Thank you for your interest in being a volunteer at MCDS! Please fill out this form by June 7, 2022 (the day before Step-Up). 

If you are interested in more details about a volunteer position, feel free to contact the appropriate FA chair. (Please see the full list of 2022-23 FA chairs).

Many thanks for your ongoing commitment to MCDS and our children’s education!

Anna Saviski

Mom to Sophia ‘24

annasaviski@aol.com

2022-23 Family Association

Volunteer Recruitment Manager

Two key reasons why it's important to tally your hours:

1. We want to appropriately acknowledge the tremendous efforts expended by MCDS parents.
2. We use the data to illustrate our strong culture of volunteerism to prospective MCDS parents.

A few general notes about this form:

• Grade level questions refer to the 2022-23 school year. 
• You may make multiple grade level selections for some activities; for example, you may volunteer for Lunch/Playground duty for both K and 1st grades.
• This form does not ensure that you will be assigned a particular job, nor does it commit you to a role for which you indicate interest; it simply communicates your interest/intent so that we can include your name on the appropriate volunteer list. There is a website to manage and update ongoing volunteer opportunities throughout the school year (MCDS families will receive a link to access it), but it is important for MCDS staff and FA chairs to understand your volunteering preferences at this time, for planning purposes.
• For additional information about the requirements of a particular job, please contact the appropriate FA chair.

Kite Day • Fall

Kite Day is an all-school picnic celebration held on a Sunday in the Fall. Activities include kite flying, games and relaxed socializing. This casual and fun event is one of the school's oldest traditions and a wonderful way to kick off the new school year. For more information, please contact the Kite Day chairs. Possible Kite Day roles might include:

• Set-up & Decorations
• Booths & Activities
• Donations for Activities (lawn games, coolers for ice, etc.)
• Break-down & Clean-up

Grandparents and Special Friends Day (GPSF) • November

Each November, we welcome grandparents and special friends to our campus for classroom visits and a lively musical performance by students. Volunteers assist with registration and function as roving photographers. This event is tentatively scheduled for Friday, November 18, 2022. For more information, please contact Jenny Adlam Gonzalez (jadlamgonzalez@mcds.org).

Book Fair • November

Begun in 1958, the Book Fair is a week-long, multi-faceted event that celebrates our community’s love of books and reading. The Book Fair has many opportunities for participation and volunteering, from selecting and selling the books that will be offered, to cooking for the Friday Night Preview Party, to helping with cashiering, set-up and break-down. The success of the Book Fair depends on a lot of volunteers!

Possible Book Fair roles might include (click here for detailed descriptions of each role):

• Book Fair Selector (volunteers will be contacted to read books over the summer)
• Preview Party Team (decorating, serving, bartending or clean-up)
• Marketing and Communications Team (help get the word out to MCDS and larger community)
• Book Fair Cashiers
• Book Fair Weekend Activities Team
• Weekend Baked Goods Team/Bus Stop Muffin Monday Team (bake/distribute muffins at your bus stop to spread the word about the Book Fair)
• Book Fair Luncheon Team
• Used Books Team

Home Sweet Home Gingerbread House Party • December

A family-friendly gingerbread house decorating party to raise funds for MCDS indexed tuition as well as for Homeward Bound of Marin, which supports under-housed families in Marin.

One event takes place on campus for MCDS famillies.

A second event takes place in collaboration with Homeward Bound of Marin for the families living at Oma Village in Novato.  We have limited volunteer opportunities at this event; this is a community engagement opportunity for students 5th through 8th graders.

Both events take place the first weekend of December. 

Possible Home Sweet Home roles might include:

• Candy Solicitor
• Candy Drive and Sorters
• Student Volunteer Management
• Event Set-up
• Event Staff
• Event Break-down

Hospitality Events

The Hospitality team needs volunteers for the following events:

• The Back-to-School Welcome Coffee (first day of school)
• All school FA meetings
• New Families Welcome Reception (May)
• FA luncheon

Each of these events provides a chance to work with other parents/guardians to bring together the community, from the first day of school to the end of the school year when we welcome our new families. 

Please note that your choice to sign up for this volunteer opportunity will put your name on a list to be contacted for each event, but you are not obligated to volunteer. 

Bike/Walk to School Day • May

Volunteers walk or bike to school with students from their neighborhoods on designated Bike/Walk to School Day.  The Sustainability Coordinator will reach out in April to help get everyone organized, and there will be a call in the Pipeline for additional volunteers closer to the event.

