PTA Committees

Below is a listing of PTA Committees with a short description of each.
​Please use the email links below (click on name) to contact the person leading the committee. 

Please refer to the Committee Chair Checklist for info on organizing, promoting, and financing PTA events.

PTA Activities:

Bulletin Boards: Dana Baucom (UTES) and Amy Masters (UTMS)
This volunteer will communicate with the PTA Board to identify items of interest for the PTA and families, and update the bulletin boards monthly with new information.

Board of Ed/PTA Liaison: Contact PTA Board
This volunteer keeps the PTA up-to-date on school board discussions and activities. Attendance at board meetings is essential.

Scholarships for High School:  Suzie Schuyler
This volunteer coordinates with North Hunterdon High School for a scholarship given to a graduating senior that attended out Union Township Schools.

Goodwill: Leila Zengel
This volunteer recognizes our UTS staff in times of celebration or need, with cards, cheer baskets, flowers, etc.

Homeroom Volunteer Coordinator:  Mirella Bennett
This volunteer helps provide direction to the homeroom parents, and acts as a liaison to the homeroom parents as needed.

Nominating Committee:  Contact PTA Board
Designed to identify potential candidates for the next year's PTA Board positions.

Staff/Teacher Appreciation:  Ann Marie Lodese-Hesse
This committee sponsors events to express appreciation for our teachers and support staff, including food preparation, set-up and clean up.

Teacher In-Service Luncheon:  Casie Fariello
This committee sponsors a special luncheon during the in-service days prior to the opening of school to show our appreciation for teachers and support staff.  This includes food preparation, set-up and clean up.

Volunteer Appreciation: Casie Fariello
This committee sponsors a special continental breakfast to express appreciation to all PTA volunteers. This includes food preparation, set-up and clean up.

Phone Directory : Contact PTA Board
These volunteers work directly with the school database to create the school directory of PTA members.

Membership: Contact PTA Board
This volunteer coordinates registration for the PTA, which is done online using the links on this website's homepage. 

New Member Welcome :  Leila Zengel
PTA President organizes and coordinates welcome packet and welcome email to new families.

Kindergarten Getting to Know You: Kara Cherney and Carla Teehan
This program is designed to bring incoming kindergartners (and parents) together to meet each other prior to the new school year. The program runs in multiple sessions in the Spring and in the Summer months.

Spirit Wear:  Lisa Coster
This is organized through an online company and enables families to purchase UTS clothing for spirit days at school and in the community.

Webmaster: Anna Shustack
This volunteer maintains the PTA website.

Web Forms:  Contact PTA Board
This volunteer creates and maintains the web forms that are used for signing up for different activities and fundraisers and are available from the PTA website.


8th Grade events:

8th Grade Awards:  Donna Chen and Casie Fariello
This volunteer coordinates with teachers, staff and a committee of parent volunteers to identify and award three deserving students with a $100 scholarships at the 8th grade graduation.

8th Grade Graduation:  Mary Jo Haggerty
This chair and committee work to coordinate the fundraising for specific 8th grade events, organize DJ for Chalet and t-shirts for the class.

Graduation Pre-Party: Katie Wilson
This 7th grade chair volunteers to create a wonderful graduation pre-party for the 8th grade graduating class, often in conjunction with a 6th grade parent who can be prepared to take over the position.


Educational Programs:

Assemblies/Cultural Arts:  (OPEN - VP of Elementary School) and (OPEN - VP of Middle School)
Several times throughout the year, outside resources present assemblies to our students. Committee is responsible for finding and coordinating assemblies and other cultural art events for the schools. New ideas are always welcome!

Mini Grants: Sheri Laman (Chair) with Donna Chen, Anna Shustack, Amy Masters, and Rita Santopietro.         
This program provides our teachers with the funds required to implement original, innovative ideas for classroom enrichment.

Art Fest & Artome: Toni Shramko and Carrie Minsavage
Art Fest occurs in May and celebrates the artistic talents of our UTS students from preschool thru the 8th grade.  We mount and display artwork created in Mrs. Shramko's art class; at least 1 piece of art from each student. At UTES, Art Fest runs in conjunction with the the 3rd/4th grade Talent Show and at UTMS, it runs in conjunction with the 7th/8th grade Spring Concert.

Kindergarten and 1st Grade Bookworms: Tara Trego
The Kindergarten and 1st Grade Bookworms program is designed to get the kids excited about books and complement the assigned story.  This occurs after school on Wednesdays, once per month.  Each event will focus on one book with themed activities following an out-loud reading.
      
