How to Get Involved
Welcome
As Co-Presidents of the Hunnewell School PTO, we are excited to support the entire Hunnewell faculty and staff throughout the 2020-21 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 community as we journey through this school year together.
Our 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.
We meet formally five times per year. Otherwise, we conduct most PTO business through our primary communication vehicle – Hunnewell Happenings – which is emailed weekly on Sunday evenings.
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.
You can also reach us at any time at info@hunnewellpto.org.
Warm regards,
Molly and Jen
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.
Jennifer Mock
Molly Bruni
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.
Kelly Gay
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
Secretary
Publish and manage the online and paper versions of the Hunnewell directory and maintain PTO board meeting minutes.
Liza Maldari
Assistant Secretary
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.
Dana Chaffee
Trevor O'Reilly
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.
Cara Whiting
Cristina Hoff
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).
Lisa Richardson
Ricki Benjamin
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.
Amy Sussman
Britt Estwanik
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.
Brooke O’Reilly
Suzanne Manley
5th Grade
Plan and coordinate a class gift to the school, organize graduation celebrations, and work with yearbook committee on fifth grade section.
Kim Reohr
Megan Foley
New Family Host Program
Help welcome new families by matching them with a host family mentor and organizing back-to-school new family picnic.
Liza Maldari
Tina Gander
Website
Provide ongoing support and maintenance of Hunnewell PTO website.
Trevor O'Reilly
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.
Kindergarten: Katherine Hala
1st Grade: Greta Finkle
2nd Grade: Miriam Gates
3rd Grade: Brittney Barber
4th Grade: Christine McMahon
5th Grade: Diane McCaffert
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.
Janine Pires
Katherine Hala
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).
Jeannie Liou
Kim Reohr
Hunnewell Hive
Oversee 4th and 5th graders in developing and publishing the school newspaper to enhance literacy, communication, and media knowledge.
Emily Taylor
Kristen Coogan
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.
Sue Mangiacotti
Author Visit
Naz Hassanein
Sue Mangiacotti
Book Fair
Liz Licata
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.
Jon Mantak
OPEN
Outdoor Club
Plan and lead 2-3 activities to encourage students to explore the outdoors.
Emily Taylor
OPEN
STEM
Plan and execute events to support STEM at Hunnewell (e.g. astronomy night, STEM museum).
Miriam Gates
OPEN
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.
OPEN (2)
Yearbook
Plan and lead production of annual Hunnewell yearbook by working with the yearbook vendor, 5th grade coordinators, and photographers, among others.
Jenny Kim
Kristen Coogan
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.
Andrea Barberian Gardos
Jill Maher
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.
Brittany Barber
Christina Hoff
Merchandise
Support fundraising chairs in procuring and selling Hunnewell gear.
Megan Ahonen
Ricki Benjamin
Original Works
Work with art teacher to help coordinate orders of student art creations and gifts.
Megan Ahonen
Ricki Benjamin
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.
Kevin Cropp
Sarah Cropp
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
KJM: Jeannie Liou and Suzanne Manley
KLM: Heather Conway and Laura Smith Dziama
1st Grade
1B: Megan Foley and Megan Ahonen
1C/W: Gena Morris, Jenny Kim, and Mish Michaels
1M: Betsy Fisher and Cristina Hoff
2nd Grade
2MC: OPEN
2KC: Liz Licata and Nia Jacobs
3rd Grade
3H/D: Aimee Bellew and Heather Conway
3M: Jill Maher and Lisa Richardson
4th Grade
4C: Erinn Staley and Katherine Houle
4P: Betsy Fisher and Chrissy McMahon
5th Grade
5H: Kim Reohr and Megan Ahonen
5S: Chelsea Sebastian and Megan Foley
Social
Ice Cream Social
Plan and execute back-to-school ice cream event.
Erica Brady
OPEN
Ice Skating Party
Coordinate with Babson College to plan winter ice skating event.
OPEN
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.
Chelsea Sebastian
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.
Heather Conway
Nicole Nichols
Tracy Rotella
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.
Kelly Gay
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.
OPEN
POPS (Parents of Performing Students) Representative
OPEN
UNICEF
Serve as the Hunnewell representative for the town-wide Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF program.
Amy Braz
WEF Spelling Bee Hunnewell Team
Represent Hunnewell at the annual Wellesley Education Foundation spelling bee fundraiser.
Christen Deveney
Kathleen Stevens
Michelle Shaw
Wellesley Wonderful Weekend Parade Float
Build the Hunnewell School float for the town parade.
OPEN