There are so many wonderful ways that you can be a part of the many activities at Prairie.  Below are brief descriptions of the committees you might like to consider:

Art Awareness:
Volunteers present art topics in Prairie classrooms several times during the school year.  The chairperson is responsible for organizing volunteers and managing program supplies. 

Assemblies:
This committee coordinates four assemblies offered during the school year.  The chairperson selects and manages these programs with the Principal’s approval. 

Birthday Books:
As a celebration of their birthday, each student is invited to make a selection from books purchased by the Home and School Association. The chairperson is responsible for the selection, purchase, and management of these books. 

Book Fair:
There are two book fairs during the school year, the largest in November and the second in May.  The chairpeople are responsible for managing volunteers and all activities associated with operating these events. 

Family Support Committee:
This committee offers support to families in need within the Prairie community.  Volunteers may help cook meals, drive to doctors’ appointments, offer childcare or help with other daily activities as determined by committee chairs.  The chairpeople coordinate the volunteer efforts and serve as liaisons between the families and the volunteers. 

Fifth Grade Liaison:
Coordinates and organizes 5^th grade panoramic picture, 5^th grade remembrance project, 5^th grade breakfast with pennants -- which are provided for the kids to sign, 5^th grade Fine Arts Program/power point presentation, and other "special projects" unique to 5^th grade. 

Health and Safety:
Chairperson is responsible for coordinating volunteers for the Helping Hands program, the Crime Prevention Poster contest, Mitten Tree, Jaycees Food drive, along with organizing the vision and hearing screening and re-screening volunteers.   

Hot Lunch:
One day each week during the school year this committee provides a hot lunch for program participants in 1^st - 5^th grades.  The chairpeople are responsible for managing the program and its volunteers. 

Information Management:
Chairperson is responsible for generating the Prairie School Hotline (a directory of all students), distributing information to committee chairs regarding potential volunteers, setting up the volunteers to assist with photocopying and laminating. 

Jingle Bell Junction:
One Saturday in December, students have the opportunity to shop for inexpensive holiday gifts for friends and/or family.  The chairpeople are responsible for managing this event and its volunteers. 

Learning Resource Center (LRC):
The LRC staff is supported by volunteers who shelve books, help with checkout, assist during computer time and fulfill special requests made by Prairie staff.  Chairperson works with the LRC director to coordinate volunteers. 

Market Day:
Market Day is a local company that sells quality food products via schools.  Sales are held each month in the Prairie gym.  Customers order items in advance, then pick up their order on the sale date.  Chairpeople are responsible for managing this fundraiser and its volunteers.  

Newsletter:
The "Prairie Dog News" is a monthly publication containing information as provided by the newsletter staff, principal, Home and School, District 203, Prairie students and families.  The chairperson coordinates the publishing and distribution of the newsletter. 


Parent Awareness:
This committee is responsible for organizing Red Ribbon Week and for acting as a liaison with the district office about subjects pertaining to drug awareness, self esteem, bullying, internet safety, stress management, respect for others, and body image. They will be responsible for organizing grade levels events which help to promote these topics and educate our students of their importance.

Prairie Day:
Near the end of each school year this committee hosts a non-competitive, fun-filled day for all students.  The chairpeople manage this event and its volunteers. 

Publicity/Historian:
Chairperson is responsible for giving public interest information about Prairie School and its students to local newspapers throughout the year.  This person is also responsible for the upkeep of the Prairie Scrapbooks with articles about Prairie school students, and families and staff to appear in local newspapers.  

Room Parents:
Three times per year (Halloween, Winter, and Valentine’s Day) room parents host parties in the classrooms.  It is the responsibility of the chairpersons to manage volunteers and communicate expectations regarding parties. There are three levels within the room parent committee: the head room parent - each classroom has a head room parent who organizes/coordinates the parties along with the other room parents. The grade liaison purchases all food items served during the parties, etc...  

School, Family, Community, Partnership Committee (SFCP):
This chairperson serves as a liaison with the District SFCP Committee.  He/she is responsible for initiating special programs that involve parents. This committee chairperson is appointed by the principal. 

School Store:
Generally, one morning each week before the school starts, the School Store is open to students who wish to purchase school supplies.  This chairperson manages inventory and volunteers. The committee coordinates with the teachers to prepare school supply lists for each grade/teacher and to offer to all Prairie students the next year’s school supplies as kits in the spring. The committee distributes lists to all Prairie students. Additionally, they provide kindergarten supply lists for Kindergarten Roundup. They collect and process and distribute all orders.  In the past distribution of kits has been done  on Prairie Day. The chairperson manages inventory and volunteers. 

Science Exploration:
This committee is responsible for managing and running Prairie’s annual Science Fair. 

Special Projects:
This chairperson and committee are responsible for organizing volunteers to help display students' art work on the lobby bulletin board including a display of student art work which will celebrate the first day of school.  They are also responsible for class pictures and retakes, lost and found, and volunteers' badges.

Spirit Wear:
This committee is responsible for managing and selling Prairie Spirit Wear. These include items such as sweatshirts, pants, etc. with the Prairie logo.   

Staff Appreciation:
This committee is divided into two subcommittees, Food and Gifts. Food is responsible for working with other volunteers to provide meals periodically throughout the year.  Gifts, is responsible for letting the staff know how much their work means to parents and students at Prairie by honoring them on "special days" and/or special events.  

Ways and Means:
This committee functions under various subcommittees involved in fundraising.
Art from the Heart:: projects created by each class are used in a raffle; Community: coordinates with various community businesses to raise funds;
Adult Social/Spring  Fundraiser:  fun social event for Prairie parents that includes raffles and silent auctions to raise funds;
Wrapping Paper: manages sales of wrapping paper by students;
Manna: gift certificate purchasing program that offers a percentage back to Prairie.
Ice Cream Social: a fun event for Prairie families to get together, --ice creams are pre-ordered and served by some teacher volunteers, --a used book sale and games are also part of the event. Each of these fundraising committees works very hard through out the year and requires many volunteers for its success. 

Yearbook:
Students may purchase a commemorative yearbook that contains photographs from the year as well as student, teacher, and staff photos.  It is the chairperson's responsibility to create the yearbook and manage volunteers/photographers at the various grade levels and school events. 

To learn more about Prairie Home & School and the opportunities to be involved at Prairie, please contact Jo Ann Mirabelli @ 369-6105 or Donna Prybell @ 579-0286.