Committees offered at Buckingham Elementary
2009-2010
(Just click on chairperson's name to send them an email)

Winter Fundraiser: Possible Artcards (OPEN)

Artcards is a fantastic opportunity for children to see their creative and artistic works displayed on mugs, shirts, mouse pads, etc. Artcards products are perfect for gift giving.

OPEN

ART Expo

March 10-26. Display set up begins March 8; take down is March 26. Celebrate Creativity! A collection of our students’ best artwork from the year will be displayed throughout the hallways. A design contest will kick start the fun. Setup/take down help is needed. Refreshments for opening night are greatly appreciated. Art work is on display for 2 weeks.

Betsy Benosky 215-794-0209

Back to School Teacher Luncheon

August. This luncheon is on the Wednesday or Thursday before school starts; scheduled through the office. We provide lunch for the teachers and staff (approx. 35 people) between their morning and afternoon meetings. The PTO has a budget and parent volunteers are asked to help with the food. The luncheon can be as elaborate or simple as you like, keeping in mind that the teacher’s only have 1 hour to eat. In the past a small gift, usually $5 or less, has been given to each teacher. This year we had a drawing and four teachers each received a $25 gift card to Staples.

Denise Schmidt 215-794-9488

Banter In Brief

The PTO monthly newsletter in brief. Gives current information about what is going on at Buckingham Elementary.

Heather Hansbarger 267-247-5940

Blood Drive

March 24 - A one day event. Organize with the American Red Cross Account Manager. Form a committee of 5-6 parents to make calls to perspective donors and bake sweets. Organize the girl scouts as a "meet and greet" for donors. Make up flyers to be distributed at the school. Post signs, provided by the Red Cross, around the school. The Red Cross will run the blood drive the day of the event if requested.

Kristy Rickabaugh 215-794-8107

Box Tops for Education

There are three contests a year Fall/Winter/Spring. The students are asked to bring Box Tops into the class room. The Box Tops are collected, tallied, mailed and then prizes are awarded to the top classes. Announcements are sent to the office to remind students of the contest and notices are placed in the Banter to keep parents and students informed as to how the contest is progressing.

Trish Zlotek 215-794-5448

Brick Sale

This committee sends out forms to the Buckingham Families lettig them know that the PTO offers personally designed bricks. These bricks are then purchased and later installed near the front entrance or by the gym.

Virginia Howarth 215-794-4405

Bus Driver Breakfast

In May we provide a casual breakfast for the bus drivers to say Thank You. The drivers come in about 9 am. The PTO has a small budget and parent volunteers are asked to provide breakfast items. Each bus driver receives a small gift.

Glynnis Tihansky 215-794-0725

Care By Celebrating Children

Is an annual event at Buckingham in April. We reach out to the community to have guests come to Buckingham and speak to the students in their class rooms about their jobs. It is a wonderful event for the students and guests. Event planning starts in January. Please contact us if you would like to be involved in this very special day at Buckingham Elementary.

Fiona Jackson 215-794-2161 Cindey Barrett 215-816-3384

Clean-up Day

Coordinated by the Gardens Committee, Clean-up Day is really a big spring clean up of the school's grounds so they look spiffy for the visitors coming for Care By Celebrating Children (see Gardens). Sign up to help for an hour or more and you will be assigned a gardening task to keep you busy.

Jodie Tait 215-794-8998

Clothing Sale

The clothing sale committee will meet when there is a sale (once or twice a year) to fill and distribute individual orders.

Chris Buesing267-880-0968

Directory

The Buckingham Elementary School Directory is published annually and contains contact information for staff, faculty and students. The directory is published each fall, with committee work beginning in May of the preceding year and extending through publication in October.

Rene Fortier 215-794-5539

Entertainment Book (Closed this Year)

Coupon book fund raiser. Preparation begins mid-August, sale dates are early September and close out date is early October. Label, assemble and distribute E Books, information, track returned books, and orders.

Closed This Year

Fall Book Fair

Runs for one week during October (plus preparation 3-4 weeks before & clean-up after) The Committee needs to advertise, decorate (based on the current Scholastic theme), create enthusiasm with student contests or games, get 6th grade involved with 'One-for-Books' program, create 'Teacher Wish List', organize volunteers for set-up, cashier, clean-up, and work with Scholastic representative for fair delivery, pick-up and payment.

Darci Clausen 215-794-8268 Amy Greenlee 215-794-7677

FALL FEST

This is Buckingham PTO's FIRST Fall Fest, to be held Saturday, October 3 from 10am-3pm. There will be games, prizes, a silent auction, a theme basket raffle, Teacher/Staff raffle, scarecrow contest, pumpkin decorating, food, plant sale, used book sale, yard sale, and much, much more! It's our school's largest event and fun for the entire family. This event needs tons of support. If you are interested in helping, please contact the committee chairs below.

