (and your child) lately?

Funded the purchase of new computers, laptops, and projectors for the classrooms.
Provided all financial and volunteer support of planetarium.
Welcomed new families to the school community.
Redesigned the PTA website to keep you informed.
Represented parents’ interest on cluster and county educational issues.
Funded the computer consultant position to train and support teachers.

Family membership in the PTA costs $36.09, which helps to support PTA activities throughout the year. With your family membership you will receive one school directory and full-year access to the online school directory. Additional directories are available for $5.00 each. To join, just log into your AtoZ Connect account and visit the online Store.

Join Today!

pta ANNUAL FUND

our children, our school, our community

Through the Wood Acres PTA Annual Fund, formerly known as the PRIDE Campaign, the Wood Acres PTA is able to provide enrichment programs and resources to our school and staff above and beyond what is funded by the MCPS budget. The PTA Annual Fund is the PTA's largest fundraiser, and it reflects the voices of many in the community who requested the opportunity to make direct donations rather than participating in multiple fundraising activities.

The PTA Annual Fund supports many of the outstanding "extras" that enhance our children’s school experience everyday -- things such as classroom technology, arts assemblies, planetarium upgrades, visiting artists, recess equipment and classroom supplies. The Wood Acres student experience would not be the same without these enrichments. Please join us in supporting our children and the Wood Acres community by donating to the PTA Annual Fund.

The goal for the PTA Annual Fund Campaign this year is to raise $30,000.
One hundred percent of the funds you contribute will directly benefit your child's education.

Many thanks from your PTA Annual Fund team!

Make a Donation Today!

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Volunteer

We could not do what we do without our parent volunteers!

Below is a list of our many PTA committees. No matter what your interests, talents or available time, there is a volunteer opportunity to fit any family. Whether you can lend an hour or two per year at your child’s lunch and recess, and hour or two per month as a room parent or more time chairing a committee or event, we can help you find an opportunity that will make a difference for our students.

Just click the button below to get started, or contact a current committee chair using the PTA Contact List or Organization Chart.

Woodacres PTA Volunteer Committee Signup Request

Name *

Name

First Name

Last Name

Email Address *

Phone

(###)

###

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Tell us how you’d like to participate with the PTA.

Are you interested in a particular committee? Have a talent to lend? Looking for an opportunity that fits your schedule?

Open Chair Positions

Featured

After School Activities

This committee coordinates the afterschool programs provided by FLEX (including chess, dance, art, music), FLES (foreign language instruction) and STEM vendors which offer extracurricular, tuition-based classes that meet once a week before or after school.

Anthology

One or two volunteers are needed to coordinate the publication of a magazine showcasing the literary talents of our 4th graders.

Art Festival

This committee is responsible for the organization of the annual Spring Art Festival. Volunteers are needed to collect and display art, and to setup and cleanup on the evening of the event.

AtoZ Connect

AtoZ Connect is the PTA's email network. Its purpose is to facilitate the exchange information relating to PTA business, school affairs and educational topics of interest to the Wood Acres ES population. The AtoZ Connect coordinator verifies membership, manages the list, monitors the site for proper usage of the AtoZ Connect policy and intervenes when necessary. Click here to learn more about AtoZ Connect.

Big Train Night

This committee arranges for Wood Acres representation at a Bethesda Big Train baseball game. This involves arranging for a faculty member to throw out a first pitch and for discounted tickets. Volunteers are needed to advertise and promote the event.

Bingo Night

This group organizes and runs a night of bingo fun for the whole family for the lower grades. Volunteers are needed to help with food booths, call bingo numbers, obtain prizes, and general set up and clean up.

Community Announcements

The editor of the Community Announcements receives classified ads or other material of interest to the Wood Acres community, but outside the scope of AtoZ Connect. Approximately weekly during the school year, the editor generates and sends, via AtoZ Connect, a single email containing the Community Announcements accumulated since the last posting.

Community Service

This committee works with Montgomery County to identify and implement projects for participation by Wood Acres students and the PTA. In the past, students and families have made sandwiches for Martha's Table and provided clothing, food, book and toy donations to our sister elementary schools and other sites. Volunteers are needed to organize and deliver donations and to help students participate in these activities.

Curriculum

This committee monitors issues related to curriculum and testing at the county and state levels, as well as the implementation of the new MCPS grading and reporting policy. Volunteers monitor the work of the MCCPTA Curriculum Advisory committee and the MCCPTA Grading and Reporting Implementation Team, and reports to the Educational Issues group and entire PTA as appropriate.

