Lincoln Elementary 2023-2024 PTA Committees

COMMITTEE CHAIRS:  JEN CURRAN, JAIME DECECCO, LAURA SOWERBY

BOARD LIAISON: First Vice President

COMMITTEE CHAIR: ERIN GENTZEL & Lorraine May

This committee typically consists of just the current PTA President who conveys changes to the bylaws required by the Pennsylvania PTA to the Lincoln PTA membership. When the Lincoln PTA reviews and/or revises its own local unit bylaws, the current PTA president may form a committee as necessary to complete this task. Bylaws are reviewed at a minimum every five years.

COMMITTEE CHAIR: Erin Gentzel, Lorraine May, Katie Mikita, anna Rutledge

BOARD LIAISON: First Vice President

This committee selects community service projects for the school throughout the school year.

Volunteer Opportunities: Be part of a planning committee to plan and run schoolwide community service projects.

COMMITTEE CHAIR:  Joanna Streets

BOARD LIAISON: Treasurer

Volunteer Opportunities:  Organizing corporate rewards, such as Box Tops, Amazon Smile, and Apples for Students through Giant Eagle. BoxTops have now gone digital. Families may download the Boxtops app on their smartphone and scan grocery receipts. Apples for Students only requires a one time sign up on Giant Eagle’s website and each time you use your Giant Eagle Advantage Card, Lincoln gets points which can be redeemed for great equipment for the school.

Creating additional fundraising opportunities for Lincoln Elementary School.

COMMITTEE CHAIR: CATE ALBU

BOARD LIAISON: Historian

This committee helps select the cultural arts groups that will perform at typically 3-4 assemblies for the students during the year. These assemblies are funded by the Lincoln PTA.

Volunteer Opportunities: Typically, these responsibilities are completed by the chairperson alone. As needed, a chairperson can create a committee or work with a co-chair for any help if they wish to do so.

COMMITTEE CHAIRS: LORraine may & Mary ullman

BOARD LIAISON: First Vice President

The family picnic is a fun family event and opportunity for families to meet other Lincoln parents. Bring a picnic dinner (or visit one of the food trucks we arrange to come), a blanket to sit on and enjoy a variety of entertainment. Weather permitting this is an outdoor event. 

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Help set up, serve refreshments, clean up at the event.

COMMITTEE CHAIRS: 

BOARD LIAISON: president

This committee organizes special events for fifth graders as they finish their time at Lincoln. The committee is also responsible for raising the funds needed to pay for the activities. Typically, there are sub-committee chairs for each piece or event to help the Committee Chair.

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Organize fundraisers (Chipotle, Spiritware, etc)
• Plan Pool Party
• Field Day
• Help create 5th grade Memory Book
• Post clap-out events (last day of school)

COMMITTEE CHAIR: LORRAINE MAY & BECKY LOUGHNEY

BOARD LIAISON: First Vice President

A holiday shopping spree for the students! A committee of PTA elves work year round buying and making items to be purchased by the kids as gifts for the holidays. This committee needs many volunteers leading up to and on the day of the event. A form will be sent home for you to fill out indicating whom your child should buy for and how much they are allowed to spend. You are welcome to come and shop with your child during their designated time. Frosty is also open after school for parents to shop.

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Work on projects or order items from vendor (Sept. – Nov.)
• Help set-up for Frosty Shop (November 19)
• Staff a shift the day of Frosty Shop

Committee Chair: Jeanne hannan

BOARD LIAISON: Third Vice President

This committee will work in conjunction with the principal, head custodian and teacher representatives several times a year to coordinate school wide efforts and participation in this project. This committee is also responsible for soliciting and organizing parents to care for the PTA school garden

Volunteer Opportunities: 

• Help maintain and plan future gardens around the school.
• Water the garden over the summer.
• Assist with student garden club.

