Volunteering
Participation at our school is strongly encouraged but 100% voluntary. We welcome everyone to pitch in however they're able. We have in-class opportunities, such as Art-in-Action and Project Cornerstone, where you can help in your child's classroom. We also love parent volunteers in our Makerspace, to supervise all the creativity during Lunch Club. And we always need volunteers for specific events throughout the year, such as our Fall Fiesta, Fall Fundraiser, and Pasta Dinner!
See below for more information about volunteer opportunities, and also check out our 'Events' page to find out about upcoming events which always need support! If you'd like to find out more about volunteer opportunities that fit your schedule and skills, please email us at volunteer@henryfordpta.org.
Benefits in Volunteering
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Flexibility for you to help your child's school. There are many ways to help whether it's on campus or at home, during the day, evening or weekend. One hour makes a difference.
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Network with other parents by working and having fun alongside them. You just might meet your new best friend, a carpool partner, or the lead on a new job. Join us!
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Make a difference fundraising, helping in the classroom, and engaging the community. Parents like you make these programs possible.
- Your kids love it! Our children are at a wonderful age where they want to see their parents helping at school. And the other children love it too. You'll become a friendly, familiar face in the hallway and the hi's will warm your heart.
Become a PTA member
As a PTA member you have voting rights to approve budgets and decide board leadership. Membership dues also help pay for our insurance and other filing fees to remain a non-profit organization. Annual membership is only $10 ($15 for a family). Please consider signing-up for or renewing your PTA Membership. Being a PTA member is not required to volunteer but it does help when every dollar counts.
Volunteers Applications through RCSD
Starting in winter 2022, volunteers are allowed back on campus. This means that volunteers can return to helping in the classroom with Art in Action and Project Cornerstone, chaperoning field trips, helping out in our Makerspace, and so much more!!
In order to keep everyone safe on campus, there are some requirements, including TB test/questionnaire, government-issued ID, and proof of COVID vaccination.
See HERE for instructions, and see you on campus!!
Makerspace is back
Coordinator: Becky Foutch
Needs: Parent Volunteers (no experience necessary)
Sign-up: To volunteer or donate materials, email steam@henryfordpta.org
The Makerspace is an expansion of the STEAM (Science/Technology/
- The Makerspace Lunch Club is a parent-supervised lunchtime period for upper-grade students to engage in creative independent and collaborative projects. The Lunch Club is a very popular program and is one of the most gratifying volunteer opportunities at Henry Ford. Students have the following to say: "I can't believe we get to come here!" "I'm so happy when I'm here." "I want to come every day." "Thank you so much for the Makerspace!" "I'm so excited, I don't know what to make!" "I don't want to leave."
- Free after-school CS First and Scratch Coding Clubs are available to every grade when parent volunteers are available.
- This year, the MakerSpace Club is an after school club, led by two teachers, to allow kids to design and build carnival games, which will be used during our spring Pasta Dinner event!
- Teachers are invited to use the space and materials for classroom activities.
- CURIOUS
They explore. They pursue projects they find interesting. - PLAYFUL
They work on projects that show whimsy and playfulness. - WILLING TO TAKE ON RISK
They aren’t afraid to try new things. - WILLING TO TAKE ON RESPONSIBILITIES
They enjoy projects that can help others. - PERSISTENT
They don’t give up easily. - RESOURCEFUL
They look for materials and ideas in unlikely places. - WILLING TO SHARE
Share knowledge, tools and support for others. - OPTIMISTIC
They believe they can make a difference in the world!
Donations Needed!
Amazon Wishlist (search “Henry Ford Makerspace”): https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/289UGYZGIJ5H?&sort=default
- Tape – all kinds
- Cardboard – all kinds
- Sharpies
- TP & PT Tubes
- Paper/Plastic cups, plates
- Glue & Hot Glue Sticks
- Batteries: Coin, AA, AAA batteries
- Fabric Sewing Supplies (thread, needles, etc)
- Packing supplies (no styrofoam)
- Clean plastic food and beverage containers
- Craft sticks, straws
- Paper – all kinds
- Fabric, yarn, Velcro, ribbon
- Office supplies and tools
- Clorox Wipes
- OTHER – Get creative! No glass or styrofoam please!
Email steam@henryfordpta.org, if you are interested in volunteering.
We are opening up the MakerSpace for a Lunch Club and we need parent volunteers!
In-Class Volunteer Opportunities
Art in Action
Yippee, In-class lessons have started again and we need volunteers!
