All the work of the PTA is done by our amazing volunteers. A variety of volunteer opportunities is available, through our different committees and the many events we organize each school year. Learn more about the different committees below. If you are interested in any particular committee or program, please feel free to contact the individuals listed below. You can also indicate volunteer interests on our Volunteer Interest Form. We hope you will join us and get involved!
CONTACT:Box Top Committee
Want to earn cash for PRES that contributes to the many wonderful activities offered for our children through the PTA? If so, participate in the Box Tops program in two ways this year:
1. Buy, Cut, and Send to School – The traditional Box Tops clippings are being phased out of production, but they still can be found on many products. Please make sure each Box Tops has a valid expiration date and your student’s teacher’s name is on the baggie or Box Tops sheets (can be found on the Box Tops website).
2. Buy, Scan, and Earn – The NEW and improved Box Tops mobile app uses state-of-the-art technology to scan your store receipt, find participating products, and instantly add Box Tops to our school’s earnings online. This Youtube tutorial explains how it works.
Some of the brands to look for include General Mills cereals and bars (including Cheerios and Chex), Fiber One, Betty Crocker, Bisquick, Gold Medal Flour, Cascadian Farms, Yoplait, Progresso, Green Giant, Old El Paso, Pillsbury, Land O Lakes, Mott’s, Reynolds, Ziploc, Cottonelle, Kleenex, Scott, Hanes, Hefty, Avery office products, and many others.
You can see the full product list here.
Please Note: We DO NOT collect “Labels for Education” points that are available on Campbell’s and Pepperidge Farm products. We also do not collect empty juice pouches or printer ink cartridges.
If you have any questions about the Box Tops for Education program, you can check the website at www.boxtops4education.com or contact Box Top Committee
CONTACT: communityservice@pointersrunpta.org
Giving back to the community provides valued benefits to those in need, and valuable lessons to our students. Whether it’s adopting a family during the holidays or visiting seniors at Harmony Hall, the PTA’s Community Service Committee gives PRES students and families opportunities to fulfill the needs of people in our own community.
The projects for the upcoming school year are:
September/October
Coat Drive – Annual coat drive to benefit those in our community sponsored by the HCPSS Pupil Personnel Workers (PPWs) in cooperation with PTA Council of Howard County.
February/March
Sports Equipment Drive – We will collect used and excess sporting equipment for Leveling the Playing Field for programs and schools serving low-income communities. We will also try to organize a group to volunteer at the main warehouse to sort equipment.
December
Homewood Recycled Treasure Sale – Donations will be collected to be used by students at the Homewood School to “buy” holiday gifts for family members.
March
Book Drive – In conjunction with PRES Family Reading Night, we will collect new and gently used books to donate to Baltimore City Public Schools.
April
Grassroots Drive – Donations will be collected to benefit Grassroots.
CONTACT: culturalcelebrations@pointersrunpta.org
The Cultural Celebrations Committee helps to celebrate the diversity of the multi-cultural PRES community and to educate families and students about various cultures by hosting events like International Night in the fall and the Talent Show in early spring. For more information, email culturalcelebrations@pointersrunpta.org.
CONTACT: Committee Chair
The Directory is an invaluable publication that every Pointers Run family receives. The directory includes family/student contact information, class lists, staff lists, PTA officers and chairs, PTA calendar of events, and more! This is a book that you will use over and over again! In order to have your family’s information listed in this year’s directory, you must have indicated this in your Family File.
CONTACT: enrichmentcommittee@pointersrunpta.org
The Enrichment Committee of the PTA schedules performances for all grades in areas which complement the students’ curriculum in order to enrich their education.
Previous years students enjoyed performances such as a math interactive game show called Arithmetickles, a musical theater performance called Going the Distance, virtual science assembly by Eric Energy and a music/dance/theater!
Stay tuned for upcoming activities!
CONTACT: familyfuncommittee@pointersrunpta.org
The Family Fun Committee plans all the family social events for the PTA, bringing families and the community together for some laughs and good times.
Email the Committee at familyfuncommittee@pointersrunpta.org
CONTACT: Bhumika
The Kindergarten Welcome committee assists with arranging events that support the transition into kindergarten. These include:
- Visit Kindergarten Day
- Summer PTA sponsored playdates
- Popsicles on the playground after Kindergarten Orientation
Contact us! kindergartenwelcome@pointersrunpta.org
CONTACT: TIFFANY
The Literacy Committee’s goal is to encourage students and family members to enjoy reading throughout the year. Highlights of the committee’s programming are the Scholastic Book Fair in the fall and Family Reading Night in the spring.
CONTACT: membership@pointersrunpta.org
Every membership counts! When you join the PRES PTA you also join the Maryland state and National PTA and become part of a national effort to improve the education, health and welfare of every child. Membership numbers count in a significant way when our representatives are lobbying for funding for education in the Maryland legislature or in Congress. PTA membership helps you connect with the school, the staff and other parents. Joining the PTA does not obligate you to volunteer at school or attend PTA meetings–although we hope you will!
