What is the HSA at Riker Hill Elementary School?
Who we are…
-The HSA (Home and School Association) is the official parent organization for Riker Hill Elementary School.
-The HSA is an organization open to all parents at Riker Hill Elementary School.
-We are run by an elected executive board. See the following tab ("Executive Board") for a list of our executive board members.
-Although technically a formal organization, we are just a bunch of parents who work together to give Riker Hill students and families fun experiences while also giving back to our school.
What we do…
-Build community.
-Connect people.
-Fundraise for our school. All of the money we raise goes directly back to our school. We don’t make any profit.
-Plan and lead school-wide events such as After School Enrichment classes, Spring School Fair, Cultural Celebration and Showcase, class parties and more.
-Coordinate class parents. They communicate directly with the parents in the class, chaperone class trips and plan in-school celebrations throughout the year.
-Communicate regularly with the principal on behalf of parents.
-Give back to our school, to our students and to our staff. Recent examples include: the continued expansion of our new playground, Kindergarten welcome gifts, monthly staff appreciation recognition and more.
-Our president and president-elect serve on the district-wise Parent-Teacher Council (PT Council) which is comprised of the presidents from all the schools. They meet every month to share ideas, problem-solve and bring suggestions to the district administration.
-We adhere to a clear set of by-laws.
What you can do…
-Join the HSA! We use the membership fee to help fund programs and events which benefit all students. The more members, the more we can do. All members have full access to our website which allows you to sign up for our activities.
- Attend HSA meetings. We meet every month to share what we’re working on, coordinate volunteers and plan future events. Mr. Toomey attends our meetings and gives updates on what’s happening at school. Sometimes teachers attend to present something they’ve been working on.
-Make sure you’re receiving our updates. We send out a weekly Ramily Newsletter on Wednesday. There is a box in Genesis Parent you need to check to approve communication from us.
-Follow us on Facebook. We use Facebook to regularly post updates because there are no group size limits like other platforms. We know some of you prefer other methods, but we want to make sure EVERYONE has access to our information.
-Check our website regularly.
-Volunteer! There are roles for everyone…whether you’d like to volunteer in-person or do something behind-the-scenes. Whether you’d like to give your time regularly, occasionally or just once! Whether you want to plan an event, join a committee or just show up to help...there is a place for you!
-Participate in our events. Every time you pay to attend an activity, sign up for an after-school class or buy something we are selling, that money goes directly toward future programs, supplies or activities that support our students. Your child had a great experience, and our school gets something it needs. It’s a win-win!
-Bring us your ideas! We are always open to trying new activities, fundraisers and community-building events. We’d love to hear from you and have you join us. Contact Michelle Auerbach or Rachana Sheth to get involved.
-Pay class dues. This money goes directly to pay for classroom celebrations and teacher gifts in December, Teacher Appreciation Week and at the end of the year.
What we don’t do…
We are not the Board of Education or district administration. We cannot control curriculum, policies, lunch, schedules, teachers or administration. If you have questions or concerns about those things, you can always ask one of our board members for advice, but reaching out to the principal is usually the best idea in these scenarios.
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