Participate/Volunteer
Join a Committee
Committees of concerned parents meet throughout the year or as needed, to work on school-wide issues like fundraising, recess, safety, equipment and supplies, and after-school programming. We have standing committees as outlined in our PTA ByLaws. Plus other PTA committees are formed as required to focus on planning a specific event like the Spring Fair. You are welcome to join an ongoing committee at any time. For information or to volunteer for a committee or just to help out with an activity or at an event, simply attend a PTA meeting and volunteer, or contact one of the Committee Leaders listed in the table below.
Sign up here to let us know your interests and receive information on events & committees from the PTA.
2016-17 Committees
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Sign up for an open Committee Lead spot or to assist! |
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| Committees Of Interest | Description |
Lead Contact |
| Annual Appeal | Help solicit donations & increase participation for our biggest fundraiser of the year. Compose letters & emails, make phone calls, track donations. Starts in October & runs throughout the school year. | Tracy Newirth |
| Auction & Spring Gala | Organize and run the Silent Auction and the Online Auction including donation solicitation, online entry & gala planning. December thru April. | Martha O’Day |
| Book Fairs | Organize and manage book fair with the aim to encourage young readers. March |
OPEN |
| BoxTops | Organize the collection and submission of BoxTops for Education which raise money for our school. | Kari Olsen |
| Catalog Sales | Liaison with vendor for sale. Coordinate orders & distribution. October thru November | Emma Hsu |
| Chess Nights | Organize chess fundraisers to raise money for the in-school Chess Program. Liaison to NYChessKids, which provides in-school and afterschool chess. | Kashi Behrstock Susannah Fritton |
| Chorus | After-school chorus students audition for a limited number of seats, rehearse once a week and perform at the end of the session. After-school Wednesdays or Thursdays | Anna Spallina Josh Kross |
| Class Arts | Work with teachers to ensure that each class produces a piece of artwork to be auctioned at the Live Class Arts Auction in spring. | Angela Okajima Kempinas |
| Class Parents | Create a parent contact sheet, plan class trips & parties with teachers, organize class funds, act as a PTA liaison. | OPEN to all parents |
| Dia de los Muertos Party | Plan and produce fundraising and community-building event: Dia De Los Muertos (Halloween) in October. | OPEN |
| Election Day Bake Sale | Coordinator to publicize event and organize volunteers. Organize donation of baked goods and sweets. October/November. | OPEN |
| Fifth Grade Graduation | Raise money and organize the annual 5th grade graduation celebration. | |
| Fundraising | Help raise money for PS 163; plan and organize fundraising events. | Tracy Newirth |
| Gardening | Work in the PS 163 gardens, organize volunteers for garden work, coordinate with the teachers for class visits. | Sharon Bahus |
| Grant Research | Research and write grants to secure funding for PS 163 facilities & programs. | Heidi Moore |
| Green Team | Work with Custodial Engineer & Sustainability Coordinator to improve waste sorting & energy efficiency efforts in the school. | OPEN |
| International Celebration | Plan and produce this event celebrating the diverse cultures in our school through costume, song, dance, food, crafts & more. | OPEN |
| Kindergarten/New Student Orientation |
Organize Orientation for new students in June. | OPEN |
| Kindergarten Potluck | Organize a committee of K Parents to host a Potluck dinner for all K Families in October. | Lori Garrabrant |
| Library | Volunteer to staff library during school day, data entry of books, shelving and repair. | Stephanie |
| Movie Nights | Coordinator to publicize event and organize volunteers. Set up and breakdown concession stand, ticket tables, merchandise, popcorn. | OPEN |
| Newsletter | Help write & edit content for the PTA email newsletter. | Karthika Sarma |
| Noche de Amor Party | Plan and produce fundraising and community-building event: Noche de Amor (Valentine’s Day) in February. | OPEN |
| P.E.A.C.E | Parents Engaged & Active in Community Enrichment. Organize & run activities and events that celebrate the diversity in our school community. | Joseph Fagan |
| Playdates in the Park | Coordinate & run a play date in August for new Kindergarten & 1st grade families. Liaise with families, sell PS 163 merchandise at Happy Warrior Playground. | OPEN |
| PS163 Merchandise Pop-up Shop |
Manage and organize PS163 merchandise such as tees, water bottles, umbrellas, drinks and candy. Create a “Pop-up-Shop” at select events throughout the year to sell merchandise to parents and community. | Tracy Newirth |
| Rummage Sales | Organize the collection and sorting of donated items. Set up and run the Sale. October. | OPEN |
| School Clean-Up Day | Calling all Handy parents! Help make our school an organized, clean and a place to learn. October | Josh Ehrlich |
| School Photo Days | Help coordinate the students & classes with the photographer. Fall & Spring. | OPEN |
| School Tours | Give tours of the school to prospective new parents. January/February. | Jeff Edelson |
| Spring Fair | Help organize the annual community-wide Spring Fair to be held the third Saturday in May. April-May. | OPEN |
| Square 1 Art | Work with art teacher and Square 1 Art, Inc., to turn student artwork into gifts for friends and family to purchase. September – December. | Jen Columbia Marija Flynn |
| Taskforce for a Safe School (TFSS) |
TFSS is a group of concerned PS 163 parents working with the support of school leadership and the PTA to protect the children, teachers and staff of our school. | Rene Kathawala |
| Translations | Translate for the PS163 flyers, notices, monthly newsletter, website and more! | OPEN |
| Website | Update the content & design of the PTA website: www.ps163pta.org | Karthika Sarma |
| Wellness | FED UP (the movie that Katie Couric produced about sugar and our food) | Lori Garrabrant |