Dance Party

This committee plans and organizes the Dance Party for grades 3-5. Volunteers are needed to communicate with the deejay, advertise and sell tickets, and to chaperone and help with food sales on the night of the event.

Dine Out to Donate

This committee organizes two Pizza Nights each school year, usually at Ledo's Pizza, to benefit our MCPS sister schools, Oak View and New Hampshire Estates.

Directory

This committee produces the school directory each fall. Volunteers are needed to collect and input information, work with the printing company, and help with the distribution of directories.

Educational Issues

This group works with the PTA Executive Board and MCCPTA representatives to monitor educational issues affecting Wood Acres at the county, state, and federal levels. It reports activity and recommends actions to the Board and entire PTA. Volunteers coordinate parent communication.

ESOL

This committee provides information and support to families of children in the ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) program. It hosts social events as well as informational meetings particular to the interests of those families.

Faculty Support

This committee provides for the faculty a copying, laminating and bookbinding service. Volunteers can sign up to help with any of the above services of their choice for as few as two hours per month. Training is provided for all these services for interested parents. We can use numerous volunteers for this committee.

Fifth Grade Farewell

This committee is comprised of primarily fifth grade parents who plan and execute the 5th grade farewell activities (the pool party, memory book, slide show, etc.) and support the school staff who plan the evening promotion ceremony. A group of fourth grade parents traditionally plan and host the reception after the evening event.

Gifted and Talented

As part of the Educational Issues branch, this group monitors issues related to gifted education at the MCPS and MSDE levels. It monitors GT issues through MCCPTA and Gifted and Talented Association (GTA) listservs and meetings, as needed. The volunteers report activity and recommend actions to the Educational Issues group and entire PTA, as appropriate.

Green Team

This group promotes environmental awareness within the Wood Acres community by encouraging recycling and energy/fossil fuel conservation, supporting the student Green Team and reducing waste.

Grocery Stores and Box Tops

This committee coordinates the supermarket and product fundraising programs sponsored by Giant, Safeway, Campbell's Soup and General Mills Box Tops for Education.

ICB Coordinator

This person works closely with the school secretary and the MCPS rep of the ICB (Interagency Coordinating Agency) to coordinate and submit requests for building space usage for PTA events. This person must go to a one-time training session.

Ice Skating

This group arranges for a winter family evening of ice-skating fun at Cabin John Ice Rink. Volunteers are needed to advertise and sell tickets for the event.

International Night

International Night is a celebration of Wood Acres’ multi-cultural diversity. This very popular event takes place once every two years and features food, performances and exhibits from many countries of the world.

Jogfest

This committee organizes a community Spring JogFest, which offers a 5-K run, and fun runs and walks for all ages. Many volunteers are needed to obtain sponsors, order t-shirts and medals, secure food donations, distribute race packets and to marshal the course on the morning of the event.

Kindergarten Orientation

This committee assists with two events – a winter coffee for parents of incoming kindergarteners and a spring orientation for students and parents. Volunteers help by greeting parents and children, providing refreshments, and publicizing the events.

Featured

Lost and Found

This committee periodically sorts through and displays the items collected in the Lost & Found bins and alerts the school community via AtoZ Connect to search for lost items. The committee also coordinates the donation of any items not claimed.

Lunch-Recess

This committee is responsible for organizing training and scheduling the many volunteers needed to assist in the lunchroom and at recess.

Media Center Volunteers

This committee consists of volunteers who are scheduled (generally for two hours every other week) to staff the checkout desk, re-shelve books, assist students with finding books and perform other responsibilities in the Media Center as requested by the Media Specialist.

Membership/Join PTA

This committee conducts a PTA membership drive at the Open House in August. Volunteers are needed to collect membership forms and dues, and to distribute directories through the fall.

Minority Outreach

The committee provides targeted information and support to families of diverse cultural, racial and ethnic backgrounds. It hosts social and informational events to promote networking, support, information sharing, cultural awareness and also serves as a liaison to other local MCPS community groups relating to race and equity.

Planetarium

This group oversees the Planetarium program by recruiting parent volunteers and scheduling classes throughout the year. Planetarium volunteers are required to be trained on the planetarium equipment and in various topics of astronomy. The training program for new volunteers is offered at various times, usually in October and November. Most new volunteers attend two sessions to learn the equipment and absorb the experience of our very capable trainers.

PRIDE Fundraising Campaign

This committee coordinates the PTA's largest fundraiser of the year. The money raised accounts for over 55% of the PTA budget, and 100% of the donations are used to fund technology, visiting artists, assemblies and supplies that support and enrich teaching and learning at Wood Acres.

