Each of HBMS PTA’s Committees is described in detail below. If you click on the name of the committee, you can e-mail the committee Chair/co-Chair for further information or to volunteer to help with that committee’s activities. HBMS PTA Volunteer Opportunity Forms are available on-line as well. These forms can be turned in on Information Day (August 6th, 2008) or either Curriculum Night (6th grade, August 21st; 7th and 8th grades, August 28th). Or, you can send a completed form into the HBMS office in an envelope addressed to, “Volunteer Opportunities Chair.”
Thank you in advance for your interest in volunteering at Haynes Bridge Middle School!
Box Tops—Big G Box Tops is a corporate program. Students bring in box tops from General Mills products, and HBMS’s PTA submits them to the sponsor and receives money in return. The Chair is responsible for ensuring that students and parents are aware of the program, for collecting box tops, counting the box tops, and submitting them.
Building Beautification—The Building Beautification Chair is responsible for supplying flowers to the front office each week. In addition, the Chair leads building projects on an ad hoc basis. Sample projects include small painting jobs, overseeing the landscaping efforts around the school, etc.
Career Day—Career Day is a showcase of career opportunities. The Career Day Committee Chair, in conjunction with the Counseling office, solicits a variety of speakers to visit HBMS to present their careers to HBMS students. HBMS PTA hosts this event on one day in February. Volunteers are needed for sign-ups (each class signs up on separate days about one month ahead of Career Day itself). During this two-hour period, students register for the four different sessions they will attend on Career Day. Some volunteers are needed on Career Day as well. That day, they register the almost 40 guest speakers, help settle speakers in rooms, etc.
Directory—The HBMS Directory is published and distributed in September each year. The Directory Committee Chair is responsible for working with the school’s Data Clerk to verify student information, establishing the directory format, selecting a printer, and soliciting sponsors for the directory.
Drug Awareness (Red Ribbon Week)—Red Ribbon Week is the centerpiece of HBMS’s Drug Awareness program. It is celebrated in October each year. The Drug Awareness Committee Chair is responsible for putting together a series of events to be carried out by the students throughout the week. Volunteers are needed to help with various aspects of this program.
8th Grade Celebration—8th graders celebrate their graduation from HBMS with a dance held the evening before the last day of school. The 8th Grade Celebration Committee Chair is responsible for planning this event, but many, many volunteers are needed to help decorate, cater, etc. Typically, parents of 8th graders lead many of the committees that prepare for this celebration; but, parents of 6th and 7th graders assist during the event itself.
Family Photos—The Family Photos Committee Chair manages this committee that offers photography services to HBMS families.
Gift Wrap Fundraiser—The Gift Wrap Committee Chair directs HBMS PTA’s primary fundraiser. Gift wrap packets are distributed early in the school year, and the sale lasts about three weeks. Delivery is usually in October. Chairs rely on volunteers at various points in this process, most especially during delivery when parents come to HBMS to pick up their orders over a two-day timeframe.
Haynes Bridge Games—HBMS Games Days are held for each class on three days in March or April each year. PE teachers lead Games Days, but the HBMS Games Committee Chair is responsible for leading the sign-up effort and providing support on Games Days. Sign-up takes place approximately two weeks before Games Day. Each class signs up on separate days. Volunteers man tables as students select which athletic activities they will participate in on Games Day. The Games Day Chair is also responsible for getting water and a tent for students to use on Games Days, and a few volunteers are needed on these days too.
Hospitality for Teachers and Staff—HBMS PTA hosts a breakfast for HBMS teachers and staff every month. The Hospitality Chair solicits volunteers to bring in breakfast items for this event: muffins, breads, casseroles, juices, etc. Volunteers also are called upon to help the Chair responsible for the Back-to-School and Teacher/Staff Appreciation Day Luncheons.
International Night—The International Night Committee Chair takes the lead on “Taste of Haynes Bridge” from the PTA’s perspective. The Chair acts as liaison to HBMS families who participate in this event, working with them early in the school year to ensure that the January event is successful.
Legislation—The Legislation Chair tracks state and national legislation that impacts education and funding that may affect HBMS. The Chair also reports on the potential impact that this legislation might have on the HBMS community via the PTA’s communication vehicles—i.e., its newsletter, website, and HBMS PTA Yahoo Group.
