How to Get Involved

Welcome

As Co-Presidents of the Hunnewell School PTO, we are excited to support the entire Hunnewell community, faculty and staff throughout the 2022-23 school year. Whether your family is new to Hunnewell or you are a Hunnewell veteran, we hope you all feel a sense of enthusiasm and fellowship as we journey through this non-traditional school year together.

This year our Hunnewell students will be at host schools. Bates is hosting Kindergarten and 5th grade, Sprague is hosting 2nd and 4th grade, Hardy is hosting 3rd grade and Upham is hosting 1st grade. Our students have already been embraced by our welcoming host schools and they are looking forward to this adventure in learning as they form new friendships at these schools.

PTO activities and efforts throughout the year will be designed to further the PTO’s long-standing mission:

  • Enriching the educational experience of all our children;

  • Providing financial and volunteer support for the activities and needs of the school; and

  • Enhancing communication between home, school, and community groups.

Our PTO meets formally five times per year. Traditionally, we send out Hunnewell Happenings each Sunday evening. This year we will not be having weekly communication from the Hunnewell PTO. Your main source of communication will come from your host school(s). We will send out e-blasts as needed to communicate Hunnewell specific news.

Our school community is strengthened when we share our talents and work together toward the common goal of bettering our children’s educational experience. As a parent of a Hunnewell student, you are automatically a member of the PTO and we encourage you to get involved.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions, comments or suggestions. We can be reached at info@hunnewellpto.org.​

Warm regards,

Brittany and Heather

Co-Presidents, Hunnewell School PTO



Positions

The Hunnewell School PTO relies on the engagement and commitment of parents to enhance our children's school. You are already a member of the Hunnewell School PTO, a member who can bring energy and ideas (big or small) to our community. Our school community is strengthened when we share our talents and work together toward the common goal of bettering our children's educational experience. If you are interested in an open position or in helping more generally, please contact the Co-Presidents at info@hunnewellpto.org.



PTO Board

Co-Presidents

Provide strategic oversight of all PTO programming and budgeting, liaison between Principal and PTO volunteers, facilitate PTO board meetings, and represent Hunnewell at town-wide meetings including Central Council and meetings with WPS Superintendent.

  • Brittany Barber

  • Heather Conway

Vice President

Support the PTO and Co-Presidents as needed. Main responsibilities include recruiting and managing room parents for each classroom, coordinating thank you note correspondence, managing school supply program, and helping to recruit volunteers for various events.

  • Lillian Lau

  • Dara Brigham

Treasurer

Oversee all Hunnewell PTO finances, including vendor payments, volunteer reimbursements, tax preparation, updates to the PTO board, annual fund, and budget support.

  • Casey Bechtel

  • Becky Flanagan

Secretary

Publish and manage the online and paper versions of the Hunnewell directory and maintain PTO board meeting minutes.

  • Lisa Richardson

  • Allison Shirley

Communications

Produce PTO’s weekly newsletter, Hunnewell Happenings, and PTO e-blasts. Work with website coordinator to ensure content is up to date.

  • Jen Mock

Creative Arts & Sciences

Lead a committee to plan school-wide and grade-level programming such as assemblies, workshops and in-house residencies that support the curriculum including performers, scientists, authors, and artists.

  • For the 2022-23 school year each Grade Liaison Role will be working with each host school to assemble our Creative Arts and Sciences programs

Fundraising

Lead a committee to plan and execute fundraising events and programs throughout the year to meet PTO fundraising goals (excluding the annual appeal and auction/parent party).

  • For the 2022-23 school year this position will be on hold

Social

Lead a committee to plan and throw Hunnewell’s social events throughout the year, as listed below. Solicit volunteers from community to staff the events.

  • Cristina Hoff

  • Megan Ahonen

Grade Liaison Role

Provide support between our Hunnewell PTO and our host school's PTO. Will work with host schools to assist in grade level Creative, Arts and Sciences programs, community events and staff appreciation.