Read Across America: Alex Mayer (Elementary School); Fran Suchovic (Middle School)
A week-long classroom celebration of reading, usually focused around Dr. Seuss and his silly ways.

Recess Supplies: Alex Mayer (Elementary School) and Fran Suchovic (Middle School)
This teacher-volunteer coordinates a Wish List for the recess items and an order is placed using points earned from Labels for Education. 

Summer Reading Program: Lisa Coster
This volunteer encourages summer reading by creating a flyer to track books read over the summer. In addition, prizes are coordinated for those who turn in their reading logs.

Tiger Clubs: Ann Marie Lodese-Hesse
These volunteers find parent or student volunteers to run fun clubs for 6-week programs that run after school, 2-3 times during the school year. They also organize the students who will attend each club and coordinate with their volunteers to run the programs.

Summer Camp:  Contact PTA Board 
A two week program run from 8:30-3:30 with themed weeks. This program is for pre-k to 4th grade with CITs from the middle school. There are parent and high school volunteers as well with different themes each week.


Fundraisers:

Book Fairs:
The book fairs are an essential part of our school year. There is a family night, as well as, opportunities for students to shop during the day. Half of every dollar spent goes directly back to our classrooms for the purchase of books and materials selected by our teachers.
BoxTops/ Labels for Education: Carrie Minsavage
  • Boxtops for Education - Involves collecting, trimming, and saving of Box Tops that can be redeemed for cash.
  • Labels for Education - Involves collecting, trimming, and saving of Labels for redemption for school software, computers, video equipment, etc. (this ends June 2016)

Spring Fling Dinner Dance:  Tara Trego (Chair) with committee
A wine and beer tasting event with a tricky tray fundraiser. This event will raise money that the PTA will use to fund mini grants, assemblies, and other school-based activities. This is a new event and we are looking for more help!

Coupon Books: Erin Palma and Jackie Gazzillo
This fundraiser uses coupon books filled with coupons for national and regional retailers, restaurants, activities, etc. Chair distributes books to all families of UTS and the PTA generates strong revenue.

Run Like A Tiger: Melissa Hoffman (chair) with committee
This is a fun event for all UTS families and the UT community. Held in the Spring, the event promotes exercise and wellness. This family-friendly fundraiser helps position the PTA with sufficient funds to kick off the following school year.

Rosata's Dinner for the Arts:  TBD
This is fundraiser for the Art and Music teachers and will enable them to purchase items that will make their program more successful.  Planned to occur during the Parent/Teacher conferences in November, this fundraiser will allow families to pre-order a family-style meal, pick it up after their conferences and enjoy it at home.

Direct Appeal:  (ON HOLD)
This appeal is an annual request for donations to help the PTA and can be found on the Join tab on the website. 100% of the donations (less the PayPal fee of 2.2%) go directly to supporting the programs run by the PTA.


Events:

Trunk or Treat:  Maria Moreno, Marie Cascio and Leah Hummer
A great Halloween event with games and trunk-or-treating through the school parking lot.  Middle School student volunteers will assist with the trunk-or-treat event.

Breakfast with Santa:  TBD              
This is a Winter Holiday event with breakfast, crafts, face painting and games. Children have the opportunity to talk with Santa and have their picture taken.

3rd & 4th Grade Testing Party: Sue Henn and Anna Shustack
A DJ Dance Party held on the afternoon of the last day of NJASK testing. Ice pops, dancing and fun for everyone.

4th grade Dorney Park event:  Sue Henn and Anna Shustack
End of year event to celebrate their move onto the middle school.

5th & 6th Grade Testing Party:  Lisa Coster
A DJ Dance Party held after school on the last day of NJASK testing.

5th & 6th Grade Roller Skating: Lisa Coster
The two grades come together in the fall on a half day to enjoy a day to bond, have fun, roller skate and have pizza.

6th Grade Movie Nights:  Lisa Coster
Each grade to comes together as a group to enjoy a good movie with friends on their own grade specific night.

7th & 8th Grade Testing Party: MaryJo Haggerty and Casie Fariello
A Blacklight Volleyball and DJ Dance Party held at night after NJASK testing.

7th & 8th Grade Dances: MaryJo Haggerty and Casie Fariello
Themed DJ Dance Parties held in the Fall and Winter for the enjoyment of the 7th and 8th graders.

Middle School Field Day: Run by Middle School Student Council
Teacher and student led event with fun and outdoor games to celebrate the joy of exercise.

8th Grade Graduation: MaryJo Haggerty
 



Last updated on 4/8/16