Getting involved
Grade Parents
Room parents and grade parents form the backbone of the AVS community, maintaining connections among parents as well as between parents and faculty and administrators. Some grades may have room parents for each classroom, but often one or two parents serve an entire grade.
Communication and Volunteer Recruitment
Grade parents inform fellow parents of opportunities to participate in the life of the school and field and refer parent questions and concerns to the appropriate person. They also recruit volunteers to help in the classroom, on field trips, with school performances, and with special class projects. When your room parents call for assistance, please step up if your schedule allows.
Grade-level Events
Grade parents also coordinate social events for parents and families in each grade. If you have an idea for a fun get-together, let your room parents know.
Sports
Parents organize Lower School sports teams to participate in local leagues with coordination from the Parent Group. Connect with our network of team parents and other volunteers on ParentSquare.
AVS Middle School students have the opportunity to participate in a number of sports through the San Francisco Independent School League in volleyball, cross country, futsal, and basketball, among other sports. AVS Middle School teams are coached and managed by AVS faculty.
From time to time teachers or parents organize sports clubs for students, teachers, and parents, such as the Go Girls Running Club. Please let us know if you or your child would like to participate in such a group.
If you would like to help out with lower school sports at AVS, or if you have ideas to share, please get in touch.
Campus Beautification
AVS families come together from time to time to help with campus projects such as painting, gardening, and building. This is a fun way to build community while improving the school environment. Families also help the AVS garden thrive during school breaks. If you have interest in gardening, painting, or building, please get in touch.
Staff Appreciation
The faculty and administrators at Alta Vista School share their passion and love of learning with our children every day. We parents love to find ways to show them how much we appreciate their skill, hard work, and care. The AVS Parent Group helps the parent community thank our staff in several ways throughout the year.
We ask that parents refrain from giving any type of monetary gift (e.g. gift cards, money, or store-bought gifts) directly to staff members, although children are more than welcome to give handmade cards or pictures to show their appreciation to faculty and administrators. It is our hope that by giving a monetary gift of equal value from the Parent Group there will be no feelings of unfairness or inequity among our faculty and administrators and no pressure for parents to make monetary gifts.
Monthly Gifts
During the COVID Pandemic, the Parent & Family Group gives monthly staff appreciation gifts to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of our faculty and staff.
Staff Kitchens
Individual parents and the Parent & Family Group contribute healthy snacks and drinks to stock the kitchen at each campus and fuel our educators throughout the day.
Holiday Gifts
Each December, the Parent & Family Group pools parent contributions for holiday gifts for AVS faculty, staff, and administrators. Children are welcome to make cards or pictures if they choose to do so, but we ask that parents refrain from giving any type of monetary gift (e.g. gift cards, money, or store-bought gifts) directly to staff members.
Birthdays
We post staff birthdays in an online birthday calendar available to parents and staff. Children are welcome to make handmade cards for staff members, and everyone is encouraged to relay birthday wishes to staff.
Life Events
The Parent Group gives staff members gifts in celebration of life events (e.g., getting married, becoming a parent).
End-of-Year Thanks
The Parent & Family Group organizes a luncheon for faculty and administrators to celebrate the end of each school year. When it's not possible to gather in person, each member of staff receives a monetary gift from the Parent & Family Group.
If you would like to help out with any of these Staff Appreciation activities, or if you have ideas to share, please let us know.