Rene Fortier 215-794-5539 Jodie Tait 215-794-8998

Family Fun Nights

We plan a few events through out the year (Bingo, Trenton Thunder). Our first event is Family Bingo. We will need helpers to set up, sell bingo cards, help with food, help with prizes, and break down ,etc., etc.-EASY

Bonnie Blythe 215-794-0106 Katrina Brillman 215-794-5396

Field Day

Outside on a nice day in June. There are 6 stations and each grade rotates through the stations. 12 volunteers are needed, so 2 adults at each station. 2 additional volunteers are needed for the water station. Mr. Durie, the gym teacher, explains the games and scoring to the volunteers and they in turn explain the game to the students and keep score. Starts at 9 am when Mr. Durie assigns games to volunteers and is over by lunch.

Laurie Douglass 215-340-7676

Gardens

This year round committee plans the extent of the gardens for the year. It involves coordinating and instructing different groups (the 6th grade Rockin' Roots, Boy Scout and Girl Scout Troops) to come in to help plant and clean up the beds at Buckingham Elementary. The garden committee's big event is Clean-up Day in April (see above).

Glynnis Tihansky 215-794-0725 Carol Cope 215-794-2326

Grocery Receipts

Acme and Redner receipts are collected year round. The receipts are tallied, dropped off to respective store and the PTO receives 1% of the total. Reminders are placed in Banter to keep the school informed as to how much the PTO makes on this fund raiser.

Patrice Navarro 215-794-3083

Happenings

A program that provides a variety of after school classes that children can sign up for at Buckingham Elementary. The majority of the classes are run by parent volunteers. The classes run 6-8 weeks from end of Jan-March. Examples of classes are: computer web design, American Girl doll club, sewing, cooking, pillo-palo, computer games, and fun with science. Committee chairs are responsible for finding appropriate classes, soliciting parent volunteers to teach classes, advertising the program to the school community, class schedules, money collection, and overall management of the program. Volunteers are needed to teach classes and to be door monitors. Time commitment is 1 hour once a week for 8 weeks if you teach a class, 15 minutes once a week for 8 weeks if you are door monitor.

Maria Ferrante 215-348-2723

Heart to Heart

Is part of the commitment here at Buckingham Elementary to reach out to our families of students and faculty in a times of need. We are designed to help families, especially students during difficult times, whether it is a hospitalization, illness, or any time we as a school community feel it is important to reach out. We also do a bake sale February 4th and 5th during the three lunches. We need help selling, baking and making cards. If you or someone you know needs help, please contact us, Mrs. Solitario, Mr. Rosica, the school nurse or the child’s teacher. All information is kept confidential—so please if you need us, reach out.

Denise Schmidt 215-794-9488 Donna Devaney 215-794-0518

Homeroom Parent Coordinator

All year. Oversees and manages all Home Room Coordinators. This person is in direct communication with the HRC's who coordinate with the teachers to determine the needs for organizing classroom parties and special events. The Homeroom Parent Coordinator furnishes the HRC's with forms, expense lists, emergency contact lists, etc. and monthly reminders about classroom responsibilities. The Homeroom Parent Coordinator has an open communication with P.T.O. Board to forward important school events to school families.

Trina Hamalian 215-794-1133

Honor Book Club

Runs throughout the school year. This committee works with the librarians to advertise and order books requested by the library and posted at the Donation Station. Books are purchased and dedicated with an in scripted book plate for special students, teachers and loved ones, and acknowledged monthly in the Buckingham Banter.

Gail Smith 215-794-8166

Hospitality

Calling all Cookers, Bakers, Set-up, Clean up, and those who chose to buy bake goods! Throughout the school year we will be in need of different food items. If you would like to be on our list of those to be contacted for the various events, please contact the committee chair. From my kitchen to yours THANK YOU!!

Denise Schmidt 215-794-9488

Ice Cream Social

The Ice Cream Social is held at school in late September for all new families. It's an informal opportunity to meet with other new families and teachers. Volunteers are needed to contact new families, send out notices about the ice cream social and help set up, serve and clean up.

Ann Woods-Kettleberger 215-794-2198 Virginia Howarth 215-794-4405

Kids Voting USA (Closed this year)

Work on this bi-annual committee begins three months prior to a general or primary presidential election. Committee work ends on Election Day. Kids Voting USA is a one-day event and takes place from 3:30 pm to 8:00 on Election Day. This year our presidential primary election is on November 4, 2008. The Committee members secure volunteers for the Buckingham Middle 1 and Middle 2 precincts by soliciting Middle and High School students for assistance. This is accomplished by contacting community youth club and volunteer leaders. Committee members must also work a shift during the event. Volunteers are needed for this event from 3:00 pm to 8:30 pm on Election Day. Additional info on Kids Voting USA: Our children may "vote" on General Election Day, November 4, at the same precinct as their parents or guardians from 3:30pm-8:00pm. Students have an opportunity to accompany their parents to the polls to cast their "vote" as part of Kids Voting Southeast Pennsylvania. Within two days, results will be published in The Intelligencer and the Bucks County Courier Times. Kids Voting Southeast Pennsylvania is a grassroots nonpartisan organization working with local school districts in Bucks and eastern Montgomery counties and the community at large to enhance civics education. The mission of Kids Voting is three-fold-to teach our youth to be responsible and informed citizens; to provide a hands-on, realistic voting experience on Election Day; and to increase adult voter participation through a "trickle up" effect. For more information on Kids Voting nationally, log on to www.kidsvotingusa.org.