  • Kindergarten (Bates): Cara Whiting

  • 1st Grade (Upham): Niki Ofenloch

  • 2nd Grade (Sprague): Molly Bruni

  • 3rd Grade (Hardy): Jen Mock

  • 4th Grade (Sprague): Amy Sussman

  • 5th Grade (Bates): Cristina Hoff

Community Coordinators

Kindergarten

Help welcome the incoming kindergarten class at the parent orientation and student screening in the spring. Organize back-toschool popsicle party and parent coffee in the fall.

  • Lisa Richardson

  • Cara Whiting

5th Grade

Plan and coordinate a class gift to the school, organize graduation celebrations, and work with yearbook committee on fifth grade section.

  • Cristina Hoff

  • Lindsay Jeanloz

New Family Host Program

Help welcome new families by matching them with a host family mentor and organizing back-to-school new family picnic.

  • Jeannie Liou

  • Andrea Gardos

Website

Provide ongoing support and maintenance of Hunnewell PTO website.

  • Jen Mock

Enrichment Programming

BOKS (Build our Kids' Success)

Coordinate before-school activity and exercise program.

  • OPEN (2-3)

Creative Arts & Sciences

Manage all CAS programming for a grade-level.

  • For the 2022-23 school year this position will be on hold. Grade Liaison's will work with their host school to assist with this program.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Plan and execute events to support diversity, equity, and inclusion at Hunnewell, through cultural programming such as assemblies, heritage celebrations, and performances.

  • Niki Ofenloch

  • Jenny Kim

  • Liz Licata

Hunnewell Helps

Plan and lead community service programs at Hunnewell and in our broader community throughout the school year (e.g. grounds clean-up, food/toy drives, Spread the Bread).

  • For the 2022-23 school year this position will be on hold.

Hunnewell Hive

Oversee 4th and 5th graders in developing and publishing the school newspaper to enhance literacy, communication, and media knowledge.

  • For the 2022-23 school year this position will be on hold.

Literacy

Plan and execute literacy events, including annual author visit, and activities to support literacy at Hunnewell (e.g. shared library) in support of district curriculum.

  • For the 2022-23 school year this position will be on hold. Grade Liaison's will work with their host school to assist with this program.

Author Visit

  • For the 2022-23 school year this position will be on hold. Grade Liaison's will work with their host school to assist with this program.

Book Fair

  • For the 2022-23 school year this position will be on hold.​

Green Team

Plan and lead activities to encourage environmentally sound practices at Hunnewell (e.g. litter-less lunches, green certified classrooms, recycling); liaise with town-wide green team.

  • For the 2022-23 school year this position will be on hold. Grade Liaison's will work with their host school to assist with this program.

Outdoor Club

Plan and lead 2-3 activities to encourage students to explore the outdoors.

  • For the 2022-23 school year this position will be on hold

STEM

Plan and execute events to support STEM at Hunnewell (e.g. astronomy night, STEM museum).

  • For the 2022-23 school year this position will be on hold. Grade Liaison's will work with their host school to assist with this program.

Walk to School

Help PE teacher set up for monthly walk to school days by staffing the walker sign in table, greeting students, and collecting signatures.

  • For the 2022-23 school year this position will be on hold.

Yearbook

Plan and lead production of annual Hunnewell yearbook by working with the yearbook vendor, 5th grade coordinators, and photographers, among others.

  • Jenny Kim

  • Niki Ofenloch

Fundraising

Auction

Lead a committee to plan and throw an adult-only party and Hunnewell’s largest single fundraiser. All money raised supports PTO programming at Hunnewell.

  • N/A

  • N/A

Fun Fair

Lead a committee to plan and throw a child-friendly carnival for both the school community and town during Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend offering food, rides, and games on the Hunnewell grounds.

  • For the 2022-23 school year this position will be on hold.

Merchandise

Support fundraising chairs in procuring and selling Hunnewell gear.

