Willow River Parent Group Volunteer Opportunities
As a group, our focus is to help raise funds and help organize volunteers to support programs that directly benefit the students of our school. Our entire program is run by and with the help of our fabulous volunteers and there are many ways for you to volunteer and be active in the group. Volunteering is a great way to get familiar with our school, our programs, and one another.
All School Picnic- This celebration happens at the closing of the school year. The picnic is held during student's lunch break, followed by some outdoor activities (weather permitting). Typically this event includes carnival style treats and games. Ways to support this event can include manning a dunk tank, supplying snacks, or helping out at a tattoo station.
Art Adventure - Art Adventure is a program that engages students with artworks from the Minneapolis Institute of Art’s collection and through the support of thousands of trained volunteers brings visual arts into K-6 classrooms across Minnesota and beyond. The program encourages creativity, critical thinking and global awareness through in-depth explorations of art across various cultures and time periods. Art Adventure is an opportunity for students to experience art up close and personal through reproductions, technology and touch-and-feel props.
Read-a-Thon - Two weeks of fun-filled reading where minutes and books are tracked for prizes. There is also a fundraising component where students can get pledges for the minutes they read. Will your child get caught reading?!
Music and Art Show - The Art Show is held in the spring and includes a silent auction where art projects each class has created, are bid on. There are other fun components of this event including karaoke, art stations, and snacks. Tons of ways to support this event - the first being just to come and enjoy time with your family and school community. Second, you can help a class create their project (with a supply budget from WRPG), donate your own art, or bid on someone else's art!
Battle of the Books - Media specialists promote reading by making book selections, then students participate in team competitions. WRPG helps fund the purchase of these books.
Book Club - Books sets are purchased by WRPG so that multiple students can have access to the same title at once.
Book Fair (Scholastic) - These book fairs are held during fall and spring conferences to allow students to select books with their parents. Teachers can also make "wish lists" for families to purchase books for a teacher's classroom. At any time, you can place an order online at www.scholastic.com and select Willow River School and your child's teacher, to earn credits for our school.
Prairie Fire Theater - Prairie Fire Theater is a professional theater group based out of Baxter, MN. The group provides a director, scripts and costuming to support a student play. Casting for the production is on a Monday evening followed by nightly practice culminating in a live performance Friday during school for students to view, and in the evening for parents. 2013 was the first year Willow participated in this program. Prairie Fire provides students with the opportunity to make strong relationships with their peers and explore their talents. WRPG provides food for the students and PF staff plus covers the cost of lodging for the directors. Parent Volunteers can help assist participating students during practice with homework and by serving food.
Fifth Grade Farewell - Organized by parents to commemorate achievements of 5th graders.
First Grade Fun and Fundamentals - 1st grade teachers organize programs to explain reading approaches used in the classroom, then how to implement the techniques at home. Parent Group provides a snack for this event.
Holiday Workshop - Students create handmade crafts for gifts for friends and family members. This occurs about three days before Winter Break. The students love creating and surprising family members and friends with these hand-crafted items. You can help support this event by working at one of the creation stations.
Teacher Appreciation - In the spring, lunch is provided for teachers and staff to express our appreciation of all their hard work.
This is typically a catered event for which funds are provided by WRPG.
Teacher Buffet - We provide a potluck style meal for teachers and staff during conferences. If you like to cook or bake, this is great event for you to sign up for.
Teacher Requests - We support requests from teachers for educational materials, computer accessories, software, new supplies.
Young Authors Day - Young Author's Day is an all-school event where students share books they have written in class, with mixed-grade small groups. WRPG provides a book for each student to take home. You can be involved in this event by signing up for reading groups, tours, or presentations. This year the theme was, “Cultivating the Best in Everyone” in honor of the 20th anniversary of the school song. Students attended a career fair in the atrium, learned about our environment at the cinder lot, enjoyed polka music in the auditorium, took a historic tour of the homes in the neighborhood….. and the best part, they were able to share the books they had written with students from other classes!
