Committees
Lighthouse goes beyond just being a volunteer in the classroom.
Students participate in hands-on, developmentally appropriate, community-based learning that helps them meet learning standards while preserving the academic integrity of the program. It takes our time and effort to build structure into these areas of our program.
We are better when working together.
EXCURSIONS
Work with local businesses and teachers to identify and maintain a database of curriculum-appropriate excursions for the school-year. Support teachers by coordinating transportation and collaborating within the Committee for cross-grade participation.
SOCIALS & SERVICE
Plan and execute community building by hosting social and service events throughout the school year. Events may include the broader JFE community especially ahead of enrollment.
FUTURES & PR
Assure continuity of the program by maintaining organization policies, Community Handbook and Bylaws.
Provide Marketing and PR support to the PR Chair as needed by creating content for social media pages, scheduling content, outreach to local preschools for Info Night, etc.
ART
Prepare materials for in-class projects. Will require planning, possible collaboration, and shopping. Also supports the Fundraising Committee for the class art project.
COOKING
Responsible for arranging 2-3 cooking activities per month. Will require planning, collaboration, and shopping.
EXPLORATIONS
Work with teachers and parent community to identify curriculum-appropriate explorations for the school-year that enrich learning through STEM.
SCIENCE
Help to support our district science kits by organizing, inventorying and potentially facilitating in the classroom. Support teachers as needed.
TASK MASTERS
Support teachers needs by utilizing the JFE workroom to make copies, prepare materials, etc., cleaning classrooms at teachers’ requests, other tasks as requested by teachers.
FUNDRAISING
Support collecting procurements from families and items for classroom basket. Provide your class with information and materials necessary to participate in the annual auction. Support Fundraising Chair as needed leading up to the annual auction.
CELEBRATIONS
Arrange class parties/celebrations. Each class gets to have 3/year and will vary amongst the teachers.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Do you speak a second (or third!) language? Consider planning lessons and sharing your language within the classroom.
MEMORY & ARCHIVE
Take photos in class and at Lighthouse events, maintain records, all media types, and organize and maintain an archive of Lighthouse photos, per grade and as a whole.
Committees FAQ
What are Lighthouse Committees and why should I be excited about them?
Lighthouse Cooperative Committees provide the broader community the opportunity for community building, collaboration among grade levels, as well as pooling resources (such as time and money) for planning enrichment. Committees provide us with the agency to have the power and resources to reach and maintain our highest potential as a Cooperative. They create a sustainable program!
Committees will give you the opportunity to:
● Meet other Lighthouse families across grade levels
● Collaborate amongst other families
● Enrich program enhancements
● Provide and stretch resources across the entire community
How many Committees am I required to be on?
One committee per child in the program.
What is the time commitment?
It will vary by Committee and time of year. For example, Fundraising will be rather light at the beginning of the year, but ramp up as we get closer to the annual auction. As a Committee, you’ll decide the frequency of your get-togethers and overall schedule of activities.
How is it determined who will be on what Committee?
Every school year, a survey is sent to collect parent preferences. Parents will have the opportunity to rank their preferred Committee(s), which can be based on their classroom role, areas of interest or unique skills.
What are typical things that a committee might do?
Committees will work together to achieve common goals and objectives. A few examples of the work a Committee might do:
● Use curriculum maps, provided by teachers, to help plan classroom enrichment such as Art, Explorations and Foreign Language
● Plan and organize classroom volunteers to have holiday celebrations in the classroom (limited to 3 per year, per ESD policy)
● Organize community service events with Socials & Service such as litter pick-up, canned food drive to support Backpack Program
How is the committee related to my classroom assignment?
Classroom assignments are separate from your committee, but could align based on specific teacher needs and scheduling. For example, if you are assigned an art rotation in the classroom, you’d best serve the broader Lighthouse community by joining the Art Committee as well. For those doing a math rotation, consider your strengths and interests and select a Committee that way.
How do Committees improve the classroom experience?
Committees collaborate to ensure our classroom enhancements and rotations are best supporting teachers and curriculum. They also strengthen our community bonds, which help with retention of families along the elementary journey.
If you have other questions, please email us!