GETTING INVOLVED

Fall Fundraiser

PARENT INVOLVEMENT
Parents are encouraged to take part in many aspects of school life, field trips and celebrations.

Specific parent programs:
1) Curriculum evenings are scheduled each month.
2) Child development book club meets 2 to 3 times a year. Participants select, read, and discuss books on this topic.
3) Parent committees. A list of the parent committees, acting committee leaders, and sign-up forms are available at orientation in August.

Class Parents
Two parents from each class are requested to volunteer as class parents. At the Middle School level this means that parents are occasionally asked to assist with, and/or participate in the organization of activities (e.g. Lunar New Year Craft activities, reading to classes during book week) and intra-class communications such as the communication of procedures for typhoon or rain warnings, and other events requiring emergency school closure. On a rotating basis, class parents are also asked to coordinate the provision of refreshments for curriculum evenings.

Periodically, there are grade-level coffees, luncheons or dinners. Teachers might seek parent assistance for other activities throughout the year. Class parents will not be expected to do all these chores themselves-but rather to organize parents in the particular class to assist with these functions as appropriate. Interested parents should speak to the class teacher during the student orientation.

Other involvement
HKA offers the opportunity for a high level of parental involvement within the classroom as well as with school wide activities. These opportunities range in the types of activity and the level of time commitment that is required. Formal opportunities are listed below; however, ad hoc opportunities also arise and parents will be asked to volunteer their time.

See below for further information...

1. Committees
A list of all the chairpersons and coordinators is posted on FirstClass in School Information. Volunteers for other activities are normally requested via email through FirstClass and are often coordinated by the Class Parents.

a) Social Committee-Chairpersons 2007/2008: Liz Holt & Amy Clayton
The Social Committee organizes school wide social events. They work closely with the Class Parents to coordinate volunteers for these events. You may choose to join the committee or just volunteer your time and skills to support a specific event. The major events are:
i) New parent coffee-This is a welcome coffee to new HKA families. A short presentation will be made and questions answered.
ii) Fall term social evening-The first social event of the school calendar year consists of appetizers and drinks for the parents and teachers.
iii) Family Bar-B-Que in October-Parents and children are invited to a Bar-B-Que on a Saturday at South Bay Beach.
iv) Monthly Coffees with the Director-These provide an opportunity for parents to informally ask questions about the school development plans, operational issues and curriculum.
v) Teacher/staff appreciation lunch-A lunch is held in the last term of school to honor the staff at HKA.
End of Year Dance in June-Parents and children are invited to a school wide dance.

b) Fund Raising-Chairperson 2007/2008: Andrea Herz
This committee works to raise funds for specific programmes on an ad hoc basis. For the 2007-2008 school year, Create the Music was held on Nov 10 to raise money for the music programme.

c) Mandarin Committee-Chairperson 2007/2008: Jessica Wong
The main role is to assist the Mandarin Department in conducting activities that motivate children to learn and practice Mandarin in a fun way. Types of activities include:
i) Mandarin Snack Shop-A snack shop is run by volunteers every Friday during lunch time in the primary school. At certain times during the year the snack shop will also be organized in the Middle School to allow these students to participate. Students are encouraged to use Mandarin to purchase snacks at the shop. Both Mandarin speakers and those that do not speak Mandarin can assist with the shop.
ii) Mid Autumn Moon Festival in October-Coordinate areas at various beaches in Hong Kong where HKA families can meet for the Festival.
iii) Lunar New Year Craft projects-Coordinate the Lunar New Year Crafts done by each class.

d) Library-Chairperson 2007/2008: Mari Barber
Traditionally the library has been organized and run by parent volunteers. This academic year there has been an appointment of a full time librarian, and the role of volunteers will change to reflect this appointment. Opportunities to help will still exist in the following areas.
i) Library Sessions-During each primary class’s library session a volunteer is on hand to check in library books, supervise checkouts and re-shelve returned books. Volunteers may also read to the younger children and help students find and choose books. This is normally a weekly commitment for about an hour.
ii) Cataloguing-Volunteers need to search for Marc records and upload this information into the school library system. The Marc records are then matched with the book and it is bar-coded, labeled, and covered before being placed on the shelf.
iii) Book Covering and general duties-Volunteers are always welcome to come in and help with book covering, re-shelving and other general tasks.
iv) Book Fair-Twice a year the school runs a two-day book fair to raise funds for the library.
v) Birthday Book Board-Children may donate books to the library on their birthday. A board outside the primary library is updated monthly with pictures of the children holding the donated books.

e) Class Parents-Chairperson 2007/2008: Stacey Britt
Class Parents assist the teacher in their needs for parent involvement in the class throughout the year. Normally the classes have 2 parents that share this task, a returning parent and a new parent.
i) Class Socials for parents and teachers-Organize class-based events where the teachers and parents meet in a social setting. Class Parents also welcome new families to the HKA community.
ii) Seasonal Food Festival-An event held prior to the end of the winter term. Students bring in food from their home countries to be shared with classmates.
iii) Year End teacher appreciation gifts-All the class parents agree on an identical gift for each staff member and then coordinate the production of those specific gifts in their class.
iv) Food and drinks for Curriculum Evenings (see below)-Each year group is requested to provide food for one curriculum night during the school year. The class parents coordinate the donations, set up, and clear the event.
v) Parent volunteer schedule for classroom activities, if requested -At the start of each academic year, class parents agree with teachers what support is required from parents in the classroom. Class parents are then responsible for co-coordinating the schedule of parent volunteers.

2. Parent Clubs and Activities
a) Book Clubs-A teacher organizes Book Clubs for parents in the morning at school on relevant books. The Book Club meets once or twice a term.
b) Curriculum evenings-Staff organizes an event monthly for parents, which focuses on curriculum related or other relevant topics.
c) Parent Coffees with Director-The Director invites parents to a monthly coffee morning at a central location. This provides an opportunity to hear an update as to what is happening at the school as well as a time to ask questions of the Director. Minutes are taken and placed on First Class.

3. Classroom Support
Parents may support the needs of the teachers in specific classrooms. The opportunities available vary significantly by year group and teacher needs. Examples of activities would include accompanying school excursions, and reading with children.