
wes pto committees
2026-2027
COMMITTEES
Interested in getting involved?
Reach out to PTO Chair
Jen Schwartzengraber
or Nominating Committee Chair Angela Feldser
Executive Committee
Chair: Jen Schwartzengraber
Co-Chair: Arianne Allan
Secretary: Christine Vasko
Treasurer: Tara Salerno
Receiving Treasurer: Erin Englert
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Committees
Caring: Erin Vaccone (Chair), Suzanne Goodstein, Michele Henriques
Citizenship: Danielle Nicholson, Samantha Hall
Visiting Authors: Christine Greco
Website and Digital Media: Chris and Sharon Kaminski
Dimensions in Math & Science: Christina Gaffney (Chair), Dennean Phillips, Erin Englert
Hour of Code: Tesla DuBois, Marisa Ciarrocki
5th Grade Reps: Sarah Ponzio, Erin Stancill, Sharon Kaminski, Suzanne Goodstein, Mary Peifer, Melissa Lis, Krista McKusker, Alli Klein, Suzanna Seltzer, Nicole Mollichella, Catherine Barnhart-DeBerardinis, Becca Brendler, Renee Mason, Liz Kubasko, Kristina Dechter, Rose O'Connor
Foreign Language: Kaja Giloley, Lesley Underwood
Gift of Giving: Mary Peifer, Aimee Hodges, Liz Pecora
Grounds and Greens: Arianne Allan (Chair), Chris Peifer, Christine Wu, Elizabeth McGehrin, Lee Madonna
Book Fair: Tara Salerno, Jordan Prior, Amanda O'Brien, Christine Vasko, Leanne Evans
Health: Nicole Sarno, Suzanna Seltzer, Jill Briggs
Publicity: Heidi Ballas, Chris Kaminski (photography)
Homeroom Parent Coordinators: Amanda O'Brien, Jill Briggs
Hospitality: Amanda O'Brien, Megan Pierangeli, Coco Kaminski
Library: Meghan Stine, Keren Kates
Lost and Found: Katie Kopay
Cultural Arts: Juhi Pandey, Elizabeth Morgan, Catherine Williams
Directory: Christine Greco, Keang Hok, Christine Vasko, Jim Ballas (data programming)
New Parent Representatives: Julie Flannery, Ashley Campbell
Nominating: Angela Feldser (Chair), Mary Peifer, Karla Testa, Christine Wu, Katie Dooley
Sustainability: Amanda Hemmer (Chair), Karla Casey, Danielle Grugan, Christina Forwood, Erin Stancill
WES Mail: Jordan Prior
Chess Club: Chris Kaminski
Rusty the Raccoon Mascot: Heidi Ballas
Welcome to WES: Katie Dooley
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Fundraisers and Events
Pancake Breakfast: Liz Pecora, Samantha Hall
Bingo Night: Christina Cleland (Chair), Megan Koehler, Suzanna Seltzer, Donna Falconieri, Meg Pierangeli
May Day: Melissa Lis (Chair), Ted Benzing, Stephanie Bailey, Bita Coats, Michele Henriques, Carolyn Madonna, Erin Vaccone, Jaime Dillon
Spirit Wear: Kristina Dechter-Patterson, Coco Kaminski
​Passive Fundraising Committee: Nichole Dobo
We Love WES (Spring Direct Appeal): Jen Schwartzengraber
SchoolKidz: Sarah Ponzio, Suzanne Goodstein, Cara Termini
Restaurant Family Nights: Daria Schuman, Karla Casey
Rita’s Family Night: Daria Schuman, Karla Casey
Movie Night: Mike Sheehan, Nichole Dobo
wes pto position descriptions
POSITION
DESCRIPTIONS
Executive Committee
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Chairperson: Preside at all PTO meetings and prepare agendas. Coordinate the work of the PTO Board, committees and the PTO as a whole in order that the objectives of the organization may be accomplished. Liaison between the WES faculty, families and PTO members.
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Co-Chairperson: Assist the Chairperson in all aspects as noted above. Chairperson will serve a one year term and will then be named Chairperson in the school year thereafter.
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Secretary: To record and distribute the minutes of the monthly PTO meetings. (This is a 2 year position.)
