Today
This week
Book Fair – Family Shopping Night
Teacher wish-lists are posted by grade level. Cash, card, and e-wallet accepted. PTA readers are available for younger students.
PTA
Riverbend Elementary
Parent–Teacher Association
Made for busy families
One place for every school event.
See what’s happening this week, what’s coming up, and where you can jump in to help — all in a simple, parent-friendly view.
This Week
Events happening now.
Green “This week” labels mean these are current events. If you only have a few minutes, this is the section to scan.
This week
Walk & Roll to School Day
Meet at the blue PTA tent for stickers and hot cocoa. Volunteers will lead walking groups down Park Avenue and River Trail.
This week
Teacher Appreciation Snack Cart
Drop donations at morning car line or sign up for a restock shift in the volunteer hub. Gluten-free and caffeine-free options welcome.
This week
PTA Meeting & Budget Q&A
Quick updates on fall fundraisers followed by an open Q&A with the treasurer. Zoom link emailed at noon; recordings posted within 24 hours.
This week
Chess Club Tournament Practice
Open to 3rd–5th graders. Boards provided; bring a water bottle. Parents pick up at the car-rider loop at 4:20 PM.
This week
Lunchroom Buddy Express Shift
Spend one lunch period helping younger grades open containers and clean up. Background check on file required — complete it online if you haven’t yet.
Upcoming
Events to plan ahead for.
These dates are a little further out. Add them to your calendar now so nothing sneaks up on you.
Next week
Fall Family Movie Night
Bring blankets and lawn chairs. Concessions will be available (cash and card). Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Later this month
STEM Night & Classroom Showcase
Hands-on science and technology stations around the building. Great opportunity to see classroom projects and meet other families.
Next month
Winter Concert & Art Walk
Student performances followed by an art walk featuring work from all grade levels. Exact date will be shared once confirmed.
Early November
Holiday Giving Tree Kickoff
Pick an ornament with a requested item for a Riverbend family. Gifts are returned unwrapped by Nov 15 so counselors can distribute them before break.
Next month
Community Garden Clean-Up Day
Bring garden gloves and water bottles. PTA provides tools and snacks. Great for families who like hands-on projects.
Volunteer & Sign-ups
Ways to help (big and small).
You do not have to be “on the board” to help. A single hour makes a real difference. Choose what fits your week.
This week’s needs
- Book Fair: 30-minute check-out helpers (evening slots).
- Walk & Roll Day: 3 adults to help at crosswalks from 7:10–7:40 AM.
- Snack Cart: bottled water, granola bars, single-serve tea/coffee pods.
To sign up, please use the PTA e-mail below or the sign-up links shared in the weekly newsletter. It’s always okay to bring younger siblings with you.
Open volunteer sign-up form
Low-pressure ways to support
- Share PTA events in your classroom chats or carpool groups.
- Ask your workplace about matching gifts for school fundraisers.
- Drop a thank-you note in the office for a favorite staff member.
- Attend one PTA meeting this semester to stay in the loop.
There is no minimum time commitment. Your presence at events already counts as support.
Recurring opportunities
- Lunchroom Buddy rotation · 45-minute shifts assisting grades K–2.
- Library shelving crew · help Mrs. Owens re-shelve books on Fridays.
- Garden keepers · adopt a planter box for monthly watering and weeding.
Need to update your background check? Complete the district form at riverbendpta.example.org/background-check before your first shift.
Stay Informed
Never miss an event reminder.
Choose at least one way to stay updated:
📧 Weekly PTA e-mail
Sent on Sunday evenings with highlights for the coming week, direct links to sign-ups, and any forms due soon.
📱 Text alerts
Same-day nudges such as “Movie Night tonight at 6:30 PM.” Opt out anytime by replying STOP.
📆 Shared calendar
Subscribe once and every PTA event appears on your phone and computer calendars automatically.
Questions? Reply to any update or e-mail pta@riverbendelementary.org. We can add grandparents or caregivers too.
Quick resources
Helpful guides, forms, and how-tos.
Save or share these cheat sheets whenever a new event pops up. They’re updated as details change.
- Family Night printable checklist (PDF)
- Includes suggested arrival times, what to bring, and student pick-up notes.
- View the interactive PTA calendar
- Syncs automatically with Google, Apple, and Outlook once added.
- Reimbursement request (PDF)
- Room parent coordinator · share classroom-specific questions.
This Week · Snapshot
PTA events and building impact
Current week overview. Green means comfortably covered, orange needs a second look, red means something may need to move or get extra support.
Week of —
Total events (Sun–Sat)
5
2 student-facing · 3 family/teacher
Evening events
3
Within typical range
Volunteer coverage
~65%
2 events under 50% staffed
Building load
Moderate
No back-to-back late nights
This week’s event roster
Filter to see the events that need your attention.
