Get Involved -- Volunteer!

 

Our incredible parent volunteers make it possible for the QRPTA to fund and organize over 40 amazing programs, events and initiatives each year. None of this happens without your support!

 

As we plan for the 2025-2026 school year, we’d love for you to be part of it—whether you have a little time or a lot, there’s always a way to get involved that fits your schedule. Volunteering is a fun way to meet other families, support your child’s school experience, and make a real impact.

 

We look forward to working with you!

 

  

QRPTA Committee Descriptions 2025-2026

After School Clubs  

Our after school enrichment program offers a wide range of disciplines, exposing children to science, art, fitness, performing arts, and many other wonderful activities. This committee oversees, develops and manages the PTA-run after-school program for both the fall and spring semesters.  They research potential vendors, negotiate contracts, handle scheduling and manage their own finances. This committee is also responsible for updating the website, sending eBlasts and maintaining direct communication with parents throughout the school year.

Time Commitment: 🕒🕒🕒 High (5+ hours/month) 

 

Belonging

At Quaker Ridge, we strive to build a school culture grounded in compassion, curiosity, and connection. The Belonging Committee plays a central role in this mission by fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment where every student, family, and staff member feels valued and connected. Working as part of our W.I.D.E. Community—alongside the Learning from Our Differences, Global Learning, and C.H.I.L.D. committees—the Belonging Committee develops initiatives, programs, and events that celebrate diversity, encourage understanding, and strengthen relationships across the QRS community.

Time Commitment: 🕒🕒 Medium (3-5 hours/month) 

Book Fair

The Bulletin Board Committee designs and updates the school’s bulletin boards to keep the QRS community informed, inspired, and engaged. By creating visually appealing displays that highlight events, school spirit, and student achievements, this committee helps foster a welcoming and connected environment for students, families, and staff.

Time Commitment: 🕒🕒🕒 High (5+ hours/event) 

Bulletin Board

Class Parents are an important part of the Quaker Ridge community, helping to support both the classroom and the PTA. In this role, parents work closely with the teacher to assist with classroom needs and serve as a key link between the PTA and classroom families—sharing updates, coordinating events, and keeping everyone informed throughout the year. Above all, Class Parents help create a welcoming, inclusive environment where all families feel connected, involved, and engaged in school life.

Time Commitment: 🕒 Low (1-2 hours/month) 

Class Parents

Class Parents are an important part of the Quaker Ridge community, helping to support both the classroom and the PTA. In this role, parents work closely with the teacher to assist with classroom needs and serve as a key link between the PTA and classroom families—sharing updates, coordinating events, and keeping everyone informed throughout the year. Above all, Class Parents help create a welcoming, inclusive environment where all families feel connected, involved, and engaged in school life.

Time Commitment: 🕒 Low (1-2 hours/month) 

Community Building Events 

The Community Building Committee brings our school community together by planning and hosting fun, family-friendly events throughout the year. Past favorites include Pancakes and Pajamas, Family Bingo Night and the Spring Color Run. This committee organizes three major events each year — one in the fall, winter, and spring — all designed to create lasting memories and strengthen our school connections.

Time Commitment: 🕒🕒 Medium (3-5 hours/event) 

Community Service 

Community service is a meaningful part of our school culture, helping students learn the value of kindness, empathy, and active citizenship from a young age. The Community Service Committee conceives of and implements various grade- and school-wide related philanthropic activities at the school and throughout the Westchester community during the school year. Volunteers can help to organize and run one or more specific community service events as desired.

Time Commitment: 🕒 Low (1-2 hours/month) 

Environmental

The Environmental Committee promotes and inspires environmental responsibility (such as recycling, composting, and using reusable water bottles) within the Quaker Ridge student body and greater community. This committee will also spearhead our Recycling Rangers program. 

Time Commitment: 🕒 Low (1-2 hours/month) 

Evening Event

The Evening Event Committee plans and coordinates the annual QR PTA spring fundraiser, a fun and engaging evening for QRS parents to connect and socialize. Responsibilities include selecting a venue, promoting the event, selling tickets, and managing a silent auction and raffle. By bringing families together in a celebratory setting, this committee helps raise funds for the school while fostering community and connection among parents.

Time Commitment: 🕒🕒🕒 High (5+ hours/event) 

Fifth Grade Activities

The Fifth Grade Activities Committee works together to help make the 5th graders’ final year at Quaker Ridge a memorable one while fostering a strong sense of community among students and families. This committee, in cooperation with school leadership and the PTA, schedules, organizes, and executes a variety of fundraisers and special events throughout the year that encourage connection and school spirit. Past activities have included the Spooky Olympics, Turkey Trot, 5th Grade Quiz Show, and more!

