Committees

The following are a list of all the current PTO committes. To volunteer for one of these committees please contact the committee chair or the PTO president.

Academic Enrichment Clubs: We’re always looking for parents to volunteer to teach an activity after school or coordinate others to do this. If you have a particular hobby or have knowledge in a particular subject area and want to share this with Cornell students, this is for you. You decide the class size, grade level, and duration. (Needed: parents who like sharing their talent(s).)

Art Appreciation Committee (aka Meet the Masters”): Each classroom has one parent volunteer who gives a monthly 15-30 minute art appreciation presentation on a supplied piece of artwork. This involves about 1 hr of research &/or prep time per month at home (except December) to tailor the talk to the appropriate age group. The artwork rotates between classrooms throughout the year. The Chair coordinates the volunteers, schedules the introductory meeting, and distributes materials (kept in the Library’s AV closet). Chairing this is time-intensive only during mid-September through mid-October. (1 Chair & 1 parent per classroom.)

Birthday Board: This committee decorates the Birthday Board every month or two to wish a happy birthday to the students celebrating a birthday during that period. It also distributes a small birthday treat to each birthday child through their classroom teacher. Time commitment: about 1-2 hrs/mo.

Book Fairs: Committee members help set up the fairs, take down the fairs, and work 3-hr shifts helping students and parents select and purchase books. The fairs are held during parent/teacher conferences in November and March. This is a great way to meet parents and teachers and check out all the cool items on sale. (1 Chair & 30-35 volunteers.)

Book Swap: The kids bring books in and swap them during school hours, and some of the leftover books are donated to a local non-profit. (1 Chair & 4 volunteers.)  This is done every other year.

Campbell’s Soup Labels, Box Tops, Empty Inkjets, and Tysons labels: This group cuts labels and gets them ready for shipping. This is an easy fundraiser that takes very little time throughout the year, yet raises a lot of money! (1 Chair & 4 volunteers.) (Chair: 1 hr/week. Volunteers: 1 hr every other month.)

Cornell Interior Improvement Committee: This committee consists of parents working with the principal to assess needs, research and price solutions, and came up with a strategic plan for the purchase of interior improvements and teaching materials.   (1-2 Chairs & 7-10 volunteers.)

Fall Fundraiser (Innisbrook): Help with publicity (flier, bulletin board, and catalogs), promotions, prizes, collection of orders, and distribution of the items purchased by families during the fall fundraiser, the school’s second-largest fundraiser! This can be as little as a 1-hour commitment for those who help at the tally day and/or pick-up day. (1 Chair & 4 volunteers.)

Family Fun Night: This committee plans a carnival for Cornell’s families. It is a favorite event at Cornell and is a great way to meet other families and have a wonderful time.  Lots of volunteers are needed and opportunities are available in many areas. (1-2 Chairs.) Some of the FFN committees are:

Variety Show

Games & Prizes

Corporate Donations/Sponsors

Publicity

Theme Basket Raffle

Concessions

50/50 Raffle

Decorations

Volunteers

Variety Show: Publicize the need for participants, audition the acts, and coordinate the acts and their music. Experience first-hand the talents and creativity of our students. (1-2 Chairs.)
Publicity: This is the ideal volunteer opportunity for someone who enjoys working independently! Write newsletters for school-wide distribution. The best part: Your job is done before FFN so you get to enjoy your family during FFN! Est. time commitment: 3 hrs/mo Oct – Dec, then 6 hrs/week Jan-Mar. (1 Chair.)

Concessions: Solicit food donations from businesses (in conjunction with the Donations Chair), set up the concessions the day of, and sell concessions during FFN. (1 Chair and 2-3 people who help set up the Concessions Booth.)

Volunteers: Assess the FFN committee’s volunteer needs, send solicitation letters to fraternities and sororities, and coordinate parent and other volunteers. You’ll love working with the college students—they have such a blast assisting with FFN. (1 Chair)

Teacher Donations: Our wonderful teachers and staff generously donate things like: lunch at a nearby restaurant; small pizza or ice cream parties; and bedtime stories at childrens’ houses. This is your opportunity to coordinate the staff’s donations to FFN. There may be no better way to get to know our kind and thoughtful staff! (1 Chair)

Games & Prizes: Coordinate games, activities, and prizes. In this role, YOU get to coordinate the fun part of FFN! Your kids will love you for it! (1 Chair.)

Theme Basket Raffle: Each classroom selects a theme and asks parents to donate items fitting the theme. (Examples of themes commonly chosen: Barbies, Hot Wheels, MSU, and sports.) These baskets are then raffled off at FFN. As the Chair of this FFN Committee, you coordinate the classroom parent volunteers (who remind parents to fill the baskets) and you wrap the baskets for display. (1 Chair.)

50/50 Raffle: Obtain the license, design the tickets, order the printing, sort the tickets, and help sell them. Total estimated time: 20 hrs. Most of this work can be done at home. (1 Chair.)

Classroom Projects: Each classroom selects a project (paint a serving platter, decorate a planter with tiles, paint a table, etc.) that is raffled off in FFN’s Silent Auction. The Chair of this committee coordinates the classroom parent volunteers who work on the projects with the students. (1 Chair.)

Donations: The Chair sends a solicitation letter to area businesses asking for cash or in-kind donations to offset the cost of FFN. Afterwards, the Chair and parent volunteers place follow-up phone calls to the businesses. This is another opportunity to help with FFN before FFN—so you can enjoy your family during FFN. And try to imagine the feeling of excitement with each & every positive response! Wow! (1 Chair & 5 volunteers.)