Showing 5 of 5 events
Use the filters to focus on student-facing events, staffing needs, or evening commitments.
| Event | When | Focus | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Book Fair — Family Night | Tue · 5:00 – 7:30 PM | Family · Fundraiser | Coverage comfortable — confirm cash box pickup at 4:30 PM. |
| Walk & Roll to School Day | Wed · 7:10 – 7:45 AM | Student-facing | Needs two additional crosswalk adults. |
| Teacher Snack Cart | Thu · 8:30 – 11:30 AM | Staff support | Check storage space for extra donations arriving Wednesday. |
| Chess Club Tournament Practice | Thu · 3:00 – 4:15 PM | Student enrichment | Confirm dismissal coverage for car-rider loop at 4:20 PM. |
| PTA Meeting & Budget Q&A | Tue · 7:00 – 8:00 PM | Family · Governance | Hybrid option open; watch for Zoom chat questions during finance report. |
Exporting a snapshot saves these rows so you can share them with APs or office staff.
Event load by weekday
Helps avoid overloading the same night each week.
This week only
Mon
1 event
Tue
2 events
Wed
1 event
Thu
1 event
Fri
0 events
Note: Tuesday is the busiest night (PTA Meeting + Book Fair evening). If you see more than 3 events on one weekday, consider spacing new requests.
Volunteer coverage
Where the PTA could use extra staff or admin support.
-
Book Fair — Family Night
Comfortable
-
Walk & Roll to School
Needs 2 adults
-
Teacher Snack Cart
Low coverage
-
After-school Club Support
On track
A quick e-mail or morning announcement from the office often fills the last few volunteer spots faster than another flyer.
Parent interest (informal signals)
Based on RSVP forms, hallway chatter, and PTA feedback — not a formal survey.
| Event | Signal | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Family Movie Night | High interest | Lots of “Are we doing this again?” comments. |
| PTA General Meeting | Mixed | Parents prefer hybrid option & shorter agenda. |
| STEM Night | High interest | Teachers & parents excited, kids talk about it. |
| Snack Cart Drop-offs | Steady | Low lift for families, high impact for staff. |
High-interest events are good places to pilot new ideas — raffles, community partners, or student showcases — because turnout is already strong.
Scheduling & fatigue watchlist
Helps prevent “too many nights at school in a row” for families and staff.
-
Tue evening stack Medium
Book Fair evening + PTA Meeting the same night.
✅ Acceptable this week, but keep an eye on similar patterns. -
Staff bandwidth Higher
Teacher committees also meeting this week.
Consider PTO/PTA covering more logistics so staff can leave on time. -
Family time balance Low
No Friday events and only one late-night this week — good for overall family balance.
If you ever see multiple “Higher” risks in a week, that’s a good trigger to pause new event approvals or ask PTA to regroup on timing.
Action items for the principal
Quick wins that keep the week smooth.
- Confirm building coverage for Friday Movie Night by looping in the evening custodian team (reply-all to operations@riverbendpta.example.org).
- Approve PTA table placement in the front lobby so families can check in for Walk & Roll and pick up reflective stickers.
- Record a 30-second morning announcement shout-out to staff for the snack cart; PTA will drop the script in your inbox by noon Tuesday.
Knock these out and volunteers can handle the rest. Each one removes a frequent “Can we get approval?” e-mail.
Communications & facilities notes
What the office team should know for newsletters and setups.
- Add the Giving Tree kickoff to next week’s family newsletter with drop-off instructions and counselor contact info.
- Ensure gym floor covering is scheduled for Movie Night (submit request via district facilities portal).
- Share bus loop reminder with staff: Walk & Roll groups will use the main sidewalk so buses should unload 5 minutes early on Wednesday.
PTA comms lead vp.riverbendpta@example.org is ready to plug these into templates once you give the thumbs up.
Total PTA touchpoints (30 days)
18
7 evening commitments
High-demand nights
4
Watch Oct 17 · Nov 1
Volunteer commitments
82
Goal: 95 pledged
Budget impact
$6.4K
Book Fair + Giving Tree
Next 30-day calendar highlights
Key events that impact building use and staffing.
| Event | Date & time | Focus | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEM Night | Thu, Nov 7 · 6:00 – 8:00 PM | Family · STEM | Finalize custodial overtime request by Oct 28. |
| Community Garden Clean-Up | Sat, Nov 9 · 9:00 – 11:30 AM | Community | Order mulch delivery for Nov 8 (PTA covers cost). |
| Holiday Giving Tree Kickoff | Nov 4 – Nov 15 | Community care | Counselors confirming 12 families receiving support. |
| Teacher Conference Meals | Nov 18 – Nov 20 | Staff support | Catering deposit due Nov 8; confirm dietary list. |
| Winter Concert Support | Tue, Dec 3 · 5:30 – 8:30 PM | Students & families | Need ushers + sound volunteer assigned by Nov 20. |
Dates include district non-school days so you can plan custodial coverage and HVAC schedules.