Coordinator: Krissie Rice
Needs: Parent Volunteers (training and materials provided)
Sign-up: Email aia@henryfordpta.org
Website: https://teach.artinaction.org/
Check out this video about Art in Action
Art in Action is our school's art program, dependent on parent volunteers to provide art instruction in the classrooms. Students learn art appreciation, history and techniques through discussion and hands-on monthly lessons. Typically taught by classroom parent volunteers (and in some cases teachers) Art in Action curriculum is fun to learn and easy to teach, even for non-artists. Curriculum books provide detailed, step-by-step directions for guiding successful discussions and projects, while still allowing the flexibility to ensure that the program will complement any classroom environment. Parent volunteers are provided training and materials to lead successful monthly lessons.
In some of our 2020 online lessons, Kinder and 1st grade students learned about Byzantine Mosaics and applied the technique to simple shapes. 4th graders studied Faith Ringgold and created their own quilt art.
Project Cornerstone
Classroom volunteers also back in class -- woohoo!
Coordinator: Kelley McCarthy
Needs: Parent Volunteers (training and materials provided)
Sign-up: Email pchenryford@gmail.com
In Project Cornerstone’s Asset Building Champions (ABC) program, parent volunteers read specially selected stories and lead classroom activities & discussions about building appropriate social skills. The lessons focus on values like honesty, responsibility, and peaceful conflict resolution. Special attention is given to issues like student-to-student, dealing with bully behaviors, and social conflicts. Each month a school-wide book is read in every classroom. The book and discussion teach life skills and tools; ABC gives students a safe and caring place to talk about their feelings, experiences and concerns. The goal of the ABC program is to teach our children skills that they can use today and throughout their lives to help them deal with peer pressure, building and keeping friendships, making healthy decisions, and solving problems. By sharing these concepts in class, ABC gives our entire school community, from principal to student, a shared vocabulary and collective strategies for dealing with difficult situations both in school and out. We are so fortunate at Henry Ford to have this program available to our children; however, we could not do it without the support of you, the parents. Volunteers are provided training and materials to lead successful monthly lessons.
Our Garden
In case you haven't heard, the Henry Ford Garden got updated over the summer! Back in the fall, students, parents, and staff volunteers came by to pull weeds and place some plants in the ground. We hope our students will continue to learn and enjoy the garden.
If you want to help out with the garden, email garden@henryfordpta.org.
Reading
(stay tuned...)
Work with students on site words and reading fluency to build their confidence with reading. Talk to your child's teacher about helping in the classroom.
Field Trip Chaperones
(stay tuned...)
Go on learning adventures with our students. Your child's teacher will provide parents with chaperone opportunities.
Event Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers are needed for PTA events throughout the year. See our 'Events' page for more details about these events.
We always love new voices and ideas! If you have an idea for an event, please email us at volunteer@henryfordpta.org.
Fall Fiesta
The Fall Fiesta is held on campus in the fall. Highlights include carnival games, bake sale and food trucks!
Coordinator: Open position, email volunteer@henryfordpta.org to find out more
Needs: Set-up, Clean-up, Game Helpers, Bake Sale and Popcorn Helpers, Bake Sale donations
Sign-up: Coming soon!
Fall Fundraiser
Buy gifts and treats, just in time for the holidays, while earning money for our school! Plus, students can earn fun prizes for selling!
Dates TBD for 2022
Coordinator: Jamie Brown
Needs: Sort and deliver purchases to classrooms
Sign-up: No volunteers needed this time but take a look if there is another event in need of volunteers
Halloween Event
In October 2021, we had our first Trunk or Treat event. Parents and staff decorated cars trunks, and then cheered on the students in their Halloween finest!
Dates TBD for 2022
Coordinator: Open Position
Needs: Set-up, Clean-up
Sign-up: Stay tuned until next year!
Hometown holidays parade
In December, Redwood City hosts a holiday parade through the streets of downtown Redwood City. Henry Ford always loves to show off our Mustang pride!
Early December -- downtown Redwood City
Coordinator: Emily Paul
Family dance
February 2023
Coordinator: Open position, email volunteer@henryfordpta.org to find out more
Needs: Set-up, Clean-up
Sign-up: Coming soon...
scholastic book fair
Children, parents and teachers LOVE this on-campus book fair! Find new books to read and help replenish our teachers' collections, all in our own school library!
Coordinator: Joanne Penko
Needs: Set-up, Breakdown, Cashiers, Door Checkers
Sign-up: Coming soon...
family dodgeball
Coordinator: Open position, email volunteer@henryfordpta.org to find out more
Needs: Baked goods donations
Sign-up: Coming soon...
pasta dinner fundraiser
Our biggest event held each Spring on campus, Pasta Dinner brings together the entire school community for a fun night of carnival games, food, raffle drawings, plus an online auction.
May 19 2023
Needs: Dinner Committee helpers, Auction Committee Helpers, Basket Raffle Helpers, Carnival Set-up, Clean-up, Game Helpers
Sign-up: Email volunteer@henryfordpta.org
