Parent Council Activities

Below you will find the activities that are run by the RCDS Parent Council throughout the school year. Please click on each title for more details and contact information.

After School Activity Program (ASAP)
Contact: Karin Hassel

“After School Activity Program” is an 8-week extra curricular program offered in the fall and winter. Activities such as golf, art, karate, cooking, crafts, floral design and sports camp are offered. Enrollment is an additional cost.

Please click here to view the Winter, 2013 ASAP Brochure

Parent Volunteers are needed to:
- Help supervise children and serve lunch on ASAP days
Art Appreciation
Contact: Jeanette Hall

The art appreciation program is for grades B-4 with the intent of bringing additional art experiences to the school.

Parent Volunteers are needed to:
- Twice a year parents are trained and sent into the classroom to docent a hands-on creative project for approximately 45 minutes.
Book Fair & Family Reading Night
Contact: Kimberly Yarbrough

Book Fair raises funds for the Library through the sale of books for children and adults.

Family reading night takes place the night before the first full day of Book Fair and is a fun cookies and milk filled night with parents reading books to the children.

Parent Volunteers are needed to:
- Help set up Fair including unpacking books and placing them out on tables
- Help decorate the Book Fair space according to the year’s theme
- Staff the Fair – assist children and parents on finding books; keeping fair tidy
- Help clean up after the fair – box unsold books
- Read books to the children on Family Reading Night
- Bring homemade refreshments for both Family Reading Night and Book Fair
- Help staff Bake Sale
Buddy Family
Contact: Sarah Devine

Buddy Families help new families just entering the school. Buddy Families answer questions that the new family may have and make the transition period a seamless one! A Buddy Family Cocktail Party is held in the Fall.

Parent Volunteers are needed to:
- Be a Buddy Family
Class Parents
Family Field Day & BBQ
Contact: Eric Wachtel

Family Field Day & BBQ is an annual event and will be held one Friday this Spring beginning at 12:30 pm. This is a no-cost day of relay races, games, food, music and school spirit.

Parent Volunteers are needed to:
- Staff the event
- Help run races and games
- Help set-up and clean-up
Family Fun Night
Contact: Jen Huesman

A fun filled evening of games and food for the entire family. Join in the fun and maybe even win a prize or two! This event is open to RCDS students and families in grades B-6.

Parent Volunteers are needed to:
- Help set up for the evening
- Bring homemade desserts or appetizers for the event
- Help staff the event
Food Drive
Contact: Liz Swikart

Children give designated non-perishable food items in our annual February Food Drive benefiting local families in our area through Lunch Break Soup Kitchen.

Parent Volunteers are needed to:
- Help decorate and distribute collection boxes
- Help drive food to local charity
Forensics
Contact: Carlie Cioffi

Forensics is an Upper School speech competition among various schools. It is held annually at RCDS. The Forensics Committee functions as a support group for the Forensics Competition.

Parent Volunteers are needed to:
- Act as guides and hosts for competing forensics participants
- Help with the judges’ luncheon
- Monitor hallways during competitions
Friday Lunches
Contact: Nikki Alpert

Friday lunches are typically held the first Friday of the month in conjunction with casual dress day. Please see Gator Bytes for exact dates and times.

Parent Volunteers are needed to:
- Help serve lunch to the children
Gala
Contact: Kristi Stoever

Our annual Winter Gala is a RCDS tradition and our major fundraiser.

Parent Volunteers are needed to:
- Head/help with various committees including auction, food, entertainment, decorations, invitations, lighting, etc.
- Help solicit silent and live auction items
Gardening
Contact: Marshall Lynch

The Gardening committee is a group of parents whose goal is to enhance the beauty of the school through plants and flowers.

Parent Volunteers are needed to:
- Help with various beautification projects around the school
Gently Used Uniform Sale
Contact: Leah Soltas

The Gently Used Uniform Sale is a great way of getting uniforms for your children at a fraction of the price.