Lunch & Learn—Lunch & Learn sponsors several different noon-time educational programs throughout the school year. These programs are tailored to HBMS parents and others who work with middle school-aged children. The Lunch & Learn Committee Chair is responsible for planning the speakers for these sessions, publicizing the events, and supplying the beverages for attendees.
Media Center—A Media Specialist and para-professional staff HBMS’s Media Center, but there are many activities that require volunteer help. First, volunteers are need to help work in the Media Center on a daily basis—shelving books and helping with other projects as needed. Second, there are several events hosted by the Media Center that require volunteer assistance: fall and spring Book Fairs, Latte Day in December, and Swap Day in spring. These events range from one day to one week in length and usually require volunteers to serve in two-hour shifts. During Book Fairs, volunteers work at cash registers; during Latte Day, volunteers serve hot cocoa and a snack; and for Swap Day, volunteers need to bake cookies! The Media Center Committee Chair organizes volunteers for all these Media Center activities.
Membership—The Membership Committee Chair is responsible for leading HBMS’s PTA membership drive. The Chair updates the HBMS PTA Membership Form over the summer, staffs the membership table on Information Day, gathers membership forms, tracks members on the National (OMDR) database, and submits required membership forms to GA PTA. Though individuals continue to join HBMS PTA throughout the year, the bulk of the effort for this committee is completed by the end of November.
Newsletter—The Newsletter Committee Chair is responsible for producing the quarterly PTA newsletter, HBMS Eagle Eye. The Chair solicits articles from PTA Board and Committee members as well as HBMS teachers and students. Then, the Chair works as editor to produce the quarterly newsletter.
Office Support (PALS)—HBMS’s front office is staffed by full-time professionals, but two mornings a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00-8:45 a.m.), PTA volunteers supplement these staff members. These volunteers answer student and parent questions and handle other office work as needed in the busy time before school starts. The PALS Committee Chair is responsible for scheduling other PALS volunteers.
Pine Straw/Plant Fundraiser—The Technology Fundraiser Committee Chair is responsible for running two fundraisers over the course of the school year. The pine straw fundraiser operates throughout the year. The committee Chair identifies a supplier, negotiates a contract for pine straw, and develops a flyer which is posted to the HBMS website and (on occasion) sent home. In the spring, a full plant sale is run. The Chair directs this effort, and volunteers are needed during some parts of the process: e.g., collection, pick-up.
Public Relations—The Public Relations Chair is responsible for getting HBMS/HBMS PTA news turned into newspaper stories. Looking at the school calendar and working with school staff and PTA Board and Committee Chairs, the Public Relations Chair writes up events and stories about student awards, etc. and submits them to local news outlets.
Reach Out—The Reach Out Committee Chair manages HBMS PTA’s coat and can drives which benefit community charities such as North Fulton Community Charities. This Chair also directs giving within the HBMS family. Primary activities occur during the fall and winter.
Recycling & Environmental Education—HBMS has an active recycling program. Paper and cardboard as well as cell phones, printer cartridges, tennis shoes, tabs from aluminum cans, and eyeglasses are all collected for recycling. The Recycling Committee Chair is responsible for promoting recycling programs and working with staff contacts to organize student and parent volunteer efforts to collect and deliver recycling products. Volunteers are needed to work within the school to collect various products and make deliveries to outside collection agencies.
Reflections—Reflections is a National PTA Arts Recognition program. Each year, National PTA chooses a different theme. Students can interpret this theme through their own creation of dance choreography, film video, literature, visual arts, photography, or musical media. The theme is unveiled in the spring so students can work on projects over the summer, but the Reflections Chair usually starts work in the fall—applications are distributed, deadlines are announced, etc. The Reflections Committee Chair is responsible for getting HBMS submissions judged and HBMS winners sent on to the North Fulton Council level. The Chair also hosts a reception in February honoring all entrants
Scan Cards—HBMS receives a portion of grocery purchases made at Kroger and Publix grocery stores when families use “scan cards” that make HBMS the beneficiary of the store’s program. The Scan Card Committee Chair is responsible for making sure that HBMS is signed up for both programs and that both programs are promoted within the HBMS community.
