Can You Volunteer at Fairhaven? YES!

We know you may be wondering how to stay in touch with your child’s education and their world at school. Volunteering at middle school may not look like it did in elementary, where volunteers worked directly in the classrooms. You may have heard that you are not needed in the middle school, but…Fairhaven could really use your help!

One of the ways you can support your child is by supporting the school community as a whole. We know this is a shift from the classroom-centric focus of elementary schools, and we want to help you navigate.

Please contact your PTSA for more details on how you can help, or to suggest a program or service that you think would benefit our students and school at large.

Remember that the best way to stay in touch is to get involved!

PTSA Volunteer Coordinator, Meg Metzger

megmetz@comcast.net

(360) 650-1381

IN-SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES: Volunteer during the school day. Unless otherwise noted, activity runs throughout the school year. District volunteer packets are available in the office.
Staff appreciation	Recognition for FMS staff (e.g., during conference, Staff Appreciation Week, end-of-year luncheon). Food prep & donations, party planning.
PTSA family socials	Festive evening events for the whole family. Decorate, serve refreshments, help organize entertainment, and enjoy the evening.
Lunch time support **NEW**	Man the “Chat Room” where students play board games, checkers, or chess after lunch. Back-up lunchroom staff on testing days.
Main office support **NEW**	Assist at front desk at start and end of school day (15-30 mins), or help with general copying and distribution of materials.
Teaching-team support	Assist with off-campus field trips, in-class projects, plus more. Opportunities to be defined by teaching teams.
Student mentoring **NEW**	Read one-on-one with students for 20-30 min blocks. Assist students in class with reading and scribing (30-70 mins). Scheduled w/staff.
Sports team support **NEW** (seasonal)	Support coaches by volunteering at practices & assisting at events. Please specify which sport (i.e., boys soccer) __________________________________
Book Group/Whatcom Reads **NEW** (4/yr)	Facilitate student-led book discussions before or after school. Tie in Whatcom Reads book pick.
Vision and Hearing volunteers (Fall)	Assist school nurse with annual screening.
Picture day (Fall)	Assist photographers in assembling and directing students.
Yearbook	Work with student volunteers to design, create and deliver an annual yearbook for students. Computer skills helpful.
Student newspaper (4/yr)	Work with student volunteers to design, create and deliver a newspaper, up to 4 per year. Computer skills helpful.
PROJECT/EVENTS: Involvement for a specific period of time.

Baking	Donate food for special events or programs.
Gobble Wobble (Fall)	Support this staff-led fun run which concludes the fall food-drive. Solicit prizes, set up and monitor the course, cheer participants.
6^th Grade Breakfasts (October)	Breakfast socials to welcome 6^th grade students & families to middle school. 7^th & 8^th grade parents serve refreshments.
Fundraising-Magazine volunteer (October)	Distribute info packets, process and reconcile orders.
Fundraising-Incentive volunteers (October)	Assist with incentives, raffles, prize distribution and execution.
Fundraising-Service pledge volunteers (October)	Chaperone service activities and process donations. (District Volunteer paperwork required.)
Art Reflections (December/January)	Help advertise and organize participation in the state PTA sponsored competition for artwork, literature, photography, and music.
Chalk Art (May)	Student groups create chalk art on the sidewalks around the school; parents supervise, provide refreshments, and enjoy the artwork.
8^th Grade celebrations (June)	End-of-year celebration for the 8^th grade students and parents. Recognition ceremony, dance (students only) & refreshments.
8^th Grade picnic (June)	Support staff to deliver an end-of-year picnic for 8^th grade students.
8^th Grade refreshments (June)	6^th & 7^th grade parents organize & serve refreshments at evening celebration.
Bike, Walk & Roll Wednesday	Promote healthy lifestyles with alternative transportation. Recognize student participants (7:45-8:30 AM, 1 day per month)
Middle School Challenge Run (June)	Welcome participants at check in table, distribute T-shirts & race numbers OR staff a position along the 2.3-mile course. A fun, healthy competition where participation level determines the winning school.