Volunteer Opportunities

Staff Contact: Shannon McLaughlin, Volunteer and Special Events Manager

Purpose: This annual spring event, a gala dinner and auction, is the School’s single largest fundraiser and community event. Attendance is 275-300,; revenue supports financial aid, and a Special Appeal raises funds for special projects. 

Profile: While team leadership positions require substantial time commitments, many other volunteers are needed during the year to assist with specific projects such as taking pictures of children for a video montage or selling ad space/sponsorships. 

Member Profile: Passionate about community building and fundraising events. 

Time Required: September – April; estimated 20 hours total

For more details on Gala volunteer opportunities, please contact Shannon at smclaughlin@faispdx.org. 

Staff Contacts: Daniel Gomis, Athletic Director or Denise LeBlond, Teacher

Purpose: We are on a lookout for volunteers for our cross-country team. The help will consist of assisting the head coach, helping with transportations and monitoring the kids at practices and meets. 

Time Required: Approximately 5 hours a week. It is a two months season from September to October. 

Staff Contact: Beth Clifton, EcoAction Team Leader/Nature Trail Manager

Purpose: This team of staff, parents, and students promotes environmental stewardship by integrating the FAIS mission and Eco School sustainability pathways in the course of eco-actions, learning goals, and nature spaces at FAIS.

Responsibilities: Meet monthly to organize and monitor Eco School Pathways to Sustainability themes, manage Adopt-a-Space program, and confirm eco actions in nature spaces meet the Eco-Action Team vision and Eco-Code. Specific activities committee members can coordinate include:

• Earth Day SOLVE event

• Support of Lower School and Gilkey Green Team initiatives

• Bi-annual Community Care

• Monthly Forest Action Parties

• Grant writing support

Member Profile: Passionate about environmental stewardship and willing to work within FAIS structure to elicit long-term change.

Time Required: 1-3 hours per month 

Staff Contact: Shannon McLaughlin, Volunteer and Special Events Manager

Purpose: Fête du Vin is a social event for the FAIS community to celebrate the fall grape harvest and to sample delicious wines, all while supporting the School. Wines are available for purchase, with a portion of the proceeds going back to the School to support the Annual Fund.  

Responsibilities: Assist with creation of invitations, experience for ticket buyers, and winery and restaurant procurement for this social event. Volunteers also assist with distribution and sorting of relevant material

Member Profile: Passionate about community building and fundraising events. 

Time Required: June – November: estimated 20 hours

Opportunities to participate in Food Drives will be announced in Family News throughout the year.

Volunteer Hours Given: 1/2 hour per bag of food

Gilkey Carnival

Staff Contact: Beth Clifton, Student Council Staff Mentor

Responsibilities: Work with teachers, staff and students to assist as needed. 

Member Profile: Interested in being involved at Gilkey, willing to help as needed. 

Time Required: Varies

Gilkey TEAM Day

Staff Contact: Beth Clifton, Student Council Staff Mentor

Responsibilities: Work with teachers, staff and students to assist as needed. 

Member Profile: Interested in being involved at Gilkey, willing to help as needed. 

​​​​​​​Time Required: Varies

5th Grade Graduation Committee

Staff Contact: Aurore Molerus, Lower School Division Head

Responsibilities: * Memory Book, Graduation

Time Required: Varies

8th Grade Graduation Committee

Purpose: Emmanuelle Burk, Middle School Division Head

Responsibilities: Memory Book, Farewell Gift, Goodbye Dinner, Graduation

Time Required: Varies

Staff Contact: Shawna Foster, Director of Development

Purpose: Engage Grandparents and Special Friends. Communicate the importance of Grandparent Engagement for FAIS. Events or initiatives should foster community and give Grandparents and Special Friends the opportunity to be a part of the FAIS experience.

Responsibilities: Assist in the planning and production of Grandparent and Special Friends Day

Time Required: Yearlong, approximately 20 hours total

Staff Contact: Dayspring Brown, Library Director

Purpose: We need volunteers to help us shelve library books. Parents say working in the library helps them help their kids choose books!

Responsibilities: The library staff put returned books onto carts and sort them by section. The volunteers' job is to take the books to each section and put them either in alphabetical order or dewey decimal order (depending on the section.) No experience is required.

Time required: Preference will be given to volunteers who can work 30-60 minutes at a regularly scheduled time once a week, and who plan to complete all their volunteer hours in the library.

While we do not currently have annual standing needs, if you have marketing or writing skills to contribute, please contact Zach Laney, Director of Marketing and Communications.

Room Parents and PLC Division Coordinators

Staff Contact: Shannon McLaughlin, Volunteer and Special Events Manager

Purpose: The Parent Liaison Committee, under the direction of the FAIS Administration, coordinates activities and events with the intent of fostering the important link between our parent community and the School.

Member Profile: Enjoys gathering with parents and finding ways to connect

Time Required: Yearlong commitment of 1-2 hour meetings per month, other hours vary by project/event

For more information about the Parent Liaison Committee please visit: www.faispdx.org/PLC

PLC Events + Support Roles

Staff Contact: Shannon McLaughlin, Volunteer and Special Events Manager

Purpose: The Parent Liaison Committee, under the direction of the FAIS Administration, coordinates activities and events with the intent of fostering the links between our parent community and the School.

• Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week

• Parents’ Night Out

• Class Documentarian

• Class Speaker(s)

• Class Logistics

Fun Committee

Staff Contact: Shannon McLaughlin, Volunteer and Special Events Manager

Purpose: The function of the Fun Committee is to plan and execute events that create school-wide community. The Fun Committee will have up to three events per year. Each event must represent both the Lower School and the Middle School.

• Back to School Picnic

• Family Game Night

• Carnival

Responsibilities: Assist with creation and planning of events. 

Time Required: Yearlong commitment, hours vary by project/event

Staff Contact: TBA

Purpose: This is a parent run committee, organized to produce the Lower School yearbook.

Responsibilities: The yearbook committee is responsible for photo compilation and layout design for the Lower School yearbook.  

Member Profile: Enjoy photography, scrapbooking, layout design and working with others.

Time Required: Varies, depending on task(s) – completed at school and/or at home.