Youth Experiencing the Arts - This is a special field trip for the 3rd grade class to visit Orchestra Hall. WRPG provides funds to support this event.
All School Picnic- This celebration happens at the closing of the school year. The picnic is held during student's lunch break, followed by some outdoor activities (weather permitting). Typically this event includes carnival style treats and games. Ways to support this event can include manning a dunk tank, supplying snacks, or helping out at a tattoo station.
Art Adventure - Art Adventure is a program that engages students with artworks from the Minneapolis Institute of Art’s collection and through the support of thousands of trained volunteers brings visual arts into K-6 classrooms across Minnesota and beyond. The program encourages creativity, critical thinking and global awareness through in-depth explorations of art across various cultures and time periods. Art Adventure is an opportunity for students to experience art up close and personal through reproductions, technology and touch-and-feel props.
Read-a-Thon - Two weeks of fun-filled reading where minutes and books are tracked for prizes. There is also a fundraising component where students can get pledges for the minutes they read. Will your child get caught reading?!
Music and Art Show - The Art Show is held in the spring and includes a silent auction where art projects each class has created, are bid on. There are other fun components of this event including karaoke, art stations, and snacks. Tons of ways to support this event - the first being just to come and enjoy time with your family and school community. Second, you can help a class create their project (with a supply budget from WRPG), donate your own art, or bid on someone else's art!
Battle of the Books - Media specialists promote reading by making book selections, then students participate in team competitions. WRPG helps fund the purchase of these books.
Book Club - Books sets are purchased by WRPG so that multiple students can have access to the same title at once.
Book Fair (Scholastic) - These book fairs are held during fall and spring conferences to allow students to select books with their parents. Teachers can also make "wish lists" for families to purchase books for a teacher's classroom. At any time, you can place an order online at www.scholastic.com and select Willow River School and your child's teacher, to earn credits for our school.
Prairie Fire Theater - Prairie Fire Theater is a professional theater group based out of Baxter, MN. The group provides a director, scripts and costuming to support a student play. Casting for the production is on a Monday evening followed by nightly practice culminating in a live performance Friday during school for students to view, and in the evening for parents. 2013 was the first year Willow participated in this program. Prairie Fire provides students with the opportunity to make strong relationships with their peers and explore their talents. WRPG provides food for the students and PF staff plus covers the cost of lodging for the directors. Parent Volunteers can help assist participating students during practice with homework and by serving food.
Fifth Grade Farewell - Organized by parents to commemorate achievements of 5th graders.
First Grade Fun and Fundamentals - 1st grade teachers organize programs to explain reading approaches used in the classroom, then how to implement the techniques at home. Parent Group provides a snack for this event.
Holiday Workshop - Students create handmade crafts for gifts for friends and family members. This occurs about three days before Winter Break. The students love creating and surprising family members and friends with these hand-crafted items. You can help support this event by working at one of the creation stations.
Teacher Appreciation - In the spring, lunch is provided for teachers and staff to express our appreciation of all their hard work.
This is typically a catered event for which funds are provided by WRPG.
Teacher Buffet - We provide a potluck style meal for teachers and staff during conferences. If you like to cook or bake, this is great event for you to sign up for.
Teacher Requests - We support requests from teachers for educational materials, computer accessories, software, new supplies.
Young Authors Day - Young Author's Day is an all-school event where students share books they have written in class, with mixed-grade small groups. WRPG provides a book for each student to take home. You can be involved in this event by signing up for reading groups, tours, or presentations. This year the theme was, “Cultivating the Best in Everyone” in honor of the 20th anniversary of the school song. Students attended a career fair in the atrium, learned about our environment at the cinder lot, enjoyed polka music in the auditorium, took a historic tour of the homes in the neighborhood….. and the best part, they were able to share the books they had written with students from other classes!
Youth Experiencing the Arts - This is a special field trip for the 3rd grade class to visit Orchestra Hall. WRPG provides funds to support this event.