School Store—HBMS’s School Store is open most Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings in the cafeteria from 8:00-8:25 a.m. The HBMS School Store sells basic school supplies such as pencils, pens, paper, etc. The HBMS School Store is also open on Information Day (the Wednesday before school starts when students get their schedules, etc.). The HBMS School Store Chair stocks the store and manages the volunteer schedule. Several volunteers willing to work throughout the school year are needed; the Chair organizes the volunteer work schedule for the School Store.
School Tours—HBMS PTA sponsors tours of HBMS three times each year (and hosts a “virtual tour” on its website). Families interested in learning more about HBMS are encouraged to attend these tours which are led by HBMS students as well as the Committee Chair. Following each tour, HBMS’s Principal and Counselors meet with attendees to answer questions. The School Tours Committee Chair is responsible for setting tour dates, leading the tours, and putting together a packet of materials that provides complementary material to attendees.
Scoliosis Screening—HBMS conducts state-mandated scoliosis screening each spring. Volunteers are needed to register students as well as conduct the tests. (Those who wish to conduct the tests must attend a one-day, one-time training course.) Screening usually lasts one day and is held in February.
Spirit Wear—HBMS spirit wear, t-shirts for girls and boys, is sold at Information Day! The Spirit Wear committee Chair works during the summer before the school year begins to select the design for that year’s Spirit Wear line. Then, the Chair is responsible for pricing, stocking inventory, ordering, and sales during Information Day and immediately afterward.
Student Mentoring (STARS)—STARS (Students Teaching and Reaching Students) is an HBMS PTA-sponsored tutoring program. STARS is held in a designated classroom on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 7:40-8:20 a.m. This program is offered as an extra level of support to select students. As its name implies, students provide the tutoring to other students. Adult volunteers are needed to both provide additional tutoring and provide organizational support. The STARS Committee Chair is responsible for recruiting and organizing parent volunteers.
Teacher Mini-Grants—HBMS PTA provides monetary grants to teachers and staff at HBMS each year. Any staff member interested in a grant applies using a form provided by the PTA. The Mini-Grant Committee Chair is responsible for providing the Mini-Grant Application form to staff members each year as well as for overseeing the process of determining grant award winners.
Volunteer Coordinator—The Volunteer Coordinator Committee Chair is responsible for collecting the input from the HBMS Volunteer Opportunities Form and distributing that information to appropriate HBMS Committee Chairs.
VIPS—VIPS stands for “Volunteers in Public Schools.” The VIPS Committee Chair is responsible for keeping track of HBMS volunteer hours. The TRAXX Computer System is located in the HBMS front office. Volunteers log onto this system when they enter the building and log off when they leave the building. For volunteer hours logged outside the school, volunteers can submit time via the PTA website [LINK TO HOMEPAGE]. The VIPS Chair does this job alone but captures the hours of all other volunteers! This job continues throughout the year.
Website—The Website Committee Chair is responsible for maintaining the HBMS PTA website. Working with the HBMS Board and Committee Chairs, the Website Chair also develops and posts new content as needed.
Welcome Back & End-of-Year Staff Luncheons—The Staff Luncheons Committee Chair is responsible for hosting two luncheons held for HBMS teachers and staff each year—one in August before school starts and the teacher/staff appreciation luncheon in May. This Chair relies on volunteers from the “Hospitality” pool for assistance.
Ad Hoc Committee:
Nominating Committee—This is an ad hoc committee charged with recommending a slate of officers each spring for the following year’s HBMS PTA Board. This temporary committee, made up of three members, is formally elected at the February General PTA meeting and then meets on an ad hoc basis to develop a slate of candidates. The Nominating Committee presents their slate at the April General PTA meeting when the new Board is formally elected by the general PTA membership.
Additional Volunteer Opportunities:
The HBMS Clinic also needs volunteers. If you could volunteer time in the Clinic, please let us know.
Finally, if you would like to volunteer and don’t see the right fit—please contact someone on the HBMS PTA Board. We would love to help you find a way to put your time and talents to work!
Haynes Bridge Middle School
10665 Haynes Bridge Road
Alpharetta, Georgia 30022
770-740-7030 • Fax 770-667-2842
This page was last updated on 10/24/2008 Copyright 2002 Haynes Bridge Middle School PTA