Decorations: Have a creative streak? Like to display your talents? If so, this is the committee for you! The students will choose a theme for you and the Chippewa gym becomes your canvass! (1 Chair & 7 volunteers.)

Program: This is the ideal volunteer opportunity for someone who enjoys working at home on their computer. If you want the inside scoop on FFN, this is the job for you! And your work is done before FFN! (1 Chair.)

Feelin’ Good Mileage Club: This fun fitness program allows anyone to walk or jog around the walking trail during lunch recess. Points are earned for each lap and are redeemed for prizes. Volunteers help monitor and track progress made by those who join in the fun. The commitment can be for as little as 1 hr/wk in the spring. The Chairs decide on a theme, order prizes, attend a short Coordinators meeting at Playmakers, and send out a volunteer request to parents of Cornell students. On the days of Mileage Club, they also fill water containers, set up water station, place cone markers on the course, distribute prizes and new cards; and clean up. Mileage Club is held Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in April and May. (1-2 Chairs & 12 volunteers.)

Friday Folder Paper Counter: Want to help the office staff do a very important but easy task? Count the fliers for distribution to each classroom for Friday Folders! Just think: get a friend and you could coordinate an every-other-week schedule! (1-2 volunteers.)

Garden Committee: This committee is responsible for the upkeep of the front exterior of the building.  Implementing changes to the exterior by working with the principal and district personnel.  (1 chair)

Hospitality: Show your teacher appreciation by providing “goodies” for staff luncheons. Volunteers supply food and/or help set up and clean up the luncheons (held 3-4 times/yr). This is a great way to get to know the teachers! (1 Chair & 8 volunteers.)

Kids Helping Kids: A community service project. Each month, we publicize the needs of an adopted Lansing area elementary school (their principal suggests items they need), collect items, and deliver them. Parents and Student Council help with the collection and distribution of the items. The Chairs spend about 3 hrs/mo. on this project and do a lot by e-mail. (2 Chairs)

Kindergarten Round-up: This one-day event is held in the spring. Activities include greeting newcomers, manning the registration table, assisting in health screening, and taking pictures. This is a wonderful way to meet new Cornell families and make them feel welcome. The Chair spends about 1.5 hrs preparing (mostly finding volunteers for the day of and checking with the teachers to see what they need help with) and 6 hours the day of (assisting at the event). The volunteers usually work either the am or pm shift (2.5 hrs each). (1 Chair & 5-6 volunteers.)

Library Helper: Interested in volunteering in the library 1-2 hrs a week? Let us know or contact the Librarian directly. She’d be oh-so appreciative!

Lugnuts Outing: This is a fun-filled event for the whole Cornell community. Families attend a Lugnuts game and can order concessions from some of their favorite teachers, staff and parents! (1 Chair & 10 volunteers.)

Market Day: This group sorts & distributes Market Day products once a month. The Chair spends about 6-8 hrs/mo working on Market Day. (1 Chair. 3-4 different volunteers each month for 1 hour of service.)

Movie Mornings: A few times a year, Cornell hosts a movie morning at a local theatre. The Chair makes a flier, distributes it to classes, coordinates the orders, and signs people in at the theatre. Total time: 5 hrs/event) (1 Chair.)

Parent Council: Parents involved in this get to learn more about all the schools in the district. Want to get a head start learning about Chippewa Middle School and Okemos High School? Enjoy getting together with other parents for lunch? If so, this is the committee for you! Go to a few meetings and report back to the PTO about what the other schools are up to! Avg. time commitment: 2-3 hrs/mo. (1 Chair.)

Playground Committee: The master plan has been formed; now we need to implement it. Help us choose equipment and landscaping items, raise funds for them, and order them. Then watch the smiles on the faces of the children! (1 Chair & 10 volunteers.)

Popcorn Sales: This group pops popcorn for the students on Friday mornings (approx. every other Friday). It’s a great way to meet other parents and have all the popcorn you can eat! The Chair solicits orders, coordinates the orders, orders the popcorn and bags, and helps pop. The time to prepare for the year (in the fall) is about 4-5 hrs and then popping takes 3-4 hours about 2 times/mo. (1 Chair & 3-4 volunteers.)

Safe Routes to School: This is a national movement to make it safe, convenient and fun for children to bicycle and walk to school. When routes are safe, walking or biking to and from school is an easy way for kids to get the regular physical activity they need to succeed. Volunteers coordinate Walk to School Day in October, promote safe walking and cycling practices, and work with municipal representatives to improve the safety of our pedestrian/bicycling routes to Cornell. (1 Chair & 4 volunteers.)

Science Fair & Exploration Night: At the science fair, students display science projects. Student viewing occurs during the school day with family viewing in the evening. At the exploration night portion of the science fair, students perform or watch fun science experiments and demonstrations done by parents, teachers or student volunteers. If there is just one person (1 Chair and no volunteers), the Chair will spend about 25-30 hrs on this, total for the year. Almost all the work can be done from home. (1 Chair & 4 volunteers.)

Spirit Sales: This committee creates and sells t-shirts, shorts, and other items with our very own Cornell logo. The kids love to show their school spirit! (1 Chair.)

Staff Appreciation Week: Cornell’s staff works hard each day to make Cornell great for every child. This committee honors the staff at Cornell in early May. (1 Chair.)

Yearbook: An ongoing project throughout the school year, this committee creates long-lasting memories for the Cornell students and staff. 90% of the work is done from home! (1 Chair.)

New Project: If you have an idea for a new project/program/fundraiser, let us know below. New ideas are highly encouraged!

Did anything catch your eye? If so, contact a PTO Board Member or contact the committee chair directly. Great volunteers make a GREAT school!!