Time Commitment: 🕒🕒🕒 High (5+ hours/event) 

Fifth Grade Montage

The Fifth Grade Montage Committee is responsible for creating a video montage to be shown at graduation and works with the Fifth Grade Activities Committee to coordinate photo opportunities throughout the year.

Time Commitment: 🕒 Low (1-2 hours/month) 

Food Allergy

The Food Allergy Committee promotes awareness and education about living with food allergies within the QRS community.

Time Commitment: 🕒 Low (1-2 hours/month)  

Global Learning

The Global Learning Committee plays an essential role in highlighting and celebrating our multicultural heritages at Quaker Ridge. The committee develops programs, events and celebrations that educate the QRS community about world cultures and traditions, including the QRS favorite, Multicultural Potluck Luncheon.

Time Commitment: 🕒🕒 Medium (3-5 hours/event) 

Kindergarten and New Family Breakfast 

The Kindergarten and New Family Breakfast Committee organizes a welcoming breakfast for incoming Kindergarten parents as well as other families new to QRS. This event is designed to foster community building by creating an opportunity for new parents to connect with one another, meet members of the school community, and begin forming relationships that support a positive and inclusive school experience. The breakfast helps families feel welcomed, informed, and engaged as they join the QRS community.

Time Commitment: 🕒🕒 Medium (3-5 hours/event) 

Kindergarten Dinner

The Kindergarten Dinner Committee organizes and schedules an off-site dinner event for Kindergarten parents and teachers. This gathering is designed to foster community building and school spirit by providing an opportunity for families and teachers to connect in a relaxed, social setting. The event helps strengthen relationships and builds a sense of pride and belonging within the QRS community as families begin their Kindergarten journey.

Time Commitment: 🕒🕒 Medium (3-5 hours/event) 

Library Gift Program

The Library Gift Program Committee solicits parents to purchase a book for the QRS library in honor of their child’s birthday or another significant milestone in their lives. These donated books help grow and enrich the QRS library collection, ensuring that students have access to a wide variety of engaging and meaningful reading materials. Parents may dedicate the book to their child with a special dedication sticker placed inside the front cover, creating a lasting and personal contribution that benefits both their child and the entire school community.

Time Commitment: 🕒 Low (1-2 hours/month)

Lost and Found 

This committee helps organize all lost and found items, display them during school events when parents are present, and ultimately helps return the belongings to their rightful owners.

Time Commitment: 🕒 Low (1-2 hours/month)

PTA Closet

PTA Pizza Lunch

QRS Buddies 

The QRS Buddies Committee helps create a warm and welcoming environment at Quaker Ridge by pairing current QRS families with new families joining the school community. Each QRS buddy family serves as a friendly point of contact, helping to answer questions about everything from lunch routines and After School Clubs to busing and other school-related topics. This committee plays an important role in helping new families feel informed, supported, and connected from the start.

Time Commitment: 🕒 Low (1-2 hours/event)

QRS Fair

The Fair Committee works alongside the Heathcote PTA to plans and organize the Spring Fair in coordination with Mohawk Day Camp. The committee is responsible for managing ticket sales, day-of merchandise and raffle items. Volunteers are needed both to help coordinate the event in advance and to assist on the day of the fair. This committee provides a fun, engaging, and community-building experience for students and families while supporting a cherished school tradition.

Time Commitment: 🕒🕒 Medium (3-5 hours/event) 

QRS Pride

The QRS Pride Committee helps foster school spirit and strengthen the QRS community by promoting connection and engagement through social media. The committee manages the PTA Instagram account (@QRSPride), coordinates and publicizes School Spirit Days, captures and shares memorable moments, and develops new ideas to keep school pride alive throughout the year. By highlighting student achievements, school events, and fun traditions, this committee helps build a sense of belonging and excitement for the entire QRS community.

Time Commitment: 🕒🕒 Medium (3-5 hours/month)

School Photo Day 

The School Photo Day Committee serves as the liaison between school leadership, PTA and the contracted photography studio to ensure a smooth and well-organized photo day. This committee will organize parent volunteers, assist photographers, classroom teachers, and aides to keep the schedule on track and help students be ready when it’s their turn to smile. This committee plays a key role in making photo day a fun, efficient, and memorable experience for students and staff alike.

