Our Parent Council is very active at our school and contributes greatly to our community. Throughout the year, our Class Reps and Class Helpers help our parents, families and teachers together as one community.

Volunteering to be a Class Rep or Class Helper ensures you will get to know your children’s teachers, be current what is happening now and in the future at GAIS, and participate in building our community.

The School Parent Rep (K-8th) and Preschool Parent Rep meet with the Class Reps once per month along with the Head of School, the Director of Academics, the IB Coordinator, the Preschool Director, and a participating Board member.

Class Reps and Class Helpers work flexibly as a team, helping one another as needed. Only Class Reps need to attend the Class Rep meetings, which usually occur from 8:20 to 10:00 a.m. on the first Friday of the month. Children younger than preschool age are welcome.

• Classroom Helpers support teachers, including helping with class events, special errands, organizing classroom supplies, helping with events like Halloween and Thanksgiving, supporting library class time, help with fieldtrip set-up and carpool organization for fieldtrips, organizing Sports Day and Sommerfest, and in the school ensuring each class has adequate sports equipment. Class Helpers support the eScrip drive which provides budget for parent education and activities sponsored by Class Reps and Class Helpers.
• Class Reps facilitate communication between teachers and parents; among parents in the class; and sometimes between classes in a grade level. Class Reps engage and listen to parents and direct parents to appropriate resources such as a teacher or administrator for any issues and concerns. Class Reps support new families, organize teacher appreciation, and build community by organizing parent coffees with our administrators and class playdates.

Parent Council sponsored events include:

• Welcome Breakfast for new and returning parents
• School (K-8th) Game Night (our preschool teachers sponsor a Preschool Game Night)
• Teacher & staff appreciation dinner

Class Reps and Class Helpers are responsible for eScrip fundraising, which supports activities sponsored by the Reps and Helpers, parent education speakers and the general fund.

How to Become a Class Rep or Class Helper

• In your contract package, fill out the volunteer form showing your interest in a Class Rep or Class Helper position and turn it in before school begins.
• At Back-to-School Night in fall, your child’s homeroom teacher will ask for all the volunteers for Class Rep and Class Helper, and take a vote of the parents to elect these positions.

These positions satisfy your volunteer commitment required in your school contract.

For a list of parent reps and class helpers go to the preschool classroom or school classroom pages.