Click here to join the PTA, indicate your volunteer interests, or sign our participation waiver.
CONTACT: newsletter@pointersrunpta.org
In an effort to enhance communication with our PRES community regarding PTA related events, we currently provide a weekly email newsletter. If you have joined the PTA via Givebacks you will automatically begin to receive the newsletter by the beginning of October.
To join the list or for questions, contact newsletter@pointersrunpta.org
CONTACT: reflectionscommittee@pointersrunpta.org
Reflections is an arts program that encourages children to explore their talents and express themselves. Students reflect on a specific theme and create original artwork via dance, film, literature, music, photography or visual arts.
Calling all PRES artists to express their talent through artwork in the Reflections Art Program. Last year we had great representation in various arts categories from Pointers Run. Several students were recognized for their artwork at the county level and we also had a state winner!
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Dance Choreography and Film Production entries must be submitted in AVI or MP4 format.
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Music Composition entries must be submitted in MP3 or WAV format.
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Photography and Visual Arts entries must be submitted in JPEG, JPG, or PNG format.
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Literature and scores as required for Music Compositions must be submitted in PDF format.
Submit all entries along with completed entry forms via email to the PRES Reflections: reflectionscommittee@pointersrunpta.org
CONTACT: schoolsuppliescommittee@pointersrunpta.org
It’s time to order school supplies for the next school year! Save yourself the hassle of running around town looking for the correct school supplies! Ordering is easy and the supplies are delivered directly to you. And the best part is you can customize your order by adding items or removing items you already have!
Help create list for school supplies and share with the PRES community
CONTACT: staffappreciation@pointersrunpta.org
PRES has over 100 teachers and staff members who make our school operate smoothly each day and patiently provide our children with the gift of education. Help us show them how much we appreciate everything they do.
Some of the Staff Appreciation Committee’s activities include:
- Providing a monthly small token of appreciation to the staff at the end of each month (for example, at the end of September we provide small packs of Extra mint gum in a basket in a staff lounge with a note on the basket thanking them for the “extra” things they did for our kids this month and that it “mint” a lot to them).
- Planning a memorable Staff Appreciation Week each spring with the assistance of room parents.
- Providing meals and other treats to the administration and staff throughout the year, including a Back to School Luncheon, Bus Driver/Crossing Guard Appreciation Days, dinners during fall and winter conferences, and birthday celebrations.
CONTACT: Spirit Wear Committee
The Spirit Wear Committee arranges for the sale of t-shirts, sweatshirts, and other items with the school logo to promote school spirit.
CONTACT: Walking Wednesday Committee
The PTA runs this weekly fitness initiative that takes place during your child’s recess in the Fall and Spring. The students walk/run laps around the field every Wednesday, earning stamps for each lap. Stamps add up over the year and are redeemed for prizes. Volunteer Opportunities: supervise recess shift(s), including distributing, stamping, & collecting runners’ cards.
CONTACT: Wellness Committee
Each year, the Wellness Committee hosts four events, about one each quarter throughout the year. This year, we will be managing the PRES Fun Run/5K in the spring! Our goal: Making it easy to integrate “wellness” and healthy living and healthy choices into PRES families’ lives!
This year’s events:
- Family Fit Night
- PRES Fun Run and 5K
We welcome volunteers for the committee or for individual events.
CONTACT: Committee
WATCH D.O.G.S. (Dads Of Great Students) is an innovative father-involvement, educational initiative of the National Center For Fathering. There are two primary goals of the WATCH D.O.G.S. program.
1) To provide positive male role models for the students, demonstrating by their presence that education is important.
2) To provide extra sets of eyes and ears to enhance school security and reduce bullying.
Starting in October, dads, grandfathers, uncles, or any other father-figure is welcome to volunteer to spend a day at PRES as a Watch D.O.G. A Watch D.O.G. will commit to spending one day at school with his child/children. During the day, a Watch Dog may read and work on flash cards with students, play at recess, eat lunch with students, watch the school entrances and hallways, assist with traffic flow and any other assigned activities where they actively engage with not only their own students, but other students as well.
Sign-up coming soon!
For more information on the Watch D.O.G.S. program, check out the Watch D.O.G.S. website.
CONTACT: yearbookcommittee@pointersrunpta.org
The Yearbook Committee invites parents and staff to submit pictures of classroom and school/PTA events throughout the year. If you have some fun pictures of your kids and their classmates, and would like to see them in the yearbook, PLEASE send them to us. We stop taking pictures around mid-March, so remember to send them in as soon as possible!
While sending pictures, please adhere to the following guidelines:
- Send only good quality pictures.
- Include as many children as possible. Pictures with 2-5 children are more likely to be selected than a picture of a single child.
- Send no more than 10 pictures of an event.
- Please include the name of the event.
Pictures can be emailed to yearbookcommittee@pointersrunpta.org.
Help us create a memory book that everyone would like to have!