Parent Volunteers are needed to:
- Donate gently used uniforms to the sale
- Help set up and organize clothing for the day of the sale
- Staff the day of sale
Giving Tree

Contact: Liz Swikart
An RCDS tradition, Giving Tree goes up after the Thanksgiving break with suggested "gift" tags attached. RCDS children pick a tag from the tree, purchase and return an unwrapped gift benefiting area children through Family & Children's Services.
Hospitality Committee

Contact: Rachel Croddick
The Hospitality Committee coordinates refreshments for the New Student Orientation, Mid-term and Final Exams, and Class Day Reception.
Library Volunteers
Contact: Donna Gibson

Parents will assist the Librarian in the Main Library Monday through Friday mornings from 7:45-8:15 am.

Parent volunteers are needed to:
- Help the librarian check in/out children’s books and re-shelve books (a rotating staff schedule will be created and it is a great way to see your kids in action!)
Lower School Halloween Party
Contact: Samm Popham

A fun family event for children in grades N-4th, including arts, crafts, fun games and tasty treats!

Parent volunteers are needed to:
- Decorate the gym
- Set up games
- Serve refreshments
- Run the arts and crafts table
Mom's Day Out

Contact: Tara Leibee
Two fun filled events designed to allow moms to get to know each other better and have a great time. Last year’s events included a cooking class/luncheon as well as a tennis day with lunch. Look for your e-invite to this year's events when the time comes!
Parent Council Executive Committee
Contact: Jennifer Crowell

The Parent Council Executive Committee (EPC) implements the mission of the Parent Council and oversees and guides all Parent Council activities and programs.

EPC is comprised of seven to eight parents from the RCDS community.
- Positions: President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Liaisons for the Upper, Lower, and Primary Schools
- EPC members are nominated by committee and are chosen based on leadership positions within the school (chairs, “worker bees”, etc.)
The Executive Committee does not make any administrative decisions, including those concerning dress code, school lunch menus, curriculum, or the like. However, they do continuously inform the Administration and Board of Trustees about what the parents consistently bring up as concerns/wants/needs for the School. The Administration and Board of Trustees have final approval on disbursement of funds raised by Parent Council activities.
RCDS-Amazon School Rewards Program
Rummage Sale
Contact: Nikki Alpert

The RCDS Rummage Sale is one of the school's oldest traditions and could possibly be the largest annual “garage sale” held in New Jersey.

Benefits of Rummage include: service to our community, a sizeable contribution to the RCDS Financial Aid Fund, and the inevitable camaraderie resulting from weeks of parents planning and working together.

Parent Volunteers are needed to:
- In order for this event to be successful, there is a long-standing tradition that each parent MUST work one shift for EACH child enrolled at RCDS, up to three shifts. See your class parent for staffing details.
School Store - "Gator Alley"
Contact: Laura Whisnand

Come visit our beautiful school store located at the heart of Riker Hall! The store offers various school supplies and assorted gift items. Hours of operation are generally Fridays from 7:45 am to 8:45 am with additional hours offered during holiday time and special school events. See Gator Bytes for weekly hours.

Parent Volunteers are needed to:
- Staff the school store when open (a rotating staff schedule will be created and it is a great way to see your kids in action!)
Teacher/Staff Appreciation Day
Contact: Lisa Bilancione

All teachers and staff are treated to breakfast provided by Parent Council as well as gift certificates and “lucky drawings for dinner”.

Lower School students may bring a small gift, “made-from-the-heart” such as cookies, a drawing or poem, potted plant, etc. for their teachers.

Parent Volunteers are needed to:
- Provide homemade refreshments for the event
- Help set up the day before the event, the day of the event and with cleanup
Young Writer's Workshop
Contact: Karen Piacentini

A yearly tradition, a children’s author is brought to RCDS to discuss the process of writing and illustrating a book. Children are then given materials to write their own books. This workshop typically takes place after school on a half day Friday. An additional cost applies.

Please click here to view the 2013 Young Writers' Workshop Flyer

Parent volunteers are needed to:
- Help coordinate the events of the day and supervise the children