Time Commitment: 🕒🕒 Medium (3-5 hours/event)

School Play

There are two school plays each year—one for grades 4–5 and one for grades 2–3—each supported by its own committee. These committees work closely with Sandbox Theatre to produce the plays, coordinating auditions, rehearsals, and performances. Committee members recruit parent volunteers to assist throughout the process, helping during auditions, rehearsals, and on performance days. Additionally, the committees manage ticket sales, seating, and the playbill. The school plays are among QRS’s favorite events of the year, celebrated for their creativity, student talent, and the joy they bring to the entire school community.

Time Commitment: 🕒🕒🕒 High (5+ hours/event) 

 

School Supplies

The School Supplies Committee ensures that every classroom at QRS is stocked with the materials students need to succeed. The committee coordinates supply lists, communicates with families, manages the purchase and organization of school supplies through 1st Day School Supplies in the spring, and oversees distribution according to class lists in August. By supporting teachers, students, and families, this committee helps the school year get off to a smooth and organized start.

Time Commitment: 🕒🕒 Medium (3-5 hours/event)

Spirit Wear

The Spirit Wear Committee is responsible for designing and selling QRS apparel, helping students, families, and staff show their Quaker Ridge Coyotes school spirit! The committee offers both a fall and spring line, contracts with vendors, sets pricing, and sells spirit wear both online and at multiple in-person school-wide events throughout the year. 

Time Commitment: 🕒🕒🕒 High (5+ hours/event) 

Staff Appreciation

The Staff Appreciation Committee plans and coordinates activities, events, and special meals throughout the school year to celebrate and recognize the dedication of QRS teachers and staff. The highlight of the year is Teacher Appreciation Week in May, when the committee organizes a series of week-long celebrations to honor and thank staff for all they do. This committee will coordinate themes, vendors and volunteers to help bring their ideas to life. 

Time Commitment: 🕒🕒 Medium (3-5 hours/event)

Summer Gardening Nights

Tinker Fair

The Tinker Fair Committee hosts two after-school events where children and their families can explore innovation, technology, and hands-on creativity together. The committee is responsible for working with teachers and administrators, coordinating vendors and organizing volunteers to help run activity booths and guide participants through the interactive exhibits. These events provide a fun, engaging way for students and parents to learn, experiment, and connect, while fostering curiosity, collaboration, and a sense of community within QRS.

Time Commitment: 🕒🕒 Medium (3-5 hours/event)

Webmaster 

The Webmaster is responsible for managing and updating the content on the QRPTA website, ensuring that information is accurate, current, and easy to navigate. This role also includes maintaining the school directory, helping families access important contact information and resources. The Webmaster plays a key role in keeping the QRS community connected and informed.

Time Commitment: 🕒 Low (1-2 hours/month)

Wellness Committee

PTA | PTC Liaisons:

Budget Study

Liaisons ideally have a financial background and can think critically. They will follow the BOE budget presentations and process closely as it relates to QR. Liaisons are expected attend day and/or evening school budget meetings as well as district-wide Board of Education budget study sessions. Meetings are typically held in fall and again in late winter. 

Time Commitment: 🕒🕒 Medium (3-5 hours/month)

C.H.I.L.D. 

Children Having Individual Learning Differences is a PTC Committee that provides a supportive network of resources and information for parents and teachers of preschool and school-aged children with diverse learning needs. Liaisons will support, promote awareness and attend monthly C.H.I.L.D. meetings at the district level or at Quaker Ridge. 

Time Commitment: 🕒 Low (1-2 hours/month)

 

 

Friends of Music and Art 

Liaisons will support the PTC Committee in supporting visual and performing arts in Quaker Ridge. 

Time Commitment: 🕒 Low (1-2 hours/event)

Legislative Advocacy

Liaisons will study and promote awareness concerning federal, state and local education-related issues under the guidance of PT Council. Efforts culminate in a lunch and discussion for local elected officials, admin, parents and high school students to discuss these issues. Liaisons will also help in planning and promoting attendance for this lunch. 

Time Commitment: 🕒 Low (1-2 hours/month)

 

Sports Swap

Sports Swap is an annual, district-wide tag sale of used sporting goods and other equipment. Our liaison will work with the PTC to plan, publicize and attend the event.

Time Commitment: 🕒 Low (1-2 hours/event)

 

Young Writers’ Workshop

YWW is an annual, district-wide event featuring a keynote speaker and various workshops for students in grades 3-5. The workshop typically falls on a Saturday in early spring. The liaison will work with the PTC chairs to plan, publicize and recruit volunteers for the event. 

Time Commitment: 🕒 Low (1-2 hours/event)