The Cabot PTO has many committees dedicated to fulfilling our mission to support the school staff, help enrich the educational experience of our children, and build the sense of community here at Cabot.

Get involved by joining a committee – it doesn’t take much time, about 5 hours per year. Take a moment to read the brief descriptions of all the PTO committees, see which interest you, and join us. Please contact the chair of a committee for more information.

Note: Commitment indicates the amount of time it takes to chair the committee, not to volunteer for the committee.

PTO Co-Presidents
Oversee PTO committee activities, coordinate with members, the Principal & teachers, & set the PTO's direction. Serves a 2 yr term which overlaps with the incoming co-president for 1 year. Produces the Welcome Packet - Aug-September. Communicates with Cabot families via weekly emails. Keeps Cabot community informed about city-wide school-related issues. Prepares annual PTO budget, & oversees on ongoing basis fund raising & spending. Attend meetings: bi-monthly with Principal, monthly School Council, monthly Newton PTO Council & various School Committee meetings.
Commitment: Average of 15 hours per week, some weeks less & some weeks as high as 25 hours.
Current chairs: Heather Mehra and Jennifer Abbott

Treasurer
Each serves a 2 yr term which overlaps with incoming co-treasurer for 1 year. Oversees the revenues & expenses of the PTO. Provides financial information & advice to Co-Presidents, & PTO committees. Responsible for expense reimbursements & yearly tax returns. Knowledge of Quicken necessary.
Commitment: Average of 6-8 hrs per week.
Current chairs: Nina Tebaldi and Andrea Steenstrup

Secretary
Publicizes, attends and takes minutes for PTO meetings. Maintains updated PTO calendar on website. Maintains updated PTO Committee Chair email list.
Commitment: Approximately 1-2 hours per month
Current chair: Krista Kett

Acknowledgement/Teacher Appreciation
With volunteers, responsible for acknowledgement of teachers & staff throughout year in a variety of ways, from purchasing cards & small gifts to hosting the teacher appreciation lunch in spring.
Commitment: Kick off at start of school year. Average of 2-4 hrs/wk.
Current chair: Sally Brickell and Mary Kathryn Fallon

Book Fair
Organizes & runs with volunteers a 3-day event in March which allows students & families to purchase books. Includes an ice cream social one evening. Liaises with School Librarian & Bookseller.
Commitment: Approx. 25 hrs from end of Feb to event.
Current chair: Kate Johnson and KB Spector

Cabot Connecting Families
Serve as PTO point of contact for Cabot’s out-of- district, Metco, ELL and multi-cultural families. Coordinate with Welcome Committee to support new families. Coordinate Family Partners Program. Provide support where requested in school initiatives such as Affinity Group and ELL initiatives from the ELL department.
Commitment: 1-3 hours over the summer, 1-3 hours per month during the school year.
Current chairs: Solange Lavanchy, Vanessa Allen and Kimberly Morris

CASP Liaison
Provides liaison between the Cabot After School Program - CASP - & the PTO. Serves as an aide to parents in the CASP program.
Commitment: 1 yr - attend CASP meetings as necessary
Current chair: Charles Rudnick

Cabot Community Park
Responsible for the maintenance of the outdoor park utilizing volunteers for necessary planting, weeding & watering.
Commitment:
Current chairs: Ed Johnston and Mike McSally; Leticia Meza-Riedewald (compost coordinator)

Cabot Community Supper
Responsible for organizing the Cabot Community Supper which is held during the last week of September.
Commitment: Light planning begins in June with 1-2 hours; July/August is 2- 4 hours; September commitment is 25 hours.
Current chairs: Lisa Schaefer, Alison Galbraith, Haiden Huskamp and Dolores Joyce

Cabot Fair
Serves a 2 yr term which overlaps with the experienced outgoing chair. Runs & organize the annual Cabot Fair in May, overseeing a team of volunteers. Ensure compliance with city & state regulations. Coordinate with committees who run various aspects of Fair - Games, Raffle, Advertising, Treasurer, Cabot Goods, Cabot staff & Teachers.
Commitment:
Current chairs: Erin Edwards and Ana Bonilla

Cabot Fair Raffle
Organizes and runs the raffle ticket sales and prizes awarded at the Cabot Fair.
Commitment:
Current chairs: Andrea Steenstrup and Julie Bourgoin

Cabot Goods
Chair sources, organizes & procures inventory. With volunteers coordinates a rota to sell goods at Cabot events (Welcome Picnic, CASP events, Book Fair, Family Dance, Community Supper etc) and fulfill paper orders placed through year.
Commitment: Approx. 2-4 hrs per month.
Current chair: Kim Buckton and Corrie Popp

Call Back/Safe Arrival Coordinator
This coordinator organizes a rotation of parent volunteers who check absent-student messages against class attendance lists, and place calls to student families if needed. This is a city-wide program to ensure the safe arrival of students.
Commitment: 1-3 hours per month
Current chair: Michelle Markert

