The PTO Committees are divided into three categories: General Help, Events, and City-wide committees. All of the committees would love to have more hands! Please contact any of the chairpersons or co-chairs listed at the end of each committee description if you have any questions about a committee or if you would like to help. For the committees in need of co-chairs (noted with red "volunteer" buttons), if you have questions or would like to volunteer, please contact PTO Co-President Abby Schwartz.

We know that everyone is busy, but we truly need parent volunteers to make Countryside the school we all want it to be! Please remember that volunteering doesn't have to be a major time committment — even an hour or two can be a big help on an event. Thank you in advance for your support.

General Help Committees		Chairpersons
Annual Fund: Sets up and tracks donations to our Annual Fund and supports employer matching programs.
Birthday Books: Handles books available to purchase and donate to Countryside’s Library to commemorate a child’s birthday or other special occasion. The committee coordinates book selection, orders books, and prepares commemorative bookplates.
Box Tops for Education: Copies and distributes box top collection sheets, and collects, counts and mails box tops.		Sherri McClintock
Bulletin Boards: Decorates and posts photos and announcements on several PTO bulletin boards throughout the school.		Melissa Dietrich Nancy Valente
Class Photographer/Archivist: Takes photos of various school events and works with parents to gather photographs taken throughout the year at class events.		Sallie Delaney
Clothing Swap: Organize 2‐3 clothing swaps during the school year (Winter clothing, Halloween costume, and ice skate exchanges).		Amy Malick
Communications: Produces the PTO newsletter and maintains the PTO website.		Gena Hooper Julia Jenkins Marcel Lachenmann
Directory and Database Management: Maintains a database of Countryside students, parents, teachers and staff, and produces the school directory. This project begins at the end of the school year, continues through the summer, and concludes in early fall. Knowledge of Microsoft Access and publishing software is helpful.		Gena Hooper Allison Peter Denisse Rotem
Faculty Appreciation: Plans and hosts three luncheons for faculty to show our appreciation of our teachers.		Laura Lerner Allison Peter Pam Weissman
Faculty/Staff Bulletin Board: Takes photos of all Countryside staff in early September. Labels and places photos by grade and specialty on bulletin board in front hallway.		Sallie Delaney
Fifth Grade Activities: Parents of 5th grade students coordinate special events and a yearbook for the graduating class.		Dina Goodfriend Michelle Veidis
Garden Club: Plans and executes grounds care projects such as clean‐up of the flower beds around the school, works with the custodians to spread mulch into the flower beds and playground areas when needed, and plants bulbs in the fall.
Green Team: Proposes and implements ways to conserve resources and raise environmental awareness. Volunteers will research and develop activities and projects throughout the year, including a lunchtime recycling program.		Rachel White
Health and Safety: Coordinates with school principal and teachers to organize safety plans, acts as a liaison to Newton’s “Safe Schools” committee, and organizes walking school buses and walk to school events.
Helping Friends: Assists Countryside families in crisis with meals and other needs.		Holly Grieb Sara Coen Dash
Library Help: Coordinates parent volunteers who help in the library re-shelving and checking books in and out. Volunteering schedule will be consistent and may not be when your child is in the library. Volunteers are needed at all grade levels. Sign up at Volunteer Spot or get more information.		Olga Umansky
Lost and Found: Coordinates donation of unclaimed lost and found items to charity.		Amy Malick
Political Liaison: Coordinates Countryside's efforts with the City of Newton's efforts to address issues facing Newton's schools.		Christina Vamvakas
School Spirit: Looks for creative ways to build school pride and manages the purchase and sale of Countryside spirit gear and apparel. Download a spirit gear order form [PDF, MS Word .doc] today!		Beth Kitzis
Social Responsibility: Promotes awareness of diversity and people in need, and provides opportunities for our children to participate in social actions. Coordinates Holiday Gift Drive and charity collection boxes for those in need.		Marie Jackson
Technology Fundraising Drive: Works with the principal and PTO Board to spearhead a December 2011 campaign for specific technology needs at the school.
Welcome: Acts as a resource for new parents who have questions about the school and the PTO. Hosts a new parent wine or cheese party or coffee early in the school year which committee members are expected to attend.		Gul Amna Abdullah Talia Karim Elham Rezania
Events Committees		Chairpersons
A-Cappalooza: Organizes and promotes a concert in February featuring local high school and collegiate a-capella groups, along with members of the Countryside school musical		Anne Kalis David Kalis
Back to School Picnic: Plans the September picnic welcoming back students and families. Also sells food and organizes games at the event.
Faculty First Day Breakfast: Organizes and sets up a breakfast for our faculty and staff on their first day back to school.
Field Day: Parents help Mr. Crow coordinate this popular June event.		Sungmi Lee
First Day Parent Coffee: Sets up refreshments for parents during the first two mornings of school.
Kindergarten Registration and Playdate: Helps the office staff process paperwork for incoming kindergarteners in April and organizes the kindergarten playdate in June.		Holly Amicangioli Leslie Gonzalez
MultiCultural Festival: Draws on our diverse community to sponsor a school-wide multi-cultural festival in March, including international booths and performances.		Beth Grandi Reza Khorshidi
Musical: Produces a school-wide musical and is responsible for auditions, costumes, set design, props, music arrangement, program, and selling concessions.		Linda Goetz Nelson Ronkin Maddie Welch
Raffle: Winter fundraiser. Committee members solicit donations, compile and print the prize book, collect and categorize tickets, and distribute prizes.		Jane Taylor
School Pictures: Plans School Picture Day in September and class photos in the spring. The committee helps the photographer, collects payments, and distributes photos.		Sallie Delaney
Spring Fest: Plans and executes this popular June event. Food, bouncy house, and other attractions provide enjoyment for families.
Spring Fling Fundraiser: Plans and executes this parent social in May, including overseeing, silent auction items, invitations, RSVPs, decorations and entertainment. This is a major fundraiser.		Beth Grandi Pam Loughlin
Teacher Appreciation Lunch: Plans a lunch for our faculty on Teacher Appreciation Day in May.		Laura Lerner Sara McSwiggan Allison Peter
City-wide Committees		Chairpersons
Creative Arts & Sciences: Brings curriculum enrichment programs in the arts and sciences into the classroom throughout the year, working in conjunction with the faculty and principal. More information.		Nancy Nathanson Karen Weissel
Newton Serves: Coordinates our community service day in May. Responsibilities include organizing a team of volunteers to help make improvements to our school building and grounds. Newton Serves is a city-wide community service event.		Eileen Concannon
Special Education Liaison: Acts as a liaison between the Newton Parent Advisory Council for Special Education and Countryside to communicate the ongoing special education activities		Jo-Louise Allen

NOTE: This website is for Countryside families' use only. The PTO kindly requests the information on this web site not be used for any form of solicitation.