Event Fundraising for Indexed Tuition

"Make IT Happen" is the umbrella term for multiple fundraising events throughout the year that support the Indexed Tuition Program, including the K-5 Walkathon, Online Auction and Community Dinner Dance. For more information, please contact the VP of Events and Fundraising.

Community Dinner Dance & Online Auction • April

The Community Dinner Dance takes place each spring.  A fun and festive celebration of our community.  This event raises significant funds for indexed tuition.  Click here for more details on each role.  For more information,  please contact the Community Dinner Dance chair(s) or Jenny Adlam Gonzalez (jadlamgonzalez@mcds.org) in the Development Office.

Walkathon • May

Students K through 5 solicit pledges from family, friends and neighbors for each lap they complete in the annual Walkathon.  This fun and spirited event supports indexed tuition and is a great way for students to learn about giving back.

Annual Fund Fundraising Volunteer Opportunities

Annual Fund Parents/Guardians Committee

Annual Fund Committee volunteers play a crucial role in helping MCDS balance its annual operating budget, carry on the strong school tradition of 100% parent/guardian participation in the Annual Fund and strengthen community relations. The committee comprises 40-50 volunteers.  The committee members are responsible for writing notes to 5-10 families to encourage their participation in the fund through educating them about our financial model and what the fund supports.  Our goal is to have a pledge from each family in the first 100 days of school each year, so the school has a strong sense of how to plan the budget and tuition for the next year. This is a great volunteer commitment for working parents/guardians who want to have a high impact on the health of the school.

Staff Treats

Staff Treats organizes two food-centered appreciation events that occur during the school year to honor MCDS teachers and staff. These events, one held in the Fall and the other in the Spring, are simply referred to as “Staff Treats.”

Volunteer opportunities include helping to collect food donations from families during morning drop-off, setting up the event, replenishing food during the event, and cleaning up when the event is complete. These events are highly anticipated by the MCDS teachers and staff. Parents are encouraged to volunteer for one or both of the events as their schedules allow. For more information, please contact the Staff Treats chairs.

Faculty and Staff Take-Home Dinner and Faculty and Staff Appreciation Tea

Faculty and Staff Take-Home Dinner and Appreciation Tea events take place in September and February to honor MCDS teachers and staff.

Volunteer opportunities for Faculty and Staff Take-Home Dinner include compiling gift bags with a take-home dinner for the faculty and staff to enjoy the first day of school.

Volunteer opportunities for Faculty and Staff Appreciation Tea include helping to collect food donations from families during morning drop-off, setting up the event, replenishing food during the event, and cleaning up when the event is complete.

These events are highly anticipated by the MCDS teachers and staff. Parents are encouraged to volunteer for one or both of the events as their schedules allow. For more information, please contact the Faculty/Staff Appreciation chairs.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Volunteer Opportunities

Parents and guardians interested in furthering the work towards an inclusive community of learning and building a sense of belonging amongst our constituents please take a look at the volunteer opportunities below for the 2022-23 school year.  The offerings will grow and change from year to year.  If you have questions, please contact the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Karen Velasquez (kvelasquez@mcds.org).

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Ambassadors 

Work with the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Karen Velasquez, to become an ambassador to our larger community around inclusion work.  This opportunity is for parents/guardians interested in becoming more involved with diversity, equity, and inclusion work through a series of workshops with Karen so that in the future you might help to facilitate courageous conversations amongst members of the community during structured DEI community ed sessions.

Culturally Relevant Celebration Volunteers

This will be a new endeavor. Parents/guardians who are interested in being part of helping to coordinate and highlighting the cultural diversity in our community, please sign up.

DEI Civic Engagement Volunteers

This will be a new endeavor. Parents/guardians who are interested in being part of helping to coordinate DEI-related civic events and celebrations, in partnership with external organizations, please sign up.

Language Skills and Support 

We are looking for volunteers who are fluent in languages other than English to provide language/cultural support as needed to MCDS families. Volunteers will make regular phone call check-ins with an assigned family to help with any questions/concerns they may have and/or direct them to the appropriate school representative to assist them. Volunteers might help connect this family to affinity groups and or attend an event with a family to help them connect to the MCDS community.  Volunteers for this community-building program provide valuable service and help promote inclusivity and cultural diversity at MCDS.

Admission Volunteer Opportunities

The Admission Office always needs parent volunteers to assist and attend admission events, serve as a tour guide or an admission contact for prospective families. These are wonderful opportunities to serve as an ambassador for our beloved school. If you are interested in supporting Admission, please check the appropriate boxes below. For more information, please contact the Admission Office (admission@mcds.org).