Cabot Clean-up Day
In coordination with principal, teachers and staff, plan projects and secure volunteers and supplies for annual clean-up and minor improvements of Cabot School.
Commitment: 5-10 hours prep time prior to event, 1 full day in Spring which is scheduled to coincide with NewtonServes.
Current chair: Amy Sielgel and Brett Leav

Campaign for Cabot
The annual Campaign for Cabot is the largest source of funding for the PTO’s operating budget.
Current chair: Kate Ehrhart

Core Values
Brings Cabot School’s core values of: Life-long learning, Respect for self and others, and Commitment to school and community to life for students and their families and for the faculty and staff. To consistently make these values part of the way we in the Cabot community conduct ourselves. This committee of parents and faculty meets with the principal to identify ways to reinforce Cabot’s core values.
Commitment:
Current chair: Sally Brickell

Creative Arts & Sciences
Co-chairs organize & facilitate parent volunteers who coordinate programs by grade or school-wide events. Co-chairs interface with city-wide director of CASC. Grade-level parent volunteers coordinate with teachers to schedule programs that coincide with curriculum or areas of interest. Grade-level coordinators attend programs, greet and assist presenters as needed.
Commitment: 3 hours per month for co-chairs, grade-level volunteers can expect a shared 5 hours per year
Current chairs: Solange Lavanchy, Vani Sayeed and Kim Buckton

Directory
Oversees the compilation & printing of Cabot Directory of all Cabot staff & students. This Directory is intended only for use by Cabot families to facilitate social activities & communication.
Commitment: 2-4 hours July/August, 20 hours Sept/Oct
Current chair: Cathy Devoel; Marc Svensson (directory layout), Meryl Price (directory advertising) and Doug Coughlin (directory membership)

Family Dance
Organize an annual free Dance for Cabot students & their families in February.
Commitment:
Current chairs: Amy Siegel and Liz Haas

5th Grade Activities
Chairs work with Principal, & 5th grade families & teachers to co-ordinate a seminal year of noteworthy activities.
Commitment:
Current chair: Liz Haas and Janet Lehman

Gift Wrap
Organizes annual major fund raising sale of gift wrap for Cabot.
Commitment: Approx. 20 hrs September - October
Current chair: Kate Johnson

Green Committee
Supports Green initiatives at school. Creates a Green presence at PTO events. Provides Green tips and updates periodically in PTO newsletter. Maintains supply of compostable products for use at PTO events. Develops new initiatives to raise community awareness.
Commitment:
Current chair: Jodi Vito

Hospitality
Arrange for refreshments at various PTO events (day & evening) throughout year. Work a rotation of events with volunteers.
Commitment: 1-2 events each month
Current chair: Roberta Hing and Suzanne Wisniowski

Invention Invasion
Coordination of annual event open to all Cabot students that promotes & displays inventiveness.
Commitment:
Current chairs: Istvan and Maria Bonyhay and Marina Kvitnitsky

Jabberwock Editors
Compile, edit & publish monthly email newsletter for Cabot community. Liaise with PTO Committee Chairs and Webmaster to share updated information and make it available to community.
Commitment: Approximately 4 hrs every month
Current chairs: Suzanne Wakefield and Denise Cremin

Kindergarten Registration
Support the school’s Kindergarten registration in March by coordinating parent volunteers in welcoming incoming kindergarteners and their parents/guardians.
Commitment: Two school days in March for chair
Current chairs: Julie Lindstrom

Library Liaison
Recruits & oversees volunteers for Cabot library & coordinates activities with School Librarian. Hosts a coffee for library volunteers at start of year, trains & orients volunteers, & runs a thank you coffee for volunteers at year end.
Commitment: 1-2 hrs per week during school year
Current chair: Kate Johnson

Nominating
Organizes nomination of PTO officers, committee chairs & School Council. Recruits through use of contact with current chairs, knowledge of acquaintances across grade levels, Jabber & word of mouth. Manage school council elections in April/May.
Commitment: 20-25 hours between January and May.
Current chair: Lori Knowles

Photography Coordinator
Photograph school events using digital photography with help of volunteers. Help archive & organize photography for the school. Coordinate with chairs of special events (Community Supper, Cabot Fair, etc.)
Commitment: ½ hour per week, & available for special events.
Current chair: Sara Goldberg

Playground
Responsible for improvement & maintenance of Cabot's playground.
Commitment:
Current chair: Mike McSally

Political Issues
Keeps the Cabot community informed of political issues affecting the school. Attend School Committee meetings & other as necessary. Inform Cabot community of current issues & actions needed through use of the PTO website & Jabber. Coordinate activities with PTO presidents, Principal & School Committee.
Commitment: Up to 1 hour per week
Current chairs: Wendy Lowe, Phoebe Olhava, Thomas Moreau