COMMITTEE CHAIR: LORRAINE MAY & KATIE MIKITA

BOARD LIAISON: First Vice President

Held every June, this fun-filled Lincoln field day event is a festival of friendly competition in the arts and games for all students. Each grade level is assigned a team t-shirt color for the day, with keepsake t-shirts available for purchase, if you wish, featuring the Lincoln Grand Finale logo on the front and the class list of names on the back.

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Assist in t-shirt sales and distribution.
• Parents are needed in shifts to assist in running various art projects and games.

COMMITTEE CHAIR: ron kitsko

BOARD LIAISON: Recording Secretary

This committee works with Mr. Yannascoli on various community service minded P.E. activities such as “Hoops for Heart.” They also coordinate Walk to School Weeks & other health and safety related events at Lincoln.

Volunteer Opportunities: Help coordinate and organize Walk To School Weeks & other health and safety related events at Lincoln.

COMMITTEE CHAIR: 2022-2033 PTA EXECUTIVE BOARD

BOARD LIAISON: Recording Secretary

This committee was established to support ongoing outreach to members of our Lincoln Community in need, including a food scarcity and clothing collection program. Additional assistance projects will be devised on an as-needed basis.

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Liaison to local non-profits
• Purchase and distribution of goods 
• Assistance on projects on an as-needed basis

COMMITTEE CHAIR: lorraine may & jaimie dececco

BOARD LIAISON: Second Vice President

The PTA has two parents who serve as Homeroom Parent Coordinators. One is for grades K-2 and the other for grades 3-5. These volunteers have the job of selecting the homeroom parent for all of the classes in each grade. First time volunteers are given preference over parents who have already been a homeroom parent in the past for that child. The classroom homeroom parent acts as a liaison between the teacher and the other classroom parents. They solicit volunteers to help with classroom parties, staff field trips, help with Mardi Gras, and provide the teacher with any additional requested classroom support.

Volunteer Opportunities: Being a homeroom coordinator for your child's class. Look for an announcement at the beginning of each school year for details on how to sign up if you are interested.

COMMITTEE CHAIRS:  KATIE MIKITA

BOARD LIAISON: First Vice President

The Ice Cream Social is held at the end of every school year. It is a fun event for the whole family to enjoy. The students are encouraged to bring their yearbooks to the Lincoln playground while they are enjoying their ice cream.

Volunteer Opportunities:

Help set up, serve refreshments and clean up the event.

COMMITTEE CHAIR: JEN CURRAN

BOARD LIAISON: Corresponding Secretary

The International Family Committee was founded to help new families better integrate into the Lincoln Community. The committee holds a parent conversation group that meets for 90 minutes one a week so that parents can practice their English. The Mount Lebanon Community Group focuses on providing support for International parents to help their children succeed academically. An International Potluck dinner is also held once a year.

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Assist with or participate in weekly conversation groups, ESL and native speakers welcome!
• Help organize, set up and clean up International Potluck dinner
• Assist with the Community International Group

COMMITTEE CHAIRS: LORRAINE MAY AND SHELAGH MILBURN

BOARD LIAISON: First Vice President

Kindergarten Events includes Orientation, Popsicle Playdate, and Coffee & Kleenex. This committee helps organize the event and provide snacks for Orientation in the spring and Popsicle Playdate the week before school starts for incoming Kindergarten students and their parents. They also help with the Coffee & Kleenex on the first day of Kindergarten.

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Help set up, check in families at Orientation
• Set up Kindergarten Coffee and Kleenex (First Day of Kindergarten)
• Help with Popsicle Playdate (mid- to late-August)

COMMITTEE CHAIR: 

BOARD LIAISON: President

This committee coordinates the lunchtime program for students in grades 1-5. Parents are asked to volunteer their time and skills to run a club. The clubs take place after the Winter Break and meet once a week for a 4-6 week period. The committee organizes room assignments with the principal and coordinates the student sign up process.

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Run a lunchtime club for students
• Assist with a lunchtime club for students

COMMITTEE CHAIR: TBD

BOARD LIAISON: President

An all day carnival held at the school. The kids love this event and it is suitable for all ages. This is another event that requires many volunteers. Volunteers are needed to do everything from heading subcommittees to working games the day of the event. There are carnival games, a cake walk, the Mardi Gras Parade, food, a silent auction, and various other types of entertainment. Each year it’s a bit different, but it’s always a great day for the family to come to Lincoln and have some fun.

