PPTG Roles and Volunteer Directory

Are you a Peralta parent interested in volunteering for one of these roles, or contributing your time or skills in another way? Please complete the Volunteer Survey to let us know where you'd like to help.

PPTG Leadership Council

• PPTG Co-PresidentsErin RichChristina Means
• Serves as “the face” of PPTG and the liaison between Parent/Guardian community and the Principal. The chair often is the first point of contact for those with questions, needs or information and directs people to the appropriate person within the organization. This role requires quite a bit of time and involvement with the school onsite. The Chair works with the other Co-Chairs on the leadership council to build agendas for and facilitate the PPTG meetings, reach out to the community for volunteers and promote the missions of Peralta on site and within the district.
• PPTG Equity Chair Syreeta Mussante

• PPTG Events ChairJenny Wehrt Burnham

• PPTG Co-Recording SecretariesAnnie HughesCaitlin Stuart
• Attends all PPTG meetings, take notes, formats and archives via posting on the PPTG-LC website, and will help to make printed copies for non-email users upon request.

• PPTG Co-TreasurersLili FarhangJennifer JongAleksandra Wilson
• Responsible for fulfilling the ongoing financial reporting needs of the PPTG and Peralta community. Works in partnership with the Financial Analyst on strategic projects (budget, long-term funds, etc.). Major responsibilities include paying bills and people; deposits; event cash handling; bookkeeping (QuickBooks) and balancing checkbook; reporting to the membership.

• PPTG Volunteer Chair> Open Position
• Maintains the PPTG Guide and the Volunteer Roles directory. Leads the recruiting effort at the end/beginning of each year. Helps organize the Annual Information and Activities Fair at the first PPTG meeting in September. Follows up with coordinators as needed throughout the year. Works to promote diversity and include as many as possible in the PPTG’s community of “doers”.

• PPTG Communications ChairMaggie Pickavance
• Ensures all families receive necessary information regarding Peralta news, events, plans, policies, and decision-making; maximizes opportunities for all families to provide input and ideas. Has responsibilities for getting information out via paper handouts, Peralta Times, email newsletter (Peralta Broadcast) and automated telephone service (Calling Post). Coordinates with principal and PPTG Chair to produce and distribute wall/magnet calendar, includes but not limited to the following: select art, solidify calendar of event, manage vendor, etc.

• PPTG Facilities Chair> Open Position
• Facilitates inclusive planning, decision-making, oversight, and communication of PPTG efforts to maintain, improve, and/or expand Peralta ground and facilities, and long term strategic planning. A background in construction and or architecture is helpful here.

• PPTG Finance ChairJennifer Jong
• Coordinates and supports financial management of PPTG funds; with Fundraising Chair, communicates and coordinates discussion of fundraising progress, issues and decisions to the school community. Forecast future earnings, work with PPTG Chair and principal to prioritize spending.

• PPTG After School Program Chair Mike Sabel (contact on Konstella)
• Facilitates inclusive planning, decision-making, oversight, and communication of PPTG efforts to enrich and support the after-school educational experience of Peralta students.

• Peralta Racial Justice GroupMikaela RabinowitzSarah SelvidgeLili Farhang
• The Peralta Racial Justice Group is a space for talking about racial justice within our own lives and families, for exploring our experiences and learning from the experiences of others, and for engaging in solutions to the inequities here in our school community, in our district, and in Oakland. Monthly meetings are open to all - for more information please contact the Steering Committee members listed at left.

Event Chairs

• Auction Co-ChairsKathleen BrownOpen
• This team works on concept, program flow, coordinates donation solicitation, item presentation both physical and catalog, and thanking donors for the Annual Peralta Auction. Hard work, a lot of fun, always a great group who know how to put on a party. Extensive, good documents exist for this important task.

• Peralta Fund ChairDebra MurphyKathleen Brown
• Important job at the beginning of each school year with school’s biggest fundraiser. Approximately 20-25 hours of work during first 5 weeks of school (classroom visits, Back to School night presentations, emails/flyers, etc.) Track money as it comes in. Very good documentation for the tasks involved in this job.

• Peralta in Bloom Co-Chairs> Open Position> Open Position
• These positions are a lot of work, but a lot of fun. You work with a bunch of Peralta people (OVER 100) to create the largest, most public event on the Peralta calendar that everyone who is anyone, comes to. You pull together the group and organize the meetings (January-May). Find people to take charge of food, games, entertainment, sponsorship, etc. On the day of the festival, you oversee the event, but you must take time to eat some barbecue. You will be exhausted by the end, but you will probably have made some great friends and you will definitely have an enormous feeling of accomplishment. This position is for people who like to get things done! Extensive, good documents exist for this important task.

• Walkathon Co-Chairs [Jamie Dunbar] [David Luoh]
• How do you get hundreds of Peralta kids to walk around the block 20 times and raise money for their school? Put together pledge packets. Go to each class and try to get every child to participate. Buy lots of really cheap toys. Buy a bunch of “Superwalker” medals. Hand out one toy out each time they go around the block Hand out medals at the end. Remind everyone to turn in their pledges. Remind them again. That's the Peralta Walkathon.

Volunteer Coordinators

• Berkeley Bowl Scrip> Open Position
• Sells Berkeley Bowl scrip to Peralta community one morning each week at school. Coordinates with Treasurer to maintain inventory. Tracks and secures scrip in stock.

• Bike and Walk to School> Open Position> Open Position
• Organize and promote monthly Bike & Walk to School Day, as well as handling International Walk to School Week.