Program Enrichment
Solicit ideas & grant recommendations for materials, & programs to enhance the Cabot learning experience for the greatest number of students. Advertise grant opportunities, speak at teacher meetings to encourage requests, talk with principal, copy forms, send out letters, & spread sheets, recruit teachers & parents to join the committee, hold meeting to decide the allocations.
Commitment: Total 20 -24 hours. Grant meeting takes 2 hours. September through November.
Current chairs: Lisa Lobel and Reeta Rao

Public Relations
Share PTO related news with local media outlets. Act as point of contact for media.
Commitment: 3-5 hours over the school year
Current chair: Charles Rudnick and Lucy Atkins

Room Captain K-2 and 3-5
Recruit room parents for each classroom to assist the teacher in various activities & events & communications throughout the year.
Commitment:
Current chairs: Stephanie Zelman (K-2) and Kim Buckton (3-5)

Safe Routes to School
Notifies community of International Walk to School Day and Massachusetts Walk to School Day. Occasionally uses Jabberwok to share safety information, walking school buses. Responsible for organizing bike safety dates for 3rd Grade in spring & 4th Grade with Cabot teachers.
Commitment:
Current chair: Vanessa Allen

School Store
Responsible for procuring inventory for & running school store every Thursday morning before school. Proceeds benefit 5th grade activities.
Commitment:
Current chair: Sandy Connors and Kelly Weaver

Small Fundraisers
- Boxtops for Education - Haiden Huskamp
- Stop and Shop A+ Rewards – Haiden Huskamp
- Target Red Card – Haiden Huskamp
- Papa Ginos - several times per year - Julie Stonehill
- Learning Express - Julie Stonehill

Social Action Committee
Organizes & advertises activities that benefit communities & organizations in need of assistance such as food & clothing drives. Keeps an eye on the Lost and Found bin at Cabot.
Commitment: Kick-off meeting to determine calendar of activities & then 2-5 hrs per month.
Current chair: Jasna Pecnik and Charlotte Vanlier

Special Education Liaison
This volunteer serves as a resource for questions about Chapter 766, the State Law that guarantees all children the right to an education regardless of capabilities, & relays relevant information to Cabot community.
Commitment: Attends meetings of city-wide committee.
Current chair: Emily Katz-Williamson

Spring Fling and Silent Auction
Manages all aspects of the Cabot Spring Fling, an evening event for Cabot parents and staff. Also organizes and runs the Silent Auction that is held in conjunction with the Spring Fling, including soliciting auction donations from parents, local businesses and other friends of the Cabot community. Commitment: Early planning in the fall months, most active work from January through the date of the Spring Fling (typically late March or early April).
Current chair: Jen Hyde and Lindsay Pike

Taste of the World
Organize and publicize the Taste of the World event. Responsibilities include managing RSVP list, plan student performances and entertainment, set-up and break-down of tables with volunteers day of event.
Commitment: 5-8 hours in May
Current chair: Ruchi Joshi and Olga Sundstrom

Technology Advisory Board
Attend Technology Advisory Board meetings convened by Cabot’s IT specialists as PTO representatives. Respond to technology research requests by Cabot’s IT specialists and advise on strategies and opportunities for the PTO to support technology needs at Cabot.
Commitment: 2-3 board meetings per year
Current chair: Angela Pitter-Wright and Gerry Marsischky

Technology Liason
Technology Liaison acts as point of contact for IT specialists, Principal, school staff and Newton Education Center regarding ongoing technology needs and disbursements during the school year. Attends Technology Advisory Board meeting.
Commitment: 2-3 board meetings per year and approximately 2-3 hours spread over the school year if needed
Current chair: Lori Knowles

Understanding Our Differences
Presents programs about human differences to G4th students. Attends citywide training program. Recruits & coordinates parent volunteers to assist in presenting the program to students. Arranges the speakers & materials used in the classrooms.
Commitment: 6 hours per month September thru March
Current chair: Emily Katz-Williamson

Webmaster
Responsible for managing the Cabot PTO website.
Commitment:
Current chair: Mimi Borden

Welcome Committee
Coordinate & attend 2 to 3 new family play dates at the Cabot playground over the summer. Oversee assembly of student Welcome Packets for the first day of school. Coordinate & attend Welcome Picnic for new families early September. During the school year, act as a resource for new families as needed (welcome packet, directory).
Commitment: 20 hours total shared by chairs.
Current chairs: Jennifer Borhegyi, Lisa Adams, Jennifer Newsom

Wellness and Safety Committee
Provides guidance regarding food safety at school events (Community Supper & Cabot Fair). Coordinates volunteers and support for Wellness Day in October and Color Day in June.
Commitment:
Current chair: Betsy DiSciullo and Jen Borhegyi