The McDougle Elementary School PTA has high hopes for an engaging and community-building year. We can't do it without the help of parents, friends and family. Join the Pod by filling out our volunteer interest form and help make this year a success! 

There are many ways you can support McDougle Elementary School. Thank you in advance for your help. The MES PTA Board looks forward to an amazing year. Membership is not required to volunteer. We hope that you will encourage your child/children to attend a PTA sponsored event in order to celebrate being part of our wonderful shared MES Dolphin community!

Current Volunteer Needs

1. One McDougle Multicultural Night: Multicultural Night is BACK! One McDougle Multicultural Night is an awesome event that showcases our amazing school diversity through families' and community members' presentations, traditional foods, crafts, performing arts, and more! This year's event will take place on Tuesday, March 26th from 6-8pm, and we need your help to make it another huge success. Sign up to represent your culture or country or to volunteer to help run the event using this SignUp Genius link.

2. PTA Board 2024-25  | Are you interested in taking on a bigger role with the PTA next year? We would love to have you! Please complete this Google Form or email Amy Shaw if you are interested or have any questions. Our elections will be held at the last General PTA Meeting of the year on Friday, May 3, 2024.

3. Spirit Wear: Are you an artist or interested in creating really cool swag - t-shirts, hoodies, etc. for McDougle students, parents, and staff for next school year?  Please reach out to Leah Milks if you are interested in helping with Spirit Wear for next year!

ONGOING: ONE (OR TWO) TIME EVENTS

These events mostly occur one time a year and volunteers are needed only during the specific time of before and during the activity.

• Book Fair: Works with Scholastic Books for online/in store Book Fairs; Recruits volunteers to set up, operate, and pack up fair; Schedules teacher preview and family night; Solicits teacher wish lists. Previously held in Fall, Spring, or both.

• Reflections Cultural Arts Contest: A National PTA arts program that encourages kids to create works of art or writing for fun and recognition; help communicate with parents and teachers to encourage entries, help organize student recognition ceremony, help arrange judging of the submitted entries, help make a hallway/lobby display of entries post-judging.

• Staff Appreciation: Largest event is Teacher Appreciation Week; also provides monthly breakfasts, snacks for staff meetings and other special events, and the Winter Luncheon. Needs include set-up and clean-up in addition to supplying edible treats and tokens of appreciation.

• 5K for Education: This district-wide event is a run/walk around the UNC campus. Distribute, collect, and return donation envelopes to Public School Foundation; Encourage participation based on advertised theme; Remind walkers to sign-in and distribute stickers at event; Organize fundraising booth at carnival (optional).

• Fall and Spring Fundraisers: One of the largest sources of revenue for the school, this event includes games, food, raffle prizes and items for silent auction. Coordinates themed baskets from classrooms and Fair booths; Solicits donations from families, staff, and community. Organizes necessary materials such as tables, tickets, bid sheets, bake sale, food sale, entertainment, crafts, and materials for fair booths.  Coordinates with the Room Parents to solicit volunteers to staff booths. 

ONGOING COMMITTEES AND POSTS

There are many school functions that occur throughout the year, often at a very low level of activity for most of the time. Involvement in these areas may be either as a coordinator or as a contributor.

• Spirit Nights: Coordinates social parent/family events with local restaurants providing a percentage of the takings from food and/or beverages to go toward the PTA.

• Cultural Arts: Promotes the cultural arts by selecting programs that expose students to a wide range of artists and media, representing varying backgrounds and points of view; Attends monthly meeting with Arts Council and other school representatives; Coordinates dates, contracts, logistics, and payment; Opportunities could include artist-in-residence and grant funding.

• Families Helping Families: Committee that provides assistance to local families in need.

• Advocacy: Serves as MES's liaison to district’s PTA Council, a group representing PTAs from all district schools; Requires attendance at monthly meeting of Council.

• Grounds Beautification: Helps organize garden clean-up days with families and liaises with the district on mowing, sustainability, composting and other projects that concern the beds & grounds of the school.

• Room Parent Assist teachers in coordinating activities and volunteers for classroom events; Promotes PTA and general school information to classroom families.

• Communications: Maintains electronic distribution list; Works closely with the President & Vice President to update website & Facebook page; Sends regular email blasts to remind families of events or deadlines.

• Newsletter: Helps write and coordinate monthly PTA newsletter.

• Website and Social Media: Regularly update information to PTA pages on McDougle website, Facebook page & Instagram.

PTA OFFICERS

• President: Coordinates the efforts of the entire PTA, including summer planning and year-round management. Prepares agenda for and presides at meetings of the PTA Board of Directors and PTA. Appoints chair persons and members of all committees, Serves as ex officio member of all committees. Signs checks and contracts. Seeks feedback from all stakeholders.

• Vice-President: Acts as a key advisor and deputy for the President. Helps oversee Fundraising throughout the year and the fall Membership Drive. Attends meetings of the Board of Directors . May preside at meetings in absence of President. Manages Room Parent communication & newsletter/social media updates in absence of chairs.

• Treasurer: Works with Board of Directors to develop an annual budget. Reviews check requests, verifies funds availability, writes checks, obtains co-signer(s), and delivers payment. Prepares & presents financial reports for PTA & Board of Director meetings. Coordinates with Audit Committee for annual audit and files tax return. Attends meetings of the membership and Board. Professional experience not required.

• Secretary: Attends and prepares minutes for meetings of the membership and Board of Directors. Maintains official files of PTA & helps manage website updates.