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Serve on planning committee
• Chair a sub-committee

COMMITTEE CHAIR: TBD

BOARD LIAISON: Historian

The Matt's Maker Space at Lincoln is made possible by a donation from the Mt. Lebanon Conover Family in memory of their son Matthew. Our Lincoln Maker Space is a room in the school building that teachers can take their classes for "outside the box" and collaborative thinking and learning. The Maker Space encourages experimental learning with hands on projects.

Volunteering Opportunities: 

• Organize items in Maker Space and recruit volunteers to help keep it in order for students. It is a fluid space with new tools and materials being added at all times. Note: Children welcome!

• Donate materials that are requested in the PTA newsletter. (A donation box is located in the office.) Note: Please do not donate cardboard or other items no longer accepted for recycling unless specifically requested, due to space constraints.

• Offer a teacher to prepare a lesson or clean up from a lesson they do in the space.

• This is a great opportunity for someone who is creative and organized. There is great potential for the space and the Foundation even provides training opportunities.

COMMITTEE CHAIR: ANNE LAHODA & LORRAINE MAY

BOARD LIAISON: Corresponding Secretary

All parents are encouraged to join the PTA each year. The Membership drive kicks off in September and your membership card is good for one year. Joining the PTA shows your support for all of the programs the PTA sponsors! In order to vote at PTA meetings, you must be a member. Finally, the PTA puts together a printed school directory each year. The committee chair coordinates gathering new family information, confirming current family information, creating the format, arranging for the printing of the directory, and distributing the directory. Each current PTA member receives a copy of the directory as a membership benefit. (For example, if both parents are members a family would receive two copies of the directory if they wish.) The directory should be distributed by October. This committee is busy from mid-August through September and then has very little activity throughout the year after the initial membership drive and directory distribution.

Volunteer Opportunities: Typically, these responsibilities are completed by the chairperson alone. As needed, a chairperson can create a committee or work with a co-chair for any help if they wish to do so.

COMMITTEE CHAIRS: KATIE MIKITA AND HEIDI GHILDYAL

BOARD LIAISON: President

Imagine the first day at a new school. Wouldn't it be great if you knew you would see a familiar face? Here at Lincoln we are going to do just that. We have a buddy program to match new students with a buddy or two for the first few weeks of school. This committee welcomes new families to the Lincoln community and helps with New Family Orientation.

Volunteer Opportunities: Help to welcome new students and families to Lincoln throughout the year.

COMMITTEE CHAIR: Christie Schoen & Melissa Blanton

BOARD LIAISON: First Vice President

Committee Members: Shelagh Milburn

This event, which takes place during two weeks early in the Fall, is Lincoln's primary annual fundraiser. Prior to the event, the committee chair and co-chairs are responsible for establishing a Read-a-thon theme (or alternative major fundraiser idea) and coordinating with the principal to communicate with teachers, students, and families via school assemblies (you do not have to participate in these if it's not your thing!), decorating a hallway bulletin board, and distributing take-home flyers. The committee also secures daily and end-of-event prizes to encourage student participation. During the two week fundraiser itself, this committee meets daily to calculate minutes read by students and choose prize winners. In the week(s) following the fundraiser, this committee is responsible for collection and recording of money raised.

Volunteer Opportunities: Typically, these responsibilities are completed by the co-chairs alone. As needed, the co-chairs can create a committee for any help if they wish to do so.

COMMITTEE CHAIR: KIM KAPPELER

BOARD LIAISON: Recording Secretary

Each month your child will receive a brochure from Scholastic with age appropriate books that can be purchased. Books are delivered to the classroom.