  • For the 2022-23 school year this position will be on hold.

Original Works

Work with art teacher to help coordinate orders of student art creations and gifts.

  • For the 2022-23 school year this position will be on hold.

Teacher/Staff Raffle

Lead and execute annual raffle where teachers and staff offer their own personal time and resources to students to raise money for Hunnewell.

  • For the 2022-23 school year this position will be on hold.

Room Parents

We are in need of two room parents per classroom. Volunteering as a room parent is a great way to get involved at Hunnewell!

Responsibilities include:

  • Support the classroom teacher as needed. You may be called upon occasionally to organize classroom readers or volunteers. Check in with teachers a few times a year to see if they need anything.

  • Organize grade-level parent volunteers for PTO social and community events.

  • Organize a year-end class gift for the classroom teacher, teaching assistants and specialists. Please note that room parents are not responsible for organizing a holiday class gift in December.

  • Serve as a liaison between the PTO and the classroom parents. You will primarily be asked to forward emails from the PTO to your class.

  • Attend (ideally, two) PTO meetings. We encourage room parents to attend PTO Meetings, which occur every other month throughout the school year, to represent the interests of your grade and participate in planning discussions.

Kindergarten

  • KM: Sarah Mitchell and Caroline White

  • KL: OPEN

1st Grade

  • 1GM: Angela Orfanos and Joanne Blotner

  • 1JM: Sarah Williams an Brook Salasovich

2nd Grade

  • 2LC: Kathleen Grandin and Lindsay Gibson

  • 2MC: Anna Ballard and Jeannie Liou

3rd Grade

  • 3D: Chrissy McMahon and Britt Estwanick

  • 3M: Betsy Fisher and Jessica Madon

4th Grade

  • 4C: Becky Flanagan and Kim Towlun

  • 4P: Miriam Gates and Julie Bryan

5th Grade

  • 5H: Christen Deveney and Lesley Prowda

  • 5S: Cristina Hoff and Lindsay Jeanloz

Social

Ice Cream Social

Plan and execute back-to-school ice cream event.

  • For the 2022-23 school year this position will be on hold.

Ice Skating Party

Coordinate with Babson College to plan winter ice skating event.

  • For the 2022-23 school year this position will be on hold.

Staff and Grounds

Gardening

Coordinate with Hunnewell staff and outside vendor to help maintain gardens and planters around the school. Solicit volunteers and lead Hunnewell Beautification Day in the fall, and provide ongoing support and maintenance throughout the year.

  • For the 2022-23 school year this position will be on hold.

Staff Appreciation

Plan and provide food for Hunnewell teachers and staff at various times during the year including back to school lunch/dinner, last day of school lunch, and teacher appreciation snacks.

  • For the 2022-23 school year this position will be on hold. Grade Liaison's will work with their host school to assist with staff appreciation.

Town-Wide Programming

Committee 21 Representative

Represent Hunnewell on the town-wide committee to support the goals and needs of Wellesley Public Schools. Majority of effort focused on town budgeting process.

  • OPEN

Hunnewell Building Project Liaison

  • Niki Ofenloch

METCO

Serve as liaison to the METCO Family Friends Council and foster strong relationships between Boston and Wellesley families by communicating events and promoting monthly playdates with family friends. Match family friends to new incoming METCO students and oversee previous matchings.

  • Miriam Gates

POPS (Parents of Performing Students) Representative

  • For the 2022-2023 school year this position will be on hold.

UNICEF

Serve as the Hunnewell representative for the town-wide Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF program.

  • For the 2022-2023 school year this position will be on hold.

WEF Spelling Bee Hunnewell Team

Represent Hunnewell at the annual Wellesley Education Foundation spelling bee fundraiser.

  • OPEN

  • OPEN

  • OPEN

Wellesley Wonderful Weekend Parade Float

Build the Hunnewell School float for the town parade.

  • For the 2022-2023 school year this position will be on hold.