Volunteering
As a non-profit and as a community, Sunstone relies on volunteers for contributions large and small throughout the year. We use HelpCounter, an online tool, to communicate and track volunteer opportunities. Parents can get involved in many ways:
Daily Classroom Needs: We ask every family to contribute to their child’s classroom at least two or three times throughout the year (more for Huckleberry families) in the form of consumables, milk, snack, flowers, and laundry. Families can sign-up at Back to School Night or on HelpCounter.
Classroom Support: Classrooms have ongoing needs for small jobs, pet care, material making, and more. Opportunities are posted on HelpCounter.
Chaperones and Drivers: Throughout the year, drivers and chaperones are needed for Elementary Going Outs and field trips. Drivers are required to attend a Going Out orientation session (good for three years), undergo a criminal background check, and submit a copy of their driver’s license and insurance. Contact Francesca Lowes if you are interested.
Campus Support: The school as a whole can always use help with maintenance, repairs, and outdoor work. Opportunities are advertised in the weekly communications and found on HelpCounter. Contact Peter Field if you are handy and interested in being put on a call list.
Designated Events: We ask the families of children at different levels to take on an event, helping with planning and implementation. Families will be contacted by the Sunstone Coordinator for each event during the planning stages. Here’s how it works:
- Children’s House Families: Fall Festival, September (Brenda Koenig — bkoeing@sunstonemontessori.org)
- 1st and 2nd Year Elementary Families: Auction & Gala, May (Molly Shaw — mshaw@sunstonemontessori.org)
- 3rd and 4th Year Elementary Families: Family Camping Trip at Oxbow Park, September (Brenda Koenig — bkoeing@sunstonemontessori.org)
- 5th Year Elementary Families: Graduation Celebration, June (Francesca Lowes — flowes@sunstonemontessori.org)
- 6th Year Elementary Families: Lupine Room Shakespeare production, April (Lupine Room Guide and Room Parents)
Room Parents: Several parents from each classroom serve as Room Parents, planning classroom community events, maintaining communication, helping with the class auction project and attending monthly meetings. Contact your child’s teacher or current Room Parent if you are interested in serving in this role.
Ambassadors: Ambassadors represent the whole school in the Sunstone community and beyond. Their duties include hosting new families, promoting and attending Sunstone events, and promoting Sunstone to the community at large by word of mouth. Contact Monica Wright if you are interested in joining the team.
Green Team: The Green Team, comprising Sunstone staff and parent volunteers, supports sustainable practices at Sunstone and maintains our status as a Premier Level Oregon Green School. The Team meets monthly, planning and implementing school practices and events. Community involvement is critical to maintaining and improving our practices. Contact Peter Field for more information.
Auction Committee: The auction committee, along with the 1st and 2nd year families, plans and implements the annual Gala & Auction. This event takes a lot of work to put together, and it is both a fabulous party and our single most important fundraising event of the year. If you are interested in serving on the auction committee (even if you are not a 1st and 2nd year parent), please contact Molly Shaw.
HelpCounter Login and Instructions
Volunteer Opportunities