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Distribute monthly book sale forms
• Place and distribute orders

COMMITTEE CHAIR: CATE ALBU

BOARD LIAISON: Third Vice President

This year Lincoln will sponsor two book fairs, one in the spring and one in the fall. The book fair raises money for the librarian to purchase books and other materials for the library. Students go to the Book Fair during their scheduled Library class. The Book Fair also has after school and evening hours. Parents are welcome to attend the book fair with their child, or send money in an envelope with spending instructions. Volunteers for this event are always welcome! Teachers and staff create wish lists for their classrooms and students are invited to purchase books from the lists as a gift to the classroom. To/From Stickers are provided for the student to put in the book before presenting it to the teacher.

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Help with setup or cleanup
• Staff a shift during school hours
• Staff an evening shift (See district calendar. Fairs are typically in November & February.)

COMMITTEE CHAIRS: CHRISTIE SCHOEN and MELISSA BLANTON

BOARD LIAISON: Recording Secretary

In the spring, this committee works with the principal to coordinate a program with a retailer (we have used BluSchool supplies for the past three years) through which parents can order the required set of school supplies required for each child for the following school year. The box of supplies will await the student at school on the first day. Parents avoid having to shop for the list themselves and are able to outfit their student/s with the required supplies at a fair market price.

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Be liaison with representative at vendor (BluSchool), negotiate yearly contract, confirm supply lists with teachers via principal

• Help distribute kits to classrooms

COMMITTEE CHAIRS: Shelly BUrr & NIcole Edgar

BOARD LIAISON: President

Each year Lincoln holds a Science Fair for grades 2 thru 5. Look for announcements typically in January for how to participate.

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Help plan and coordinate
• Organize food for the evening
• Help with check-in

COMMITTEE CHAIR: Lorraine May

BOARD LIAISON: Third Vice President

A Skating Party is held on Election Day at the Recreation Center Ice Rink since the students do not have school.

Volunteer Opportunities: Organize a skating party at Mt. Lebanon rink.

COMMITTEE CHAIR: erin gentzel & ron kitsko

BOARD LIAISON: Second Vice President

tThe Spelling Bee committee organizes the annual Spelling Bee at Lincoln for 4th and 5th graders that occurs after the Winter Break. Before the break, they work with the principal to develop the process and guidelines for the student participation, in particular how the individual classroom spelling bees that comprise the first round will work. The committee organizes the second round which is held in the gym on an evening in February.

Volunteer Opportunities:

Typically, these responsibilities are completed by the chairperson alone. As needed, a chairperson can create a committee or work with a co-chair for any help if they wish to do so.

COMMITTEE CHAIRS: kristen bartone

BOARD LIAISON: First Vice President

Held in March, this is a fun way for our children to showcase their talents. Drummers, guitar players, dancers and much, much more!

Volunteer Opportunities: Help organize and run student talent show.

COMMITTEE CHAIR: LORRAINE MAY, ERIN GENTZEL, & Katie mikita

BOARD LIAISON: President

Held during a week in May, we have events to benefit both staff and teachers. For teachers, families donate food, purchase carnations, write notes of appreciation and donate school supplies. Information will be sent out in April with opportunities to volunteer or donate items.

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Help plan and run various activities for the teachers/staff at Lincoln.
• Donate food items for teacher breakfast
• Set-up/clean-up breakfast & lunch provided for teachers.

Mrs. Caitlin aaron AND MRS. SARAH O'SHEA

BOARD LIAISON: President

Two Lincoln teachers attend PTA meetings to convey information between the PTA membership and the teachers.

COMMITTEE CHAIR: ERIN DAVIES & Maggie shiels

BOARD LIAISON: President

The Yearbook staff is made up of PTA volunteers who work all year to put together a book that the students cherish. This committee needs volunteers from each grade level to take candid photos throughout the year and help with layout of the pages. Forms for ordering a Yearbook will come home in September. Yearbook distribution in June is always an end of the year highlight! Copies of previous Yearbooks are available to look at in the office and the library.

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Take photos for the yearbook.
• Help layout pages for yearbook
• Be a homeroom coordinator of photos and class information for yearbook.
• Help organize yearbook orders