PTA is now official. Bylaws have been approved and the following people have been elected to serve on the Council: Jen Jermyn, Dennis Reich, Dave Pettigrew, Rochelle Green, Brigitte MacCallum with teacher representatives Lesley Bayles of Primary and Zach Pascoe of secondary representation. Official appointments of officers will be made at the first council meeting scheduled to occur in the next few weeks. In the meantime, parents (whether on the Council or not) have actively begun brainstorming ideas and are eager to begin working for the betterment of the students. We will keep this web page updated so check back regularly.

An active group of parents, and anyone is welcome to be part of this group, has begun revamping the PTA. While measures are being taken to formalize the PTA, there are a number of projects in which you can assist. If you have a particular skill, resource or simply want to volunteer time please contact either Dave Pettigrew (icm@surfbvi.com).

We currently have the following committees in place and would welcome your support in any committee:

Building and Grounds
Parents on this committee help with school improvement projects to the physical campus. Duties could include painting, playground setup or repair, landscaping, or other physical labour, both skilled and unskilled. Cedar’s Business and Facilities Manager is the key school contact for the committee and will contact members as needed when projects arise.

New Family Welcome
Parents on this committee reach out to new parents entering the school to make them feel welcome in the school community. This includes contacting new families, helping to answer any questions they have about life at Cedar or in the BVI, helping to arrange meet-ups with other families in the appropriate grade, and perhaps planning a beginning of the year event for all new families each September. Cedar’s admissions director, Verney O’Neal, is the key school contact for the committee and will notify members when new students enrol.

Book Fair
Parents on this committee will work together to select and purchase books and educational gift items to sell at the school in the atrium, two to three times a year. This includes placing the orders, organising shipping from the UK and USA, organising volunteers to set up and manage the sale of the items and promoting the event to the wider community. Cedar’s Librarian, Jane Walsh, and Cedar’s Development Director, Jaeda Wooldridge are the two key school contacts for the committee and they will notify members throughout the year.

Costume Party
Parents on this committee help with the organisation of the annual Costume Parade and Party. This includes helping with publicity, organising class booths and community led activities, the sales of food and beverages, the identification of parade judges and organisation of costume competition prizes, the identification of a Master of Ceremonies, organizing the music and sound system for the MC and assistance with the setup, volunteer schedule and cleanup on the day of the event. Cedar’s Development Director, Jaeda Wooldridge, is the key school contact for the committee.

Seasons Greetings
Parents on this committee provide support for the school’s annual holiday musical/drama production in addition to organizing the “Holiday Fair” that takes place after the production. This includes the organisation of both school and community sponsored booths and activities, Santa’s Grotto, the annual holiday bake sale, holiday decorations, promoting the event to the wider community as well as set up and cleanup on the day of the event. Cedar’s Development Director, Jaeda Wooldridge, is the key school contact for the committee.

Gala Auction
Parents on this committee help with the planning and execution of the school’s most important fund raising event. Volunteers will be asked to help decide on the auction’s theme, solicit sponsorships, solicit auction prizes, assist with decorations and the set up, manage and clean up on the day/night of the event. Members of the committee will work closely over a 3-5 month period with Cedar’s Development Director, Jaeda Wooldridge.

Variety Show
Parents on this committee help with the organisation of the Cedar Variety Show, which will be initiated this spring and will feature student, teacher, and parent categories! This includes helping with publicity, prize procurement, and the identification of judges and a Master of Ceremonies for the event, as well as assistance with setup and cleanup on the day of the event. Cedar’s music teacher, Steve Butcher, is the key school contact for the committee.

Night of Nations
Parents on this committee help the school express its cultural diversity through this special celebration highlighting the numerous nationalities that make up the school’s student, parent and faculty community. This includes helping to solicit donations of food and drinks from within the school community, organising diverse cultural forms of entertainment, promoting the event to the wider community and setting up, managing and cleaning up the day of the event. Cedar’s Development Director, Jaeda Wooldride, and Cedar’s Administrative leaders, Laurie Clark and Zach Pascoe are the key school contacts for the committee.

Decoration
Parents on this committee help to keep the school looking seasonal and appropriate throughout the year. This includes helping teachers create and maintain bulletin boards in the atrium, as well as other special touches they wish to bring to campus. Cedar’s development director, Jaeda Wooldridge, and Front Office Manager, Vanessa Simon, are the key school contacts for the committee and will contact members as needed.

Local Resources
Parents on this committee provide a valuable service to teachers, helping to identify local resources and/or guest speakers to enhance the curriculum and add local relevance. Individual classroom teachers will contact committee members for ideas and connections as projects arise. Committee members should also feel free to provide ideas to Primary and Secondary heads.

Teacher Appreciation
Parents on this committee help organize projects or surprises to help Cedar teachers feel valued throughout the year, but especially at the holiday break and at the end of the school year. Cedar’s primary and secondary heads, Laurie Clark and Zach Pascoe, are the key school contacts for the committee who should be kept in the loop of events and who will notify the committee if any special circumstances arise requiring a morale boost or special recognition!

Communication
Parents on this committee serve as “point parents” for helping to disseminate information and/or to communicate parent concerns or ideas to the administration. Every parent is welcome to communicate concerns and ideas directly to the administration, but if they feel uncomfortable doing so for any reason, they can communicate with members on this committee who will pass the information on. Members on this committee will liaise closely with the school director, Scott Crawford.