Upcoming approvals & deadlines
Handle these early to avoid last-minute scrambles.
- Approve STEM Night vendor list (electric + robotics) by Oct 18.
- Confirm gym access for the Nov 9 Garden Clean-Up rain plan.
- Sign updated facilities agreement for Winter Concert stage lighting by Oct 30.
- Review PTA reimbursement batch scheduled for Nov 12 (Book Fair expenses).
Once these approvals are logged, PTA officers can finalize communication and volunteer pushes.
Logistics watchlist (30 days)
Spot friction points before they become emergencies.
-
STEM Night exhibits Medium
Need final electricity map from vendors — PTA following up by Oct 21.
-
Giving Tree storage Low
Stage closet reserved; request custodial key access for counselors.
-
Winter concert load-out Medium
Coordinate custodians for chair reset by 8:30 PM on Dec 3.
Invite AP Turner to the Nov 1 planning check-in so decisions can be made on the spot.
Volunteer pipeline
Where PTA still needs a principal signal boost.
- STEM Night — 6 of 10 classroom hosts confirmed; highlight during staff meeting.
- Conference Meals — catering covered, but need 4 dessert drop-offs (ask 4th grade families).
- Garden Clean-Up — scouts partnering; principal shout-out could add family turnout.
- Winter Concert — seek 2 bilingual greeters for newcomer families.
A single paragraph in the Sunday family message typically fills these remaining slots.
Grades engaged this month
6
Every grade has an event touchpoint
Highest need grade
3rd grade
STEM presenters running low
Shared opportunities
4
Cross-grade family events
Open classroom requests
8
Focus on K–1 classroom support
Grade-level spotlights
Where PTA is partnering directly with each grade.
| Grade | Upcoming highlight | PTA lead | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| K | Playground refresh helpers · Oct 18 | Volunteer Chair | Need 2 more adults for paint touch-ups. |
| 1st | Reading Buddies kickoff · Oct 24 | Teacher Liaison | Principal welcome video requested for families. |
| 2nd | Science lab docents · Oct 30 | STEM Night Lead | Safety glasses inventory complete; confirm parent training slides. |
| 3rd | STEM Night presenters · Nov 7 | VP Programs | Short 3 presenters — ask classroom teachers for referrals. |
| 4th | Walk & Roll route leaders · Nov 6 | Safety Chair | Staffing strong; send thank-you note post-event. |
| 5th | Safety patrol breakfast · Nov 15 | Treasurer | Awaiting principal approval for early cafeteria access. |
Support requests by grade
Quick wins that remove classroom friction.
- K — request 2 lunch buddies for Oct 23 (introduce car-line volunteers).
- 1st — need Spanish translation of Reading Buddies flyer.
- 2nd — confirm science lab doors unlocked by 7:45 AM on Oct 30.
- 3rd — principal shout-out in newsletter for STEM presenters.
- 5th — approve PA system use for safety patrol breakfast announcements.
These items align with SIP goals around literacy and family engagement — easy wins to highlight in reports.
Cross-grade opportunities
Pair older helpers with younger grades for stronger turnout.
- Buddy reading — 5th grade can rotate through 1st grade classes during conference week.
- Garden clean-up — Suggest 2nd + 4th grade combo teams for tool sharing.
- Spirit assemblies — Invite 3rd grade to host November assembly with student council.
- STEM Night welcome crew — pair kindergarten families with 5th grade ambassadors.
Announce these pairings during the Oct 21 staff huddle so teachers can prep students.
Family engagement notes
Signals from grade-level liaisons and PTA feedback forms.
- 3rd grade families asking for more hands-on STEM previews — PTA filming lab teaser.
- 1st grade prefer earlier volunteer sign-ups; send November sheet by Oct 15.
- 5th grade parents offered to lead secondary transition Q&A in December.
- Kindergarten appreciates clear parking instructions; share map again week of Oct 16.
Sharing these quick notes in your staff newsletter keeps teachers aligned with PTA messaging.
PTA Leadership
Board, meetings, and key documents.
A clear overview of who’s serving this year, when the board meets, and where to find bylaws and minutes — so families always know how decisions are made.
✅ Transparent · Organized · Parent-led
2024–2025 PTA Board
All positions are volunteer roles. You can contact any officer with questions or ideas — they’re here to represent families and support the school.