Lisa Ganzer 215-794-7108

Library Help

The school library is in need of volunteers through the school year to help shelve books. With students checking books in and out on a daily basis the shelving of books is very important. Please consider volunteering an hour or more a week to help in the school library. Contact Mrs. Yates to schedule time to help.

Melissa Yates 267-893-4200

Market Day

The Market Day committee meets on Wednesdays once a month from 2:30 - 3:30 pm in the school cafeteria. The volunteers count the Market Day inventory and fill customer orders. The group finishes in time for school dismissal.

Theresa Sheehan 215-794-9891

Parent/Teacher Conference Dinner

November, usually the first Monday evening of conferences. This committee provides dinner only for the teachers during the fall conferences. If you would like to make a meal, help set-up and clean up we could use your help. The teachers work in the evening on this day and a lovely meal is much appreciated.

Denise Schmidt 215-794-9488

Playground Supplier

This position is to maintain inventory and upkeep with the "PTO TOY BIN" located in the school playground. Purchasing age appropriate and safe equipment for our students and to replenish and discard old or broken items throughout the school year.

Helene Haus 215-794-9142

Restaurant Fundraiser

Once a year a restaurant offers the school a percentage of the food purchased on that day. The event usually runs on President's Day. This is a chance for the entire family to enjoy a meal together and it benefits the school - a "family fun" event!

Deirdre Kells 215-5468

Sally Foster

Gift Wrap Fund raiser, runs in October. Included in this sale is gift wrap for all seasons and reasons, ribbons, gift bags, etc; great chocolates and some really clever gift ideas. The shipment arrives in November for delivery and distribution before Thanksgiving vacation.

Gayle Sutterlin 215-794-2421

Science Fair

The Science Fair takes place in May and lasts for two days. We distribute information to the students, plan for the event, and help students set up and take down projects.

Carol Cope 215-794-2326

Secret Shoppe

An event designed to allow children to shop for their family and friends for the holidays. The shop is open for two days, Friday and Saturday in late November or early December.

Barbara Beahan 215-794-3131 Jen Mershon 215-794-2926

Spring Book Fair

In the spring, the school will run a week-long Scholastic book fair to offer students the opportunity to buy books to read over the sprong/summer months and/or purchase as gifts for others. The timing of the Spring Book Fair will precede Mother's Day and graduations. The Spring Book Fair is a fundraiser for the PTO. WE will be seeking volunteers to help set up the book fair, run the book fair, and clean up at its conclusion.

Louise Park Stejbach 215-794-1426 Trina Hamalian 215-794-1133

Teacher Appreciation Luncheon

This event coincides with Teacher Appreciation Week, usually in May. Parents volunteer to make and serve food for the entire staff. There is a culinary theme that changes every year. We always need help cooking, serving, and decorating the room the morning of the luncheon.

Vivian Marquez 215-794-3499 Stacey Henjes 215-794-7162

Veterans Day Goodies

This is a day in November when we welcome Veteran's (relatives of Buckingham students) into our school and salute their dedication. We need volunteers to bake cookies, muffins, etc. as well as provide drinks.

Vivian Marquez 215-794-3499 Stacey Henjes 215-794-7162

Website

Update and maintain the PTO website throughout the year. Information on the website includes: the PTO newsletter (The Buckingham Banter), current flyers and information sheets, a calendar, and links to the district's E-Friday Folder. Website experience is always welcome!

Glynnis Tihansky 215-794-0725

Welcome Committee

This committee's purpose is to welcome new families into the Buckingham community. Whenever a new family enters the school either from the area or out of town, this committee helps the family get in contact with someone in their class. The family receives a welcome letter getting them information about the school and the area. They also receive a school directory.

Linda Sullivan 215-794-5343

Yearbook

Yearbook Committee runs for approxinmately 6 months, early October thru the beginning of April. We meet with the 6th grade students on the committee each week, or bi-weekly (depending on the progress), either before or after school - you choose the time that's best for you. We take, collect, cut and paste pictures of school events; Field Day, Halloween, etc. We organize the group pictures of band, strings, PEN, etc. Running the committee involves working directly with the yearbook company, mostly via computer online, to arrange each class portrait page. We distribute pages to homeroom mothers to complete and return classroom collage pages, organize yearbook orders, collect yearbook nmoney and distribute books upon arrival.

Trina Hamalian 215-794-1133