Volunteerism
Portland Waldorf School encourages every parent, caregiver, student and community member to get involved as a volunteer.
Whether you build picnic benches or chaperone field trips, guest lecture or bake, your efforts help build a strong sense of community and let our school thrive.
How to Get Involved
First, fill out the Volunteer Interest Form. This form is not a commitment to volunteer, but it lets PWS know your preferences and availability so you can be the first to hear about the volunteer opportunities you may be interested in.
If you have any questions, please contact development@portlandwaldorf.org
We value parent involvement and support of the class teacher. We know that many hands make light work, and coming together with other parents to support special projects strengthens the classroom culture.
Parents help by chaperoning field trips, volunteering for special class events and helping with projects.
Parent Association
The Parent Association is a volunteer organization consisting of at least two Parent Representatives per class and members of PWS Administration.
Parent Association Meetings are held monthly, usually on the first Monday of each month. Parent Representatives are expected to attend these meetings, but all parents and caregivers are welcome to attend!
The mission of the Parent Association is to:
Enliven all aspects of community life
Facilitate communication among faculty, administration, and the parent body
Build a better understanding of the cultural mission of the school as set forth by the College of Teachers
If you have any questions about the role of the Parent Association, please email us here. If you are interested in joining, please contact your student’s class teacher or sponsor.
Class Parents
The Class Parent works closely with the class teacher, Parent Association Representatives and all parents in their student’s class. They help coordinate volunteers for field trips and festivals, orchestrate teacher cards and gift-giving, help organize classroom activities and events, and cultivate a positive classroom culture. There may be opportunities to collaborate with other Class Parents on section wide or school wide events.
Please contact your student’s class teacher directly to inquire about getting involved!
What’s the difference between Parent Association representatives and Class Parents?
Parent Association representatives focus on volunteering for PWS’s large annual events, like festivals and the auction. Serving on the PA is great for parents and caregivers who need (or prefer) to be able to schedule their volunteer commitments far in advance!
Class Parents volunteer directly for their student’s class teacher, so may be asked to volunteer on shorter term notice. These volunteers are more “on-call” for the class, so this is great for parents and caregivers with more flexible schedules!
Events
It takes a village to bring our beloved celebrations to life. Whether you like to be on the planning committee to strategize beforehand, or be on the ground the day of, we need volunteer help!
May Faire is our biggest annual event and is open to the public. We always need volunteers to make May Faire happen!
Love to bake? Join our baking team, the Baker’s Dozen, to help support various events and our monthly Community Teas.
Community Work Parties happen each spring and fall. We ask members of the PWS community to bring shovels and gloves and join us for a day of maintenance and service to our campus. Lunch is provided on these days!
Please complete the Volunteer Interest Form, and/or email us here if any of these volunteer opportunities interest you!