Admission Events

Each year the Admission Office hosts a variety of events for prospective families.  These events are organized by parent liaison and the Admission Office.  Please indicate interest in the types of events you might be interested in volunteering for or attending on behalf of the school.  For more information, please contact the Admission Team (admission@mcds.org)

Admission Contacts for Applicant Families

Work with the admission team as a contact for applicant families applying to MCDS.  This work may involve being on a contact list for families with specific questions about the MCDS experience.  Common topics are commute, what it's like to be part of the MCDS community, the academic experience, and community culture overall. We are looking for volunteers from all backgrounds and perspectives, so the admission contact can speak from the "I" perspective when connecting with applicant families.  Parents/guardians provide a unique outlook on the school's culture, values and curriculum and are essential to the future health of the MCDS community. Time commitment is dependent on the volunteer's preference.  For more information, please contact the Admission Office (admission@mcds.org).

Additional K-8 Volunteer Opportunities

Spirit Wear

Each year, the Spirit Wear committee creates a new assortment of fun MCDS apparel and novelty items to promote school spirit and pride.  Items are sold online and at select school events such as conference days, Kite Day, a new student visiting day, the new family reception and the Back-to-School coffee, etc.  Proceeds fund the Family Association budget and allow the FA to host community-building events and show faculty/staff much deserved appreciation. Volunteers help to set up on sales day, answer questions about products and process purchases.  Volunteer shifts average 2 hours in length.  Don't miss one of the best opportunities to build and connect with the community on campus.

If you sign up to be a Spirit Wear sales volunteer, we will contact you before each sales event to see if you are available to work that specific event.

Community Care Assistance

Community Care offers support and assistance to MCDS families, faculty and staff who are recovering from surgery, serious illness, or major loss and require short-term emotional and logistical support.  Community Care also works closely with Darcy Ellsworth Yow to partner with local organizations for community engagement projects and opportunities.  Examples include meal prep at Glide Memorial Church, watershed restoration for salmon habitat in Olema, and making bagged lunches for St. Vincent de Paul's.  Please note signing up only signifies your interest in helping with these initiatives and does not obligate you to provide assistance every time it's needed.

For more information about Community Care assistance, please contact the Community Care Liaisons.

Hosting MCDS Gatherings in my home or office

Lost and Found

Volunteers help the Sustainability chairs to manage the school's Lost & Found.  Tasks include sorting and helping with the donation process for unclaimed and unlabeled items.  The donation process consists of washing, folding and organizing delivery of the items to a charity organization.

Individual School Portraits • Second Week of School

Volunteers escort students to/from the photo site, help keep students calm and looking their best while awaiting their turn.  Day schedule is as follows:  Wed (6-8 grades), Thu (3-5 grades) and Fri (K-2 grades).  Pictures are taken in the morning, finishing each day by 1:00 pm.  Annie Stuart will contact you about preferred scheduling.  For more information, please contact Annie Stuart (astuart@mcds.org).

Community Education

We are looking for parent volunteers to attend community education sessions and provide a written summary afterward (assuming the session wasn't recorded).  Summary notes are posted on the MCDS website to benefit the parents unable to attend.  There are approximately 10 events each school year, which are held both during the day (8:30-10:30 am) and in the evenings (7:00-9:00 pm).

Signing up for this volunteer opportunity adds your name to the list to be contacted prior to each event to see if you can serve as the assigned note taker.  You can accept based on your schedule and availability.  Volunteers can sign up to take notes for one event only.

For more information, please contact Margie Schwartz (mschwartz@mcds.org).

Skills and Talents

Parents with expertise and special skills provide valuable services to the school. Please select as many skills as apply to you and/or tell us about another area of expertise in the "Other" section below.

Wholesale Connections

Please let us know if you or someone you know can help with wholesale pricing for food, wine, flowers, paper goods, printing, restaurants or event facilities.

Community Engagement

You can help expand Community Engagement opportunities for kids by sharing your community activities/affiliations with MCDS (e.g., Marin Audubon Society, local libraries, Sierra Club, Homeward Bound, GGNRA, etc.). Teachers often need a contact person at these organizations to facilitate a student service project. Please be specific.

Professional Backgrounds

Likewise, do you have a professional background or interest in an area where you might be willing to be a resource to teachers and kids on a limited basis? Please be specific.

Technology Backgrounds

Finally, please let us know if you work in the tech field and would be interested in teaching students about your work or if you have access to interesting tech tools that the tech department could possibly pilot with students and/or teachers.