Home School Association

The Home School Association (H.S.A.) works closely with school administration to organize school events, to communicate with school families and Diocesan Boards, and to raise funds which help to keep our tuition costs so affordable. 

We have a very active network of parents who give of their time and talents to make St. James School so exceptional.  There are so many ways for you to get involved, whether you have a lot of time to spare, or just a little.  Following, is a brief description of some of the ways you can help.  Please consider volunteering.  It is a great
way to meet other parents in the school, and to have a direct effect on your child's school experience.

Playground Duty:  Our most important volunteer position. It from
11:15AM-12:30PM, usually one afternoon per month (i.e. the first Monday of the month, the third Friday); We need five parents per day to ensure the safety of our children on the playground.  You would receive a schedule and specific instructions at a meeting the second week of school. Younger siblings are welcome.

Snack Duty: 11:15AM-12:30PM; Three parents volunteer each day to sell snacks and to assist the food service staff in serving or collecting money.  Younger siblings are not permitted in the kitchen, but can sit with you at the snack table.  A schedule is distributed each month.  You will probably be scheduled about once every other month, depending on which days you say you are available.  

Class Parents:  This duty lasts the entire school year.  Each grade has a set of classroom parent partners.   

The role of the classroom parents primarily entails supporting the teacher and coordinating HSA-sponsored activities and fund-raisers throughout the school year.  The partners decide how the various duties will be split.  While the class parents have an opportunity to interact with the class and teacher on a more regular basis than others, we do not expect the class parents to do everything.  Rather, we encourage the class parents to solicit volunteers for the various duties and help ensure that all parents have an equal opportunity to participate in classroom events with their child(ren). 

Classroom parents responsibilities generally include but are not limited to: 

• Supporting the teacher by soliciting volunteers when needed. 
• Collecting class dues ($25/student in grades PreK-5 and $30/student in grades 6-8) to purchase teacher gifts, establish a sunshine fund and to seed the class Night Under the Stars silent auction donation.  
• Welcoming new families and communicating with all families any information from the teacher or the HSA.  
• Supporting HSA Spirituality and Social Concerns committees via Thanksgiving and Christmas Drives. 
• Coordinating volunteers for the designated class HSA Hospitality Event, i.e., Back-to-School Night, Breakfast with Santa, Grandparents Day, etc. 
• Organizing the class activity for Field Day (grades K-4 only). 

Parents are asked to complete a volunteer form at the end of the school year should they wish to be considered for classroom parent duty for the following school year.  Individuals are notified of their selection generally within the first few weeks of the new school year.