President
Alex Johnson
📧 president.riverbendpta@example.org
Vice President
Maria Lopez
📧 vp.riverbendpta@example.org
Treasurer
Jordan Kim
📧 treasurer.riverbendpta@example.org
Secretary
Priya Patel
📧 secretary.riverbendpta@example.org
Volunteer Chair
Taylor Brooks
📧 volunteers.riverbendpta@example.org
Teacher Liaison
Ms. Lacey Reed
📧 lacey.reed@riverbendpta.example.org
Fundraising Chair
Chris Alvarez
📧 fundraising.riverbendpta@example.org
Bylaws & key documents
These documents guide how the PTA operates. For official copies, please contact the Secretary.
| Document | Last updated | Type |
|---|---|---|
| PTA Bylaws (current) | August 2024 | Bylaws |
| 2024–2025 Budget Overview | September 2024 | Finance |
| September Meeting Minutes | September 10, 2024 | Minutes |
| October Meeting Minutes | October 8, 2024 | Minutes |
| Annual Financial Review Summary | July 2024 | Finance |
| Volunteer Handbook | October 2024 | Reference |
PTA Bylaws (current)
Defines officer roles, meeting procedures, and how funds are approved.
- Download: bylaws.pdf
- Summary one-pager for quick reference: cheatsheet
2024–2025 Budget Overview
Shows projected income and expenses by category along with year-to-date actuals.
- View spreadsheet: budget.xlsx
- Questions? E-mail treasurer.riverbendpta@example.org
September Meeting Minutes
Approved during the October board meeting.
- Download minutes: minutes-sept.pdf
- Key votes: Movie Night budget increase, STEM Night co-lead approval.
October Meeting Minutes
Draft shared for transparency; official approval happens at the November meeting.
- Draft minutes: minutes-oct-draft.pdf
- Includes volunteer recognition list and fundraising progress chart.
Annual Financial Review Summary
Independent audit verifying that income and expenses matched bank statements for 2023–2024.
- Summary PDF: financial-review.pdf
- Contact the audit committee at audit@riverbendpta.example.org
Volunteer Handbook
A quick guide for new volunteers covering sign-in procedures, background checks, and event expectations.
- Handbook PDF: volunteer-handbook.pdf
- Printed copies available in the front office near the PTA mailbox.
Resource library for board & committee leads
These quick links keep everyone on the same page — share them with committee co-leads and room parents.
Live spreadsheet of pending business partnerships, district grants, and deadlines.
Open trackerTemplates for flyers, social posts, and morning announcements. Includes brand colors and logos.
Download toolkitSample e-mails, budget request form, and timeline for fall and spring classroom events.
View starter packFor Students
What’s happening at our school this week? 🎉
This page is just for you. See the fun stuff that’s coming up and how you can join in.
📅
This week’s fun things
-
Book Fair Night
Today
Come to the library with your grown-ups to look at books. You can help pick classroom books from your teacher’s wish list. -
Walk & Roll to School
Morning
Meet other students and walk in together from the front parking lot. Scooters and strollers are okay — just listen to the helpers. -
Teacher Snack Cart
The PTA is surprising teachers with snacks. If you see the cart, you can say “Thanks for teaching us!” 🧃 -
Chess Club Practice
After school
Meet in the Innovation Lab on Thursday. Bring a water bottle and practice matches your best moves. -
Spirit Wear Friday
All day
Wear your Riverbend colors or favorite school shirt to earn house points for your class.
👀
Coming up soon
-
Family Movie Night
Wear comfy clothes, bring a blanket, and watch a movie in the gym. You must come with a grown-up. -
STEM Night
Try science and tech stations around the school. You can show your family the projects you’ve been working on. -
Winter Concert & Art Walk
Sing, play instruments, or show your artwork on the walls. Dates will be announced in class and here. -
Holiday Giving Tree
Choose an ornament with a wish list item to help a Riverbend family. Bring gifts back by November 15. -
Garden Clean-Up Day
Help plant bulbs and pull weeds with your family on Saturday, November 9. Gloves provided!
✅
Before you go
- Ask a grown-up who is picking you up after the event and where to meet them.
- Pack a labeled water bottle and jacket in case the gym or playground feels chilly.
- Charge your Chromebook if you need it for STEM Night stations or homework afterward.
Need help? Use the student help form and a counselor or PTA volunteer will follow up.
- Ask your grown-up which events you might go to this week.
- Check what you should wear (comfy clothes, school spirit shirt, etc.).
- If you’re nervous, bring a friend or ask a teacher where to go.
- Say “thank you” to the helpers — most of them are parents volunteering their time.
- Pack a small snack or water bottle if the event happens right after school.
- Look at the weather so you know if you need a jacket or umbrella.
Catch up if you missed the news crew. New episodes post by 4:00 PM each day.
Listen onlineSee which clubs meet on which days plus pick-up locations for families.
View scheduleOrder school shirts and hoodies so you’re ready for Spirit Fridays.
Visit the shop