• Book FairAnnemarie Haar
• This person helps run the perennial kid-favorite Scholastic book fair in the Fall and Spring working in conjunction with the librarian Sonia and parent volunteers.

• ContractsMattie Barnette
• Work with PPTG Chair and principal to manage all PPTG contractors.

• Design/Publicity & Signs> Open Position
• Coordinates with principal, teachers, PPTG chairs and volunteer coordinators to inform, promote, and recruit Peralta community on activities, events, and campaigns, through signage, flyers, and Friday folder distribution.

• Earthquake / Disaster Preparedness> Open Position> Open Position
• Organizes team to provide materials, storage, and awareness for Peralta staff, teachers, parents and children be prepared for major disasters. Solicit donations, keep inventory and refresh materials and equipment, and organize trainings and drills.

• Fifth Grade Commencement> Open Position> Open Position
• Fourth grade parents/caregivers who coordinate the invitation, set up, decorations and refreshments at the 5th grade graduation the last day of school

• Friday Coffee & Brewing Community Sara Vera
• What better way to get to know the school community than through coffee & pastries? Solicit donations of coffee and pastries. Set up table select Friday mornings and sell your wares!

• KonstellaArleen Guevara
• Set up Konstella by class and community-wide at beginning of school year, maintain throughout the year.

• Grants> Open Position
• Convenes a team to work with PPTG leadership and staff to identify and screen listings for possible grant applications (e.g. foundations, eSchool Grant News, PEN NewsBlast). Recruits and supports writing of applications by teachers, parents, and teams. Helps maintain records and monitors reporting requirements for grants received.

• Greening & GardeningSarah SelvidgeChristine Martin
• Promotes monthly garden work days with flyers and email announcements. Coordinates vision of staff with needs of students, teachers and after school program with input from interested volunteers. Gets plants, tools, wood, paint and other materials in advance for preparation for regular work days and special projects. Maintains a master list of projects, including monthly schedules and annual special projects. Manages budget from PPTG and solicits donations and helps to write grants.

• Kindergarten Playground Playdates & Welcome PartiesLola Dvorak
• Responsible for planning Colby Park playdates & welcome house parties for new Kindergarten classes. Also creates a team that is available to answer new parent questions about the school, it's culture, and systems.

• Welcome Dinner

Christine Martin - contact in Konstella

• Responsible for planning Back-to-School welcome dinner potluck, activities, and family photos.

• Kindergarten ToursJennifer Jong
• Responsible for planning and staffing tours of Peralta School for prospective incoming students.

• Lost & Found

Emily Goodman contact in Konstella

• Monitor lost and found bins and periodically lays out items where children and parents can see and retrieve them (weekly/monthly/at school events). Remind kids and parents through flyers, newsletter, announcements of need to label all clothing and to check lost-and-found. Work with staff to donate unclaimed items when too much builds up.

• Mental Health> Open Position
• Entails some email and coordinating during summer/beginning of school year. Toward end of school year, liaise between Principal, PPTG, and sponsor re: renewal of contract for following year. Throughout year, distribute county, state and other information & materials re: mental wellness resources/opportunities to teachers, staff and parents. (Member, School Wellness Council).

• Middle School Info Nightopen position

• Works with other 5th grade parents to assemble information and hold an information night about choices available to Peralta families.

• Peralta Pride> Open Position
• Design, order & manage Peralta branded clothing, mugs, etc. to be worn on Peralta Pride Days. Recruit volunteers to help sell shirts on designated mornings as well as at school events. Maintain commerce page on website, and work with Treasurer with regards to accounting.

• Quilt RaffleOpen Position
• Coordinate sales campaign for quilt raffle tickets in spring term (drawing at Peralta in Bloom). Organize printing of tickets (usually sponsored by a merchant); creation, copying, collating, and distribution of ticket packets to all students; promotion/reminders to community; drawing, winner notification, quilt delivery. Coordinate receipt of money and tix with librarian and treasurer.

• QuartermasterKristel Weaver-Schoeneman
• This person helps purchase & maintain inventory of auxiliary, fun supplies for PPTG, Student of the Month program, etc.

• Room Parents

Arleen Guevara contact in Konstella

• Recruits and organizes the room parents at the beginning of school year. Conducts meetings throughout school year and assures that staff, teachers and PPTG can connect/communicate with families with any announcements (i.e. special events and field trips) and also in cases of emergency/crisis.

• Salad Bar> Open Position
• Coordinate multiple parent and student volunteers for salad bar throughout the students’ lunch hours on every school day. Coordinate a time for a nurse from OUSD health services to come to school site to provide TB testing for all volunteers. Organize special promotions. Assist with establishment and maintenance of food waste composting program. Requires safe food handling procedures, good hygiene, ability to work well with students while maintaining order. Coordinator commitment is 11am – 1pm daily until reliable volunteers are established. Remain on call in case of volunteer no-shows. (Member, School Wellness Council)
• Traffic SafetyDylan Nolfi
• Coordinate volunteers to supervise drop off zone on Dana. Coordinate and supervise 4th and 5th grade Safety Patrol volunteers. Safe Routes to Schools will provide safety and informational materials to this liaison concerning drop off traffic safety and plans.

• AV Support School EventsKeith Beattie
• Manages set up and support of AV needs for all school events and meetings. To request equipment, use the AV Request form.

• Website Manager

• Keeps the Peralta Elementary School Website up to date.