• FAHSA Committees

    Our volunteer-led FAHSA committees raise funds for our school, plan activities to supplement our children's education, and help foster a sense of community. We welcome everyone’s time and talent and encourage you to join us – no commitment is too small!

    If you are interested in learning more about any of our committees, please reach out to Co-Presidents Colleen and Jill (faspresidents@gmail.com).  We are looking for parent volunteers for Committees now.  Please click on the "Committee Openings" below.

    Current Openings!:  Committee Openings

    Fall Book Fair was the week of September 19-23, 2022 Kids had a chance to shop for books during the day.  Thursday, September 22 was Back to School Night.  Parents had the opportunity to visit the Book Fair and shop for their children and purchase books to donate to the classrooms.  
     
    Our annual homegoods fundraiser (gift wrap, sweet treats, housewares) ended on Wednesday, November 2nd.  This fundraiser will be held again in the Fall of 2023.
     
    Class Parents
    Class parents help distribute communications from teachers, organize class parties, and recruit parent volunteers for field trips and other class events.  Class Parents were chosen for the 2022-2023 school year in September 2022.  We are so appreciative for all of the parents who volunteered for this!
     
    Communications/Marketing &  Publicity
    This committee helps prepare the Friday Flash newsletter, other email announcements, and helps publicize all the great things happening at FAS, all under the direction of one of the FAHSA Co-Presidents.
     
    The Community Service committee plans family service projects like Neighbors in Need, the Mitten Drive and our Thanksgiving Food Drive.  We are looking for more people to join this committee!
     
    Discovery is an after-school enrichment program and major FAHSA fundraiser! It offers classes in subjects ranging from computer programming to cooking to performing arts.  The next Discovery session begins this winter.  Look for registration in early December.
     
    This committee plans a few in-school enrichment programs during the school year.  Programs featured in the past have been widely varied - computer science, sifting for seashells, mining, environmental awareness, musical and dance performances and recess yoga.  
     
    Get everything you need to create a lovely autumnal outdoor display at home and help support FAS in the process! We are partnering with O'Boyle Landscaping to provide beautiful mums, pumpkins and other festive fall decor.  Our fall 2022 fundraiser ended in September 2022.
     
    Prepare to be spooked! This annual outdoor evening event displays Jack O'Lanterns carved at home by each family, as well as by each class. Festive music fills the air, and a sweet treat fundraiser tops it off.  This event was held on Thursday, October 27.  We were so grateful for the Ridgewood Avenue School chorus for performing at our school and to Girls Club volunteers who assisted at the event.
     
    Food Days are catered lunches provided by local restaurants and served by parent volunteers. This major fundraiser makes your life easier too!  The session 1 program ends on Friday, February 3, 2023 and the next program begins on Monday, February 6, 2023.  Lunches are available 3 days/week from outside vendors.  Options include but are not limited to the following:  Mexican, Italian, Deli, Chicken, Brunch. Can you say delicious?
     
    Glow Dance for Second Graders:
    The Glow Dance will be held for Second Graders at Forest Avenue School in the MPR on Friday, February 10, 2023 at 6:30pm.  Planning is underway!  Expect to see a lot of neon, lights, dancing and happy children with their adult guests.
     
    Hour of Code falls under our Enrichment Committee as of the 2022-2023 school year.  It is a worldwide program in December and FAS is proud to be a part of it! Our students participated in a one-hour introduction to computer science led by parent volunteers during the school day.  
      
    Learning Garden
    Our Learning Garden maintains the beautiful fruit and vegetable garden on the FAS grounds and leads environmental science enrichment programs for the students.  We held our annual fall Learning Garden cleanup on Sunday, October 16, 2022.  Spring is planned for May 22.
     
    This community assists the FAS librarian with class visits. Volunteering here is a great way to get a peek into your child's school day!  The Library Volunteers Program is back for 2022-2023 and began the week of November 28.
     
    Nominations Committee
    This committee helps ensure the fairness of FAHSA Board elections that will be held in Spring 2023.
     
    Say cheese! This committee organizes the annual FAS Picture Days in mid-October.  Picture Day was held on October 18 & 19, 2022.
     
    Read Across America Celebration
    Celebrate reading with in-school activities and a visit by The Cat in the Hat!  This event was held in March, 2023.
     
    Our Social Fireflies plan fun parent and family social events to help foster a sense of community and raise funds for FAS!  Events include:  1) Welcome Back Pizza Party on September 9; 2) Coffee Social; 3) Parents' Night Out on October 13 at Fitzgerald's Sidecare; 4) Holiday Greens Decorating Event on December 13; 5: Parent Social on May 4 at Pineapple Express. The Social Committee is thinking of ideas for other events for parents only and for parent & child.  Let's have more fun in the upcoming school year!
     
    Don't want to drag your kids to Staples over Labor Day Weekend? No problem! Our School Supply fundraiser organizes bundles of school supplies, catered to each classroom. Log on in June and with one click, your children will have everything they need delivered to their desks by the first day of school.  You will be helping raise money for classroom instructional materials too!  The school supplies ordering deadline was in July 2022 and school supplies are available for pickup at the August 2022 playdates.  Check out the School Supply sale for more information on the 2023-2024 school supply sale which began in May 2023 and ends in July 2023.
     
    This committee raises funds throughout the year for the 2nd grade yearbooks and a fun graduation celebration. 
     
    Soccerthon is a spring family social event and fundraiser open to students throughout Glen Ridge, from preK to 6th grade. It features student soccer scrimmages, concessions, and other fun activities and entertainment.  This event will take place in April 2023.  As of November 2, 2022, we have no volunteer chairpersons for 1st grade.  If you are interested, please reach out to our Co-Presidents, Colleen & Jill (faspresidents@gmail.com).

    The Spiritwear committee selects and designs items including t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, magnets and more, and sells them at a fall sale and various other times throughout the year at FAS events.  
     
    Spring Carnival
    Spring Carnival is a beloved annual fundraiser on the FAS field featuring bounce houses, carnival games, prizes, treats & concessions.  This event takes place in May.
     
    STEAM Fair
    The annual STEAM fair features multiple exhibits, typically in math, science & arts programming.  We need a lot of parent volunteers to make this event happen!  This event was held on March 16-17, 2023!
     
    Help us show our teachers how much we appreciate them during Teacher Appreciation Week! We'll plan events and treats to thank them for all their hard work.   Teacher Apprecation Week for Fall 2022 is November 14-18 and the first week of May 2023.
     
    Visiting Author Day
    Each year, we work closely with the FAS Librarian to identify a notable children’s book author to visit FAS for a day! The visiting authors make a series of age-appropriate presentations to each grade level. They also sign and personalize copies of their books for the children. Books are sold in advance to help cover costs of visiting author fees.  This typically takes place in March. 
     
    We organize and deliver baskets full of sweet treats and gift cards to show our appreciation for the FAS staff, which includes our crossing guards, custodians, school nurse, Principal, teachers and school secretary.   Sign Ups for donation begin in January 2023 and baskets were delivered in time for Valentine's Day.