Roberts would not be the outstanding school it is today without the ongoing support and involvement of dedicated parents who give freely of their time and talents to better our children’s learning environment. It is part of our school culture to think of volunteering not as a question of “whether” but “how.” For our school, volunteering helps create a cohesive and vibrant school community, which in turn continues to attract a highly professional and dedicated faculty and staff. Check out the website to see all available volunteer opportunities and check back often as new opportunities are always added. Our jobs are organized by grade, class, school-wide, ongoing or event specific. Whatever your time constraints, whatever your talents, we know you have something to offer!
PTO Volunteer Sign Up
On the right side of the home page of our website (https://robertspto.membershiptoolkit.com/) is a button linking to a sign-up form where you can sign up for both school-wide and classroom-level volunteer opportunities. There are brief descriptions of each volunteer position listed. Once you sign up, you will be contacted by the committee chairperson with more information about specific volunteer activities.
HISD VIPS Program
To volunteer within the Houston Independent School District (HISD), you must be registered through the HISD Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS) program, which runs an annual criminal background check. Please check at reception for guidelines.
Event Driven Volunteer Jobs:
100% PTO Membership: Jobs include keeping records of donations, data entry, generating and distributing receipts and thank you letters and organizing a party for the prize-winning classroom. Planning and volunteers needed during September.
Auction: Oversees acquisitions, advertising, invitations, ticket sales, underwriting, food and drinks, decorations, and other tasks. Jobs vary and include leading a group of volunteers, picking up donated items, data entry, and set up and tear down the day of the auction. Plan and work on this event from November- March.
Book Fair: Duties include set up, publicity, organizing refreshments for family night, decorating, working checkout, accepting book dedications, and helping customers select books.
Carnival: Organizes various functions of the event, such as classroom booths, scheduling rides and booths, publicity, sponsors, food, and t-shirt ordering and distribution. Jobs range from leading a group of volunteers, organizing your class booth, and working an hour the day of the event. Plan and work on this event from February- May.
Directory: Organizes and coordinates the timely production and distribution of the school directory. Obtains directory ads. Collects directory information, formats the information and has it printed by early October. Jobs vary from soliciting sponsors, proofreading and data entry. Volunteers needed from August- October.
International Festival: Largest community event. Work with parents from various countries to put on a showcase of Roberts' international flavor for one Friday in October. In the past years over 40 countries have been represented. Jobs include Country specific booths, outdoor stage and performers coordinator, class presentations. Work on this event is from September- October.
Ongoing Volunteer Jobs:
Newsletter: The school newsletter is published weekly and provides a quick overview of upcoming events. Help with writing and submission of pictures.
Hospitality: Organizes breakfast, lunch and refreshments for the various meetings and functions at the school.
International Garden: Maintains the garden with the support of parents, students, and the community. Organize classroom planting and harvesting days. Monthly garden liaison days for parents. Coordinate large seasonal pruning and clean outs.
Library: Library volunteers re-shelve books, maintain the books, and help children to select books for checkout. This job can be a set schedule for you.
Lunchroom: Lunchroom volunteers work during the lunch hours assisting children and helping to maintain order in the lunchroom.
PADRES: Promoting Active Dads at Roberts Elementary School is open to all Roberts dads. The PADRES organize the Roberts Campout each fall, provide set-up support for school events, hold 2-4 workdays at school to complete needed projects. Contact the PADRES committee chairs to join email updates.
Room Parents: The role of the room parent is to coordinate and communicate classroom activities. Jobs include coordinating winter and end of school parties, maintaining email list of all parents and distributing information throughout the year. Collects classroom funds to be used for parties, class auction project and teacher gifts.
Staff Appreciation: During the school year grade levels sponsor staff luncheons. Jobs include coordinating your grade lunch, bringing in a dish for luncheon, set up and clean up.
Welcome: Works with Room Parent to provide help to incoming families. Volunteers provide translations
and assist in helping parents acclimate to the Roberts community.
Work Room: Assist teachers with copies and lamination needed for classrooms. Training is provided. Hours and dates are flexible, can be a set schedule.