Room Parent Coordinator

This volunteer is responsible for recruiting coordinators to organize the room parents for each grade level (three or four room parents per class). This committee is responsible for organizing email lists for each class and for designating a coordinator for each grade. This committee is also responsible for working closely with the PE teacher to coordinate Field Day activities (a year-end event) and recruits volunteers to help at this outdoor event.

Science Fair

This committee organizes our annual science fair which encourages students from K-5 to create and display an age-appropriate science fair project. The committee needs volunteers to set up and judge the fair.

Space Night

Every two years this committee organizes a fun-filled evening of games, contests, experiments, and activities celebrating space, astronomy, and our very own Planetarium. Many volunteers are needed to make this evening a success.

Special Education

The committee provides targeted information and support to families of special education students. It hosts Special Needs Parent Network meetings and serves as advocate and liaison on issues regarding programs for special education students.

Staff Appreciation

This committee acknowledges holidays, staff changes, birthdays and other special events for the teachers and school staff. It also organizes an end-of-year luncheon for faculty and staff.

S.T.E.A.M.

The STEAM committee creates fun and educational opportunities for learning about science, technology, math, and engineering for our students. Please join us as we're constantly searching for new ideas and volunteers to offer more STEAM opportunities for our students and be sure to check out the STEAM classes we are currently offering!

Visiting Artists and Assemblies Committee

This committee selects, schedules, and coordinates the arrangements for cultural arts presentations (poets, authors, opera singers, visual artists, etc.) to students, and, separately coordinates programs for established artists to come into the classroom to teach workshops related to their field of expertise.

Website

This volunteer (or team of volunteers) is responsible for updating and maintaining the Wood Acres PTA website. This volunteer posts content received from the PTA committees and school staff about upcoming events, activities, and other news. The website administrator works closely with Communications VP.

Wildcat Week Ahead

Each week through the school year, this volunteer produces the Wildcat Week Ahead — the PTA's weekly news brief — and sends it to the Wood Acres ES community via AtoZ Connect. The Wildcat Week Ahead contains information relating to the PTA and school-related activities, such as family fun events, fundraising events, charity efforts, volunteering opportunities, important dates and other announcements. The Wildcat Week Ahead is typically circulated on Mondays and is also posted on the homepage of the PTA website.

Wildcat Welcome Reception

This group organizes and hosts newcomer evenings for families new to the school and are available to answer questions to new families throughout the school year. The committee also supports the administration in hosting and setting up for an hour long open house the Friday before school opens for the new school year.

Wizard of Oz

This group oversees this extracurricular, fee-based event for 4th grade students in the spring. Click here for more information.

Yearbook

This committee is responsible for the school yearbook. We need volunteers to take and collect photos throughout the year, use creativity to layout the book and work with the yearbook company to make sure that all deadlines are met.

lunch and recess

A GREAT WAY TO GET INVOLVED!

Unlike many other schools, Wood Acres generously allows parents to volunteer at lunch and recess. Please utilize this unique opportunity to be involved during the school day.

How do I volunteer?

ATTEND TRAINING: Please watch for training opportunities to be announced. Training will be led Assistant Principal Mrs. Melanie Knight.
MCPS asks that all parent volunteers take a 30-minute online training to prevent child abuse and neglect. If you completed it in 2017-2018 or 2018-2019, you do NOT need to take it again until 2020.
There's no need to sign up to volunteer for L&R. Simply come to school during your child's lunch and/or recess, sign in at the main office, take a L&R volunteer lanyard and head upstairs. Check in with the L&R staff to see how/where you can be the most helpful during that period.
Please review the Lunch & Recess handbook prior to volunteering for important information on working with children at WAES.

Schedule & Tips

Adults volunteers are helpful when they...

At Lunch:

Walk around between tables and remind students to use an inside voice and not talk with students sitting at other tables.
Remind students to raise their hand for permission to go to the restroom or get a drink of water. (There are aprons to wear to place napkins, forks, and spoons in - items many students need.)
Encourage students to listen to directions given by the lunchroom aides and building services.
Support students to wait to clean up lunch trash, by table groups, at the end of lunch and remind them to clean up items that have dropped on the floor.
Help children recycle recyclable material in the appropriate bins.

At Recess:

Promote inclusive games that do not involve physical contact. For example, play soccer, basketball, Four Square, Horse, Pickle, or Mother May I, or encourage an obstacle course.