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Treasurer: To assemble, in consultation with the PTO Executive Board, the annual PTO Budget to be presented to the entire PTO membership for approval, and to administer the budget for the fiscal year. (This is a 2 year position.)
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General PTO Committees
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Caring Committee: Makes contact with WES families in need of home-cooked meals. Maintains and develops a list and schedule of volunteer families willing to prepare meals. Schedules meals as needed.
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Citizenship: Designs and implements education and service projects, and similar programming, enable students to help within their community. Organizes the UNICEF change collection drive at Halloween along with a mid-year service project.
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Visiting Authors: Coordinates with school librarian to bring children’s book authors to WES for assemblies and book signings. Organizes and distributes books purchased by students.
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Website: Maintains and develops the WES PTO website, including content and hosting.
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Dimensions in Math and Science: Introduces students to a variety of math-related experiences through activities such as Family Math Night (bi-annual) and hands-on demonstrations and classroom experiences.
Introduces students to various scientific disciplines through activities such as an annual Science Fair, school assemblies, demonstrations, and hands-on classroom experiences.
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Fifth Grade Representatives: Plan fund-raising projects to help underwrite the expenses of the annual fifth grade field trips, picnic, and graduation.
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Gift of Giving: Organizes a service project that takes place during the Valentine’s Day classroom party. Students prepare “Breakfast Bags” for the elderly home-bound population during the winter months.
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Grounds and Greens: Supervises maintenance of the school’s exterior gardens.
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Book Fair: Organizes, coordinates, and staffs the Scholastic Fall and Spring Book Fairs.
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Health and Safety: Aids the school nurse in educating students in all facets of good health and personal hygiene. (Assisting in these health tests does not require special training). Also maintains a volunteer schedule for and oversees the morning student drop-off in the front of the school.
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Publicity: Disseminates, via appropriate public media, a strong positive image of WES and promotes a broader community awareness of the school’s programs and activities.
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Homeroom Parent Coordinator: Recruits homeroom parents and acquaints them with their responsibilities.
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Hospitality: Provides appropriate refreshments for Back-to- School Night, Staff Appreciation Day, and any other PTO-sponsored events that require such services.
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Library: Recruits volunteers who assist the school librarian.
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Cultural Arts: Organizes events to enrich each child’s cultural awareness through programs in the visual and performing arts such as school assemblies and demonstrations. Coordinates the Multicultural Night at WES–a fun event, held every other year, where WES families celebrate their heritage.
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Directory: Produces, solicits advertisers and collects payments from, and distributes the school/student Directory for sale. Main duties occur during the summer months and in early September.
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New Parent Representative: Welcomes all new families to WES prior to and during the school year, familiarizes them with various aspects of the school, and serves as an information resource.
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Nominating Committee: Presents nominees for the elective PTO positions and submits recommendations for all vacancies.
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Sustainability: Identifies and recommends ways in which WES can use environmentally-friendly resources more efficiently. Promotes and helps to coordinate sustainable practices and supports environmental education initiatives.
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WES Mail: Sends out weekly e-mails to WES families detailing current and upcoming events. Also maintains the school-wide e-mail distribution list.
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Fundraising and Event Chairs
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Pancake Breakfast: Two parents to coordinate the October Pancake breakfast held at WES.
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Bingo Night: Two parents to coordinate family fun Bingo night at WES.
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Field Day: Communicates with PE teacher and coordinates set up, parent walkers, and popsicles at this May school-wide event.
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May Day: Six parents who coordinate games, food, and prizes. Additional volunteers are needed for this school-wide event in the afternoon of Field Day.
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Spirit Wear: Two parents to organize Spirit wear sales throughout the year.​
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Spring Fundraiser: This varies every year. Coordinated by chairperson and co-chair person.​
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Lost and Found: Helps manage the lost & found area. Sends flyers home and via WES Mail to remind parents to check for their child’s lost items.
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SchoolKidz: Coordinates the ordering and distribution of school supply kits.
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Swarthmore Pizza Night: Coordinates this twice yearly event.
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Iron Hill Family Night: Coordinates this annual November event.
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Rita’s Family Night: Coordinates this annual spring event.
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Movie Night: Two parents to coordinate a fall family movie night at WES.
