Parents Association

Welcome to the SOF Parents Association! As a parent or guardian of a student at School of the Future, you are automatically a member of the PA. We invite and encourage you to get involved! You will help enrich your child’s experience while he or she is at School of the Future; you will learn what is happening at the school from its administrators, teachers and other parents; and you will meet others who are also working hard to make SOF the best school that it can be for all of our children.

PA Goals

The PA goals center on raising funds to help support SOF, and creating and supporting events to help build a sense of community at the school. Every parent and guardian is welcome and encouraged to join us as we work toward these goals. Throughout the year, the PA will raise money to help support SOF. We work with SOF’s administration to determine funding priorities to ensure that we are supporting the school in the best ways possible. In past years, the PA has funded events that enhance the school experience for all of our students, including theater productions, school trips, graduation ceremonies, yearbooks, sports teams, and prom. Information on how to donate is below.

Attend Monthly Meetings and Events

In addition to fundraising, the Parents Association strives to build and nurture the school community by hosting events throughout the school year. These events give parents and guardians the opportunity to get to know the school staff and fellow parents, learn what’s going on at SoF, and have some fun during the process. With current DOE and building parameters, we are seeking creative ways to re-create experiences, including the annual block party. Please consider getting involved in the Parents Association. We need your help, ideas and enthusiasm. Come to one of the monthly meetings, which are usually the first Tuesday of the month (confirmation of the date is sent via eblast prior to each meeting), consider joining one of the committees that focuses on specific topics, or volunteer for a specific event. A list of committees and volunteer opportunities is below.

In addition to helping your child’s school, there are other benefits when you join the Parents Association. Being involved with the PA gives you the chance to learn more about what’s going on at School of the Future. In addition, it gives you the opportunity to stay involved in your child’s life at a time when he/she may not think they want it, but when they surely do need it. Please join us!

Donate

Please consider making a contribution to the SOF Student Fund.  This is one of our biggest and most important fundraising effort of the year.  Every donation makes a difference and every dollar is greatly appreciated.  These funds go towards our music program, the school plays, SoulFest, tutoring, SAT prep, field trips and more.

Donate safely and securely online (via credit card, venmo or paypal) or use the donation form. Both are available at here. You can make a one-time donation, or donate in installments. Please remember that many employers match contributions. SOF PA is a 501©(3) organization, so your donations are tax deductible.

Thank you for supporting School of the Future!

PA Executive Board

The executive board is responsible for the governance and management of the PA. It seeks to build diverse community participation, increase community engagement and spirit, as well as fundraising for SoF.

The four members of the PA Executive Board were elected in June to serve for one year beginning on July 1, 2021. We hope that you will contact these officers to share your ideas and volunteer to work with the PA.

President: Benjy Kile: [email protected]
Treasurer:  Samantha Roberts
Recording Secretary: Nancy Zafrani
Corresponding Secretary: Jennifer Kops Stemkowski 

PA Elections for 2022/2023 School Year – Nominating committee will be formed at March, 2022 PA meeting

Grade Council

Each grade has up to two very important volunteers who are your grade’s PA representatives. These representatives participate in PA activities, keep information flowing to their grade’s families, and encourage family participation. if you would like to volunteer to be a grade representative, please contact Benjy Kile ([email protected]). Grade representatives will also be appointed in the fall.

PA Committees

There are many ways to get involved at SOF, and everyone is encouraged to participate. We have different levels of involvement—from chairing a standing committee to selling tickets at an event, helping at bake sales and book sales.  Volunteering is a great way to support SOF, it’s a great way to meet SOF staff, families and students, and it’s fun!

If you want to serve on a regular committee, please contact us at [email protected] and let us know which one you are interested in joining.

Not sure which committee to join?

Writers are needed on both the Communications and Fundraising committee.

The Special Events, Roof Garden and School Store committees all need graphic designers.

Are you super-social and happy to send emails/talk on the phone? The Fundraising committee needs people on phone bank in November, then again in the spring. Grade Reps have a great chance to talk to almost every family in their class and to organize grade-wide social events. Are you interested in stepping up to take a leadership role on the Executive Board next year? The Grade Reps work closely with the Executive Board and have insight into the year’s challenges and accomplishments.

If you speak Cantonese, Mandarin or Spanish, consider joining the Communications committee to help with translating written school materials and in helping some of our families feel more comfortable at SoF events.

If you are good with technology, we need people on the Fundraising Committee and the Communications committee to help with both managing data and social media policy, as well as website updates.

Are you super organized?  We’re looking for someone to be our Volunteer Coordinator and help find and coordinate volunteers for SoF and PA events.

Are you interested in participating, but can’t commit to an on-going role?

In the early months of the school year, you could help with the Family Grade Directories Working in Excel on your own computer, update last year’s Family Directory for one or more grades. Help SoF families get in touch and stay in touch.

Throughout the school year you could help out for a few hours at events such as curriculum night, the pot luck dinner, parent cocktail parties, raffle ticket sales, bake sales, book fairs, student talent shows, and more.

We encourage everyone to get involved with SoF, and the PA is a great way to do this. Join a committee, volunteer at an event, or come to a meeting, and we think you’ll agree!

Photos Needed for SoF Photo Gallery

We are looking for pictures that help showcase many of the varied experiences that SOF students have. If you have some great shots of students, faculty or events, please send them to us. Thank you.

And who are knows…maybe you’ll see one of your pictures on display at SoF in the near future!