Volunteer

HIGHEST-NEED VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

UPDATED OCTOBER 2024

Grade-Level Parent Liaisons:

Lead Liaison needed for Grade 1

Co-Liaisons needed for Grades K, 2, 4, 5

Meet with the grade-level teachers once or twice a month during a portion of their group planning meeting. Help organize classroom needs (supplies, volunteers, snacks) and grade-level projects/events such as the 2nd Grade Invention Fair, 5th Grade Camp, and more. Share needs and news at PTO board meetings in-person or via email.

Classroom Volunteers

Days/Times vary based on teacher, 1-2 hours a week with some consistency is most helpful. Help students complete their independent tasks & group projects. Laminate, cut, copy, staple packets, etc. for teachers. Assist teachers in monitoring classroom. Organize books, supplies, kits, etc. Walk students down to their tutoring sessions and other out-of-classroom scheduled meetings.

Current requests:

Kindergarten:

M-F 11-11:40am, Help Play Math Games

M-F 1:30-2:30pm, Help with centers, keep kids on task while teacher leads small groups

1st Grade:

M-F 9:40-10:30am, Listen to students read, work with a small group to complete work

M-F 12:30-1:30pm, Help with small group math

4th Grade:

M-F 11:20am-12pm, Help with small group math

M-F 2:10-3:30pm, small group reading or writing support (read or write with small groups or one on one) Time is flexible

M, W, TH, F 3:20-3:45pm, small group reading or writing support (read or write with small groups or one on one) Time is flexible

Any day/time, help put together math games (cut cards, sort, make sets)

Tutoring: Math and Reading

Days/Times TBD 30-90 min shifts

Work with students (tutoring training and guidance provided by Ms. Page) on their reading, spelling, and math comprehension one-on-one in the Learning Center. A weekly or bi-weekly commitment is most helpful for consistency.

Popcorn Popping/Distribution

Alternating Thursdays 1-6pm & Fridays 9:30-11am (see calendar below) for any amount of time- even 30 minutes before pickup is helpful!

Pop and bag popcorn on Thursdays, take classroom orders.

Deliver popped corn to classrooms on Fridays, collect $ from teachers, bag additional popped corn if needed. Training is provided for any new volunteers!

Lunch Monitors

Weekdays 11am-1:30pm as available

Help open milk containers, string cheese, etc., remind students to clear their space and throw away trash, encourage positive interactions between students, keep lunch line moving.

Library Help

Days/Times TBD 1-3 hour shifts

Assist students in locating and checking out books. Reshelve books and tidy up reading spaces.

QUESTIONS?

Please contact the board at yiespto@gmail.com

SUPPLY NEEDS

Paper Grocery Bags (bonus for TJ's bags- they're taller!) to deliver popcorn to classrooms.

Ms. Maggie's class (K/1 ASD) is in need of boys clothes size 5/6, 7/8, especially sweat pants! Please drop off any clean items labeled for Ms. Maggie's class to the front office.

Many classes could also use individually packaged snacks such as pretzels, goldfish, etc. for afternoon snack time.

BACKGROUND CHECK

Every classroom volunteer at Ypsilanti International Elementary School must complete a Volunteer Background Check per YCS policy. Please note, it can take a week or more for the form to go through the district's process.

Popcorn Fridays

Popcorn Friday is a fun treat for students and staff that also raises money for the PTO's "YES!" fund, which helps pay for YIES field trips, classroom supplies, clubs, pizza parties, school events, school projects and more!

Popcorn is $.50 per bag and students can buy up to 5 bags per week.

Students bring in money on Wednesday or Thursday- orders are placed on Thursdays. You can also purchase a $5 punch card that is good for 10 bags. These cards are kept in the classroom and can be purchased by giving your child's teacher cash or by Venmo (@YIES-PTO) or Paypal (@YIESPTO). If paying via an app, please comment with your child's name and teacher so that we can deliver their cards to the right classroom!

Popcorn is made with coconut oil and is dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan.

Volunteers are needed on Thursday afternoons to pop and bag the popcorn and on Fridays mornings to deliver popcorn to the classrooms and collect $.

Want to help? Sign up here: bit.ly/YIESPopcorn2425

Village Approach to reading: Click here to sign up!

Village Approach to ReadingThank you for your interest in reading intervention at YIES! This signup was designed for volunteers who come at different days and times each week. Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. If you are able to committ to the same day and time each week feel free to use the link below which should be easier. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050B48ABAA22A13-weekly When you arrive at the school you can sign-in at the main office and get a visitor name sticker. From there you can head to the reading intervention office which is located in the computer lab across the hall from the cafeteria. On your first day you will be given a quick orientation and list of students who need practice. All volunteers must pass a background check before signing up. The forms are available in the main office. The kids love seeing us! It's so rewarding to see them make progress! Thank you and have fun!

Promoting YIES - Get Involved Today!

Ongoing

Event Promotion

Help spread the word about upcoming YIES events! Promoting can be done with email announcements/reminders, facebook promoting, flyer creations, and staffing some events.

Fall/Spring Bottle Drive

For one month in the fall and spring we will collect and return bottles to go toward the 5th grade annual camping trip.

On Fridays we need volunteers to collect cans at pick up and on Saturdays we need crews of volunteers to return the bottles and cans at the Carpenter Road Meijer from 8-10 a.m. All ages welcome. Email yiespto@gmail.com if you're interested in helping for Spring 2025.

Family Nights

Throughout the year, YIES hosts themed night for students and families: Literacy Night, Math Night & International Night. Email yiespto@gmail.com if you're interested.

Read-a-thon

Each year the YIES PTO helps host a Read-a-Thon and book fair. PTO members volunteer at the book fair and help raise funds that will be used for field trips, class projects, building improvements and more. As a bonus, every student at YIES receives a free book!

Walk-a-thon

Each year the YIES student council organizes and YIES students participate in a walk-a-thon to help support YIES, community and the world. Past walk-a-thons have raised money towards: a buddy bench and a gaga pit for the playground in Prospect park, a water bottle station for YIES, money the Humane Society of Huron Valley and funds to send to a school in Puerto Rico. The PTO helps raise funds to provide t-shirts for all YIES teachers and students to proudly wear to the event.

Popcorn Fridays

**Thursday afternoon and Friday morning volunteers needed**

We need your help! Thursdays at pickup time we pop as much as we can and Friday mornings we pop, bag and deliver between 8 and 10:30. Sign-up for what you are able to. If you are available for even an hour, that is fine. Please email yiespto@gmail.com with any questions. Sign up here.

Dine to Donate Fundraisers

Local restaurants generously partner with the YIES PTO to raise money for the school. The PTO needs help promoting these events and providing fun activities for families that attend.

Have an idea for a committee? Make it a reality! Email yiespto@gmail.com to get involved.